Weekly Environmental News Update for Week 11, 2021

Weekly environmental news update from across different media networks for week 11 (March 15 to 21) 2021.

1. New study ranks Delhi as world’s most polluted capital
   The World Air Quality report by Swiss technology company IQAir, released on Tuesday, mentions that 22 of the top 30 most polluted cities globally are in India.
2. Water supply in Delhi to be a challenge this summer, says DJB
   During summers, the average demand of potable water in Delhi increases more than the average 1,100 million gallons per day (MGD), against which the DJB can only supply 935 MGD.
3. The rich biodiversity in and around Delhi is in dire need of protection
   Amid the densely packed bustling urban settlements of Delhi and Gurugram, one would expect a jaunt far from the city to catch a glimpse of wildlife.
4. How 7 tracts of degraded land were transformed into biodiversity parks
   It was in 2001 that around 156 acres of degraded land near Jagatpur in Wazirabad along the Yamuna was earmarked by Vijai Kapoor, then the Lieutenant Governor.
5. Become Wetland Mitra, do your bit to revive Delhi’s waterbodies
   Anyone above the age of 12 years wishing to preserve or revive waterbodies in the capital can now apply to be a WetlandMitra for Delhi Government.
6. Delhi Jal Board to press Punjab and Haryana on supply of water
   After having “positive discussions” with the Bhakra Beas Management Board on Monday, DJB officials will have a joint meeting with Punjab and Haryana govt officials this week on water supply to the capital.
7. Green tribunal orders DPCC to review ₹5-lakh fine
   Following an appeal against an order of DPCC, which imposed a fine of ₹5 lakh for carrying out industrial activities in non-conforming areas, the NGT has directed the body to review the matter.
8. Air panel won’t resume ‘for now’, CPCB is in focus
   The job of tackling air pollution in Delhi-NCR will once again be entrusted to the Central Pollution Control Board and state pollution control boards, according to the central government.
9. Delhi govt will offer interest subvention of 5 per cent for EV policy: Gahlot
   Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot on Sunday said that the Delhi government will soon introduce interest subvention of up to 5 per cent in purchase of electric-run vehicles in the city.
10. Lockdown in Delhi gave wing to sparrows
    On World Sparrow Day on Saturday, the good news is the acknowledgement that their numbers have gone up.
11. Cycle tracks, eco-trails in revamp plan for 22 km Yamuna riverfront
    The officials said the project will not only help people connect with the river but also check the dying ecosystem of the Yamuna floodplains, both flora and fauna.
12. World Water Day: PM Modi to launch Jal Shakti Abhiyan; agreement for 1st river interlinking project to be signed.
    The project involves the construction of the Daudhan Dam and a canal for linking the Ken and Betwa river for the transfer of water from the former to the latter.
13. Single law mooted to replace air, water, environment acts
    India could soon have a single law governing air, water and environment-related activities, one of the senior-most officials in the environment ministry said on Tuesday.
14. Centre lays down plan to phase out single-use plastics by 2022
    The Union environment ministry has proposed to implement a countrywide ban on manufacture, use, sale, import and handling of some of the single-use plastic products by 2022.
15. Mining threat looms over Aravalis in Haryana
    Environmentalists raise red flag as State govt. moves to seek SC’s permission to resume mining, argue it could cause damage to habitat.
16. NITI Aayog vision for Great Nicobar ignores tribal, ecological concerns
    Wildlife Board denotifies Galathea bay sanctuary to build port, trade zone.
17. Solar powered EV charging station developed at IISc
    A solar photovoltaic powered EV charging station has been developed at the Indian Institute of Science in this tech city, an official said on Tuesday.
18. NIO launches project for mapping genetic diversity in Indian ocean
    CSIR-NIO,Goa has initiated a project for mapping the genetic diversity of organisms and the effect of micronutrients and trace metals on them in the Indian Ocean.
19. Supreme Court steps in to protect Great Indian Bustard
    The Supreme Court swooped-in to intervene on behalf of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustards over the birds falling dead after colliding with power lines running through their dwindling natural habitats in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
20. Four tigers missing for a year from Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
    Four tigers, including two sub-adults, have not been sighted in Rajasthan’s Ranthambore Tiger Reserve for a year now.<
21. Summers could last half the year by the end of this century
    A recent study examined how climate change is fueling significant changes in the pattern and duration of Earth’s seasons.

With inputs from Kavita.