Weekly Environmental News Roundup for Week 29, 2025
Weekly environmental news roundup from across different media networks for Week 29 (14 July to 20 July) 2025.
1. Delhi to conduct cloud seeding trials in September to combat air pollution: Environment Minister
Delhi will witness its first cloud seeding trial in the first two weeks of September in a bid to trigger artificial rain and reduce air pollution levels, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Friday (July 18, 2025).
2. Forest dept nod to fell trees for housing project in Delhi’s Morphological Ridge was fake, SC told
The Delhi Forest department has told the Supreme Court that “fake permission” was issued in the name of the office of the Deputy Conservator of Forests or the Tree Officer (West Division) to fell trees in a “morphological ridge” land – an ecologically sensitive zone — in Vasant Kunj for a housing project.
3. Van Mahotsav 2025: Delhi launches massive tree plantation drive
In a major push towards environmental sustainability, the Delhi government has launched Van Mahotsav 2025, a large-scale tree plantation initiative that aims to make the capital greener and more pollution-free.
4. 221 bird species mapped in Delhi in year-long citizen science effort
A total of 221 bird species were recorded across the national capital’s wetlands, ridge forests, urban villages and high-rise colonies in the first year of the Delhi Bird Atlas.
5. Amid objections, Standing Committee sends back Bawana waste-to-energy plant proposal for amendments
Even as the Union Environment Ministry gave an environmental clearance to a proposed Waste-to-Energy Plant in Bawana last month, the proposal to set up the plant in Narela has been sent back to the Department of Environment Management Services of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi on Wednesday for a revisit.
6. Delhi to launch India’s first net-zero e-waste park
In a first for India, Delhi is set to launch a Rs 150 crore green e-waste eco park in Holambi Kalan.
7. TATA Power-DDL to run ‘Club Enerji’ programme in Delhi govt schools to promote environment awareness
To foster environmental responsibility among school children, TATA Power Delhi Distribution Limited will conduct its flagship ‘Club Enerji’ programme in government schools across North and North West Delhi during this academic session.
8. Delhi to launch eco-friendly Yamuna cruise services between Sonia Vihar–Jagatpur November
An eight-kilometre stretch of the Yamuna, from the Wazirabad barrage (Sonia Vihar) to Jagatpur (Shani temple), has been meticulously developed to facilitate these cruise operations.
9. Yamuna Water Quality Dips As Levels of Faecal Bacteria Spike 4,000 Times Above Safe Limit: Report
The water quality of the Yamuna dipped in July when compared to the previous month, with levels of faecal coliform – a kind of bacteria caused primarily by untreated sewage – rose to 4,000 times the safe limit, according to a report by The Indian Express.
10. ‘83% water samples in Janakpuri contaminated’
Five out of six water samples lifted by the Central Pollution Control Board from Janakpuri’s A block, west Delhi, were found contaminated with Total Coliform and E. coli, the pollution body has informed the National Green Tribunal.
11. Delhi To Replace Decades-Old Pipelines To Tackle Water Contamination: Minister
In order to tackle the rising complaints about water contamination in residential areas, the Delhi government will replace old water pipelines under a new Water Master Plan, Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma said on Saturday.
12. Find it if you can! Wetland near Wazirabad vanishes under ‘inert’ waste; MCD, DDA shift blame
Once a large, functional wetland in the Jharoda area near Wazirabad—home to a diverse range of aquatic flora and fauna—is now lost.
13. Ghazipur landfill polluting milk consumed by Delhi-NCR, says NGT
The Green Court-appointed Commissioner’s investigation report on solid waste management in Delhi-NCR reveals that the Ghazipur landfill site is causing contamination to the milk consumed in Delhi-NCR, polluting the Yamuna River, and emitting methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
14. Biomining done: MCD flattens Singhola silt mound
In a major step toward sustainable waste management, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has successfully completed the biomining of the Singhola silt dumping site along GT Karnal Road, flattening a mound of nearly 800,000 tonnes of waste and freeing up 7.2 acres of land.
15. City’s waste capacity to rise by 7,000 tonnes with 4-plant push
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi is expediting the development of its sixth waste-to-energy facility at Ghazipur, designed to process 2,000 tonnes of waste daily.
16. In a first, Delhi’s IGI Airport gets ‘Net Zero Waste to Landfill’ Platinum certification
Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport has received the ‘Net Zero Waste to Landfill’ Platinum certification from the Indian Green Building Council for all its terminals.
17. Delhi Govt Extends Existing Electric Vehicle Policy Till November as New Draft Awaits Approval
The Delhi government on Tuesday (July 15) extended its existing Electric Vehicle Policy by four months, pushing the new deadline to November 15.
18. 2025 Swachh rankings: New Delhi among India’s best, but rest of city suffers
While the New Delhi Municipal Council region – covering Lutyens’ Delhi – has once again been judged among the cleanest urban areas in the country for its population category (50,000 to 300,000), the rest of the national capital has fared far worse in the ninth edition of the Swachh Survekshan (2024-25).
19. Capital to engage two experts for free advisory roles on environmental issues
The Delhi government’s Environment Department has launched an initiative to enlist the support of expert institutions, NGOs, and think tanks to provide pro-bono technical assistance on a wide range of environmental issues impacting the capital.
20. Delhi launches farm revival plan targeting 100 climate-hit rural districts
A six-year farming scheme has been launched in Delhi targeting 100 rural districts across India, identified for their poor crop yields, limited irrigation, and low access to credit.
21. Handloom Meets Climate Action: Delhi to Host ‘Vastra Katha’ on August 6
Aiming to promote climate-conscious fashion and India’s textile heritage, the Delhi government will organise a large-scale public event on August 6 to mark the National Handloom Day.
22. Watch the story of India’s first UNESCO biosphere reserve Nilgiris, on the big screen
A Shared Wilderness, a feature-length wildlife documentary film on India’s first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve — the Nilgiris, will be released in theatres across India on July 18, 2025, presented by Felis Films with support from Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, and distributed nationwide by Dheeraj Films.
23. Bird, animal hits raise safety concerns at major airports
A whopping 2,000 bird and animal hits on aircraft have been recorded annually in the last two years across the 20 airports which have recently emerged as the busiest in the country.
24. Lightning strikes kill 33 people in a week as India’s monsoon season brings powerful storms
At least 33 people were killed and dozens injured by lightning strikes in the eastern Indian state of Bihar this week, officials said Friday. The deaths occurred as powerful storms and monsoon rains battered the state.
25. India needs $1.5 trillion investment by 2030 for climate and energy transition: Report
India will require an investment of $1.5 trillion by 2030 across key sectors to address climate change and accelerate its energy transition efforts, according to a report released by Deloitte India.
26. EU’s ‘green’ fuel mandate costly and not helping environment, IATA says
The International Air Transport Association on Wednesday stepped up criticism of the European Union’s sustainable aviation fuel mandate as a costly initiative that is not helping the environment as regional supplies there remain low.
