Weekly Environmental News Update for Week 51, 2021

Weekly environmental news update from across different media networks for Week 51 (Dec 20 to 26) 2021.

1. Delhi second most polluted city in country, not much hope soon
   The national capital on Saturday turned out to be the second most polluted city of the country in terms of air pollution.
2. Delhi`s air quality at `severe` category, overall AQI at 430
   Delhi’s air quality slipped to the ‘severe’ category again, with the city recording an overall AQI of 430 on Sunday.
3. Air pollution: Delhi govt allows construction, demolition work
   Delhi government has issued directions allowing the resumption of construction and demolition activities and the entry of trucks into the national capital.
4. As temperatures dip, bonfires add to Delhi’s air pollution
   Municipal agencies in the city — North, South and East Delhi municipal corporations have been directed to keep a close watch on these fires.
5. Power plants around Delhi are far from meeting norms to reduce air pollution
   Experts say air quality in the National Capital Region cannot improve until coal-based thermal power plants are phased out.
6. 96% pollution related complaints resolved through Green Delhi App, informs Delhi Govt
   The government had received 34,411 complaints through Green Delhi App till date, out of which over 32,897 complaints have been resolved.
7. Delhi: 50% of 18,000 complaints on green app filed in 4 months
   As the air quality deteriorated in the city, the number of complaints, which were around 20 every day earlier this year, rose to about 70 per day for the past four months.
8. With invasive species and soil degradation, Delhi is slowly losing its dhau trees
   Over the years, Delhi has lost many of its dhau trees — deciduous trees that are perfectly at home in the Aravalli hills, and by extension, in parts of the city’s Ridge area.
9. NCR resolved 50% pollution-related complaints: CPCB
   Among the NCR states, Delhi is faring best, having resolved nearly 63% (761) of the 1,214 complaints filed during this period.
10. Trees and robots in NCRPB plan to combat pollution
    NCRPB in its draft Regional Plan-2041 for NCR envisages an environment plan that includes a mixture of greenery and technology to combat pollution in the region.
11. Delhi pollution body hires 50 environmental engineers, to train them via 3-week module
    Officials of DPCC said this training module,will be the guiding tool for all future recruitments for technical positions, with particular focus on air pollution.
12. In a first, DPCC to study microplastics pollution in River Yamuna and Delhi’s soil
    The pollution control body will also examine if the soil in the floodplains of River Yamuna is fit for agriculture.
13. 78% drinking water units did not have NOC from ground water board
    The CAG also found that out of 328 cases across 18 states, only 75 projects were functioning with requisite NOCs from the state pollution control boards or committees.
14. Govt refers Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill to a joint committee of Parliament for scrutiny
    The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill 2021, was on Monday referred to a joint committee of Parliament which will examine it and submit its report in the first week of the Budget session next year.
15. Gurugram signs MoU with IMD for installing weather stations and air quality monitors across city
    GMDA signed a memorandum of understanding with IMD in December for installing weather stations, including air quality monitoring stations, across the city.
16. Ghaziabad civic body declares 94 wards eligible for “water plus” certification
    The Ghaziabad municipal corporation has declared 94 of its 100 residential wards eligible for the “water plus” certification.
17. Noida’s farm tourism, an apt break from city’s humdrum
    The vast expanse of agricultural land in Gautam Budh Nagar has opened the doors of farm tourism in the district.
18. Monitor steps taken to curb Yamuna pollution in Vrindavan: NGT to chief secy
    NGT has directed the UP chief secretary to monitor the measures taken by the state agencies in curbing pollution in river Yamuna in Vrindavan.
19. Maharashtra to spend bulk of clean air funds on electrifying public transport  
    The Maharashtra government plans to spend a significant majority of clean air funding obtained under the 15th Finance Commission on electrifying public transport under its Electric Vehicle Policy 2021.
20. Natural calamities on the rise, Rs254.22 cr spent in disaster relief in Pune in 5 years
    The state government has spent over Rs21,068 crore in the last five years for disaster relief in calamities. In Pune district, Rs. 254.22 crore has been spent.
21. No mountain high enough: study finds plastic in ‘clean’ air
    Microplastics from Africa and North America found airborne in French Pyrenees, 2,877 metres above sea level.