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To Reduce Carbon Dioxide Concentration In The Air `Oxygen Park' To Come Up In City
By akansha, Section Environment
Posted on Sun Mar 07, 2010 at 12:43:35 AM EST
 In a bid to reduce carbon dioxide concentration in the air and create a healthy environment, the Pune Municipal Corporation has set aside Rs two crore for an `oxygen park' in its 2010-11 budget.
According to the plan, at least five lakh indigenous trees will be planted on a 100-acre plot.
On the whole, the civic body has underscored environmental protection in the budget, with greater provisions for plantations on forest land, rainwater harvesting and awareness creation.
For instance, Rs 50 lakh have been earmarked for various projects including supporting NGOs in tree plantation and soil conservation; hiring water tankers for watering trees; and presenting awards for exemplary work in the field of environment. Besides, another Rs 50 lakh have been allocated for planting indigenous trees on government and semi-government land and on forest land.
A Rs 40-lakh `lake park' has also been proposed on a ten-acre stone quarry near Vetal Tekdi. Besides, a tourist spot will be developed at the site.
Provisions have been made for creating awareness among citizens about global warming and other environment-related issues through lectures and street plays. A state-level conference will be hosted in Pune to discuss environmental problems.
Stressing the need for using renewable energy, Rs 1.35 crore have been set aside for installing solar lights in all municipal gardens and buildings. A Rs 25-lakh plastic recycling plant will also come up.
Source: Times Of India `Oxygen park' to come up in city
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State Panel To Look Into Water Pollution Issue
By akansha, Section Environment
Posted on Wed Feb 24, 2010 at 11:10:15 PM EST
The state government has decided to appoint a secretary-level committee to look into the issue of water pollution in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad.
A meeting was held on Wednesday in Mumbai to discuss the issue. State assembly speaker Dilip Walse-Patil and officials from the PMC, PCMC and the Pune Zilla Parishad, were present. The issue of water pollution had been discussed at the last assembly session and at that time Walse-Patil had promised to convene a meeting to discuss the matter.
An official present at the meeting told TOI that the state government had decided to appoint secretary-level committee which will collect information, look out for pollution of water sources and submit a report to the state government.
The rivers in Pune are polluted as the PMC treats only 55 per cent of the sewage generated. Of the 700 million litres a day (MLD) sewage generated, only 500 MLD is carried to the treatment plants and just 382 million litres actually gets treated. The PMC plans to further augment its network of sewage treatment plants (STPs) in the next two years. A provision of Rs 93.59 crore has been proposed by the PMC to augment the sewage treatment plants in the PMC's 2010-11 budget draft. The PMC has also received grants under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) to augment the STPs.
Source: Time Of India tate panel to look into water pollution issue
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Urban Sewage Damaging Environment: Water Expert
By akansha, Section Environment
Posted on Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 01:20:23 AM EST
Noted water management expert and former secretary of Union ministry of water resources Madhav Chitale on Thursday warned that urban sewage and industrial effluents containing toxic waste are damaging the environment and human health.
Speaking on `water environment' as part of the Vasundhara international film festival here on Thursday, Chitale emphasised the need to revive the ancient tradition of providing water as a matter of social welfare rather than as a source of revenue.
"With changes in the pattern of our existence, water bodies are no longer in the same pristine form as they were before. The relationship of the human society with the environment has also undergone major changes after the industrial developments in the 19th and 20th centuries," he said.
A winner of the Stockholm Water Prize in 1993 for his contribution to the conservation of world's water resources and public education programmes, Chitale said environmental expression of water is likely to change further substantially on account of climate change. So, there should be efforts for a healthier interface between human requirement and the natural system.
He observed that after the debates at Copenhagen global climate summit, entrepreneurs, political leaders and universities have come together and started pursuing the matter further to secure safer and healthier world for tomorrow.
According to Chitale, who has closely studied the water situation of Mumbai and come up with possible remedial measures, local initiatives like the international film festivals around the theme of environment is much appreciated and should be taken up for creating public awareness.
India's cultural tradition that lays emphasis on the purity and unparalleled importance of water provides enough inspiration for organising the society for such common goals, he stated.
Source: Times Of India Urban sewage damaging environment: Water expert
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To Set Up Air Quality Monitoring Stations In Adherence With New National Standards
By akansha, Section Environment
Posted on Sun Feb 14, 2010 at 01:06:35 AM EST
In order to abide by the new, more stringent National Ambient Air Quality Standards, the Pune Municipal Corporation has decided to set up air quality monitoring stations that will help measure pollution levels as per the new norms.
Currently, pollutants of the size PM (particulate matter) 10 microgramme per cubic metre are measured. But henceforth, finer particles of the size PM2.5 will be montiored as per the Union ministry of environment and forests' (MoEF) guidelines.
Provisions have been made in the 2010-11 municipal budget to purchase the more sophisticated instruments that will help measure PM2.5 pollutants.
The MoEF, in November 2009, notified the new and tougher air quality norms under which residential and industrial areas will have the same standards.
Speaking to TOI, head of the civic environment cell Mangesh Dighe said that sophisticated equipment will be needed to measure the PM2.5 pollutants, which is not being done at many places in the country.
Currently, the pollution levels are monitored by the PMC in Navi Peth and by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) at three locations in the city Swargate, Nal Stop and Karve road.
Source: Times Of India By Snehal Sonawane Sawant PMC to monitor pollution closely
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Provide Land To Plant Trees, Road Dept Told, Saplings To Be Planted Where Trees Felled
By akansha, Section Environment
Posted on Sat Feb 06, 2010 at 01:53:56 AM EST
PMC officials said that in the last two years, particularly when roads were being developed for the Commonwealth Youth Games, widening of at least 12 major roads was taken up
A day after the Bombay high court (HC) refused permission to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to cut trees for road widening until three times the number of trees are planted, the garden department has pulled up its socks.
Department officials are taking stock of the number of trees that have been felled for major road widening works in the last few years. Reminder letters have also been sent to the road department, asking it to provide plots for the planting of saplings wherever trees have been axed.
Speaking to TOI, PMC's assistant garden superintendent Ashok Ghorpade, however, insisted that it was a routine procedure followed by the department. "In some cases, plots were not provided to the garden department to plant saplings. The plots are to be identified by the road department. It is for such cases that we issue reminder notices," Ghorpade said.
Sources in the department, however, admitted that the action had been prompted by the Bombay high court's directive. "Following the HC order on Wednesday saying that trees should be cut only after planting of three saplings in exchange, we are making sure that the rule is followed in the past cases as well so that the PMC's record on this front is clean," an official said.
Source: Times Of India Provide land to plant trees, road dept told
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Government Issued Guidelines To All Civic Bodies With The Aim Of Reducing Pollution
By akansha, Section Environment
Posted on Wed Jan 27, 2010 at 01:38:07 AM EST
The state government has issued guidelines to all civic bodies with the aim of reducing pollution caused due to immersion of idols during the Ganapati and Durga puja celebrations.
At the heart of the guidelines is the "one ward, one Ganapati" motto. This means that only one `sarvajanik' (public) Ganapati should be installed in each municipal ward.
The government has further asked the civic bodies to form a committee comprising representatives of Ganapati mandals, social groups and police officials to take measures to curb river pollution.
Besides, the civic authorities have been asked to create temporary ponds for the immersion of idols. The list of temporary ponds should be made public so that citizens can utilise the facility, the guidelines state. The public should also be urged to ensure that no pollution is caused due to immersion of idols or `nirmalya' (floral offerings) in the river. Separate arrangements like `nirmalya kunds' should also be provided, the guidelines add.
The municipal bodies have been further asked to collect and dispose of all items around rivers, lakes and other water bodies within 24 hours. They can take the help of social organisations and womens' self-help groups to produce organic manure from the nirmalya.
The civic chiefs have been directed to organise public awareness programmes in each ward to make citizens aware of the issue and the measures being taken by the corporation. Various programmes also have to be organised in schools and colleges to create awareness.
The government, in its guidelines, has mentioned that a public interest litigation has been filed before the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay high court on the river pollution caused due to immersion of idols. It has also pointed out that the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, in September 2005, had suggested a code of conduct to ensure environment - friendly immersion of idols.
Source: Times Of India Civic bodies told to curb river pollution
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HEAVY POLLUTION - Environment Minister Wants Halt On Industrial Clusters' Expansion
By ugesh sarkar, Section Environment
Posted on Sun Dec 27, 2009 at 12:07:56 AM EST
As much as 85% of India's industrial clusters are so polluted that environment minister Jairam Ramesh has asked for a halt on expansions in these areas.
"Many of these areas have reached their limits and the situation in not under control as of now," Ramesh said on Thursday after releasing the findings of a survey on pollution levels in industrial clusters. 
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"I am of the view that fresh industries should be put on hold and there should be a moratorium on expansion till pollution-control actions are put in place," he said.
The survey, conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-D) and the Central and state pollution control boards, found 75 of 88 industrial clusters to be extremely polluted.
According to the study, titled Comprehensive Environmental Assessment of Industrial Clusters, 10 industrial clusters scored at least 80 out of 100 in a pollution index (alarmingly polluted); 33 scored between 70 and 80 (critically polluted); and another 32 scored between 60 and 70 (seriously polluted).
"The high levels of pollution and its relation with public health is a serious concern", Ramesh said.
Source: Live Mint HEAVY POLLUTION - Environment Minister Wants Halt On Industrial Clusters' Expansion
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Complete Ban On Plastic Bags In Pune Soon
By akansha, Section Environment
Posted on Thu Dec 24, 2009 at 12:11:40 AM EST
 Use of plastic bags of all sizes and shapes will soon be banned in the city. The general body (GB) meeting of the Pune Municipal Corporation on Wednesday approved a resolution enforcing a complete ban on use of plastic bags.
The decision, taken to prevent further degradation of environment due to plastic, will come into force once the state government gives it a final approval.
At the GB, standing committee chairman Nilesh Nikam congratulated all corporators for unanimously supporting the decision. He said the decision assumes significance as it comes a few days after the Copenhagen summit.
Use of plastic bags of all sizes and shapes will soon be banned in the city. The general body (GB) meeting of the Pune Municipal Corporation on Wednesday approved a resolution enforcing a complete ban on use of plastic bags.
The decision, taken to prevent further degradation of environment due to plastic, will come into force once the state government gives it a final approval.
Source: Times Of India Complete ban on plastic bags in Pune soon
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PCB Mulls Door-To-Door Waste Collection In Cantonment Area
By akansha, Section Environment
Posted on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 01:51:43 AM EST
Committee set up under Chief Health Superintendent to work out plan in 20 days
The Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) has decided to streamline the garbage collection system in the cantonment area through door-to-door waste collection.
A committee under the PCB Chief Health Superintendent has been set up to formulate a detailed plan for the same within 20 days.
The decision to appoint a committee was taken in the general body meeting attended by PCB president Brig Rajbir Singh, Chief Executive Officer DK Malik and other elected and nominated members. It will be incorporated with the `Ghanta Gadi' project for garbage collection in which special vehicles were planned to go from house to house to collect garbage every day.
"The committee will look into various aspects of waste collection and also various ways to streamline it.
The viability of the project has to be scrutinised.
The committee will determine the collection process of door-to-door degradable and biodegradable wastes and local collection points.
The route and timing of collection also has to be finalised," said Brig Rajbir Singh, president, PCB.
He suggested in the meeting that there should be a public stake in the project so that people would be more responsible and have a serious outlook towards the project. "The board can charge the nominal monthly amount from each house for the collection of waste. The Pune Municipal Corporation is already following this method," he said.
Source: The Indian Express PCB mulls door-to-door waste collection in cantonment area
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State Opens CDM Cell To Help Acquire Carbon Credits
By akansha, Section Environment
Posted on Sat Dec 12, 2009 at 12:55:05 AM EST
In an attempt to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, the state environment department has recently started a clean development mechanism (CDM) cell to facilitate the process of getting carbon credits.
The `clean development mechanism' is an arrangement under the Kyoto Protocol, allowing industrialised countries with a greenhouse gas reduction commitment to invest in projects that reduce emissions in developing countries as an alternative to more expensive emission reductions in their own countries.
"The whole process of getting carbon credits is confusing and complicated. One has to know the methodology," Valsa R Nair Singh, state secretary (environment), told TOI.
SAVING THE EARTH
- India contributes 378 clean development mechanism projects (CDM), of which Maharashtra's contribution is 41. Out of this 41 projects, 34 are from `energy industries' sector and the rest are from energy demand, energy distribution, fugitive emission from fuels and manufacturing industries.
- Sellers of carbon credit: Companies and countries with a demonstrable emission reduction potential that is relatively cheap compared with other companies or countries.
- The CDM allows global greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced at a much lower global cost by financing emission reduction projects in developing countries, where costs are lower than in industrialised countries.
- Buyers of carbon credit: Companies and countries that may become subject to emission reduction commitments and have relatively high costs to reduce emissions domestically
- The CDM is supervised by the CDM executive board and is under the guidance of the conference of the parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
"The CDM cell in Mumbai explains how to get carbon credits. Apart from providing consultation, the cell is also creating awareness by conducting workshops. The cell facilitates documentation, filing, conceiving the project and getting carbon credits for industries,'' Singh said.
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board was providing the professional help, she said. "After the ongoing Copenhagen summit on climate change, we hope to get many more projects."
Source: Times Of India State opens CDM cell to help acquire carbon credits
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More Air, Water Quality Monitoring Stations In Offing
By akansha, Section Environment
Posted on Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 12:27:26 AM EST
With the environment ministry releasing new and tougher air quality norms, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) too has taken steps to combat air pollution by increasing the number of air and water quality monitoring stations in the state.
The MPCB proposes to set up 20 new air quality monitoring stations and 150 water quality monitoring stations. If the plan materialises, the state will have 80 air quality monitoring stations from the existing 60 and 400 water quality monitoring stations from existing 250, said Valsa Singh Nair, principal secretary for Environment Department.
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The government currently measures air pollution levels in 120 cities across the country. The new monitoring stations will be set up in three months time, added Nair. Though the norms for pollutants already measured have been tightened and made uniform across residential and industrial areas, as is done in most countries, at present there is no mechanism to take action against the wrongdoers, added Nair.
Closer home, environmental experts say that Pune is one of the most polluted cities in the country.
P K Mirashe, regional officer of MPCB, said the MPCB monitors surface water and ground water locations through its 250 stations. The monitoring network covers rivers, creeks etc. In Pune and Chichwad areas, the MPCB has 5 air quality monitoring stations and 11 stations for monitoring water quality.
Source: Times Of India FIGHTING POLLUTION, HALF-HEARTEDLY
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Trees Cut: PMC To Send Notice To ARDE
By akansha, Section Environment
Posted on Tue Nov 17, 2009 at 02:33:41 AM EST
The Pune Municipal Corporation will soon be issuing a notice to the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) over axing of at least 22 trees in an area, which, according to the PMC, falls under the jurisdiction of the ARDE.
The garden department noticed rampant felling of trees in and around the Pashan lake on Friday. Speaking to TOI, garden superintendent Ashok Ghorpade said, "I went there on Friday and took pictures of the trees that have been felled, a notice will be sent to them in a couple of days."
"I believe that the ARDE is building a compound wall in the area and a JCB excavator was used to remove the trees. About 20 to 22 trees have been felled. The ARDE should have taken permission before removing the trees. A panchanama has been prepared in the matter."
When contacted, an ARDE official said that the establishment was not aware about any such damage being done to the trees. "We have no information on the damage being done to the trees near Pashan lake. Many times, our works are done through sub-contractors, but nobody has brought to our notice such damages," Kashinath Deodhar, divisional head, Futuristic Technology, and a spokesperson of the ARDE, told TOI. "However, we have informed the officers concerned to look into the matter," he added.
Source: Times Of India Trees cut: PMC to send notice to ARDE
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Pune District Gets Environmental Atlas
By ugesh sarkar, Section Environment
Posted on Sat Nov 14, 2009 at 03:40:22 AM EST
Pune has become the first district in the state to have an environmental atlas, which was prepared by the Maharashtra Pollution Control
Board (MPCB). It now joins the list of over 150 districts across the country for which environment atlases have been prepared.
The atlas explains, among other things, the reasons for air, water and noise pollution in the district, particularly in the urban settlements. The objective is to facilitate better planning and steps to protect the environment, MPCB officials say. Most of the information is based on statistics collected by various official sources till 2004.
The major urban settlements in the district, including the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal areas, eleven municipal councils and the Pune, Khadki and Dehu Road cantonment boards, are the main contributors of domestic sewage pollution.
Discharge of sewage in the Mula-Mutha river from settlements in and around Pune has resulted in localised degradation of river water quality. River water quality downstream from these settlements has also been affected.
Source: Times Of India Pune district gets environmental atlas
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Highways To Get New Tags
By ugesh sarkar, Section Environment
Posted on Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 01:57:28 AM EST
 The NATIONAL Highway- 1 ( NH- 1) that marks the historic Grand Trunk Road from New Delhi to Attari border is set to lose its prestigious number.
Under a new “ scientific” renumbering of highways worked out by the ministry of road transport and highways, the Srinagar- Uri highway will now be known as the NH- 1.
Similarly, the existing NH1 Delhi- Wagah will be divided into two highways. The road from Delhi to Jalandhar, which is a part of the North- South Corridor, will be NH- 44. The Jalandhar- Attari road will be part of the NH- 3.
Keeping in view the new system, no separate numbers have been proposed for Golden Quadrilateral, North- South and East- West corridors. Numbering of these routes will be based on the new system. The Delhi- Mumbai- Chennai route that has over 10 different numbers along the route will be NH- 48. Chennai- Kolkata road which had stretches such as NH- 60, 6, and 5 will be NH- 16, while Kolkata- Delhi will change from NH- 2 to NH- 19.
While the North- South Corridor which runs from Srinagar to Kanyakumari will be the longest corridor running over 4,000 kilometre and will be called NH- 44, the East- West Corridor ( from Porbander to Silchar) will be NH- 27.
Source: Mail Today Highways to get new tags
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Pune Cantonment Board To Ban Polythene Bags
By akansha, Section Environment
Posted on Thu Oct 29, 2009 at 03:17:50 AM EST
Waking up to the ill-effects of plastic on the environment, the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) has decided to ban usage of polythene bags in its area.
"The aim is to reduce environment as well health hazards. We are discussing the matter with other governing bodies to check the legal aspects before imposing the ban. We will also approach the state government, discuss the minimum thickness of plastic permissible and decide the date of ban. The board members are also seeking guidance from environmentalists," said Brig Rajbir Singh, president of PCB.
During these interactions, the PCB will gather information regarding plastic materials that can and should be banned. "A lot of plastic material, mostly poly bags, choke sewage pipes. This is one of the causes for water-logging in PCB areas. It finally leads to problem of contaminated water and health hazards," said PCB elected member Shailendra Bidkar.
Bidkar said the pipelines in PCB areas belong to the British era. Besides they are small so even a small piece of plastic gets stuck in the pipes.
The ban will be monitored by the Nuisance Prevention squad, whose work is supervised by PCB's revenue department. "The squad will primarily spread awareness among users and encourage them to stop using poly bags. It will also keep an eye on retailers and big shopkeepers who distribute polythene bags," said Chitra Gokhale, Chief Revenue Superintendent.
Source: Times Of India PCB to ban polythene bags
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