Delhi to amicably settle water dispute with Haryana

Delhi Jal Board decides to withdraw all cases against Haryana to amicably settle water dispute

The Delhi Jal Board has decided to withdraw the cases filed against Haryana in the National Green Tribunal and the high court in order to settle water dispute between the two states in a more amicable manner. Earlier, the Haryana government had offered to supply water to Delhi, provided the latter withdraws all pending cases against it from the NGT, the Supreme Court and the Delhi high court. 

IMD predicts 2018 to be the first no-deficit monsoon since 2013 for North-West India

The India Meteorological Department has forecast a normal monsoon in North-West India, the first no-deficit monsoon since 2013. This region has been faced with below-par monsoons for four consecutive seasons now. Being at the tail end of the monsoon system, India’s North-West has a lower normal monsoon season rainfall standard compared to the rest of the country. It is also the region where agriculture is practised by a considerable percentage of the population.

Construction frenzy turns flamingoes away from Uran mangroves in Maharashtra's Raigad district

Construction of jetties, terminals and connecting roads by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in Maharastra’s Raigad district has been instrumental in turning birds and fishes away from the mangroves in Uran. That the mangrove is no longer a prime flamingo habitat has been confirmed by the Bombay Natural History Society. The local fishing community has been fighting to save the ecosystem from being destroyed by infrastructure development for over four decades now.

Tourists asked to stay away from Shimla as water crisis worsens

Faced with a debilitating water crisis, residents and environmentalists alike have asked all tourists to stay away from Shimla till the situation is brought under control. Meanwhile, the Shimla municipal corporation has been distributing water under police protection in most parts of the city. The demand for bottled water has soared in the hill station over the last few weeks where residents were left with no municipal water supply for days on end.

Around 71 percent of Maharashtra's 353 talukas report drop in groundwater levels by over a metre

Data from the Maharashtra Groundwater Survey and Development Agency reveals a drop in groundwater levels by over a metre in nearly 71 percent of the state's 353 talukas compared to a five-year average. Vidarbha and Marathwada regions accounted for the maximum depletion due to increased dependence on groundwater for irrigation as rainfall is sparse in these areas.

This is a roundup of important news published between May 29 and June 4, 2018. Also, read policy matters this week.