Weekly Green News Update for Week 50 (Dec 7 to 13), 2015
Weekly green news update from across different media networks for week 50 (between Dec 07 to 13) 2015.
1. Delhi Asks Schools To Shut As City Tackles Alarming Pollution
Government schools in Delhi have been asked to remain closed between January 1 and 15 while private schools will be advised to follow suit as the national capital battles dangerous levels of pollution worsened by the winter.
2. SC to mull ban on diesel cars in Delhi to tackle growing menace of pollution
The Supreme Court on Thursday threw its weight behind efforts to clean up Delhi’s air, agreeing to explore various options including banning diesel cars from the Capital’s roads and stopping trucks from passing through the city to tackle the growing menace of pollution.
3. Air Quality in Delhi to Dip Further: Monitoring Body
Air quality of Delhi will dip further in the next two days with an expected rise in the level of PM 2.5, whose average was ‘very poor’ at 200 micrograms per cubic metre today, due to the influx of pollutants from the Indo-gangetic plains.
4. Delhi odd-even vehicle scheme: Heavy fine likely to deter violators, say official
The Delhi government may have zeroed in on the legislation under which it will penalise those who violate its odd-even number scheme, which will come into effect on January 1.
5. Why Not Shut Down Delhi’s Badarpur Power Plant, Asks Pollution Watchdog
Amid the controversy over Delhi government’s plan to contain vehicular pollution, the Pollution Control Committee has asked why the power plant at Delhi’s Badarpur — considered one of the key sources pollution — should not be shut down.
6. Delhi air just got worse, healthy can also fall sick
Even as Delhi debated over the ‘even-odd’ car strategy on Monday, foul air choked the capital’s residents.
7. Amber signal on Delhi pollution
The Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi has announced a slew of measures to address the very poor air quality and pollution in the nation’s capital.
8. IIT-Kanpur study says trucks and road dust are bigger pollutants than cars in Delhi
The Delhi government may be targeting private vehicles to check rising air pollution levels, but a study by IIT-Kanpur shows that cars and jeeps contribute less than 10% of particulate matter while trucks are bigger culprits.
9. Delhi Pollution Control Committee imposes fine on major construction projects
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee has served penalty notices to a number of major projects across Delhi, including the under-construction Parliament House annexe building.
10. NGT notice to MoEF over industrial units in East Delhi
Industrial units contaminating the city’s environment by releasing toxic pollutants today came under the scanner of the National Green Tribunal which sought response from the Centre and Delhi government on the issue.
11. Give forest department a boost, says NGT
The National Green Tribunal has asked the Delhi government, which is looking for ways to curb pollution in the national Capital, to consider enhancing the strength of the Forest Department in order to protect the city’s green belts.
12. Submit Information on Industries Operating Diesel Gensets: NGT to Delhi Government
Noting that diesel generator sets were another source of air pollution, National Green Tribunal has directed the Delhi government to submit information on industries and commercial places which were operating on this source of power.
13. NGT planning Auto Census; Delhi-NCR have been asked to submit reports on number of vehicles
The National Green Tribunal has now decided to keep tabs on the number of vehicles in cities in Haryana that fall under the jurisdiction of National Capital Region.
14. Filthy platforms: NGT imposes 5L fine on Rlys
The National Green Tribunal on Monday imposed a fine of Rs.5 lakh on the Railways, for failure to keep tracks and platforms in New Delhi clean, in the wake of a report filed by an advocate who had inspected the stretch from New Delhi Railway via Sadar Bazar, Subzi Mandi, Azadpur and Adarsh Nagar.
15. Will work with Kejriwal govt to solve Delhi’s traffic, pollution mess: Gadkari
The Narendra Modi government at the Centre has said that it will work together with the Delhi government to curb the rising air pollution and also come out with a solution for the national capital’s traffic mess.
16. Japan Says Its Technology Can Help Lower Pollution Level in Delhi
Amid concerns over increasing pollution levels in the National Capital, Japan today said its environment friendly coal-fire power generator technology can help in meeting the challenge.
17. India to Set Up 8 New Ecological Observatories
India will set up eight new ecological observatories, as compared to just one at present, including in the Himalayas and Western Ghats, to map the long-term impacts of climate change, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar has said.
18. Over 500 trees cut in Mangar Bani, forest land levelled
Over 500 trees, big and small, were illegally cut from an area of nearly two acres close to the Mangar Bani sacred grove in Faridabad in the wee hours of Saturday.
19. Four acres in Mangar fenced, to be replanted
Following the felling of around 500 trees by encroachers in an attempt to illegally capture land, the forest department on Wednesday fenced off around four acres of land at the Mangarbani grove, and announced plans to carry out a plantation drive at the site.
20. Realty projects to deplete 15% Gurgaon forest cover
At least 15% of the city’s forest cover will be lost if construction projects are carried out in the natural conservation zones, environmentalists have said.
21. Beijing smog: Schools close, factories suspend operations after red alert
Some residents took a smog holiday away from Beijing on Tuesday as the Chinese capital launched restrictions under its first red alert for pollution, closing schools, suspending factories and keeping half the vehicles off the streets.
