NGT slams NMCG and DJB over pollution in Ganga and Yamuna rivers
Concerned about the level of pollution in the Ganga between Haridwar and Unnao in Uttar Pradesh, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) to install display boards at a gap of 100 kilometres indicating whether the river water is fit for drinking and bathing. The tribunal has also slammed the Delhi Jal Board over cleaning of the Yamuna pointing out that in the last three years, no meaningful progress has taken place in the Yamuna rejuvenation project.
Haryana water bodies to soon get a unique ID
The National Green Tribunal has ordered the Haryana government to restore 123 water bodies in Gurugram and Faridabad districts as they are main sources of groundwater recharge. The state government has been directed to assign a unique identification number to each water body within three months. The Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority has also been asked to identify other water bodies and retrieve them.
Zero-waste policy launched in Gujarat
Aiming for a 100 percent waste segregation, recycling and systematic disposal of waste, the Gujarat government has launched a zero-waste policy in the state. The policy will give power to all the civic bodies to frame their individual laws to act against individuals or organisations for erratic disposal of waste. Along with this, the policy resolves to make the state free from manual scavenging and revive stormwater drainage systems.
National Fishworkers Forum opposes draft coastal regulation zone
Calling the draft Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification counterproductive, the National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) has demanded the environment ministry to withdraw the draft. The forum has informed that the changes brought in the existing CRZ notification are in favour of the infrastructure projects along India's coastlines as the projects will be allowed without consulting the fishing communities whose lives and livelihoods depend on the existence of the coastal ecosystem.
Centre allows drilling of ONGC's exploratory wells close to bird sanctuaries
The central government has given its go-ahead to the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for carrying out exploratory drilling of 22 wells in Tamil Nadu's Ramanathapuram district. The project site is located within 10 km of the boundaries of the Sakkarakottai bird sanctuary, the Therthangal bird sanctuary and the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park. The environment ministry has also cleared the laying of an underground natural gas pipeline that passes through the 10-km eco-sensitive zones (ESZ) of three bird sanctuaries and the marine national park.
This is a roundup of important policy matters from July 24 - 31, 2018. Also, read the news this week.