The National Green Tribunal has sought responses from the environment ministry, the Karnataka government and several other concerned authorities on a petition challenging the forest clearance granted by the state government for construction of phase-I of the Rs 12,912-crore Yettinahole project. According to the petition filed, the forest clearance has not considered the location of the project that falls in the ecologically-sensitive zone of the Western Ghats. Along with this, it has also been reported that the project is based on flawed hydrological studies and incorrect parameters.
To exploit the water of Pakistan-controlled river, India is planning to increase the irrigation area in Jammu & Kashmir by fast-tracking four projects in the Indus river basin. Out of the four projects, three projects are expected to be completed by this fiscal, while the fourth one is planned to be completed by December 2019. The projects that will cost Rs 117 crore will help irrigate around 2.05 lakh acres of land and the funds for the same will be raised by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
Buckingham canal clean-up: NGT orders PWD to continue desilting the canal
The National Green Tribunal has ordered the Public Works Department in Chennai to continue desilting the Buckingham canal before the arrival of the monsoon. The order has come following the petition filed with the NGT, requesting a direction on clearing the clogged canal. Last week, the PWD submitted its budget estimate for the clean-up works. However, it has been recommended that the department could not solve the problem alone and there is a need for a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach of all stakeholders.
The National Green Tribunal has sought replies from the environment ministry, the ministry of roads, transport and highways, the Jammu & Kashmir government, Hindustan Construction Company Ltd, Gammon India Ltd, state pollution control board and others within two weeks on the indiscriminate dumping of debris in Chenab and Tawi rivers while constructing the stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway between Udhampur and Banihal. The order has been passed following a petition against reckless misuse of the natural resources.
Questions raised over bridge across the Yamuna river
The National Green Tribunal has raised concerns over the plan to construct a bridge across the Yamuna river for Delhi-Meerut Expressway. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has planned to construct an alternate route between Delhi and Meerut owing to the frequent traffic jams between the two cities. The NHAI had moved NGT in view of a 2015 order saying that the construction of new barrages and roads, railway and metro bridges and embankments and bunds should not be permitted unless in exceptional cases. According to NHAI, this is an exceptional case and so the bridge should be permitted.
This is a roundup of important policy matters from October 23-31, 2016. Also read news this week.