People killed in human-elephant conflict
Information received from states showed that 605 people were killed in human-elephant conflict in 2022-23, said Ashwini Kumar Choubey, minister of state for the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change, told the Rajya Sabha.
Toxic elements in groundwater
An order by the principal bench of National Green Tribunal dated December 20, 2023 issued notices to 28 states and union territories over toxic elements like arsenic and fluoride being found in groundwater, Choubey told the Rajya Sabha.
The tribunal was exercising suo motu jurisdiction on the basis of a news article, Arsenic found in groundwater in 25 States, fluoride in 27 States: Govt, published in newspaper Hindustan on November 30, 2023.
The minister also shared the state-wise assessment of arsenic and fluoride levels monitored in groundwater locations covered by the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme in 2023 in comparison to the drinking water standards prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards.
Waste generation in the country
The annual report of Central Pollution Control Board for 2021-22 showed 170,338 tonnes of solid waste was generated in India every day on average, Choubey told the Rajya Sabha. Of this, 91,512 tonnes per day was treated.
Regulations on market-based extended producer responsibility have been notified for plastic packaging waste, battery waste, electronic waste (e-waste), waste tyre and used oil, the minister added.
Air quality in Delhi
In Delhi, the average air quality parameters all-round the year have been the best in 2023 since 2019, Choubey told the Rajya Sabha.
Reintroduction of cheetah
A detailed scientific action plan was created for the introduction of cheetahs in India, Choubey told the Rajya Sabha. The plan was created by Wildlife Institute of India, in consultation with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department and National Tiger Conservation Authority.
The plan has been created as per the guidelines of International Union for Conservation of Nature, with inputs from leading cheetah experts, biologists, ecologists, conservationists and managers, the minister said. Cheetahs are adapting well to Indian conditions and are giving birth to cubs.
Recycling of e-waste
E-waste recycling has increased by 22.59 times in 2021-22 compared to 2016-17 in the country, Choubey told the Rajya Sabha.
Extraction of groundwater in Punjab
Groundwater resources in the country are regularly assessed jointly by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and state governments, including Punjab, Bishweswar Tudu, minister of state for Union ministry of jal shakti, told the Lok Sabha.
According to Groundwater Resource Assessment, 2023, 117 of the state’s 153 assessment units (AU), which are generally blocks / tehsils / taluks, have been classified as ‘over-exploited’, meaning that the stage of groundwater extraction (SOE) is greater than 100 per cent.
Furthermore, three AUs were classified as critical, thirteen as semi-critical, and twenty as safe.
A comparison of Punjab’s 2022 assessment report to the 2023 one reveals that the state’s SOE — a ratio of annual groundwater extraction for all uses (irrigation, industrial, and domestic) over total annual extractable groundwater resource — has improved. It has decreased to 163.76 per cent from 164.1 per cent , Tudu added.
Households with solar electricity
The government has set a target of installing rooftop solar on 10 million households to provide electricity to low- and middle-income people, RK Singh, Union minister for new and renewable energy and power, told the Lok Sabha.
As of December 31, 2023, the cumulative capacity of solar power projects installed in the country is 73.3 gigawatts (GW), including 10.7 GW of grid-connected solar rooftop capacity installed in households, commercial and industrial buildings, Singh said.
Under the MNRE’s Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme (Phase II), 670,000 grid-connected solar rooftop systems with a total installed capacity of 2.76 GW were installed in households, he added.
Ethanol pricing formula
The government determines the ex-mill price of sugarcane-based ethanol based on the fair and remunerative price of sugarcane and the minimum support price (MSP) of sugar, Rameswar Teli, minister of state in the Union ministry of petroleum and natural gas, told the Lok Sabha.
Oil marketing companies (OMC) fix the ex-mill price of ethanol made from food grain on the basis of feedstock and conversion costs. OMCs have already declared incentives of Rs 6.87 per litre on C-molasses ethanol with effect from December 29, 2023 and Rs 5.79 per litre on ethanol produced from maize with effect from January 5, 2024, over and above the declared price for ethanol supply year 2023-24.
The prices been communicated to the stakeholders through various communication channels, the minister said.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
