Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Delhi pollution control body to give licence for e-waste handling factories

Authorised e-waste dismantling units could soon be coming up in Delhi with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee planning to issue licence to proper handling units.

Units, in which electronic waste such as televisions, mobiles, computers and laptop are disassembled before they go to recycling factories, form an important link in the chain in which such waste could be disposed off in an eco-friendly manner.... Read more..

Government sets target to triple nuclear power generation by 2024

Nuclear power generation capacity in the country is expected to reach nearly 15,000 MW by 2024 as the government has expedited the process of setting up new plants, Lok Sabha was informed today.

In 2014, India's nuclear power generation capacity was 4,780 MW.

Minister of State for PMO Jitendra Singh said a... Read more..

Half of people facing water scarcity live in India, China

Half of the world's two-third population that live in areas that experience water scarcity at least one month a year are from India and China, a UN report said on Wednesday.

The 2017 edition of the United Nations World Water Development Report, entitled "Wastewater: The Untapped Resource", said that two-thirds of the world's population currently live in areas that experience water scarcity for at least one... Read more..

Nestle India commits to water stewardship, cuts use by 53 per cent

On the occasion of World Water Day, Nestle India on Wednesday said it has reduced its water consumption by 53 per cent and waste water discharge by 55 per cent for every tonne of production during the last 15 years as a commitment towards responsible water stewardship.

"Committed to responsible water stewardship, Nestle India is continuously working on conservation and optimal utilisation of water. Our... Read more..

Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh refuse to pay higher tariff for wind power

Two of India’s high wind energy potential states have refused to buy wind power at a rate higher than the one arrived at the country’s first ever wind power auction, putting in jeopardy about 500 MW of projects in these states.

The auction, completed in February, had brought wind power tariff down steeply to Rs 3.46 per kwH.

... Read more..

Withdraw price distorting LED bulb distribution scheme: Industry to government

The LED industry has asked the government to withdraw its bulbs distribution scheme, alleging it is resulting in price distortion and discouraging retailers from selling the lamps.

However, state-run Energy Efficient Service Ltd (EESL), nodal agency for the distribution programme, rubbished the allegation, with its managing director Saurabh Kumar saying data shows that the scheme is helping the industry grow... Read more..

India’s Upendra Tripathy to head International Solar Alliance

Upendra Tripathy, a former secretary of the renewable energy ministry, has been appointed interim director general of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), which brings together countries with abundant sunshine with the aim of lowering solar energy costs.

India has taken a lead role in setting up the ISA—an alliance of 121 sunshine countries situated between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. The first... Read more..

Majuli in Assam All Set to Become India’s 1st Carbon Neutral District

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday disclosed that the Sustainable Action for Climate Resilient Development in Majuli project is in progress.

The project initiated by the forest and environment ministry of Assam government aims to make River Island Majuli, India’s first ever Carbon Neutral district by 2020. The project has been kicked off to battle climate change and reduce greenhouse gas... Read more..

Record-breaking solar panel converts more than a quarter of sunlight into electricity

A record-breaking solar panel that can convert more than a quarter of the sunlight it receives into electricity has been developed by researchers in Japan.

The silicon solar cell is so efficient that it turns 26.3 per cent of the energy from the sun into renewable power.

In contrast, nature’s ‘solar panels... Read more..

Hindalco to set up Rs 150 crore solar park in Odisha

Aditya Birla Group-owned Hindalco Industries is planning to set up a 24 Mw solar power plant within the premises of its aluminium plant at Lapanga in Sambalpur district.

"The 24 Mw solar plant planned by Hindalco will come up at its campus in Sambalpur. The company intends to invest Rs 150 crore in the project to be spread over 120 acres of land available with the company", said a government official.... Read more..

NGT to hear air pollution matter today

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) will on Wednesday hear the air pollution matter.

The NGT which has fixed fines for farmers for burning agriculture waste, earlier on March 16 asked the Delhi Government and the four neighbouring states to inform it about the action plan to prevent pollution from crop burning after the harvesting season.

... Read more..

Railways aims to save up to Rs. 400 cr annually with a roadmap for buying recycled water

The Railways aims to cut down its water bill and save up to Rs. 400 crore annually with a roadmap for buying recycled water from private players.

With the dual aim of conserving the precious resource and reducing its consumption, the Railways will unveil its water policy, a first for the national transporter, for extensive use of treated water from water treatment plants for non—drinking purposes.... Read more..