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No pollution data from Haryana as all state AQI stations offline since April

GURGAON: A large chunk of Delhi's neighbourhood has been pollution-blind since April and could remain so when toxic air over the region peaks in Oct-Nov, severely undermining mitigation strategies over India's most polluted airshed. All 29 air quality monitoring stations in Haryana operated by state pollution control board (HSPCB) have been offline since April 2 this year. The state's pollution data, meanwhile, has been coming from just two stations of the India Meteorological Department, one in Gurgaon and the other in Panchkula. HSPCB stations are offline because the board let the maintenance contract with the firm that had managed monitors for five years lapse without lining up a stopgap fix. Air monitoring stations began going offline after Oct 31 last year. By Dec 31, nearly 50% of the stations had stopped recording data, which is used by HSPCB and Central Pollution Control Board to issue daily pollution bulletins and by CAQM to formulate strategies for bad-air days. Gurgaon staring at no alerts, no enforcement in smog season The stations progressively went on the blink till the whole network went down on April 2. On days when the IMD stations don’t record air quality because of glitches or other reasons, the state has no pollution data. This happened in Gurgaon for several days this month when the IMD station in Gwalpahari wasn’t working. A tender floated in May 2025 for an operator drew only one bidder. The bid was automatically disqualified under govt’s procurement rules that require at least two bidders for competitive selection. According to officials, the second round of tenders is still being prepared and is expected to be issued this week with a late-Aug deadline for submissions. Once bids are received, a lengthy evaluation follows. The process involves technical scrutiny, financial review, clearance by a high-powered committee and finally approval from the chief minister’s office. That, according to officials, could take 60 to 90 days. That means Haryana could enter peak smog season without real-time AQI data, without which there can be no alerts, no enforcement and no public warnings. These are all critical to Grap (graded response action plan), which usually comes into force from Oct 15. “There should have been a contingency plan. Even if you want to bring in a new vendor, you don’t shut off surveillance entirely. That’s like switching off CCTV in a high-crime zone because you are changing the camera vendor,” a senior HSPCB official admitted. Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst at Envirocatalysts, emphasised the importance of timely administrative decisions on bids for new contracts. “Decisions on opening bids for new contracts for govt services are usually planned well before the existing one ends, especially for maintaining such critical infrastructure as air quality monitoring in a state like Haryana, which lies in one of the most polluted areas. It’s unfortunate that this happened, but it should serve as a reminder to plan better for the future and for other states,” he said. Asked about it, HSPCB chairman Vineet Garg said the board has changed certain conditions in the tender and will be floating it by the end of July. While Grap’s implementation is based on Delhi’s AQI data, anti-pollution measures are enforced in all NCR cities after analysing indices recorded by local air monitors. “This blackout is likely to have serious consequences. Winter is the most polluted time of year in Haryana, with air quality often slipping into ‘very poor’ or ‘severe’ category due to stagnant weather, crop residue burning and fossil fuel emissions. Without functioning monitors, district authorities can’t track local AQI levels, identify pollution spikes, decide when to implement pollution curbs,” said Shubhansh Tiwari, research associate at Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), adding that the state would essentially be forced to rely on Delhi data. The implication goes beyond Grap. Under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and its state-specific pollution control action plans, govt must track, report and demonstrate year-on-year improvements in air quality, all of which are data-dependent. Manoj Kumar, an analyst at Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), said with the entire network rendered non-functional, there is growing concern about the progress, or lack thereof, made over the past six months. “In the absence of real-time data, it is tough to assess if efforts are underway to restore the monitoring system ahead of the upcoming peak pollution season. This gap in information affects both public awareness and the ability to evaluate policy response,” Kumar added. The two monitors in Gurgaon and Panchkula cover just a fraction of the state’s urban and industrial landscape. “You can’t extrapolate Delhi’s air to Karnal or Hisar,” said a senior officer who is part of the clean air programme. “The pollution sources, local weather patterns, and emissions vary. A single reading from Gurgaon tells you nothing about what’s happening in Yamunanagar or Panipat,” he said. For that matter, a station in one part of a large city won't even capture the picture in another part of it. A study of the air quality data by CREA found that Jan 19, 2025, was Gurgaon’s “overshoot day”. By then, PM 2.5 concentration was already so high that even if levels were to drastically reduce to zero for the rest of the year, the city would still fail to meet the acceptable limit specified by World Health Organisation (WHO). The analysis ranked Gurgaon as the fifth most polluted Indian city in the first half of 2025.

Waste-to-Energy Plants, Once Regarded As Panacea For India’s Garbage Crisis, Are Worsening Toxic Air In Cities

A 2018 report by the Centre for Science and Environment also found that most waste-to-energy plants received mixed waste, comprising a high percentage of biodegradable and inert materials (wastes that do not burn easily, such as construction waste, glass, drywall material, bricks, metal, etc). Rajpal Saini, founder of Khatta Hatao Dehat Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, a grassroots organisation opposing waste dumping yards —khatta is Hindi for landfill sites—and incineration plants has been mobilising protests since 2017. It was the establishment of the Narela-Bawana waste-to-energy plant on the northern fringe of the capital city, 5 km from the Haryana border, that prompted him to start a citizens’ movement to protect the environment. “I will never stop raising my voice against waste-to-energy plants,” said Saini, 68, who retired as a sanitary worker from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) a few years back. The Narela-Bawana plant owned by the municipality has a daily capacity of 2,000 tonnes of solid waste, and the power it generates is sold to the Delhi power grid. “The local environment in Narela Bawana is not suitable to practise pranayama (breathing exercises), yoga or meditation,” he told Article 14. “The AQI here ranges between poor and severe throughout the year.” Similar concerns over the air quality around waste-to-energy plants emerge in other Indian cities too. In Chinnamathur in Manali, North Chennai, where a waste incinerator has raised health concerns among local residents already burdened by industrial pollution, Ezhilarasi, 52, said, “If burning waste during Bhogi (a Tamil festival before Pongal) is banned due to the smoke that is produced, is it fair that we have to live near such a toxic site and breathe its air throughout the year?” Ezhilarasi, who uses only one name, is a resident of the area and said it was plainly apparent that air pollution levels were severe in the region until the Chinnamathur incineration plant was shut down in April 2025 following sustained protests by locals. The Chinnamathur incinerator burnt only 10 tonnes of waste everyday, but it posed serious health risks, she said, including a growing incidence of respiratory illnesses and also an apparent rise in incidence of cancer cases nearby. Waste-to-energy plants convert non-recyclable waste into usable forms of energy, by burning such waste at high temperatures, producing high pressure steam in a boiler. The steam drives the blades of a turbine generator to generate electricity. The process reduces a significant volume of waste, thus freeing up landfill space. A Problematic Solution Across India, there are at least 20 major waste-to-energy plants, though only 12 have been operational, according to a November 2022 report by the union ministry of new and renewable energy. The union and state governments continue to promote waste-to-energy projects, and as many as 44 plants were under construction in December 2021. ​ In Chennai, an upcoming waste-to-energy facility is expected to burn 2,100 tonnes of garbage daily, about 35% of the city's 6,000 tonnes of waste generated everyday. Generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) in the country is estimated to be 150,000 tonnes per day (TPD) while the total waste that may be currently incinerated in existing plants totals 19,990 tonnes per day—about an eighth of the country’s total waste generation. Waste-to-energy plants are positioned as one of a handful of solutions to the planet’s mounting waste crisis—they divert garbage away from landfills while also generating electricity that does not rely on fossil fuels. Municipal solid waste in urban India, however, is poorly segregated, has high moisture content and low calorific value, making for lower electricity generation per tonne of MSW. Incineration, however, generates toxic residues such as fly ash, which contains harmful heavy metals and carcinogens. This ash has uses in farming (as a fertiliser) or construction (in cement, reducing reliance on virgin materials), but poses serious health risks for poor communities living near incineration plants. These risks include respiratory issues and long-term toxicity that is frequently overlooked. “The number of people affected with tuberculosis, eye diseases, lung infection, infant mortality and other reproductive issues has seen a rise in Delhi’s Narela-Bawana,” Rajpal told Article 14. “Respiratory issues used to be seasonal, but now I see such cases almost daily—year-round,” said Neeta Mishra, MD, a gynaecologist living near Okhla’s waste-to-energy plant. Eye irritation, heaviness of the chest and throat discomfort have become constant, worsening in winter, she said. “People here live on anti-allergic medicines, and have begun accepting these symptoms as normal. Even pregnant women report severe discomfort,” Mishra said. A report by Toxic Tours, a community-led storytelling group that focuses on the impacts of plastic production, identified residents near the Okhla plant who suffered from chronic cough, lung disorders, eye and skin ailments, and also cancer. A resident who is also a general physician with a clinic near Delhi’s Okhla incineration plant was quoted in the report saying several residents living near the waste-to-energy plant report respiratory ailments such as asthma and lung infections. He said he often refers serious cases to government hospitals for advanced care. A November 2024 investigation by The New York Times uncovered environmental violations at the waste-to-energy plant in Okhla- Delhi, also found debilitating chronic illnesses among local residents. Burning plastic material emits highly toxic chemicals called ‘dioxins’ that can accumulate in the food chain causing severe problems with reproduction and the immune system. Burning of plastics is also a major cause of reduced visibility in Delhi during the winters. An Environmental Hazard Apart from health concerns, municipal solid waste may contain many materials with the potential to cause serious environmental degradation. A 2021 report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) found that Delhi’s waste-to-energy plants failed to comply with air quality standards. The plant in Bawana exceeded permissible levels of PM 2.5 and PM 10 (the numerals refer to the diameter of particulate matter, in micrometers), which are tiny inhalable particles that can cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Similarly, a 2025 fact-finding report from Hyderabad’s Jawahar Nagar waste-to-energy plant highlighted severe environmental degradation in the surrounding area. Stones and small rock particles had eroded to the point of crumbling at the slightest touch, and roads leading from the plant were coated in ash. Leachate from the landfill, more toxic due to ash from the incinerator, was flowing directly into a nearby pond, said the report, compiled by representatives of various environmental groups in Hyderabad. “Water sources within a 10-km radius are completely polluted due to leachate,” said Ruchith Asha Kamal from the Climate Front Hyderabad. “We also conducted a chemical analysis and found that 16 substances in the borewell water exceeded permissible limits.” Kamal said short-term consumption of such water could cause gastrointestinal discomfort, taste issues or dehydration, while long-term use could lead to kidney stones, cardiovascular strain, bone disorders, and liver/kidney damage. A recent report titled ‘Waste-to-Energy Incineration and Urban Heat in Delhi: Burning Waste, Warming Cities?’ by the People’s Alliance for Waste Accountability (PAWA), a collective of organisations and concerned individuals, contended that Delhi’s waste-to-energy plants were not only polluting the air but also warming the city. The report was the first to link waste incineration with the urban heat island effect, highlighting that Delhi’s four plants release over 398 million cubic meters of hot flue gas besides 12,325 tonnes of carbon dioxide every day, equivalent to emissions from more than 3 million passenger cars (which are estimated to produce 4 kg of carbon dioxide per day). Garbage Mismanagement According to a 2020-21 Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report, the overall quantity of solid waste generated in India stands at 160,038.9 tonnes per day (TPD), or 58.3 million tonnes of MSW per year. This figure is projected to increase to 165 million tonnes by 2031 and could reach 436 million tonnes by 2050, according to a NITI Aayog report. The Solid Waste Management Rules 2016, notified by the government of India to regulate the collection, segregation, handling, storage and processing of solid waste, stipulates that only non-recyclable and non-biodegradable waste with a calorific value of 1,500 kcal/kg or more should be directed to waste-to-energy plants. However, unsegregated waste collected from across the city, including waste from slaughterhouses and wholesale markets which have a high moisture content, makes its way to these plants. Saini said such waste releases a foul smell. A 2018 report by the Centre for Science and Environment also found that most waste-to-energy plants received mixed waste, comprising a high percentage of biodegradable and inert materials (wastes that do not burn easily, such as construction waste, glass, drywall material, bricks, metal, etc). The calorific value of these wastes ranges between 1,41 kcal/kg to 2,150 kcal/kg, the study found, whereas efficient combustion requires waste with a calorific value of at least 1,900 kcal/kg to 3,800 kcal/kg.

Delhi sees sharp jump in PUC challans this year

Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said there is a need for stricter emission monitoring of vehicles. “Strict monitoring of emissions from vehicles on the road is necessary because the vehicles are among the key contributors to Delhi’s poor air quality. The transport department has issued nearly 163,000 Pollution Under Control (PUC) challans in 2025 so far — indicating a more than 300%jump in the monthly average from the past year, data showed. While the data for the corresponding period in 2024 was not available, a total of 68,000 challans were issued in the entire year. Prior to that too, the number of challans issued remained low -- in 2023, 36,000 challans were issued, 43,500 challans in 2022, and 29500 in 2023. The sharp rise in the number of challans issued so far this year is due to installation of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, renewed enforcement push and the government’s growing reliance on digital tools such as online issuance of PUC challans using API technology linked with the Centre’s Vahan database to track and penalise violators, officials said. ANPR cameras have been installed at around 300 fuel stations across the city. “High-resolution ANPR cameras capture the licence plate details of vehicles when they come for refilling. These details are cross-referenced in real time with the central vehicle database via the mParivahan API to check for valid PUC certification. If a vehicle is found to have an expired or missing PUC certificate, and it is not renewed within one hour of detection, the system automatically triggers the generation of an e-challan. The entire process is managed through a centralised server infrastructure housed at the transport department headquarters, ensuring seamless and automated enforcement,” said an official of the transport department. The vehicle owner is intimated about the PUC challan through a text message on the registered mobile number. Delhi has 966 PUC checking centres, where the tailpipe emission standards of the vehicles can be checked by paying a nominal fee. According to transport department officials, as of January 2025, out of the around 8.2 million active vehicles in the city, nearly 2.6 million do not have a valid PUC certificate, meaning their certificates had either expired or were never issued. Section 190(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act makes it mandatory for vehicles to have PUC certificates. The owner of a vehicle plying without a valid PUC certificate is liable to be prosecuted and may be imprisoned for up to three months or fined up to ₹10,000, or both. “Besides digital intervention, around eight to ten enforcement teams of the transport department are also deployed every day at various locations in the city for carrying out random checks for PUC certificate checks,” said a second department official. A breakdown of online challans and manual challans was not immediately available. According to a recent report by the Delhi government, under the updated PUC certificate regime, emission readings are automatically captured and assessed, removing human discretion and ensuring objectivity. This system ensures only compliant vehicles remain in operation, regardless of age and based on actual emissions being emitted from the vehicle. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said there is a need for stricter emission monitoring of vehicles. “Strict monitoring of emissions from vehicles on the road is necessary because the vehicles are among the key contributors to Delhi’s poor air quality. The government should also ensure that 100% compliance with basic PUC norms also requires credible and properly conducted PUC tests.”

गहरे मतभेद के बीच बॉन से बेलेम तक आगे बढ़ती वैश्विक जलवायु वार्ता

हर साल दो हफ्ते तक होने वाला बॉन जलवायु परिवर्तन सम्मेलन 26 जून को कुछ प्रगति के साथ संपन्न तो हो गया, लेकिन इसने ऐसे समय में पार्टियों के बीच गहरे मतभेद भी उजागर किए, जब वैश्विक तापमान में बढ़ोतरी के दुष्प्रभाव तेजी से महसूस किए जा रहे हैं। जलवायु परिवर्तन पर संयुक्त राष्ट्र फ्रेमवर्क कन्वेंशन (यूएनएफसीसीसी) के तहत साल के बीच में आयोजित होने वाली बैठक का उद्देश्य जलवायु वार्ता के तकनीकी और वैज्ञानिक पहलुओं पर विचार करना और संगठन के आगामी कॉन्फ्रेंस ऑफ पार्टीज (कॉप) के एजेंडे को तय करना था। एजेंडे पर असहमति की वजह से बैठक लगभग दो दिन आगे खिसक गई, क्योंकि विकासशील देशों ने विकसित देशों के जलवायु वित्त से जुड़ी जिम्मेदारियों और यूरोपीय संघ के कार्बन सीमा समायोजन तंत्र (सीबीएएम) जैसे एकतरफा व्यापार उपायों के प्रभावों पर औपचारिक चर्चा की मांग की थी। पक्षों के बीच खास तौर पर वित्त और उत्सर्जन में कमी को लेकर पहले के मतभेद जारी रहे और इससे कई अन्य एजेंडों पर प्रगति प्रभावित हुई। इसके बावजूद, बॉन ने अनुकूलन पर वैश्विक लक्ष्य और जस्ट ट्रांजिशन वर्क प्रोग्राम जैसे मुद्दों पर पर्याप्त प्रगति देखी। दरअसल, इस साल की यह बैठक पिछले साल बाकू में अजरबैजान की अध्यक्षता में हुए कॉप-29 में आखिरी वक्त में पारित कराए गए जलवायु वित्त समझौते के बाद आयोजित की गई थी। इस समझौते पर कई पक्षों ने निराशा जताई थी और यही भावना बॉन सम्मेलन में भी दिखी। 24 जून को छोटे द्वीपीय राज्यों के गठबंधन (AOSIS) ने निराशा जताते हुए कहा, “जलवायु परिवर्तन और उसके विनाशकारी दुष्प्रभाव तेज हो रहे हैं, इसके बावजूद हम उसी गति से कार्रवाई क्यों नहीं हो रही है?” सत्र के आखिर में, अल्प विकसित देशों (एलडीसी) के समूह ने विज्ञान पर हमलों पर इसी तरह की निराशा व्यक्त करते हुए कहा, “यह चिंताजनक है कि वैज्ञानिक तथ्यों को चुनौती दी जा रही है। 1.5° सेल्सियस के जिक्र को महज खतरे की आहट मानना बेहद चिंताजनक है।” समूह ने कहा कि मौजूदा कोशिशें बेपटरी हो रही हैं और संगठन ने और ज्यादा महत्वाकांक्षी लक्ष्यों पर जोर दिया। समापन सत्र के दौरान पूरे माहौल का सार तब सामने आया जब संयुक्त राष्ट्र जलवायु परिवर्तन के कार्यकारी सचिव साइमन स्टील ने कहा, “बेलेम (कॉप-30) में दोबारा मिलने से पहले हमें बहुत कुछ करना होगा। विज्ञान की मांग के अनुसार, 1.5 को बनाए रखने के लिए अभी बहुत कुछ किया जाना जरूरी है।” जस्ट ट्रांजिशन और अनुकूलन पर प्रगति बॉन जलवायु परिवर्तन सम्मेलन, एसबी62 (जून में होने वाली जलवायु वार्ताएं) में बातचीत के दो प्रमुख बिंदुओं पर प्रगति देखी गई: जस्ट ट्रांजिशन वर्क प्रोग्राम (जेटीडब्ल्यूपी) और अनुकूलन पर वैश्विक लक्ष्य (जीजीए)। पहली बार वार्ताकारों ने जेटीडब्ल्यूपी पर मसौदा निर्णय और अनौपचारिक नोट तैयार किया, जिस पर कॉप-30 में आगे चर्चा की जाएगी। यह नोट विकासशील देशों को जस्ट ट्रांजिशन से जुड़ी रणनीतियों को लागू करने में सहायता के लिए वित्तपोषण, क्षमता निर्माण और प्रौद्योगिकी हस्तांतरण के संभावित तरीकों की रूपरेखा प्रस्तुत करता है। यह देशों को अपनी राष्ट्रीय जलवायु योजनाओं में जस्ट ट्रांजिशन संबंधी विचारों को शामिल करने के लिए भी प्रोत्साहित करता है। इनमें राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर तय योगदान (NDC\एनसीडी), राष्ट्रीय अनुकूलन योजनाएं (NAP) और लंबी अवधि में कम उत्सर्जन के लिए विकास रणनीतियां (LT-LEDS) शामिल हैं। स्वतंत्र थिंक टैंक इंटरनेशनल इंस्टीट्यूट फॉर सस्टेनेबल डेवलपमेंट (आईआईएसडी) के नीति सलाहकार जोनास कुएहल का कहना है कि यह पेरिस समझौते के मुख्य ढांचे में सामाजिक बराबरी और श्रम मुद्दों को शामिल करने की दिशा में शुरुआती कदम है। जेटीडब्ल्यूपी का मसौदा जलवायु वित्त को जस्ट ट्रांजिशन के व्यापक सामाजिक और आर्थिक पहलुओं से जोड़ता है। इसमें मानवाधिकारों, लैंगिक समानता और मूल निवासियों व अन्य कमजोर समूहों के अधिकारों का उल्लेख है। कुएहल कहते हैं कि ये संदर्भ जलवायु वित्त के दायरे को व्यापक बनाते हैं और संकेत देते हैं कि संसाधनों को ना सिर्फ बुनियादी ढांचे, उत्सर्जन में कमी और एडेप्टेशन के लिए, बल्कि सामाजिक सुरक्षा, कौशल विकास को नया आयाम देने और समावेशी योजना के लिए भी मददगार होना चाहिए। नए जेटीडब्ल्यूपी दस्तावेज में एकतरफा व्यापार उपायों पर भी बात है। विकासशील देशों ने ऐसे उपायों पर चर्चा के लिए दबाव डाला है, जिनके बारे में उनका कहना है कि ये जलवायु कार्रवाई के नाम पर थोपे गए हैं। उनकी दलील है कि ये नीतियां जलवायु परिवर्तन से प्रभावी ढंग से निपटने की उनकी क्षमता को सीमित करती हैं। हालांकि, विकसित देशों की दलील है कि ऐसे मुद्दों का हल विश्व व्यापार संगठन (डब्ल्यूटीओ) जैसे व्यापार मंचों पर किया जाना चाहिए। जानकार जेटीडब्ल्यूपी में व्यापार उपायों को शामिल करने को सकारात्मक पहल मानते हैं, लेकिन आगाह करते हैं कि इसे जस्ट ट्रांजिशन के अन्य अहम पहलुओं पर हावी नहीं होना चाहिए। नई दिल्ली स्थित गैर-लाभकारी संस्था सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) में जलवायु परिवर्तन कार्यक्रम की कार्यक्रम प्रबंधक अवंतिका गोस्वामी कहती हैं, “ऐसी आशंकाएं थी कि जेटीडब्ल्यूपी चर्चा में व्यापार उपायों को शामिल करने से जस्ट ट्रांजिशन पर अन्य सभी चर्चाएं पीछे छूट जाएंगी। सौभाग्य से, नागरिक समाज के समर्थन से अन्य तत्वों को शामिल करते हुए मसौदा तैयार किया गया और इस पर बेलेम में बातचीत की जाएगी।”

Choosing the lesser evil, or ignoring the bigger picture?

Earlier this month, the government eased sulphur emission rules for coal-fired power plants, effectively exempting 79 per cent of the plants – including those located more than 10 km from populated and polluted cities – from installing FGD systems. FGD stands for flue-gas desulphurisation, a system that removes sulphur from power plants’ exhaust gases. In 2015, the government had mandated that all coal-fired power plants install FGD systems to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions; the mandate now stands restricted. The government’s move, which came after concerns were raised about increased carbon dioxide emissions from the operation of existing control measures and a “detailed analysis” by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), may reduce electricity costs by 25-30 paise per unit, claim officials. But, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and environmentalists are not buying the reasons for this shift. They are, instead, asking hard-hitting questions about the need to choose the lesser of the two evils – sulphur or carbon emissions – instead of finding a middle path. Key findings and studies The government claims that extensive deliberations and multiple independent studies were undertaken to formulate the new framework that categorises mandatory FGD installation only to plants located within 10 kilometres of cities with a population exceeding one million. However, plants in critically polluted areas or non-attainment cities will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, according to the new mandate. All other plants are exempt from mandatory FGD installation. Studies by IIT Delhi, CSIR-NEERI and the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), said the government, found that ambient sulphur dioxide levels in most parts of India were well within the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The IIT Delhi study, which was conducted in 2024 with support from the Ministry of Power, examined ambient SO₂ (sulphur dioxide) concentrations in 10 cities, covering a range of geographic and developmental categories. It reported that daily mean SO₂ concentrations ranged from 2.97 to 16.17 micrograms per cubic metre, which was well below the NAAQS limit of 80 micrograms per cubic metre. More curiously, the study found no significant difference in SO₂ levels between cities with thermal power plants equipped with operational FGDs and those without them. The study by NIAS Bangalore stated that over 92 per cent of electricity generated by Indian thermal power plants comes from coal with sulphur content that is below 0.5 per cent – a level considered low by international standards. The organisation’s report suggested that a mandated installation of FGD systems in all thermal plants by 2030 could, in fact, result in a significant rise in Auxiliary Power Consumption, which could lead to an additional 69 million tonnes of carbon emissions from 2025-2030. A reduction in SO₂ emissions, on the contrary, may be only about 17 million tonnes over the same timeframe. New mandate and the reasons behind it The current mandate that eases rules of FGD installation stems from a 2015 study that was conducted by professors Mukesh Sharma and Dikshit from IIT Kanpur. Their research led to the conclusion that secondary sulphate particles accounted for 8 to 21 per cent of PM2.5 pollution in Delhi during the winter months. When they measured sulphur oxide levels across multiple cities, they found them ranging between 3 and 20 micrograms per cubic meter, which is below the NAAQS threshold of 80 micrograms per cubic meter. Officials said studies had also questioned the environmental and economic efficacy of a universal FGD mandate in the Indian context. When it comes to coal-fired power plants, Indian coal typically has a sulphur content of less than 0.5 per cent. When high stack heights and favourable meteorological conditions are taken into account, dispersion of SO₂ is efficient. The NIAS study warned that retrofitting FGDs nationwide could be counter-effective, as it would add an estimated 69 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions between the time period of 2025 and 2030 due to increased limestone mining, transportation, and power consumption. An affidavit incorporating these findings will be submitted shortly to the Supreme Court in the MC Mehta vs Union of India case, where FGD enforcement timelines have been under judicial scrutiny. Why the industry backs new norms Industry officials justified a relaxation in the norms, saying they would bring down the cost of electricity by 25-30 paise per unit, which would trickle down to consumers. In a high-demand, cost-sensitive economy, the impact may help state discoms contain tariffs and reduce subsidy burden on governments. Moreover, the financial burden of mandatory FGD retrofitting was previously estimated to be an exorbitant ₹2.5 lakh crore, or ₹1.2 crore per MW, with installation timelines of up to 45 days per unit – a figure that may even jeopardise grid stability during peak seasons. A senior executive at a leading public sector utility called it a “rational, science-based move that keeps electricity affordable”. ICP Keshari, the Director General of Power Producers Association (PPA), also hailed the decision as “good and consumer-centric”. Indian coal, he opined, “does not have any big sulphur oxide emission problems”. “It is only the particulate matter which is of concern,” he added. While acknowledging that the move will benefit power plants based on domestic coal, Keshari said the new FGD norm “identifies the problem and does not unnecessarily load cost on consumers”. Concerns and questions While government officials insist that the government remains committed to environmental protection, “under a smarter lens” and that the new mandate is "not a rollback but a recalibration based on evidence,” the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and environment activists have raised strong concerns about the shift in India’s FGD strategy. The CSE argues that the current discussions around FGD installation have ignored a hugely critical aspect – the role of SO₂ in the formation of secondary PM2.5, a pollutant closely linked to severe respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Ambient SO₂ levels, which the new mandate is largely centred on, are not significant, says the body. The CSE underscores that the 2015 IIT Kanpur study had already identified secondary sulphate aerosols as major contributors to PM2.5 concentrations in Delhi. Yet, the government seemed to have downplayed this crucial connection, especially the impact of transboundary SO₂ emissions from surrounding operational power plants. If the new recommendations are adopted, there would be increased chances of regulatory inconsistencies. The progress made so far in containing sulphur emissions could even stall over time, further disincentivising the adoption of cleaner technologies and reversing compliance momentum achieved over the past few years.

Indien macht bei der Energiewende Tempo

Die Erfolgsmeldung kam im Juli und wurde stolz von vielen großen indischen Medien aufgegriffen: Man habe einen weiteren Meilenstein bei der Energiewende erreicht - fünf Jahre früher als es das Pariser Klimaabkommen festlegt. Erstmals stamme mehr als die Hälfte der installierten Stromerzeugungskapazität in Indien aus nicht-fossilen Energieträgern - wenn auch nur ganz knapp. "Ein stolzer Moment für jeden Inder"Im Rahmen der sogenannten nationally determined contributions, also der nationalen Klimabeiträge, erklären die Staaten anlässlich des Pariser Klimaabkommens, wie sie vorgehen wollen, um Treibhausgasemissionen zu senken. Eines von den darin festgelegten Zielen für Indien: Man möchte bis 2030 50 Prozent der Stromerzeugungskapazität aus nicht-fossilen Energieträgern stellen können. Das habe nun, so die Modi-Regierung, deutlich früher geklappt. Pralhad Joshi, als Minister unter anderem zuständig für erneuerbare Energien, erklärte in einem Post auf der Plattform X, dies sei ein "stolzer Moment für jeden Inder".Von den aktuell installierten fast 485 Gigawatt Stromerzeugungskapazitäten des Landes entfielen im Juni 2025 gut 243 Gigawatt auf nicht-fossile Energieträger. Davon kommt der größte Anteil, nämlich etwa 185 Gigawatt, von Energiequellen wie Sonne oder Wind. Der Rest sind Wasserkraftprojekte (49 Gigawatt) und Atomenergie (8,8 Gigawatt).Indien setzt aber weiterhin auch auf KohleBinit Das vom indischen "Centre for Science and Environment" (CSE) bestätigt diese Zahlen, lenkt den Blick aber auch darauf, dass es hierbei nur um die installierte Kapazität gehe, nicht um die tatsächliche Stromerzeugung. Da sei in der Realität weiterhin Kohle am wichtigsten. Dennoch bekräftigt auch er, dass die Regierung mit vielen Förderungen und Investitionen in die Infrastruktur schon viel möglich gemacht habe, um erneuerbare Energien in Indien zu fördern.Indien, das bevölkerungsreichste Land der Erde, ist der drittgrößte Treibhausgas-Emittent der Welt, nach China und den USA. Die Wirtschaft des Landes wächst jährlich um mehr als sechs Prozent. So wird auch Indiens Energiebedarf in den kommenden Jahren stetig steigen. Beim Ausbau der erneuerbaren Energien geht es also darum, diesen Bedarf zu decken. Parallel dazu werden auch die Kohle-Kapazitäten des Landes ausgebaut. Momentan wachsen die Kapazitäten der Erneuerbaren aber deutlich schneller."Kohle wird für die Netzstabilität benötigt", erklärt Energie-Experte Binit Das. Die Probleme klingen ähnlich wie in Deutschland: Bisher ist es noch schwierig, Indien mit Sonne und Wind zuverlässig zu versorgen. Wenn die wegen schlechten Wetters nicht lieferten, so der Experte, dann springe Kohle ein, um das Netz zu stabilisieren. Das Stromnetz müsse noch ausgebaut und verbessert werden, um den Strom von erneuerbaren Energien besser aus entlegenen Gegenden weiterzuleiten, analysiert Binit Das. Ein Bericht des "Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis" verweist darüber hinaus auf das Problem, dass Indien auch bei den Speicherkapazitäten für erneuerbare Energien noch deutlich nachlegen müsse.Großer Zuwachs bei SolarenergieDennoch, der Kapazitäts-Zuwachs bei erneuerbaren Energien in Indien bleibt aufgrund seines rasanten Tempos bemerkenswert. Insbesondere die Solarenergie treibt diesen Zuwachs: Im Jahr 2024 wurden laut Regierung 24,5 Gigawatt Solarenergie-Kapazitäten neu installiert - ein Anstieg von rund 33 Prozent binnen eines Jahres.Überall im Land sprießen Solar-Paneele und Windräder aus dem Boden. Neben guten politischen Rahmenbedingungen seien es gerade auch private Unternehmen, die beim Boom der Erneuerbaren in Indien eine wesentliche Rolle spielten, so Binit Das. Im westlichsten indischen Bundesstaat Gujarat entsteht zum Beispiel gerade das größte Erneuerbare-Energien-Projekt der Welt. Auf einer Fläche, die fünfmal so groß ist wie Paris, werden Windkraftanlagen und Solar-Paneele installiert.

Is the plastic industry trying to influence green policies?

The story so far: At first glance, tobacco and plastic might seem unrelated. Both industries have historically acknowledged certain health risks, while continuing to scale production and revenue models. Environmental activists and health experts are drawing attention to how the plastic industry, backed by fossil fuel giants, mirrors the tobacco industry’s playbook: delaying regulation, deploying PR spin, and shifting blame by muddying public perception. How does plastic mirror tobacco’s playbook? Both industries have used profit-driven tactics despite evidence of harm. Shifting responsibility: in many jurisdictions, advertisements for tobacco run with a disclaimer “smoking is injurious to health” (or similar) while promoting the product, abetted by weak public policy. This places the onus on individual choice. Similarly, plastic-makers have blamed consumers for not recycling while diverting attention from corporate accountability. In both cases, the effect is for systematic harm to be recast as personal failure. Funding misleading PR and science: Tobacco companies have historically funded studies denying their effects on the body. Similarly, as NPR and PBS have reported, the plastic industry promoted recycling as a resolution from the 1980s despite privately acknowledging its economic and technical impracticality at scale. Yet even as trade groups launched public campaigns around the “recyclability” of plastic to avert bans, most plastic waste continued to be incinerated, landfilled or dumped in the open. Greenwashing: In a subsequently discredited strategy, tobacco companies once marketed “light” and “mild” cigarettes as safer. Today, the absence of clear, enforceable standards and shortcomings in the country’s waste-processing infrastructure render plastic that is, or has been labelled, ‘biodegradable’ or ‘compostable’ to not be that way at all. This in turn can give consumers a false impression of these plastics’ real-world environmental impact. In the same vein, greenwashing can also take more obvious forms. For example, Coca-Cola was recently accused of greenwashing after quietly dropping its goal of 25% reusable packaging by 2030 and scaling back key recycling targets while continuing to promote its sustainability credentials. Shifting focus towards the Global South As regulations to reduce the use of single-use plastics and rationalise the material’s use in packaging tighten across the Global North, plastic producers have been focusing on low- and middle-income countries to sustain growth. According to the OECD’s ‘Global Plastic Outlook’ report in 2022, plastic consumption is projected to more than double in Sub-Saharan Africa and triple in Asia by 2060 but grow by only 15% in Europe and 34% in North America in the same period. Further, while countries in the Global South, including India, have begun moving towards reduction, their efforts face substantial challenges in implementation and enforcement. A 2023 Centre for Science and Environment report noted that India’s ban of 19 single-use plastics covers only around 11% of its single-use plastic waste and that enforcement has been inconsistent. This shift in focus toward the Global South has coincided with weaker environmental regulations, limited public awareness, and inadequate waste management systems, making these regions especially vulnerable to rising plastic pollution. Regulation and lobbying The tobacco industry has been known to exaggerate its economic contributions and funding front groups to delay public health measures, tactics documented in WHO’s A Global Brief (2012) and a 2022 submission to the U.N. Human Rights Office by the Campaign for Tobacco‑Free Kids and the Global Health Advocacy Incubator. The plastics industry has used comparable strategies to shape public policy and delay meaningful regulation. Internal documents from major plastic and chemical firms, dating back to the 1970s and 1980s, show companies were already aware of the technical and economic limits of plastic recycling but continued to promote it as a viable solution. This tactic, documented by a 2024 report of the Center for Climate Integrity, helped deflect public and political pressure away from regulating plastic production. More recently, the plastics and fossil fuel industries have sought to influence negotiations for a global plastics treaty under the U.N. According to the Centre for International Environmental Law, industry influence was evident at the third round of treaty talks (INC-3), where there were 36% more lobbyists from the fossil fuel and chemicals sectors than in the previous round. Where does India stand on plastics? In India, the waste management system banks on the lakhs of people, from ragpickers and sorters to grassroot recyclers, in the informal sector responsible for collecting and processing 70% of the plastic that is recycled. But this work often comes at the cost of their health and dignity, exposing them to hazardous materials and toxic fumes, without protective gear, legal recognition or social security. They face long-term health risks, including respiratory illnesses and infections, and often live below the poverty line, lacking stable incomes and access to basic social protections. Recognising their role, the Indian government has taken some steps to formalise and protect them. The National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem scheme launched in 2024 aims to integrate waste pickers into formal waste systems by providing safety measures, health insurance under Ayushman Bharat, and access to social security benefits. Per the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, as of May 2025, over 80,000 sanitation and waste-picking workers have been profiled under the scheme, with more than 45,700 handed personal protective equipment and around 26,400 issued Ayushman Bharat health cards. Extended producer responsibility guidelines under the Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016 (amended in 2022) require manufacturers to take responsibility for plastic they generate, financially, and operationally. However — as with India’s ban on 19 single-use plastics — experts have criticised gaps in enforcement, with fewer than half of all producers complying with their obligations.

NCAP 2.0 must focus on industrial reform to ensure cities have clean air

However, a 2022 Centre for Science and Environment report noted widespread non-compliance. Enforcing these measures through quarterly audits, worker training, and fines for non-functional systems can effectively curb fugitive emissions. Nearly 37 per cent of India’s most polluted cities are flanked by large industries such as thermal power plants (TPPs), smelters, and manufacturing units. Industries are the main polluters in 20 per cent of these cities, and over 80 per cent host small-scale industries within city limits. Many are located in peri-urban areas, outside the jurisdiction of urban local bodies, making regulation difficult. Advertisement Yet, only 0.6 per cent of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and Fifteenth Finance Commission funds are allocated to control industrial emissions. Although the issue is widely known, only a few states, such as Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, are actively pursuing airshed-level management. Barriers and the solutions ahead Informal industries such as brick kilns, rice mills, stone crushers, and mineral grinding units are significant pollution sources. India hosts over 1,40,000 brick kilns, most of which use outdated technologies and burn coal or agricultural waste inefficiently. This results in high emissions of particulate matter of 2.5 µm in diameter (PM2.5), black carbon, and sulphur dioxide (SO₂). Brick kilns using zigzag technology paired with fabric filters can significantly reduce PM emissions. The government must enforce retrofitting mandates, support capacity building, and provide subsidies for cleaner upgrades. Similarly, rice mills burn husk and other residues, often in inefficient furnaces with little to no emission control, resulting in PM generation from milling and husk burning. Rice mills should be encouraged to install multi-cyclone separators or wet scrubbers and transition to cleaner fuels, including rice husk gasifiers or biomass pellets. Fugitive emissions from stone crushers and mineral grinding industries remain a major challenge for NCAP cities. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) issued dust mitigation guidelines (updated July 2023), mandating dust suppression systems like dry mist guns for these industries. However, a 2022 Centre for Science and Environment report noted widespread non-compliance. Enforcing these measures through quarterly audits, worker training, and fines for non-functional systems can effectively curb fugitive emissions. Large industries such as cement plants, smelters, TPPs, and integrated steel plants are major contributors to emissions. Process optimisation using alternative fuels, electric smelting furnaces, and waste heat recovery can reduce emissions by 30–40 per cent. Air pollution control devices like electrostatic precipitators (ESPs), fabric filters, and wet scrubbers are critical, capturing up to 90 per cent of PM from these sources. TPPs emit PM (fly ash), SO₂, and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), and their mitigation involves ESPs/bag houses, flue gas desulphurisers, and selective catalytic reduction. Integrating renewable energy, such as solar or wind power, into operations further reduces fossil fuel reliance and emissions. A notable innovation is the use of community boilers, where multiple units share a high-capacity boiler with modern pollution control systems such as ESPs and bag filters. The CPCB guidelines on common boilers (March 2024) must be made part of state industrial policies and implemented through industrial estate planning. Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) rely heavily on polluting fuels like coal and heavy oil, emitting high levels of PM and SO₂. These pollutants harm human health and contribute to urban smog. Transitioning to natural gas, electricity, or solar thermal systems can reduce both PM and SO₂ emissions. Bridging the reporting gap A crucial starting point for larger industries is to improve transparency and accountability through comprehensive reporting. Currently, the top 1,000 listed companies in India (based on market value) are required to report their GHG emissions (as per the business responsibility and sustainability reporting format), but there is no regulatory mandate for reporting air pollutant emissions. It is imperative for these industries to report their annual fuel consumption by type and provide detailed information about the air pollution control devices and processes they have in place. This reporting can be made mandatory for consent-to-operate clearances. Such transparency will not only help monitor emissions but also encourage industries to adopt best practices and newer technologies.

Delhi’s fuel ban hits 62 lakh vehicles: Experts call for Auto LPG retrofitting

The Delhi government has imposed a fuel ban on petrol and diesel vehicles over 15 and 10 years old, affecting over 62 lakh vehicles in the city. The ban is enforced through advanced Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras at 498 fuel stations and robust on-ground enforcement by Delhi Police and the Transport Department. Vehicles identified as “end-of-life” will not be dispensed, and violators risk impounding and scrapping. Pollution concerns The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) reports that vehicles contribute 51 per cent of Delhi’s local pollution. The ban has raised concerns about the fate of millions of vehicles and their livelihoods. Call for practical alternatives Suyash Gupta, Director General of Indian Auto LPG Coalition, stated, “Delhi stands at a fundamental crossroad in its battle against the rising air pollution. The current ban, while bold, will disrupt the lives of millions unless we provide a viable alternative. By promoting retrofitment to Auto LPG, we can offer immediate relief to vehicle owners and the environment alike. Auto LPG retrofitment is a proven, affordable, and scalable solution that can help Delhi achieve its clean air goals without forcing citizens to scrap their assets prematurely. ”

Harnessing Biomass: CBG sector gains momentum, but challenges remain

India’s compressed biogas (CBG) sector is gaining traction, backed by abundant biomass availability, supportive policy interventions, the need for sustainable waste management and a growing emphasis on domestic energy security. The sector is seen as a critical enabler of crude oil import reduction, soil health restoration, mitigation of pollution caused by biomass burning and advancement of India’s energy self-reliance goals. India possesses a vast and diverse biomass base that can support a distributed and robust CBG production model. According to the Centre for Science and Environment, India’s feedstock availability comprises 190 million tonnes (mt) of animal and poultry waste, 150 mt of agricultural residue, 62 mt of municipal solid waste (MSW), 50 mt of biomass from sewage treatment plants and 20 mt of press mud. This biomass potential can support an estimated CBG production capacity of 62 mmt, with animal and poultry waste alone accounting for 41 per cent and surplus agri-residues for 32 per cent. Another key consideration for increasing CBG production is the need to reduce the country’s import bill. India’s policy ambition of increasing the share of natural gas in the energy mix to 15 per cent by 2030 can inadvertently increase the import bill. As per the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell, in 2024-25, production stood at around 27,000 kilo tonnes (kt), while imports slightly exceeded it at approximately 28,000 kt, indicating a 51 per cent import dependence. As per EAC International Consulting, India’s natural gas demand is projected to rise to 155 mt by fiscal year 2030, and domestic production is not expected to match this pace, leading to a widening supply-demand gap. This rising import reliance exposes the country to global price volatility and geopolitical risks, thus making an even stronger case for increased CBG production. SATAT and other policy initiatives Policy support has been central to the CBG sector’s recent growth. The Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) scheme remains a key policy incentive for the sector. The broader initiative, Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan), a part of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), also aims to promote CBG projects. Meanwhile, the CBG-CGD Synchronisation initiative, valid till 2033, aims to integrate CBG into the city gas distribution (CGD) network, facilitating its blending with piped natural gas (PNG) for domestic use and with compressed natural gas for transportation. The CBG pricing and transportation charges under these guidelines were revised in May 2025 to 85 per cent of the average CNG retail selling price, up from 80 per cent. Furthermore, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has issued guidelines for the development of pipeline infrastructure for injection of CBG into the CGD network. The allotted budget for this initiative is Rs 9.945 billion for the period 2024-25 to 2025-26. The Direct Pipeline Infrastructure scheme provides central financial assistance (CFA) of up to Rs 287.5 million per project for a maximum 75 km-long pipeline (steel or medium-density polyethylene). A new transportation fee structure for CBG supplied via cascade systems has also been introduced – Rs 1.50 per kg for distances of 50-75 km and Rs 2.50 per kg for over 75 km; no fee is applicable within 50 km. Furthermore, the updated CBG price has been fixed at Rs 1,478 per mmbtu (excluding GST), applicable from June 1, 2025, to October 31, 2025. The Compressed Biogas Obligation (CBO) is another positive policy initiative, aimed at creating assured offtake and improved demand. The CBO has been optional until 2024-25, but is mandatory from 2025-26. For fiscal years 2026, 2027 and 2028, the CBO has been set at 1 per cent, 3 per cent and 4 per cent of the overall consumption of CNG or PNG, respectively. The CBO will increase to 5 per cent from 2028-29. The Biomass Aggregation Machinery (BAM) scheme has also been launched, with an outlay of Rs 5.64 billion for the period 2023-24 to 2026-27, targeting one of the biggest challenges in the CBG value chain – feedstock availability. In July 2025, the government revised the CFA disbursement process for CBG projects to support the purchase of BAM. As per the updated guidelines, CBG plants with a minimum capacity of 2 tpd that use over 50 per cent biomass as feedstock are eligible to receive CFA of Rs 9 million. To qualify for this subsidy, projects must use at least 50 per cent or 3,000 mt of biomass annually and reach 25 per cent completion (50 per cent for fund release). Furthermore, projects using less than 50 per cent biomass but consuming more than 3,000 mt of biomass annually can still receive support – Rs 2.9 million per 3,000 mt of agricultural residue used. The financial aid is capped at 50 per cent of the biomass machinery’s procurement cost or Rs 2.9 million per project, whichever is lower, and is disbursed in proportion to the amount of biomass collected. Moreover, under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s National Bioenergy Programme, CFA is offered for various components relating to power generation, biogas/bio-CNG generation and briquette/pellet manufacturing. Overall, targeted policy measures are being introduced for the entire value chain, from feedstock aggregation and briquette manufacturing to CBG production, blending and transport. CBG project uptake gains traction The uptake of CBG projects has shown positive momentum in recent years, even though the overall progress is short of the ambitious targets. As per the SATAT portal, 108 CBG plants have been commissioned, with 1,094 active letters of intent (LoIs) issued as of July 2025. This is far lower than the initiative’s initial aim of setting up 5,000 CBG plants by 2023-24. Still, the CBG distribution infrastructure has slowly improved, as per recent data shared by several oil marketing companies (OMCs). CBG is now available across 64 geographical areas through the CGD network, as well as 350 retail outlets. Meanwhile, the GOBARdhan portal indicates a wider pipeline of projects across the country. As of July 15, 2025, 1,083 projects have been registered on the portal, although a large implementation gap remains: 690 are yet to begin construction, 236 are under construction and only 147 are currently operational. The sector has witnessed a sharp rise in CBG plant numbers, from just three in 2019-20 to 100 by 2024-25. CBG sales grew from negligible levels to 42.8 thousand metric tonnes (tmt) in 2024-25 alone – over half of the total 79.2 tmt sold between September 2019 and March 2025. This surge reflects growing market readiness, especially among CGD operators and industrial consumers. Early data for 2025-26 indicates that the momentum has been maintained, with 13,379 tonnes of CBG already sold. In terms of the project pipeline, Uttar Pradesh leads with 55 projects, followed by Maharashtra (27), Gujarat (23) and Madhya Pradesh (20). Uttar Pradesh tops the chart in terms of operational capacity too, with 32 functional plants, trailed by Gujarat (20) and Haryana (17). Significantly, these three leading states have implemented state-level bioenergy policies. More states, such as Punjab and Madhya Pradesh, are expected to follow suit. Sector concerns and recommendations CBG project costs remain high; viability improves with scale and policy support According to discussions with CBG project developers, a 1 tpd CBG output project costs Rs 75 million-Rs 80 million for paddy straw-based plants. Thus, a typical 15 tpd plant will have a capex of Rs 1,125 million-Rs 1,200 million. Developers caution against misleading lower quotes for some projects, in the range of Rs 30 million-Rs 50 million/tpd, which could lead to dysfunctional or substandard plants. According to developers, CBG plants become operationally and financially viable at a minimum capacity of 15 tpd of gas output, with the optimal size being 20 tpd or more. At this scale, the project is able to take advantage of economies of scale. Smaller plants, particularly those in the sub-10 tpd range, are considered largely non-viable unless they are subsidised heavily. These smaller plants struggle with operations and maintenance inefficiencies, underutilised resources, and higher per-unit capex and opex, often leading to poor financial performance. To improve cost viability, developers have suggested that for the first 1,000 CBG plants, the government can fix a guaranteed gas price of Rs 100 per kg for 10 years, like the early feed-in tariffs in the solar and wind power sectors. This, coupled with policy stability, can help de-risk early investments and attract mainstream financial institutions. Another critical recommendation from developers is the introduction of green certificates to unlock another revenue stream and reduce dependence on the monetisation of CBG and manure. Feedstock quality drives project returns, but logistics and regional disparities persist Feedstock has emerged as a crucial determinant of the viability of CBG projects. Paddy straw has become the preferred feedstock for several developers due to its availability in key agrarian states and its chemical characteristics. It enables better gas yields and produces no liquid digestate, thus avoiding the complex handling and disposal requirements seen in press mud or MSW-based plants. Additionally, paddy straw allows for the production of useful by-products such as briquettes and pellets, which can help meet biomass co-firing obligations in thermal power plants. However, feedstock aggregation and supply chain management remain relatively weak in states outside of Punjab and Haryana. In other states, developers face fragmented supply chains, price volatility and logistical bottlenecks. For instance, the price of paddy straw, inclusive of storage and transport, ranges from Rs 2,800 per tonne in Punjab to Rs 3,600 per tonne in Chhattisgarh, highlighting regional disparities. Often, prices increase when the farmers realise there is huge demand from CBG developers. To address the challenge of aggregating seasonal biomass, some developers have taken up the role of biomass logistics providers. With investments in fleets of high-end balers and other equipment, they are not only supporting their own projects, but also offering machinery rental models for farmers and project developers. Recent policy initiatives attempt to mitigate monetisation and pricing woes A key challenge in the CBG sector lies in the monetisation of CBG and its by-products. CBG currently fetches Rs 74-Rs 81 per kg under the SATAT and CGD synchronisation mechanisms, which is roughly 85 per cent of the prevailing CNG retail price. Developers have pointed out that this pricing structure needs a rework, as it undervalues green gas compared to fossil-based CNG. Several developers argue that CBG, which actively displaces emissions and manages waste, deserves a premium, not a discount. Without premium pricing, there is a risk of CBG plants struggling to recover their capital investments from gas sales alone. Additionally, industrial offtake is limited, as most industries benchmark CBG against PNG or LPG, and are unwilling to pay a green premium in the absence of a regulatory mandate or carbon credit mechanism. While several developers have begun monetising fermented organic manure (FOM) and liquid FOM, uptake remains inconsistent due to seasonal demand, transportation challenges and nutrient content constraints. The recent amendment to the Fertiliser Control Order, introducing a new category of organic enhancers and removing rigid nutrient norms, has been welcomed, especially for paddy-based CBG plants that inherently have low nitrogen output. Additionally, the provision of Market Development Assistance under the Department of Fertilizers has improved the financial outlook for FOM producers, especially in bulk-sale models. That said, drying, granulation and packaging still involve significant costs, limiting profitability unless mechanised at scale. Need for direct injection into pipelines Another major point of concern for developers is the lack of grid access and uniform offtake infrastructure. For CBG plants larger than 10 tpd, cascading cylinders and transportation of gas to retail outlets are logistically unviable. In such cases, direct injection into CGD pipelines or structured offtake agreements with OMCs is essential. Yet, developers report that retail OMC outlets in rural areas typically have low CBG sales volumes (500-800 kg per day), constraining offtake. Without pipeline access or proximity to large gas consumers, even technically efficient plants operate well below capacity. Financier concerns Financiers face a complex risk landscape when evaluating CBG projects. A primary concern is the frequent mismatch between projected and actual project timelines, often extending beyond two years. Feedstock volatility has emerged as the most disruptive financial risk. Prices have risen far beyond initial assumptions, with no reliable price controls or long-term procurement mechanisms. This, coupled with inconsistent plant utilisation and unviable by-product monetisation, has eroded expected cash flows and weakened debt service coverage ratios. The lack of cost standardisation and technology performance variability across regions are further complicating the financing scenario. The same plant size may have vastly different costs and outputs depending on feedstock and location, making due diligence more complex. Collateral demands, especially for first-time developers, remain high. While risk mitigation tools such as guarantees and concessional lending are emerging, they are not yet widely accessible. As a result, financiers now demand location-specific appraisals and stronger promoter credentials before lending. Conclusion Net, net, while CBG project uptake has been sluggish vis-à-vis the targets, policymakers have attempted to resolve stakeholder concerns. Developers, too, are learning from experience. They are gradually finding the right mix of factors that can make a CBG project financially viable – the correct feedstock for a particular region, how to efficiently manage the supply chain, which mature technology to invest in, the right project scale and ways to realise more revenue through the sale of by-products. The sector has been on a long learning curve; now, it seems set to leverage these learnings for larger overall gains.

राज्य प्रदूषण नियंत्रण मण्डल भिवाड़ी द्वारा गैर-संकटमय औद्योगिक अपशिष्ट प्रबंधन पर कार्यशाला आयोजित

राजस्थान राज्य प्रदूषण नियंत्रण मंडल (RSPCB), भिवाड़ी और सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE), नई दिल्ली के संयुक्त तत्वावधान में बीएमए सम्मेलन हॉल में “गैर-संकटमय औद्योगिक अपशिष्ट प्रबंधन” विषय पर एकदिवसीय कार्यशाला का आयोजन किया गया। कार्यशाला का उद्देश्य इस क्षेत्र में मौजूद चुनौतियों, संभावनाओं और औद्योगिक क्षेत्र की सर्वोत्तम प्रथाओं पर चर्चा करते हुए भावी रणनीति तैयार करना रहा। कार्यशाला के दौरान पर्यावरणीय दृष्टिकोण से उपयुक्त नियामकीय रणनीतियाँ अपनाने, व्यावहारिक मूल्यांकन विधियों के आदान-प्रदान और सर्कुलर इकोनॉमी को बढ़ावा देने पर विशेष फोकस रहा। आरएसपीसीबी के क्षेत्रीय अधिकारी अमित जुयाल ने अपने संबोधन में कहा, “गैर-संकटमय औद्योगिक अपशिष्ट का कुशल प्रबंधन केवल नियमों का पालन नहीं, बल्कि सतत औद्योगिक विकास की आधारशिला है।” सीएसई के विशेषज्ञ श्री शोभित श्रीवास्तव ने गैर-संकटमय अपशिष्ट प्रबंधन पर ध्यान देने की आवश्यकता को रेखांकित करते हुए सीएसई द्वारा विकसित व्यावहारिक टूलकिट का परिचय दिया। श्रेया वर्मा ने अपशिष्ट इनवेंटरी की प्रक्रिया समझाई और इसे संसाधन के रूप में देखने की सोच को भविष्य के लिए आवश्यक बताया। वहीं शुभ्रजीत गोस्वामी ने सर्कुलर इकोनॉमी को प्रोत्साहित करने हेतु जीएसटी सुधारों की आवश्यकता बताई और कहा कि इससे व्यापक आर्थिक लाभ प्राप्त हो सकते हैं। कार्यशाला में भिवाड़ी क्षेत्र की प्रमुख औद्योगिक इकाइयों के प्रतिनिधियों, पर्यावरण विशेषज्ञों तथा विभिन्न औद्योगिक संगठनों जैसे भिवाड़ी मैन्युफैक्चरर्स एसोसिएशन, भिवाड़ी जल प्रदूषण निवारण संघ, भिवाड़ी चैंबर ऑफ कॉमर्स एंड इंडस्ट्री, भिवाड़ी इंटीग्रेटेड इंडस्ट्रियल एसोसिएशन, लघु उद्योग भारती एवं खुशखेड़ा-करोली इंडस्ट्री एसोसिएशन के प्रतिनिधियों ने सक्रिय भागीदारी की।

Baby battery-car maker gears up to go global

Bangalore, India - At first sight, it looks like a toy car on steroids but a closer look at the two-door hatchback reveals a cable connecting it to a plug in a Bangalore shopping mall car park. About 2000 of these zero-polluting city commuters have been put on the roads in India and Europe, 600 of them in London, in the six years since Reva Electric Cars went commercial. Chetan Maini, deputy chairman and chief technical officer, says the test-marketing phase is over and the Reva, as the battery car is known, is ready to leap into the mass market for environmentally friendly vehicles. The Bangalore-based company hopes to sell 3000 in 2007 and 30 000 in 2007, the 37-year-old mechanical engineer said. "In the last five years, we innovated and improved and developed the core technologies," said Maini, who studied at Michigan and Stanford universities. "We got the partners and we got the funds. "Everything has been coming together and we've reached an inflection point to take off." Maini developed the no-clutch, no-gears car as the head of a 75-strong team of research engineers. The company is counting on growing environmental and energy concerns to power its growth at home and abroad as soaring petrol prices and pollution worries prompt commuters to seek alternatives. "People are making choices based on such issues," said Maini, who was project leader for the hybrid electric car at Stanford and a team leader of the Michigan solar car team that won the GM Sun Race. "Oil is near $80 a barrel, may even touch $100, and inner-city pollution is a serious issue," he added. "Energy security and environment are going to be the major issues facing every country in the coming years." The New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment says India needs to "reinvent the idea of mobility" as cities turn into smoke-encased enclaves because of "killer pollution" caused by vehice emissions. One often-quoted anecdote says even a non-smoker ends up inhaling the equivalent of a pack of cigarettes a day by breathing the air of India's cities, where the number of cars sold is forecast by US consultancy Keystone to rise to 20-million by 2030 from a million in 2003. Energy-hungry India paid $57-billion for oil imports in the year ended in March, up more than 30 percent from 2006, as the cost of crude rose. New model a four-seater "Electricity is the solution," said Maini, whose company was formed in 1994 as a joint venture between the family-owned Maini Group and AEV of the US to design, assemble and sell environmentally friendly vehicles. "Technology is available now at a cost that makes sense. A non-polluting electric car costs the equivalent of a small petrol car and the operating costs are much less." Going faster His company last month launched a new Reva that can seat two adults and two children and is billed as the most advanced electric car in the global market. It can reach 80km/h, up on a previous best of 65. It claims to be able to cover 80km on a single charge of electricity that translates to 10 percent of the cost of fuelling a petrol model. The car has improved torque - up to 40 percent more than the earlier model - for better hill climbing. The Reva has better prospects of finding success abroad than in price-sensitive India, where manufacturers are planning to launch a slew of petrol models priced as low as $3000, a third of the Reva's price. The cars are already being sold in Britain, Spain, Norway, Italy, Malta, Sri Lanka, Cyprus and Greece, whre the cars benefit from government incentives. In Britain and Norway, it sells as G-Wiz and is exempt from parking fees as well as congestion and road taxes. Japan gives a $2600 subsidy for battery-car users and France waives taxes on electricity used to charge the car. - AFP

Can Auto LPG retrofitment in cars be a game-changer in Delhi?

In a landmark move to tackle the capital’s air pollution crisis, Delhi government has enforced a fuel ban on all petrol vehicles over 15 years old and diesel vehicles over 10 years old. This sweeping ban, affecting more than 62 lakh vehicles in Delhi alone, is being implemented through advanced Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at 498 fuel stations and robust on-ground enforcement by Delhi Police and the Transport Department. Vehicles identified as “end-of-life” will not be dispensed petrol or diesel, and violators risk impounding and scrapping. The urgency of this measure is underscored by findings from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which reveal that vehicles contribute a staggering 51% of Delhi’s local pollution. The ban, while necessary for public health, has raised concerns among citizens and stakeholders about the fate of millions of vehicles and the livelihoods tied to them. Suyash Gupta, Director General of Indian Auto LPG Coalition, stated, “Delhi stands at a fundamental crossroad in its battle against the rising air pollution. The current ban, while bold, will disrupt the lives of millions unless we provide a viable alternative. By promoting retrofitment to Auto LPG, we can offer immediate relief to vehicle owners and the environment alike. Auto LPG retrofitment is a proven, affordable, and scalable solution that can help Delhi achieve its clean air goals without forcing citizens to scrap their assets prematurely. The government’s support in incentivizing and simplifying the retrofitment process will be crucial in making this transition both practical and impactful.” Amid these challenges, experts and industry leaders are calling for a practical, sustainable solution: retrofitment to Auto LPG. By incentivising and streamlining the retrofitment process, Delhi can convert millions of older vehicles into clean, low-emission alternatives almost overnight. Auto LPG is not only cost-effective for consumers but also delivers immediate and significant reductions in harmful emissions, making our cities healthier and our air cleaner. The government must prioritize clean fuel policies and support retrofitment initiatives to ensure a sustainable and practical transition for India’s vast vehicle population. Retrofitment to clean fuels like Auto LPG stands out as a game-changing opportunity—one that can help Delhi – and perhaps more cities across the country, breathe easier while ensuring mobility and livelihoods for its people.

Over 1.73 lakh hectares of forest land diverted from in 10 years; 63% for mining, irrigation and roads: Centre tells Lok Sabha

Union minister Kirti Vardhan Singh was replying to a question from Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat, who asked in the Lok Sabha whether forest clearances for projects had increased by over 150% from 2014 to 2023, citing a Centre for Science and Environment report. The Union environment ministry approved the diversion of 1,73,984.3 hectares of forest land for non-forestry purposes between 2014-15 and 2023-24, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh stated in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The mining and quarrying sector, the hydropower energy and irrigation sector, and road projects accounted for about 63 per cent of diversion, with forest land of 40,096.17 hectares, 40,138.31 hectares, and 30,605.69 hectares diverted for the three purposes respectively. The Union minister was replying to a question from Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat, who asked whether forest clearances for infrastructure and industrial projects had increased by over 150 per cent from 2014 to 2023, citing a Centre for Science and Environment report. The minister added in his reply that forest land was allowed for non-forestry use in unavoidable circumstances with “adequate mitigation measures including raising of compensatory afforestation and payment of net present value”. As per the minister’s reply, linear infrastructure projects such as power transmission lines accounted for diversion of 17,232.69 hectares of forest land. The ministry also approved 14,968.14 hectares of forest land for defence projects. Railway projects accounted for 7,998 hectares of forest land diversion, whereas 2,644 hectares were diverted for the thermal power sector. For the “others” category, 9,669.85 hectares of forest land were diverted and 346.84 hectares for wind power. “The process of approvals for diversion of forest land for various non-forestry purposes under Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvarshan) Adhiniyam, 1980 is a continuous process. During the period from 2014-15 to 2023-24, the forest area measuring 173984.3 ha. has been approved to be used for various non-forestry purposes, including infrastructure and industrial projects under the provisions of Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980,” the minister stated in his reply.

India cleared 1.73 lakh hectares of forests in a decade: Govt

India’s rapid infrastructure expansion over the past decade has come at a heavy environmental cost, with over 1.73 lakh hectares of forest land approved for diversion to non-forestry purposes between 2014 and 2024. The staggering figure was placed before the Lok Sabha on Monday by Environment Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh in response to a question by Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat, who cited the 2023 State of India's Environment Report by the Centre for Science and Environment. The report had flagged a 150 per cent surge in forest clearances over the last decade. Singh informed the House that 1,73,984.3 hectares of forest area had been approved for diversion under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, now renamed as Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980, during the period spanning April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2024. Leading the tally were mining and quarrying projects, which consumed 40,096.17 hectares, largely in mineral-rich regions of central and eastern India where extractive industries continue to chip away at forest cover. Hydropower and irrigation schemes collectively accounted for 40,138.31 hectares, including the construction of dams, canals, reservoirs and supporting infrastructure, reflecting the government's push for water security and energy generation. Linear infrastructure, a long-standing driver of deforestation, also featured prominently. Road-building projects were approved for 30,605.69 hectares, while power transmission lines claimed 17,232.69 hectares. Defence-related projects, including those in border areas, diverted 14,968.14 hectares, a significant figure that underscores the strategic realignment of infrastructure in frontier regions. The data placed railway projects next, with 7,998.65 hectares cleared, largely to accommodate new lines, doubling, and electrification drives. Singh said forest diversions were undertaken in “unavoidable circumstances” and only after adequate mitigation measures were ensured. Among other sectors, the “Others” category, which includes unclassified and miscellaneous use, accounted for 9,669.85 hvectares. Projects for converting forest villages into revenue villages used 3,250 hectares, a move often linked to resettlement under the Forest Rights Act. Thermal power plants accounted for 2,644.02 hectares, while resettlement schemes were sanctioned 1,580.55 hectares. Drinking water supply projects, including pipelines and treatment units, took up 1,282.21 hectares. Smaller but notable diversions included village electrification (551.13 ha), optical fibre cabling (437.63 ha), pipeline installations (543.57 ha), and industrial estates or standalone factories (405.82 ha). The footprint of renewable energy projects was considerably smaller. Wind power projects were granted 346.84 hectares, solar installations just 1.57 hectares, and substations 76.14 hectares. Healthcare and education projects together consumed less than 200 hectares. Hospitals and dispensaries took up 113.31 hectares, while educational institutions such as schools and colleges used 83.46 hectares. Marginal allocations were recorded for communication posts (6.54 ha), telecommunication lines (0.59 ha), and rainwater harvesting structures (0.11 ha). A total of 9.63 hectares of forest land was also regularised as encroachments under specific policy provisions. While the government insists that diversions are permitted only with environmental safeguards in place, the growing scale of forest loss for infrastructure signals an ongoing tension between development imperatives and ecological preservation.

1.73 Lakh Hectares of Forest Land Cleared for Infra Projects Since 2014, Government Confirms

GUWAHATI: Over 1.73 lakh hectares of forest land have been approved for diversion to non-forestry purposes across India between 2014-15 and 2023-24, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Monday, July 21. The data was shared by Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh in response to a question from MP Sukhdeo Bhagat, who cited the 2023 State of India’s Environment Report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The report noted a 150% rise in forest clearances since 2014. While the government did not directly address this percentage, it confirmed the total diverted area under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980.