Weekly Green News Update for Week 18 (May 2 to 8), 2016

Weekly green news update from across different media networks for week 18 (between May 2 to 8) 2016.

1. Delhi: After dip in post odd-even period, ozone levels shoot up 

Levels of ozone, a gaseous pollutant, have shown a spike in the last three days after dipping immediately once the second round of odd-even scheme came to an end on April 30, according to data collated by various monitoring agencies.

2. Plastic pollution is killing wildlife in South Delhi

Last week, a team of scientists in Costa Rica pulled out a plastic straw from the nostril of an olive ridley sea turtle.

3. Public transport integration can curb congestion and pollution in Delhi

What makes public transport desirable? It is easy access, safety, reliability, timely and accessible information, comfort and interconnectivity, say experts.

4. Delhi’s odd-even scheme prevented increase in pollution: CSE

The Delhi government’s odd-even road rationing scheme stopped air pollution from getting worse, the Centre for Science and Environment said on Thursday, criticizing the auto industry for claiming that vehicles are an insignificant source of pollution in the national capital.

5. In face of rising pollution, Delhi High Court seeks report on forest cover area

The Delhi High Court has asked the Delhi government to prepare a comparative report on the forest cover in Delhi and ridge areas of 1996 and the current status.

6. Landfills or pollution bombs? Delhi’s garbage dumps spewing toxic gases

The mammoth ticking garbage bombs of Ghazipur and Bhalswa landfills are spewing toxic gases by the minute into Delhi’s already foul air because the national capital does not have an efficient waste management system.

7. NGT questions Delhi Govt over inaction on ban on old vehicles

The National Green Tribunal on Monday asked the Delhi government why it had not implemented its earlier order banning vehicles of more than 15 years old.

8. Forest fires spiked air pollution level from Apr 22 in Delhi

The second phase of the odd-even car rationing scheme helped “reduce” the air pollution during the initial few days but farm and forest fires played spoilsport and it registered a “sudden spike” from April 22 onwards, a green body claimed today.

9. NGT warns Delhi Jal Board: Don’t play smart game with us

The Delhi Jal Board was on Tuesday taken to task over construction of a sewage treatment plant by the National Green Tribunal which warned its officials not to play a “smart game” on the issue concerning pollution in river Yamuna.

10. NGT asks Delhi govt to plant 2K saplings in lieu of 216 trees

Expressing concern over reckless felling of trees in large numbers, the National Green Tribunal on Thursday directed Delhi government to plant 2,000 trees for chopping 216 trees in a residential colony in north east Delhi.

11. A new plan to clean up Yamuna

A new plan to clean Yamuna, including removal of solid waste and preventing sewage from flowing into the river, is likely to be announced by the Union and Delhi governments soon.

12. Use of wetlands for sewage disposal ‘disturbing’: Govt

Terming encroachment of wetlands and their use as sewage disposal sites “disturbing”, government said on Tuesday it has taken several steps to protect such sites from rapid urbanisation and industrialisation.

13. India To Spend $6 Billion On Creating New Forests: Prakash Javadekar

The Lawmakers in a low house have passed Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill, 2015. This bill aims at the afforestation that means to increase the forest cover in our country from 21.34 per cent of 33 per cent total land.

14. Yamuna pollution behind rise in insect attacks on Taj, finds ASI report

Pollution from the Yamuna is responsible for green patches on Taj Mahal, said the Archaeological Survey of India’s science branch in its latest report. Due to pollution and pools of stagnant water, the Yamuna has turned into a breeding ground for the insects that are sullying the white marble of the 17th century monument.

15. Leopards have lost 75% of their habitat range, a study has revealed

Warning of a global decline of leopards, new research has found that the elusive but iconic big cat has lost as much as 75 per cent of its historic habitat range.