NITI Aayog panel likely to propose incentives for water efficiency

NITI Aayog panel likely to propose incentives for efficient use of water

India is eyeing incentives for industry and agriculture for efficient use of water as part of a long-term roadmap to ensure water security for the nation. A steering committee, led by Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand, is likely to recommend a clear methodology to define and assess water neutrality and water positivity required across sectors to ensure sustainable use of water and propose incentives based on the assessment, a senior government official told Economic Times.

The committee is also required to reassess India's water resource situation and forecast future water needs in order to establish benchmarks for water neutrality. Incentives could include rebates to individuals and industry to use appliances with water-efficient models and supplying free retrofit kits for households and businesses to avoid wastage, among others.

According to the government, the most important factors in guaranteeing water security are water conservation, efficiency improvement, wastewater treatment, reuse, and recycling. Yet according to the source, this is only feasible with a well-defined methodology for water neutrality. (The Economic Times)

Indian government releases guidelines to promote development of pump storage projects

The government has announced new rules intended to encourage investment in this crucial sector in an effort to support the development of pump storage projects across India. The guidelines, which were released by the power ministry, will improve the nation's capacity for energy storage.

The guidelines aim to attract more investment in this sector by providing clear and comprehensive instructions on how to develop pump storage projects. They cover all aspect of these projects, from the stages of planning and development through their operation and maintenance.

The guidelines also include details on how to secure funding for pump storage projects, as well as information on the various regulatory and policy frameworks that govern this sector. The guidelines are anticipated to provide pump storage projects in the country a much-needed boost, supporting economic growth and the creation of new jobs in the process.

Commenting on the release of the guidelines, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Power said: "We are delighted to announce the release of these guidelines, which we believe will be an important tool in promoting the development of pump storage projects across India. With their potential to store renewable energy and support grid stability, pump storage projects have a crucial role to play in the country's energy mix, and we are confident that these guidelines will help to unlock their full potential."

Following the introduction of draft guidelines back in February, the revised guidelines were developed taking into account the feedback received. (Water Power Magazine)

NGT orders forming panel to review environmental clearance for Great Nicobar Island project

The eastern bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered constitution of a high-powered committee under the Environment Secretary for a “relook” at environmental clearances given to the Rs 72,000-crore Greater Nicobar project.

The order said the proposed committee will be headed by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) Secretary, and will include “Chief Secretary, Andaman & Nicobar; Zoological Survey of India, Botanical Survey of India, Central Pollution Control Board, nominee of Vice Chairman of Niti Aayog, nominee of Secretary, Ministry of Shipping and Director, Wildlife Institute of India”.

It said the Environment Secretary “may appoint a nodal officer, not below the rank of Joint Secretary, for facilitating functioning of the Committee”. Activities of the project will remain on hold until the committee submits its report to NGT, which the Tribunal said should be done within two months. The Tribunal has, however, allowed for work which “may not be of irreversible nature” to continue. While hearing the petition filed against clearances given to the project, the NGT noted in its April 3 order that it is “compliant and the EC does not call for interference’’.

The project will include, among others, an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT), a greenfield international airport, a township, and a 450 MVA gas- and solar-based power plant over 16,610 hectares in the Great Nicobar Islands, has approved the forest clearance provided and also said that the project is required for “national security” and economic development of the region.

The project's clearances have been contested on the grounds that they do not adhere to the 2006 notification, the terms of reference for the environment impact assessment (EIA) were not followed, the ICRZ regulations were compromised, and the effects on tribal populations were not taken into consideration. The NGT backed the forest clearance given by the Environment Ministry, saying that compensatory afforestation allows for afforestation outside the state in the Aravalli hills. “As regards forest clearance, it is seen that forest cover in the area is more than 75%,” the NGT noted.

Pankaj Sekhsaria, author and researcher on A&N Islands, has ridiculed the NGT order. “The NGT has failed completely to even understand, leave alone acknowledge the scale of the ecological damage this project will cause,” he said. “The order is less about what the NGT is mandated to look at and reads more like the project proponents' justification for going ahead with the project,” he added. (The Indian Express, The New Indian Express, The Wire)

NGT refrains from levying Environment Compensation on Ladakh

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) refrained from levying Environment Compensation (EC) on the Union Territory of Ladakh in regards to management of solid as well as liquid waste. The Tribunal headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel in an order passed on April 6, 2023 said, “We refrained from levying Environment Compensation (EC) against Ladakh having regard to the ground situation in the said area and also in view of statement voluntarily made by the Chief Secretary that adequate funds will be made available and the entire estimated cost of handling solid and liquid waste will be provided by way of deposit in appropriate accounts.”

In the order, the Tribunal further stated, “We hope in the light of interaction with the Advisor to the Administrator, UT of Ladakh will take further measures in the matter by innovative approach and stringent monitoring, ensuring that gaps in solid and liquid waste generation and treatment are bridged at the earliest, shortening the proposed timelines, adopting alternative/interim measures to the extent and wherever found viable.”

Environment compensation for restoration can be dovetailed with the UT budget, said the Tribunal. “The restoration plans need to be executed at the earliest simultaneously in both the districts including rural areas in a time bound manner without further delay. Compliance be ensured by Advisor to the Administrator/Chief Secretary”, reads the order.

Earlier while awarding Environment Compensation on several states, the NGT had said, “Award of compensation has become necessary under section 15 of the NGT Act to remedy the continuing damage to the environment and to comply with directions of the Supreme Court requiring this Tribunal to monitor enforcement of norms for solid and liquid waste management.”

The mere passing of orders has not produced any noticeable results in the past few years (for solid waste management) and five years (for liquid waste management), even after the statutory/established timelines have passed. This is because the quantified liability necessary for restoration has not been fixed. The bench declared that past damage must be restored and that present damage must be prevented in the future.

In accordance with orders of the Supreme Court dated 02.09.2014 for solid waste management and order dated 22.02.2017 for liquid waste management, the Green Court issued the orders while considering the concerns of solid and liquid waste management. (The Print)

KSPCB issues closure notices to 14 industries for polluting Chandapura lake

Fourteen industries located in the catchment area of Chandapura lake in Anekal have been served with closure notices for polluting the lake, according to official papers submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB). The NGT took suo moto cognizance of The Indian Express report ‘Lakes of Bengaluru: Industrial effluents, raw sewage; stinky tale of Chandapura lake’ that was published on November 21, 2021.

Following this, the tribunal constituted a seven-member joint Committee of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), National Wetland Authority, State Wetland Authority, and the District Magistrate, Bengaluru to ascertain the facts with regards to the violation of buffer zone, solid waste management guidelines at Chandapura lake in Anekal taluk.

The action taken report submitted to the NGT in February this year has been accessed by The Indian Express. “There are two regional offices coming in the catchment area of Chandapura lake, in which 158 industries come in the jurisdiction of the regional office (Sarjapura). All the industries were monitored and out of 158 industries 13 units are chronic defaulting units causing pollution. 385 industries are coming in the catchment area of the regional office (Anekal). Out of 385 industries five units are found to be defaulting. 14 industries have been issued with closure order and they are not functioning,” KSPCB stated in its action taken report.

The KSPCB was also ordered by the office of the chief secretary to carry out an environmental audit of Industries located in the catchment of Chandapura Lake. In this regard, the board informed the NGT that it floated a tender in January for an Expression of Interest to carry out an environmental audit of large red-category industries in the catchment area of Chandapura Lake.

“This audit will necessarily check whether environment management plans are effectively followed in the organization to safeguard the environment. The audit will also assess the risk of operation of the industry if any to surface waters and groundwater as well in the vicinity. 144 large red category industries located in the catchment have been identified for carrying out an environmental audit with following terms of reference,” the report said. (The Indian Express)

This is a roundup of important policy matters from April 1 - April 15, 2023.