Authorities under fire as Adyar riverbed becomes dumpyard

Adyar riverbed turns dumpyard despite NGT orders

Despite a two-year ban by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Adyar riverbanks in areas like Gerugambakkam remain dumping grounds. A 2021 survey found over 11 cubic meters of garbage across 6,835 sq ft, and the situation has since worsened. Fresh piles of plastic, rotting food, old furniture, and even biomedical waste are openly discarded and burned, releasing toxic fumes.

Residents claim neighboring panchayat workers dump at least two tonnes of waste daily. Gerugambakkam panchayat, with only 15 sanitary workers for 75,000 residents and limited revenue, struggles with waste management. Additionally, encroachers are breaking river bunds to dump waste directly into the river. The presence of biomedical waste is alarming, leading to accusations against private hospitals and medical colleges, and criticism of the TNPCB for its inaction. (The Times of India)

Building a climate finance ecosystem: India’s draft taxonomy framework

India has released a draft climate finance taxonomy framework, a crucial step toward attracting significant private capital for its ambitious climate goals. This framework aims to define "climate-aligned" activities and assets, balancing global best practices with India's unique context. Key elements include aligning with India's decarbonisation pathways for high-emission sectors. It also supports MSMEs with tailored criteria, recognising their vital economic role and limited awareness of energy transition.

India reaffirms commitment to glacier preservation at high-level international conference in Dushanbe

At the recent High-Level International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation in Dushanbe (May 29-31, 2025), India reaffirmed its commitment to glacier preservation. Union MoS (MOEFCC) Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh highlighted the accelerating retreat of glaciers, especially in the Himalayas, and its profound impact on water security and livelihoods. He detailed India's proactive steps, including the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) and a new Centre for Cryosphere and Climate Change Studies. India is also using advanced remote sensing (ISRO) for glacier monitoring and enhancing disaster preparedness through GLOF risk mapping.

Water scarcity and sanitation challenges persist in Mumbai slums: Praja Report

Mumbai's water supply and sanitation remain dire, especially in slums, a Praja Foundation report reveals. Despite the BMC's 24x7 promise, the city receives water for only 5.37 hours daily. Slum residents get a mere 45 LPCD compared to 135 LPCD in non-slum areas, forcing reliance on expensive private tankers. The "Water for All" policy has yielded only 15,375 connections in two and a half years.

Sanitation is equally poor. Only one in four public toilet seats is for women, and community toilets are severely overcrowded. Alarmingly, 69% lack water and 60% lack electricity. Mumbai's water system faces a 15% daily shortfall due to pipeline losses, and the Mithi River is heavily polluted. Praja Foundation advocates for 100% metered slum connections, more functional public toilets, and a circular economy for waste to tackle these critical civic failures. (The Times of India)

NGT directs ministry to frame laws to curb pollution by plywood industries

The NGT has mandated the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to create comprehensive pollution control guidelines for plywood industries within six months. Despite these industries being classified as "orange" due to their significant air and water pollution, there's a current lack of specific regulations covering location, pollution control devices, and safe handling of carcinogenic chemicals. This directive follows a case on plywood factory pollution in Haryana, highlighting the urgent need for a regulatory framework.

India's forest loss continues: 18,200 hectares of primary forest lost in 2024

India's deforestation crisis worsened in 2024, with 18,200 hectares of primary forest lost, an increase from 2023, according to Global Forest Watch data. This highlights a concerning trend for the nation's most ecologically vital forests. Between 2002 and 2024, India lost 348,000 hectares of humid primary forest, representing 15% of its total tree cover loss during that period, leading to a 5.4% decrease in humid primary forest area. Overall, since 2001, India has lost approximately 2.31 million hectares of tree cover, equating to a 7.1% decrease and resulting in an estimated 1.29 gigatonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions.

The majority of 2024's tree cover loss, 93%, occurred within natural forests. The primary drivers of this deforestation include agricultural expansion, settlements, infrastructure development, and illegal logging. From 2001 to 2024, permanent agriculture accounted for 620,000 hectares of lost tree cover. Four states alone—Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Manipur—contributed to 52% of India's total tree cover loss, emphasising significant regional forest degradation, particularly in the northeastern region. While India saw a net gain of 874,000 hectares in tree cover between 2000 and 2020, the continued primary forest loss remains a serious concern. (Rural Voice)

This is a roundup of policy updates from May 16, 2025 to May 31, 2025. Read our news updates here