Environment Protection

Union Environment Min inaugurates G20-themed flower festival in Delhi's CP

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav inaugurated a two-day G20-themed flower festival of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) at Central Park in Connaught Place on Saturday

NGT slaps Rs 2 cr compensation on NHAI for flouting environmental norms

The National Green Tribunal has directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to pay a compensation of Rs 2 crore for failing to comply with environmental norms while constructing an eight-lane highway from Mukarba Chowk to Singhu border in Delhi. The tribunal was hearing a petition claiming the generation of dust because of the non-sprinkling of water at village Khampur and other stretches, and not following the principles of compensatory afforestation and non-compliance with the Green Highways (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification and Maintenance) Policy. A bench of Chairperson Justice A K Goel noted that the tribunal in November last year had sought a factual report from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the director of the national capital's environment department. The bench also comprising judicial members Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, along with expert member A Senthil Vel, said the joint committee had submitted its report,

NGT asks construction firm to pay Rs 55.47 cr for environmental damage

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered a highway construction company to pay Rs 55.47 crore for causing environmental damage by illegally excavating stone, sand and murram for its projects in the Nashik and Hingoli districts of Maharashtra. In two separate orders on February 22, NGT's western zone bench in Pune directed Rajendrasinh Bhamboo Infra Private Limited to pay Rs 36.35 crore and Rs 19.12 crore to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board within a month. The detailed orders were made available recently. We find that since the activity of mining has been conducted by the project proponent (Rajendrasinh Bhamboo Infra) without taking prior environmental clearance, the same is treated to be violation which impacts the environment adversely, said the green tribunal in one of its orders. One Dattatraya Phalke had filed pleas with the tribunal saying that the company be blacklisted for having repeatedly violated environmental norms for its commercial benefits. The tribunal h

To save the planet, consumption patterns need to change: Bhupender Yadav

Unsustainable production and consumption need urgent attention, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said at a joint India-Denmark forum on Tuesday, adding that the two countries can set an example for the world in achieving climate goals. Speaking at the 'India Denmark: Partners for Green and Sustainable Progress Conference' here, the minister noted that the Indo-Danish Green Strategic Partnership is an appropriate forum to exchange ideas, best practices, knowledge, technology, and capacity building for promoting sustainable lifestyles, not only in Denmark and India, but in Europe and the whole world. Danish Crown Prince Frederik Andr Henrik Christian and Princess Mary Elizabeth were also present at the event. "Unsustainable production and consumption need urgent attention if we are to confront the global environmental and climate change-related challenges facing us today. We need to act fast before it is too late," Yadav said. He said India and Denmark have set very ambit

Lucknow faces crisis as Gomti water level drops; no winter rains to blame

Early onset of summer has led to a drop in the water level of Gomti river to 1.4 feet below the normal 346.7 feet due to the extreme weather

Resorts within one-km of Rajaji National Park not necessarily legal: NGT

The National Green Tribunal has said that it was wrongly assumed in a report that resorts within one-km radius of the Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand were legal and formed a panel of "higher-level officials" to take remedial action. The NGT was hearing the matter regarding the illegal functioning of hotels, resorts, pubs, clubs and ashrams and other commercial activities in the Chilla Range of Rajaji National Park. A bench of Chairperson Justice A K Goel noted that in October last year, the tribunal had directed remedial action against violations by 19 resorts along with recovery of compensation for restoration of the environment, following which reports were filed by the Director of Rajaji National Park and the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UKPCB) earlier this month. The bench also comprising judicial members Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Afroz Ahmad noted that according to the report, action was taken against illegally operating .

CO2 arbitrage will make heroes

To avoid capital destruction, simulate a business model under a correct shadow price of carbon

NGT orders Rajasthan to ascertain if Sambhar Festival harms migratory birds

The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday directed the authorities in Rajasthan to address the grievance regarding the proposed three-day Sambhar festival adversely impacting migratory birds and their natural habitat. The tribunal also directed the authorities, including the Rajasthan chief secretary, to shift the festival's location if such a detrimental effect is found. The green panel was hearing a petition that alleged that the festival's activities, including kite flying, paragliding and motorcycle expedition, would "adversely affect migratory birds and natural habitat of the lake which is a Ramsar site, particularly on account of the use of loudspeakers". The festival is scheduled to take place at Sambhar Lake near Jaipur from February 17 to 19. "We find it necessary to direct the chief secretary, Rajasthan, to address the grievance in coordination with State Wetland Authority, principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife), district magistrate, Jaipur, and integrated region

Follow all safeguards in road projects within 100 km of IB, LoC: Centre

Close on the heels of the Joshimath crisis, the Centre has issued a standard operating procedure asking agencies to mandatorily implement environmental safeguards in all roads and highway projects falling within 100 km of the International Border or the Line of Control. The standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by the Union environment ministry on February 6 stresses on mandatory disaster management plans, risk assessment and eco-fragility studies and precautions during tunnelling. The guidelines come seven months after the ministry waived the requirement for environmental clearance for highway projects up to 100 km of the International Border (IB) or the Line of Control (LoC). "The guidelines are to be followed for all roads/highway projects falling within 100 km from the International Border/Line of Control for sustainable environmental safeguards. "Further, the exemption of prior EC (environmental clearance) for all highway projects up to 100 km from the LoC or border does n

Laws and the green movement

When it comes to our environment, laws and policies have accomplished little by way of success. Environmental Law and Policy in India examines why this is so

WRI, GEF to form Secretariat for preservation of 30% land, ocean by 2030

The High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People has announced the formation of a new permanent Secretariat to be co-hosted by World Resources Institute and the Global Environment Facility

Intend to limit buffer zones within forests; may launch survey: Kerala govt

The Kerala government on Tuesday said its intention was to try limiting buffer zones within forest regions and that it was also considering a field survey of affected areas to resolve concerns of the public on the issue. Speaking to reporters at Thiruvananthapuram after meeting major archbishop-catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, Baselios Cleemis, Kerala Transport Minister Antony Raju and state Water Minister Roshi Augustine said the Left government's intention was to try and limit buffer zones within the forests. The ministers, while downplaying the meeting with Cardinal Cleemis as casual, said the government was also considering carrying out field surveys of the areas where buffer zones have to be implemented in accordance with the Supreme Court directions. They met the Cardinal hours before the high level meeting, called by Vijayan on Monday, to be held in the afternoon. The high level meeting will be chaired by the CM and would comprise the state Ministers of ...

WWF welcomes global deal to reverse nature loss, seeks quick implementation

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) welcomed the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Agreement, committing the world to halting and reversing cby 2030

Area-based targets for biodiversity conservation not acceptable: India

Area-based targets for biodiversity conservation are a one-size-fits-all approach that is not acceptable, India has said at the UN biodiversity talks in Canada's Montreal. It has also said essential support to vulnerable sectors, such as agriculture, cannot be described as subsidies and targeted for elimination. The second part of the Convention on Biological Diversity's (CBD) Fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP 15) started on December 7, with 196 parties coming together in the hope of finalising negotiations for a new Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) -- a new set of goals and targets that will guide global action on nature through 2030. One of the contentious components of the GBF to be negotiated is the "30x30" conservation target. It calls for 30 per cent of the earth's land and sea to be conserved through the establishment of protected areas and other area-based conservation measures. Delivering the national statement at COP15 on Friday, Union Environment Minister ...

India can comfortably achieve '30X30' biodiversity target: COP15 delegate

India has about 27 per cent of its area under conservation and can comfortably reach the target of protecting 30 per cent of land and water by 2030, according to a senior delegate negotiating for the country at the COP15 biodiversity conference here in Canada. J Justin Mohan, the Secretary of the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), noted that India is already a member of the High Ambition Coalition (HAC), a group of 113 countries that aims at bringing 30 per cent of the geographical area under conservation by 2030, also known as 30X30 target. With our protective area network comprising reserved forests, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, mangroves, Ramsar sites, eco-sensitive zones, and community reserves, India has already achieved about 27 per cent of the area under conservation, Mohan told PTI. We are now focusing on more areas to be brought under conservation through biodiversity heritage sites and Other Effective Conservation Measures (OECMS). India can comfortably achiev

Indian student leads 'plogging' missions to clean up streets across UK

An Indian student and award-winning environmentalist from the University of Bristol in south-west England has inspired a trend of plogging, or jogging combined with litter picking, across various cities of the UK. Vivek Gurav, originally from Pune, was inspired by the Swedish concept of plogging which combines jogga (jogging) with plocka upp (a pick-up) to encourage people who use their local streets the most to take pride in keeping them clean. In India, he set up a plogging community known as Pune Ploggers back in 2018, with over 10,000 members who have collected over 1 million kilograms of rubbish and wanted to continue the trend when he took up his scholarship position at Bristol University in September last year. Since then, his university says he has covered over 420 miles on 120 plogging missions joined by volunteers from 180 countries and is now taking the drive to 30 UK cities. I have only been plogging in Bristol but I kept getting asked by people in Manchester, Leeds, .

Area under moderately dense mangroves fell in 10 years, shows data

Overall mangrove cover increased between 2011 and 2021

India showed environment protection, development possible together: PM Modi

India has shown to the world that it is possible to protect the environment and ensure economic development simultaneously, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said. India is observing the 68th wildlife week from October 2-8. "It is possible to ensure both economic development and environment protection through proper policies and better implementation. India has shown this to the world," the PM said in a written message to the people of the country in Hindi on October 6. The Environment Ministry also tweeted the message on Friday. PM Modi said humans, environment and wildlife complement each other and more attention should be paid to the conservation of wildlife and biodiversity in the changing environment. He said India added 259 new protected areas for wildlife in the last eight years, and the forest areas have also expanded rapidly. Notable works are being done under the 'Namami Gange' mission to clean the Ganga, a witness to our glorious culture, and to conserve the aquatic lif

Google launches circular economy accelerator for Asia-Pacific start-ups

Applications for the program are open from October 4 to November 14 this year and the program will commence in February 2023

Constitution restricts King Charles from voicing environmental concerns

On a blustery November day last year Britain's future king stood before world leaders to deliver a rallying cry that they should "act with all despatch, and decisively to confront a common enemy. The clarion call in the vast, windowless hall of a Glasgow convention center at the opening of the U.N. climate conference concerned an issue long dear to the heart of the then-Prince Charles. Climate change and loss of biodiversity were no different from the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the globe, he said. In fact, they pose an even greater existential threat, to the extent that we have to put ourselves on what might be called a war-like footing. He warned leaders that time was running out to reduce emissions, urging them to push through reforms that are radically transforming our current fossil fuel-based economy to one that is genuinely renewable and sustainable. We need a vast military-style campaign to marshal the strength of the global private sector," he said, adding that the trilli