Weekly Environmental News Update for Week 34, 2021

Weekly environmental news update from across different media networks for Week 34 (Aug 23 to Aug 29) 2021.

1. Delhi’s new smog tower: The technology, the impact, the evidence
   Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal inaugurated on Monday the country’s first ‘smog tower’, an experimental set up worth Rs 20 crore to purify air in a 1-km radius around the structure.
2. PM10 remains lead pollutant in Delhi’s air this month
   PM10 has been the lead pollutant for the past five days due to higher dust concentration in Delhi’s air and no rain.
3. Bad air may cause monsoon to weaken, finds new study.
   An increase in anthropogenic aerosols could lead to a reduction in the mean monsoon rainfall by as much as 10% to 15% in the coming years.
4. Water purification plants launched at 2 Delhi govt schools
   Delhi Jal Board Vice Chairman Raghav Chadha Sunday inaugurated water purification plants capable of dispensing 500 litres of water every hour at two schools here.
5. NGT directs Delhi govt officials to hold meeting for scientific disposal of sewage at Sangam Vihar
   The National Green Tribunal has directed the secretaries of the Delhi Urban Development and Environment departments to hold a meeting with authorities concerned on the issue of unscientific dumping of sewage at Sangam Vihar here.
6. After waterlogging brings city to halt, CM Kejriwal holds meeting to assess drainage master plan
   The implementation has been stuck in red tape and between the multiple authorities that govern the city — including PWD, municipal corporations, Delhi Jal Board, DDA, and the flood and irrigation department.
7. ‘Intense spells of rain harming Delhi’s ecology’
   An analysis carried out by the Centre for Science and Environment last year showed that this trend of short, but intense rain spells is making usable water scarce in Delhi.
8. Petition calls for audit of Jal Board accounts, HC seeks response from Delhi govt, DJB and CAG
   The petition said that Section 70 of the Delhi Water Board Act makes it mandatory for DJB to maintain these records in such form as may be prescribed by the government in consultation with CAG.
9. SDMC not to disconnect water, power connections to unauthorised colonies
   The civic body also directed officials to take back previous orders of disconnecting water and electricity connections in such colonies.
10. Noose is tightening around generators of plastic waste in Delhi
    DPCC has directed all producers, importers, manufactures and brand owners, who introduce plastic waste through their products, to obtain registration and consent under the Air and Water Acts.
11. E-waste disposal gets boost as Delhi corporation sites, toll-free numbers find takers
    The south and east Delhi municipal corporations recently launched websites and toll-free numbers to encourage people to dispose of their e-waste in a proper manner.
12. South MCD kicks off process for setting up green-friendly landfill at Okhla
    The engineered landfill on a 32-acre plot is estimated to cost ₹55.5 crore and is scheduled to be completed within 18 months.
13. Delhi: Parts of Bhalswa landfill collapses onto homes below
    With the biomining of legacy waste at the Bhalswa landfill far from complete, sections of the tottering pile of waste at the site have been falling onto nearby homes in the past few days.
14. Depleting ponds of Delhi still support 37 per cent of bird species, explains study
    A first of its kind of study of ponds in Delhi has found that 37 per cent of Delhi’s bird species living around its pond, the highest bird diversity recorded in urban ponds anywhere in the world.
15. Delhi govt begins tree plantation drive at Jamia Hamdard University
    Delhi Food and Civil Supplies minister Imran Hussain on Tuesday started a tree plantation drive at Jamia Hamdard University by planting Amaltas saplings.
16. Delhi zoo gets 465 new ‘high-end’ CCTV cameras to monitor animal’s welfare
    So far the zoo had a few surveillance cameras installed only at critical points that did not cover the entire premises.
17. Delhi govt to focus on procuring e-buses
    The government has given the go-ahead for procurement of 465 e-buses under the cluster scheme and tenders for it are expected to be floated soon, a senior Transport department officer said.
18. Citizens’ groups object to proposed waste-to-energy plant
    Several citizens’ groups have written to Haryana State Pollution Control Board raising serious objections to the proposed waste-to-energy plant at Bandhwari landfill site off Gurugram-Faridabad Road.
19. Green India Mission falls 30% short of target in five years
    The ambitious Green India Mission plan for undertaking afforestation activities under the National Action Plan on Climate Change has hit roadblocks in some states, resulting in a 30% shortfall in target from 2015-16 to 2020-21.
20. Ministries reach consensus on hydropower projects in Himalayas
    No other new projects would be allowed in the upper reaches of the Ganga and those sanctioned would have to abide by environment regulations that prescribe a minimum flow in the river at all times of the year to preserve its health.
21. Centre Has Agreed To Translate Draft EIA In 22 Vernacular Languages: Delhi High Court Informed
    The Central Government has informed the Delhi High Court that it will translate and publish the Draft Environment Impact Assessment in 22 vernacular languages.
22. India adds 557 new species to its fauna: Zoological Survey of India
    India has added 557 new species to its fauna, reveals Animal Discoveries 2020, a document published recently by the Zoological Survey of India. The number of faunal species in India has climbed to 1,02,718 species with the discovery of the news species.
23. Resting on climate action a $11 trillion opportunity for India: Report
    India must act now to prevent the country losing $35 trillion in economic potential over the next 50 years due to unmitigated climate change, a new report from the Deloitte Economics Institute has said.
24. BRICS adopts ‘New Delhi Statement’, India stresses on climate equity
    The Environment Ministers adopted the New Delhi Statement on Environment, which is aimed at furthering spirit of Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation and Consensus in Environment among BRICS Nations.

With inputs from Kavita.