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Kolkata Construction Sites Ignored Guidelines Fuel Rising Air Pollution

As winter descends on Kolkata, the city grapples with a worsening air quality index, compounded by construction sites that continue to flout dust control regulations. Despite directives from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) to cover construction sites and limit dust dispersal, numerous sites across the city remain uncovered, sending plumes of dust into the already polluted air. This non-compliance is a critical issue, especially as air quality deteriorates and the particulate matter levels rise in the wake of the changing season. A survey conducted in early December revealed numerous construction sites, including those on major roads like Lenin Sarani and Brindaban Mullick Lane, where buildings were being demolished or constructed without any cover to mitigate the dust. Heaps of unprotected construction materials such as sand and debris contributed further to the dust problem, creating an unhealthy environment for local residents. One particularly concerning aspect is the lack of geotextile fabric at many sites, which is designed to trap dust, and the failure to sprinkle water over sand piles to prevent dust from becoming airborne. The dust generated by these sites contributes directly to the city’s already high levels of PM2.5 and PM10, particulate matters that are harmful to human health. According to Anumita Roy Chowdhury, an air quality expert from the Centre for Science and Environment, the construction dust contains toxins that can breach the blood barrier and affect vital organs. The risks are particularly significant as this dust can be carried far beyond the immediate vicinity of construction, affecting areas previously not considered to be at risk. Kolkata’s air quality has fallen into the “poor” and “moderate” categories since mid-November, as per the National Air Quality Index. This decline in air quality is exacerbated by the increasing number of construction and demolition activities that are disregarding guidelines laid out by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). These include the mandate to cordon off demolition sites and employ effective dust control measures. The CPCB’s guidelines underline the importance of controlling dust emissions, as fine particles can remain suspended in the air, causing long-term respiratory issues. The failure to implement dust mitigation strategies at construction sites in Kolkata highlights a significant civic issue that could have lasting health implications. With the government’s emphasis on sustainable urban development, there is a pressing need for stricter enforcement of environmental regulations and greater accountability from developers. Moving forward, a more sustainable approach to construction and a collective effort towards air pollution control will be necessary to protect public health and improve the city’s air quality.

CNBC’s Inside India newsletter: Delhi’s suffocating smog conundrum

The big story The putrid burning smell, difficulty breathing and chest congestion - that is what Delhi resident Sheetal Sharma has been experiencing since end-October, no thanks to the toxic air enshrouding India’s National Capital Region (NCR). “Delhi feels right out of a dystopian movie. The air quality deteriorated very quickly post-Diwali from poor to severe in a matter of hours and has continued that way till now,” Sharma told CNBC’s Inside India, alluding to the popular national festival. The air quality index (AQI) - which measures the level of pollution in the air - has risen significantly in the last few months. The metric peaked in November and subsequently edged down, only to nudge up to around 478 in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, which alongside several districts from surrounding states makes up the NCR, on Thursday. The reading remains in the hazardous range per classifications from India’s Central Pollution Control Board. The government body considers a good AQI reading to be between zero and 50. Readings between 200 and 400 are classified as “poor” or “very poor” while anything above 500 is deemed “severe” for it has a serious impact on people with existing ailments. The high AQI readings have pushed the government to direct schools to move to hybrid mode for some grades and stagger the working hours of civil servants. It has also imposed restrictions on vehicle usage in Delhi and adjoining regions with the view to curb emissions. Still, Delhi’s prolonged high AQI reading has already taken a toll on many of its denizens. Sharma recounts that she had “no respite,” despite several courses of medication and undergoing treatment to clear her nasal passageways. Relief only came when she “escaped” to a village near Nainital, some 300 kilometers away from Delhi. The AQI reading was just 65 there, allowing her “cough and cold to disappear within hours, without medical aid,” Sharma, who works at a tech company, said. Unlike Sharma, many in Delhi - particularly those in labor-intensive roles - have not been able to escape the pollution. Thirty-seven-year-old Dinesh Kumar is one such person. The auto-rickshaw driver hails from Patna in the province of Bihar, over 1,000 kilometers east of Delhi. He was forced to find higher-paying work in the capital city to support his aging parents and school-going children. Kumar dreads the winter months when pollution levels are heightened and people stay indoors. However, he says he does not have the means to move out of Delhi to seek employment in this period. “My auto is empty on most days [during this time]. At most, I get one or two passengers now, compared to around 20 at other times of the year,” he laments, using the local term for a motorized, three-wheeled vehicle. When he does drive, he says he is “constantly coughing.” “I feel like there’s chili in my eyes because I’m [tearing] and cannot see. If I stop working, my family will have no money” he told CNBC’s Inside India. Delhi’s smog conundrum is a yearly problem permeating through the Indo-Gangetic plains - or northern states in India between October and December. A geographical disadvantage With Delhi’s smog problem taking centerstage every winter, the natural assumption is that the lower temperatures, or activities like agricultural stubble burning which happen in this season have a large part to play in elevating pollution levels. However, Anumita Roychowdhury executive director of research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment, argues that the “explosion” in air quality metrics is not because of a sudden spike in pollution-related activities in this season. “Pollution is high and remains elevated all throughout the year. It is not that there is pollution only during winter,” she explained. Instead, she attributes the worsening readings to adverse meteorological conditions in the Indo-Gangetic plains where pollution that is already in the air from different sources gets trapped and has no wind to blow it away. Delhi, and other northern Indian states are most susceptible given its “geographical disadvantages,” Roychowdhury explained.

Will NCR Residents Never Breathe Clean Air?

The Government of India (GOI), the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and even the apex court, seem to have given up on the issue of cleaning up the air in the national capital region (NCR). Perhaps 10 to 15 years have gone by (even though the CPCB started measuring the air quality index (AQI) only in April 2015) and we still live with the same dreaded air every year from October to January; actually it is getting worse year after year! The new dimension this year is the knowledge that all our official figures were wrong. Around Diwali when the met department was talking about an AQI of 450-500 (very severe) the United States embassy released a bombshell with their own findings that showed AQI at Chanakya Puri at over 1000 and we learnt the closely guarded met secret that their system could not – or would not – read anything above 500! And, even after that, thousands of cracks were merrily cracking crackers without a care in the world. They would realise the gravity only when one of their own children or elders felt suffocated and had to be rushed to the hospital. Most Baraats (wedding processions) are all about ‘Band, Baaja and aatishbaazi’ (blaring music and fire crackers) and it is not their problem if the vulnerable old, infirm and little babies all along the route are choking; they wouldn’t stop even when passing a hospital. All this happened despite the Supreme Court imposed ‘Ban on crackers barring a one-hour window on Diwali night’. From my house in Gurugram I could hear and see – despite closed windows, ear muffs et al – crackers bursting till well past midnight; and this did not happen only on Diwali night but also several nights before and after. The Supreme Court of India, has of course, issued notices to the Delhi government but what is the outcome (whether or not anyone was punished) we will never know. As per newspaper reports, during November 2024 the official AQI was never below 300 even on a single day; average index during the month was 375 – second only to the 376 in the same month in 2021. October was not much better – 231 this year; right from the 264 in 2015, it peaked at 285 in 2017 but we were blessed with the lowest 173 in 2021. Official categorisation treats 0-50 as good, 51-100 as satisfactory, 101-200 as moderately polluted, 201-300 as Poor, 301-400 as very Poor and above 400 as Severe. A Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report showed that “pollution level was much higher this year than Diwali of 2022 & 2023 and at an All Time High”. At Kartavya Path they had to use anti-smog guns on a vehicle for spraying water to curb the severe pollution.

Delhi’s air quality gets more severe, worst in almost a month; fog alert issued for 3 days

New Delhi: The air quality deteriorated further on Tuesday as the air quality index rose to 433 in the severe category, with a toxic haze enveloping the city. It was the worst air quality in almost a month — a higher AQI than this was last recorded on Nov 19 at 460. The air quality is likely to stay severe on Wednesday, but it may improve to very poor on Thursday. However, the Met department has placed a yellow alert for moderate to dense fog over the next three days. On early Tuesday, Delhi saw moderate fog with the lowest visibility of 350 metres at Safdarjung, the city's base station. Meanwhile, the minimum temperature on Tuesday rose to 5.9 degrees Celsius, two degrees below normal, compared to 4.5 degrees Celsius on Monday. No station saw cold wave conditions. The maximum temperature settled at 24.5 degrees Celsius, one notch above normal. Delhi witnessed a sharp decline in air quality in the past 48 hours after winds turned calm and there was the formation of shallow to moderate fog. Central Pollution Control Board's data shows that AQI was 379, very poor, at 4pm on Monday, but it rose to 401 in the severe range at 10pm. On Monday, Commission for Air Quality Management imposed measures under stage III of Graded Response Action Plan during the day. However, after AQI surpassed 400 in the night, stage IV was invoked with immediate effect. It bans the entry of non-essential trucks running on non-cleaner fuel and stops construction activities in linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission and pipelines. Experts said no improvement in the air quality was expected on Wednesday. "As winds have slowed down since Monday, it is hampering the process of dispersion of pollutants. Due to a western disturbance, which is currently impacting northwest India, there has been a rise in humidity levels, leading to the formation of shallow to dense fog. Fog also traps pollutants," said Mahesh Palawat, vice-president of Skymet Meteorology. Similar conditions are likely to persist on Wednesday, but the wind speed may rise on Thursday after the influence of the western disturbance is over, he added. This Nov recorded eight severe days, including two severe-plus, when AQI crossed 450, and 22 very poor days. It also witnessed AQI reaching 494 on a scale of up to 500 on Nov 18, making it the second most polluted day ever. In comparison to Nov, the first fortnight of Dec was relatively better than the past year. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at Centre for Science and Environment, said, "We know from past experience that more pollution spikes happen during the second half of winter — after the crop burning season is over — due to the intensification of cold and calm conditions. This indicates high and elevated levels of pollution in the city and the region." Pointing out that the annual average and the winter average of PM2.5 levels took an upward curve last year, she emphasised that action must be ramped up to ensure Delhi continues to reduce the annual average level. New Delhi: The air quality deteriorated further on Tuesday as the air quality index rose to 433 in the severe category, with a toxic haze enveloping the city. It was the worst air quality in almost a month — a higher AQI than this was last recorded on Nov 19 at 460. The air quality is likely to stay severe on Wednesday, but it may improve to very poor on Thursday. However, the Met department has placed a yellow alert for moderate to dense fog over the next three days. On early Tuesday, Delhi saw moderate fog with the lowest visibility of 350 metres at Safdarjung, the city's base station. Meanwhile, the minimum temperature on Tuesday rose to 5.9 degrees Celsius, two degrees below normal, compared to 4.5 degrees Celsius on Monday. No station saw cold wave conditions. The maximum temperature settled at 24.5 degrees Celsius, one notch above normal. Delhi witnessed a sharp decline in air quality in the past 48 hours after winds turned calm and there was the formation of shallow to moderate fog. Central Pollution Control Board's data shows that AQI was 379, very poor, at 4pm on Monday, but it rose to 401 in the severe range at 10pm. On Monday, Commission for Air Quality Management imposed measures under stage III of Graded Response Action Plan during the day. However, after AQI surpassed 400 in the night, stage IV was invoked with immediate effect. It bans the entry of non-essential trucks running on non-cleaner fuel and stops construction activities in linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission and pipelines. Experts said no improvement in the air quality was expected on Wednesday. "As winds have slowed down since Monday, it is hampering the process of dispersion of pollutants. Due to a western disturbance, which is currently impacting northwest India, there has been a rise in humidity levels, leading to the formation of shallow to dense fog. Fog also traps pollutants," said Mahesh Palawat, vice-president of Skymet Meteorology. Similar conditions are likely to persist on Wednesday, but the wind speed may rise on Thursday after the influence of the western disturbance is over, he added. This Nov recorded eight severe days, including two severe-plus, when AQI crossed 450, and 22 very poor days. It also witnessed AQI reaching 494 on a scale of up to 500 on Nov 18, making it the second most polluted day ever. In comparison to Nov, the first fortnight of Dec was relatively better than the past year. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at Centre for Science and Environment, said, "We know from past experience that more pollution spikes happen during the second half of winter — after the crop burning season is over — due to the intensification of cold and calm conditions. This indicates high and elevated levels of pollution in the city and the region." Pointing out that the annual average and the winter average of PM2.5 levels took an upward curve last year, she emphasised that action must be ramped up to ensure Delhi continues to reduce the annual average level.

Green credit programme rolls out with little clarity on exchange value

Eco-restoration work towards the generation of green credits is underway in over 3,000 hectares of land in India, even as the government is working to devise a formula to make such credits quantifiable and tradable. The programme, launched in October 2023, seeks to incentivise “voluntary environmental actions” by making them tradable. Activities such as tree plantations, rainwater harvesting, and waste management are among those that can yield credits for trade. But the contours of the scheme – particularly the fungibility of these credits across different activity types – are still being worked out. In a reply to a question raised in the Lok Sabha on November 25, the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change revealed that eco-restoration work towards generating green credits had already begun in 152 land parcels of degraded forest land, amounting to 3,409 hectares. The largest of these land parcels is in Gujarat (974.9 hectares). Vinay Kumar, director of the Green Credit Cell at the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), told Mongabay India that a committee had been set up to develop a baseline for credits across different types of eco-restoration activities, and said a proposal had been sent to the Union Environment Ministry for finalisation. The ICFRE has been tasked with administering the programme. “The main purpose of the scheme is to award entities who undertake environmentally friendly actions. We’ve formed a committee to come up with an equivalence formula between different activities, which will also lead to fungibility of the credits,” said Kumar. “The question of issuing the credits only arises two years after the eco-restoration work has started, at which point it can be quantified.” But in the absence of a clear unit of exchange or monitoring mechanism, experts say it is difficult to assess the scheme’s effectiveness. The scheme was fast-tracked by the government despite calls for clarity and opposition from conservationists. According to Kumar, the equivalence formula will take into account factors like the cost of eco-restoration works, type of land, vegetation cover (such as changes in canopy cover), area treated, and climatic factors (such as rainfall and soil moisture levels). “The programme will definitely need close monitoring. We plan to use advanced IT equipment, technologies like Google Earth and satellite data from the Space Applications Centre to track impacts of eco-restoration. Third party auditors will also be brought in to monitor compliance,” Kumar added. Oil and coal public sector leads in green credits Though the scheme has been pitched by the government as voluntary, inviting the participation of individuals, tree-plantation based credits can be bought by companies to compensate for forest loss caused by development projects. Tree plantation-based credits can also be used to meet compliances under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting, according to a government notification issued in February 2024. So far, 384 entities, including individuals, NGOs and private sector units, have signed up to participate in the scheme. Of the 384, 40 are public sector undertakings. Data from the Green Credit Programme website shows the top biggest takers are public sector undertakings (PSUs) in oil and coal – natural resource intensive sectors whose projects have also led to forest diversion. As part of the green credit programme, Indian Oil Corporation Limited has committed to the eco-restoration of 11,890 hectares of degraded forest land – the largest commitment – followed by Powergrid Corporation India Limited (4,372 hectares), an electrical power transmission company, and thermal power generator NTPC (1,853 hectares.) “We wanted to start with only PSUs to understand the scale and expense of the scheme’s implementation,” said Kumar. “This is the first time in India or anywhere else in the world that such a scheme is being attempted. We will slowly open it up to other players.” Entities interested in generating green credits can select parcels of degraded forest land that have been identified by states, and pay for the eco-restoration works, which will be carried out by state forest departments. Once generated, the credits can be sold and bought in a market system that will run parallelly to India’s upcoming domestic carbon market. The potential for green credits to compensate for deforestation from setting up projects could be a point of conflict, particularly if the seller of credits is also responsible for deforestation and pollution, said Tushar Dash, an independent researcher who works on forest and indigenous rights. Prevailing norms under the Forest (Conservation) Act require that any time forest land is diverted for non-forest purposes, like mining or infrastructure development, project proponents must compensate for this forest loss by paying for plantations on non-forest land. This process is managed by the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). By introducing a market mechanism to this process, entities who have generated green credits but diverted forest land for their own projects, have the option to sell excess credits for a profit. “This process will facilitate clearances and give the private sector an entry into forest management, a proposition that has been opposed multiple times,” Dash said. Dash also pointed out that the green credit rules do not explicitly safeguard the rights of forest dwelling communities who may have historically accessed such land. Guidelines on implementing eco-restoration for green credits say that “fencing, as appropriate, may be provided if protection against anthropogenic pressures is necessary in any site.” To this, Kumar said the rules don’t negate the rights of forest dwellers. “Once work starts, it will benefit local communities because it will generate jobs for them.” The question of how eco-restoration work on degraded forest systems remains. Image by Nithinboby via Wikimedia Commons [CC BY-SA 4.0] From tree plantations to eco-restoration In February 2024, the Union Environment Ministry released a methodology for the calculation of green credits that focussed exclusively on tree plantations. After some of the stipulations were criticised – such as a minimum of 1100 trees per hectare, with each tree generating one credit – the Ministry subsequently released guidelines that eased some of these conditions, shifting the focus away from only tree plantations to “eco-restoration.” These guidelines, released on April 12, 2024, say, “The activities for eco-restoration may not be limited to plantation of trees and may include plantation of shrubs, herbs, grasses, besides taking up soil and moisture conservation works, terracing, rain water harvesting, and other measures as may be required per the site conditions for eco-restoration.” Even with a broader set of stipulations, the question of how each credit is valued remains, said Trishant Dev, Programme Officer of Climate Change at the Centre for Science and Environment. “Marketising environmental benefits could open the door to market speculation, where actors keep an excess of credits with them and sell at an opportune moment to make a profit,” he said, adding, “Speculation has not been good for carbon markets because it inflates the price of credits. Whether something similar will play out with green credits needs to be seen.”

Only 28 per cent of urban wastewater undergoes treatment in India: CSE report

Just 28 per cent of about 20,236 million liters per day urban wastewater generated in India undergoes treatment, leaving the remaining i.e. 72 per cent untreated and flowing into rivers, lakes, and land, a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has revealed. The largest gap in wastewater treatment is seen in states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, and Haryana. The untreated water not only causes environmental damage but also presents an opportunity to tackle India's growing urban water crisis due to rapid urbanization, industrial growth, population expansion, and climate change, says the report 'Waste to Worth: Managing India's urban water crisis through wastewater reuse.' It was released recently at a national workshop organized jointly by CSE and the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti. Speaking on the occasion, Sunita Narain, director general, CSE said: "India faces significant water scarcity challenges due to rapid urbanisation, industrial growth, population expansion - and most importantly -- climate change. Wastewater reuse can be a key part of the strategy to address these concerns and promote water circularity and sustainability." Rajiv Kumar Mital, director general, NMCG echoed similar views and said that "Using and disposing treated water, without harnessing its potential, means we are losing out on utilising an important resource. The challenge is to scale up and ensure that the work we do in this sector is impactful." The Jal Shakti Ministry has mandated that cities must recycle and reuse at least 20 per cent of the water they consume. The report also highlights good examples -- cases of states that have introduced policies to encourage treated wastewater reuse." Maharashtra, for instance, mandates industries in urban areas to use treated wastewater. Gujarat targets 100 per cent reuse with applications in agriculture and industry, and Tamil Nadu promotes reuse for industrial and urban greening projects. At the national level, the National Urban Sanitation Policy (NUSP) and the Namami Gange Programme emphasise wastewater management and reuse as key components of water security initiatives. Cities like Nagpur, Benguluru and Chennai have taken the lead in implementing wastewater reuse practices. Nagpur supplies treated wastewater to power plants, significantly reducing freshwater usage, while Benguluru utilises it for agriculture, lake revival and groundwater recharge. Chennai has adopted treated wastewater for industrial applications, urban landscaping and groundwater recharge. While advancements in decentralised and cost-effective treatment technologies can address infrastructure deficits, the report also calls for public-private partnerships that can help mobilise investments for scaling up reuse projects, and capacity-building initiatives to improve awareness and acceptance among urban managers and communities.

Be excreta wise

Every society must understand how the excreta it produces is managed. It teaches us many things about water, about waste, about technologies. It also teaches us about economics and politics: of who in our societies is subsidised to defecate. Every society must connect the dots between the excreta it produces, the pollution it causes and the opportunity to reuse and recycle the waste so that it becomes a resource. This is what the Centre for Science and Environment’s report, Waste to Worth, is all about—it puts together the best practices to turn wastewater into water and not pollution. Today, the discharge of effluent is adding to the water crisis by degrading available water through pollution. It is also adding to our health crises as societies continue to drink this “sewage”-laced water. All this then points to the solution ahead—the way to take that “wasted” water and make it “usable” so that it can be returned to the hydrological cycle. Over the years, my colleagues have studied the excreta sums of different cities. The city “shit-flow” diagram shows that the situation is grim as all cities either do not treat or safely dispose of the bulk of the human excreta. This is because we often confuse toilets with sanitation. But the fact is that toilets are mere receptacles to receive waste; when we flush or pour water, the waste flows into a piped drain, which could be either connected, or not, to a sewage treatment plant (STP). This STP could be working, or not. In this case, the faecal sludge—human excreta—could be conveyed, but not safely disposed of as it would be discharged into the nearest river, lake or a drain. All this will pollute. In most cities, this connection from the flush to the STP does not exist. According to Census 2011, the flush water of some 30 per cent of urban India is connected to a piped sewer. But our survey found that in most cases, these underground drains have either lost their connections—they need repair—or are not connected to the sewage plants. There is another route for excreta to flow. The household flush or pour latrine could be connected to a septic tank, which, if constructed well, will retain the sludge and discharge the liquid through a soak pit. The faecal sludge would still need to be emptied and conveyed for treatment. But in most cases, our survey found that the septic tank is not built to any specifications—it is a “box” to contain excreta—and that it is either connected to a drain or emptied out. This is where the drama of faecal sludge begins. Who collects it? How is it transported? And most importantly, where does it go? Nobody knows. That is why the focus is now shifting towards intercepting the sewage—not through capital-intensive underground pipes but through tankers to transport this for treatment. Septic tanks are decentralised waste collection systems. Instead of thinking of building an underground sewerage network—that is never built or never completed— it would be best to think of these systems as the future of urban sanitation. After all, we have gone to mobile telephony, without the landline. Individual septic tanks could be the way to achieve full sanitation solutions. For this, the government has made changes in policy and now practice—it has recognised that these systems exist and that they need to be incorporated in sanitation plans. It is providing regulation for the collection and transportation of faecal sludge so that waste is taken for treatment, and not dumped somewhere. And most critically, city governments are working on a treatment system for faecal sludge, which in turn will reduce the pollution in rivers and lakes. But now the challenge is to reuse this treated water. This is where the real opportunity lies. The fact is, this treated water and sludge is rich in nutrients. Today, the global nitrogen cycle is being destroyed because we take nutrient-rich human excreta and dispose of it in water. Instead, we can return the human excreta to land, use it as fertiliser and reverse the sanitation cycle. The treated water can be given to industry or cities for reuse. Farmers can use the treated sludge for soil enrichment. But this also means that we need new standards to be set for reuse of treated wastewater, so that basic nutrients needed for land are not lost in the treatment. This approach makes the users of this treated water the agents to ensure compliance with standards. Just imagine if you were to be a consumer of this treated water for your horticulture needs—you will be vigilant of its quality and the fact that it does not contaminate your land. So, we can be water-secure, because we are water-wise. The writer is the Director-General of CSE and editor of DownToEarth. Views expressed are personal

India’s Urban Wastewater Crisis and Solutions

India faces challenges regarding urban wastewater management, with only 28% of urban wastewater being treated, leaving a staggering 72% untreated. This untreated wastewater poses serious environmental risks by polluting rivers, lakes, and soil. However, it also presents an opportunity to address the ongoing water crisis in the country. Current Situation The rapid urbanization and industrial growth in India exacerbate water scarcity and climate change further complicates the situation. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) released a report denoting the potential of treated wastewater as a resource. The report advocates for its use in irrigation, industry, and urban greening to enhance water security. Government Initiatives The Ministry of Jal Shakti mandates that cities recycle at least 20% of their water. Despite this requirement, the necessary treatment infrastructure and implementation strategies are lacking. Some cities, like Nagpur and Bengaluru, have progressed in utilizing treated wastewater for various purposes, including agriculture and groundwater recharge.India cultural tours Regional Policies States such as Maharashtra and Gujarat have implemented policies to promote wastewater reuse in agriculture and industry. These initiatives are essential for sustainable water management. However, several challenges remain, including infrastructure gaps, public resistance, and high costs associated with wastewater treatment. Proposed Solutions The report suggests adopting decentralised and cost-effective technologies for wastewater treatment, emphasises the need to align policies with urban and industrial requirements. Public-private partnerships can also play important role in overcoming existing barriers. Integration into National Programs Integrating wastewater reuse into national water programmes, such as the Jal Jeevan Mission and Atal Bhujal Yojana, is essential. This integration can help establish a climate-resilient water management system. The report analyses 35 case studies across 16 cities, illustrating the potential of treated wastewater as a valuable resource. By prioritising wastewater reuse, India can encourage a circular economy that promotes sustainable and equitable water management for all.

Govt plans to make agri residue burning punishable under solid waste management rules

The government plans to make open burning of agricultural waste punishable with a heavy fine and empower sanitation workers to impose fines on individuals and establishments for unsegregated waste. PlayUnmute Fullscreen It is also focusing on improving waste management practices in rural areas, creating a robust monitoring system, and addressing legacy waste. According to the draft Solid Waste Management Rules 2024 issued on December 9, the local body will be required to ensure there are no instances of "burning of agriculture and horticulture waste and levy heavy penalty on persons involved". Objections and suggestions from stakeholders have been invited. The rules will come into force on October 1 next year. The Centre last month doubled the fine for farmers burning crop residue in view of poor air quality in the Delhi-NCR region in winter months. Farmers with less than two acres of land now have to pay environmental compensation of Rs 5,000, up from Rs 2,500. And those with land between two and five acres are fined Rs 10,000 instead of Rs 5,000. Unfavourable meteorological conditions combined with vehicular emissions, paddy-straw burning, firecrackers, and other local pollution sources contribute to hazardous air quality levels in Delhi-NCR during late autumn and winters. Major factors behind stubble burning include the paddy-wheat cropping system, cultivation of long-duration paddy varieties, mechanised harvesting that leaves standing crop stubble in the field, labour scarcity, and the lack of a viable market for crop residue. Studies estimate that during peak burning periods, farm fires contribute up to 30 per cent of PM (particulate matters) levels in the Delhi-NCR region and surrounding areas. The government seeks to "empower safai karamcharis to levy fines/penalty on unsegregated waste and to refuse collection". The draft rules require waste to be segregated into four distinct categories: wet waste, dry waste, sanitary waste (such as diapers and sanitary napkins), and special care waste (including hazardous materials). In contrast, the 2016 rules only required segregation into three streams -- biodegradable, non-biodegradable, and hazardous. According to the draft rules, local bodies will be required to implement digital tracking systems and geo-tag waste management facilities. They will be responsible for developing and maintaining online portals for reporting waste management data. The department responsible for municipal administration will be required to ensure the registration of waste pickers working with the local authority or authorized third-party/concessionaire agency, including self-help groups, and upload information on the centralized online portal by June 30 every year. The 2024 rules also emphasise extended producer responsibility (EPR). Producers of products such as packaging materials are now required to take responsibility for the collection and recycling of their products at the end of their life cycle. This responsibility encourages a circular economy, where products are reused, recycled, and repurposed, reducing the overall amount of waste generated. Another key change is the focus on bulk waste generators (BWGs). These are large institutions and commercial establishments that generate significant amounts of waste, according to Kaifee Jawed, a deputy programme manager in the Centre for Science and Environment's Solid Waste Management and Circular Economy Unit. The 2024 rules require BWGs to segregate their waste at the source, handle biodegradable waste through composting or bio-methanation on-site, and ensure recyclables are handed over to authorized waste pickers or recyclers. BWGs must also keep records of their waste management activities, and the new rules provide a clear framework for handling large-scale waste generation. The management of legacy waste is also addressed more comprehensively in the 2024 draft. Legacy waste refers to waste that has already been dumped in landfills or open spaces. Local authorities are required to map and assess these legacy waste sites and create plans for remediation using methods like bioremediation and biomining. A deadline of March 2026 and October 2026 has been set for the completion of this work in urban and rural areas, respectively, to ensure that old waste dumps are cleaned up and their harmful environmental impact is reduced. The rules encourage local bodies and industries to implement waste-to-energy projects, which help reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills while generating renewable energy. The rules provide guidelines to ensure that waste-to-energy plants meet environmental standards and contribute to the circular economy by transforming waste into a resource.

Construction sites flout rules as city’s pollution index slides down with advancing winter

Most under-construction buildings, structures being demolished and materials heaped at construction sites remain uncovered, allowing the dust to spread in the neighbourhood, at a time when the city’s pollution index is sliding down with the advancing winter. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), which is supposed to crack down on construction sites that do not take measures against air pollution, has only passed orders asking builders to cover the sites. The ground reality is different, residents across the city said. A drive through parts of the city on December 5 revealed multiple construction sites where work was underway without any cover around the buildings. Two buildings along Lenin Sarani were being demolished without any cover around the site. A payloader was working in one of the sites. Its movement and sifting of the waste kept spreading dust. An under-construction building in Brindaban Mullick Lane, opposite Hrishikesh Park in north Calcutta, had no covers around the structure. A heap of sand was lying along the boundary of Hrishikesh Park. Cars driving past the road raised a cloud of dust. A Jadavpur resident said she had seen several under-construction buildings in her neighbourhood, none of which had any cover around the buildings to prevent dust from spreading. “Under-construction buildings are supposed to be covered with geotextile fabric that can absorb dust. Besides, they should also sprinkle water over the sand so that the dust does not rise in the air. Activities like rubbing the walls before painting generate a lot of dust,” said a scientist with the state pollution control board. Anumita Roy Chowdhury, an air quality management expert, said the dust generated from construction sites added to the volume of PM2.5 and PM10, which are particulate matters less than 2.5 microns and 10 microns in size. PM2.5 can breach the blood barriers and hit any organ. “The dust emanating from construction sites is also highly toxic depending on the nature of the activity generating the dust,” said Roy Chowdhury, the executive director of the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). A KMC official said all builders have to give a general undertaking to adopt measures to control dust when a building permit is issued. “We can issue stop-work notices if they do not comply with the orders,” said the civic official. According to the National Air Quality Index, Calcutta’s air quality has dropped to “poor” and “moderate” on many days since mid-November. Guidelines on dust mitigation measures issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) mention that “sites of demolition activities to be cordoned off and adequate measures to reduce dispersal of dust beyond site limits” are required. The KMC, too, has issued similar orders asking builders to ensure that construction and demolition sites did not spread dust. The CPCB’s guidelines mention that the dust generated includes “a wide range of particle sizes and material types that can cause serious health problems ranging from eye irritation, nose, mouth to affecting the respiratory system.” While the heavier and larger particles settle down, the “finer particles (usually invisible) are transported further” and can cause health hazards in areas far from the sites.

Real time checks must

Air pollution in the country has emerged as a public health catastrophe, costing India over a million lives and 1.6 to 1.8 per cent of GDP annually. Research from various organisations, including the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) outlined vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, crop burning and construction dust as the major contributors to such pollution. With the onset of winter, the problem becomes severe despite the country having adopted ‘clean air’ programmes. India has a target of 40 per cent reduction of PM2.5 levels by 2026, but scientists believe this is unlikely to be achieved. According to IQ Air data, 42 of the top 50 most polluted cities were in India. This is because there is no seriousness in tackling the problem. Of course, the government takes the biggest share of the blame, and quite justifiably so, but it is by no means the only stakeholder that is complicit. India’s transportation sector accounts for 2.9 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, demanding a structured policy to bring this down. And while EV (electric vehicles) sales surged 42 per cent in 2024, there is need to give a boost, specially in cities with more incentives for public transport. As regards industry, which contributes 30-35 per cent of India’s CO2 emissions, leniency by the states due to unholy nexus with the political leaders needs to be effectively tackled. Those violating environmental rules and regulations need to be hauled up. As regards power plants, research by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) showed that 96 per cent of particulate pollution from coal plants is secondary, arising from chemical transformation of emitted gases such as sulphur dioxide. Despite the Environment Ministry introducing emission standards, the Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) system has been quite slow. As of this August, only 39 units across the country installed the system whereas work is yet to be completed in 220-odd units. Most thermal power plants unfortunately got leniency, polluting neighbouring air. Experts estimated that FGD can reduce the concentration of SO2 by 55 per cent within a 80 km radius and sulphate aerosols by 30 per cent up to 100 km. However, FGD involved significant costs i.e. Rs 1 to Rs 2 crore per megawatt in addition to Rs 0.5-0.6 per unit to its generation. Besides, Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas and the second-largest contributor to climate warming after CO2. Another major source of pollution is agriculture. Such as livestock, where ruminants produce methane in the course of digesting food and the other area is paddy rice. The next source is waste and landfills, where organic matter like food waste, plant debris etc. into landfills results in a lot of methane production. In the global scenario, the most significant is the Global Methane Pledge (GMP), put forth by the European Union and the US and 159 countries have signed this Pledge. Among metros, the national capital, Delhi, has been grappling with severe air pollution. Experts indicated that the situation is like what Beijing had faced around 2013. That very year in March, the then Chinese premier pledged to fight pollution and accordingly by 2023, pollution levels were drastically brought down. It is worth mentioning that both capitals sit on basins close to mountain ranges, which prevent easy dispersal of pollutants. As a result, winter conditions such as calm winds, temperature inversion, humidity and lack of rain cause massive spikes in pollution. India launched the National Clean Air Policy (NCAP) rather late in 2019, with a modest target of reducing particulate matter by 20-30 per cent over 2017 levels in five years across 121 cities. The NCAP target has since been revised to a 40 per cent reduction by 2026, but experts believe it is rather optimistic and unlikely to be reached. As regards other cities, Indore in Madhya Pradesh is said to be the cleanest city with better air quality in the country, though it reported a 21 per cent rise in the level of particulate matter, PM10 in 2023-24 compared to 2017-18. The city joined 30 others including Navi Mumbai, Vizag, Guwahati, Chandigarh and many others that reported increase in PM10. On the air quality front, Vizag reported 58 per cent increase (second worst in the list of 31) in the level of PM10 in FY2023-24 compared to FY 2017-18. However, big metros like Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai have shown some improvement but still are not good enough to meet the annual average acceptable limit. Over the years, clean technologies have been introduced at a cost of thousands of crores with refinery upgrades alone costing Rs 35,000 crore. One key improvement in BS-VI compliant fuel, with its negligible sulphur content. BS III norms mandated sulphur limits of 150 parts per million (ppm) for petrol and 350 ppm for diesel while BS IV reduced both by 50 ppm and 10 ppm. However, this relates mainly to the transportation sector whereas not much has changed in strictly enforcing environmental regulations. Meanwhile, there has been global pressure on India to phase out coal in stages and this needs consideration. In the agriculture sector, stubble burning must be curbed and perhaps technology from countries such as Argentina and Brazil could be inducted. At the same time, government can’t have too many expectations on global funding and will need to generate resources to tackle air pollution—perhaps tap private sector to play its CSR role. Innovative financing models like green bonds may be garnered to support public transport, urban greening etc. It is heartening to note that the World Bank has committed $1.5 billion for the Indo-Gangetic plain states for better air management. Forestry is another area that needs to be encouraged but the government is not quite serious on it. Finally, it goes without saying the clean air, apart from being a crucial environmental issue has to be viewed as an economic asset for social well-being. The challenge of tackling air quality is undoubtedly daunting. Environmental rules need to be strictly enforced. Leniency shown to air polluting industries needs to be done away with. Changes need to be brought into transportation sector, not just in big cities but across country. The government must meet targets, or at least make genuine effort. Passing the buck will only cause more harm. — INFA

Reuse of Treated Wastewater Can Help Ease Growing Urban Water Crisis: CSE Report

Patna: The ongoing global warming has been affecting water resources in India like elsewhere, but the country can reuse treated wastewater for climate resilience. According to a latest report of New Delhi-based think tank, Centre for Science and Environment(CSE), reusing treated wastewater can help ease India’s growing urban water crisis. The report titled, Waste to Worth: Managing India’s Urban Water Crisis Through Wastewater Reuse, highlighted that India treats only 28% of the wastewater it generates; 72% remains untreated – once treated, all this wastewater can be reused. "Of the total urban wastewater and sewage generated in India, a mere 28 per cent (20,236 million litre per day or MLD) undergoes treatment, leaving a substantial 72 per cent untreated and allowed to flow into rivers, lakes and land. All this treated water – and the remaining untreated amount if treated – holds an opportunity within itself: the opportunity to ease India’s urban water crisis", says the report. Sunita Narain, director general, CSE, said: “India faces significant water scarcity challenges due to rapid urbanisation, industrial growth, population expansion – and most importantly -- climate change. Wastewater reuse can be a key part of the strategy to address these concerns and promote water circularity and sustainability.” “In fact, there is an opportunity for turning wastewater into water again, and this is what our report’s title – Waste to Worth -- is referring to,” Narain added, in a release. Rajiv Kumar Mital, director general, National Mission for Clean Ganga, was quoted as saying that “using and disposing treated water, without harnessing its potential, means we are losing out on utilising an important resource. The challenge is to scale up and ensure that the work we do in this sector is impactful.” Subrata Chakraborty, senior programme manager, water programme, CSE, said the Jal Shakti Ministry had mandated that cities must recycle and reuse at least 20% of the water they consume. “This is in line with the belief that promoting a circular economy is essential for achieving a sustainable and climate-resilient future, and for managing the ever-growing demand for freshwater,” she added. The CSE report further said that the gap in total sewage water generated and its treatment was the highest in Uttar Pradesh, followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Haryana. The report also highlighted good examples -- cases of states that have introduced policies to encourage treated wastewater reuse. Maharashtra, for instance, mandates industries in urban areas to use treated wastewater. Gujarat targets 100% reuse with applications in agriculture and industry, and Tamil Nadu promotes reuse for industrial and urban greening projects. At the national level, the National Urban Sanitation Policy and the Namami Gange Programme emphasise wastewater management and reuse as key components of water security initiatives, the report added. Cities like Nagpur, Bengaluru and Chennai have taken the lead in implementing wastewater reuse practices. Nagpur supplies treated wastewater to power plants, significantly reducing freshwater usage, while Bengaluru utilises it for agriculture, lake revival and groundwater recharge. Chennai has adopted treated wastewater for industrial applications, urban landscaping and groundwater recharge. Sumita Singhal, programme manager, water, CSE, said: “Upscaling wastewater reuse faces challenges, including infrastructure gaps in sewage treatment and distribution, quality assurance to meet reuse standards, public resistance due to cultural beliefs, and the high operational costs of treatment facilities.” She added, “The data implies that 28 per cent (20,236 MLD) treated water is immediately available for reuse. Aligning policies with urban planning and industrial needs can enhance adoption, while advancements in decentralised and cost-effective treatment technologies can address infrastructure deficits.” The CSE report points out that public-private partnerships can help mobilise investments for scaling up reuse projects, and capacity-building initiatives can improve awareness and acceptance among urban managers and communities.

72% Of Urban Wastewater, Sewage Flows Into Rivers, Lakes Untreated: Think Tank

Only 28% of the urban wastewater and sewage generated in India goes through treatment, leaving the rest to flow directly into rivers, lakes and land, think tank Centre for Science and Environment flagged in its latest report. The report, released on Monday, stated that India's urban water crisis would be resolved if all that wastewater was treated and reused. "Using and disposing of treated wate CSE Director General Sunita Narain pointed out that India faces significant water scarcity challenges due to a number of factors, including rapid urbanisation, industrial growth, population expansion and most importantly, climate change. "Wastewater reuse can be a key part of the strategy to address these concerns and promote water circularity and sustainability.In fact, there is an opportunity f "This is in line with the belief that promoting a circular economy is essential for achieving a sustainable and climate-resilient future and for managing the ever-growing demand for freshwater," Subrata Chakraborty, senior programme manager, water programme, CSE, said.

72% of Urban Wastewater in India Flows into Water Bodies: Report

A meagre 28 per cent of the urban wastewater and sewage generated in India undergoes treatment while the rest flows directly into rivers, lakes and land, according to a report by the think tank Centre for Science and Environment. India's urban water crisis could ease if all the wastewater is treated and reused, the report released here on Monday said. Rajiv Kumar Mital, Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), said, "Using and disposing of treated water without harnessing its potential means we are losing out on utilising an important resource. The challenge is to scale up and ensure that the work we do in this sector is impactful." Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Director General Sunita Narain said India faces significant water scarcity challenges due to rapid urbanisation, industrial growth, population expansion and, most importantly, climate change. "Wastewater reuse can be a key part of the strategy to address these concerns and promote water circularity and sustainability." "In fact, there is an opportunity for turning wastewater into water again and this is what our report's title -- Waste to Worth -- is referring to," Narain added. The Jal Shakti Ministry has mandated that cities must recycle and reuse at least 20 per cent of the water they consume. Subrata Chakraborty, senior programme manager, water programme, CSE, said, "This is in line with the belief that promoting a circular economy is essential for achieving a sustainable and climate-resilient future and for managing the ever-growing demand for freshwater."

भारत में शहरी अपशिष्ट जल का 72 प्रतिशत बिना शोधन बहाया जा रहा : रिपोर्ट

भारत में उत्पन्न शहरी अपशिष्ट जल और सीवेज का मात्र 28 प्रतिशत पानी ही शोधित किया जाता है, जबकि शेष जल सीधे नदियों, झीलों और भूमि में प्रवाहित हो जाता है। यह जानकारी थिंकटैंक ‘सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट’ की एक रिपोर्ट से मिली है। सोमवार को यहां जारी रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि यदि सभी अपशिष्ट जल को उपचारित कर पुनः उपयोग में लाया जाए तो भारत का शहरी जल संकट कम हो सकता है। राष्ट्रीय स्वच्छ गंगा मिशन (एनएमसीजी) के महानिदेशक राजीव कुमार मित्तल ने कहा, “शोधित जल की क्षमता का दोहन किए बिना उसका उपयोग और निपटान करने का मतलब है कि हम एक महत्वपूर्ण संसाधन का उपयोग करने से चूक रहे हैं। चुनौती यह है कि हम इस क्षेत्र में जो काम कर रहे हैं, उसका दायरा बढ़ाएं और सुनिश्चित करें कि उसका प्रभाव हो।” सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड इनवायरमेंट (सीएसई) की महानिदेशक सुनीता नारायण ने कहा कि भारत तेजी से हो रहे शहरीकरण, औद्योगिक विकास, जनसंख्या विस्तार और सबसे महत्वपूर्ण जलवायु परिवर्तन के कारण जल संकट की गंभीर चुनौतियों का सामना कर रहा है। उन्होंने कहा, “अपशिष्ट जल का पुनः उपयोग इन चिंताओं को दूर करने तथा जल चक्रीयता और स्थिरता को बढ़ावा देने की रणनीति का एक महत्वपूर्ण हिस्सा हो सकता है।” नारायण ने कहा, “वास्तव में, अपशिष्ट जल को पुनः उपयोग लायक बनाने का एक अवसर है और हमारी रिपोर्ट का शीर्षक – ‘वेस्ट टू वर्थ’- इसी का उल्लेख करती है।” जल शक्ति मंत्रालय ने आदेश दिया है कि शहर अपने अपशिष्ट जल का कम से कम 20 प्रतिशत पुनः उपयोग करें।