02 Nov 2023

Suburban Guardian Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha has responded to local opposition to the reconstruction of the Malabar Hill Water Reservoir by instructing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to establish a technical assessment committee. This committee will include professors from IIT (Bombay), BMC engineers, and local residents with technical expertise. Its primary task is to evaluate the reservoir and decide whether it should be repaired or demolished. The controversy arose due to the reconstruction plan's potential impact on trees and opposition from residents. This committee's diverse composition and its technical assessment will play a crucial role in determining the reservoir's fate, balancing historical preservation with contemporary needs.Read more

02 Nov 2023

Amid worsening air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR), real estate developers have requested that the government not impose bans on construction activities that don't contribute to pollution. The revised graded response action plan (GRAP) mandates construction bans during "severe" air quality conditions. Developers argue that not all construction activities cause pollution and have urged authorities to allow non-polluting work to continue to meet project deadlines. They emphasize the impact on laborers, who often return home due to frequent bans, causing delays in apartment deliveries and then hefty RERA fines for delivery delays.Read more

02 Nov 2023

Junagadh Municipal Corporation's pioneering rainwater harvesting initiative has earned them the distinction of being the first Indian civic body to accumulate water credits, as endorsed by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. With a substantial 9 million water credits secured for conserving 100 million litres of water in their Hasnapur reservoir, JuMC sets an example for sustainable water management. This innovative endeavour, overseen by UN-designated agencies and supported by voluntary collaboration, promises both a water-secure future and financial prospects for civic bodies.Read more

01 Nov 2023

Ganesh Housing Corporation is partnering with US real estate firm Tishman Speyer to develop a massive IT Special Economic Zone (SEZ) called "Million Minds Tech City" in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, with an investment of Rs 8,000 crore. Spanning 65 acres near Chharodi village along SG Road, this SEZ will offer office space for IT and ITes companies, along with dedicated residential, commercial, and hospitality areas. The project will encompass 80 lakh sq.ft. of IT office space, 53 lakh sq.ft. of residential space, and more. It is expected to create direct employment for 1.6 lakh people and attract major tech companies like Apple, IBM, Google, and Amazon. The project will commence by 2026 and is aimed at positioning Ahmedabad as a hub for the IT sector.Read more

01 Nov 2023

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a crucial directive to the Haryana government, demanding a comprehensive review of stone-crushing units in Mahendragarh and Charkhi Dadri districts within eight weeks. This decision follows a report by the Haryana government, revealing that 49 out of 133 units in Mahendragarh violated environmental regulations, posing a significant threat to air and water quality. The NGT's action was prompted by a petition filed by a concerned resident, Vinod Kumar Jangra. The government has already closed non-compliant units, initiated air quality monitoring projects, and taken steps to address violations. The NGT's commitment to environmental and public health is evident, and the upcoming November 23rd review will be pivotal in addressing these environmental concerns.Read more

31 Oct 2023

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has been releasing 37 million litres of untreated sewage daily into Thane creek due to the shutdown of its sewage treatment plant (STP) amid a land dispute with CIDCO. The landowner claimed that he had not received compensation for the land acquired by CIDCO, leading to the dispute. The release of untreated sewage violates a Supreme Court order and could incur penalties from the National Green Tribunal. NatConnect Foundation, an NGO, raised concerns about this issue, emphasizing the threat to marine life and biodiversity in the creek. The NMMC is working to resolve the matter and reopen the STP. Swift action is essential to mitigate the ecological and public health risks posed by the untreated sewage discharge into the creek.Read more

31 Oct 2023

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is taking determined steps to address pollution and enforce environmental standards. Over a two-week period, they issued 24 challans with fines totalling Rs 8.2 lakh for violations related to construction and demolition guidelines. The MCD has deployed 511 surveillance teams to monitor environmental concerns, including open burning, illegal construction, waste dumping, and road dust. They've stationed anti-smog guns at high-rise buildings, landfills, and hotspot areas to combat air and dust pollution. The MCD's efforts are aimed at ensuring environmental compliance, especially in anticipation of the upcoming winter smog and pollution.Read more

28 Oct 2023

The restoration of Mumbai's Haji Ali Dargah, a project initiated over 17 years ago, continues to face significant delays and challenges. Trustees and government officials, including the guardian minister and representatives from various agencies, have held multiple meetings to address the project's sluggish progress. The renovation effort is divided into two components: the restoration of the shrine complex and structures, managed by the dargah trust, and the reconstruction of the pathway leading to the shrine, overseen by the state government. The estimated costs for these components have significantly increased. The restoration aims to preserve the historical significance of the dargah, emphasizing the need for efficient project management in cultural heritage preservation.Read more

28 Oct 2023

Mumbai's present real estate construction boom has contributed to worsening air pollution. The ongoing real estate construction activity spanning approximately 3.24 crore square feet is equivalent to five times the size of Nariman Point. Since 2022, incremental construction in Mumbai has grown by 68%. This surge in construction is attributed to a government initiative in 2021 which halved premiums for developers, sparking a rush by developers to get projects approved. While this construction surge has driven housing production and the state's economy, it has come at the cost of increased pollution, with a noxious haze enveloping the city.Read more

27 Oct 2023

Construction of Navi Mumbai airport faces delays, with anticipated commercial operations in 2025 instead of 2024, per CAPA. The Adani Group, responsible for the project, insists it will meet the original December 2024 target. Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), another Adani Group entity, is also investing in enhancing efficiency and capacity. The proximity of the Navi Mumbai Airport aims to alleviate congestion at the Mumbai Airport. The Navi Mumbai Airport is set to accommodate up to 20 million passengers initially and expand to 90 million by 2032. Mumbai Airport, even before the pandemic and Jet Airways' 2019 bankruptcy, faced infrastructure challenges, operating at near full capacity.Read more