Weekly Green News Update for Week 40 (Oct 3 to 9), 2016
Weekly green news update from across different media networks for week 40 (between October 3 to October 9) 2016.
1. Use CCTVs to nab those who litter, suggests Delhi HC
Expressing its ire at widespread littering by citizens in Delhi, a bench of the Delhi High Court Wednesday suggested that police and civic agencies could consider using “CCTV footage” to nab persons dumping garbage and prosecute them.
2. Delhi’s civic bodies start spending Swachh Bharat Mission funds
Eighteen months after receiving funds from the Centre under the Swachh Bharat Mission, the municipal corporations have started buying modern equipment to improve the system of garbage disposal in the city.
3. Looking for a solid idea to guard against waste burning
Environmental NGO Chintan’s research revealed a much ignored contributor to Delhi’s winter pollution: security guards burning solid waste to keep themselves warm in the bitter cold.
4. Carmakers wary of rising Delhi pollution
The car manufacturing industry is recording double-digit sales growth in the domestic market but there is a concern.
5. Pollutant levels high on Tuesday despite rain: Delhi’s air quality worst in a month
Delhi’s air quality took a turn for the worse Tuesday as the particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) levels shot up during the hot and humid day.
6. Plan to process horticulture, plastic waste
About 100 metric tons of plastic waste generated in four of the six zones of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation goes straight to the Bhalswa landfill daily.
7. 2K saplings planted in lieu of 216 trees: Delhi govt tells NGT
Delhi government’s Horticulture Department has informed the National Green Tribunal that it has planted 2,000 trees for chopping 216 trees in a residential colony in north east Delhi.
8. NGT directs Delhi govt to shut pickling units in city
Noting that pickling units fall under prohibited list of industries as per Master Plan 2021, the National Green Tribunal has directed the Delhi government to shut down such industries units located in the national capital with immediate effect.
9. Pollution control board demands plans to tackle stubble burning
The Central Pollution Control board on Sunday convened a meeting of all member secretaries to devise an action plan to “effectively” and “strictly” monitor any incidence of burning of crop stubble in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
10. NGT threatens to stop state transport in Delhi, other states to control pollution levels
The National Green Tribunal today warned of halting state transport in four northern states if they did not introduce CNG, saying most particulate matters in the air inhaled by Delhi’ites emanated from there.
11. Delhi tops most polluted megacity list, says WHO
Delhi’s air is the worst among world megacities, the World Health Organization confirmed recently, even as IndiaSpend’s breathe network of air-quality sensors reported fine-particulate-matter (PM2.5) levels were almost four times above daily safe levels, on average, for the seven-day period from September 22 to 28, 2016.
12. ‘Bulk of Delhi’s pollution comes from neighbouring States’
An analysis of Delhi’s air pollution and future trends says that 60% of Delhi’s particulate matter pollution comes from neighbouring Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
13. India Close To Become ‘Water Scarce’ Country: Minister Uma Bharti
India is close to being categorised as “water scarce”, Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti today said, citing increasing demand, uncertain availability and over exploitation of rivers as the causes.
14. Will change the curriculum to create environmental consciousness: Javadekar
Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday said that he will update the existing educational curriculum with environmental issues for creating awareness among the future generations.
15. Waste-to-wealth a Rs 10 lakh crore opportunity for India: Nitin Gadkari
Conversion of waste into wealth can generate Rs 10 lakh crore per annum for the Indian economy, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said today.
16. 42-feet whale found dead off Guhaghar beach in Maharashtra
A 42-feet-long whale was found dead off the Guhaghar beach in Ratnagiri district in coastal Konkan region of Maharashtra, a senior official said today.
17. Growing calls for China to take early action to reduce HFCs
As nearly 200 nations began their historical meeting here to ink a deal to phase-down hydrofluorocarbons, China is facing pressure from developing countries to take more responsibility to reduce the climate-damaging gas under the Montreal Protocol.