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At 681, Haryana wheat burning cases hit 4-year low

Gurgaon: Haryana recorded 681 farm res between April 1 and May 4 — its lowest in four years. The drop marks a positive shi in the state's ght against crop residue burning (CRB), a major source of seasonal air pollution and soil degradation. The practice of burning wheat stubble, especially common in April and May aer the rabi harvest, is used to quickly clear elds for the next crop. In previous years, Haryana reported 2,459 res in 2022, 775 in 2023 and 1,157 in 2024 during the same period. Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), which has shared the gures, attributes the consistent yearon-year decline to growing awareness among farmers, improved enforcement of regulations and the increased adoption of sustainable stubble management practices. According to experts, the wheat season also impacts air quality. Research associate at Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Shubhansh Tiwari said, "Haryana is witnessing low farm res as many startups are now buying the residue from the farmers. The farmers are getting equipment to manage their farms and there is awareness as well." "I feel that in the paddy season it may continue. CRB is very critical as prolonged periods of stagnant air can trap pollutants, leading to persistent haze, reduced visibility and increased respiratory issues — particularly among vulnerable communities, " Tiwari said. The practice of CRB is a major concern, as it releases harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, aecting public health and the environment. Haryana agriculture department (Jhajjar) Mohit Kumar said public awareness campaigns which have been carried out over the years are "yielding results" to educate farmers and the general public about the negative consequences of CRB and the importance of adopting eco-friendly alternatives.

How Humidity Is Breaking Your Body’s Thermostat

Mumbai was not having an unusually hot day at 33.9 degrees Celsius if we only go by the mercury. But with 69% humidity, the impact felt on the human body was as good as 46 degrees. And this wasn’t even the hottest day of the season. In comparison, the ‘felt temperature’ in Rajasthan’s Barmer with the maximum temperature of 46.8°C but 9% humidity (April 30, 5.30 p.m) was a lower 43.6°C. As India grows warmer, it is also getting more humid, particularly on the coasts and the Northeast region which historically have higher humidity as compared to the plains. It is therefore essential to also monitor and study the impact of humidity on heat outcomes and health for hundreds of millions of Indians. New research shows that the combined effect of temperature higher than 32 degrees and humidity beyond 60% is hazardous for the human body, especially among outdoor workers with sustained exposure. Many stations in Konkan, Goa, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Odisha, West Bengal are surpassing this limit on the daily in summer. What’s more is that the research warns that at temperatures above 32°C, each 10% increase in relative humidity resulted in a 22% increase in physiological strain on participants. Humid heat inhibits the body’s ability to cool down through its natural mechanism of sweating. And humidity has increased across India at the rate of 0.79% per decade during the period of 1969 to 2012. “Humidity is an almost forgotten factor when it comes to Indian settings. Everybody is talking about heat,” said Vidhya Venugopal, faculty of public health at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai. “The kind of heat one experiences in Rajasthan is very different from Gujarat, Tamil Nadu. There are differences even within a state. How your body reacts to 20% humidity is different from 60% humidity.” “When you sweat so much, there is cellular dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. We must pay attention to the humidity factor in our approach to extreme heat,” said Venugopal, whose research area is extreme heat and health. High humidity levels coinciding with high temperatures are likely to create lethal weather conditions and imperil the lives of millions across large parts of the subcontinent, as IndiaSpend reported in August 2017, based on research published in the scientific journal Science Advances. Climate change will make such conditions more frequent as the 21st century comes to a close. IndiaSpend wrote to the Union Ministry of Health on what steps it is taking to issue advisories to people and various stakeholders to protect from or mitigate the impact of humid heat. We will update this story when we receive a response. Perspiration nation As has been the trend for a few years now, warmer temperatures set over India as early as February this year, obscuring the spring. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has been issuing heatwave alerts right from March. The IMD measures heat throughout the day for hundreds of weather stations which is marked by the day’s maximum temperature. The same is done for minimum temperature at the end of every night. Each weather station has a ‘normal’, and the departure from this normal shows how much hotter or cooler it is than usual. All weather stations also record relative humidity , which is the measure of how much water vapour is contained in the air as compared to how much it can hold. This is expressed in percentage. However, when issuing information on extreme heat or record-breaking heat, only temperatures are taken into consideration. The threshold for declaration of a heatwave is also dependent on the same, but there are lower thresholds for coastal locations as compared to the plains. Due to high humidity, there might be a reason to re-draft these guidelines. In coastal areas, a heatwave is declared if the temperature crosses 37°C for two consecutive days in at least two stations. This threshold is 45°C for a station in the plains. However, if one considers a maximum temperature of 36°C, just one degree lower than the criteria, and factor in 60% humidity, the ‘felt temperature’ or ‘heat index’ as per this calculator is 48.1 degrees, higher than the ‘mark’ for a severe heatwave. In other words, the human body will experience thermal discomfort high enough to be categorised into a ‘severe heat wave’ and yet, the station will not even record a ‘heatwave’. (It must be noted that relative humidity varies as per the time of the day, location and other factors whereas maximum temperature is one value at one time of the day). Declaration of a heatwave means that various stakeholders from the Union ministries to the concerned local authorities can take measures to prepare for extreme heat outcomes. This includes taking care of those most vulnerable to heat (infants, elderly, people with chronic diseases), issuing alerts and advisories to people. In case of a red alert, there are chances of a heat stroke and extreme care is needed for the most vulnerable. Our survival depends on our bodies staying at a consistent temperature. Normally, our core temperature--from the top of the head to mid-chest, encompassing the brain, lungs and chest--is regulated at 37°C, and our skin at 35°C. Sweating helps us shed excess heat--sweat beads cool the skin, and evaporation of sweat gets rid of heat, restoring the equilibrium. This process of thermoregulation occurs efficiently only when ambient air is favourable for us. Air can hold a limited quantity of water until it saturates. In dry air without much water content, your sweat evaporates quickly, causing cooling. In humid air that has much moisture already, sweat does not evaporate as easily, leading to overheating of the body. Physical labour--such as on farms, where 48.8% of Indians work--becomes unsafe in such conditions, and can prove fatal, as IndiaSpend reported in July 2021. And this is not in the future. India lost around 259 billion hours of labour annually between 2001 and 2020 due to the impacts of humid heat, as IndiaSpend reported in January 2022 based on a study from researchers at Duke University. The loss of these productive hours cost India $624 billion or about 7% of its 2017 gross domestic product. Felt temperature is the thermal discomfort the human body feels and is a combination of maximum temperature and relative humidity. If we add solar radiation and wind speed to it, it gives us a ‘wet bulb globe temperature’. There are discussions globally on whether the WBGT might be the most accurate depiction of temperatures. Either way, meteorologists around the world are now talking about extreme heat not just in temperature numbers but in terms of ‘heat stress’. IMD has been issuing a forecast for ‘hot and humid weather conditions’ for a few years now. For example, on April 17 it forecast that such weather is likely to prevail over Gujarat that day; and in Marathwada and central Maharashtra during April 17-21. ‘Hot and humid weather’ is when maximum temperatures remain 3°C above normal along with above-normal relative humidity. However, these alerts are different from the colour-coded alerts issued by IMD, such as yellow, orange and red to denote heatwaves in summer. “Humidity is more dynamic than temperature,” explained an IMD scientist who did not wish to be named. “Humidity cannot have a national mean because it changes throughout the day. As temperature rises, the air’s capacity to hold moisture also rises. You cannot have one figure for the entire day also. “For our experimental heat index, we are using temperature and humidity figures of 2.30 p.m. but for this heat index or wet bulb globe temperature to become the norm, data is not available in India. We need more studies and data on physiological response from India. It is a multiple stakeholder process beyond IMD,” they added. The officer was referring to an experimental heat index that IMD has been issuing for the last three years wherein it measures ‘apparent temperature’. Just like the calculations for ‘felt temperature’ used earlier, this heat index measures the heat stress the body is expected to feel and is a combination of air temperature and humidity. It is derived using a formula similar to the one being used in the USA but it is not validated across India. Senior IMD scientist R.K. Jenamani said that the IMD is trying a number of new things. “In order to look at different thresholds, heat index, we also need all-cause mortality data. But we have started giving hot and humid weather alerts. Everyone is considering humidity, it is definitely a parameter. We are starting a lot of new things. In our daily forecast, we are now forecasting relative humidity also,” said Jenamani. The scientist was referring to an annexure in the daily press communication wherein based on the day’s humidity, IMD has been forecasting the next day’s humidity levels across India as a percentage range. Stranded on a heat island The phrase ‘urban heat island effect’ has become ubiquitous in Indian cities. In simple terms, it is the warming effect felt in cities as compared to their nearby rural areas because of construction material used, concretisation, greenhouse gas emissions etc. trapping more heat within those cities. A 2024 report by Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment analysed three factors that contribute to heat stress in six megacities of India during summer--air temperature, land surface temperature and relative humidity. Its findings showed that humidity had contributed to a significant increase in these cities’ heat stress. In Chennai, one of the hottest and most humid places in India, humidity was responsible for adding on average 6.3°C heat stress to the city. That is because Chennai’s summertime has registered 0.4 degrees increase in ambient temperature as decadal average, while its relative humidity has increased by 5% between 2001-10 and 2014-23. “There is direct co-relation between increase in built up area and increase in urban heat stress,” the CSE analysis on Chennai found, adding that the city’s built up area has increased from 30% in 2003 to about 74% in 2023, while green cover fell from 34% to 20% in the same time. Kolkata also had identical numbers but less of an urban heat island effect. In Mumbai, summertime has registered a 0.6°C increase in comparison while relative humidity has increased by 7% between 2001-10 and 2014-23. High humidity was responsible for adding, on average, 5°C of heat stress to the city. Mumbai’s built up area has increased from 38% in 2003 to 52% in 2023 while its green cover has decreased from 36% to 30% in the same time period. And across India, as we said, humidity increased at the rate of 0.79% per decade during the period of 1969=2012. Global warming has a role to play here as well. A 2011 research paper stated that “there is a direct influence of global warming on precipitation. Increased heating leads to greater evaporation and thus surface drying, thereby increasing the intensity and duration of drought. However, the water holding capacity of air increases by about 7% per 1°C warming, which leads to increased water vapor in the atmosphere.”

Winter PM2.5 Trends Paint A Bleak Picture For Mega Cities

Irrespective of their diverse geographic and climatic contexts, the megacities of India – Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai - have seen worsening PM2.5 levels during the winter of 2024-25 (October 1, 2024-January 31, 2025). The overall level and the peaking points of pollution have, however, varied across cities depending on the meteorological conditions of different climatic zones. This has emerged from a new analysis of real time PM2.5 data in these cities during the winter period. The analysis, done by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), has evaluated pollution trends in peer megacities and provides insights into long-term seasonal variations and annual shifts in particulate pollution during winter. While Delhi, located in the land-locked Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) with adverse meteorology, has recorded the highest level of pollution during winter, Kolkata -- also at the tip of the IGP – ranks second. The megacities outside the IGP -- Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru -- despite having more advantageous climatic conditions and natural ventilation, have also experienced increases in average PM2.5 concentrations. Other than Delhi and Chennai, all other megacities have recorded city-wide winter averages that are comparatively lower than the average of the past three winters; but the concentrations across different locations have been high, leading to high exposures. “The peaking of pollution during winter in any climatic zone is a sign of the underlying problem of persistent air pollution in these rapidly urbanising and motorising cities. The growing impact of local sources of pollution shows up in the pollution hotspots across these cities, increasing local exposures and risks,” says Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE. “These cities need stringent action to curb pollution from all sources to meet the clean air standards. But urban centres like Delhi and Kolkata that face an additional challenge of adverse meteorology which enhances the concentrations, need even more stringent action to counter these effects,” Roychowdhury adds. According to Sharanjeet Kaur, programme officer with the Urban Lab at CSE, “While Delhi’s winter air quality often dominates public discourse, rising pollution levels in other megacities remain largely overlooked. Despite some improvement in seasonal pollution trends, winter pollution continues to remain high or has been rising locally.” The methodology behind the CSE analysis This is an assessment of annual and seasonal trends in PM2.5 concentrations for the period October 1 to January 31 in the years 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25. Data points have been cleaned and data gaps addressed based on the USEPA method. The analysis has been done on the basis of real time data available from currently working air quality monitoring stations in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru -- 115 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) have been covered. Delhi (40), Kolkata (seven), Mumbai (31), Hyderabad (14), Bengaluru (14) and Chennai (nine) have more than one real time station, therefore city-wide averages have been used for comparative analysis: it is defined as average of all city stations that have been functional for the given study period. During this winter, Kolkata and Hyderabad were most polluted after Delhi, while Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru saw the fastest worsening of localised pollution levels: Delhi, with a winter average PM2.5 level of 175 microgramme per cubic metre (µg/m³) remains the most polluted megacity by a large margin during winter, even though the winter average has shown improvement over the previous winter. In the other five megacities, the average winter PM2.5 level was 65 µg/m³ in Kolkata; 52 µg/m³ in Hyderabad; 50 µg/m³ in Mumbai; 36 µg/m³ in Chennai; and 37 µg/m³ in Bengaluru. Kaur points out that winter averages cannot be directly compared with a 24-hour average or an annual average. She says: “Indicatively, daily standards for PM2.5 are 60 µg/m³ and annual standards are 40 µg/m³. But city average is not an adequate indicator for high exposures in these cities.” Longer-term trend in winter averages in mega cities: When compared to the three-year average, Delhi remained the worst performer, with average winter pollution levels continuing to rise, even though by just 1 per cent higher than the average of the last three years. Compared to the winter of 2021-22, Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad show improvement with their winter PM2.5 levels dropping by 16 per cent, 14 per cent and 16 per cent respectively.

New construction waste rules push for producers’ accountability and recycling

New construction and demolition waste rules now require producers to take responsibility for their waste, pay penalties for violations, and report activities for monitoring through a central online system. Construction and associated waste generation have been increasing sharply, but previous regulations failed to address the waste-related challenges effectively. Experts express cautious optimism about the new rules but also point towards scope for improvement. India’s environment ministry has introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), mandatory recycling targets and other provisions to promote recycling and sustainable waste management in the construction and demolition (C&D) sector. Under the newly notified Environment (Construction and Demolition) Waste Management Rules, 2025, local or development authorities are now required to include waste recycling provisions in approvals for all construction projects. The rules mandate that EPR targets in construction, reconstruction and demolition projects be regulated through a waste management plan. “Every producer shall prepare a waste management plan in respect of each project which shall assess the quantum of waste from all streams in a construction, reconstruction and demolition project and submit it to the local authority for approval,” it said. The rules define the responsibilities of waste generators (or producers), requiring them to collect and segregate waste into separate material streams, store it safely, and ensure recycling or proper handover to authorised agencies or recyclers. They must also take necessary measures to prevent air pollution, avoid littering, and minimise public nuisance during waste collection, segregation and storage. “The revised rules mark an important shift by placing more responsibility on waste generators and encouraging private sector participation,” said Sree Kumar Kumaraswamy, Program Director, Clean Air Action, WRI India. “This creates opportunities for new business models in C&D waste management and enables data-driven planning through digital tools like the online portal.” When calculating EPR targets, debris such as cement concrete, bricks, plaster, stone, rubble, and ceramics will be considered. However, reusable or resalable materials, such as iron, wood, plastic, metal, and glass, will not be counted towards EPR targets and will be managed under prevailing regulations. The new rules also mandate the utilisation of processed C&D waste in certain construction activities. As per it, projects with a built-up area of 20,000 square metres or more and road construction projects must use processed waste. Local authorities are responsible for monitoring compliance. The rules also talk about waste storage facilities. Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) must identify and set up intermediate waste storage facilities and processing sites — locally or on a cluster basis — within one year. They are also responsible for establishing collection points, ensuring waste transport to registered recyclers. Non-compliance cases must be referred to the State or Union Territory Pollution Control Boards, as per the new rules. The rules also introduce provisions for environmental compensation. Producers, recyclers, storage operators, or developers will have to pay compensation based on the harm caused to the environment or public health if they fail to follow proper waste disposal and recycling rules. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) will manage the compensation collected in a separate account. These funds will be used for collecting and recycling uncollected, legacy, or orphan waste, supporting research and development, incentivising recyclers, and aiding local bodies in managing waste effectively. The rules also talk about a central steering committee that will oversee the implementation of the rules. The CPCB Chairperson will chair it and include representatives from several ministries (Environment, Housing, Roads, Rural Development, etc.), NITI Aayog, Bureau of Indian Standards, Indian Roads Congress, recycling sector, real estate sector, and other expert bodies. The rules set clear EPR targets for waste recycling in reconstruction and demolition projects — 25% for 2025-26, rising to 100% from 2028-29 onwards. Targets for the utilisation of processed waste in construction begin at 5% in 2026-27 and increase to 25% by 2030-31 and beyond. Similar targets are set for road construction projects. Kumaraswamy said, “The mandated minimum targets for using recycled C&D waste in construction and infrastructure projects are especially promising. They can help create a reliable market, which may drive down costs over time and incentivise innovation in material recycling and reuse.” The new rules also talk about centralised interface-based online monitoring and compliance assessment. Appreciating this, Kumaraswamy said that it has a “strong potential to bring transparency to the entire C&D waste lifecycle — from generation to recycling” and, if implemented well, he added, “it can significantly strengthen compliance and data-driven decision-making, fostering a more accountable and efficient system. A growing challenge and limited progress so far The construction sector contributes 8% to India’s GDP and employs the second-largest workforce after agriculture. With ongoing urbanisation and rising aspirations, the sector is expected to grow. A joint report by think tanks Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), WRI India and RMI for the G20 Secretariat in December 2024 notes that India is already adding 700-900 million square metres of floor space annually, while the national highway network expanded by over 60% between 2014 and 2023. To meet future demands, India will need to develop 15 square kilometres of land every day until 2050, in addition to redeveloping old infrastructure. This rapid expansion is expected to increase construction and demolition (C&D) waste significantly. Estimates vary as per the report. In 2018, the Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC) estimated annual C&D waste to be 100 million tonnes, while the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) projected 150-500 million tonnes in 2024. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) estimates that total solid waste will reach 165 million tonnes annually by 2030. Policymakers have long recognised the scale of the challenge. A 2022 report by the MoHUA noted that India’s annual material consumption rose six-fold between 1970 and 2015 — from 1.18 billion to 7 billion tonnes — and is projected to reach 14.2 billion tonnes by 2030. In response, the Government of India introduced various regulations. The Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules were notified in 2000, and in March 2016, the Ministry of Environment released dedicated Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules. However, construction activity has surged over the past two decades, and experts say the problem of C&D waste has grown substantially. According to a 2023 report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a New Delhi-based think tank, the 2016 rules were poorly implemented and had several shortcomings. These included a lack of notification of bylaws by cities, inadequate identification of waste collection points, absence of mechanisms to promote recycled products, a weak market for recycled materials and poor institutional capacity within urban local bodies. The CEEW, WRI India and RMI report observed, “…in practise, a significant quantity of C&D waste is handled informally, either through backfilling, or illegal dumping in vulnerable areas. This has health and environmental impacts such as aggravating air pollution and GHG emissions, soil contamination, impact on climate and flooding.” “There has not been much success in the implementation of these rules,” said Bharati Chaturvedi of the Chintan Environmental Research and Action group, which works in the waste sector. According to Chaturvedi, one of the reasons why this type of waste is managed poorly is that it is not a profitable activity. “It is our job to make it a profitable and useful business, and we have not done that,” she said.

‘No Tree Felling Within 5km of Taj Mahal Without Our Approval’: Supreme Court Upholds its 2015 Order

On Thursday, May 1, 2025, the Supreme Court of India reiterated its 2015 directive, strictly prohibiting tree felling within a five-kilometre aerial radius of the Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, without its explicit permission. The ruling covers the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ), a 10,400 sq km area spanning districts in Uttar Pradesh (Agra, Firozabad, Mathura, Hathras, Etah) and Bharatpur in Rajasthan. The Court dismissed a plea seeking relaxation for private landowners, underscoring the need for prior approval even for cutting fewer than 50 trees. Officials and environmentalists have welcomed the decision, while landowners express concerns over procedural delays. The Court also directed a tree census and a review of protections for other UNESCO sites in the region. Stringent Safeguards for Taj Mahal’s Green Cover A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan clarified that the original May 8, 2015 order remains in force: no tree within five kilometres of the Taj Mahal – regardless of number – can be felled without prior Supreme Court approval, based on recommendations from the Central Empowered Committee (CEC). The Court also mandated that permission for areas outside the five-kilometre zone but within the TTZ must be granted by the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), in strict compliance with the Uttar Pradesh Tree Preservation Act and compensatory afforestation norms. The bench emphasised, “Only in cases of grave urgency, such as imminent risk to human life, can the tree felling be expedited. Even then, due diligence must be exercised.” The Court further directed the Forest Research Institute to conduct a comprehensive tree census within the TTZ, aiming to establish a baseline for monitoring and enforcement. Environmentalists and heritage conservationists have lauded the decision. “This is a decisive step towards protecting not just the Taj Mahal but the entire ecosystem that supports it,” said Dr. Sunita Narain, Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment. Meanwhile, representatives of local landowners have expressed concerns about delays in obtaining permissions for essential activities like agriculture and infrastructure development. Background: A Balancing Act Between Conservation and Development The TTZ was established in 1996 by the Supreme Court in the landmark MC Mehta v. Union of India case, aimed at shielding the Taj Mahal from pollution and environmental degradation. Over the years, the Court has issued several directives to curb industrial pollution, vehicular emissions, and illegal construction in the zone. In 2019, the Court had relaxed the requirement for prior permission on non-forest and private lands, but concerns over misuse and illegal felling led to the recent withdrawal of that exemption. The Court’s latest ruling reinstates strict controls and penalties, including a ₹1 lakh fine and compensatory afforestation for violations. Recent incidents, such as the illegal felling of 454 trees in Mathura’s Dalmia Bagh, prompted the Court to order replantation and impose hefty fines. The Court has also asked the CEC to assess whether similar protections are needed for other UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the area, including Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. The Logical Indian’s Perspective The Logical Indian applauds the Supreme Court’s renewed commitment to environmental protection and heritage conservation in the TTZ. This ruling not only safeguards the Taj Mahal’s iconic beauty but also upholds the principles of environmental justice and public trust. While we recognise the challenges faced by landowners and farmers, we believe that collective responsibility and dialogue can balance development with conservation. As stewards of our shared heritage, how can we, as citizens, contribute to preserving India’s natural and cultural treasures for future generations? Let’s start a conversation about sustainable stewardship and the role each of us can play in ensuring that development and heritage protection go hand in hand. What steps can local communities and authorities take together to ensure the TTZ remains a model of harmony between people and nature?

All can, no able: Water suppliers, officials defy health safety

Countless vendors deliver water cans to homes, offices, and even government buildings in the state capital. From private employees to cabinet ministers, these cans reach every doorstep. Yet the question of purity remains largely ignored. Many suppliers claim to hold valid trade licences, and some display FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) stickers. Still, serious doubts persist about the legitimacy and oversight of such claims. Food Inspector Debendra Dubey says: “Section 26(2) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 does not categorise water cans as food items, so we lack the jurisdiction to regulate these suppliers.” But a closer reading of the Act reveals a contradiction. Chapter 1 defines food as any substance, whether processed, partially processed or unprocessed, that is intended for human consumption. This clearly opens the door to interpret drinking water as a substance that should fall under regulatory scrutiny. Adding to the concerns is the fact that dozens of these water suppliers operate from Old City localities along Betasia Road, where the quality of water has remained suspect since the 1984 Gas Disaster. A 2018 report by the CSIR–Indian Institute of Toxicology Research confirmed contamination near the Union Carbide factory site. Similar findings were documented in 1999 by Greenpeace, in 2009 by the Centre for Science and Environment, in 2018 by the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, and in 2019 by the Sambhavna Trust Clinic. All concluded the groundwater near the Carbide plant remains unsafe. After the gas tragedy, the government had even sealed off a one-kilometre radius due to dangerous levels of contamination. More recently, the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) collected water samples from 42 locations across 19 residential colonies. The findings were alarming. Contamination was detected in several areas, including densely populated and vulnerable neighbourhoods. Despite these repeated warnings, water can suppliers continue to operate freely in many of these places, selling cans at Rs 30 to Rs 40 — while residents remain unaware of what exactly they’re consuming. Repeated efforts to contact the FSSAI Commissioner and the Nodal Officer proved futile, as neither of the two was available for comment.

India drafts emissions targets for industry

The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has released a draft notification setting emissions intensity targets for high-emitters, a step towards finalising the country’s first compliance-based carbon market, expected to launch in 2026. The emissions intensity targets are part of a cap-and-trade system that aims to drive down greenhouse gas emissions by limiting the total emissions entering the atmosphere. The notification makes it mandatory for industrial units listed to meet reduced emissions targets. Units that reduce emissions beyond the given target can generate credits and sell them in the carbon market. Units that struggle to meet their targets can purchase these credits to meet their goals. If industries fail to meet their targets, however, a fine in the form of environmental compensation will be levied by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the draft notification states. As it stands, 282 industrial units are obligated to meet these new targets, spanning the aluminium, cement, chlor-alkali, and pulp and paper sectors. The cement sector – which accounts for 5.8% of India’s carbon emissions – has the most industries with targets (186). The government also plans on including the fertiliser, iron, steel, petrochemicals and petroleum refinery sectors at a later stage. Conspicuously missing from the list of obligated industries is the power sector, India’s biggest emitter, responsible for 39.2% of carbon emissions. “There is a feeling that the power sector should be excluded because it’s a complex sector that is heavily regulated, and imposing targets on it could escalate costs for distributors and even consumers,” said Vaibhav Chaturvedi, Senior Fellow at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). “But this logic doesn’t hold because the power sector is already following other compliances, like obligatorily purchasing renewable energy, without such drastic impacts. Power sector inclusion should come sooner rather than later.” Calculating baseline emissions for industries The draft notification, published on April 16, states two objectives: To help attain India’s climate targets (Nationally Determined Contributions) by removal, reduction, or avoidance of greenhouse gases; and to promote the adoption of sustainable, “cutting-edge” technologies across traditionally high-emission industries. It covers two greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide and perfluorocarbons or PFCs (used in industrial processes like producing semiconductors). In August 2022, the Indian government pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 45% by 2030, compared to 2005 levels. Emissions intensity refers to carbon dioxide emitted per unit of economic output or activity. India has also pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2070 and is rapidly scaling up renewable sources. “An intensity-based baseline-and-credit system is particularly suited to economies like India, which are still growing and where absolute emissions may continue to rise in the short term. This system rewards improvements in efficiency rather than penalising growth, making it more equitable for developing countries,” explained Hisham Mundol, India’s chief advisor to the Environmental Defense Fund. The draft notification has created, for the first time, baseline emissions for each industrial unit covered, with targets set over two compliance years (2025-2026 and 2026-2027). The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), the body administering the upcoming market, said the baseline covers emissions from energy use as well as emissions from processes and indirect emissions. The baseline was calculated by identifying “all possible GHG emission sources and source streams resulting in emissions within the boundary of obligated entities.” The two-year compliance period is a very short window for investors to make decisions, said Chaturvedi. “Investors need stability when making decisions, and a longer-term compliance period will allow for more stability and time. Seeking approvals and clearances for new processes is always time consuming,” said Chaturvedi. In keeping the power sector out, gains from the carbon market could be diminished, a report by the Centre for Science and Environment says. “The Indian carbon market, even if it covers all the industries in the country by 2030, will be covering only 20 to 22 percent of the country’s emissions,” the report says, adding, “Currently, only a few sectors are being considered in the initial cycles, which would cover close to 10 per cent of national GHG emissions. Excluding the power sector, significantly reduces the covered emissions and the possible reductions from them would be marginal.” Progress on the voluntary market Apart from the compliance market, which makes it obligatory for industrial units to meet targets, the BEE is also administering a national voluntary market, in which entities can freely participate by buying and selling carbon credits. As part of this, the BEE has approved eight offset mechanisms, including afforestation projects, green hydrogen production, improving energy efficiency, as well as more technically complex procedures like extracting methane from landfills, livestock, and households. “Additionality is non-negotiable. A credit must reflect a genuine reduction in emissions that wouldn’t have occurred in a business-as-usual scenario,” said Manish Dabkara, Chairman and Managing Director, EKI Energy Services and President of the Carbon Markets Association of India. “The value of a credit hinges on how accurately the baseline or the “what would have happened otherwise” scenario is established. This involves rigorous methodology, often using standardised tools and conservative assumptions to avoid overestimation. The more robust and transparent this process, the more confidence buyers can have in the credit’s environmental impact,” he said. Several of these offset mechanisms have been borrowed from the erstwhile Clean Development Mechanism – a global carbon market set up under the Kyoto Protocol, which was phased out in 2024. India was among the world’s largest suppliers of credits under the CDR. However, some projects under it were found to be inflating their true credit value. “Unlike earlier models, the current offset mechanism places a far greater emphasis on environmental integrity, robust governance, and alignment with national climate goals. The project approval and credit issuance process is far more stringent. The mechanism mandates validation and verification by accredited third-party agencies (such as Academy of Certified Valuators and Analysts or ACVAs) and includes multiple layers of review from subject matter experts to a dedicated Technical Committee, and finally the NSCICM (National Steering Committee for Indian Carbon Market). This structured and transparent process helps prevent the kind of arbitrary or unchecked credit issuance seen in the past,” said Dabkara.

...Average April AQIin capital worst since 2022

New Delhi: Apart from high temperatures, Delhiites experienced the most polluted April in three years. The average Air Quality Index in April was 213 against 182 last year and 180 in 2023. April 2022 with average AQI of 255 last exceeded this year's mark. There were 20 'poor' air days this April compared with 13 in 2024 and 2023. However, April 2022 had seen 29 ʻpoor' days and one ʻvery poor' day. So far this month, there have been nine 'moderate' air days and 20 'poor' days, with a streak of ve consecutive ʻpoor' days from April 6 to 10. Rain and winds on the evening of April 10 improved the air quality. The city is seeing another ʻpoor' streak of nine days since April 21. There has been no ʻgood' or ʻsatisfactory' air day this April. Ozone and dust were among the main sources of pollution in April, with ozone and PM10 remaining the lead pollutants on most days. An ocial said the month was mostly dry, so there was no rain to wash out the pollutants. Dipankar Saha, former head of Central Pollution Control Board's air laboratory, who analysed the AQI data of April from 2016 to 2025, said the overall air quality in the month was between ʻmoderate' and ʻpoor' Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment, had earlier said that the pollution was the result of the intensication of summer conditions. "This necessitates upscaled and stringent implementation of priority measures to control pollution generated by vehicles, transport, waste and households. Ensuring on-ground change is critical for clean air, " said Roychowdhury. Stage I of Graded Response Action Plan for ʻpoor' air has been in force since April 2. The measures under Stage I are preventative and focus on the enforcement of existing curb guidelines. According to the Air Quality Early Warning System, the forecasting body under the Union ministry of earth sciences, the air quality of the city is likely to stay in the ʻmoderate' from April 30 to May 2.

From waste to resource: Can urban India turn the tide on its water crisis?

As taps run dry, experts push for reuse, recharge, and a radical rethink of how cities manage water India ranks among the most water-stressed countries. According to the 2023 Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas released by the World Resources Institute (WRI), India stands 24th out of 25 nations facing “extremely high” water stress. According to the report, this means the country is using at least 80% of its available supply. Rapid urbanisation is worsening the crisis. Between 2013 and 2023, India’s urban population grew from 32% to 36.36%. In 2024, metro cities—home to over 11.73 crore people—accounted for more than 8% of the national population. Pressure on water resources is mounting at multiple levels. India recently suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, a landmark agreement signed in 1960 to govern the sharing of river waters. The move comes amid broader tensions, following a terror attack in Kashmir, which took the lives of 26 people, including tourists. It reflects how water scarcity is no longer just a domestic governance challenge, but an increasingly strategic and geopolitical concern. At home, Indian cities and towns are growing at an unsustainable pace, their water sources are running dry. From shrinking rivers and rapidly falling groundwater to unequal access and rising pollution, the urban water crisis is deepening. Poor planning, unchecked construction, climate impacts, and outdated infrastructure are all making matters worse. Experts say the way forward lies in smarter use of local resources and treating wastewater as a valuable asset. Can India’s cities act in time to secure their water future? Groundwater realities A 2018 report by India’s apex think-tank and Niti Aayog predicted that 21 Indian cities — including Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai — will run out of ground water by 2020. While that hasn’t happened yet, the crisis looms large. The cities are extracting water at unsustainable rates,” says Dipankar Saha, former member of Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and currently Chair Professor with Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies (MRIIRS). Saha explains that almost 70% of India’s geography is hard rock which has low permeability, therefore the water is not easy to recharge. He says, “In hard rock areas, there is less potential to recharge the source, the groundwater level is falling rapidly but the rate of extraction remains the same or going up.” Saha gives an example of Faridabad city, which is adjacent to Delhi and running out of groundwater. “Even though the city is at the banks of river Yamuna, the dependence is entirely on groundwater. Since there is no recharge commensurate with the heavy rate of extraction the water table has fallen sharply.,” he adds. Day zero cities and dying rivers In 2019, Chennai nearly ran dry. Officials had to declare a “Day Zero” situation in the city when its four main reservoirs almost ran out of water. Queues, chaos, and emergency water tankers ensued. Researchers attributed the problem to poor planning and destruction of water bodies in India’s sixth-largest city with an estimated population of more than 10 million. But Chennai is just one example. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) listed 100 cities who will face ‘grave water risk’ in 2050. Among them there were 30 Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Lucknow and Bhopal. This would be driven by a dramatic rise in the population percentage from 17% in 2020 to 51% in 2050, the report states. Even hill stations aren’t spared. In 2018, Shimla’s taps ran dry leading to protests by the local population. “In the past two decades, snowfall has reduced. Earlier, we had several feet high snow in these hills between December and March. Now it is hardly a foot high and that too for a few days in the whole year. We have dry winters and less rainfall. There are other problems as well such as unregulated construction and poor waste management, which has killed the aquifers,” says Sanjay Chauhan, a businessman and former mayor of Shimla municipal corporation. Shimla requires around 45 million litres water per day (MLD) during peak tourist season. But it hardly gets around 30 MLD per day. The story is similar in other hill stations as well such as Nainital, Mussoorie, Kullu, Ooty and Kodaikanal. “Cities like Chennai, Shimla, and Nainital are warning signs of what uncontrolled demand and environmental carelessness might do. For instance, increased built-up areas and widespread concretisation—along with the filling of ponds and construction that ignores natural water channels—have contributed to more frequent and severe urban flooding,” says Paramita Dey, senior faculty at National Institute of Urban Affairs, New Delhi. Vanishing rivers, uneven rain Across India, rivers, too, are vanishing outside monsoon windows. An analysis by the Central Water Commission (CWC) last year found there was “no water left in the rivers between Mahanadi and Pennar basins that flow through Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha.” “As a result of climate change, a lot of rain falls in a very short span of time. This means the number of rainy days are less. If you check the data of the past few years, you will find the same big cities, be it Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow or any other city, are facing droughts and floods in the same year,” says Sushmita Sengupta, Senior Programme Manager of Water Programme with the Center for Science and Environment (CSE). The Ganga basin is another example. It has seen the lowest snow persistence in 23 years, threatening cities downstream. This water shortage in the river basins gravely affects the socio-economic conditions, livelihoods and agricultural activity of the regions dependent on the rivers. Not to mention the health of the rivers. “A river’s health depends largely on how quickly rainwater flows into it from its catchment area. The slower the flow, the better the river’s condition; rapid runoff, on the other hand, leads to poor river health. Forests, wetlands, local water bodies, and carbon-rich agricultural fields help absorb and gradually release rainwater, supporting year-round river flow and protecting against both floods and droughts,” says Himanshu Thakkar, Coordinator of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP). Unequal and unreliable access This widening gap is not just about scarcity—it’s also about inequality. India’s per capita water availability, according to government data, is declining—from 1,816 cubic metres in 2001 to a projected 1,367 cubic metres by 2031. Urban benchmarks by the government set supply at 135 litres per person daily, but access varies wildly. While some city dwellers enjoy 24/7 piped supply, others—especially in slums—live with chronic shortages. Big cities also often draw water from far-off regions, depriving locals. This writer documented the water problem in Rajasthan where people ran “No Water, No Vote” campaign during assembly polls in 2018. Thakkar says there’s no real policy for urban water management. Instead of optimally using local sources like rainwater, ponds, or rivers, cities rely on long-distance transfers, according to him. “We have smart city projects, but there is no definition of a water-smart city. The city should be able to manage and use its local water resources optimally.” Thakkar recalled that during his time on the working group for the 12th Five Year Plan (2012–17), it was recommended that cities should only be allowed to draw water from external sources if they could first demonstrate optimal use of all local water resources. Pollution: The other crisis Even if water is available, it is often unsafe. Despite India having 4% of the world’s total freshwater resources, its quality is very poor. The country ranked 122 out of 124 countries on the World Water Quality Index in 2024. The Niti Aayog report also acknowledges the poor quality of water across India. Industrial effluents, untreated sewage, and poor waste disposal have left shallow aquifers toxic and rivers choking with contaminants like cadmium, lead, and arsenic. “The major issue in urban areas is that there are many legal and illegal industrial units running. Besides polluting rivers these industrial units are discharging hazardous chemicals, which percolate into the ground. Even the treatment technology is not up to the mark. It can not treat heavy metals like cadmium, chromium and mercury properly,” Saha told Carboncopy. “Deep aquifers are still relatively safe, but shallow aquifers are totally contaminated. Some of the contamination like arsenic occurs naturally, but human activities are worsening the problem ” he said. In response to a question in the Rajya Sabha, the government has admitted to “the occurrence of contaminants such as fluoride, arsenic, nitrate and heavy metals, beyond permissible limits (as per BIS) for human consumption in certain isolated pockets in some States / UTs.” Despite spending over ₹33,000 crore in four decades, the Ganga remains polluted. A CWC study found 81 Indian rivers and tributaries with dangerously high levels of toxic heavy metals. According to the report, the heavy metals detected beyond safe limits included arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, mercury and nickel. One of the biggest reasons rivers stay polluted is the unchecked dumping of untreated sewage, experts say. Cities along riverbanks routinely release waste directly into the water, and across states, this has become business as usual. Just this month, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) pulled up the governments of Jharkhand and Uttarakhand for allowing untreated sewage to flow into the Ganga. While river pollution remains a serious concern, government data suggests some progress. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the number of polluted river stretches has dropped from 351 in 2018 to 311 in 2022. Of the 180 stretches out of the 351 flagged as polluted in 2018, water quality improved in all—106 were removed from the polluted list entirely, while 74 were downgraded to a lower-risk category. In 2015, 70% of monitored rivers (275 out of 390) were classified as polluted. By 2022, that figure had dropped to 46% (279 out of 603), according to government assessments. The way forward Experts advocate a shift in thinking. Wastewater isn’t a liability, but a resource. A comprehensive water conservation and management policy is the need of the hour. Shifting the thinking from a supply-driven approach to an integrated urban water management system should be key, say experts. “We have been doing piecemeal planning in many cases. It is a well-established fact that the infrastructure for water supply is capital-intensive. However, we have not focussed adequately on operation and maintenance. User charges are not enough to recover Operation and Maintenance costs. Secondly, we have not been successful in reducing non-revenue water. A lot of water is lost in leakages,” says Dey. “Decentralised treatment, strong regulatory control, and public confidence-building will help India realise the possibilities of wastewater reuse,” she said. Cities like Singapore and El Paso, Texas, treat and reuse wastewater to meet up to 40% of their water needs. India has the potential to follow suit—if treatment plants work efficiently and sludge is managed. But India is able to recycle only a fraction of its wastewater. Over 72,000 MLD of wastewater is generated daily in India, but only 28% is treated. In Delhi, over 1,000 MLD of sewage flows into the Yamuna untreated, despite having 37 STPs—half of which do not meet the standards set by CPCB. “We use freshwater for everything from bus washing to government buildings,” says environment activist Pankaj Kumar, who is associated with an NGO Earth Warriors, which works to spread awareness about cleaning up the Yamuna. “If we use clean treated water for all these works then the pressure on rivers will reduce, giving them a chance to recharge groundwater,” Kumar said. Kumar gives the example of Pappan Kalan in Delhi and some areas in Noida where STPs are working well and the water is being used in agriculture and for groundwater recharge by making ponds. According to a CEEW report, treated wastewater in India could irrigate 26 times Delhi’s area by 2050. The market value of the treated water will be ₹1.9 billion in 2050. Another report by CEEW last year highlights Haryana, Karnataka, and Punjab are the frontrunners of used water management in India. Nitin Bassi, Senior Programme Lead with CEEW, said, “Many Indian cities are now water-stressed. For instance, Bengaluru, which draws most of its freshwater from the Kaveri River and borewells, is currently facing a severe water crisis. Reusing used water to its full potential for non-potable purposes will be key in the future.” Pricing for sustainability One way to make people responsible and conserve water is to put a price on it. Although people purchase bottled water for drinking, it is largely free in homes. “Free water leads to waste,” says Saha. “If there is a price, it will enhance the water use efficiency,” he said. Many experts agree with this idea. Globally, a debate on incremental pricing of water is going on and many countries have implemented the idea where consumers pay for water beyond a certain limit and the price increases with the increase of consumption. “There should be a pricing slab where water is affordable up to a certain limit—enough to meet basic needs. Beyond that, the cost per unit should rise progressively. A cap on total household supply will encourage even wealthier consumers to use water more carefully. For non-potable uses, treated or recycled water should be the norm,” Dey said.

How ground-level ozone is making Delhi's air more deadly for residents

You can’t see it or smell it, but ground-level ozone, often referred to as “bad ozone,” is increasingly becoming a dangerous threat lurking in the air of India’s cities, and it is taking a serious toll on public health. According to an analysis by the Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) based on Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, each day between March 1 and April 25 this year, ground-level ozone pollution exceeded safe limits across Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), sparking fresh concerns about a growing public health threat. CSE found that daily ozone levels breached the eight-hour average standard of 100 micrograms per cubic metre without exception during this period. Hotspots identified by CSE include Nehru Nagar, Najafgarh, Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, and Sri Aurobindo Marg, areas where residents face higher-than-average exposure to this invisible pollutant. Unlike the "good ozone" high up in the Earth’s atmosphere that shields us from harmful ultraviolet rays, ground-level ozone is a harmful pollutant formed when emissions from vehicles, factories, and other sources react under the heat of the sun. As temperatures rise and cities expand, experts warn that ozone pollution is quietly fuelling a public health crisis. According to CSE, "Ground-level ozone is not like other pollutants directly emitted into the atmosphere. It is formed through complex reactions involving nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight. Primary sources include vehicle exhausts, industrial emissions, and certain natural processes." Health effects of ground-level ozone pollution in Delhi-NCR Talking about the health impact of ozone gas, Dr Pratibha Dogra, senior consultant, pulmonology and sleep medicine at Marengo Asia Hospitals, Gurugram, said to Business Standard, "Ground-level ozone is a highly reactive gas that irritates the respiratory system, leading to inflammation of the airways, reduced lung function, and increased vulnerability to infections." "Even short-term exposure can cause coughing, throat irritation, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. For people with asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), or bronchitis, elevated ozone levels can severely worsen symptoms." Who is most vulnerable to ozone pollution in Indian cities? While ground-level ozone affects everyone, Dr Dogra noted that certain groups are especially vulnerable: Children under five years Older adults with pre-existing heart or lung conditions Individuals with asthma or other chronic respiratory diseases Outdoor workers and athletes Pregnant women, as exposure may be linked to adverse birth outcomes "In rapidly urbanising, traffic-heavy areas, this means millions are exposed daily to harmful ozone levels that quietly damage their lungs and overall health. From construction workers to children playing outdoors, many are breathing in air that is silently harming them every day," she said.

चिंताजनक: बेहद खतरनाक होता जा रहा वज्रपात, इस साल अब तक 162 की मौत; एक साल में 184 फीसदी हुई मौतों की वृद्धि

मार्च 2025 से 17 अप्रैल 2025 तक देश के 12 राज्यों में बिजली गिरने से 162 लोगों की जान चली गई। यह संख्या पिछले साल इसी अवधि में दर्ज हुई 57 मौतों की तुलना में 184 फीसदी अधिक है, जो जलवायु परिवर्तन जनित एक नये खतरे की गंभीरता को उजागर करती है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट और एक्सट्रीम वेदर इवेंट्स एटलस के आंकड़ों के साथ-साथ विभिन्न राज्यों के आपदा प्रबंधन विभागों के सार्वजनिक आंकड़ों के विश्लेषण से यह स्थिति सामने आई है। विशेषज्ञों के अनुसार 2022 से मार्च-अप्रैल के महीने वज्रपात के लिहाज से खासे घातक बनते जा रहे हैं। सिर्फ अप्रैल 2025 के शुरुआती 17 दिनों में ही बिजली गिरने से 142 लोगों की मौत हुई, जो अप्रैल 2024 में हुई 28 मौतों की तुलना में पांच गुना ज्यादा है। हालांकि मार्च 2025 में वज्रपात से 20 मौतें हुईं, जो मार्च 2024 के 29 मौतों से थोड़ी कम हैं। विशेषज्ञ मानते हैं कि बंगाल की खाड़ी से आने वाली नमी से लदी पूर्वी हवाओं के चलते वायुमंडलीय अस्थिरता में वृद्धि हुई, जिसने वज्रपात की घटनाओं को बढ़ाया। साथ ही चेतावनी प्रणालियों और जन जागरूकता अभियानों में कमी की वजह से इन घटनाओं में जानमाल का नुकसान बढ़ा जिसे समय रहते नियंत्रित किया जा सकता था। यूपी में भी हालात चिंताजनक उत्तर प्रदेश में भी स्थिति गंभीर रही। मार्च और अप्रैल 2025 के बीच वहां बिजली गिरने से 28 मौतें हुईं, जिनमें से 23 सिर्फ अप्रैल के पहले 17 दिनों में हुईं। यह आंकड़ा पिछले वर्ष की तुलना में 460 फीसदी की वृद्धि को दर्शाता है, जब केवल पांच मौतें दर्ज हुई थीं। बिहार सबसे अधिक प्रभावित मार्च से अप्रैल 2025 के बीच बिहार सबसे ज्यादा प्रभावित राज्य रहा, जहां वज्रपात से 99 मौतें दर्ज की गईं, जो देशभर में हुई कुल मौतों का 61फीसदी है। हैरान करने वाली बात यह है कि इन 99 मौतों में से 98 सिर्फ छह दिनों 9 से 14 अप्रैल के भीतर हुईं। अप्रैल 2025 बिहार के लिए वज्रपात के लिहाज से सबसे घातक महीना बन गया, जिसने पिछले सारे रिकॉर्ड तोड़ दिए। तुलना करें तो अप्रैल 2020 में 25, अप्रैल 2018 में 24 और अप्रैल 2019 में 12 मौतें दर्ज हुई थीं। इसके विपरीत 2023 और 2024 में इस अवधि में कोई भी मौत दर्ज नहीं हुई थी। बिहार पहले से ही वज्रपात के लिहाज से संवेदनशील राज्य रहा है। मार्च-अप्रैल में वज्रपात की तीव्रता अप्रत्याशित जर्नल ऑफ अर्थ सिस्टम साइंस में प्रकाशित अध्ययन के अनुसार 2017 से 2022 के बीच राज्य में 58.8 फीसदी मौतें और 59.4 फीसदी चोट लगने की घटनाएं भी इन्हीं महीनों में हुईं लेकिन इस बार मार्च-अप्रैल में वज्रपात की तीव्रता अप्रत्याशित रूप से बढ़ी है। 17 दिनों के भीतर दर्ज मौतों का आंकड़ा पिछले नौ वर्षों का सबसे अधिक है जो जलवायु परिवर्तन और असामान्य मौसमी घटनाओं के खतरों की ओर इशारा करता है।

Something’s got to give

Donald Trump, the US President, has put global trade in goods on a hot burner. It is impossible to predict the outcome of this reset in the world trade order, which is extremely complex in its interrelationships and has established itself as the only game in town for any country’s economic growth and prosperity. But it is important to take a step back and understand why it came about; what it has done to our world; and what can possibly be the way ahead. First, let’s take a peek into the past. This idea took shape in the early 1990s, when the world (largely the industrialised part) decided to replace the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) with a formal global institution, the World Trade Organization (WTO). The idea was that this would bring world trade to a free zone—trade rules would be applied to all with assured compliance. The world would be one. There was another objective, which has come to bite the industrialised world today. It was well understood that the cost of manufacturing was high in this world; labour was expensive and the cost of environmental regulations was prohibitive. This was the time when the already industrialised countries were feeling the pain of local air and water pollution—from acid rain to toxins in rivers. They were facing huge public outrages and so, the classic “not-in-my-backyard” (NIMBY) principle came to be applied in the name of global trade. Renowned US economist Larry Summers, who in 1992 was with World Bank and went on to become the president of Harvard University, wrote in an internal memo “there is an economic logic to dump toxic waste in the lowest wage country”. The Economist report put it bluntly—“‘let them eat pollution’ says Summers”. The argument was brilliant; it would be cheaper to do business in the lowest-wage countries, with minimal regulations. The richer you are, wrote Summers, the more you want your environment to be clean and so the costs are higher. Public concern about toxic agents that have a one-in-a-million chance to cause prostate cancer would be high in countries where people survive to get prostate cancer, as compared to countries where under five mortality is 200 per 1,000 people. Harsh words, that Summers tried to squirm out of, but what he said was the absolute driver for economic and trade globalisation. WTO was born in 1995, and in 2001, China joined this body. There has been no looking back since. The fact is, global manufacturing moved lock, stock, and barrel from the industrial world to countries like China and then to Vietnam, Bangladesh and Cambodia. It has been a game of finding the bottom; as costs of regulation and labour increase, so does the flight of industry in search of new greener pastures. We see this in India as well—as soon as the pollution regulator cracks the whip, industry moves out to “dark” unauthorised settlement areas. In this free-market world, the cost of labour and environment has to be discounted to stay competitive. Let’s not beat around any moral talk about the need to protect labour rights (including rights of child labourers) or environment. It does not wash. In the 25-odd years of this global trade order, there are now new losers and new winners. In the early 1990s, when Arthur Dunkel’s draft proposal for WTO was being pushed, developing world was up in arms. There were protests in India, for instance, against the idea of unfettered global trade as it would destroy livelihoods of the poorest, particularly farmers who faced the prospect of cheap food being dumped from the industrialised mega farms of the West. By 1999, when the ministers met at Seattle to celebrate the new world order, there was widespread and growing anger against “untamed globalisation”. Protesters also came from the richer world, which was seeing the flight of manufacturing and pain of unemployment. Climate change has been the other big casualty. The fact is, emissions in the West never really reduced; they just moved to new production sites. But all this was covered up; the winners made sure of this. Western companies moved to lower income countries and made profits; consumers (all of us) were happy because of cheaper goods. In all this, the service and technology sector boomed; banks and financial markets made money and with poor income distribution policies, disparities sharpened. The bubble burst when Brexit happened—it was about jobs and as I wrote then, the revenge of the rich. Trump, in his first term, made the same protectionist and tariff noise of today. But, it was buried under the disruption of COVID-19. Now, it is back with a bang. Of course, the global trading system has us all hooked. The low-wage countries have economically benefitted from global trade. In this interconnected world of trade, service and finance, disengagement will come at huge costs. But it is clear that something’s got to give. How this new trading system is designed would make or break much of our world. Let’s continue to examine this. DTE

Adulterated fuel scams cost India $6.5bn a year

Mumbai - At a kiosk on the Trichy-Tanjore highway, one of southern India's main trucking routes, drivers line up to buy water bottles filled with green liquid. The bottles contain diesel or petrol diluted with paraffin, which kiosks sell for 10 percent less than petrol stations do. "My mileage gets hit, but it's cheap," says Kaja as he waits to fill his autorickshaw. Fuel adulterated with paraffin, which is subsidised to provide low-cost cooking fuel for the poor, is choking India's cities and costing the government $6.5 billion (R49 billion) a year in wasted subsidies and lost taxes, says Mysore-based consultant Bhamy Shenoy. The bill may soar as crude oil prices keep climbing. "The lost revenue ends up in the pockets of politicians, officials and gangsters," says Shenoy, who has worked for ConocoPhillips and advised the US Agency for International Development. "Adulteration is thriving because no one wants to lose this income." In the year to March, India spent $19 billion to subsidise fuel, including $4.8 billion on paraffin, the oil ministry said. Up to half the 9.4 million tons of paraffin India produces each year ends up in adulterated fuel, Shenoy says. Paraffin, which is not taxed, costs 9.05 rupees (R1.65) a litre in Mumbai. Motorists pay 36.08 rupees for diesel, including tax. The illegal fuel also undermines anti-air pollution efforts. Paraffin, or kerosene, made in India contains up to 2 000 parts per million (ppm) of sulphur, a major component of smog, exceeding the maximum 350 ppm mandated for diesel sold in major cities, according to Concert, a body that lobbies against fuel tampering. The scam works in various ways. Criminals usually pay staff of regional distribution centres to dilute the diesel and petrol, says Desikan, a trustee of Chennai-based Concert. In other cases, Shenoy says, tankers are diverted to secret depots where the fuel is mixed, then shipped to India's 34 000 official petrol stations, where most of the mixture is sold. Bharat Petroleum, India's second-biggest state refiner, fitted tamper-proof locks and satellite tracking devices to its 4 000 tankers, says Arun Singh, the deputy general manager for retail network planning. He would not discuss their effect or the extent of the problem. "Adulteration is rampant, and oil companies will have to be held responsible," says Anumita Roychowdhury of the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment. She also blames government inaction. Oil companies deny corruption is endemic and say they are trying to curb racketeers. MS Srinivasan, the oil ministry's top civil servant, blames state governments. In 2006 the government ordered that a blue dye be put in paraffin so inspectors could see adulterated fuel. "It hasn't affected my supply," says one kiosk owner. "Everyone is paid to stay quiet."

TakingYour Breath Away: Ground-Level Ozone BreachedOn 56Days Since March

This summer, ground-level ozone exceedances were reported on 56 days between March 1 and April 25, according to a new analysis by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The worst day in terms of high ozone levels was April 13, when 25 out of 39 stations in Delhi reported exceedance. The hotspots are Nehru Nagar, Najafgarh, Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium and Sri Aurobindo Marg. Of the total 40 stations in the city, the average ozone levels did not exceed the standard at just 10 stations this summer so far. Exceedance is computed as the daily maximum eighthour average crossing the ground-level ozone's eighthour standard, which is 100 microgram per cubic metre. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at CSE, said, "Ozone is not directly emitted by any source. But nitrogen oxides (NOx) and other gases react with each other under the inuence of sunlight and form ozone. This requires stringent control of emissions from vehicles, industry and other combustion sources." The analysis showed that Nehru Nagar station in Lajpat Nagar recorded the highest exceedance on all 56 days from March 1 to April 25. It was followed by Najafgarh at 54 days and Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium at 50 days.

At 2,507 MW,Kol power demand peaked on Thurs night

Kolkata: The city witnessed an early and intense increase in cooling demand, driven by the worsening Urban Heat Island (UHI) eect. On April 24, Kolkata's energy needs peaked, a full two months earlier than last year. According to West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL), the state's energy demand soared to 10,090 MW late on Thursday night, while CESC, Kolkata's main power utility, saw a peak of 2,507 MW. The soaring demand coincided with maximum temperature reaching 35.4°C and relative humidity climbing to 89%, drastically narrowing the gap between day and night temperatures. This intense combination of heat and moisture has sparked concern over wet-bulb temperatures — a measure that accounts for both heat and humidity, and indicates the risk of heat stress on the body. Experts warn that a wet-bulb temperature of 35°C and relative humidity beyond 75% is considered critical, beyond which even healthy individuals can survive for only a few hours. A report by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) underscores the dangers of Kolkata's rising energy consumption. It warns that without rapid adoption of energy-ecient cooling technologies, the increased demand for air-conditioning and cooling will escalate greenhouse gas emissions, compounding the already critical urban heat problem.

Delhi’s 6 new air stations may give pollution data green bias: Experts

Last week, Delhi environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced that the government will add six new continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS), adding to the Capital’s 40 station-strong grid that acts as the backbone of the city’s pollution monitoring mechanism. But three of the new stations are proposed to be inside lush-green campuses – Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in south Delhi, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) in south Delhi and Netaji Subhash University (West Campus) in west Delhi – one station deep inside the Central Ridge at the ISRO Earth station near Malcha Mahal, and two more in relatively green areas, Delhi cantonment and the Commonwealth Games Sports Complex in east Delhi, HT has learnt. Sirsa has announced the locations for the five stations but not disclosed the location for the sixth. Experts say the location chosen for these new stations may eventually bring the overall average air quality index (AQI) of the city down, thereby providing a lopsided picture of pollution in the city, especially in the winter months. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), echoed the concern. “These sites are not data-starved zones. We need monitors in southwest and northwest peripheries where coverage is inadequate.” Sirsa, however, rejected the criticism, stating Delhi’s ambient air quality network needed to be expanded to cover all types of locations. “We already have monitors in several polluted hotspots. If we keep adding only to those, we won’t have a true citywide picture,” he said. “The new sites were selected by DPCC, and the process began under the previous government.”