The Government has allotted a sum of Rs 1000 crore to install community water purification plants (CWPPs) in various states where groundwater is contaminated with fluoride and arsenic and people in the region are forced to consume it. The plan will envisage installation of CWPPs that would provide 1,000 litres of drinking water an hour and available to users at a cost of 10 paise/litre. NITI Ayog will only fund the capital cost of the CWWPs while the State will have to ensure their operation and maintenance for at least seven years.
The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to take up Hybrid Annuity-based Public Private Partnership (PPP) model under the Namami Gange Programme to reform the wastewater sector in the country. Along with this, the Government is also planning to replicate Punjab's Seechewal model for the development of 1,600 villages located on the banks of the Ganga. Under this model, the sewage water is stored in a pond which is then used for irrigation after treatment in a natural way. Puth in Hapur district has been selected as the first village for replicating the Seechewal model.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has given its approval to the umbrella scheme for integrated development and management of fisheries. The scheme, which is worth Rs 3,000 crore, aims to boost the annual growth in the fisheries sector to 6-8% in the next Five Year Plan. The scheme includes the development and management of inland fisheries, aquaculture and marine fisheries including deep-sea fishing, mariculture and all activities undertaken by the National Fisheries Development Board.
The Expert Panel of the Environment Ministry has upheld the forest clearance for the 252 MW Devasari hyro electric project (HEP) in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. The main reason for this is that the project site holds religious importance, and the second is that the project implementation will lead to the cutting down of a sizeable forest area. Moreover, the vulnerable Himalayan Black Bear and endangered Snow Leopard are also found in the higher reaches of the forest.
There is good news for the Noida Authority's riverfront development project along the Yamuna and Hindon rivers. Several companies have shown an interest in the project and the Authority will soon start the process of tenders and technical and financial bids. The project involves the development of a green corridor across 600 acres in Noida with an objective to tackle encroachment and to ensure a clean Hindon river.
This is a roundup of important policy matters from January 4 - 11, 2016. Also read last week's news roundup.