India plans to launch the 'Blue Revolution' to boost fish production

The Government is all set to launch the ‘Blue Revolution’ for boosting fish production in the country, along the lines of the ‘White Revolution’. The Blue Revolution aims to transform the fisheries sector by constructing new fishing harbours, modernizing fishing boats, imparting training to fishermen, and promoting fishing as a self-employment activity. The revolution is also envisioned as a major employment generating economic activity.

Centre reconstitutes Climate Change Panel, no member from industry included

The Government has reconstituted the Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change . It has ministers from diverse fields but no one from key stakeholders such as rural and industry. While retaining IPCC chief R.K. Pauchauri, economist Nitin Desai and Chandrashekhar Dasgupta, the Government has dropped sole industry representative Ratan Tata and Centre for Science and Environment Director General Sunita Narain. The Council will focus on national action for assessment, adaptation and mitigation of climate change.

Mahrashtra Forest Department to hand over forest ownership to villagers

The State Forest Department in Maharashtra has decided to hand over the entire ownership of forest to the villagers. The process will be carried out through Joint Forest Management Committees (JMFCs) that will have full rights over the income and products of the forest. The Department has already handed over such ownership to two villages namely Randullabad and Hivare in Koregaon tehsil of Satara district, where the villagers had successfully demonstrated their forest management abilities. 

Uttarakhand proposes to rejuvenate Rispana and Bindal rivers

Uttarakhand Planning Commission has come up with a Rs 800-crore development plan to rejuvenate the polluted Rispana and Bindal rivers in the state. As per the proposal, the two rivers will be linked with the 4,000-crore Lakhwar hydel project on the Yamuna river in Dehradun district. The proposal envisages construction of a gravity tunnel that will transfer water from the Lakhwar project to Dehradun to rejuvenate the rivers.

NGT notice to Greater Noida over rising cases of cancer

National Green Tribunal has issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh Government, UP Pollution Control Board, the District Magistrate and SSP of Noida over rising cases of cancer in the Greater Noida district. As per a Government survey, 57 people in Chhap-raula Industrial Area have died due to cancer in the last five years and 36 people still suffering from the disease. Consumption of contaminated groundwater is claimed to be the cause for rising cases of cancer in the area.

This is a weekly roundup of policy matters from November 3-9,  2014. Also read last week's news roundup.