Weekly Environmental News Update for Week 10, 2021

Weekly environmental news update from across different media networks for week 10 (March 08 to 14) 2021.

1. Delhi’s air quality index plunges into ‘poor category’
   Delhites woke up witnessing a cloudy morning and the air quality plunged into the poor category.
2. Average levels of pollutants in 2020 lowest in 7 years: Delhi Economic Survey
   Average levels of various pollutants, including PM10, PM2.5 and nitrogen dioxide, in Delhi last year were the lowest since 2014, according to the Delhi Economic Survey report.
3. Delhi: Expert panel creates 5-year plan to restore and manage Najafgarh lake
   An expert committee set up by the Delhi government has prepared an 5 year environmental management plan for Najafgarh lake on directions of the National Green Tribunal.
4. DJB moves SC against Haryana govt over discharge of pollutants into Yamuna
   DJB on Monday moved the Supreme Court against the Haryana government seeking immediate stoppage of discharge of untreated pollutants into the Yamuna river and also to release sufficient water to Delhi.
5. All Unauthorised Colonies In Delhi To Get Piped Water Supply In 2 Years: Manish Sisodia
   The Delhi government has set aside Rs 3,274 crore for the schemes and projects of the DJB for the financial year 2021-22.
6. Delhi to get park for safe e-waste disposal
   The Capital will soon get an e-waste management park for the safe and scientific disposal of electronic products such as appliances and e-vehicle batteries, according officials in the Delhi Lieutenant Governor’s office.
7. Delhi: ‘Waste segregation only in 32% of 294 civic wards’
   While all 22 wards under the New Delhi Municipal Council and Delhi Cantt areas have successfully implemented waste segregation, it has taken off in only 72 wards (26%) of the remaining 272 wards under the three MCDs.
8. Managing plastic waste: Delhi govt to hold consultations with manufacturers and stakeholders
   The consultations will be held to form an action plan where all stakeholders in the “plastic waste management ecosystem” including plastic manufacturers associations, municipal corporations, etc.
9. Animal-friendly Ridge with no barbed fences
   Experts said such initiatives will ensure that the only continuous green space in the national capital is preserved.
10. Delhi Electric Vehicle Parking: Complexes Directed To Reserve 5% Space For EVs
    With a view to push adoption of eletcric vehicles, most establishments with a parking capacity of 100 vehicles in the national capital has to set aside 5 per cent of parking capacity for EVs with suitable EV chargers.
11. Centre’s Panel For Air Quality Management In NCR Collapses After 5 Months of Formation
    Centre introduced the ordinance that put in place the commission and provided for up to five years of jail term and Rs one crore fine for violators to curb pollution.
12. India’s first forest healing centre inaugurated in Uttrakand’s Ranikhet
    First Forest Healing centre of the country was inaugurated on Sunday at Ranikhet in Kalika Uttarakhand.
13. Talks start between 30 nations to protect Indian Ocean’s depleting tuna
    The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), which groups coastal countries from Australia to Kenya plus major fishing region the European Union, was convening virtually over five days to debate yellowfin tuna quotas.
14. Malala Yousafzai says educate girls to fight climate change
    Keeping girls in school and taking young climate leaders seriously are keys to tackling climate change, Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai said during a news conference following her address at the United Nations General Assembly.

With inputs from Kavita.