Despite having the maximum (22.7 percent) wetland area in the country, the Gujarat government has failed to constitute a steering committee for the conservation of the wetlands. It was in 2011 that the centre had ordered all states to form a state steering committee and a state and district level wetland conservation authorities under the National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWLP). However, since then only eight states have formed such committees. Due to the absence of the wetland committees, the Gujarat government has also failed in taking up any wetland conservation projects.
The Assam government has initiated the project to make the Majuli river island country's first ever carbon neutral district by 2020. The project has been titled 'Sustainable Action for Climate Resilient Development in Majuli' and aims to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emission in the district. The initial action points towards the project include mitigation through forestry activities and biodiversity conservation.
One hundred and fifteen cities in the country have launched water supply and sewerage projects worth Rs 6,346 crore under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). Lauched by prime minister Narendra Modi, the aim of the scheme is to establish infrastructure for ensuring adequate sewerage networks and water supply for urban India. Also, the government has made a total investment of Rs 2,72,380 crore this year in urban development projects such as smart city plans, AMRUT, Swachh Bharat Mission (urban) and more.
An agreement of $500 million has been signed between Asian Development Bank and the Government of India for the construction of a new bridge across the Ganga river. The bridge is expected to provide an important link between the north and the south of Bihar and even with Nepal and is said to benefit over nine million people.
Under the impact of cyclone Vardah, flamingos have begun migrating to the Pulikat lake in Nellore district. Every year the winter migratory birds arrive from the Great Rann of Kutch in Gujarat to the lake. However, due to the long spells of drought in 2015 and 2016, the water levels in the lake have dipped and there has been a decline in the number of flamingos arriving at the lake. But during the past week, since the water in the lake have replenished, nearly 12,000 flamingos have visited the lake in scattered flocks.
This is a roundup of important news from December 13 - 18, 2016. Also, read the policy matters this week.