Weekly Environmental News Update for Week 38, 2021

Weekly environmental news update from across different media networks for Week 38 (Sep 20 to Sep 26) 2021.

1. Diesel vehicle 15+ in Delhi? Drive starts to send it for scrapping
   In the first phase of the drive, enforcement teams from the department would seize diesel-run vehicles that are more than 15 years old and deregistered for scrapping.
2. Paddy straw not liability anymore: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal
   Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said paddy straw is not a liability anymore and urged neighbouring states to make the Pusa bio-decomposer available to their farmers for in-situ management of crop residue.
3. Winter: Environment Ministry, States outline plans to stem pollution
   The Union Environment Ministry convened a meeting with representatives from Delhi and neighbouring States that see pollution levels soar during winter.
4. Delhi: Smog tower in to be made fully functional by October 1, says Gopal Rai
   The state government’s first smog tower, in central Delhi’s Connaught Place, will be completely operational from October 1, Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai said.
5. Delhi agencies work on preparing action plans to limit pollution 
   Municipalities have identified vulnerable spots for open garbage burning, have prepared mechanical sweepers and identified routes for them to operate every night.
6. This year, new system to pinpoint sources of air pollution in Delhi-NCR
   A newly developed Decision Support System that will attempt to determine the source of air pollutants in Delhi-NCR will be a part of the existing air quality forecasting system this year.
7. Plea in HC seeks modification of Delhi govt decision to ban firecrackers during Diwali 
   A plea has been filed in Delhi High Court seeking to modify the Delhi government’s decision on completely banning the storage, sale and use of firecrackers in the national capital during the festival of Diwali.
8. DJB to install 80 MGD RO plants in areas with saline groundwater: Satyendar Jain
   DJB will install reverse osmosis plants in areas such as Okhla, Dwarka, Nilothi-Nangloi, Chilla and Najafgarh. Delhi water minister Satyendar Jain said will use RO systems that will have 80% water recovery rate.
9. Forest staff, police to consider joint checks
   Officials of the Delhi forest department will conduct a meeting with Delhi Police this week to discuss the possibility of forming joint inspection teams to inspect the forest lands of the Capital, senior officials said on Saturday.
10. Pedal Power Project To Start Rolling With 20.5km Leg
    Delhi Development Authority is all set to start work on its ambitious CycleWalk project meant for pedestrians and cyclists.
11. Vehicle scrappage policy: Centre announces procedure to set up registered facilities.
    The procedure states that a vehicle registered in any state can be scrapped at a Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility in other states as well.
12. NGT asks Rajasthan, Haryana to act on Aravali encroachments
    NGT has directed the Haryana and Rajasthan governments to take prompt action to remove illegal constructions and encroachments in the Aravalis.
13. Uttarakhand to start ₹39 crore man-wildlife conflict mitigation project
    Uttarakhand Forest department has started an ambitious ₹ 39 crore man-wildlife conflict mitigation project which will roll out various measures in the Himalayan state.
14. Kovalam beach in Tamil Nadu & Eden in Puducherry get ‘Blue Flag’ certificate
    Two more Indian beaches Kovalam in Tamil Nadu and Eden in Puducherry have got the coveted international ‘Blue Flag’ certification, an eco-level tag given to clean and well-managed beaches as per globally recognised standards.
15. India’s air quality forecasting model gets global nod
    The first official indigenous framework to forecast the quality of air in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Ahmedabad, as mandated under the NCAP plan by the SAFAR, has been accepted internationally.
16. India added at least 800 species of plants, animals in 2020
    India added at least 800 new species of plants and animals, including those which were earlier not known to man, in 2020 despite being a pandemic year.
17. India welcomes US’ efforts to fight climate change, its return to Paris Agreement
    India has welcomed US’ efforts to combat climate change and its return to the Paris Agreement as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden held their first in-person bilateral meeting at the White House.
18. Many nations join call for no new coal plants ahead of COP26
    For the first time, a diverse group of developed and developing countries have come together to give impetus to global efforts to end new coal-fired power generation.
19. WHO revises global air quality, sets new quality levels for protection of health
    The World Health Organisation released a revised Global Air Quality Guidelines, announcing more stringent limits for six pollutant categories —particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide.