Weekly Environmental News Roundup for Week 1, 2025
Weekly environmental news roundup from across different media networks for Week 1 (30 Dec 2024 to 5 Jan) 2025.
1. Delhi’s air quality was poor or worse for 155 days in 2024
The air quality in Delhi nosedived to hazardous levels on December 16, triggering the Central Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and the adjoining areas to reimpose the Stage-IV restrictions under its Graded Response Action Plan.
2. Delhi’s air quality worsens, AQI remains in ‘poor’ category for 3rd day
Delhi began Thursday, 2 January, with air quality in the “poor” category.
3. Delhi pollution: CAQM invokes GRAP Stage 3 as air quality deteriorates
The Commission for Air Quality Management, the centre’s panel that oversees Delhi-NCR’s air quality, invoked the Stage 3 curbs under the Graded Response Action Plan on Friday as the city’s air pollution levels increased because of unfavourable weather conditions.
4. Delhi Pollution Body Collected Over Rs 112 Crore In Compensation: Report In NGT
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee collected over Rs 112 crore in environmental compensation between April 2015 and November 20, 2024, the NGT was recently told.
5. Delhi election 2025: Nitin Gadkari announces ₹12,500 crore plan to cut pollution, congestion
Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, made major announcement on Thursday with regard to Delhi’s transport network, pollution and congestion in the city.
6. Shiv Murti-Nelson Mandela tunnel faces green concerns
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee has stated that residents of south Delhi have raised concerns that a proposed tunnel between Shiv Murti interchange on NH-48 and Nelson Mandela Marg in Vasant Kunj could have an adverse impact on the forest and environment, and possible damage to houses in the area.
7. DPCC submits road tunnel public hearing to environment ministry
Delhi Pollution Control Committee has prepared a report based on the feedback it has received during two public hearings in Sept regarding the proposed construction of an underground road tunnel from Shiv Murti Interchange to Nelson Mandela Marg.
8. Delhi to Launch Cable Cars Across Yamuna for Eco-friendly Transport
Delhi is set to introduce a cable car system across the Yamuna River.
9. Yamuna Vatika: Delhi gets its own dream green space with play areas, walking trails and flowers
The Yamuna Vatika, situated opposite the Rajghat Power plant, is another step by the DDA to enhance the ecological and aesthetic beauty of the Yamuna floodplains.
10. Water-starved Delhi village gets a notice it wasn’t meant to, for extracting groundwater
Shikarpur, one of the capital’s few agricultural villages, situated close to the Najafgarh drain and Delhi-Haryana border, has for years struggled with the problem of scarcity amidst plenty
11. DDA launches plan to manage over thousands of acres of green spaces
Delhi Development Authority has introduced a comprehensive plan to manage its green spaces, including parks, central verges, trees, biodiversity parks abd the Yamuna floodplain, through a single expert organisation.
12. Delhi’s December peak power demand hits record 5213 MW
Delhi’s winter power demand on Tuesday morning surged to the highest levels, crossing the 5000 MW mark for the first time in December, according to the State Load Dispatch Centre.
13. 9-Month-Old White Tiger Dies at Delhi Zoo Due To “Traumatic Shock”
A nine-month-old female white tiger, which was undergoing treatment, died at Delhi Zoo due to “traumatic shock” and “acute pneumonia”, officials said on Wednesday.
14. Postmortem of rhinoceros found dead in Delhi zoo reveals acute haemorrhagic enteritis
The sudden death of an 11-year-old male rhinoceros at the Delhi zoo has been attributed to “acute haemorrhagic enteritis”, as revealed by the postmortem.
15. Delhi Zoo welcomes over 25,000 visitors on New Year’s day, up 39 pc from last year
Delhi Zoo welcomed more than 25,000 visitors on the first day of the new year on Wednesday, marking a 39.09 per cent increase from last year’s footfalls on the same day, zoo officials said.
16. Delhi: SC clears path for WtE plant in Narela-Bawana
The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s authority to set tariffs for its proposed waste-to-energy plant in Narela-Bawana, clearing the way for the city’s fifth such facility aimed at tackling 3,000 tonnes of untreated waste generated daily.
17. Plea on illegal dumping, plastic waste burning in Delhi: NGT issues notice
The National Green Tribunal has sought responses from the Delhi government and others over illegal dumping and burning of plastic waste in certain parts of the national capital.
18. Diljit concert: Delhi pollution body finds JLN stadium clean month after NGT order
A month after the National Green Tribunal ordered the immediate restoration of JLN stadium post singer Diljit Dosanjh’s concert in the national capital, the Delhi pollution body has inspected it and found it clean.
19. HC-appointed commissioners inspect sanitation situation in Gurugram
Punjab and Haryana high court-appointed officers on Thursday inspected Gurugram’s sanitation system, through visits to multiple areas, meetings with residents’ welfare associations, evaluation of sanitation practices, waste management assessment and analysis of bulk waste generators.
20. Noida to build two waste plants: 80-tonnes daily processing capacity
In an effort to resolve the growing waste managemnet issues in the city, the Noida Authority has recently announced plans to set up two solid waste processing plants.
21. “We need to run a campaign for environmental conservation” Union Minister Shivraj Chouhan
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan underlined the importance of environment conservation and suggested running a campaign to educate people about environmental issues.
22. Lack of tech transfer slowing climate action in India: Government to UNFCCC
A concerning lack of technology transfer from developed countries has forced India to rely heavily on domestic resources and stretch national capacity, slowing its efforts to achieve critical climate objectives, the government has said in a biennial update report (BUR) to the UN climate change office.
