After Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand also bids goodbye to Coca Cola

The Supreme Court has denied land to the Coca-Cola bottling plant proposed to be set up in Chharba, located around 32 kilometres away from Dehradun. In 2005, the Chharba gram panchayat had transferred 100 acres of its land to the Uttarakhand Government for setting up a university campus. However, no campus came up and the land was instead later transferred to the Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Limited (HCCBPL) to set up a Rs. 600 crore bottlng plant.

Government has its eye on the CAMPA funds now

The Centre has given it approval to introduce the Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Bill, 2015, in the Parliament. The Bill proposes to create a mechanism that will expedite the utilisation of funds realised from the diversion of forest land to non-forest purposes. Right now such funds are being managed by Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), which releases only 10% of the amount accrued with it, as per Supreme Court orders that fears misuse of these funds by states.

Kolkata, Howrah, Kanpur and Allahabad pollute Ganga the most

The National Green Tribunal has issued notice to the State Governments of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, seeking their response on sewage discharge into the Ramganga river that in turn pollutes the Ganga. Nearly 23 big drains in Moradabad and 10 in Bareilly discharge untreated sewage into the Ramganga. Also, in another report submitted to the Rajya Sabha, the Centre has informed that amongst the 118 towns polluting the Ganga, Kolkata, Howrah, Kanpur and Allahabad are the top defaulters.

Rs 5000 fine for those found burning waste in Delhi NCR

The National Green Tribunal has ordered authorities in Delhi NCR to impose a fine of Rs 5000 on those caught burning any kind of waste -- dry leaves, plastics or solid waste. The Order has come following a plea filed against the high levels of air pollution in the capital. The money generated from the fine will be utilised for various other projects in relation to environmental restoration. However, the NGT has extended its stay on the ban of diesel vehicles more than 10 years old plying on Delhi's roads.

Panel recommends creation of the Central Water Tribunal

In a bid to resolve long pending inter-state water disputes, the Parliamentary Panel has suggested the creation of a single centralised Water Dispute Tribunal. The recommendation has come in the wake of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal failing to resolve the row, despite a total outlay of Rs 5,546 crores. Therefore, the Committee has suggested that a centralised and effective tribunal against the five tribunals existing in the country at present be created.

This is a roundup of important policy matters from April 28 - May 4, 2015. Also read last week's news updates.