Current Affairs April 2016 - Environment
News 1 - Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 notified by the Center
The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change notified the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016. The new set of Rules will replace the Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998.
The aim of the new set of rules is to properly manage the 484 tonnes per day bio-medical waste from 168869 healthcare facilities (HCFs) across the country and to include vaccination camps, blood donation camps, surgical camps or any other healthcare activity. Pre-treatment of the laboratory waste, microbiological waste, blood samples and blood bags through disinfection or sterilization on-site in the manner as prescribed by World Health Organization (WHO) or The National AIDS Control Organization (NACO).
News 2 - Union Government issued Hazardous Waste Management Rules,
2016
Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar released the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016.
Hazardous waste includes material like lead acid battery scrap, used oil, waste oil and spent catalysts. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, total hazardous waste generation in India in 2015 was 7.46 million metric tonnes from about 44,000 industries.
News 3 - The world's first White Tiger Safari in Madhya Pradesh thrown open for public
The world’s first ‘White Tiger Safari’ was thrown open for public at Mukundpur in Satna district of Madhya Pradesh after Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan inaugurated it.
It was built at a cost of Rs. 50 crores and is spread over an area of 25 hectares. The safari houses three white tigers, one male named Raghu and two females, Vindhya and Radha. The government is planning to establish a breeding centre for the white tigers in the nearby place called Govindgarh.
News 4 - World Bank Group begins Paris COP21 pledges by Adopting Climate Change Action Plan
In an effort to help countries meet their Paris COP21 pledges and manage increasing climate impacts, World Bank Group adopted the Climate Change Action Plan. It sets targets for 2020 in high-impact areas, including clean energy, green transport, climate-smart agriculture, and urban resilience. By 2020, it will have to mobilize at least $13 billion per year in external private sector investments through its operations.
The WB will aim to mobilize 25 billion US dollars of commercial funding for clean energy over the next five years. Climate-smart agriculture profiles and investment plans will be developed by 2020 for at least 40 countries.
News 5 - Central Information Commission Directed to publicize Genetically Modified Organisms Information
The Central Information Commission (CIC) directed the GEAC to make public the non- confidential bio-safety information on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in the public domain by 30 April 2016. The direction is aimed at enhancing transparency in the regulatory approval.
As per the direction, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), the apex regulatory body for GMOs, has to keep all the relevant data in the public domain by 30 April 2016. However, the disclosure of intellectual property data was exempted.
News 6 - Eco-friendly 'Namma Model Toilets' Inaugurated under Swachh Bharat Mission
The Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated 'Namma Toilet' in Delhi to ensure hygiene and cleanliness. NAMMA toilets are easy to construct and are developed in such a way that natural light can be used to maximum extent. The word NAMMA means ‘our toilet’. It is a part of the mission's target to establish over 2.5 lakh public toilets by 2nd October 2017.
These NAMMA model toilets are developed by National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) Ltd. NAMMA toilets were inaugurated at 19 other places by the local municipal councils.
News 7 - Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister sets up 36 new CNG stations
In a move to make Delhi a pollution free city, Petroleum & Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan has set up 36 new CNG stations located in the Delhi and NCR region for the public. About 30 of these stations have been installed by Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) at the retail outlets of Oil Marketing Companies like Indian Oil, BPCL and HPCL. There are 3 stations of Haryana City gas in Gurgaon, 1 station by GAIL Gas in Sonepat and 2 stations by Adani gas – one each in Faridabad and Khurja (Bulandshahar) have been set up by Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas.
News 8 - For the first time in 100 years, global Tiger population grew by 22%
The number of wild tigers have been revised to 3,890, based on the best available data. The number was estimated to be 3200 in 2010. The increase can be attributed to multiple factors including increases in tiger populations in India, Russia, Nepal and Bhutan, improved surveys and enhanced protection.
Governments at the 2010 Tiger Summit in Russia agreed to the Tx2 goal to double wild tiger numbers by 2022. The 3rd Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation took off on 12 April 2016 in New Delhi.
News 9 - PM inaugurated the 3rd Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the three day 3rd Asia Ministerial Conference on the Tiger Conservation in New Delhi on 12th April and will continue till 14th of April, 2016 where more than 700 dignitaries from different domains, viz. experts, scientists, managers, donors and other stakeholders have gathered to discuss issues related to tiger conservation.
This conference is being co-organized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, National Tiger Conservation Authority, Global Tiger Forum, Global Tiger Initiative Council, Wildlife Institute of India, WWF and Wildlife Conservation Trust.
News 10 - Mahindra & Mahindra, the first Indian company to join EP100 campaign
Indian automobile major Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) has become the first Indian company to sign up for EP100 and has committed to double its energy productivity by 2030 and lessen the carbon footprints, which is a core requirement for any business signing on to the campaign. EP100 is a global energy productivity campaign.
EP 100 is a brainchild of the Climate Group — an international non-profit organization. More details on EP100 will be released at the Energy Efficiency Global Forum in Washington D.C. between May 11-12, where the campaign will be fully launched.
News 11 - BPCL gets environmental clearance for 694 crore rupees LPG project in West Bengal
The Union Environment Ministry has given environmental clearance and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance to the BPCL’s project` of developing LPG import terminal as well as storage, bottling and bulk distribution facilities at Haldia Dock Complex in West Bengal.
The estimated cost of this proposed project is Rs. 694 crores, which is to be completed in a year from the date of award of the environment clearance. This proposed project aims to boost the supply and help achieve the government's target of making LPG available to each household by 2018.
