Following a report on the alleged destruction of mangroves, reclamation and levelling of wetlands to make way for a private parking area for nearly 500 vehicles, a first information report (FIR) has been filed against the landowner of the area. All the vehicles have been asked to be removed from the site with the Mumbai suburban collector calling wetland cases a top priority.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav inaugurated the Rs 1,500-crore Gomti riverfront development project that includes a waterway, a lake and a fountain. Meanwhile, environmentalists in Uttarakhand feel that the real purpose of the proposed state riverfront development authority is to boost real estate.
Officials have announced that the 7,930 borewells drilled by the BBMP in Bengaluru's core areas will be taken over by the BWSSB for repair and maintenance keeping drinking water shortage in mind. On the other hand, Bengaluru development minister K.J. George has said that the government will initiate steps to rejuvenate Bellandur lake. It has also been noticed that the Centre's demonetisation drive has cut down the city's non-potable water supply. Officials have also been told to hire private borewells instead of drilling new ones.
The Chennai government has informed the high court that there are 55,000 encroachments on the banks of the Adyar and Cooum rivers and Buckingham Canal in response to public interest litigation (PIL) petitions in connection with the Chennai floods of 2015. Also, Chennai International Airport completed its first phase of flood-proofing though passengers, experts and the industry remain sceptical despite the authorities reiterating that the airport is safe.
Drinking water projects in drought-hit areas have been exempted from the purview of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) Act by the state government. Keeping in mind the acute shortage of water in these areas, the government has decided to forego the tender process, which would otherwise delay the projects, said the Minister for Municipalities and Local Bodies Eshwar Khandre.
This is a roundup of important news from November 14-20, 2016. Also read the policy matters this week.