Environmental Governance Newsletter - June 2016

TOP STORY
 
NDA government has done well on pollution standards and monitoring, but needs to do much more on green clearances, forestry and its flagship schemes on sanitation and the Ganga: CSE
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) releases its analysis of two years of NDA government
REGULATORY WATCH
 
Can polluting brick kilns be cleaned up?
India is world's second largest producer of bricks, but the environmental cost of producing cheap bricks is huge
 
Environmental governance in India pushes industries to face stricter pollution norms
The last one year of environmental regulation in India has shown many improvements. But a lot remains to be done
 
Ken-Betwa river link given go-ahead; expert committee yet to submit report
The project would require diversion of 52.58 square kilometers of forest land, including 41.41 square kilometers of Panna Tiger Reserve
 
 
 
 
Court Watch
 
SC puts an end to OMC's bid to mine Niyamgiri
Apex court rejects the OMC-Vedanta joint venture in what is being seen as a decisive victory for the indigenous tribal group, the Dongria Kondhs
 
NGT halts construction on wetland between Bengaluru lakes
The construction projects violated the Master Plan of 2015 as well as environmental guidelines
 
 
NGT allows mining on Valapattanam river bank
Residents of river-island Pamburuthi have been opposing sand mining in the region
 
Forest Governance
Rights overruled
States are making their own rules to reclaim the authority over forests from tribes, derailing community forest rights
 
Does the monsoon this year means forests for India?
The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill 2015 has crossed the doors of the Lok Sabha, but is set to face the Rajya Sabha test during the monsoon session.
 
10 highlights of the new draft national forest policy
On June 15, India's environment ministry placed the draft national forest policy in public domain for comments and suggestions. It is slated to replace the National Forest Policy, 1988
 
Is green militarisation a right response to curb poaching?
Such a step to protect wildlife, which is in practice in Kaziranga, has been criticised for alienating indigenous poeple
Mining
 
Parliament passes MMDR Amendment Bill to facilitate transfer of captive mining leases
The Bill will facilitate the transfer of captive mine leases which have not been granted through auction
Only four of 12 mineral-rich states collect funds for mining-impacted areas
It has been nearly a year since the Central government notified new mining rules mandating collection of funds for development of mining-impacted areas
 
 

Editor's Note
chandra_bhushanDear Friends,
This issue of our newsletter comes to you marking the occasion of the World Environment Day, which was June 5. The time also coincides with completion of the two-year term of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government...
- Chandra Bhushan
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Studies & Publications
Trainings
A. Upcoming Trainings
CSE's short-term EIA training programme UNDERSTANDING EIA: FROM SCREENING TO DECISION MAKING
July 4-8, 2016
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Training programme on CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY - PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION
July 11-13, 2016 /strong>
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Training programme on SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
August 8-12, 2016

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Trainings Archive
Training Programme on Environmental and Social Risk Assessment in Project Financing
May 19‒20, 2016
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One Week Specialization Course on Data Management: Collection, Collation and Analysis of Environmental Data
April 11-15, 2016
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Waste Management
Trashing the ragpicker
The new rules for plastic waste management exclude the informal sector, key to their successful implementation

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Dump yard in elephant corridor poses threat to wild animals
The dump yard is attracting animals for food and has waste of an entire town of a population of about 50,000 people

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Solving India's garbage problem
Segregation at source should be at the heart of municipalities' solid waste management system
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Global News
Environmentalists hail Indonesia's moratorium plan on new palm oil permits, mining operations
According to a study published in 2014 Indonesia had the highest rate of deforestation in the world
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Study says large animals important for carbon storage in tropical forests
Global decline in the population of several wild animal species is among the most widespread drivers of Earth's biodiversity crisis
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