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environment ministry
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Government may tweak policy for infra projects in forest areas
By Jayashree Nandi, New Delhi
UPDATED ON FEB 04, 2021 05:37 AM IST
In 2002, SC had directed that infrastructure projects pay NPV for the forest loss while hearing the TN Godavarman Thirumulpad Vs. Union of India case related to forests.

10k aquatic mammals fall victim to fishing vessels each year: Government
By Jayashree Nandi, New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON FEB 01, 2021 07:40 AM IST
The guidelines aims to reduce bycatch by spreading awareness among fishing communities.

Central Vista green approval: Consolidated plan submitted
By Jayashree Nandi & Risha Chitlangia | Hindustan Times, New Delhi, New Delhi
UPDATED ON DEC 18, 2020 04:08 AM IST
The new Parliament building, which has already been granted environmental clearance (this is being challenged in the Supreme Court), the New India garden, the underground transit, the PM’s office were all part of the central vista redevelopment project.

Former Delhi chief secretary MM Kutty to be chairperson of Air Quality Commission
By Jayashree Nandi | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON NOV 06, 2020 12:45 PM IST
The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and adjoining areas will coordinate, resolve issues,and implement air pollution management strategies in Delhi-NCR

Govt plans to cut funds to 5 autonomous bodies
By Kalyan Das | Hindustan Times, Dehradun
UPDATED ON OCT 19, 2020 07:34 AM IST
In a report on the rationalization of 109 autonomous bodies under Central government ministries, the finance ministry’s department of expenditure recommended that the environment ministry disengage with 23 bodies, merge 109 into 26 bodies and close six to reduce expenditure.

Centre has taken number of measures in 6 years to curb pollution: Environment ministry
By Press Trust of India| Posted by Susmita Pakrasi | New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON OCT 13, 2020 09:13 PM IST
Reacting to Sisodia’s attack as Delhi’s air quality entered the “red” zone, the ministry said the government believes in working towards getting rid of air pollution.

FAC to decide if coal mines can start mining before obtaining forest clearance
By Jayashree Nandi | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON OCT 14, 2020 07:39 AM IST
Two other policy issues that were discussed at the committee’s meeting are: if a zoo can be considered a “forestry activity” and the definition of “permanent structures” under eco-tourism facilities which will attract provisions of the forest conservation act

Environment ministry seeks legal status for elephant reserve, states ask for the draft
By Sanjoy Dey and Joydeep Thakur | Hindustan Times, Ranchi/Kolkata
PUBLISHED ON SEP 28, 2020 10:59 AM IST
A former member of Project Elephant’s steering committee, said they have been fighting for legal status to elephant reserves for over a decade but no state was ready

In process of amending wildlife act: Centre
By Jayashree Nandi | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON SEP 20, 2020 11:59 PM IST
Addressing other contentious issues during this monsoon session, the ministry said the Char Dham road project is not under its purview and that the draft environment impact assessment notification, 2020, removes existing redundancies.

680 projects in protected areas given wildlife clearance in 5 years
By Jayashree Nandi | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON SEP 19, 2020 05:45 AM IST
These projects are located in protected areas or wildlife-rich areas, and the fact that such a large number of projects were cleared without the full board meeting even once raised questions whether the NBWL was carrying out its mandate of promoting conservation of wildlife and development of forests,

Environment ministry allows virtual public hearings, email submissions
By Jayashree Nandi | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON SEP 14, 2020 11:02 PM IST
Environmental experts have red-flagged certain clauses in the environment ministry’s office memorandum because they could dilute the consultation process in remote areas where local people have no access to internet or other means of submitting responses in writing.

Environment Ministry suggests ‘buy back’ and other models for re-using plastic pens
By Asian News International | Posted by Zarafshan Shiraz | New Delhi [India]
UPDATED ON SEP 13, 2020 02:30 PM IST
Instead of disposing plastic pens when they are no longer useful for consumers, Environment Ministry suggests different models for re-using them

500 experts write to environment ministry, seek withdrawal of draft EIA
By Jayashree Nandi | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON SEP 02, 2020 03:20 PM IST
Scientists, researchers, and academics from India’s leading institutions like IIT wrote an open letter to the Union environment ministry, urging it to withdraw the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2020, saying it is likely to threaten the country’s ecological and environmental security

Carbon emissions for 2020 to come down by 8% due to lockdown: Environment ministry
By Press Trust of India| Posted by Susmita Pakrasi | New Delhi
PUBLISHED ON AUG 27, 2020 03:00 PM IST
J P Gupta, Chairman, Environment Committee, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry said environment is a key driving factor for running industries and there is a need to be considerate towards the environment for sustainability and growth.

Upfront NPV payments exempted
By Jayashree Nandi | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON AUG 19, 2020 05:15 AM IST
NPV payments are made to compensate for the losses of forests and their ecosystem services due to infra projects.

Environment ministry creates 19 integrated regional offices in a major reorganisation exercise
By Jayashree Nandi | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON AUG 18, 2020 07:46 PM IST
Environment ministry officials justified the reasons behind the integration move.

Prakash Javadekar urges farmers to plant trees on agricultural land
By Jayashree Nandi | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON AUG 18, 2020 03:11 AM IST
The Union environment ministry had released Rs 47,436 crore to 27 states for compensatory afforestation and other forest conservation work last August.

‘Nothing disturbing in the clauses of draft EIA 2020’, says RP Gupta
By Jayashree Nandi | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON AUG 17, 2020 08:58 AM IST
RP Gupta, secretary in the environment ministry says there is nothing disturbing in the clauses of draft of environment impact assessment (EIA) notification of 2020.

People jumping just on draft EIA not fair, says Prakash Javadekar
By hindustantimes,.com| Edited by Sabir Hussain | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON AUG 10, 2020 05:04 PM IST
Prakash Javadekar said the environment ministry has received thousands of suggestions which it will consider before coming out with the final draft.

Draft EIA disgraceful and dangerous, says Rahul Gandhi
By Jayashree Nandi | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON AUG 10, 2020 07:38 AM IST
Environmental activists have been critical of the draft EIA notification, which was published by the environment ministry in March, because of a number of contentious clauses that they say could weaken environmental regulation.

3 green youth movements allege digital censorship
By Jayashree Nandi | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JUL 16, 2020 01:53 PM IST
The website LetIndiaBreathe was informed by their domain registrar that their domain was placed on hold by NIXI, which neither gave reasons for its action nor provided an opportunity for a hearing, according to Apar Gupta of IFF.

Public outcry over contentious environment ministry regulation
By Jayashree Nandi | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JUN 25, 2020 06:02 PM IST
The draft, which is expected to overhaul the process of environmental regulation of infrastructure projects, is in the eye of a storm because it has contentious clauses on regularising projects that violate environmental norms and shortening the time frame for public hearings.

What the PM did not say | HT Editorial
UPDATED ON JUN 12, 2020 07:22 PM IST
More clarity is required on both the economy and environment

Kerala elephant may have accidentally eaten cracker-filled fruit: Environment ministry
By HT Correspondent | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JUN 08, 2020 01:50 PM IST
Locals illegally plant explosive-filled fruits to repel wild boars from entering plantation farms, primary investigation noted.

200 urban forests to be developed in 5 years
By HT Correspondent | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON JUN 07, 2020 12:14 AM IST
Prakash Javadekar on Friday announced the implementation of the “Nagar Van” scheme to develop the urban forests. The environment ministry announced the scheme in 2016 but officials said it couldn’t be implemented on a large scale so far.

Is Etalin hydropower project financially viable? FAC asks power ministry
By Jayashree Nandi | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON MAY 12, 2020 06:17 AM IST
FAC has asked the power ministry to comment whether the project in its current form is viable. It has also directed Arunachal Pradesh to submit a cost-benefit analysis of the project.

Vizag polymer unit didn’t have environmental nod
By Jayashree Nandi | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON MAY 09, 2020 07:31 AM IST
The environment ministry’s website says the plant violated norms by undertaking manufacturing without the clearance.

‘Lax environmental norms during recession could lead to industries bypassing environmental safeguards’
By Jayashree Nandi | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON MAY 08, 2020 11:15 AM IST
On March 23, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) had issued draft EIA notification 2020, which is expected to bring major changes in the way infrastructure projects such as industries, mines, large townships are granted environmental clearance and regulated.

Environment ministry’s CRZ amendment ends debate on inland mangrove protection in Mumbai Metropolitan Region
By Badri Chatterjee | Hindustan Times, Mumbai, Mumbai
UPDATED ON MAY 07, 2020 07:18 PM IST
The notification could protect mangrove forests in Uran and Dronagiri where the Navi Mumbai Special Economic Zone — an integrated industrial township — has been planned.

Govt extends time for public comments on environment impact regulation
By Jayashree Nandi | Edited by: Amit Chaturvedi | Hindustan Times, New Delhi
UPDATED ON MAY 07, 2020 07:52 PM IST
The draft provides environment clearance validity for 50 years for mining projects, against 30 years in the present notification