Environment News

Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay launched the 'Eri' portal (eri.tn.gov.in) to provide online No Objection Certificates to NGOs and volunteers restoring waterbodies. The Water Resources Department-developed platform replaces manual processes, clearing eligible applications within 15 days. It centralises data on over 1 lakh waterbodies across five government departments on a single platform.

Haryana recorded 17 new farm fire cases, pushing the season total past 200 since September 15, as per satellite data. Kaithal leads with 65 cases. Despite a season-high of 80 on Diwali, overall cases are 43% lower than the same period last year. Police have registered 18 FIRs and authorities urged farmers to use subsidised stubble management methods.

At COP31 in Türkiye, India called on developed nations to fulfil their financial obligations under the Paris Agreement. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Narendra Bhooshan stressed that public funding must drive climate action. India also pushed for a Climate Finance Work Programme decision and demanded affordable clean technology access without adding to nations' debt.

Sonu Bawaria of Petwar village, Haryana, was arrested after a joint CIA-forest department raid recovered a leopard skin, 207 cm long, reportedly worth ₹1.5 crore from his home in Hansi. Police suspect his brother, reportedly in Tamil Nadu, left the skin there and are probing links to an organised wildlife trafficking network. A case was registered under the Wildlife Protection Act.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath defended his government's decision not to ban firecrackers during Diwali, saying pollution from celebrations would be mitigated over time. He was personally present amid fireworks in Ayodhya. He also criticised selective concerns over festival pollution, contrasting it with silence over corruption.

Dense fog blanketed Karur and surrounding areas in Tamil Nadu early Wednesday, severely affecting visibility on major roads in Thirumanilaiyur, Sellandipalayam, Vengamedu and other localities. Motorists drove with caution. Meanwhile, Delhi's AQI stood at 307 at 'very poor', with moderate fog forecast to persist for five more days.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian departed for Türkiye to attend COP31, the 31st UN Climate Change Conference. Before leaving, he said US and Israel are facing electoral backlash for their regional military actions. He plans to hold sideline talks with over 10 leaders, including Turkish President Erdogan, and raise ecological damage caused by the ongoing conflict.

Punjab has recorded 5,002 stubble-burning incidents this season — just 112 short of last year's full-season total — with 20 days still remaining. Police have filed 1,155 FIRs, marked 1,342 red entries in land records, and imposed ₹79.75 lakh in environmental compensation. No farmer has been convicted yet, and officials cite fear of farmers as a barrier to enforcement.

Retail rice prices averaged ₹49/kg on November 10, up 14% year-on-year, as inadequate rainfall, reduced fertiliser use, and intensifying El Niño threaten kharif paddy yields. S&P Global estimates India's 2026-27 paddy output will fall 8 million tonnes to 146 million tonnes. The government doubled Open Market Sale Scheme rice supply to 5 million tonnes and imposed stock disclosure rules.

India and Norway discussed joint research to convert industrial and construction waste into building materials at the India-Norway Dialogue on 'Waste to Resource Solutions', held at India Habitat Centre. Organised by CSIR, SINTEF and Norway's Research Council, the dialogue identified pilot projects, joint research proposals and technical guidelines as priority cooperation areas under their Green Strategic Partnership.

In the first 10 days of Delhi's winter action plan from November 1–10, authorities checked 81,340 vehicles at borders, turning back 18,044 non-CNG, non-electric vehicles not registered in Delhi and failing BS-VI norms. Additionally, 767 vehicles were challaned. Spot checks revealed enforcement teams absent at multiple border points, with MCD disputing its role in vehicle-entry restrictions.

Haryana State Pollution Control Board sealed five construction sites in Gurugram, three in Udyog Vihar and two in Sector 15, for violating dust-control norms and non-compliance with CAQM directions. The action follows inspections by the board's Gurugram North office. Monitoring of over 900 active construction and demolition sites across the city continues amid air pollution concerns.

Telangana CM Revanth Reddy inaugurated Tummidi Kunta lake in Hyderabad on Wednesday, announcing Phase One of the Musi rejuvenation project will begin soon. He assured affected communities of relief, praised actor Nagarjuna for donating 2 acres, and said the restored lake — expanded from 14 to 30 acres — will become a major tourism spot.

Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains defended the state's air quality and farmers, saying Punjab's air is clean and the Mann government has done significant work on stubble management. He criticised a BJP leader for allegedly calling farmers drug addicts, calling it 'unbecoming to vilify the very people who provide the food you eat.'

AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged the Delhi government shut down AQI monitoring stations on Diwali night and sprinkled water on sensors at pollution hotspots to falsify readings. He accused CAQM of ignoring a November 4 complaint and refusing a meeting. Delhi's AQI stood at 299 ('poor') on Wednesday morning, as per CPCB.

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said cloud seeding trials are ongoing under IIT Kanpur supervision, with details to be shared only after the study yields positive results. He also noted Delhi's AQI stood at 299 ('poor') on Wednesday, with stronger winds helping reduce pollution levels after Diwali.

India avoided over ₹100 billion (₹9.4 lakh crore) in coal and gas import costs between 2011 and 2025 through renewable energy expansion, says IEA's India Renewable Energy Market Report 2026. Cumulative savings could reach ₹240 billion by 2030. India's renewable capacity crossed 300 GW in 2026, meeting its 50% non-fossil capacity target five years early.

India avoided over USD 100 billion (₹9.4 lakh crore) in coal and gas import costs between 2011 and 2025 through renewable energy expansion, says IEA's India Renewable Energy Market Report 2026. Cumulative savings could reach USD 240 billion by 2030. India's renewable capacity crossed 300 GW in 2026, meeting its 2030 non-fossil target five years early.

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) organised a webinar on energy conservation on November 2 during BRICS Sustainable Lifestyle Week 2026 (Nov 1–7). Experts from TERI, IIT, and CLASP discussed energy efficiency, India's Standards & Labelling Programme, and demand-side management. BEE also held an Energy Conservation Pledge, Switch-Off Hour, and a seven-day #BRICSforLiFE social media campaign.