Shift IPL matches out of Maharashtra: SC
Dismissing the plea by the Maharashtra and Mumbai Cricket Associations, the Supreme Court has directed to shift the Indian Premier League cricket matches outside of Maharashtra. However, the State Bodies were wanting a stay on the order by vowing not to use potable water for any cricketing activity in stadiums in Mumbai and Pune and rather use treated sewage water. Going the Maharashtra way, a petition has also been filed in Rajasthan to shift IPL out of Jaipur, to which the High Court has sought a response from the State Government.
Set up sewage treatment plants on Ganga banks: CPCB to 31 municipalities
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) under the Namami Gange project has directed the municipalities of 31 towns built on the river front across Uttar Pradesh to set up sewage treatment and solid waste management plants. The order has come with an aim to prevent disposal of solid waste into the Ganga river. Earlier, CPCB had asked all municipalities to submit their action plan on waste managements of which nine municipalities have submitted the action plans.
Mission Kakatiya might fail due to lack of scientific approach: NGRI
Per the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Mission Kakatiya, Telangana Government's flagship programme to restore 46,531 tanks across the State lacks scientific approach and may lead to loss of several crores to the State. The mission involves desilting, dredging and digging up century-old tanks, however, according to NGRI scientists the efforts might fail due to non-availability of groundwater. Moreover, many areas in the State consist of hard rock formations, including granites, metamorphics, shales and limestones, where finding water is difficult.
NGT order re-inspection of Coca-Cola's Hapur plant in UP
The National Green Tribunal has ordered re-inspection of Coca Cola's Hapur plant in Uttar Pradesh in order to investigate that whether the latter was discharging effluents into a nearby pond. The order has come following the Local Commissioner has reported of opening and leakages at few points in the boundary wall. Also, the plant has been ordered to pay Rs 20,000 as fees to the Court Commissioner and submit a drainage map of its plant in Hapur district.
Convert forest villages to revenue villages: Centre to States
Considering the difficulties faced by people living in forest villages, the Central Government has asked the State Governments to convert them into revenue villages to enable villagers get benefits of welfare schemes. Out of a total 22,06,011 population living in 4,526 forest villages across the country, 13,32,265 belong to Scheduled Tribes. However, in several States like Madhya Pradesh, Maharshtra, West Bengal, Odisha, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh many villages have either been converted to revenue villages already or have been identified for a conversion.
This is a roundup of important policy matters from April 26 - May 2, 2016. Also read last week's news roundup.
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