India, with its massive landfills and poor waste segregation practices, may become one of the top contributors of pollution entering the world’s rivers. Municipal solid waste from India contributed to 10% of waste leakage to the world’s rivers in 2020, according to a new study.
Mongabay reported the findings according to which in future scenarios where population growth is high, but urbanisation slow, India and China will face an increase of leakage into rivers due to the growth of rural population living close to water courses in 2025. The outlet reports that a little over half of India’s 605 rivers were found to be polluted by the Central Pollution Control Board in 2022.
SC deletes 2017 order: PUC certificate not mandatory to renew third-party car insurance
The Supreme Court withdrew its own 2017 order that made a valid pollution under control (PUC) certificate mandatory for renewal of third-party insurance policy stating that if said direction is allowed to be implemented in letter and spirit, it will have disastrous consequences as some vehicles will continue to ply without third-party insurance, reported the HT.
The order came on a plea by the General Insurance Council (GIC) – an apex body of insurance firms. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, representing GIC, submitted that the order of the court was proving detrimental for motor accident victims as nearly 55% vehicles do not have insurance cover. This posed great difficulty for victims seeking settlement of compensation claims in road accidents.
Green court raps Haryana chief secy, orders action against Yamunanagar officials allowing illegal mining of minerals and cutting trees
India’s green court, the National Green Tribunal (NGT), has directed the Chief Secretary of Haryana to probe the district administration, Yamunanagar, for encouraging large-scale illegal mining of minerals in an area. Kohliwala and Mandewala villages falling under Bhudkala panchayat (156 acres land) have witnessed illegal mining since 2016. NGT has also received complaints of felling of khair trees in the region.
The court order reads: “We also find that so far as Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) is concerned, it has not taken any action under provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and other environmental statutes. The HSPCB took no punitive action by initiating criminal action under the provisions. No environmental compensation has been imposed upon any violator(s)…This conduct of officials of HSPCB shows apparent collusion with violators and negligence whereby they are abating the crime by not taking appropriate action against violators.”
State officials told court that 1,615 vehicles were seized transporting illegal minerals from August 2019 to February 28, 2023, and a sum of Rs 17,90,65,142 towards compensation and Rs 1,45,59,880 towards royalty price on mineral and fine, etc., was recovered.
Philippines: Industrial oil spill reaches coast, threatens livelihoods in fishing village
An industrial fuel oil spill from a marine tanker that capsized off the coast of Manila Bay in the Philippines has reached the shores of a nearby fishing village, threatening the health and livelihood of fishermen, Nikki Asia reported, adding that efforts began to mop up the fuel.
The outlet said MT Terra Nova was carrying 1.5 million litres of industrial fuel when it sank in rough seas off the coast of Limay in the province of Bataan, west of the Philippine capital, on Thursday. The report said one member of the 17-strong crew was killed.
The toxic oil slick landed on the shores Tanza in Cavite province, south of Manila. Fishermen are distraught and they reported smelling a foul odour. “This oil spill will have a big effect on us fishermen because we rely on the sea and it has been affected by the oil,” the report quoted 48-year-old Renan Honsana.
Tanker carrying 1.4 million litres (369,840 gallons) of industrial fuel could become the worst oil spill in the country’s history, reported Al Jazeera, adding that the ship sank in the ocean that turned rough because of Typhoon Gaemi.
Paris Olympics: Men’s Triathlon postponed due to Seine pollution concerns
Hours before the event, men’s Olympic triathlon was postponed on Tuesday following a 3.30am inspection of the Seine river, which found that pollution levels were still too high for athletes to safely swim in, The Guardian reported. Officials said heavy rain over Paris on Friday and Saturday had compelled them to “reschedule the event for health reasons.”
The race has been rescheduled for 10.45am on Wednesday. The official statement said: “Unfortunately, meteorological events beyond our control, such as the rain which fell over Paris on 26 and 27 July, can alter water quality and compel us to reschedule the event for health reasons. Despite the improvement on the water quality levels in the last hours, the readings at some points of the swim course are still above the acceptable limits.”
The outlet reported that swimming in the Seine has been banned for over a century. But since 2015, organisers have spent around £1bn to ensure a cleaner river for the Games – and to allow Parisians to swim in it afterwards.
US: EPA grants $4.3bn to fund projects in 30 states to reduce climate pollution
America’s Environmental Protection Agency is awarding $4.3 billion in grants to fund projects in 30 states to reduce climate pollution, reported AP, adding that the money will go to 25 projects targeting greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, electric power, commercial and residential buildings, industry, agriculture and waste and materials management.
The grants are paid for by the 2022 the Inflation Reduction Act, and include nearly $400 billion in spending and tax credits to accelerate the expansion of clean energy such as wind and solar power, speeding the nation’s transition away from the oil, coal and natural gas that largely cause climate change.
The newswire reported that the latest round of grants includes $396 million to Pennsylvania to reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions from cement, asphalt and other material.
Nearly $500 million will be given for transportation and freight decarbonisation at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The grants will provide incentives for electric-charging equipment, zero-emission freight vehicles and conversion of cargo-handling equipment to lower emissions.
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