ENVIRONMENT - 2004 - Indian Social Institute

check-dams had been sanctioned. The Thrithala check-dam would be completed by 2006. (Hindu
7.7.04)
12 th July
CNG gains may be lost to rising nitrogen oxide levels (9)
NEW DLEHI, JULY 11. Expressing serious concern over the steady rise in nitrogen oxide levels
in the Capital, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has warned the Delhi Government
that if this problem were not tackled immediately, it could sabotage one of the largest clean fuel
programmes in the world. It has urged the Government to push ahead with second-generation reforms
in the Capital to prevent any reverse of the situation. Suggesting an immediate action plan
for controlling nitrogen oxide emissions from vehicles, the CSE said CNG vehicles posed
maintenance challenge that had to be met effectively. Recent surveys conducted on CNG buses
in Delhi have shown that on account of poor maintenance, the components that must remain
intact for proper functioning of the catalytic converters were not working in the buses that were
surveyed. Air fuel ratio and carburettors were also found to have been tampered with. In some
cases, the catalytic converters were even taken out. The CSE has said all the bus-is need to
adhere to strict maintenance schedule that requires a strong oversight programme. Annual
inspection and fitness programme of these vehicles must be supported by the roadside and onsite
inspection at regular intervals. Vehicle inspection programme would have to be strengthened
to stop tampering and cheating that is rampant under manual inspection regime. (The Hindu
12.7.04)
1thj July
Court notice to AICTE on environment as subject (9)
NEW DELHI, JULY 13. The Supreme Court today issued notice to the All-India Council for
Technical Education (AICTE) and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) to inform it
whether they had implemented orders for inclusion of environment as a subject in the institutions
under their control. A three-Judge Bench, comprising Justices N. Santosh Hegde, S.B. Sinha and
A.K. Mathur, issued the notice during the hearing of a public interest litigation petition filed by
advocate M.C. Mehta seeking the implementation of a 1991 directive of the Court. The Bench
asked them to file their response within two weeks. On April 22, the Court had endorsed a model
syllabus prepared by the National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) for
introducing environmental studies as a compulsory subject from Class one to 12. The NCERT
was asked to be a nodal agency to monitor the implementation of the model syllabus in schools.
The syllabus was prepared after consultations with more than 500 institutions, State
Governments, the Central Pollution Control Board, experts and non-governmental organisations.
Students from Class one to eight will study about clean environment as part of the social science
subject while those from Class nine to 12 will have environmental study as an additional regular
subject, the marks of which would be counted in the final examination. (The Hindu 14.7.04)
6 th Aug
Reduced to a drain: Will Yamuna ever get cleaned? (9)
New Delhi: Polluted, dirty and stinking. That's what Yamuna remains today, more than a decade
after the government took up the cause of the dying river. Crores have been spent in the process,
but the government has failed where it matters the most — Delhi alone contributes around 3,296
MLD (million litres per day) of sewage by virtue of drains outfalling in Yamuna. A walk along the
banks of the Yamuna completes the picture of the "dead" river. It is filthy — plastics, putrefying
garlands, rubbish along with other toxic and domestic wastes have made it black. Dirty scum
floats on the water. Close to 3.5 lakh people live in the slums along its embankment. Sewage:
This is the main culprit. With the 30 sewage Treatment Plants in the city operating far below their
capaciry, bnarely 55% of the Biochemical Oxygen Demand load generated in the city is reduced
due to treatment . Of the 3,296 MLD sewage generated, only 1,478 MLD or 45% - actually gets
treated, according to an inspection of the city’s STPs conducted by the Central Pollution Control
Board in November and December last year. (Times of India 6.8.04)
Central fund for forest conservation (9)