
UP reports 68% improvement in river, reservoir water quality: UPPCB
As a result, UPPCB's 2024 report reveals 68.8% improvement in water purity across state compared to 2023.
"This reflects the success of sustained initiatives, stringent monitoring and special campaigns led by the state govt to combat water pollution," said an official.
The UPPCB conducted water quality tests at 176 locations throughout the state in 2024, recording improvements at 120 sites.
Under flagship initiatives such as the Namami Gange Mission and the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Uttar Pradesh ramped up its capacity for wastewater treatment.
As of April 2025, a total of 152 STPs have been installed, of which 141 are fully operational and 126 are in compliance with the prescribed environmental standards. While 6 STPs are currently in the testing phase, 15 are expected to reach full operational capacity shortly.
Despite this, challenges persist in certain regions. To address these issues, the govt and local administration are working in tandem to ensure full compliance.
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In its commitment to enforcing environmental regulations, the UPPCB took strict action against non-compliant STPs. Between Oct 2022 and Apr 2025, environmental fines totalling ₹11.8 crore were imposed on erring STPs. However, only ₹7.30 lakh has been recovered so far, prompting the board to focus on strengthening the penalty recovery mechanism.
The CM has placed special emphasis on the restoration and conservation of major rivers, such as Ganga, Yamuna and Gomti, as well as smaller water bodies.

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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Say No-Cheese! Eateries Rise To Allergy Challenge
New Delhi: One busy afternoon at Mesa Lodhi, chef Sandeep Namboodiry faced a diner whose list of restrictions would make most chefs panic. She was vegetarian, lactose intolerant, didn't want anything raw, nothing cold, no rice, and no gluten. "In my head I wondered why she'd even want to eat out at a place like ours, where we serve all kinds of animal protein," Namboodiry recalls. Instead of turning her away, he improvised. "I took an avocado, filled it with mildly spiced marinara sauce and plant-based cheese, and baked it. I wasn't sure what to call it, but I went back and presented it, half expecting her to just politely refuse." To his surprise, she loved it. Not only did she finish it, she ordered it again on her next visit — and soon started bringing other guests who had similar dietary restrictions. "Through her, we found an audience that rarely dined out because they couldn't find places willing to accommodate them," says Namboodiry. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi That single moment transformed the restaurant's approach. Mesa Lodhi invested in separate ovens for gluten-free dishes, kept oil vegetarian-only, created sugar-free and plant-based desserts, and trained staff to handle complex dietary needs. This quiet shift is slowly becoming more visible in Delhi, where newer restaurants and chef-driven brands are treating allergies and intolerances not as inconvenient exceptions, but as part of everyday service. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 15 Prettiest Icons In The History The Noodle Box Undo "In the Indian restaurant landscape, awareness around food allergies has grown tremendously over the last few years," says chef and consultant Megha Kohli. At her restaurant Mezze Mambo, allergen awareness starts from training and design. 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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Constructing dams in Kalesar sanctuary will cause irreversible damage, CEC tells SC
Gurgaon: Allowing construction of four dams inside Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary in Yamunanagar is likely to cause "irreversible ecological damage, including the loss of critical habitat" for endangered species, the central empowered committee has recommended to the Supreme Court. CEC's advice to the top court came on a plea filed by lawyer Gaurav Kumar Bansal, who last year challenged Haryana govt's approval for the project despite earlier warnings by experts. "Permission to build the four dams inside the sanctuary should be denied. The interim stay on construction, already in place, should continue. The wildlife clearance given by the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) should be withdrawn because it was granted without considering these issues properly," CEC said in its July 9 submission to the top court. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon Additionally, it said, Haryana's forest department should prepare an alternative watershed management plan to conserve water and prevent flooding without harming the sanctuary. The issue dates to 2016, when the Haryana govt proposed constructing four medium-sized dams – named Chikkan, Kansli, Ambawali and Khillanwalla -- on seasonal tributaries (called khols), which feed into river Pathrala. In 2019, a report by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and a letter by the state's principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) also warned against construction of the dams, saying that these structures could harm wildlife and would not be useful as the streams on which the project was being planned did not carry water all year-round. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Family Adopted A New 'Dog', But When The Vet Sees It He Calls The Police Undo Despite these warnings, Haryana govt approved the project and preliminary work such as site clearance began in the wildlife sanctuary. The SC bench of justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta in April 2024 issued an interim stay on construction of the four dams and directed CEC to inspect the site to investigate the petitioner's allegations. A five-member team of CEC in Oct 2024 visited the sanctuary and noted that there were already eight earthen dams built by the forest department near the proposed sites for the new dams. These structures, the committee's report signed by member secretary Banumathi G said, are being used by wildlife and blend into the habitat without disrupting it. In conclusion, CEC said, the proposal to build dams on tributaries flowing through the sanctuary will lead to permanent destruction of habitat. The committee also raised legal concerns and said that Haryana govt's proposal was not approved by the State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO) or the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA). This approval is mandatory under the Dam Safety Act, 2021. Most importantly, the committee said, the dams are not unavoidable and don't have to be built inside the sanctuary. According to environmental laws, diversion of forest land in protected areas should be allowed only if there is no other option. "The stated objectives of the proposed dams, particularly in relation to irrigation, are not adequately justified, given conflicting data on irrigation dependency and the potential for locating such structures outside the sanctuary… The diversion of forest land for the proposed dams does not meet the threshold of 'unavoidable and site-specific need'," the CEC report said. Asked about the petition and CEC's report, Haryana govt officials said they cannot comment on the issue. "The plan was to construct dams for irrigation in the area. The matter is sub-judice," an irrigation department official said. The petitioner Gaurav Kumar Bansal told TOI that there have been ample warnings about construction of these dams in the sanctuary. "The WII report clearly states that the four dams are not feasible. If these dams are constructed, then around 1 lakh trees will be felled inside the sanctuary. Moreover, no comprehensive ecological mitigation measures have been submitted. The stated dependency on the proposed dams for irrigation purposes has been contradicted by the agriculture department. So, there is no requirement for these dams, especially in a state like Haryana which has the lowest forest cover in the country," Bansal said on Monday. The next date of hearing in the plea is yet to be listed.