Government Acknowledges AI's Environmental Cost, But Data Centres Escape Direct Oversight
The government recognises that artificial intelligence infrastructure consumes significant energy and water while generating electronic waste, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh told Parliament on April 2. The acknowledgment comes as India scales up AI deployment across sectors.
Data centres and AI facilities themselves fall outside the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification 2006. However, large construction projects housing such facilities-those exceeding 20,000 square metres-require prior environmental clearance from expert committees before approval.
The regulatory gap means facilities can operate without direct environmental oversight, even as their resource demands grow. Government officials say clearances for construction projects apply environmental safeguards, but the facilities themselves remain outside mandatory assessment frameworks.
E20 Fuel Cuts Emissions, Delivers Rs 1.5 Lakh Crore to Farmers
E20 petrol-a blend containing 20 per cent ethanol-reduces carbon emissions by about 30 per cent compared to E10 fuel, according to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers and the Automotive Research Association of India.
The Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme has transferred over Rs 1,50,925 crore to farmers since 2014-15. The programme has also saved Rs 1,70,560 crore in foreign exchange and reduced net carbon dioxide emissions by 86.9 million tonnes.
Namami Gange Completes 355 Projects to Restore River
The Namami Gange Programme has sanctioned 524 projects costing Rs 43,030 crore to rejuvenate the Ganga and its tributaries. As of February 2026, 355 projects are complete.
Work includes wastewater treatment, riverfront development, environmental flows, rural sanitation, afforestation and biodiversity conservation. The programme, launched in 2014-15, has been extended to March 2026.
705 Measures Proposed to Stop Elephant-Train Collisions
A government report recommends 705 mitigation structures across 77 priority railway stretches to prevent elephant and wildlife deaths. The report has been shared with the Ministry of Railways and state governments for implementation.
A monitoring portal has been developed under Project Elephant to track progress. The portal operates in coordination with the Ministry of Railways and the Wildlife Institute of India.
150 Elephant Corridors Identified Across 15 States
Governments have identified and validated 150 elephant corridors across 15 states: Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
State governments have been directed to protect and conserve these corridors to maintain wildlife movement patterns.
Stubble Burning Drives North India's Winter Pollution
Stubble burning during the paddy harvest season contributes to air pollution in the Delhi-National Capital Region, particularly when meteorological conditions trap pollutants near the ground.
Punjab and Haryana recorded a 90 per cent reduction in fire incidents during the 2025 harvest season compared to 2022. The government has adopted a multi-agency approach, with states preparing both short-term and long-term action plans.
Over 600 Polluting Industries Found Non-Compliant
India has 4,498 grossly polluting industries, of which 3,637 are operational. Among operational units, 601 were found non-compliant with environmental standards.
Pollution control authorities have issued 29 closure directions, 571 show-cause notices and one environmental law directive against non-compliant facilities.
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