Release water to Tamil Nadu: SC to Karnataka
There was widespread protest of farmers in Tamil Nadu demanding water from the Cauvery reservoir following a statement from the chief Minister of Karnataka of his inability to release water due to inadequate rainfall. Following this, the Supreme Court has urged Karnataka to share water with Tamil Nadu on humanitarian grounds. Nearly 40 lakh TN farmers and their families will be severely affected if water is not released. According to the Cauvery water tribunal, Tamil Nadu is entitled to receive 50 TMC of water from Cauvery reservoir.
NGT sends notice to centre, UP government on Haj House construction on Hindon floodplains
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), the Uttar Pradesh government, its irrigation department, state pollution control board, UP Haj House Committee and others in response to a plea that has asked for the demolition of Aala Hazrat Haj House. The plea has been filed by Ghaziabad residents and a non-governmental organisation, Society for protection of Environment and Biodiversity, which points out that the land where the Haj house is being constructed falls on the floodplains of the river and the revenue records of Village Arthala in Ghaziabad district clearly identify it as the area under the Hindon river.
Water and environment ministries unite, clear way for Uttarakhand hydel projects
The water and environment ministries have taken a united stand before the Supreme Court over the issue of hydropower projects in Uttarakhand. This move is expected to clear the construction of a selected number of hydropower projects in Uttarakhand, provided they ensure that the minimum water flow in river Ganga is maintained. Six of the 24 projects in the region will be given clearance if the Supreme Court sees merit in it and gives it the go ahead.
NGT calls for an urgent need to close unauthorised industries in residential areas in Delhi
The National Green Tribunal has directed the Centre and the Delhi government to immediately close down all unauthorised industrial units functioning in residential areas of Delhi. This decision was made following a plea filed by an east Delhi resident, Kamal Kishore who demanded action against illegal factories in the Mandoli area and had claimed that they were operating without the consent of Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and had not taken permissions under the air and water acts.
Meet for conservation of wetlands takes place, no major steps undertaken yet
The Central Wetland Regulatory Authority (CWRA), the apex body overseeing the conservation of wetlands, met after a gap of four years after the National Green Tribunal directed it to meet regularly and notify wetlands at the earliest to start conservation efforts. The CWRA has, however, failed to notify any wetlands and has claimed that the wetland notification proposals received from states are lacking in information such as delineation of boundaries and legible maps, and have been returned to the concerned states after in-house examination.
This is a roundup of important policy matters from August 29 - 3rd September, 2016. Also read last week's news roundup.