Karnataka not to release water to TN

No water to TN till a special state legislature session takes a call: Karnataka 

Despite the Supreme Court order, the Karnataka government has decided not to release water to Tamil Nadu till a special state legislature session takes a call on the matter. Opposition parties in Karnataka too hardened their stance, asking the state government not to comply with the SC directions. Former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda is on an "indefinite" hunger strike to draw attention to the Cauvery dispute. SC had earlier pulled up the state government for its defiant stand, even as former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy dubbed the apex court's orders as being "unconstitutional" and "detrimental". 

China blocks Brahmaputra tributary in Tibet to build dam

China blocks a tributary of the Brahmaputra in a bid to build a hydroelectric dam in Tibet. The impact of the river blocking isn’t immediately clear and India is keeping a close watch on the flow in the Brahmaputra river. China has, however, dismissed apprehensions of restricting the flow of water.

India rules out cancellation of Indus Water Treaty, plans greater use of rivers

India rules out cancellation of the Indus Water Treaty but plans greater use of rivers involved in it. Meanwhile, Pakistan has urged the World Bank to prevent India from making illegal constructions on the Neelum and Chenab rivers, and has claimed that the bank "commits to fulfil obligations under the treaty". On the other hand, chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti said that J&K has suffered losses due to the IWT with Pakistan and should be compensated by the Centre. 

NGT rebukes GDA over dumping of waste in Hindon

Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has been taken to task by the National Green Tribunal over indiscriminate dumping of municipal solid waste and garbage on the banks of river Hindon. The bench rapped the civic bodies for failing to discharge their “statutory duty” after hearing a plea filed by complainant Krishan Pal.

NGT notice to MoEF&CC on decentralisation of environment clearence for sand mining

The government’s new policy to decentralise the process of granting environmental clearance to mining of sand and minor minerals has come under the scanner of the National Green Tribunal. Following a plea by an environment activist that seeks quashing of two notifications to amend the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification 2006 and constitution of district level panels for appraising projects for mining of minor minerals, the environment ministry has been asked to submit a reply within two weeks.

This is a roundup of important policy matters from September 16 - October 2, 2016. Also read last week's news roundup.