The Delhi Government has ordered land-owners and civic agencies to buy treated wastewater for horticulture purposes while banning the use of fresh groundwater. Delhi has 8,000 parks in total for which nearly 80 million gallons per day of water is required, which means that one-tenth of the capital's water is being used for horticulture purposes. However, Manoj Misra of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan has suggested that the Government separate sewage, industrial waste and storm run-off, to make the Order a success.
The Tamil Nadu Government has cancelled land allotment to the proposed Coca Cola bottling plant, worth Rs 500 crore, in Perundurai. Foreseeing intense groundwater depletion in the area, the residents opposed the proposed plant. This is the second time that a Coca-Cola plant was forced to shelve its plans. Prior to this, Thums Up Cola and Kinley Water had to quit their factories in Plachimada, Kerala.
A Parliamentary Committee on agriculture has wrapped the Government for not providing adequate funds to the agriculture sector, despite India being an agri-dominant economy. The total outlay to the sector has been increased by just 2.8% in 2015-16, which is quite meagre according to the Committee when compared to other important sectors such as energy and science, and technology. The Committee has suggested that the Government should adopt a holistic approach to this vital sector of the economy.
The National Green Tribunal has ordered the constitution of a seven member committee to check if it's ban on groundwater extraction for construction purposes is being violated in Noida and Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh. The order has come following a Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) report that has observed a rapid decline in groundwater levels in both areas.
Authorities in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka have notified 5,848 public drinking water sources in the district. The order has made it mandatory for the people to seek permission from the district groundwater authority if they want to dig open wells or drill borewells within a 500-metre radius of the notified water sources. The order has been made to control the illegal drilling of borewells and put a check on depleting groundwater levels in the distirct.
This is a roundup of important policy matters from April 21 - 27, 2015. Also read last week's news updates.