KOCHI: Expressing concern over the increasing incidents of fish deaths in the Periyar River, environmentalists brushed aside the claims made by Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) that the fish had died due to oxygen starvation. “It is common for the levels of dissolved oxygen (DO) in the water to go down gradually when the high-level of biodegradable waste in a water body. Under such circumstances, the aquatic organisms living in the region migrate to places where the DO is adequate, rather than dying out.

New Delhi, 14 MAY: West Bengal has the highest number of red category industries causing high pollution, followed by Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, while 43 industrial clusters have been identified as “critically polluted”, the Lok Sabha was informed today. Environment and Forest Minister Jayanthi Natarajan said during Question Hour that the Central Pollution Control Board and IIT-Delhi had conducted a survey based on Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index for assessment of pollution load of industrial areas. “The survey was conducted in 88 major industrial clusters in the country.

The Bhopal Municipal Corporation has developed five e-waste collection centers as per the notification of the Union Government. Citizens, traders, residential and non-residential buildings, Government and non-Government organisations can deposit e-waste like fridges, televisions, and computers, mobiles and other electronic waste in these centres.

New Delhi West Bengal has the highest number of red category industries causing high pollution, followed by Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, while 43 industrial clusters have been identified as "critically polluted", the Lok Sabha was informed today.

Environment and Forest Minister Jayanthi Natarajan said during Question Hour that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and IIT-Delhi had conducted a survey based on Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) for assessment of pollution load of industrial areas.

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to allow a controversial US ship to head to Alang in Gujarat for dismantling after an NGO pointed out that the vessel was required to give prior intimation of its decontamination. The ship, Oriental Nicety, was refused permission to enter Indian waters after NGO Research Foundation for Science pointed out that the credentials of the ship were doubtful as the ship itself was a hazardous waste. Earlier called Exxon Valdez, the ship was involved in one of the worst oil spills off Alaska in 1986.

Dealing with e-waste must remain the primary responsibility of manufacturers of electronic goods. (Editorial)

Technicians dismantle e-waste from discarded electronic devices such as computer peripherals at Earth Sense Recycle unit in Andhra Pradesh.

Gurdaspur: Hazardous smoke resulting from burning of wheat stubble can be seen billowing out of every other field in the region despite the act being illegal. Fire in fields sometimes goes out of control and leads to fatal incidents. In a recent incident, Sardara Singh, a middle-aged farmer, along with his wife and two children, was going towards Sri Hargobindpur on a motorcycle when fire from a nearby field aided by strong winds trapped the family. The panic-stricken farmer managed to take his family to safety, but not before fire ravaged his motorcycle.

The discovery of over 100 bags of toxic solid waste buried in an agricultural land near Chennimalai has shocked the farming community and environmental activists.

A team of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board officials conducted a surprise check in a textile processing unit near Chennimalai following complaints from the public and found huge amount of solid waste generated in the unit had been buried deep in a nearby agricultural land. Officials found several bags of toxic, untreated solid waste buried in the land and excavated over 100 bags from the land.

Concerned about the serious threat posed by huge toxic material left in Union Carbide’s Bhopal plant after the 1984 gas tragedy, the Supreme Court on Thursday summoned top officials of the Union and MP government to suggest measures for its early disposal.

A bench of Justices G.S. Singhvi and S.J. Mukhopadhyaya sought the presence of Union environment and chemical secretaries and Madhya Pradesh’s secretary for “Bhopal gas tragedy rehabilitation department” on Friday to give “assistance” to the court as how 350 tones of toxic waste deposited in Carbide plant should be disposed off as early as possible.

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