One of the busiest markets in Mulund (West) is involved in a ‘no plastic bag’ drive started by different NGOs like Tarun Foundation and supported by several other organisations including I Love Mumbai, Lok Shakti, Inner Wheel Club of Mulund Hills and Dattak Vasti Yojna.

A few like-minded residents and activists of Mulund have started a green initiative called ‘Say No To Plastic Bags.’ Under this sustained campaign, the residents have taken a stand to refuse the use of polyethylene bags.

The residents’ initiative follows a notification on Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2011 issued by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests on February 4, 2011.

Source: Mumbai Mirror

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has said there are serious environmental issues that need to be addressed before the Navi Mumbai airport plan can be cleared. And he remains firm about his decision not to allow private helipads in Mumbai

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the proposed Navi Mumbai airport is likely to be submitted soon, but there are serious concerns that the project will damage mangroves over nearly 2,000 hectares, besides necessitating the diversion of two rivers. 

“It’s too premature to talk about its fate,” Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said, adding that the project would be taken up for discussion on July 21-22, 2010, by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under the environment ministry; only then would its fate be decided. 

“I am sure IIT-Mumbai, which has been asked to prepare the environment impact assessment report, would have looked into all the ecology-related issues,” he said. “The ministry is not against any infrastructure project. But there are serious ecological issues involved in this project. There is a threat to mangroves in the area. Two rivers would probably need to be diverted. All these have to be taken into account. Any decision would have to balance our developmental needs with concerns about the environment.”

The environment minister also remains firm about his decision not to allow private helipads in the city of Mumbai. “It’s a strict no-no for a new private helipad as they violate noise norms,” Ramesh said. “Only government-owned helipads for emergency services will be given clearance from my ministry.” The minister’s policy will be applicable only to new helipads. 

Business magnates like Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani and Oberoi Builders in Mumbai have all sought permission for the construction of helipads for private use.

The Indian Express

They forage the city, collecting and sorting often hazardous waste when the city sleeps and by day they are gone. Most of them are women and we have no long-term policy in place that looks at their welfare or health, writes Kalpana Sharma in India Together.

A Thane-based NGO that has been working in the field of environmental protection for the past 14 years plans to distribute and sow over one crore seeds along a national highway this months. The NGO, called Hariyali, will do the sowing along national highway no. 3 (Mumbai-Agra road) starting from Thane to Dhule.

Hariyali’s focus is on implementing forestation schemes, water conservation rain water harvesting projects and generating environmental awareness. With people’s cooperation from surrounding areas, Hariyali has implemented water conservation projects and has distributed over 1.5 crore seeds of assorted species of forest-friendly trees.

For the highway project, Hariyali plans to contact highway authorities and construction companies working in this area to participate. To contribute, contact Punam Singvi on 09323291890 or hariyalithane@yahoo.com.

 – Mumbai Mirror

In an attempt to teach Mumbaikars more about wildlife conservation, Tiger Watch, a Ranthambore-based NGO, organised Whiskers, a two-day seminar on wildlife conservation at the Mahim Nature Park on March 27 and 28.

The event included interactive sessions with wildlife experts and film screenings. The NGO also put up handicrafts and photographs for sale, the proceeds of which will go towards rehabilitating the Moghiya tribe, which is notorious for poaching in Ranthambore.

“When Indians want to go on wildlife excursions, they think of places like Africa or South America. They don’t realise that their own country has such diverse wildlife, which needs to be conserved. We are trying to change that,” said Saloni Bhatia, one of the organisers of the event. The organisation also aims to directly involve people in conservation activities. “People want to help save wild animals but they don’t know how or where to do it. We aim to establish a network of such individuals to create a resource pool for this cause,” said Sachin Rai, wildlife photographer and joint secretary of Tiger Watch.

– Hindustan Times

About 50 people joined a world movement to perform the Wild River Dance near the badly polluted Mithi river, to bring in World Water Day, which was last Monday.

Gathering at Vakola nulla, they recorded individual dances on video, to be later uploaded on the website of International Rivers, a California-based welfare group working to save the rivers of the world. The idea of the movement is to focus awareness on local water bodies, and get people to appreciate them.  

The Wild River Dance contest was launched by the group on International Day of Action for Rivers on March 14. Concerned citizens from across the world were invited to dedicate a recorded dance at a river near them. The videos will be put together and aired on US television.

Janak Dafftary of the NGO Mithi Nadi Sansad, who organised the programme, said: “For the first time, the Wild River Dance will take the problem of Mithi’s pollution before a world community.”

Hindustan Times