-Down to Earth New laws to regulate sand mining have not had much impact Illegal sand mining is a perennial problem in India. But it assumes gargantuan proportions right before the onset of monsoon because swollen rivers make extraction extremely difficult during the rainy season. To make most of the lean period, mine owners and hoarders try to dig out as much sand as possible, through legal and illegal means, in...

-The Times of India Gurgaon: Only 565 environmental norm violations were reported in Gurgaon and Mewat areas of Aravali Hills between April 1992 and March 2015, and no action has been taken against any officials so far, according to an RTI reply. Of the 565 violations, 524 were filed in the court, which hears complaints that allege violations of Environmental Norms in Gurgaon and Faridabad areas, while 41 plaints are still pending...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal barred on Thursday any fresh constructions under the environment ministry's December 9 notification exempting real estate projects of all sizes from environment impact assessment and environmental clearance. The NGT has received two applications questioning legal issues with the December 9 notification, which even has a "self-declaration" clause that will ensure issuance of permission from urban local bodies. For larger projects of more...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal has said a fine of Rs 10,000 would be imposed on any person or agency, government or private, found throwing garbage at a public place. It said all authorities were under "statutory" obligation to ensure that waste was collected, transported and disposed of in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. "Any person, hotel, resident, slaughter house, vegetable market etc that does...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: An environmental panel set up by the Supreme Court today launched an app through which people in Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh can alert city officials about garbage fire, construction dust and other sources of air pollution. People can upload images of pollution on the app, named Hawa Badlo (change the air), so that officials in charge of specific geographical locations can take action. The app was launched...