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TIRUPUR: Villages in Kangayam block in Tirupur district, which were facing problems like bad air quality and water contamination and resultant health hazards such as breathing complications and skin allergies, are on the way to recovery.

As World Environment Day is observed on June 5, the fight of villagers for a clean enviornment is a story worth telling. The environmental problems were caused by the units producing charcoal from coconut shells. There are about 10 such units in Veeranampalayam and Pothiyapalayam village panchayats, which include more than 10 villages.

To make charcoal, tonnes of coconut shells were burnt at a temperature of 700 degrees in 10 to 20 ft deep pits with an area of over 500 sq ft. On an average, each unit has seven pits in which the shell are burnt.

The burnt shell is treated by pouring huge amounts of water into the pits. This water penetrates into the surrounding soil and contaminates groundwater. Besides, the smoke from these units pollutes the air and raises the temperature in the surroundings. Land adjacent to these units thus became infertile.

Following protests by villagers, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) shut the units in 2012. The owners in turn approached the Madras High Court. Teams formed by the High Courts Green Bench and subsequently the National Green Tribunal found that these units had caused much environmental damage and suggested their permanent closure.

However, there are still about 50 such units functioning illegally in Kangayam taluk. Politicians had to face the wrath of people when they went to villages to campaign ahead of the recent Assembly elections.

Many units are functioning illegally inside farms. Veeranampalayam and Pothiyapalayam panchayats have recovered by about 75 per cent. But environmental damage has begun in other areas, said C A Karthikeyan, who lead the protest.

http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/Mixed-bag-for-Kangayam-in-fight-against-charcoal-units/2016/06/05/article3467182.ece

Officials state that there is no clarity on what amount area will for eco-sensitive zone.

Even as environmentalists in the city are worried about increasing pressure from land sharks causing a hindrance to various projects around the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), Union environment and forest minister Prakash Javadekar announced that an ‘eco-sensitive zone’ (ESZ) around the park would be officially declared in a month.

Javadekar, who was at SGNP for a World Environment Day function on Sunday, declared at the event that the notification that is pending with the MoEF will be out in a month’s time and the area around SGNP will be declared as an ESZ, which would help protect this urban forest better.

According to senior forest officials, there is no clarity at the moment on what amount of area around SGNP will form this ESZ, but it is certain that in the portion of land that is eventually declared to constitute the ESZ, activities like mining, pollution and creating industries will not be permitted, while commercial construction will be regulated within that portion.

Meanwhile, the minister was also briefed about how the park management had successfully adopted a pro-active approach to mitigate human-leopard conflict as well as about how SGNP partnered with citizens as well as researchers to initiate a highly successful campaign called ‘Mumbaikars for SGNP’.

The team members who were part of Mumbaikars for SGNP, along with the leopard rescue team, were felicitated by Javadekar, who also said that support is being taken from various international agencies to fight poaching across the country.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-mumbai-eco-sensitive-zone-soon-around-sgnp-says-prakash-javadekar-2220339

Lucknow: When TOI organised the ‘No honking drive’ in Hazratganj on Sunday on the occasion of the the World Environment Day, it was a cause that not drew a huge applause from those present but also a flow of practical suggestions for bringing the much needed change in the city. The core message of TOI is to create pollution-free environment in city by taking personal initiatives.

Sharing their painful experiences of vehicular horn overuse and misuse, people present at the event also promised to make a conscious effort to curb the menace of noise pollution.

“There should be penalty and fine to check people against mindless honking. Road signs should alert people about challans and traffic department should get active on it,” suggested Mohammad Saqib, management student at Hazratganj’s multi-level parking on Sunday. Jahnvi, who was also present at the event shared the hearing issues she faces and said, “I have a sinus problem and sometimes it affects my ears and when that happens, all sound decibels are heightened and every horn is an unbearable cacophony.”

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Issue-challan-for-mindless-honking/articleshow/52611583.cms

Centre is planning to set up an expert panel to examine projects for which environment clearance (EC) is sought after starting the work on ground.

The panel will give clearance to such projects after taking assurance on remedial measures for any environmental loss and possible violations, as per the proposal.

Such a plan is being thought of as the Environment Ministry has received some proposals seeking approval for ‘Terms of References’ and ‘Environmental Clearance’ for projects which have started work on site, expanded production beyond the limit of EC or changed the product mix without obtaining prior EC.

In a draft notification issued in this regard for public comments within 60 days, the Ministry said that the government will treat those projects or activities for which EC is being obtained after starting the work on ground as “cases of violation”.

In absence of expert group at any state, the case will be appraised at the ministry level, the notification said.

The Expert Group would prepare an ESP for restoration of the damage caused to the environment and for further improvement of the environment.
“The project proponent shall give the consent for implementation of the ESP under the monitoring of the Expert Group, and satisfactory implementation of the ESP shall form one of the specific conditions of the environmental clearance,” the notification said.

The process of appraisal of the project for grant of environmental clearance and preparation of ESP would be carried out simultaneously, it added.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/52602405.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst