- Topics
- Feature
- Opportunities & Events
- About
- Hindi Portal
- Data
- Topics
- Feature
- Opportunities & Events
- About
- Hindi Portal
- Data
Green Tribunal pushes for standardised guidelines on river crossings in sandmining
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered a comprehensive nationwide study to develop standard guidelines for constructing temporary bridges across rivers for sand mining. This directive, issued on May 30, stems from a petition alleging illegal sand mining and river diversion in Sonipat, Haryana, by a firm that built a makeshift bridge on the Yamuna riverbed.
Recognising the broader implications for rivers across India, the NGT has mandated the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and the Ministry of Jal Shakti, to assess the environmental impact of such bridges on river flow, depth, sediment load, and aquatic biodiversity. The study's findings are to be submitted within two months and will inform the review of existing policies.
This move aims to address the current lack of legally binding and enforceable regulations regarding temporary river crossings for mining activities, which are often subject to fragmented jurisdiction between central and state authorities. While states currently issue mining leases and environmental permissions, often allowing temporary crossings through district-level approvals, advisories from bodies like the CPCB have historically lacked legal weight without formal adoption or notification from higher authorities. In the Sonipat case, the NGT has also directed the District Magistrate to investigate the environmental damage, recommend restoration measures, and impose environmental compensation on the firm responsible. The next hearing is scheduled for August 4. (The Times of India)
UP government under fire from NGT over environmental report
The NGT has strongly admonished the Uttar Pradesh government for significant deficiencies in its report concerning sewage treatment plants (STPs) and solid and liquid waste management across various districts, including Agra. In an order released Saturday, a three-member bench, headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava, highlighted that the state's report, submitted on May 24, failed to identify critical gaps and did not comply with environmental regulations such as the Solid Waste Management Rules and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, nor with directives from the Supreme Court.
The NGT pointed out discrepancies, such as a claimed 95% waste processing capacity versus an actual 74% segregated waste, and a lack of explanation for waste processing plants operating without mandatory authorisation. The tribunal further questioned the claim of 100% remediation of legacy waste at 60 sites due to a lack of supporting evidence, noting that many urban local bodies still lack processing facilities. Concerns were also raised about the operational status of waste-to-energy plants and significant discrepancies in STP planning.
The NGT highlighted instances where some cities have excessive STP capacity while others entirely lack these facilities, citing examples like Garh Mukteshwar reporting zero sewage generation yet having two STPs. The NGT's scrutiny stems from its mandate to monitor compliance with a 2018 Supreme Court ruling on controlling river pollution and improving waste treatment. The UP government has been directed to submit a revised, comprehensive report by July 28, addressing all identified shortcomings. (Times of India)
Environment ministry approves Etalin Hydel Project despite past concerns
The Environment Ministry's Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) has granted in-principle forest clearance to the 3,097-MW Etalin hydel project in Arunachal Pradesh, a significant step towards fast-tracking hydropower in the North-East. This approval comes despite the project's long history of protests and the necessity to divert 1,175 hectares of forest land, leading to the felling of approximately 2.78 lakh trees in the biodiverse Dibang Valley. Notably, the FAC had previously rejected this proposal in December 2022, citing major concerns regarding biodiversity and wildlife impacts, and had called for fresh, multi-seasonal biodiversity and cumulative impact assessments. However, the current approval relies on existing studies, effectively bypassing its own earlier recommendations.
The Etalin project, one of India's largest proposed hydropower ventures, is a run-of-the-river scheme on the Dri and Talo (Dibang) rivers. Its appraisal has been ongoing since 2014, with the FAC deliberating on it six times between 2015 and 2022. The forest area required is primarily community land, facing consistent resistance from the Idu Mishmi community, as it is a critical habitat for numerous endangered species, including tigers, snow leopards, and a wide array of bird species.
Despite a 2019 Wildlife Institute of India (WII) study being heavily criticised by conservationists for scientific inaccuracies and limited scope, the FAC opted to proceed with the existing assessments, overlooking the need for more comprehensive, multi-seasonal studies that it had previously emphasised. (The Indian Express)
Ahmedabad's vanishing water bodies: A growing concern
An internal report by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has revealed that 37 out of 172 water bodies in the city have "vanished." Investigations by The Indian Express at several of these sites found that private and government buildings now occupy locations where lakes once existed. This finding aligns with a High Level Committee (HLC) report on Urban Planning, released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which highlighted a 46% reduction in water body area across four major lakes in Ahmedabad: Vastrapur, Memnagar, Thaltej, and Sola. The HLC report emphasises that these disappearances are often due to water bodies not being recognised in statutory development plans, leading to their conversion into developable land.
The HLC report specifically cites the case of Vastrapur lake, where aerial imagery from 2000 showed a prominent lake, but by 2020, a marketplace had been constructed on its site after its land use was reclassified in a Town Planning Scheme. This transformation underscores how current statutory plans often lack "water sensitivity," facilitating the loss of crucial water bodies.
The AMC's report further notes instances, such as an unnamed lake in Thaltej now hosting both a residential society and a civic body water distribution center. Both reports recommend that mapping of streams be integral to future urban planning to prevent further encroachment and ensure the unhindered flow of water. The AMC is reportedly addressing these encroachments on a case-by-case basis, seeking state government approval for policy decisions. (The Indian Express)
Manipur's alarming forest loss revealed by satellite data
A recent study by space analytics firm Suhora reveals that Manipur experienced a significant loss of approximately 52,000 acres (21,100 hectares) of forest cover between 2021 and 2025. This finding, derived from high-resolution satellite data, highlights critical shifts in land cover driven by a combination of both human-induced and environmental factors. While the deforestation trend is concerning, the study also offers a glimmer of hope, indicating that around 32,000 acres (13,000 hectares) of land have shown signs of vegetation regrowth, suggesting potential for recovery with effective strategies.
The Suhora study attributes Manipur's forest loss to multifaceted drivers. These include the proliferation of poppy cultivation, particularly in remote hill regions, which leads to widespread clearing. Additionally, traditional shifting cultivation (jhum), once sustainable, has become detrimental due to shortened fallow cycles.
Other contributing factors are illegal logging, unsustainable fuelwood collection, infrastructure development that increases deforestation and landslide risks, and the impacts of climate change, such as rising temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, and increased susceptibility to wildfires and pest outbreaks. The study emphasises that these issues are deeply rooted in both traditional and modern practices, making the region's forest ecosystems increasingly vulnerable. (NDTV)
Surjagarh project: Phased forest clearance, no mass tree felling
The Gadchiroli forest department has clarified that reports of widespread tree felling for the Surjagarh iron ore project are inaccurate, stating that no blanket permission has been granted for cutting a lakh trees. Instead, Lloyds Metals has received approval for phased operations on 91.5 hectares, with stringent environmental safeguards. Officials confirmed that tree cutting will be minimal, limited to designated built-up areas, and only after specific forest authority approvals for each of the three phases. Further expansion hinges on the company's compliance with environmental regulations and the successful completion of each stage, which requires separate clearance from the central government.
To mitigate the project's environmental impact, Lloyds Metals has committed to planting 11 lakh trees, complemented by the state government's pledge to plant an additional one crore trees across the Gadchiroli district. Currently, only a small portion — 1 hectare for mining and 4 hectares for supporting infrastructure — has been approved for the initial phase. The forest department emphasised that ecorestoration and extensive tree plantations are integral to the project, with all associated costs borne by the company. Deputy Conservator of Forests, Shailesh Meena, reiterated that the project adheres to a "minimum tree cutting" policy, refuting any claims of approval for large-scale or indiscriminate deforestation. (The Times of India)
This is a roundup of policy updates from June 1, 2025 to June 15, 2025. Read our news updates here