Weekly Environmental News Update for Week 50, 2021
Weekly environmental news update from across different media networks for Week 50 (Dec 13 to 19) 2021.
- Air quality panel bans construction activities in Delhi-NCR; healthcare, railway projects exempted
Centre-appointed air quality panel CAQM banned construction and demolition activities in Delhi and adjoining areas till further orders in view of the toxic air in the region.
- Pollution: Delhi-NCR schools allowed to reopen in phases
The Commission for Air Quality Management has allowed the reopening of schools in Delhi-NCR in a phased manner.
- Biomass burning to blame for Delhi haze, study finds
The study identified four periods of haze in post-monsoon and winter seasons, with different compositions of PM2.5.
- Delhi govt appointed 3-member panel to look into Bhalswa landfill fire
Three days after a fire broke out at the Bhalswa landfill, the Delhi government constituted a three-member committee to investigate the blaze and submit its report within two days.
- Better waste management can reduce air pollution load during Delhi’s winter
Delhi generates more than 11,144 tonnes of municipal waste every day and multiple studies estimate that between 2 to 3% of garbage is burnt in the open.
- DJB plans to encourage use of treated water for horticulture
To reduce the groundwater extraction at large private properties, DJB will reach out to the owners of farmhouses and encourage them to use treated water for horticulture purposes.
- EDMC to set up helplines and collection mechanism for scrap materials
EDMC is moving towards setting up a helpline, website and collection mechanism, specifically meant for scrap material, old metallic products and disused vehicles in the trans-Yamuna areas.
- Centre to notify Najafgarh Jheel as transboundary wetland
The Centre has decided to notify the Najafgarh Jheel, the second largest water body in Delhi-NCR after the Yamuna, as a transboundary wetland for its restoration and rejuvenation.
- System to gauge role of pollutants in fog, visibility forecasts in Delhi-NCR
IITM has developed an early warning and prediction system, which will for the first time take into account the role of pollution in causing foggy conditions and low visibility in Delhi-NCR.
- Water Impact Summit organised by NMGC, c-Ganga, in New Delhi
The landmark 6th India Water Impact Summit, organized jointly by NMCG, cGanga, IIT Kanpur, was held from December 9 to December 14.
- CCEA nod to extension of irrigation scheme
The Union government approved the extension of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana till 2026.
- Bill in Lok Sabha seeks changes in Wildlife protection act
The bill seeks to include the aspects of “conservation” and “management” of wildlife which are covered by the Act and make amendments for better management of protected areas.
- Maharasthra State introduces climate change subject for Std I-VIII
Maharashtra has become probably the country’s first state to develop a full-fledged curriculum on climate change and environment for school students.
- Road expansion threatens Satpura-Melghat tiger corridor
NH46 (Betul-Hoshangabad) expansion is cutting the functional corridor between Melghat-Satpura tiger reserves.
- Green watchdog stalls ₹3,300 cr Rayalaseema lift project for lack of environmental nod
NGT directed the Andhra Pradesh government to stop all ongoing work of the RLIS being built on the backwaters of the Krishna river on the ground that it does not have environmental clearance from the Centre.
- Dubai first in the world to go 100% paperless
Dubai is the first government globally to turn completely paperless.
- Amazon’s plastic waste soars by a third during pandemic, Oceana report finds
Online retailer disputes study saying it produced 270,000 tonnes of packaging last year, with 10,000 tonnes likely to end up in seas.
- Bugs across globe are evolving to eat plastic, study finds
Surprising discovery shows scale of plastic pollution and reveals enzymes that could boost recycling.
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