Delhi Government gets strict towards Yamuna pollution 

Prior to the festive season, the Delhi Government has decided to get stern with polluters of the Yamuna river. They will strictly impose the National Green Tribunal's order of a fine of Rs 5,000 on those found throwing waste or puja offerings in the river. Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Police and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) have been given the power to enact this law. Also, the Government is making plans to erect barricades and put up meshes near nine temporary ghats along the Yamuna river.

Indian Railways install vacuum toilets in train

The Indian Railways has installed new vacuum toilets at a cost of Rs. 3 lakh in the First AC coach of the Dibrugarh Rajdhani train. These eco-friendly toilets which are currently used in aircrafts suck the excreta out with minimum water use (0.5 to 1.5 liters). The collected water is disposed off in closed drains at railway stations. The Railways has floated global tenders for installing vacuum toilets and is planning to install 80 such toilets initially on a Shatabdi Express train.

Revival of Cooum river clean up scheme, worth Rs 2,000 crore

The Cooum River Restoration Project to clean up the river along a 27.3 km stretch at an expenditure of Rs 2,000 crore has been revived by the Tamil Nadu Government. The aim of the project that will be implemented in three phases is to find alternatives to stop sewage inlets into the river, manage solid waste, improve the flood-carrying capacity, resettle and rehabilitate slum dwellers, restore biodiversity, and bring up new development along the banks.

BRO, hydel companies allegedly polluting Uttarakhand rivers

The hydropower firms and Border Road Organization (BRO) in Uttarakhand continue to dump debris in the Dhauliganga and Alaknanda rivers in Chamoli district despite the Supreme Court warning. In its report on the Uttarakhand Disaster in 2013, the Ravi Chopra Committee has stated that the muck disposal by hydel companies in the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers had aggravated the devastation. Moreover, forest officials have informed that though they are taking actions against waste disposal they do not receive cooperation from the administration or the judiciary in prosecuting the big companies which are among the violators.

NALCO's bauxite mine wins Pollution Control Excellence Award 2015

The bauxite mine of Navratna PSU National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO) in Odisha's Koraput district has won the prestigious Pollution Control Excellence Award. NALCO has been recognised for taking effective measures to control pollution and sound environment management practices at is bauxite mines. In 2014-15, the company had spent Rs 188.32 crore towards environment protection and pollution control at its four production units.  

This is a roundup of important news updates from September 15 - 21, 2015. Also read last week's policy matters updates.