Weekly Environmental News Roundup (28 September 2026)
Weekly environmental news roundup from across different media networks for Week 39 (21 to 27 September) 2026.
Air Quality
NGT pulls up Delhi pollution watchdog over delays in recovering compensation from 7 units
The National Green Tribunal pulled up the Delhi Pollution Control Committee for its report on environmental compensation from polluting units in Delhi-NCR, in an order passed on Monday.
Delhi govt to launch PUC enforcement drive from Oct 1: CM
The Delhi government will launch an enforcement drive against vehicles with invalid Pollution Under Control certificates from October 1, ..
Dirtier the air, the faster kidney function slipped, reveals study conducted in Chennai and Delhi
A six-year study of 12,000 adults in two Indian cities found that particle pollution, or particulate matter —tiny droplets of solid and water suspended in the air—enters the bloodstream and correlates with declining kidney function.
AIR pollution alert: Haryana to deploy Parali Protection Force to prevent paddy stubble burning
In a major push to eliminate paddy stubble burning ahead of the harvesting season, the Haryana government announced the deployment of a dedicated Parali Protection Force alongside drone surveillance and late-evening patrolling.
Water
Delhi govt sets up 81 artificial ponds to discourage Ganesh idol immersion in Yamuna
The Delhi government has prepared 81 artificial ponds for people to immerse Ganesh idols at designated sites instead of the Yamuna or other water bodies.
Waste & Circularity
New Delhi Municipal Council approves new waste rules with higher charges
The New Delhi Municipal Council has framed new waste management byelaws for Lutyens’ Delhi, mandating four-way segregation of waste at source, increasing monthly user charges and steepening fines for sanitation violations, senior civic officials said on Tuesday.
Birds are hitting planes 3.5X more at Delhi airport. Here’s why
Bird strike incidents around Indira Gandhi International Airport have gone up by approximately 3.5 times in 2025 and 2026 compared with previous years, with the aviation safety panel flagging multiple waste-dumping sites, illegal meat shops, and bird-feeding spots around the airport as reasons.
Bittu Tabahi removes 585 kg garbage from Yamuna; CEO reacts: ‘Slap on administration’
Surendra Singh Choudhary, better known as Bittu Tabahi, returned to the Yamuna riverbank on September 20 with a group of volunteers for a cleanup drive that lasted four and a half hours.
South Delhi’s Defence Colony tries a new waste model. Its workers say they’re losing out
An experiment to formalise waste collection in Defence Colony has run into resistance from the informal workers who alleged they’ve been forced to sign an MoU that could leave them earning less.
Biodiversity
Delhi achieves 70-lakh tree plantation target; will now focus on conservation: CM
The Delhi government has achieved an important milestone in its efforts towards environment protection and making the capital greener, cleaner and healthier by meeting the target of planting 70 lakh saplings under ‘Mission Green Delhi’.
NDMC develops 1-acre ‘Bharat Van’ using Miyawaki method in Delhi’s Lodhi Colony
The New Delhi Municipal Council is developing a one-acre urban forest in Lodhi Colony, named ‘Bharat Van’, using the Miyawaki plantation methodology with around 10,000 indigenous plants, along with spaces for yoga, meditation and other recreational activities.
Dragonfly, damselfly count dips in Delhi biodiversity parks this year, survey finds
A survey of dragonflies and damselflies across seven biodiversity parks in Delhi this year has shown that the density of individuals as well as diversity has seen marginal dip compared to last year’s counts owing to the erratic rains, said senior officials.
Climate & Energy
Extreme heat caused by the ongoing ‘Super’ El Niño could lead to an estimated 4,50,000 deaths worldwide in the first few months alone, according to a report published by the University of Chicago’s Climate Impact..
