Weekly Environmental News Roundup for Week 14, 2025
Weekly environmental news roundup from across different media networks for Week 14 (31 March to 6 April) 2025.
1. Delhi’s air was toxic for 56% of the days in last 5 years, AQI no reliable measure—CAG report
Delhiites beathed toxic air for 1,195 days out of 2,137 days in the last five years, putting residents at risk of severe health ailments and vulnerabilities, a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on the city’s pollution has highlighted.
2. Delhi government to control dust at construction sites, clean trees regularly to curb pollution
In a push to tackle air pollution in the capital, the Delhi government is likely to roll out micro-level interventions — strict dust control at construction sites, regular tree cleaning, and employing mechanised sweepers to clean inner roads and narrow lanes.
3. Planning to conduct cloud seeding trial in May: Sirsa
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Thursday said the government is planning to explore the feasibility of inducing rain through cloud seeding on an experimental basis in May to curb air pollution.
4. Delhi govt tightens pollution control measures; announces EV push
Chief Minister announced in the assembly on Wednesday that the Delhi government will introduce a new policy for issuing Pollution Under Control certificates to vehicles from other states, in a bid to tackle air pollution.
5. There’s nothing green about them”: SC refuses to lift firecracker ban in NCR
On 3 April, the Supreme Court reiterated that restrictions on firecrackers should be maintained in the interest of public health as it declined to entertain applications from firecracker manufacturers and trade associations seeking a relaxation on their ban in Delhi-NCR.
6. Delhi govt will fix inflated water bills, no supply to be cut: Verma
Accusing the previous Aam Aadmi Party-led government of “mischief” and “misleading the public with false promises” on inflated water bills, Delhi’s water minister Parvesh Verma on Wednesday told the assembly that the Bharatiya Janata Party government will soon provide relief to consumers and ensure that no connection is cut until the problem is resolved.
7. Over 5,000 water ATMs to be set up in Delhi for clean drinking water at low prices
Here comes a piece of good news for the residents of the national capital amid intense summer.
8. Govt. working on 50-year water management plan: Parvesh
Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh on Thursday said that the government is preparing a master plan for water management for the next 50 years to prevent water crises in the Capital.
9. Delhi govt to boost water supply with 249 new tube wells, over 1,000 tankers
Water Minister Parvesh Verma on Wednesday announced mandatory biometric attendance for Delhi Jal Board employees, the installation of 249 new tube wells, and an increase of 1,327 water tankers to improve supply.
10. Rs 1.5 crore development projects launched in Rajouri Garden
The development works include the installation of new water pipelines, with an estimated cost of Rs 30 lakh, in Sant Nagar Extension (near Lane No. 5) and the main road in Shyam Nagar Extension.
11. Delhi Jal Board receives SC nod for underground reservoir project in New Rajinder Nagar
The central empowered committee of Supreme Court has given approval to Delhi Jal Board for use of an area of 1,580 square metres of geomorphological Ridge for the construction of an underground reservoir in New Rajinder Nagar.
12. NDMC official visits Surat to study how Delhi conserves water
To enhance water conservation and prevent urban flooding in Lutyens’ Delhi, Vice-Chairperson of the New Delhi Municipal Counci and BJP leader Kuljeet Chahal visited Surat, Gujarat, Saturday, to gain insight into innovative rainwater harvesting, flood management, and water conservation practices.
13. Use ₹19.6-crorefines to revamp water bodies: NGT to Delhi govt
The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday directed the Delhi government to utilise the environmental compensation worth ₹19.62 crore for the preparation of action plan to rejuvenate Delhi’s water bodies and recharge the groundwater table.
14. Illegal water mafia draining Yamuna, fuelling Delhi’s water crisis
Water is a scarce commodity in the city and when the mercury rises, many citizens, particularly in underserved localities, have to fall back on water tankers for their needs.
15. Delhi water minister announces desilting to double Wazirabad plant’s capacity
Water minister Parvesh Verma on Thursday said directions were issued to carry out desilting work that would double the storage capacity of the Wazirabad treatment plant.
16. Faecal bacterial contamination found in AIIMS drinking water supply
In a shocking incident, faecal bacterial contamination in drinking water was discovered in the lab analysis of samples collected during weekly testing at AIIMS at two locations: the National Centre for Ageing Block and the boys’ hostel.
17. Two refurbished ponds at Asola sustain water levels despite little winter rain, rough terrain
The effort to conserve wetlands has paid off with two of 10 artificially revived ponds in Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary maintaining their water levels, despite minimal winter rainfall, the temperature soaring ahead of the normal hot months and the water seepage typical of Aravali terrain.
18. Over 12 lakh sq meters of Yamuna floodplain encroached: DDA informs NGT
Delhi Development Authority has informed the National Green Tribunal that over 12 lakh (12,34,981) square metres of the Yamuna floodplain, spanning a 22 km stretch from Wazirabad to Madanpur Khadar, are encroached upon.
19. Workers die in Delhi’s sewers while government denies responsibility
Panth Lal Chandra, 43, migrated to Delhi from Chhattisgarh, hoping for a better livelihood.
Lack of boundary walls, cracks developing on the top, poor leachate management: Multiple safety hazards have been found at the Ghazipur landfill site, according to an inspection report filed by a National Green Tribunal-appointed Court Commissioner.
21. NGT directs DDA, MCD to resolve dispute, clean South West Delhi pond
The National Green Tribunal has directed the Delhi Development Authority and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to coordinate and commence the cleaning of a pond in Ayanagar village, ruling that its maintenance cannot be delayed due to inter-agency disputes.
22. Delhi government to clean Shahdara Link drain in 6 months
The Delhi government will clean the Shahdara Link drain over the next six months to address pollution concerns and improve the environmental conditions in the surrounding areas, an official said on Tuesday.
23. DDA seeks permission to lay sewer line for ecological restoration of Machli ka Talab in Vasant Kunj
Delhi Development Authority has sought permission from Ridge Management Board to lay a sewer line in the Ridge area to revive Machli ka Talab Smriti Van in Vasant Kunj.
24. Delhi authorities criticized for lack of coordination in waste management efforts in Sangam Vihar
The district magistrate (South) has named Delhi Jal Board and Municipal Corporation of Delhi for the lack of coordination in the allotment of land to set up a waste disposal and management plant in Sangam Vihar.
25. After winter census, Delhi to begin second round of Bird Atlas survey in May
Following the success of a winter bird survey earlier this year, Delhi’s forest and wildlife department is set to launch a month-long summer census in May to document avian species across the capital.
The Directorate of Education has asked schools in the national capital not to have assemblies in the afternoon shift because of the rising temperatures.
Five days after the Telangana government began clearing large tracts of the Kancha Gachibowli forested area near the University of Hyderabad (UoH), the Supreme Court Thursday directed the state to stop the “alarming deforestation activities” until further orders.
28. PM Modi flags textile waste problem, calls it ‘huge challenge’
Highlighting the issue of textile waste, PM Modi Sunday said India was facing a “huge challenge” on that front and cited a study that shows the country is third in terms of high textile waste generation.
29. India Loses Forest Cover Exceeding Areas of Delhi, Sikkim, and Goa Combined
A staggering 13,056 square kilometers of forest land, exceeding the combined geographical area of Delhi, Sikkim, and Goa, is under encroachment across 25 states and Union Territories.
30. Climate envoys from EU discuss climate action with Indian officials
Climate envoys representing Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the European External Action Service held a series of meetings in New Delhi earlier this week with officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministries of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and New and Renewable Energy, as well as representatives from industry and research institutions.
