Weekly Environmental News Update for Week 22, 2021

Weekly environmental news update from across different media networks for Week 22 (May 31 to June 6) 2021.

1. Lockdown pollution higher in 2021 than last year: study
   The lockdown imposed this year on account of the second wave of Covid-19 was not as effective in bringing down the pollution levels in the national capital as it was last year.
2. All IMD air quality monitoring stations in Delhi offline: CSE
   An IMD official said the Central Pollution Control Board has been informed about the issue, and it is likely to be resolved next week.
3. Delhi govt petitions SC for closure of 10 ‘outdated’ thermal power plants
   A statement from environment minister Gopal Rai’s office said these 10 coal-fired thermal power plants in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are contributing significantly to air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region.
4. On World Environment Day 2021, Delhi Government To Launch Mega Plantation Drive
   World Environment Day 2021: In a bid to combat air pollution and bring down PM10 levels, the Delhi government will plant a large number of roadside shrubs.
5. Get saplings for free from 14 govt nurseries in Delhi
   Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai on Saturday launched a mega plantation drive on the occasion of World Environment Day, asking Delhiites to come forward and visit the 14 government nurseries across the city where medicinal plants and other saplings are being distributed for free.
6. Cameras up at Chhatarpur after leopard ‘sightings’
   After receiving complaints from locals about the presence of suspected leopard sighting at a farm in Chhatarpur, the forest and wildlife department on Friday installed two camera traps in the area and deployed a team
7. Govt sets up task force on plastic waste management
   Delhi government has formed a special task force under the chairmanship of chief secretary for taking measures to eliminate single-use plastic in mission mode.
8. DU students take on waste: Raise awareness about environment
   Students from various colleges of Delhi University are engaging in clean up drives, reusing e-waste and disposing off medical waste, to keep the environment clean.
9. IIT-Delhi builds environment friendly engine generator fuelled by hydrogen
   The technology has been developed by the Engines and Unconventional Fuels Laboratory, IIT-Delhi, in collaboration with Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited (KOEL), and the Indian Oil R&D Centre.
10. World Environment Day: Covid surge intensifies India’s plastic, biomedical waste problem
    Kerala, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi and Karnataka contributed 50% of biomedical waste generated in May. These states were hit particularly hard by the second wave of the Covid-19
11. CSIR-NCL lab leverages Ayurveda for safe drinking water technology
    With water-borne diseases majorly contributing to India’s disease burden, the CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL) at Pune has come up with a new technique for disinfecting water by using natural oils.
12. NTPC signs up for UN’s save water mandate for industry
    NTPC Ltd chairman Gurdeep Singh, has joined a select group of business leaders focused on efficient water management after India’s largest generation utility became a signatory to the UN Global Compact’s ‘CEO Water Mandate’.
13. NGT head calls out for restoring environment
    National Green Tribunal chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel on Saturday called out authorities and citizens for restoration of the environment and the ecosystem
14. On World Environment Day, PM Modi says India is emerging as leader of climate justice
    “The focus on ethanol is having a better impact on the environment as well as on the lives of farmers. Today we have resolved to meet the target of 20 percent ethanol blending in petrol by 2025,” said PM Modi.
15. India slips two spots to rank 117 on 17 Sustainable Development Goals: Report
    The State of India’s Environment Report 2021 revealed that India’s rank was 115 last year and dropped by two places.

With inputs from Kavita.