TSR Subramanian Committee submits report on environmental laws to the Environment Ministry
The TSR Subramanian Committee, that was appointed to review the environmental laws, has submitted its report to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. The report has suggested the constitution of a new National Environment Management Authority to grant clearance along with other key suggestions on protected areas and compensatory afforestation. Overall the report gives equal weightage to development and environment, as against the pessimisim it attracted initially.
NGT issues notice to Centre and UP Government over pollution in west UP rivers
The National Green Tribunal has issued notice to the Centre and UP authorities over excessive pollution in Hindon, Krishna and Kali rivers flowing in Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, Baghpat, Meerut and Ghaziabad districts. The order has come in the wake of exposure of thousands of residents in UP to water-borne diseases. According to the petition filed, there are 154 villages in UP that are affected due to high levels of pollution in the river water. At leat 42 types of industries that are disposing untreated effluents into the state's rivers.
No brick kilns to be present adjacent to rivers: Chhattisgarh Government
The Chhattisgarh Government has ordered the removal of brick kins in close vicintiy to rivers, in order to protect the rivers from pollution. The Government has further asked the authorities to ensure that the kilns should be 100 metres away from the river banks. Also, in order to check erosion, the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister has ordered officials to prepare afforestation plans to boost green cover on the banks of Sheonath, Arpa and Kharoon rivers.
Centre to launch 'Our District Our Water ' programme
During the national conference Jal Manthan, the Ministry for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has announced the launch of a programme called 'Our District-Our Water', which will be launched during the India Water Week to be held from 13 to 17 January 2015. The aim of this programme is to create awareness towards water conservation in every village of the country and to also identify villages that are in need of water conservation.
No hope to the Uttarakhand-UP 14 years old dispute
The 14-year old dispute between the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand Governments over irrigation projects seems to continue as both the Governments are reluctant to share the projects with each other. UP refuses to give 41 canals to Uttarakhand while the latter has refused to give away the control of eight canals to UP. Also, the UP Government is reluctant to give a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to some important irrigation projects in the hill state along with refusal to allow water from the main Ganga canals.
This is a weekly roundup of policy matters from November 18-24, 2014. Also read last week's news roundup.