Uranium contamination of Delhi’s groundwater: Green court seeks answers from Delhi government, pollution body

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the Delhi government and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to respond to media reports suggesting that around 15% of groundwater samples collected across the capital are contaminated with uranium, The Economic Times reported.

The tribunal took suo motu cognisance of a newspaper report citing the Central Ground Water Board's Annual Ground Water Quality Report 2025, which found that 24 of 83 groundwater samples collected across Delhi exceeded permissible uranium limits.

According to the report, north-western India, including Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and parts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, has emerged as a hotspot for uranium contamination. The study attributed this to geogenic factors, groundwater depletion, and the characteristics of local aquifers.

Polluter pays: Green court orders planting 10 saplings for each tree felled, cost to be borne by violator

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed one of the Delhi’s deputy conservator of forests to ensure that at least 10 saplings are planted during the current monsoon for every tree illegally felled at a property in Yamuna Vihar, with the cost to be borne by the violator, The Times of India reported. 

The order came while the tribunal reviewed compliance with its July 2025 directions on illegal tree felling. The forest department told the tribunal that an FIR had already been registered under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994, and that a chargesheet had been filed before the Karkardooma Court. Proceedings before the tree officer were put on hold to avoid parallel proceedings and conflicting findings.

In a separate matter, the tribunal also noted that 23 trees had been illegally felled on forest land in Ambedkar Colony, Chhatarpur.

Asthma patients reported 70% fewer hospital visits after switching from gas to electric stoves: US study 

Asthma patients experienced a 70% drop in hospital admissions and sick leave after gas stoves and hobs in their homes were replaced with electric alternatives, a U.S. study found, The Guardian reported. 

Researchers in Ohio assessed participants for four weeks before and after the switch. Average asthma scores improved from 2.6 to 1.5 on an internationally recognised six-point scale, while participants also reported less wheezing, fewer nighttime symptoms and reduced use of reliever inhalers.

Project leader Prof Ash Sehgal said: “We were surprised when we analysed the results… The improvements in asthma symptoms following stove change were similar to – or even greater than – those reported in clinical trials of commonly used asthma medications.”

Air pollution measurements from 44 homes showed nitrogen dioxide levels fell by an average of 70%. The researchers said the improvements were comparable to, or greater than, those reported in clinical trials of commonly used asthma medicines.

One billion plastic pellets spill into River Tyne after ships collide

Around a billion tiny plastic pellets spilled into England’s River Tyne after two ships collided at the Port of Tyne, The Guardian reported.

The nurdles, plastic pellets used to manufacture most plastic products, entered the river after the Wind Orca ship struck the berthed container ship BG Orange. About 25 tonnes of pellets later washed up on South Shields beach; prompting authorities to warn residents not to handle them and to keep dogs on leads.

While the pellets are not toxic, they readily absorb pollutants once in the environment and are almost impossible to remove. Animals often mistake them for food, and the spill occurred less than 5 km from Marsden Bay, home to one of England's most important seabird colonies.