Last week the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) started axing trees at Aarey colony in Mumbai where the car shed for the Metro III project has to come up. Several activists who protested against the tree felling were jailed by the Mumbai Police. However, on the request of law students, the Supreme Court held an urgent hearing by constituting a special bench and restrained authorities from cutting any more trees in the area. Moreover, the apex court will be examining the entire matter and posted the hearing for October 21st. (Times of India)
Government to implement policy of rating appliances for water consumption efficiency
On the lines of star energy efficiency rating for power-consuming appliances, the Centre will soon be implementing a policy to rate commonly used household appliances for water-consumption efficiency. The move will cover most items consuming water, such as washing machines, water-based coolers, bathroom fitments, flush tanks, coolers and water purifiers as well as fixtures such as showerheads and toilet systems for household and commercial complexes. Under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 where a Bureau of Energy Efficiency was set up in 2002, a similar national bureau is being planned to oversee the system of rating products that use water. (Hindustan Times)
The Director General of National Mission for Clean Ganga, Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, has issued a 15-point directive to states to make elaborate arrangements to check pollution in the Ganga river and its tributaries during the ongoing festive season in India. The directive also imposes a fine of Rs 50,000 on violators. River banks and ghats have also been cordoned off and barricaded to prevent any stray immersion of idols in rivers or its banks. The directive has also asked state government officials to submit an action report seven days after the end of festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Vishwakarma Puja, Dussehra, Deepawali, Chath Puja and Saraswati Puja. (Economic Times)
The Mizoram government has rejected an Environment Ministry proposal to amend the Indian Forest Act of 1927, contending that it conflicts with the special provisions the state enjoys under Article 371G of the Constitution. Calling the proposal anti-indigenous people, the Mizoram government and forest rights activists say that the amendment seeks to give higher management powers beyond what is provided in the Forest Rights Act of 2006, and threatens to evict forest dwellers and promote forest produce through private firms. The state's areas under forest have been governed by the Mizoram Forest Act of 1955 in accordance with customary laws and needs of the local people. (The Hindu)
The National Green Tribunal has slapped a fine of Rs 9.16 crore on a leaseholder as environmental compensation charges for damaging ecology by excavating sand beyond permissible limits from the Kosi river in Rampur district of Uttar Pradesh. As per the Tribunal, the leases are not demarcated on the ground and mining was done using heavy machinery, violating the Sustainable Sand Mining Guidelines 2016. The NGT has ordered the respondent to pay the fine to the CPCB within a period of 15 days. The CPCB will transfer the amount to the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board to take up restoration within six months thereafter. (Financial Express)
This is a roundup of important policy matters from October 2 - 8, 2019. Also, read news this week.