Weekly Environmental News Roundup (13 April 2026)
Weekly environmental news roundup from across different media networks for Week 15 (6 to 12 April) 2026.
Air Pollution
Government allocates Rs 22,236 crore for green push in Budget
The Delhi Government has earmarked Rs 22,236 crore for environmental initiatives under its 2026-27 Budget, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announcing a comprehensive “Green Budget” aimed at tackling pollution and building a sustainable future for the Capital.
CAQM levies ₹61.85cr fine on 6 power plants for violating norms
The Commission for Air Quality Management on Wednesday directed six thermal power plants operating within a 300-kilometre radius of Delhi to pay a cumulative amount of ₹61.85 crore in environmental compensation, for non-compliance with biomass co-firing norms.
Water Security
Government’s Rs 22,000-Crore Plan To Fix Delhi’s Yamuna, Air Pollution
Can a Rs 22,236 crore push fix Delhi’s choking air and the polluted Yamuna?
NGT raps NHAI for flyover over protected pond, orders penalty
NGT has found violations of environmental norms in the construction of a highway stretch over a protected pond in southwest Delhi..
GPS must for all water tankers in Delhi: National Green Tribunal
The National Green Tribunal has clarified that its directive mandating GPS tracking systems applies not only to tankers supplying groundwater for commercial purposes but also to those transporting STP-treated water.
New borewell policy in progress to end Delhi’s water woes: Sirsa
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Wednesday said a borewell policy is in progress so that city residents do not have to face drinking water scarcity.
Few takers for Delhi govt’s water connection regularisation scheme
The Delhi government has extended till August 15 the scheme to regularise illegal water connections, after receiving only around 2,500 applications until March 31, senior officials aware of the matter said.
Waste Management
Study flags dangerous lead contamination across four states, including Delhi
Study finds widespread soil toxicity, exposing gaps in regulation, monitoring, and public health safeguards nationwide.
Biodiversity
225 acres of forest land in Delhi made encroachment free since 2019-20: Data
More than 225 acres of forest land in the capital have been made encroachment-free across multiple forest divisions, official data revealed, with the bulk of the clearance reported from the southern parts of the city.
Delhi to conduct first full-fledged tree census, with ₹2.9 crore allocated by Centre
Delhi is all set to carry out its first official full-fledged census to assess and tag trees in the Capital, with the Centre releasing ₹2.9 crores to the Forest Research Institute (FRI) for the exercise, officials aware of the matter said.
I&FC plans watchtower in Delhi’s Central Ridge
The irrigation and flood control department of the Delhi government is planning to construct a watchtower in the Central Ridge, near Vandematram Marg, officials said on Friday.
Climate Change
MoEFCC approves forest land diversion for renewable energy project despite regulatory violations
he Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has granted ‘in-principle’ and ‘ex post facto’ approval for the diversion of over 77 hectares of forest land in the Kurnool range of the Gani Reserve Forest in Andhra Pradesh.
