CPCB finds Coca Cola plant in Hapur pumping toxic water into a pond

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has found that the Coca Cola plant in Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, has been pumping out nearly 350 kilo litres of toxic wastewater a day into a pond, and that the effluent treatment plant at the facility was dry. Moreover, the pond was overflowing with effluents and the coliform count in the pond was about 3,500 times more than what should be in treated wastewater. The plant has been ordered to come up with a plan to clean up this mess by February 9, 2016.  

Only four out of 105 lakes in Bengaluru are good according to an IISC study

A new report from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) titled 'Wetlands: Treasured of Bangalore (Abused, Polluted, Encroached and Vanishing)', has revealed that only four of the 105 lakes in Bengaluru are in a good state. Encroachments and inflow of untreated sewage and industrial effluents are to be blamed for this abysmal situation. Apart from this, the records of the Revenue Department have revealed that several lakes earlier identified as encroached have actually gone missing.

$250 million loan for Kosi Basin Development project 

India has signed a $250 million loan agreement with the World Bank for the Kosi Basin Development project in Bihar. The aim of the project is to enhance resilience to floods and increase agricultural productivity in the targeted districts in the Kosi River Basin along with enhancing Bihar's capacity to respond promptly and effectively to crisis or emergency. Rural producers and households in the Kosi River Basin who are regularly exposed to floods will be the primary beneficiaries of the project. 

Despite free water scheme, DJB earned many more crores, claims CM

Per the claims of the Delhi Chief Minister, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has been able to earn Rs 178 crore more than the last financial year, despite providing 20,000 litres of free water/month. Along with this, the scheme has also helped reduce water wastage. The Delhi Government has also launched DJB's m-Sewa App for residents to generate and pay their water bills online. 

Thane Authorities can now tap underground water resources

To tackle the imminent water scarcity, the Thane Municipal Corporation's (TMC) has been allowed to tap underground water resources. With its proposal now approved, the Corporation can dig over 100 new borewells across the city. The excavation costs of these wells have been estimated to be Rs 25 lakhs and will help reduce the dependency on municipal water especially for non-potable uses.

This is a roundup of important news updates from January 19 - 25, 2016. Also read last week's policy matters update.

Lead Image Source: S. Subramanium in The Hindu