Pulls up the Centre, U.P., Haryana and Delhi for the mess

The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed serious concern over the worsening quality of water in the Yamuna due to high level of pollution though over Rs 1,800 crores had been spent to contain pollution. A Bench of Justices Swatanter Kumar and Madan B. Lokur, hearing a petition relating to Yamuna water said, “It is unfortunate that huge amount of public funds are spent without showing any improvement in water quality.”

JAIPUR: With nearly 400 vehicles being added to the city's burgeoning fleet of private cars and commercial vehicles, the level of air population has sharply gone up along with a corresponding rise in the number of people suffering from respiratory problems.

In an alarming report prepared by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the air pollution in Jaipur has reached a critical level. The report also highlighted the deteriorating air quality of Jaipur, and stated that the pollution level is 2.8 times higher than the normal. A citizen's survey conducted by CSE found out that nearly 88% residents of Jaipur believe that the city's air pollution levels have increased. Nearly 94% said the cases of respiratory diseases are on the rise.

Court asks Centre to spell out its stand

The Supreme Court has appointed an expert committee to go into all aspects of the ban on endosulfan and the disposal of the existing quantity of the pesticide. The court has asked the Centre to spell out its stand on the manufacture and use of endosulfan in the country.

A Bench comprising Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice Madan B. Lokur, hearing a writ petition filed by the Democratic Youth Federation of India on Tuesday, said the committee to be headed by the Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) would have the Member-Secretary of the Centre Pollution Control Board, two scientists, and the Joint Secretary of Plant Protection from the Agriculture Ministry on it.

Hazardous metal waste can affect brain and nervous system if not disposed of properly.

The National Green Tribunal’s principal bench has restrained a number of State agencies from dumping garbage in the Pallavaram ‘periya eri’.

“The Tribunal is able to see a prima facie case made out for granting an ex-parte ad interim injunction in view of the warranting fact and circumstances. Accordingly, an ex-parte ad interim injunction is granted, restraining R-1 (first respondent) from dumping garbage at Pallavaram ‘periya eri’ until further orders of this Tribunal,” said the Tribunal’s order, dated September 27.

A study by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a New Delhi-based research and advocacy body, has found high levels of mercury in the environment as well as bodies of local people in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh’s second largest district.

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has launched an awareness campaign for the Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and Market Traders Associations (MTAs) on the issue of collection and disposal

The Scheme of Assistance for Abatement of Pollution was conceptualized during the 7th Five-Year Plan with the main objective to strengthen the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) / State Pollution Control Committees (SPCCs) for enforcing statutory provisions of pollution abatement.

Public outrage seems to have got better of scientific opinion when it comes to disposing of over 350 tonnes of toxic waste on the Union Carbide's now-defunct premises at Bhopal.

Vehicular density, construction activity, use of diesel generator sets and loudspeakers blamed

Bangalore, long considered the garden city, now has a dubious distinction. It has been ranked the country’s seventh noisiest city and the tag is bound to worry the citizens, long concerned about rising levels of air pollution and ever-increasing number of vehicles. At 65 decibels, the City’s noise level has exceeded permissible levels in residential and commercial zones.

Pages