In order to ensure adherence to the Compliance of Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, the National Green Tribunal has ordered the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to carry out a performance audit. In the initial stage, the audit will be taken up for 500 urban local bodies (ULBs) with a population of one lakh and above. The various parameters of the audit include segregation of waste at collection points, collection and transportation vehicles to be fitted with GPS, sweeping of public and commercial areas twice a day, scientific landfills, penalty provision for violators and prevention of solid waste from entering water bodies.
The National Green Tribunal has reprimanded the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) for not performing its statutory duties and failing to notify the areas in the national capital which are overexploited, critical and semi-critical in terms of groundwater availability. The tribunal has also rapped the Delhi government and the Delhi Jal Board over illegal borewells in Narela and Bawana industrial areas which have caused serious groundwater depletion in the region. Taking note of the non-compliance of its order, the tribunal has also sought a reply from the secretary of water ministry and has ordered to personally appear before it on November 12.
The union cabinet has approved Rs 7,552 crore Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) to boost the infrastructure in the marine and inland fisheries sector. The fund will also be used to help achieve 15 million tonnes of fish production by 2020, a target set under the Blue Revolution scheme. The cabinet has also approved the constitution of a committee to periodically review and refine the National Indicator Framework (NIF) to monitor Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with associated targets.
The environment ministry has given its go-ahead to the Kerala government to take up a feasibility study for a new dam in place of the 123-year-old Mullaperiyar dam. The approval, however, is being opposed by the Tamil Nadu government. As per TN, the green nod is in violation of the Supreme Court 2014 verdict as it would allow Kerala to raise the water level. According to experts, the Mullaperiyar dam should be decommissioned owing to its age and to ensure the safety of the people downstream.
Taking note of the disappearance of 31 hills in the Aravalli area, the Supreme Court has ordered the Rajasthan government to stop illegal mining in the 115.34-hectare area in the Aravallis within 48 hours. It has been highlighted that Rajasthan was earning a royalty of around Rs 5,000 crore from mining activities in the region but the disappearance of hills can raise pollution levels in the National Capital Region. Around 15-20 percent of hills, which act as barriers, have disappeared in the region due to illegal mining.
This is a roundup of important policy matters from October 23 - 29, 2018. Also, read news this week.