Standardize fuel to
improve Delhi air: Experts
The Delhi
government has kept mum on dealing with severe air pollution in
the city, likely to be as bad as Beijing's. Environmentalists
are now hoping that the national auto fuel policy, which is
expected to be ready in a couple of months, will bring down the
pollution level by implementing uniform and superior fuel
emission norms throughout the country. Delhi is likely to
benefit considerably, experts point out, as most of over 30,000
commercial vehicles like trucks and buses that pass through the
city every day do not use Bharat Stage (BS) IV-compliant fuel.
These vehicles still use BS III fuel, which pollutes air more
during combustion. BS IV-compliant fuel has been in use in only
13 major cities, including Delhi, since 2010.
Source: The Times
of India
No dump yards near
schools and hospitals: National Green Tribunal
The National Green
Tribunal has directed municipal corporations and other
government agencies to not create garbage dump yards near
schools and hospitals. The tribunal was hearing a plea by RC
Jain, president, Delhi State Public Schools' Management
Association, for stopping the construction of a dump yard
(dhalao) near some schools in Patparganj, arguing it may affect
the health of children.
Source: The Times
of India
China’s premier ‘declares
war’ on pollution
Chinese Premier Li
Keqiang on Wednesday said he is "declaring war" on pollution,
describing it as a "red-light warning" against inefficiency as
he sought to address public concerns on issues from acrid smog
to food safety. China's three decades of rapid industrialization
and urbanization have transformed its economy, and seen incomes
soar. But they have also brought severe environmental
consequences, with the public enraged by cities regularly
blanketed in smog, and incidents s ..
Source: The Times
of India
Kasturirangan report: MoEF to consider suggestions on ESAs in Western Ghats
The ministry of
environment and forests (MoEF) will consider recommendations of
all six states in the K. Kasturirangan report about ecologically
sensitive areas (ESA) in the Western Ghats.The memorandum citing
the development came late on Tuesday night—a day before
announcement of dates for Lok Sabha elections due by May.It said
since Kerala was the only state which undertook demarcation of
ESAs, the ministry has decided to issue a draft notification of
these areas based on that recommendation. Agricultural land,
plantations and habitations will be kept out of ESAs in the
state The memorandum added that the ministry will consider
recommendations of other state governments if they undertake the
exercise of demarcating ESA by physical verification and submit
the proposal to MoEF. It will also seek stakeholders’ comments
on the draft notification of the demarcation of ESAs.
Source: Livemint,
New Delhi, Mar 5, 2014
Get
paid for giving your e-waste to Vadodara Municipal Corporation
The Vadodara
Municipal Corporation (VMC) became the first civic body in the
country to begin e-waste collection source and even ensure that
the citizens are paid for the waste collected. The system was
launched formally on Wednesday as a part of the Mahatma Gandhi
Swachhta Mission. The civic body has adopted the public-private
partnership route for providing the facilities to the citizens.
Officials claimed that the returns citizens would get by giving
their e-waste to the agency that will collect and dispose it
will be much higher than they get under exchange when they buy a
new product or when they sell it to a scrap vendor.
Source: The Times
of India, New Delhi, Feb 28, 2014
89% of E-Waste Is
Neglected Due To Mobile Phone Recycling Popularity
Despite the
popularity of the mobile phone recycling industry, handsets only
contribute towards a small percentage of the overall E-Waste
accumulation. According to a study by the US US environmental
Protection Agency only 11% of electronic waste is made up of
mobile devices, the remaining 89% is computers, accessories,
televisions and TV peripherals. UK based recyclers Bozowi Sell
My Camera stated "Because mobile phone recycling has become such
a large business venture over the last decade, people forget
that handsets are a relatively small part of e-waste and you
should consider recycling all your electrical devices the way
you would with your phone."43% of e-waste accretion is digital
accessories and in 2010 this accumulated to a staggering
1,015,000 tons, 9% of which are digital cameras.
Environmental News
Network, February 26, 2014
The dangers of chemicals
used in food packaging
The long-term
effects of synthetic chemicals used in packaging, food storage
and processing food could be damaging our health, scientists
have warned. Jo Adetunji reports. We actually know very little
about how chemicals affect bodily functions or promote disease,
or at what life stage we are susceptible. In a paper published
in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, the authors
said most of these potentially damaging chemicals were found in
"food contact materials".
Environmental News
Network, March 2, 2014
764 industries, 5 states
behind Ganga pollution, National Green Tribunal informed
In a case related
to pollution of the Ganga, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) was
informed on Friday that the Central Pollution Control Board
(CPCB) has identified 764 grossly polluting industries in five
states on the main stem of the river and its tributaries. The
information was provided to the tribunal through a joint
affidavit filed by the Union Environment Ministry and the
National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA). As per the
affidavit, a copy of which is with TOI, the CPCB has issued
notices to units which are not complying with pollution control
norms while discharging their effluents into the river.
Source: The Times
of India, New Delhi, Mar 2, 2014
Delhi's landfill sites
'overflow' as High Court orders construction of new dumping
grounds to curb environmental and health 'disaster'
Yet, nothing has
been done so far, as has been confirmed by a Delhi High
Court-constituted committee.No alternative site for landfill has
been provided and no concrete step has been taken to recycle the
waste.While the three present sites at Ghazipur, Bhalaswa and
Okhla are already overflowing and have reached saturation point,
the situation becomes scarier with the daily release of garbage
expected to jump to 18,000 tonnes by 2021, committee said. The
Supreme Court had on February 2, 2000 said: "We direct that
sites for landfills will be identified bearing in mind the
requirement of Delhi for the next twenty years within a period
of four weeks from today".
Source: Mail
Today, New Delhi,2 March 2014
Govt
buys fish seed from Bengal for Yamuna
The Yamuna, at
Delhi, may be one of India’s most polluted rivers, but that
hasn’t stopped the government from trying to encourage people to
fish in its dirty waters. According to the development
department, fish breeding has completely stopped in the Yamuna
because of the high levels of pollution in the river, so it has
decided to buy fish seed (fertilized fish eggs) from Bengal.“The
water has become so turbid that even sunlight cannot penetrate
it, which is essential for fish breeding. Even if fish breeds,
the seed cannot survive as there are no planktons to feed on,”
said Dharam Pal, development commissioner.
Source: The Times
of India
Dolphin
chokes to death on plastic off Gujarat coast
The pollution in
the sea is taking a heavy toll on the marine life along the
coast. Latest in the series of tragedies is death of the
14-foot-long dolphin that choked to death after swallowing
plastic. Prakruti Nature Club's Jignesh Gohil, who was present
in the rescue attempt, said, "During the postmortem we found
that the dolphin, which was about 20 years old, had died because
of chocking. In autopsy, we found four thick plastic bags.
Source: The Times
of India, New Delhi
Supreme Court pushes to
give milk adulterers life in prison
Acting tough on
rampant milk adulteration, the Supreme Court on Thursday gave
the Centre a two-week ultimatum to specify whether an amendment
will be carried out to make the offence punishable by life
imprisonment. Terming the situation "very, very serious" the
apex court said it would be foolish to go lightly on
adulterators just because no grievous illness or death has been
reported immediately after someone has drinks milk laced with
white paint, caustic soda, detergent, shampoo, urea, starch and
blotting paper.
Source: Mail
Today, New Delhi,28 Feb 2014
Yamuna
remains dirty despite huge costs to clean it: Panel
A parliamentary
panel has noted that Yamuna river seems "dirtier" than before
despite Rs 6,500 crore having been spent on its clean-up even as
a project to lay interceptor sewers along the three major drains
of Delhi suffers delays. In its latest report, the Standing
Committee on Urban Development has asked the ministry to
expedite the interceptor sewers project to save Yamuna and
"sustain its ecology" while observing that the river seems
dirtier than before even though Rs 6,500 crore has been spent on
cleaning it.
Source: The Times
of India, New Delhi, Feb 24, 2014
Act on noise pollution
complaints: NGT
National Green
Tribunal (NGT) issued interim directions to police, district
administration, civic body and transport authorities on Friday
to start a 24X7 call centre where complaints related to noise
pollution can be registered and immediately redressed. NGT bench
directed that complaints forwarded by call centre should be
attended immediately by area station house officer (SHO) and
confiscation of amplifiers and other noise pollutants should be
done.
Source: The Times
of India, New Delhi, Feb 23, 2014
Waste piles up in west
Delhi
In most parts of
west Delhi, dhalaos are overflowing and garbage has been heaped
on the roadside for the past one month. The South
Corporation—in-charge of west Delhi—is unable to do anything
about the sanitation mess as the problem has its roots in the
Bhalaswa landfill site, which is managed by the North
Corporation. Sources say, only one of the six bulldozers needed
to level the garbage at the landfill is operational. As a
result, trucks are taking longer to dump waste.
Metro Waste
Handling (MWH), the private concessionaire for sanitation in
west Delhi, said the problem has lasted nearly a month. "The
number of truck trips to the landfill has decreased
dramatically. Each truck takes 3-4 hours to dump waste as just
one bulldozer is operational. Earlier, we used to dump 700-800
tonnes of waste in a day, but now we dump only 300-350 tonnes,"
said an MWH official.
Source: The Times
of India, New Delhi, Feb 24, 2014
Rare birds vanish from
Delhi’s new jungle
Many bird watchers
flocking to Delhi’s forests this winter are returning home
disappointed after failing to spot their favourite species. An
annual bird census at one of Delhi’s newest forests — Garhi
Mandu — found only 79 species this year as compared to the 90
species recorded in the 2013 census. The drastic fall has put a
spotlight on the degrading habitat of Garhi Mandu and other
forest in Delhi due to climate change, human interference and
pollution.
Source: Hindustan
Times, New Delhi, Feb 23, 2014
Metro plans first solar
power plant
The Delhi Metro
Rail Corporation has planned to install a rooftop solar power
plant with a generation capacity of 500 kWh on Dwarka Sector-21
Metro station. The plant is expected to start production in six
months, DMRC officials said. “After the installation of this
rooftop plant, DMRC will also explore the possibility of
installing more such plants at its stations, depots, parking
lots and residential complexes,” Anuj Dayal, chief spokesperson,
DMRC, said. He said efforts were being made to integrate such
solar plants with Metro Phase-III stations.
Source: Indian
Express, New Delhi, Feb 24, 2014
Cabinet
to take up Green India Mission today
The first phase of the ambitious Green India
Mission (GIM) which aims at increasing forest cover by five
million hectares by 2020, will be considered by the Cabinet on
Thursday. The Cabinet will take up the first phase of the
mission, which is worth R13,000 crore for the 12th five-year
Plan period (2012-17), said environment and forests minister
Veerappa Moily on Wednesday. However, since two years of the
current Plan period are almost over, the proposed fund has the
provision of one year spillover in the 13th Plan period. The
government intends to increase forest cover by 10 million
hectares in the next 10 years at a cost of R46,000 crore. It has
two components — quality improvement of forest cover and
creating new forest cover — which are to be implemented through
various measures including decentralization of forest
governance. This comes at a time when Moily has been both
praised as well as criticised for rushing through green nods for
many projects.
Source: Finical Express, New Delhi, Feb 20,
2014
Heavy
smog alert for Beijing as pollution levels goes high
The Chinese
capital has issued a yellow alert for heavy air pollution over
the next three days, with children and the elderly being advised
to stay indoors. Beijing, its neighbours Tianjin and Hebei
Province, as well as central and western Shandong Province can
expect heavy air pollution to linger for a week, according to a
joint weather forecast issued by the China Meteorological
Administration and the ministry of environmental protection. The
PM 2.5 readings on Thursday morning in those regions exceeded
115 micrograms per cubic metre, far above the 25 micrograms
level considered safe by the World Health Organisation.
Source: The Times
of India, New Delhi, Feb 21, 2014,
Agra's leather shoe units
told to check pollution
After hundreds of
petha (sweetmeat) units were forced to shut down in Agra last
fortnight, Uttar Pradesh's pollution control body has now
shifted its focus to pollution causing leather shoe units here.
The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board has issued notice to
74 pollution causing leather shoe units, many of them big export
houses. Some of the units have been told to apply for the
department's consent and many were told to shift outside the
city limits. The board's regional officer B.B. Awasthy told IANS
Thursday: "Action has been taken, notices issued, now the units
are responding and applying for consent. They are also arranging
for management of leather cutting waste. Let's see." Agra is a
major leather shoe manufacturing hub with more than two lakh
people employed in hundreds of small and big units.
Source: The Times
of India, New Delhi, Feb 21, 2014,
Haryana drops its plan to
shift green zones
Following
opposition from most members of the NCR Planning Board (NCRPB),
the Haryana government on Thursday agreed to drop its proposal
to do away with some of the nature conservation zones (NCZs) in
areas falling under "urbanizable/ notified SEZ" in the National
Capital Region (NCR) and to compensate by allocating similar
land somewhere else in the region. After a meeting where
planning board members opposed the move, representatives of the
Haryana government agreed to delete the proposed changes before
submitting the revised plan, sources said. In its report
earlier, TOI had highlighted how the state had proposed a
disastrous formula to balance urban development and environment
protection.
Source: The Times
of India, New Delhi, Feb 21, 2014,
NGT orders UP PWD to
ensure groundwater level
The National Green
Tribunal ordered the PWD Secretary of the UP Government to
conduct a meeting with official concerned to establish what
measures they have adopted to implement the orders of the Chief
Secretary to maintain the biodiversity and groundwater level in
the State. In its order, the NGT stated: “We direct that the
Secretary, PWD, State of Uttar Pradesh shall hold a meeting with
the Chief Engineer of Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam, Chief Engineer,
Ghaziabad Development Authority and senior most Officer of Uttar
Pradesh Jal Nigam and pass appropriate directive to ensure a
permanent constructions
(including concrete pavements) in parks which should not exceed more than
5 per cent and the footpaths and tracks constructed only with
the permeable and semi-permeable, perforated blocks is enforced
and at the same time the
issue with regard to replenishment of the underground water is
addressed appropriately.”
Source: The
Pioneer, New Delhi, 21 February 2014
AP to ink agreements with
solar power developers soon
Andhra Pradesh
will soon sign power purchase agreements with solar photovoltaic
project developers under the State’s solar power policy a top
Government official said. “The letters of intent have been
issued to the developers and PPAs will be shortly signed. We
expect at least 500 MW capacity to come up by early next year
under the State solar policy,” said M Sahoo, Special Chief
Secretary, Department of Energy.
Source: The Hindu
Business Line, Hyderabad, Feb 20, 2014
Sewage
responsible for 70% of river pollution
A government
survey reveals that the sewage from cities, villages and towns
is polluting the state's rivers in a much bigger way than
industrial wastes. According to the government data, 70%
pollution in the catchment areas of 20 major rivers is caused by
untreated sewage flowing in from towns and villages as against
30% of river pollution being caused by the industrial wastes.
According to the study, this pollution has led to a growing
number of jaundice and diarrhoea cases.
Source: The Times of India, Mumbai, Feb 19,
2014
Hussainsagar's
dredged
waste toxic, poses health risks: Pollution control board
The waste material
dredged out from Hussainsagar and dumped at the abandoned stone
quarries in Gajularamaram have been found to be toxic and a
serious health hazard. This startling revelation came to light
recently after the AP Pollution Control Board conducted tests on
samples collected from the dumping site. Apart from raising
major environmental concerns, the test results have negated the
claims of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority
(HMDA) that has repeatedly dismissed allegations of toxicity.
The samples were collected and tested after TOI reported the
risks caused by the dumping, based on a report by the National
Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI).
Source: The Times of India, Hyderabad, Feb
18, 2014
7 lakh
trees felled, but Forest Dept fails to compensate loss
The six-laning
work on the National Highway-1 commenced in 2009 for which lakhs
of trees were felled, but the Forest Department failed to ensure
compensatory plantation on the stretch extending from Jalandhar
to Panipat. This was revealed in a reply to a query filled by
RTI activist advocate Rajesh Sharma. As per the provisions of
the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, the Forest Department has
to ensure that 10 saplings are planted for each tree which is
felled. But 7,90,016 trees were felled for the purpose and only
45,000 were planted to compensate the loss, which was very less,
he said. Rajesh added that the felling of trees in such large
numbers with poor compensatory plantation meant that the already
polluted air of the state would get worse.
Source: The
Tribune, New Delhi, Feb 17, 2014
Introduce online
monitoring of highly polluting industries: Central board
The Central
Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed the state Pollution
Board to install online quality monitoring systems within 90
days. The aim behind this is to ensure effective compliance and
strengthening of monitoring mechanism of 17 categories of highly
polluting industries. These 17 categories include cement, paper
and pulp, basic drugs and pharmaceuticals, dyes, fertilisers,
pesticides formulation, integrated iron and steel etc. Common
effluent treatment plants, common hazardous waste and biomedical
waste incinerators will be required to follow these directions
as per the CPCB orders passed on February 5. Since the
management of industrial units had been dithering over complying
with laid environmental standards in the past, the central board
has now demanded a bank guarantee of 25 per cent of the cost of
online monitoring systems for ensuring timely installation of
such systems
Source: The
Tribune, New Delhi, Feb 17, 2014
Foundation to promote
clean and green living
A green foundation
has been set up for promoting clean and green living through
social, cultural and public programmes. The Green Circle
Foundation set up by Royal Western India Turf Club long with The
Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) would also work towards
spreading awareness about importance of solar energy and its
benefits to society.
Source: The Times of India, Mumbai, Feb 18,
2014
Clear
the air on mobile tower radiation, WHO tells India
The World Health
Organisation has asked India to participate in its
electromagnetic field (EMF) projects, as myths about the impact
of mobile phone tower radiation on public health are widespread
in the country. The advice came from Mike Repacholi, former head
of the EMF Task Force at WHO, during his recent visit to study
mobile phone tower radiation in Mumbai. The scenario, he said,
was the same in metropolitan cities, including the National
Capital Region. Prof. Repacholi made a series of suggestions to
the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) and the Health
Ministry.
Source: The Hindu,
New Delhi, Feb 19, 2014
NGT
panel submits report on effluent discharge in drain
The high-level
expert panel formed to ascertain levels of toxic pollutants
released by industries into the Simbhaoli drain near Ghaziabad
that empties into the Ganga, submitted its report to the
National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday. The inspection report
has highlighted instances of discharge of untreated and toxic
effluents by at least two industrial units in the region. The
committee, comprising Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and
UP Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) member-secretaries, inspected
the levels of adherence to pollution control norms in Simbhaoli
Spirits, Simbhaoli Sugars and Gopalji Dairy Foods. The panel,
formed by the principal bench of the tribunal, had conducted the
inspection on February 13.
Source: The Times
of India, New Delhi, Feb 19, 2014
4 lakh litre chemical water being released to
Kshipra 4 lakh litre chemical water being released to
Kshipra
Seers and sants from the city of temples on
Tuesday visited the Hirli dam built on river Kshipra where 4
lakh litre chemical- mixed water being released to the holy
river by 350 industries of Dewas. A
delegation of Dharmacharya Parishad Kalyan Samiti, led by
State general secretary Dr Avadheshdas Maharaj, visited the
Hirli dam and surrounding areas where the Kshipra is being
polluted with the confluence of chemical laded water released
from industries of Dewas city.
Source: Free Press
Journal, , New Delhi, Feb 19, 2014
Punjab pesticide
‘poisoning’ victims await justice
Joginder Kaur
(60), who has lost her husband and younger son to pesticides
used in the fields, prays every day that her only surviving son
does not die before her. With no land of their own, she and her
son work as farm hands and spray pesticides to make both ends
meet. Her husband and younger son also had the same job:
spraying pesticides for years. Sitting on the road outside the
District Administrative Complex for the past five days, she is
participating in an agitation by farmers seeking compensation
for suicide by their family members due to farm debt. There are
hundreds others like Joginder Kaur who want to be heard by the
authorities. Many of them have lost their children because they
were unable to meet medical expenses.
Source: The
Tribune, New Delhi, Feb 19, 2014
Toxic river water kills
100 nilgais in Agra
Around 100 nilgais
have died in Saurai, Agra district, after allegedly drinking the
highly contaminated water of the Karvan river. Panic-stricken
villagers, who said the water has turned poisonous due to
effluents being discharged by factories in Hathras and Aligarh,
added that their heath and crops, too, have been severely
affected. One of them said animals have died in the past as well
and that "farmers suffer burns to their feet while irrigating
the fields because of the toxic water".
Source: The Times
of India, New Delhi, Feb 19, 2014
India
in top five position in spearheading the global green building
movement: IGBC
India has
significant opportunity to go the green way and concerted
efforts by all the stakeholders is the need of the hour, said
vice-chairman of Indian Green Building council (IGBC), Goa,
Bharat Kamat on Thursday. Addressing the participants at the
two-day advanced training programme on green building rating
systems organised by IGBC of CII, he said by the year 2030,
building stock in India is expected to reach 100 billion sq.ft
from the existing 25 billion sq.ft IGBC , he said, with the
support of all the stakeholders has opened up new green
employment opportunities like third party commissioning, energy
simulation, facilitation of projects, accreditation
professionals. India has over 2,380 registered green building
projects and is amongst the top five countries in the world
involved in spearheading the global green building movement,
Kamat said.
Source: The Times
of India, New Delhi, Feb 14, 2014
Ganga
in Kanpur laden with hazardous toxic metals: AU physicists
A team of
Allahabad University physicists has claimed that tanneries and
electroplating units of Kanpur are discharging effluents laden
with Cadmium, Cobalt, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Lead, Strontium,
Antimony, Zinc and Manganese in the Ganga. The presence of these
hazardous toxic metals in the National River is far above the
permissible limit laid down by World Health Organisation (WHO)
and United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).
However, the UP Pollution Control Board has questioned the
findings of the study questioning the genuineness of samples and
methods of analysis
Source: The Times
of India, New Delhi, Feb 14, 2014
National Green Tribunal
wants rules to stop pollution from straw burning
The National Green
Tribunal has directed the agriculture ministry to hold a meeting
with Punjab, Haryana, UP and Delhi to prepare "composite"
guidelines to prevent pollution caused by straw burning. A bench
headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar directed the agriculture
ministry to also specify the manner and time frame required to
implement the guidelines. "We direct the ministry of agriculture
to hold a meeting with all the states, including Punjab and
Haryana, central pollution control board (CPCB) and the national
academy of agricultural sciences and prepare composite and
complete guidelines for preventing and controlling the pollution
resulting from burning agricultural remnants in open
fields...modality and time frame for its implementation should
be placed before the tribunal," the bench said.
Source: The Times
of India, New Delhi, Feb 14, 2014
National Green Tribunal
seeks response from coal, power utilities on pollution
The National Green
Tribunal has taken serious note of alarming pollution caused by
thermal power plants in Vidarbha using inferior quality coal, in
violation of ministry of environment and forests' norms. A
division bench of NGT, Western Zone bench, Pune comprising
Justice V R Kingaonkar (judicial member) and Ajay A Deshpande
(expert member) on Tuesday issued a notice to Maharashtra chief
secretary, state energy department, environment department,
Union power and coal \ministries, MoEF, MPCB, Coal India Limited
and its subsidiary Western Coalfields and state run power
utility Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited
(MahaGenco) seeking a reply by March 19.
Source: The Times
of India, New Delhi, Feb 13, 2014
Environmentalists
see red as trees cut for road project
The area around
the Madurai district court would spot a barren look soon as the
highways' authority has started cutting down trees for a
road-widening project. On Sunday, about 30 workers descended on
the spot and started felling old, leafy trees using both axes
and machines. Meanwhile, environmentalists in the city have
protested the wanton tree-felling and termed the act avoidable.
"Trees are cut down only after obtaining permission from the
revenue divisional officer," said a top officer of the highways
department who did not want to be named. Trees which were
brought down were soon chopped into pieces fit enough for
shifting to a truck.
Source: The Times
of India, New Delhi, Feb 13, 2014
Authorities fail to shift
dyeing units from residential areas
The authorities
have failed to shift most of the dyeing units operating from
residential and non-conforming areas to the special industrial
zone in HUDA Sector 29 Part-II here. The zone was created a few
years ago. More that 525 of nearly 750 dyeing units are still
operating from residential and non-conforming areas, including
the Kutani road, Babail road, Kabri road, Chandni Bagh, Tehsil
Camp and Kala Bagh near Ugra Kheri. The authorities have
apparently turned a blind eye towards the pollution caused by
these dyeing units, especially in the residential areas, as much
of the effluents produced by these units either flow into open
drains or vacant land. Haryana State Pollution Control Board
(HSPCB) regional officer Rajesh Garia said: “The process of
closing down such units has already been launched.” “The policy
of relocating the dyeing units to the special industrial zone
will be implemented at the earliest,” said Deputy Commissioner
Ajit Balaji Joshi.
Source: The
tribune, New Delhi, Feb14, 2014
National Green Tribunal
seeks response from coal, power utilities on pollution
The National Green
Tribunal has taken serious note of alarming pollution caused
by thermal power plants in Vidarbha using inferior quality
coal, in violation of ministry of environment and forests'
norms. A division bench of NGT, Western Zone bench, Pune
comprising Justice V R Kingaonkar (judicial member) and Ajay A
Deshpande (expert member) on Tuesday issued a notice to
Maharashtra chief secretary, state energy department,
environment department, Union power and coal \ministries,
MoEF, MPCB, Coal India Limited and its subsidiary Western
Coalfields and state run power utility Maharashtra State Power
Generation Company Limited (MahaGenco) seeking a reply by
March 19.
Source: Economic
Times, New Delhi, Feb 15, 2014
State
to have e-waste treatment plant
In view of the
growing hazard of e-waste, the State Government is planning to
implement a project for scientific disposal, including
recycling, of e-waste materials generated in Assam. A study has
started in this regard, and as per a preliminary survey report,
a quantum of 50 MTs of e-waste materials were found available in
the surveyed areas. Places where the survey was conducted
include Petrochemicals Ltd (Namrup), BVFCL (Namrup), Dibrugarh
University, ONGC (Jorhat), Jorhat Engineering College (Jorhat),
OIL (Duliajan), IOCL (Digboi), ONGC (Sivasagar) IOCL
(Bongaigaon), Army Headquarters (Tezpur), Air Force Station
(Tezpur), Tezpur Central University, Assam Engineering College
(CSE Dept), and some offices of the Deputy Commissioners of the
State.
Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, Feb 10,
2014
NGT
committee to determine cause of Ganga pollution
The National Green
Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday formed a high-level expert panel to
determine whether the Ganga was being polluted by industrial
effluents that are discharged into it through the Simbhaoli
Drain near Ghaziabad. The two-member expert panel comprises
member-secretaries of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
and the UP Pollution Control Board (UPPCB). The order for
formation of the panel was issued by principal bench of the
tribunal, headed by chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar. The
panel has been formed to effectively adjudicate a case in which
it has been alleged that toxic effluents released by industries
near Ghaziabad are responsible for polluting the Ganga, besides
threatening the lives of endangered aquatic species.
Source: The Times
of India, New Delhi, Feb 13, 2013
Urban bees turning to
plastic waste to build hives
Ever heard of bees
who use plastic bags and plastic building materials to construct
their nests? There are some and this shows how they have adapted
to the human world with time. A new study reveals that two urban
bee species in Canada make nests out of plastic waste. "It's an
important discovery because it shows bees' resourcefulness and
flexibility in adapting to a human-dominated world," says lead
author Scott MacIvor, a doctoral student at York University and
Ontario-based University of Guelph graduate. "Plastic waste
pervades the global landscape," said MacIvor, adding that few
scientists have observed insects adapting to a plastic-rich
environment.
Source: Business
Standard, New Delhi, Feb 13, 2014
Closure of garbage
recycling plant raises stink in Mira-Bhayander
While the closure
of the recycling plant has raised a stink in Mira Road and
Bhayander, the civic administration is still to take a decision
on setting up a new plant in Vasai. The wastes generated in the
region was being recycled in a plant at Dhavgi village, Utan in
Bhayander (west). The plant operated by Hanjer Biotech has been
shut down due to protest by villagers. This has resulted in huge
amount of garbage mounting up in Utan.
Source: The Times
of India, New Delhi, Feb 12, 2013
Polio-free India to get
WHO certification
As India
celebrates its victory over polio — completing three years
without any case of the debilitating infection — the nation
becomes entitled to polio-free certification by the World Health
Organisation in March. On Tuesday, President Pranab Mukherjee
received Rotary International’s highest award — Award of Honour
— a recognition for heads of nations or governments who have
rendered unique service to humanity and served their countries
and people.
Source: The Hindu,
New Delhi, Feb 12, 2014
National
Green Tribunal questions permits given to polluting industries
In a case pertaining to pollution of the
Ganga, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday directed UP
Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) to clarify within two days how
it has been granting permits annually to a sugar mill and a
dairy plant near Ghaziabad, which have been polluting the river
waters continuously. The orders were issued after an inspection
conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) revealed
that the units were not complying with pollution control norms.
Source: Economic Times, New Delhi, Feb 11,
2014
After
2 years, no progress on Delhi’s pollution action plan
There is now mounting evidence that Delhi's
air quality is comparable to, if not worse than, Beijing's
notoriously poor air quality. But, the second-generation action
plan for Delhi's pollution—drafted to deal with the
deteriorating air quality after CNG introduction—doesn't seem to
have been finalized almost two years after it was prepared. All
the government departments are still to give their response, and
seem to be in no hurry to finalize the plan.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi Feb 12,
2014
Yamuna
pollution issue lead to water supply over Yamuna pollution
After the trouble
over power supply, the prospect of a water crisis looms large
over the National Capital. The Uttar Pradesh government has
threatened to cut the supply to Delhi, claiming the sewerage the
city daily pumps into the Yamuna is polluting the Ganga. The
news come at a time when the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party
government is already facing a battle on the power front, and
has put the power discoms on notice to ensure an uninterrupted
supply in Delhi. Also, the threat from the neighbouring state
will put pressure on the Kejriwal government's plan to provide
700 litres of water free to every household in Delhi.
Interestingly, the letter comes close on the heels of Kejriwal
mentioning Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav in a list
of corrupt politicians.
Source: Daily
Post, New Delhi, ,Feb 12, 2014
Polluting
Phagwara units under Green Tribunal lens
After directions
of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Punjab Pollution
Control Board (PPCB) has initiated a survey to identify
polluting industrial units in Kapurthala’s Phagwara town. The
PPCB authorities swung into action after the NGT had, on January
22, issued directions to the board for conducting a
comprehensive survey of Phagwara and identifying industrial
units causing pollution. The tribunal has also asked the PPCB to
hold a survey of polluting industries located within the 3-km
radius of Upkaar International, a diesel engine manufacturing
unit, and submit a report in this regard on March 6.
Source: The
Tribune, New Delhi, Feb 12, 2014
Supreme Court issues
notice to Centre, Delhi on air pollution
The Supreme Court
on Monday issued notices to the Centre and the Delhi, Uttar
Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana government on an application to
take immediate and adequate steps to prescribe stringent
emission standards for both petrol and diesel vehicles to
control and reduce air pollution and protect the health and
well-being of citizens. The Green Bench comprising Justices A.K.
Patnaik, S.S. Nijjar and Ibrahim Kalifulla issued notices after
hearing senior counsel and amicus curiae Harish Salve bringing
to the court’s notice the report of the Environment Pollution
(Prevention & Control) Authority for the National Capital
Region and seeking its immediate intervention. The report said:
“Particulate pollution, a serious public health threat and key
target of air pollution control measures, is rising rapidly
after initial stabilisation.
Source: The Hindu,
New Delhi, Feb 11, 2014
U.P.
notice to Delhi Government for releasing toxic water into
Yamuna
With water from
the Yamuna becoming increasingly contaminated and unfit for
human consumption in Agra and Mathura, the Uttar Pradesh
Government has served notice on the Delhi government to ensure
that toxic water is not released into the river by factories.
The State government is of the firm view that toxicity of the
Yamuna increases downstream as it flows into Agra and Mathura,
mainly on account of the putrid water released by 16 ‘nullahs’
(drainage channels) in Delhi. “Our priority is to provide safe
and potable water to the people of Agra and Mathura,” said Uttar
Pradesh Irrigation and Public Works Department Minister Shivpal
Singh Yadav here on Sunday. Referring to the notice served on
the Delhi government on Friday, Mr. Yadav said sewage treatment
plants should be installed in factories operating in Delhi.
Source: The Hindu,
New Delhi, Jan 10, 2014
Note:R K Pachauri is one of the supporters of world's most environmentally destructive project, Interlinking of Rivers, his words on water wastage is quite insincere. Only development fundamentalists like Narendra Modi, Pachauri and Suresh Prabhu support such projects which cause Ara Sea type disaster. Pachauri is accused of being an environmentalist by the corporate media although he has mostly been on the wrong side of environment. He is a supporter of Dioxins emitting incinerators as well.
Gopal Krishna
ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA)
AAP's free water policy
may end up in lot of wastage: Pachauri
The AAP
government's policies on water and electricity are well intended
but not the best way to achieve desired goals as supply of over
600 litres of free water to Delhi residents may end up in a lot
of wastage, director general TERI R K Pachauri has warned. "The
intentions are very good but I am not sure this is the best way
of going about it. In the case of water and even electricity
firstly you have got to look at the whole economics of water
supply and power supply," he told PTI in an interview here when
asked about Aam Aadmi Party government's policies on water and
electricity.
Source: The Times
of India, New Delhi, Jan 10, 2014
15 bird species in India
critically endangered: International report
Fifteen species of
birds seen in India have been declared critically endangered by
the International Union for Conversation of Nature (IUCN) for
2013. The endangered birds, including the Great Indian Bustard,
Siberian Crane, White backed Vulture and Red-headed Vulture, are
on the decline, said a report of IUCN updated till December
2013. The major reasons for the decline in the population of
these birds include loss, modification, fragmentation and
degradation of habitat, environmental contaminants, poaching and
land use changes, particularly conversion of large areas for
crop cultivation. Also, changes in cropping pattern due to
various reasons, including implementation of irrigation schemes,
increased pesticide usage, livestock-grazing, high levels of
disturbance and developmental activities like mining and hydel
projects resulted in marginal fall in their population, said the
report.
Source: The Times
of India, New Delhi, Jan 10, 2014
HC directs NHAI to plant
10 saplings for every tree felled
The Madras High
Court Bench here on Thursday directed the National Highways
Authority of India’s (NHAI) Project Implementation Units (PIUs)
in Madurai, Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Karur and Karaikudi to plant 10
saplings for every tree felled by them to widen the highways
within their jurisdiction. A Division Bench of Justice Satish K.
Agnihotri and Justice R. Sudhakar ordered that the plantation
work on the sides of the highways must be started on February 15
and completed within six months. Periodic progress reports
should be filed in the court on the first working day of every
month. The judges also appointed advocate T. Lajapathi Roy as
amicus curiae in the case to suggest the types of plants that
could be planted by NHAI. Apart from him, a team of lawyers was
also constituted to monitor the commencement of plantation works
in all five PIUs on February 15.
Source: The Hindu,
New Delhi, Jan 8, 2014
High Court attention
drawn to pesticides in fruits, veggies
The Delhi High
Court was on Wednesday told that the Centre and the city
government have failed to address the issue of banned pesticides
in fruits and vegetables. The submission was made in a report
placed before the court by the amicus curiae appointed to
examine if banned pesticides are being used on fruits and
vegetables and what steps the authorities have taken to address
the issue. The report was opposed by the Delhi Government.
Source: The Hindu,
New Delhi, Jan 7, 2014
Ban on mining, power
projects in Western Ghats to continue
The orders
imposing restrictions on new mining, thermal power and other
polluting industries in the designated Western Ghats area
continue to stand, Environment and Forests Minister Veerappa
Moily told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. In written replies, he
said the Ministry had issued directions under Section 5 of the
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 “with a view to providing
immediate protection to the Western Ghats and maintaining
environmental integrity.” Mr. Moily was referring to the orders
issued by his predecessor, Jayanthi Natarajan. The orders under
Section 5 imposed an immediate ban, begun November 13 last, on
entertaining proposals for environmental clearance pertaining to
mining, thermal power plants, large building and construction
projects.
Source: The Hindu,
New Delhi, Jan 8, 2014
Delhi beats Beijing as
the world's most polluted city
Delhi has beaten
Beijing to the dubious title of world's most polluted city as
the air pollution is literally choking this city. It has been
tagged as having the worst air quality in the world, beating
Beijing in terms of particulate matter pollution which causes
cancer and various asthmatic and respiratory problems. Data from
the CSE shows that between October 1, 2013 and January 31, 2014,
Delhi met the bare minimum for breathable air for just three
days. On all other days in the 4-month period, Delhi's air
quality in terms of Particulate Matter 2.5 was hazardous.
Beijing has for long been infamous for its very visible haze,
but data now shows that Delhi's air pollution, though less
visible, is just as insidious. The biggest offendors are
vehicles, especially diesel vehicles and dust raised by
construction. While Beijing has made massive gains in curtailing
pollution, Delhi has lagged far behind. Experts say the problem
lies in implementation.
Source: IBNLIVE
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