Weekly Environmental News Roundup (24 August 2026)
Weekly environmental news roundup from across different media networks for Week 34 (17 to 23 August) 2026.
Air Pollution
The pollution in New Delhi is “pretty insane” during January and February, the months when the India Open Super 750 badminton tournament is usually scheduled, and its dates should be rescheduled, said world number four Anders Antonsen.
Delhi govt cracks down against 106 industrial units for violating pollution norms
Under the Delhi government’s action against pollution, 2,011 industrial units were inspected between January and July 2026 and out of these, 106 units were found to be non-compliant with the prescribed environmental standards, an official said on Friday.
Ban on construction activities in Delhi from Dec 10 to Jan 20 to curb air pollution
Construction activities will be completely banned in Delhi from December 10 to January 20 as part of the government’s measures to curb air pollution during the winter season, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Friday.
NGT directs Delhi pollution body to recover Rs 10 lakh from Kondli sewage treatment plants
The Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal has ordered the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to expedite the recovery of Rs 10 lakh from the sewage treatment plant in Kondli for non-compliance.
India Today Group launches ‘Pollution Ka Solution’ to tackle Delhi air crisis
The India Today Group has announced ‘Pollution Ka Solution’, a five-week initiative aimed at shifting the focus from repeatedly highlighting Delhi’s air pollution crisis to actively identifying and advancing practical, scalable and measurable solutions.
Water Security
‘We are not managing, we are suffering’: Dirty water unusable: says Janakpuri residents
“Forget drinking or cooking, we can’t even use this water to brush our teeth or wash our hands..
Water supply to be hit in parts of West Delhi
Water supply will remain disrupted in several parts of West Delhi on August 20 as the Delhi Jal Board undertakes renovation and repair of a 1100-mm diameter header valve of the Khyala main installed at CWPH-1, HP-1.
The National Green Tribunal has given the Delhi Jal Board four weeks to respond to allegations of non-compliance with its directions relating to rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge systems in the national capital.
Kitchener Lake water meets CPCB standards, says DPCC
Water quality of Kitchener Lake, located behind Dhaula Kuan metro station, met the Central Pollution Control Board’s criteria, according to a compliance report submitted by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee..
Delhi MPD 2047: Water reuse, increased sewage treatment to tackle growing water stress
The Master Plan for Delhi 2047 proposes increasing water availability, expanding sewage treatment capacity and improving drainage to tackle the city’s growing water stress.
Water crisis in Gurgaon, DLF Phases 1 & 2 face low pressure, tankers called in
For four days, the washing machine at retired ITC executive housekeeper Sarita Handa’s home in Gurgaon’s DLF Phase 1 has remained unused. There simply isn’t enough water to run it.
Waste Management
Delhi CM rolls out cleanliness drive; govt to offer Rs 1 crore monthly reward for best ward
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday launched a city-wide cleanliness campaign that will run till October 2, with the government announcing a ward-level competition and financial incentives of up to Rs 1 crore for the best-performing wards every month.
MCD panel flags sanitation gaps, orders tighter monitoring
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi Standing Committee on Thursday directed officials to strengthen sanitation arrangements across the city, amid concerns over shortages of sanitation workers, resources and auto-tippers.
No Waste Segregation, No Water, No Power: Supreme Court’s Big Order For Bulk Waste Generators
In a major push to strengthen solid waste management across the country, the Supreme Court has ordered that bulk waste generators who fail to comply with waste management rules could face temporary disconnection of their water and electricity supplies.
Delhi HC raps CPCB, DPCC; seeks plan to dispose of toxic waste lying in cargo container for 4 years
The Delhi High Court has pulled up the Central Pollution Control Board and Delhi Pollution Control Committee for running away from the responsibility of safe disposal of hazardous materials lying in a cargo container at an inland depot in southeast Delhi for the past four years.
MPD 2047 targets over 25,000 TPD processing capacity to tackle Delhi’s waste..
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi will expand existing waste-to-energy plants and develop new such facilities to raise the city’s waste-processing capacity to over 25,000 tonnes per day by 2035, according to the Master Plan for Delhi..
Delhi: MCD workshop on new waste rules stresses four-way segregation
A special booklet on the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 was also released during the workshop.
Biodiversity Conservation
CISF expands vetiver plantation drive
The Central Industrial Security Force has expanded its vetiver plantation drive along the Yamuna riverbank, planting one lakh vetiver slips and 1,000 tree saplings in Delhi as part of an initiative focused on environmental conservation, soil protection and climate resilience.
Delhi announces 10-year master plan to preserve wildlife and enhance green cover
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has unveiled a detailed 10-year master plan focused on wildlife preservation, ecosystem restoration, and increasing the capital’s green cover.
From Ridge to Yamuna: Delhi plans a 200-km green-blue ecological network
The Master Plan for Delhi 2047, notified on Thursday, proposed a 200-km Ridge-Yamuna Park Connector, including a 52-km stretch along the Yamuna floodplain, to “promote connectivity and strengthen the Ridge–Yamuna continuum”.
MoEFCC recommends zoning, habitat management to reduce human-elephant conflict
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has recommended the use of herbicides and other chemical control methods to manage invasive plant species in elephant habitats as part of measures to reduce human-elephant conflict.
Environmental Governance
Delhi masterplan 2047 notified, eyes private capital for 40L homes; what is in it
The Master Plan for Delhi 2047 was notified Thursday, laying out a wide-ranging blueprint for the city’s future across housing, transport, redevelopment, environment and Yamuna protection,
No Research Done On Heat Risks: CPCB Tells Green Tribunal
The Central Pollution Control Board, under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has said that it has not undertaken any research activity on the heat risks.
Climate Change
NHRC seeks MoEFCC action to protect vulnerable groups from extreme heat in Delhi
The NHRC has directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to examine a complaint on the impact of extreme heat on vulnerable communities in Delhi and submit an action taken report within two weeks, Greenpeace India said on Friday.
One country seems immune to global warming. And nobody knows why
It was pre-monsoon season and sweltering when Harvard University’s Prof Dan Schrag arrived in Delhi, India, to give the opening speech at a climate conference in March 2025.
BRICS Members Oppose EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, Call It ‘Discriminatory’
On Tuesday (August 19), environment and climate ministers of BRICS nations opposed the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, calling it “punitive, discriminatory and protectionist”.
