Weekly Green News Update for Week 17 (Apr 25 to May 1), 2016

weekly-media-roundup

Weekly green news update from across different media networks for week 17 (between April 25 to May 1) 2016.

1. Thousands Of Diesel-Run Taxis To Go Off Road In Delhi From Today

Commuters may face inconvenience as nearly 27,000 diesel-run taxis will not be allowed to run on the capital’s roads from today after the Supreme Court on Saturday refused to extend the April 30 deadline fixed for their conversion into CNG mode.

2. Delhi’s air pollution rises 23% during second odd-even phase

Air pollution levels in Delhi rose 23 per cent during the second phase of the odd-even registration rule, from April 15 to April 29, over the previous 14 days (April 1 to April 14), based on an analysis of PM 2.5 data, generated by IndiaSpend’s Breathe air-quality monitoring devices.

3. Delhi odd-even policy: Key air pollutant, surface-level ozone lower than last April

Although Delhi’s air quality is getting worse with each passing day, the peaks in surface-level ozone, a key air pollutant, has been lower this month as compared to April, last year.

4. Air quality dips, pollution levels double the safe limit

Sunday saw air quality deteriorate as levels of particulate matter reached over two times the safe limit, as restrictions on private cars under the odd-even scheme were lifted.

5. Major overhaul for pollution monitors

The Delhi government’s pollution monitoring mechanism is expected to get a boost in the coming months, with the continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations set to undergo rigorous maintenance.

6. In Delhi’s Pollution Saga, This Plant Is No Mean Player

The second phase of odd-even road rationing scheme in Delhi – meant to lower the city’s lethal pollution levels — is about to end. But meanwhile, the Jindal-run Timarpur-Okhla waste to energy plant has allegedly been belching out pollution equal to 350,000 cars every day .

7. 3-Week Fire Burns At Delhi Garbage Dump, Green Panel Sends Notice

Two of Delhi’s three garbage landfills are on fire, filling the air with toxic smoke that is threatening to derail the best efforts of the Arvind Kejriwal government to show a decline in pollution since its Odd-Even experiment began.

8. No clarity in pollution trend at borders

No clear pattern emerged out of the pollution data collected so far at Delhi’s borders, leaving doubts about odd-even’s impact on air pollution at Delhi’s exit points.

9. Panel advocates alternate sites, waste-to-energy plants

Overflowing landfills should be reclaimed to make way for scientifically-designed alternates and waste-to-energy plants should be installed here, a Delhi government panel has said.

10. NDMC to set up e-waste, hazardous waste centres

Recycling old electronics is set to get easier with the New Delhi Municipal Council proposing setting up seven new collection centres for e-waste and hazardous domestic waste.

11. Remove wires twined around trees in Delhi: NGT asks discoms

The National Green Tribunal has taken strong objection to high tension cables encircling around trees and directed power distribution companies in the national capital to remove these wires expeditiously.

12. Environment ministry to NGT: Metro projects do not need green clearance

The Ministry of Environment and Forests and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation told the National Green Tribunal Thursday that Metro rail projects are not required to seek environmental clearance.

13. High air and water pollution in India’s 41 tier-II cities

If you thought moving out of metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai can save you from pollution, think again. India’s 41 tier-II cities, including Tezpur, Rishikesh, Vapi, Angul, Sangrur and Gajroula too are facing severe air and water pollution.

14. Uttarakhand battles fire crisis

As large parts of Uttarakhand’s forests were engulfed by fire on Saturday, three teams of the National Disaster Response Force were deployed for Kumaon and Garhwal regions and 6,000 forest staff struggled to contain the flames sweeping the State.

15. Forest rangers now turning to advanced AI and mathematical models to help curb poaching

For the longest time, the only way to counter the ongoing threat of illegal poaching of endangered animal species in forests and natural reserves has been experience-based human patrolling.

16. Ancient Himalayan wolf still present in Nepal, confirm scientists

Scientists have confirmed the presence of the critically endangered Himalayan wolf — the most ancient wolf lineage known — in Nepal’s largest protected area.

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.

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