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The National Green Tribunal (NGT) in New Delhi has instructed four Tamil Nadu government departments/agencies to submit their responses regarding the removal of encroachments in Chitlapakkam lake, South Chennai. The directive follows the NGT's notice of a Times of India article, "Encroachers remain on lake despite HC fiat," published on January 11. The NGT's principal bench, chaired by Justice Prakash Shrivastava with expert members A Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmad, deemed the article to raise significant concerns about environmental compliance and enforcement.
The article highlighted how Chitlapakkam lake has shrunk from its original 53 acres to 47 acres due to encroachments, with six acres occupied by unauthorised structures. Despite a Madras High Court order to clear all encroachments, the water resources department (WRD) only removed 74 out of 403 encroachments initially claimed. Subsequent revelations through RTI inquiries forced authorities to correct their figures.
The NGT observed that instead of fully complying with the court order, the WRD was spending 25 crores on lake restoration, effectively legitimising encroachments. Consequently, the principal bench transferred the case to the southern bench and scheduled a hearing for April 15, instructing the concerned departments to submit their responses before then. (The Times of India)
The NGT addressed concerns over the discharge of domestic and industrial wastewater into the Ganga in Varanasi, causing harm to religious sentiments. Approximately 128 MLD of wastewater is being released into the Ganga in Varanasi. A bench chaired by Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice Sudhir Agarwal noted a Varanasi Municipal Corporation report indicating that 28 MLD of untreated sewage flows into the river daily.
Despite having seven Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) with a combined designed capacity of 422 MLD, there remains a deficit of about 100 MLD. The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) failed to provide a response, prompting the tribunal to grant a four-week extension for action. The UPPCB was directed to submit a fresh action taken report one week before the next hearing on April 4. (Business Standard)
BBMP is drafting the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Community Involvement For Lake Conservation Policy 2023, aiming to engage private entities, individuals, and NGOs in supporting the maintenance and preservation of Bengaluru lakes. This policy will encourage contributions in the form of funds, facilities, and assets such as CSR initiatives, MoUs, water treatment plants, and parks. Before finalising the policy, BBMP plans to invite objections and suggestions from the public.
The new policy is anticipated to reduce the civic body's annual expenditure of approximately Rs 35 crore on lake maintenance for the 205 lakes under its jurisdiction. Previously, BBMP ceased entering into MoUs with private parties and NGOs for lake maintenance due to legal concerns raised by a high court order in 2019.
Under the proposed policy, private entities can contribute funds through CSR initiatives, with transparency ensured by reporting all expenditures to BBMP. Additionally, entities can provide facilities or assets like benches, public restrooms, water treatment plants, and parks adjacent to lakes. These contributions will be formalised through MoUs, ensuring accountability and service provision. (The Times of India)
Amidst a severe water crisis in Bengaluru, the Karnataka Water Supply and Sewerage Board have prohibited the use of drinking water for non-essential purposes like car washing, gardening, and construction. To enforce this, they've imposed a Rs 5000 fine for violations. Responding to complaints of price gouging by tanker owners, the Bengaluru city district administration has set fixed rates for tanker water delivery.
Bengaluru City District Collector, KA Dayanand, issued a circular establishing rates based on recommendations from a technical committee. Within a 5 km radius, a 6000-liter water tanker costs Rs 600, an 8000-liter tanker Rs 700, and a 12,000-liter tanker Rs 1000. For distances of 5 to 10 km, the rates increase to Rs 750, Rs 850, and Rs 1200, respectively. The district, declared drought-prone, will subject private tankers to GST, in addition to these rates.
The Karnataka government is prioritising irrigation and water management projects in response to the crisis. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar emphasised this focus in the Legislative Assembly, stating that other projects, like road construction, would follow. Shivakumar also issued a warning to unregistered water tanker owners, threatening seizure if they fail to register by March 7. Only a small fraction of tankers have complied thus far.
Shivakumar asserted the government's authority over water resources, instructing officials to tap groundwater-rich areas for supply. Despite the upcoming elections, he assured that water distribution efforts would continue uninterrupted. The Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board currently deploys 210 tankers for water distribution. (Business Standard)
The Haryana government aims to boost green hydrogen production with the introduction of the 'Haryana Green Hydrogen Policy 2024'. Drafted to align with the National Green Hydrogen Mission, the policy offers incentives to attract investments in green hydrogen projects. These incentives include land allocation with infrastructure connectivity, cost-effective biomass supply, and a 100% exemption from electricity duty for ten years.
Under the policy, there's also a provision for a 100% exemption from stamp duty on land acquired for green hydrogen projects. The draft, released on February 15, solicits public feedback until March 15, reflecting the government's commitment to transparency and stakeholder engagement. The Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency (HAREDA) is facilitating this process through its website.
Green hydrogen, produced via renewable energy-driven electrolysis, presents a sustainable alternative to grey hydrogen, which is carbon-intensive. The policy's vision is to achieve 250 kilotonnes per annum of green hydrogen production by 2030, contributing to decarbonisation efforts and energy security.
The policy further emphasises the integration of green hydrogen into various sectors, including transportation and industrial applications. It aims to create an enabling ecosystem by supporting renewable energy hybrid plants and battery storage projects. Additionally, HAREDA will assist in identifying suitable land parcels and provide guidelines for their allocation to developers.
To incentivise investment, the government plans to exempt various taxes and duties for land used in green hydrogen projects. This includes exemptions from local body tax, non-agriculture land tax, stamp duty, and electricity duty for a decade post-commissioning. Wheeling charges for intra-state transmission will also be waived for ten years.
The policy underscores Haryana's commitment to sustainable development and energy transition, recognising green hydrogen as a key element in achieving these goals. By fostering a conducive regulatory environment and providing targeted incentives, the government aims to attract investments and propel green hydrogen adoption in the state. (The Print)
This is a roundup of important policy updates from 1st March to 15th March, 2024. Read our news updates here.