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 Read more >> Download Factsheet >>

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 READ MORE >>   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 READ MORE >>   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 READ MORE >>

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 READ MORE >>   NGT halts construction on wetland between Bengaluru lakes The construction projects violated the Master Plan of 2015 as well as environmental guidelines READ MORE >>     NGT allows mining on Valapattanam river bank Residents of river-island Pamburuthi have been opposing sand mining in the region READ MORE >>

Forest Governance Rights overruled States are making their own rules to reclaim the authority over forests from tribes, derailing community forest rights READ MORE >>   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. READ MORE >>   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 READ MORE >>   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 READ MORE >>

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 READ MORE >> 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 READ MORE >>