The National Green Tribunal has ordered the Madhya Pradesh and the Rajasthan governments to give their opinion on parting with 10 percent of their water share of the Chambal river for maintaining the river's environmental flow (e-flow) in the lean period between January and June. Along with this, the tribunal has also directed both the states to work out further details pertaining to their water requirements and the amount of water that can be made available for maintaining the e-flow of the river.
The water resources secretary, Shashi Shekhar has questioned his counterpart in the environment ministry on why the 10 hydropower projects and mining have been allowed in the Bhagirathi valleys as these projects will have their impact on the eco-sensitive zone of the area. However, as per the environment ministry, the projects will be approved only after a carrying capacity study is done by scientists. The 100-km stretch from Gaumukh to Uttar Kashi of Bhagirathi river was notified in 2012 as the Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone.
In a bid to ensure a constant supply of water in the capital, the Delhi Jal Board has launched a ‘Walk the Line’ initiative which will deploy 800 junior engineers to audit city’s water utility infrastructure for leakage and contamination. Along with this, the board also plans to add 3,500 km of pipeline to the existing 14,000 km of pipeline in order to provide tap water to every household by December 2017. Also, for the clean-up of the Yamuna river, the Delhi government has recommended a special purpose vehicle along the lines of Delhi metro.
The Odisha cabinet has given its approval for 54 mega lift irrigation projects worth Rs 1,800 crore in 23 blocks of five districts--Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Ganjam, Kalahandi and Nuapada. The projects aim to create an additional irrigation potential for nearly 62,000 hectares in the state. Also, the entire funding of the projects will be borne by both the state government and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
It has been nearly three-and-a-half years since the water ministry has ordered the Karnataka government to bring all the water bodies in Bengaluru under the purview of the environment ministry. However, the order remains on paper as the state government has failed to take action in this regard. Along with this, the state government has also not paid any heed to the ministry’s order to include the water bodies in land records and form them an integral part of the town-planning process.
This is a roundup of important policy matters from December 19 - 24, 2016. Also, read the news this week.