Weekly Green News Update for Week 39 (Sept 26 to Oct 2), 2016

weekly-media-roundup

Weekly green news update from across different media networks for week 39 (between September 26 to October 2) 2016.

1. Delhi second-most polluted major city in the world, says WHO study

A new report by the World Health Organisation on ambient air pollution levels shows that with very high levels of particulate matter measuring 10 microns or less, Delhi is among the most polluted cities in the world, second only to Riyadh among the big cities.

2. Fight goes cold, hard winter ahead

The central government’s recent notification on implementing BS VI emission norms from 2020 may have been welcomed by health and air quality experts, but for now there isn’t much to enthuse about.

3. Air Quality Dips After 3-Mth Respite, Worse Yet To Come

After a three-month respite, Delhi has again started recording “poor” air quality. Till this week, air quality was hovering between “good” and “moderate”, but experts explained the seasonal transition will herald “poor” conditions, which will possibly worsen over the next couple of months.

4. AAP government panel to examine manja ban proposal

Following the directions of Raj Niwas, the AAP government has set up a 12-member committee headed by S.K. Gupta, who is from the chemical engineering department of IIT-Delhi, to look into the suggestions and objections received by the city administration’s environment department pertaining to draft notification issued on August 16 for proposing a ban on sharp nylon/ plastic/ synthetic manja and kite flying thread in the national capital.

5. Plea to L-G, CM to protect Yamuna

Concerned about the already-stressed Yamuna, environmentalists have written to Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal seeking their intervention in protecting the river.

6. South Delhi to become dhalao free soon, SDMC installed fixed compactors

Soon, dhalaos are going to be history in south Delhi areas as South Delhi Municipal Corporation today dedicated 5 fixed compactors transfer stations to the national capital.

7. Municipal body delays waste disposal plans

Lackadaisical approach and internal differences between party leaders within the BJP-ruled North Delhi Municipal Corporation is working against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Swachc-hh Bharat Mission”.

8. Panel seeks more time to assess damage to Yamuna

The seven-member principal committee, headed by Water Resources Secretary Shashi Shekhar, has told the National Green Tribunal that the tentative cost of rejuvenating the Yamuna riverbed — damaged due to a cultural extravaganza organised by the Art of Living foundation — can be calculated only after November as the area is still inundated by floodwaters.

9. 2 years on, Swachh Bharat yet to reach Bhalswa

As smoke rises from the burning garbage, Bhalswa may as well be on a different planet than the manicured lawns of Lutyens’ Delhi where Union Ministers will mark the second anniversary of the launch of the Swachh Bharat Mission on Sunday.

10. NGT notice over illegal construction in Ridge area

The National Green Tribunal has issued notices to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi Development Authority, the Delhi government, and others, seeking a response within two weeks on the alleged illegal construction by JNU in the ecologically-sensitive southern Ridge area.

11. A fortnight on, no respite in sight from smoke at Ghazipur landfill

Lata rushes towards the stinking heap of garbage as soon as the dumper pulls away.

12. An app that helps you choose plants to control indoor pollution

An IIT graduate has developed a mobile application which will help Delhiites tackle high pollution levels with plants in their houses.

13. ‘Neighbours to blame for stubble burning’

Responding to the high court’s direction that there should be no biomass burning this year, Delhi government has decided to file an affidavit explaining that NASA images have proved that pollution levels in the city increase every November due to crop stubble burning in neighbouring states.

14. Delhi HC refuses to stay new e-waste rules against CFL manufacturers

The Delhi high court on Wednesday refused to stay adherence of the new e-waste management rules in India by a host of manufacturers of compact fluorescent lamp.

15. Delhi: Sixteen old trees to be notified as ‘protected’ natural heritage

Sixteen trees native to Aravali and NCR, will soon be notified as “protected” natural heritage, on the lines of recognising special monuments in Delhi.

16. Delhi govt gears up to check pollution ahead of Diwali

With a WHO report ranking Delhi among most polluted cities in the world, the AAP government today decided to initiate steps, including awareness drives against burning Chinese fire crackers, dry leaves and waste in open, to check air and noise pollution ahead of Diwali season.

17. Exhibition on sanitation technologies in Delhi

In a move to promote and create awareness, a wide range of sanitation technologies will be up on exhibition at a two-day exhibition in New Delhi from September 29.

18. NGT rebukes GDA over dumping of waste in Hindon

National Green Tribunal today took Ghaziabad Development Authority to task over indiscriminate dumping of municipal solid waste and garbage on the banks of river Hindon and said the civic body should think about the peoples problems before committing such acts.

19. India generates 165-175 million tonnes of debris annually: Govt estimate

Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata top the list of cities that generate huge quantity of demolition waste (debris).

20. New gecko species named after Kolhapur scientist

Scientists from the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru, and the Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, recently discovered a new species of the ground-dwelling lizard of the genus Cyrtodactylus, belonging to the subgenus Geckoella, more commonly known as geckos.

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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