000-tobecategorised

Supreme Court Asks Centre To File Response In Plea To Protect Western Ghats https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/supreme-court-protection-of-western-ghat-deforestation-destruction-conservation-writ-petition-224560  Aiman J.Chishti 23 Mar 2023

“The protection of the Western Ghats has a direct impact on the right to life and livelihood protected under Article 21 of the Constitution. Furthermore, as the Western Ghats is a continuous living chain of mountains which passes through six states, it requires the involvement of all six state governments, and relevant regulatory agencies in these states, along with Central Government ministries,”states the petitioner.

The Central Government has accepted the HLWG's report but has only issued Section directions under Section 5 of Environment Protection Act,1986(EPA) regulating activities in 56,825 sq. km. (reduced from 59,940 sq. km.) by an amendment dated 03.12.2018 after Kerala's recommendation without examination by MoEFCC. 72,212 sq. km. identified by WGEEP as the Western Ghats have been excluded from legal protection.

Illegal homestays turn into bane for Karnataka Ghats https://www.deccanherald.com/state/uttara-kannada-belagavi-city/illegal-homestays-turn-into-bane-for-karnataka-ghats-1203858.html  Illegal resorts and homestays in Uttara Kannada are posing a threat to the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats besides causing losses to the state exchequer Pavan Kumar H, DHNS, Hubballi, MAR 27 2023

Tourism Department Minister Anand Singh in the Legislative Council during the February session. According to his reply to an unstarred question by MLC N Ravikumar, there are only eight resorts “registered” with the department, including the Old Magazine House, Kali, and Anshi nature camps that are operated by the government. The reply says the department “does not have any information of unauthorised resorts in the region and does not have powers to act against such properties”.

As per the office of Deputy Director of Tourism (DDOT), Karwar, there are more than 200 homestays and 14 resorts functioning in the picturesque taluks of Joida, Dandeli and Haliyal.

Mumbai PM 2.5 was twice the limit on half of January-February days https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/mumbai-pm-2-5-was-twice-the-limit-on-half-of-january-february-days/articleshow/99101737.cms
TNN / Mar 30, 2023

The city recorded 27 "poor air" days, when daily average PM2.5 levels were between 90 and 120 ug/m3, in January and February, compared with just six such days in the corresponding period last year, reports Chittaranjan

But some places were significantly worse than others. PM 2.5 levels almost or more than doubled in BKC, Deonar, Bhandup (Khindipada) and Sion in February compared to last year.

Suburban air quality has shown a steep decline. BKC saw 15 'very poor' and two 'severe' air days, while Deonar saw 26 'very poor' air days this February. Colaba, CSIA, Mulund, Powai, Worli and Kandivli-E also saw increases in PM2.5 levels, though less sharp, in the same period.Tembhekar./99101737.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst