To address the issue of depleting groundwater in the state, the Central Groundwater Authority (CGWA) has ordered industries in Punjab to take no objection certificates (NOCs) for the already existing tubewells inside the units. As per the order, small units using individual tubewells need to take NOCs while units using water ranging from one lakh litres to five lakh litres per day with factory size lesser than five hectares need to recharge double the water used apart from the NOC. The units using more than five lakh litres a day and having a factory size of more than five hectares need to adopt two villages.
The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of the environment ministry has cancelled the green clearance to the 600 megawatts (MW) Tawang hydroelectric project in Arunachal Pradesh as it could severely hit biodiversity in the region. The proposed project worth Rs 4,824 crore on the Tawang Chu river will significantly alter the habitat of the black-necked crane which is a protected bird under India’s Wildlife Protection Act 1972. Not just this, the project will also affect many other animals in the highly biodiverse Tawang valley and will also lead to the felling of 200,000 trees including the threatened plant species.
The forest department of Delhi government has tied up with the Dehradun Forest Research Institute (FRI) to launch the 'Kikar-Hatao' campaign from the central ridge in the city. The plantation is alien to the capital and takes away sunlight not allowing other trees to grow. It also depletes the water table fast as it is rooted 21 meters in the ground. Also, the private and government schools in Delhi have been ordered to install rainwater harvesting systems (RWHS) in their premises within 10 days of the order.
The National Green Tribunal has slammed the Haryana government over disposal of industrial waste and construction debris in the Aravalli forests on the Gurgaon-Faridabad road. While restraining the authorities from dumping waste in the Aravalli forests, the tribunal has also issued them a notice asking why they should not be asked to pay environmental compensation. Along with this, the tribunal has also taken note of dumping of waste at the Bandhwari landfill site which has led to leachate entering the Aravalli forest and polluting the aquifers around Delhi and Gurgaon.
Taking note of children drinking contaminated groundwater, the National Green Tribunal has issued a notice to Uttar Pradesh pollution control board and the district magistrate of Sambhal. The tribunal had earlier reprimanded the state Jal Nigam for failing to provide clean drinking water in Ghaziabad, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, Baghpat and Saharanpur districts. Also, the tribunal has now constituted a committee to inspect and provide potable water in these districts.
This is a roundup of important policy matters from May 29 - June 5, 2017. Also, read the news this week.