Weekly Environmental News Update for Week 29, 2021

Weekly environmental news update from across different media networks for Week 29 (July 19 to 25) 2021.

1. $2 million smog tower to help purify Delhi’s polluted air
   A new attempt at purifying New Delhi’s notoriously polluted air will see forty giant fans push out filtered air in the heart of the India’s capital posh downtown shopping district.
2. System to give Delhi precise data on air pollution sources
   The most significant movements in understanding Delhi’s pollution problem came in 2016, when a source apportionment study was conducted by IIT-Kanpur and in 2018, in a study by The Energy Resources Institute to identify major pollution contributors.
3. NGT raps AAP govt over fire incident in west Delhi, says no sensitivity shown
   The National Green Tribunal has rapped the AAP government over a fire incident in a west Delhi factory, saying the administration has shown utter lack of concern for human lives and that no steps have been taken to compensate family of victims.
4. SC dismisses Delhi Jal Board’s contempt petition
   Action was sought against Haryana officials for not maintaining water level at the Wazirabad reservoir to serve capital’s needs.
5. HC issues notice to Delhi Govt and Jal Board on petition challenging Infrastructure Charge
   The Delhi High Court on Thursday issues notice to Delhi Govt and Delhi Jal Board on a petition challenging the decision of the Jal Board and Delhi Govt to revive the levy of Infrastructure Charge.
6. Delhi: Naini Lake threatens to enter Model Town homes
   An overflowing Naini Lake in Model Town has become a cause of concern for the people living in its vicinity.
7. NGT imposes Rs 1.64-cr fine on Sonepat unit for violating eco norms
   The National Green Tribunal has imposed a fine of Rs 1.64 crore on a company for mining in the Yamuna by violating environmental norms.
8. MoEF to table Bill for panel on NCR air pollution: Bill on air quality commission drops clause on jail term
   The Bill has taken into consideration the concerns of the farmers following several rounds of negotiations, after they had raised concerns of stiff penalties and possible jail terms for stubble burning.
9. India speeds up Green approvals as environmentalists call foul
   India’s Environment Ministry has almost halved the time it takes to clear projects, cheering companies hit by the pandemic and worrying green activists concerned the increased pace may come at a cost.
10. India saw 13 million dangerous lightning strikes last year
    India had last year recorded nearly 23% increase in lightning episodes compared to 2019 with Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha and West Bengal turning out to be among the top vulnerable states in terms of reporting this extreme weather phenomena.
11. India, China most vulnerable to climate crisis, pollution
    New Delhi: India and China are among the five countries most vulnerable to climate change and air pollution, a first- of-its-kind research assessing the combined risks of the two factors said on Thursday.
12. India urges G20 nations to bring down per capita emissions to global average by 2030
    India has urged the G20 countries to bring down per capita emissions to the global average by 2030 in view of the “fast-depleting available carbon space.”

With inputs from Kavita.