Weekly Green News Update for Week 8 (Feb 22 to 28), 2016

weekly-media-roundup

Weekly green news update from across different media networks for week 8 (between Feb 22 and 28) 2016.

1. Fluctuating weather and pollution making Delhi sicker

Delhi’s fluctuating weather is sending many to the hospital, with doctors warning that viral fevers, seasonal flu, respiratory infections, and cold and cough are on the rise. The worst-hit are the children and the elderly.

2. Pollution watch to get more real with 3 new air quality monitoring stations

Delhi will soon get a boost in its fight against pollution with three new air quality monitoring stations, besides several mobile reading units.

3. Suresh Prabhu announces revival of Delhi’s Ring Rail to curb pollution

Delhi’s Ring Railway system, or what is called as the Delhi Suburban Railway, is not for the majority, or so says the statistics – 20 lakh people use the Delhi metro daily, but only 3,700use the ring railway.

4. Some parts of Delhi may face greater impact in event of an earthquake

Parts in Delhi including areas along the Yamuna River bank, the Lutyens Zone and North Campus of Delhi University fall in “high” and “very high” seismic risk hazard index and would face greater impact in the event of an earthquake, says a report prepared by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

5. DERC Orders NDMC to sign PPA, use power from waste plant

Elephant Energy Pvt Ltd has filed a petition with Delhi electricity regulatory commission seeking the commission’s intervention to direct New Delhi Municipal Council to purchase power from their solid waste management project in fulfilment of renewable purchase obligations.

6. Delhi yet to meet tree plantation target

Over six lakh trees will have to be planted in Delhi in the next month if the city is to achieve its target for greening this financial year.

7. Delhi water crisis: After Munak blow, pollution to hit supply

Just when Delhi was slowly beginning to tide over a crippling water shortage triggered by the damage to the Munak canal by Jat protestors in Haryana, the rising pollution level in one of the water reservoirs is threatening to aggravate the crisis in the capital.

8. NGT raps Delhi Jal Board over ‘vague’ affidavit on expenditure on Yamuna

The National Green Tribunal on Monday came down heavily on Delhi Jal Board (DJB) for submitting “insufficient and vague” response with regard to expenditure on drain-related works and implementation of its ‘Maily Se Nirmal Yamuna’ Revitalization Plan, 2017.

9. Free trees of defacement in one month: Depts told

In compliance with the National Green Tribunal order, Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra on Wednesday has directed all departments concerned, to prevent defacement and damage to trees within.

10. Punish builders for dust pollution: NGT to Delhi authorities

The National Green Tribunal today directed civic bodies and public authorities in Delhi-NCR to check air pollution caused by dust emanating from construction sites and initiate action against real estate developers violating environmental norms.

11. Art of Living faces Rs 120 crore fine for damaging Yamuna floodplains

The Art of Living Foundation might have to fork out Rs 120 crore as “penalty” for the damage caused to the Yamuna floodplains in the run-up to its March 11-13 event expected to be attended by three-and-a-half million devotees.

12. Pollution Control Body Labs Not Equipped To Detect Fuel Impurity: Ministry To Green Panel

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, which was directed by National Green Tribunal to check adulteration of petrol and diesel at petrol pumps across Delhi-National Capital Region, has told the green panel that the laboratories of Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, are not equipped to detect impurity of these fuels.

13. Experts worry for unprotected area

A villager assisting a Wildlife Institute of India team studying the fauna of the Aravalis recently spotted leopard pugmarks at Mangar village just off the Gurgaon-Faridabad highway.

14. Curbs on garbage flow into Yamuna

The Haryana State Pollution Control Board has restricted the flow of untreated water from one of the Gurgaon drains to the Najafgarh drain that flows from Dwarka to Wazirabad before reaching the river to bring down pollution in Yamuna.

15. Landmark experiment improves coral calcification by 7%

A first-of-its kind, field-controlled experiment carried out for 22 days between September 16, 2014 and October 10, 2014 in a natural coral-reef community has allowed scientists to unequivocally show the detrimental effects of ocean acidification on coral reefs across the world.

Shilpi Chakravarty

Shilpi Chakravarty is an environmental professional with a master's degree in environmental studies from the University of Delhi. She works to use her professional skills for making the planet a better place to live on.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Views: 4,130