Weekly Environmental News Update for Week 40, 2024
Weekly environmental news update from across different media networks for Week 40 (30 Sept to 6 Oct) 2024.
1. Green War Room’ launched to monitor air pollution in Delhi
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai Monday launched a 24×7 ‘Green War Room’ to monitor air pollution in the Capital. An 8-member team of environmental engineers and experts has been deployed to monitor the war room.
2. Anti-dust drive: Delhi clears over 6,157 metric tonnes of waste in 10 days
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has completed the removal of over 6156.94 metric tonnes of silt and construction and demolition waste from the capital in the last 10 days, according to officials.
3. Delhi water crisis: Long queues continue to form at tankers across the city
Long lines of people were seen queuing up on Saturday to fetch water from tankers across parts of the national capital, as the city continued to sizzle in the summer heat.
4. No water supply for 16 hours in West Delhi on October 1, 2
The water supply in parts of West Delhi will be affected for 16 hours on October 1 and 2, according to an official statement by the Delhi Jal Board.
5. Green tribunal orders DJB to clarify role in South Delhi pond pollution
The National Green Tribunal has notified the Delhi Jal Board in a matter relating to rising pollution in a south Delhi pond, Macchli Talab, located in Vasant Kunj.
6. NGT notice to forest ministry, officials on Delhi’s southern Ridge encroachment
The National Green Tribunal has directed that notice be issued to the principal chief conservator of forests of Delhi, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the district magistrate of South Delhi, seeking their responses in a matter pertaining to encroachment in Delhi’s southern Ridge.
7. Delhi ‘greenest’ metro city in country: AAP govt tells SC
After being slammed for its “lacklustre” approach in enhancing the green cover in the Capital, it emerged on Wednesday that the Delhi government had filed an affidavit before another bench of the top court hearing the contempt petition against illegal felling of trees in the Delhi Ridge, informing it of the steps taken to enhance the city’s green cover.
8. Come 2025, a forest action plan may give boost to green conservation efforts in city
Delhi forest department has approached Forest Research Institute to compile a comprehensive action plan for the city’s forests, something that Delhi has been lacking so far.
9. 10-foot long King Cobra found in Delhi
In a rare incident, the forest and wildlife department successfully rescued a king cobra spotted in a tree in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, on Tuesday. This marks the first time a king cobra has been sighted in the national capital.
10. Prepare plan to tackle monkey menace: Delhi HC to civic bodies
The Delhi High Court on Monday ordered civic bodies here to prepare and implement a programme to deal with the monkey menace in the national capital noting a rise in the simian population.
11. Animal rights group opposes transfer of Assam elephant to Delhi temple
A group of animal rights activists have raised concerns over the proposed transfer of a female elephant named Ranjitha from Assam to Delhi.
12. Gopal Rai inaugurates bio-decomposer initiative
In an effort to address the issue of stubble burning and lower the pollution levels in the national capital during winter, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Thursday inaugurated the use of a bio-decomposer mixture in Palla village in Narela.
13. Nine govt hospitals in Delhi in dock over waste disposal
Nine government hospitals in the capital, including the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), “have not fully complied with the requirements for dealing with and disposal of BMW (bio-medical waste) generated”, the green court said on Friday.
14. Sops for scrapping old vehicles
The Delhi government on Wednesday announced a special scheme, under which residents can claim up to 20 per cent tax rebate on purchase of new vehicles by scrapping their old ones.
15. Delhi: 70 Cleanliness Target Units Adopted By DMRC For A Greener Metro Environment
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation on Sunday said it has adopted 70 cleanliness target units outside its premises for a cleaner environment near stations, depots and residential colonies.
16. Sonam Wangchuk released from detention as Delhi Police withdraws prohibitory order
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was released from detention on Thursday after the Delhi Police withdrew its prohibitory orders on public assembly.
With the fragile ecology of the Western Ghats in mind, a Union Environment Ministry expert panel has decided that it will not grant final clearances to pumped hydropower projects proposed in the region without site visits to ascertain their impact on the environment.