Is India Winning the War Against Pollution? The fight for cleaner air and water intensifies as the nation grapples with the escalating impacts of climate change. From the devastating floods in Assam to the alarming rise in air pollution levels in Delhi, environmental challenges demand urgent action. This week saw crucial discussions on sustainable agriculture and renewable energy sources at the India Climate Change Conference, highlighting the government's commitment to tackling deforestation and promoting biodiversity conservation. But are these efforts enough? Experts warn of looming water scarcity and the need for stricter regulations on industrial emissions. The future of India's environment hangs in the balance, demanding collective responsibility and innovative solutions. Explore Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and the latest updates on environmental policies, climate activism, and the ongoing struggle for a sustainable India. Discover how you can contribute to a greener tomorrow.
Hyderabad: In a major crackdown on illegal water supply operations, HYDRAA (Hyderabad Residents Awareness and Action Association) filed a formal complaint against several water tanker operators accused of illegally drawing polluted water from Sunnam Cheruvu in Madhapur and supplying it to hostels and residential areas. Acting on the complaint, Madhapur Police registered a case against multiple private tanker operators who were reportedly extracting water from unauthorised borewells and selling it under the pretext of clean drinking water. HYDRAA revealed that the contaminated water was being sold to hostels, residential houses, and even vulnerable populations like students and pregnant women, under the false claim that it was potable. Also Read: Election Commission Conducting NRC Through Voter List Drive, Says Asaduddin Owaisi Preliminary lab reports by the Telangana Pollution Control Board (TGPCB) confirmed that the water contained dangerously high levels of lead, cadmium, and nickel -- all known to be hazardous to human health. HYDRAA, in collaboration with an irrigation scientist, collected water samples from two tankers, a residential house near Sunnam Cheruvu, and a culvert in the same locality on June 10. The samples were then sent to the Telangana Pollution Control Board for analysis. The TGPCB test results were alarming: All readings significantly exceeded safe limits, putting consumers at serious risk of heavy metal poisoning. Madhapur Inspector D. Krishna Mohan confirmed that the case was booked after a complaint was lodged by HYDRAA officials and irrigation scientist Srivalli. He said: "With the promise that the water is pure, they supplied it to several persons including women and students. Officials complained that the water is filled with heavy metals like lead and nickel, and so lodged a complaint." A case has been registered under relevant sections of public safety and environmental law, and investigations are ongoing to identify all parties involved in this illegal water racket. HYDRAA has demanded strict action against the violators and requested the government to enforce stronger regulations on private water supply operators. They also urged the public to avoid consuming water from unverified sources and to report suspicious tanker activity to the local authorities. This incident highlights the urgent need for better oversight of urban water supply systems, especially in areas with high population density like Madhapur. As illegal tanker operations continue to exploit groundwater and mislead consumers, the health of thousands remains at stake.
Nainital (Uttarakhand) [India], June 7 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 27 development projects of Nainital district worth about 126 crore 69 lakhs in a program organised at Lalkuan, Nainital on Saturday. These projects include schemes related to education, road, medical, irrigation, sewerage, urban development, beautification and destitute cow protection. During this, 9 schemes were inaugurated at a cost of 25.93 crores and foundation stone were laid for 18 schemes at a cost of 100.76 crores. The Chief Minister said in his ad ...Read More >
Heavy rains have triggered an orange alert in five Kerala districts, leading to rising river levels and flooding. Consequently, dam shutters are being opened across the state, including Banasura Sagar and Moozhiyar. Authorities are also preparing for the potential opening of the Mullaperiyar dam, managed by Tamil Nadu, prompting evacuations in vulnerable areas of Idukki district.Heavy rains lashed various parts of Kerala with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing an orange alert in fi ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: Thousands of residents of Madhapur face a serious health hazard as illegal water traders supply highly contaminated water from unauthorised borewells drilled near the heavily polluted Sunnam Cheruvu. This water, laced with dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals, is being delivered to hostels, educational institutions, hotels and eateries in the area. Many residents are consuming this water daily, unaware of the long-term harm to their health. Locals say the situation is dire. The stench from Sunnam Cheruvu is so strong that even standing near the lake has become unbearable. Yet, w ...Read More >
Kanpur: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has raised grave concerns regarding water contamination and health complications arising from the presence of chromium, mercury, fluoride, and iron in Kanpur, Kanpur Dehat, and adjacent Fatehpur. The tribunal has commissioned the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, to investigate these issues thoroughly, noting insufficient rigour in govt assessments.The amicus curiae advocate's findings revealed dangerous concentrations of chromium, mercury, fluoride, and iron in soil and groundwater samples. Govt health camps detected elevated ...Read More >
New Delhi: Delhi Jal Board will now be able to independently execute capital-intensive projects without depending on the Delhi cabinet to approve them, chief minister Rekha Gupta said on Saturday.Gupta said the govt has restored the financial powers of DJB, which were taken away by the previous govt in the 2021-22 financial year. This will help in expediting high-cost projects such as the rejuvenation of the Yamuna, sewage treatment, and improvement of regular drinking water supply. She added that the financial powers of DJB's chairperson, chief executive officer, and other senior officials ha ...Read More >
Chennai: Farmers and social activists of Tiruppur and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu are gearing up for an indefinite protest demanding the revival of the Noyyal River, which they said has been reduced to a drain due to unchecked pollution. The protest, scheduled to begin on July 13 in Mangalam, calls on the Stalin government to take immediate steps to prevent the inflow of untreated sewage, industrial waste, and plastic into the river. K.N. Mohammed Ali, a social activist, said the Noyyal, which originates in the Western Ghats and flows through Coimbatore, Tiruppur, and Erode before joining the Ca ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet on Friday decided to implement two new schemes for the development of biotechnology and to enhance urban infrastructure. The Cabinet also gave its nod to a proposal to float a tender for Chheligada multipurpose medium irrigation project in Gajapati district. These proposals were approved at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. "The two new schemes, named 'Development of Biotechnology' and 'Mukhya Mantri Sahari Bikash Yojana (MSBY)', aimed at creating employment and strengthening the State's economy," Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja told ...Read More >
Srinagar- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said foreign countries were told clearly during the post-Operation Sindoor diplomatic outreach that in case of a fresh provocation, India would repeat its action. Speaking at a discussion at the Ahmedabad Management Association, Tharoor said Indian delegations which visited foreign countries in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor managed to convey that India acted with restraint and responsibility. "In other places, we actually were able to get some very high-placed people to say not only that they respected and supported India's right of self- ...Read More >
Nainital (Uttarakhand) [India], June 7 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 27 development projects of Nainital district worth about 126 crore 69 lakhs in a program organised at Lalkuan, Nainital on Saturday. These projects include schemes related to education, road, medical, irrigation, sewerage, urban development, beautification and destitute cow protection. During this, 9 schemes were inaugurated at a cost of 25.93 crores and foundation stone were laid for 18 schemes at a cost of 100.76 crores. The Chief Minister said in his ad ...Read More >
Berhampur/Bhubaneswar: A state-of-the-art medical college and hospital was inaugurated by chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi in Kandhamal district on Saturday, fulfilling a long-standing demand of locals. The 100-seat medical college and 650-bed hospital, built at a cost of over Rs 600 crore, is located at Tilakpada near Phulbani.Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, CM Majhi emphasised that the facility would provide quality healthcare services to residents of Kandhamal and neighbouring districts like Boudh, Nayagarh and Kalahandi.A govt officer said the medical college hopes to start admissi ...Read More >
Bengaluru: The Congress-led government in Karnataka has decided to name the Bangalore City University after late former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made the announcement in this regard in the media briefing after the special Cabinet meeting held at Nandi Hills. A proposal to rename the Bangalore City University as "Dr. Manmohan Singh Bengaluru City University" has been approved, CM Siddaramaiah announced. Bengaluru Rural district will now be renamed as "Bengaluru North District", and Bagepalli town will be renamed "Bhagyanagara", he declared. A Cabinet sub-com ...Read More >
HYDERABAD The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has ridiculed the argument of Minister for Irrigation N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, who had stated that it was not possible to lift water from Medigadda Barrage damaged due to the sinking of piers, and observed that it is not the barrage that had sunk but it is the willingness of the ruling party. Speaking at a party meeting here on Monday, former minister for irrigation T. Harish Rao accused Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy of waiting for 'auspicious' time to switch on the motors of Kalwakurthy, when Andhra Pradesh had already started drawing water from Pothireddypad ...Read More >
SURYAPET : Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Friday reiterated that the Congress government was committed to protecting Telangana's rightful share of Krishna and Godavari waters at any cost. After inspecting the ongoing irrigation works on Krishna river in Suryapet district, the minister made it clear that there would be no compromise on the state's water rights, which he described as essential for farmers' prosperity and the future of Telangana. Uttam came down heavily on the previous BRS government, holding it responsible for pushing the irrigation sector into a ...Read More >
New Delhi: In a significant step toward promoting sustainable agriculture and water management in India, the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have signed an agreement worth $300,000 to be initially implemented in four Indian states. With this agreement, FAO aims to enhance water use efficiency through smart irrigation for climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable development, Takayuki Hagiwara, FAO Representative in India told ETV Bharat in New Delhi. India currently faces significant water stress due to depleting groundwater re ...Read More >
Kolkata, June 28: A political slugfest has erupted in West Bengal after a woman accused Padma Shree awardee monk Kartik Maharaj, who is posted with the Murshidabad unit of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, of allegedly raping her 12 times for six months in 2013. As per the police complaint lodged by the woman, Kartik Maharaj raped her multiple times 12 years ago promising her a job at a local school. The ruling Trinamool Congress is highlighting the issue in a major way and accusing the BJP of being silent on it since the accused monk had been reportedly close to the saffron party. The woman accusin ...Read More >
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], July 4 (ANI): Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday came down heavily on the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) over its pitch to reconsider the words 'secular and socialist' from the Preamble of the Indian Constitution while saying that it was 'all talk'. He dared and challenged RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale and top leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the centre to remove the words 'secular and socialist' from the Preamble. 'Days before, I heard that some RSS person said that we should remove Secular and Socialist words from ...Read More >
Srinagar, Jul 4: Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha Friday said that he was proud to see women breaking barriers in agricultural sciences and technology. In his address at the 6th convocation ceremony of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir (SKUAST-K), the LG said, "Proud to see our daughters breaking barriers and achieving success in Agricultural Science and Technology. It reflects a bright future for J&K and the nation." During the convocation, of the 5250 degrees of undergraduate, master's, and PhD, 2661 degrees were awarded to women, of the 150 stu ...Read More >
Vijayawada: The state government led by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has made significant strides in ensuring irrigation water for Rayalaseema, with Rs 3,890 crore allocated for the Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanthi project. During a review on Saturday at camp office, the Chief Minister evaluated major irrigation projects, including Handri-Neeva, Polavaram Left Canal, and north Andhra initiatives, alongside reservoir levels and water management strategies. Starting July 15, 3,850 cusecs of water will be released into the Jeedipalli reservoir under Phase-1 of the Handri-Neeva project, with ...Read More >
New Delhi, Feb 3 (PTI) The BJP on Monday assailed the AAP government over water "crisis" in south west Delhi's Bijwasan, highlighting the water pipes being supplied to the homes of the locals through electric poles and influence of water mafia in the area. BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra during his visit to Bijwasan said there was severe water crisis in the area and the tangled web of pipes of water on the electricity poles expose the 10 year "misrule" of the AAP. "I have travelled across India and many cities around the world but this sight of water flowing through pipes hanging from ...Read More >
Pune: Hospitals in Pune have started reporting an increase in dengue cases among children following recent heavy rainfall and intermittent showers. Conditions are now ripe for mosquito breeding, experts said, as they warned citizens to ensure there's no waterlogging or stagnant pools near homes and offices. "Dengue is typically seen first in children as they often play outside," said Dr Sagar Lad, a senior neonatologist and pediatric intensivist at Jehangir Hospital and Sahyadri Hospital, Shastrinagar. Dr Lad said he's seen at least three children admitted for dengue this week, with all of the ...Read More >
Bahraich, June 28: Two minors allegedly killed a man by slitting his throat and then crushed his head with a stone to steal his iPhone to create "high-quality reels" for more likes, police said on Saturday. Police have held both the accused and initiated investigations. The victim, Shadab (19), who lived in Bengaluru, was visiting his ancestral village of Nagaur in Bahraich for his maternal uncle's wedding. Additional Superintendent of Police, Ramanand Prasad Kushwaha, said that the incident occurred on the night of June 20. "Shadab was reported missing on June 21, and his body was discovered ...Read More >
Bengaluru: In a major financial push to address the drinking water crisis in Bayaluseeme (arid region), the state cabinet Wednesday approved an additional Rs 1,900 crore for the ongoing Yettinahole project, which aims to help parched districts including Bengaluru Rural, Chikkaballapur and Kolar.Chief minister Siddaramaiah, who chaired the cabinet meeting, said the govt had asked the finance department to place the proposal for approval."The project cost was revised to Rs 23,251 crore, and Rs 17,147 crore was spent. There is Rs 6,103 crore to be spent on the project. However, the govt has learn ...Read More >
Jammu- Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday said the much-anticipated Ujh Multipurpose project in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir is being revived to benefit the people. The Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office was addressing a gathering during a 'public darbar' at Basholi in Kathua, which is part of his Udhampur parliamentary constituency, an official statement said. Singh held the public darbar as part of his continued outreach efforts to engage directly with citizens and local representatives, not only at the district level but also at the tehsil, block and pancha ...Read More >
BENGALURU: BBMP marshals deployed at lake security and supervision wing, ward monitoring and Indira Canteens are working without salaries since March. The situation has arisen after Bangalore Solid Waste Management Limited was carved out of BBMP for garbage management. Their salaries are usually given through the Ex-Servicemen Welfare Society and each marshal is paid Rs 17,500 monthly. "Supervisors say the delay is due to a set of procedures. Earlier, the amount was given to the Ex-Servicemen Welfare Society towards payments from BBMP. Now the files have to be cleared from BWSML to ward mars ...Read More >
Mumbai: An article by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi terming the 2024 state assembly polls as 'match-fixing' stirred a political controversy in Maharashtra. Statement Of Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the Congress leader was insulting the voters and Ladki Bahins of Maharashtra. He said, "Rahul Gandhi has accepted his defeat in Bihar. As long as Rahul Gandhi keeps giving himself false assurances, his party can never win". Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule's Statement Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule criticised Gandhi, saying his party w ...Read More >
Pune: Perennial traffic snarls, waterlogged streets and crater-like potholes leading to a frustrating commute has become a daily reality for hundreds of IT professionals trying to get to and from their offices or homes in Hinjewadi -- especially amid rainy conditions.Crowned as Maharashtra's largest IT park, the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park in Hinjewadi has crumbled under the heavy downpour witnessed by the city late in May. Techies told TOI they have been taking two hours on average to finish a journey that usually requires 40 minutes. Many were even seen wading through water to get home after ...Read More >
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], June 30 (ANI): Amid heavy rains triggering flash floods in the state, Himachal Pradesh Minister Jagat Singh Negi on Monday held a special review meeting with senior officials to assess the situation arising from landslides, road blockages, and disruption of power and water supply across the state. The Revenue, Horticulture and Tribal Development Minister of Himachal Pradesh chaired the meeting in view of the widespread impact of monsoon-related disruptions, involving key departments, like- Jal Shakti, the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB), the ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Tuesday described the decision of the Expert Appraisal Committee of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to return a proposal by Andhra Pradesh on the Banakacherla link project as a "huge victory for Telangana". Uttam made a detailed PowerPoint presentation on "The Water Issues of Telangana in Godavari and Krishna River Basins" at Praja Bhavan on Tuesday. During his presentation, he said that the Congress government will not compromise on Telangana's rightful share of waters in the Godavari and Krishna rivers. He ...Read More >
Bhongir MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy credited the Congress government for the Central Environmental Expert Committee's decision to halt further clearances for the contentious Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project, despite the BRS government allowing full rights to the Andhra Pradesh government on Godavari waters. "It was only after our government's serious intervention and strong objections at the Central level that the committee decided to put the project on hold," he said at a press conference h ...Read More >
Mumbai: Hooliganism under the guise of Marathi pride will not be tolerated in the state, CM Fadnavis warned on Friday. He said police had registered an FIR and taken action in the Mira Road incident where a businessman was beaten up by MNS workers for not knowing Marathi.Speaking to the media, Fadnavis said beating up someone over language was wrong. "We are Marathi and are proud of the language. Insisting that a person speak in Marathi is not wrong, but beating up a businessman because he does not know it is wrong. Our Marathi-speaking people are doing business in different states, and if the ...Read More >