EQ: Forest Fires, E-friendly Cremations, Groundwater Depletion

EQ: Read about all things green, build your Environment Quotient.

Five hundred personnel from the fire brigade were also deployed to help control the fires. (Photo: Facebook.com/ElaSmetack)

E-India

• Environmental pollution main cause of asthma: On World Asthma Day, experts have stated that rising environmental pollution is the main reason for rising cases of asthma. An estimated 30 million people in India suffer from this disorder.
  

With 300 million cases of asthma across the world, it’s a call to action (Photo: iStock)

• Environment friendly cremation: In an effort to reduce the environmental impact of cremations, the government is promoting alternative methods using electricity and CNG.
  

• Unlocking 41,000 crore of forest funds: The Lok Sabha has passed a bill authorizing the use of funds in the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority. The Bill will divide the money between the Centre and the States.
  

(Photo: iStock)

E-Transport

• “Concrete and time-bound roadmap” for CNG switch: The Supreme Court has agreed to examine a Delhi government proposal for a more gradual switch to non-diesel taxis. However, the Court reiterated its earlier observations and noted that public transport cannot be dependent on diesel vehicles.

A taxi on the roads of Delhi. (Photo: iStockphoto)

E-Law

• NGT issues notices on burning hills issue: As forest fires rage across Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, the Green Tribunal has issued notices to the environment ministry and the concerned state governments. The NGT expressed concern about the authorities’ “casual” approach and asked to be appraised of steps being taken to deal with the situation and to prevent such fires in the future.
  

A massive fire broke out in forest areas of Bathuni and Gambr of the Rajouri forest division in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. (Photo: PTI)

E-Renewables

• Solar Impulse 2 crosses the Pacific: In a historic moment for clean tech, the solar powered plane has overcome a major challenge by crossing the Pacific Ocean and reaching California as part of its historic journey around the globe.
  

Members of the ground crew are lifted off the ground as the wind begins to move the Swiss-madeSolar Impulse 2 plane, Monday, May 2, 2016, in Goodyear, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

E-Stat

• 3465.94 hectares: The estimated forest area affected by the recent forest fires
  

The Governor said all instructions given till now about forest fires must be followed strictly. (Photo: Facebook.com/ElaSmetack)

E-International

• $43.4 billion lawsuit filed against BHP Billiton and Vale: Prosecutors in Brazil have filed a multi-billion dollar case against the mining heavyweights in relation to the deadly Samarco mine dam burst. The toxic flood of mud and water has killed 19 and has been called the “biggest environmental disaster in the history of Brazil”.
  

This is Nov. 23, 2015 file photo of debris awash in mud in Bento Rodrigues, Brazil. A Shares in miner BHP Billiton Ltd tumbled Wednesday May 4, 2016 after Brazil’s Federal Public Prosecution said it had launched a $43 billion civil suit for a dam break that killed 19 people and caused the worst environmental disaster in the country’s history.(AP Photo/Leo Correa, File)

E-Nature

• The real cost of water: A new article assesses India’s water situation and how uncontrolled exploitation of valuable groundwater resources is setting the stage for an environmental tragedy.
  

With groundwater depleting, irrigation is important. (Photo: The Quint)

E-Video

• What causes forest fires? Watch this video here to find out:
  

E-Quiz

• Where in India would you find the Rajaji National Park? (a) Rajasthan (b) Tamil Nadu (c) Uttarakhand (d) Madhya Pradesh
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(Shalini Iyengar is a lawyer and Research Associate at the International University College of Turin.)