According to a study, melting glaciers worldwide could result in almost 10 inches of sea level rise by the end of this century.
The study indicates that the smaller glaciers could play a much larger role in sea level rise than researchers had previously thought.
The review is the most comprehensive global comparison of glacier simulations ever compiled.
It estimates that glaciers worldwide are likely to lose anywhere from 18 to 36 per cent of their mass by 2100.
May 27, 2019
G Noida to be First city to Treat Faecal Sludge
Greater Noida city is aiming to become the country's first city treating and recycle faecal sludge and septage, though a private-public partnership model. The objective of the exercise is environmental conservation and ensuring better living and health conditions to its residents.
The Greater Noida authority said that it wants to become eligible for open defecation free (ODF) +++ category.
To be eligible for this category, the city needs to have toilets for all dwellers, zero open defecation or urination, all community or individual toilets in functional condition and treatment or recycling of faecal sludge and septage, among some other parameters.
The authority has also decided to impose a user charge on the 10 lakh residents of the city to generate funds required to develop facilities for treatment and recycling this category of waste, which usually goes into drains or other waterways, polluting water bodies and affecting health.
May 25, 2019
Petition against Yettinahole Project Dismissed
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) gave the go-ahead for the Yettinahole Project.
It directed the State Forest Department and the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change to monitor the project and said that they were at liberty to commission a new study on the impact of the project on the Western Ghats or take appropriate action if they found any violation.
May 16, 2019
Centre seeks to replace green clearance norms
Preparing a key proposal for the new government, the Union environment ministry has decided to "reengineer" its existing environment impact assessment (EIA) notification and bring a completely revamped one by factoring in various amendments to it drawing from the experience gained by authorities during its implementation over the years.
The existing EIA, notified in 2006, currently governs green clearance for all kinds of projects - mining, infrastructure, thermal, hydro, irrigation and industries - across the country.
In order to bring new EIA notification, the ministry, in April, issued a proposed version of it - called 'Zero Draft' - and sought comments from all states and concerned pollution control boards by mid-May.
The draft provides for rules allowing district-level authorities, headed by district magistrate, to seek exemption from public hearing (consultations) while granting green clearance for sand mining in areas up to five hectares of land.
It proposes to exempt irrigation projects having less than 2,000 hectares of command area and industrial projects dealing with non-toxic chemicals from EIA.
May 11, 2019
Four New Mouths in Chilika Lake
The extremely severe cyclone Fani has created four new mouths in Chilika Lake, Asia's largest brackish water lake, connecting to the Bay of Bengal.
Chilika lagoon had only two active mouths, the point where it meets the sea before Fani hit the Odisha coast on May 3.
Three new mouths have come up between the two functional mouths near Sanpatna and Arakhakuda, a smaller mouth has been noticed on the northern side.
In the meantime, a lot of sea water is entering Chilika Lake. The salinity level is being monitored at different stations.
If sea water ingression goes up, fish migration will increase and the biodiversity will get richer.