Press on Environment and Wildlife

MoEF limits eco-sensitive zone around Okhla Bird sanctuary (August Week #4 (2015))

After consulting members of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) on Tuesday, Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar announced that the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around the Okhla Bird Sanctuary in Delhi will be kept within reasonable limits, keeping
in mind the requirements of property buyers within the 10 km radius of the sanctuary. A move that is likely to cheer home-buyers in the region, the limiting of the ESZ does not amount to any violation of orders, Mr. Javadekar assured the press.

http://cmsenvis.cmsindia.org/resources/newspaper/details.asp?id=73933

Ban on single-use plastic goods from tomorrow (Issue of the week, August Week #2(2015))

All the 19 town panchayats — 12 in Sivaganga district and seven in Ramanathapuram district — would step into the environment-friendly zone on August 15 when the ban on single use plastic goods would come into force.

Acting on a directive of the Directorate of Town Panchayats, the urban local bodies have adopted resolutions to ban the use of plastic items, especially single-use plastic carry bags of below 40 microns.

http://cmsenvis.cmsindia.org/resources/newspaper/details.asp?id=73746

Scientists find green solution for PoP idols (August Week #2(2015))

PUNE: Scientists at the city-based National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) have found a more environment-friendly solution for household and big Ganapati idols made from plaster of Paris that are taken for immersion on Anant Chaturdashi.

The liquid solution called 'Jal Abhishek', for sentiments' sake, can dissolve the idols and the residue can be used as a fertilizer. Pune Municipal Corporation can thus ensure that idols handed over at hundreds of immersion tanks are disposed of with dignity.

http://cmsenvis.cmsindia.org/resources/newspaper/details.asp?id=73740

Coliform bacteria level high in ground water in many areas (August Week #2(2015))

Government today said coliform bacteria limit is exceeding in ground water in 83 per cent of the locations being assessed by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

"Total and Faecal Coliforms, which indicate presence of pathogens in water are conforming to the desired levels in 47 per cent observations and 62 per cent observations respectively in river water samples, whereas, the coliform bacteria limit in ground
water samples is exceeding at 667 out of the 807 locations," Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.

http://cmsenvis.cmsindia.org/resources/newspaper/details.asp?id=73751

Activists off guard as Bhopal toxic waste incineration begins (August Week #2(2015)) Activists struggled to come up with a plan of action on Friday after the Madhya Pradesh government began disposing tonnes of toxic waste left behind by one of the world’s worst industrial disaster, saying they were caught off guard by the hush-hush move.More
than three decades after the Bhopal gas tragedy, about 10 tonnes of toxic waste was secretly transported from the Union Carbide factory to a private incineration facility in Dhar district, which began burning it on Thursday. The facility is around 225 km away
from the state capital.

http://cmsenvis.cmsindia.org/resources/newspaper/details.asp?id=73753

GPS-aided cameras to keep track of Gir lions (August Week #2(2015))

AHMEDABAD: The state forest department is getting ready to install GPS-aided 'camera traps' — a network of remotely operated system with motion and infrared sensors — in the Gir sanctuary. This will allow paperless monitoring of wildlife, especially lions,
and for conducting habitat studies.

A senior forest department officer said the department plans to install around 250 cameras. The entire network is expected to be ready for use by October this year

http://cmsenvis.cmsindia.org/resources/newspaper/details.asp?id=73765