Weekly Environmental News Roundup for Week 19, 2025
Weekly environmental news roundup from across different media networks for Week 19 (5 to 11 May) 2025.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Monday issued a directive to mandatorily install mist or water sprinklers on electric poles along road stretches and verges across identified pollution hotspots in the national capital.
2. Delhi govt pushes ahead with cloud seeding, sets aside Rs 3 cr
The Delhi Cabinet Wednesday approved a Rs 3.21 crore outlay to conduct five cloud seeding trials across the Delhi-National Capital Region region as part of plans to tackle air pollution.
3. Cabinet gives nod to cloud seeding, first trial in city’s outskirts
In a bid to combat air pollution and water scarcity, the Delhi Cabinet on Wednesday approved a project worth ₹3.21 crore to conduct five cloud seeding trials across the Capital.
4. Supreme Court warns contempt action if NCR States fail to implement complete curb on crackers
The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana to ensure a “scrupulous” ban on firecrackers in areas falling under the NCR region and warned any failure would attract contempt.
5. Local bodies empowered to act against noise pollution
In a significant move to curb noise pollution, the Delhi government has, for the first time, authorised officials from municipal corporations and other local bodies to take direct action against violators.
6. Pond turns concrete dumpyard
Despite the allocation of Rs 50 crore for the revival of the capital’s water bodies, the depletion and misuse of these bodies remain as rampant as ever.
7. Delhi: Draft Dengue Action Plan proposes higher penalties
From proposing increased penalties under the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957 to directing the Jal Board to fix leakages and appointing nodal officers in every private and government office, the draft Dengue Action Plan 2025 outlines these as some of the key measures to deal with mosquito menace.
8. NDMC plans high-tech rainwater harvesting pit in Bharti Nagar park
New Delhi Municipal Council plans to build an advanced modular rainwater harvesting pit at a park in Bharti Nagar.
9. After groundwater scheme ‘scam’, Delhi govt drafting new borewell policy, green tribunal told
After National Green Tribunal called the voluntary disclosure scheme to extract groundwater a “scam”, Delhi govt, in a new affidavit, informed the tribunal that a new borewell policy was being framed in consultation with Central Ground Water Authority and other govt departments.
10. Central Panel to Vet Felling of 50 or More Trees in Delhi, Says High Court
In a significant development aimed at curbing deforestation in the National Capital Region, the Delhi High Court on Friday ruled that any permission for the felling or transplantation of 50 or more trees in Delhi must be overseen by the Centrally Empowered Committee authorised by the Supreme Court.
11. Delhi forest department to plant fruit trees for 25,000 relocated monkeys in Asola
The forest department is planting more fruit and foliage trees at the Asola Wildlife Sanctuary to reduce the monkeys’ dependence on food supplied by humans.
12. 3.7 lakh saplings to be planted in and around schools from July 1 to boost green cover: Delhi DoE
The Delhi Directorate of Education on Sunday said a Greening and Tree Plantation Drive to boost green cover in and around schools will be lunched from July 1.
13. Forest dept issues tree pruning SOPs
Delhi govt’s department of forests has recently issued a circular specifying the standard operating procedure for pruning trees under the DPTA.
The Supreme Court has issued show cause notices to senior Delhi government officials, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi commissioner, and a private developer, seeking explanations for alleged violations of its 1996 directive under the M C Mehta vs Union of India case and going ahead with construction of a housing society in the “morphological ridge” area, an ecologically sensitive zone, in Vasant Kunj.
15. Delhi CM raps civic body for slow disposal of waste at landfills
In a high-level meeting with MCD officials, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta Friday issued instructions to ensure that work to clear Delhi’s three landfills is done in a fast-paced manner.
16. Mayor approves hiring of new waste management contractor
Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh has granted anticipatory approval for hiring a new concessionaire for waste management in the Central and West zones which have been facing problems in waste collection for more than a year now, officials said on Wednesday.
17. Delhi’s alarming gaps in climate preparedness
Delhi, which is still recuperating from a severe heatwave that drove temperatures near 50°C, experienced another unexpected weather event this week.
In its continued efforts to promote environmental stewardship, Bisleri International Pvt Ltd, through its flagship initiative, Bottles for Change’ marked World Earth Day 2025 bringing together communities, students, volunteers, and local champions in a united call for sustainability.
Nearly three months after the National Green Tribunal observed that the illegal felling of 980 trees in Greater Noida was not taken seriously by the Uttar Pradesh authorities and also asked the principal chief conservator of forests to appear virtually before it on May 13, he filed a detailed affidavit before the green body on Saturday.
20. Why all of Kerala says no to deep-sea mining
New Delhi’s decision to auction, for the first time in the country, 13 offshore mineral blocks for deep-sea mining, vide the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023, has met with a rare show of political unity in Kerala.
21. GM-Free Coalition Condemns Release of Gene-Edited Rice
The Coalition for a GM-Free India on Monday criticised the government for releasing two genome-edited rice varieties, alleging that the move was on account of pressure from corporate lobbies.
22. India’s forest, tree cover at 25.17% due to large scale plantation works: Govt to UN
The forest and tree cover of India is now 25.17% of its geographical area because of key national initiatives, the latest India State of Forest Report told the United Nations Forum on Forests at the UN headquarters in New York from May 5-9.
