Pollution index no more includes human health and environmental degradation

The Environment Ministry with full support from the states has simplified the Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI).  CEPI is a composite measurement of air and water pollution, and land degradation that is used in 88 industrial clusters. The two parameters of the adverse impact of pollutants on human health and environmental degradation have been dropped in the revised index. Per the Ministry, the move will bring greater accountability from indistries whereas experts argue that such a change was not needed at all.

NGT restricts riverbed construction in Maharashtra

The National Green Tribunal has banned construction on riverbeds in Maharashtra, in addition to ordering the State Government to amend the resolutions that allowed the same. As per green activists, the State Government had passed two resolution in August 2014 and March 2015 that allowed construction in the no-development zone area within the blueline and embankments of the rivers. The Tribunal has also directed the Irrigation Department to take up geo-mapping of the state's rivers and upload the blueline maps on its official website.

Issue online clearances: Centre to State and UTs

The Environemnt Ministry has ordered all the State Governments and Union Territories to start online submissions of environment clearances from the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and the State Environment Assessment Committee (SEAC), before October. The order has been made in a bid to bring more transparency in the clearance procedure. Along with this, the State Governments and UTs have also been asked to consider declaring at least one Biodiversity Heritage Site in 2015-16.

Bill to manage Rajasthan water resources passed

The State Assembly has passed the Rajasthan River Basin and Water Resources Planning Bill, 2015. The Bill aims to establish the State Water Resources Advisory Council and Rajasthan River Basin and Water Resources Planning Authority to manage and develop the river basins and sub-basins on a sustainable basis along the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) concept.

Bye-bye to more than 10 year old diesel vehicles in Delhi

In a bid to bring down the alarming air pollution levels in Delhi, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has put a ban on all diesel vehicles older than 10 years plying on the capital's roads. The ban has been applied to private and commercial vehicles, both heavy and light. Also, to battle the air pollution in the country, the Centre has released the National Air Quality Index (AQI) to inform the public on daily air quality and to give advisories on health consequences. The new AQI can be viewed on the Central Pollution Control Board website.

This is a roundup of important policy matters from April 7 - 12, 2015. Also read last week's news updates.