Energy sector biggest greenhouse gas emitter in India, says national communication to UNFCCC

Environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan made public India's second report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on May 9 in New Delhi in the presence of about 100 scientists. The report, referred to as national communication, gives details of the country's greenhouse gas emissions and impacts and vulnerability assessments.

Supreme Court refuses to lift stay on sand mining in Andhra Pradesh

The Supreme Court has refused to vacate the stay granted by the Andhra Pradesh High Court on sand mining in the state. While considering a bunch of special leave petitions (SLP) moved by the state government and others, the apex court directed the state government to approach the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to get clearance for sand mining in accordance with the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) notification.

MoEF failed to protect environment: Public Accounts Committee

The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament has castigated the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) for failing in its mandate to protect the environment of the country. In a report presented to the Lok Sabha on April 27, the committee has highlighted serious shortcomings in the implementation of environment protection programmes and in the functioning of various institutions under the ministry that are working on afforestation, biodiversity conservation, pollution control and environmental education. 

Forest Advisory Committee gets earnest about implementing forest diversion rules, finally

It is more almost three years since the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) ordered that no proposal for forest diversion would be cleared unless the affected gram sabhas (village councils) give their consent and the Forest Rights Act (FRA) is implemented in the affected region. But it is only now that the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of the ministry has decided to stick to the order in “letter and spirit”. The committee makes recommendations to the ministry on projects that require forest diversion.

OPG flouts environmental laws again

How many times can a company turn a blind eye to environmental laws? Chennai-based power producer, OPG, which has proposed a 300 MW coal thermal plant in Bhadreshwar village in Kutch has already done it twice. It has again been caught flouting rules.  

Supreme Court orders incineration of Bhopal's toxic waste at non-functional treatment facility in Dhar district

The Supreme court has ordered the disposal of the toxic waste lying in the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal at the Pithampur waste treatment storage and disposal facility (TSDF) in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district. But the facility, located 200 km from Bhopal, is yet to be made operational.

'Is Dabolim project in forest area?'

The high court of Bombay at Goa has directed the state forest department to survey a residential project underway in Dabolim and ascertain whether the land in question is a forest area. The forest department has to complete the survey within eight weeks.

Experts' panel red flags power, mining projects in Western Ghats

A panel appointed by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to recommend measures to protect the Western Ghats has objected to proposed power projects in the region.

MoEF's clearance must for mining minor minerals, too: Supreme Court

Mining of minor minerals such as sand, gravel, clay, marble and other stones will not be allowed in the country without the approval of the Central government. The Supreme Court, in a judgement on February 27, said all such mining leases by the state governments and Union territories will need environment clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). [Highlights]

Individual units in investment zones exempted from public hearing

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has announced its policy for granting environmental clearance to national manufacturing and investment zones (NMIZs), planned under the new manufacturing policy of the government. Using the earlier model used for special economic zones, the applications for environmental clearance of the seven proposed investment zones would be given “highest priority”, the ministry said.