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Ground-level ozone choking Amdavad

A recent Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) analysis found ground-level ozone has become a multi-season threat across 25 Indian cities. While Delhi-NCR emerged as the biggest regional hotspot, Chandigarh recorded the highest average summer levels, followed by Ahmedabad and Jaipur. Elevated ground-level ozone has also been recorded across parts of Greater Ahmedabad, including central areas, with experts warning that exceedances of safe air-quality limits are lasting longer and reaching residential neighbourhoods.

धूप में आई तेजी तो जहरीली हुई हवा: दिल्ली-एनसीआर में ओजोन ढा रही है कहर, बढ़ने लगा असर; हालात चिंताजनक

दिल्ली की हवा खराब होने पर अमूमन चर्चा धूल के महीन कणों पीएम2.5 और पीएम10 के इर्द-गिर्द होती है, लेकिन साफ दिखाई न देने वाली एक प्रदूषक गैस भी सेहत पर भारी पड़ रही है। यह सतह के आसपास मौजूद, ग्राउंड लेवल ओजोन है। यह वही गैस है, जो धरती के परिवेश को सूर्य की खतरनाक अल्ट्रावायलेट किरणों सुरक्षित रखती है। केंद्रीय प्रदूषण नियंत्रण बोर्ड (सीपीसीबी) और सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (सीएसई) की रिपोर्ट बताती हैं कि दिल्ली-एनसीआर में पूरे साल ओजोन खतरा बढ़ा रही है। सीएसई ने एक रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक, एक मार्च से 10 मई 2026 के बीच किए गए अध्ययन के 71 दिनों में दिल्ली-एनसीआर में आठ घंटे का राष्ट्रीय मानक 100 माइक्रो ग्राम प्रति घन मीटर को हर दिन पार कर गया। दिल्ली में औसतन 8.79 मॉनिटरिंग स्टेशन रोजाना मानक से ऊपर रहे, जबकि एनसीआर के शहरों में यह आंकड़ा औसतन 3.2 स्टेशन था। दिल्ली में पूसा आईएमडी, जबकि एनसीआर में ग्रेटर नोएडा का नॉलेज पार्क-5, नोएडा सेक्टर-125 और गाजियाबाद का वसुंधरा प्रमुख हॉटस्पॉट रहे। ग्रेटर नोएडा नॉलेज पार्क-5 में 44 दिन ओजोन मानक से ऊपर रही।

दिल्ली में पर्यावरण मुआवज़े के तौर पर प्राप्त राशि का लगभग 60% हिस्सा ख़र्च नहीं हुआ: रिपोर्ट

सूचना के अधिकार (आरटीआई) के तहत मिले जवाब से पता चला है कि दिल्ली सरकार को पर्यावरण मुआवजा शुल्क (Environment Compensation Charge-ECC) के तौर पर 1,935.44 करोड़ रुपये मिले हैं, लेकिन इसका लगभग 60% हिस्सा अभी तक खर्च नहीं हुआ है. हिंदुस्तान टाइम्स की रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, आरटीआई जवाब के मुताबिक, 1,935.44 करोड़ रुपये में से सिर्फ़ 781.51 करोड़ रुपये ही खर्च किए गए, जबकि 1,153.93 करोड़ रुपये बिना खर्च किए ही रह गए. पर्यावरण मुआवजा शुल्क सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने 2015 में लगाया था और इसे दिल्ली नगर निगम (एमसीडी) द्वारा वसूला जाता है. वायु प्रदूषण को कम करने के उद्देश्य से दिल्ली में प्रवेश करने वाले वाणिज्यिक वाहनों पर यह शुल्क लगाया जाता है. बाद में इस शुल्क से प्राप्त राशि दिल्ली सरकार के खाते में जमा की जाती है. आरटीआई के जवाब के अनुसार, अब तक खर्च किए गए ज़्यादातर पैसे बड़े परिवहन बुनियादी ढांचा परियोजना, पर खर्च हुए हैं. इसमें सबसे बड़ी रकम 500 करोड़ रुपये थी, जिसे मई 2023 में दिल्ली-मेरठ रीजनल रैपिड ट्रांजिट सिस्टम (आरआरटीएस) कॉरिडोर को लागू करने के लिए राष्ट्रीय राजधानी क्षेत्र परिवहन निगम (एनसीआरटीसी) को मंज़ूरी दी गई थी. मार्च 2019 में इसी परियोजना के लिए एनसीआरटीसी को 265 करोड़ रुपये और जारी किए गए थे. आरटीआई कार्यकर्ता अमित गुप्ता, जिन्होंने यह अर्ज़ी दाखिल की थी, ने अख़बार को बताया, ‘कोर्ट के आदेशों और विशेषज्ञों की ओर से गंभीर कदम उठाने के सुझावों के बावजूद प्रदूषण कम करने में सीधे असर डालने वाले बड़े परियोजनाओं के लिए फंड का सही तरीके से इस्तेमाल नहीं किया जा रहा है.’ इससे पहले सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने दिल्ली सरकार को निर्देश दिया था कि वह ‘एयर क्वालिटी मैनेजमेंट कमीशन’ (सीएक्यूएम) की अंतरिम सिफारिशों के साथ-साथ बचे हुए पैसे का इस्तेमाल लंबे समय के उपायों के लिए करने की योजना पेश करे. सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने अपने बताए गए उपायों के लिए फंड का पूरी तरह से इस्तेमाल करने की ज़रूरत पर ज़ोर दिया था. हालांकि, गाड़ियों से होने वाले वायु प्रदूषण को कम करने के मकसद से शुरू किए गए ईसीसी के लिए आवंटित फंड का पूरा इस्तेमाल नहीं हो पाया है. द वायर ने पहले रिपोर्ट किया था कि दिल्ली स्थित ‘सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट’ के पिछले साल के एक विश्लेषण से पता चला था कि खेतों में पराली जलाने की घटनाओं में कमी के बावजूद अक्टूबर और नवंबर में दिल्ली में वायु प्रदूषण का स्तर ज़्यादा बना रहा, जिसकी मुख्य वजह गाड़ियों से होने वाला प्रदूषण था. विश्लेषण के अनुसार, रियल-टाइम वायु प्रदूषण डेटा से पता चला कि पीक ट्रैफिक घंटों के दौरान फाइन पार्टिकुलेट मैटर (या पीएम2.5, जो हवा का एक मुख्य प्रदूषक है) का स्तर, नाइट्रोजन डाइऑक्साइड और कार्बन मोनोऑक्साइड (दोनों ही वाहनों से निकलने वाले प्रदूषक हैं) के स्तर में होने वाले रोज़ाना के उतार-चढ़ाव जैसा ही था. बीते अगस्त महीने में दिल्ली विधानसभा में पेश की गई नियंत्रक एवं महालेखा परीक्षक (कैग) की परफॉर्मेंस ऑडिट रिपोर्ट में खुलासा हुआ था कि दिल्ली में पर्यावरण मुआवजा शुल्क के संग्रह से संबंधित 280 दिनों के रिकॉर्ड गायब थे, जबकि इस मद में जमा किए गए 843.12 करोड़ रुपये अब तक खर्च नहीं किए गए हैं.

Kolkata’s ozone paradox: Layer recovers, ground-levelthreat persists

The two should not be confused. The depletion of the protective ozone layer is a global atmospheric phenomenon rather than a local “ozone hole” over Kolkata. Globally, the ozone layer is on a recovery path and, if current policies remain in place, ozone outside the polar regions is expected to return to around 1980 levels by about 2040, said Anumita Roychowdhury, Centre for Science Environment (CSE) executive director and lead researcher. Kolkata’s ground-level ozone presents a more complicated picture. An analysis by the CSE shows that summer ozone exceedances in the city have fallen sharply in recent years. Kolkata recorded exceedances of the national eight-hour standard of 100 µg/m³ on 46 summer days in 2021. The number dropped to 22 days in 2025 and, remarkably, to zero during summer 2026.

Plastic regime needs transparency

India has recycled 17 million tonnes of plastic packaging waste since 2022, when the “Extended Producer Responsibility” (“EPR”) regime came into force, shows the latest Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. The estimated value of this plastic-recycling trade comes to a whopping ₹2,500 crore — enough to fund four Chandrayaan-3 missions. Considering that India annually produces 3.8 million tonnes of plastic waste, going by CPCB estimates, we have been successful in getting rid of at least four-five years of plastic waste generated. If this is the case, and it clearly is, based on official documents of June 2026, then why do we still see mountains of plastic waste in our cities, villages and riverways? Clearly, something is not quite right.EPR is an instrument used universally to manage waste. It puts the onus of collecting and recycling plastic on its manufacturers — producers, importers or brand owners (PIBOs). From 2023-24, in India, PIBOs are mandated to collect 100 per cent of the plastic waste they generate. As of last year, PIBOs had the target to recycle 40-60 per cent of this collected packaging material. For 2026-27, the target is up to 50-70 per cent, depending on the category of plastic. For instance, PIBOs of category 2 plastic, which includes everything from single to multilayered packaging, used for wrapping items ranging from chips to shampoo sachets, are mandated to collect 100 per cent of their plastic packaging and recycle 50 per cent of it, as of this year. For recycling, PIBOs contract with plastic waste processors (PWPs), units required to be registered with the CPCB. There are over 1,000 registered PWPs, according to the official data. These units are paid in accordance with CPCB-mandated rates — ₹870 per tonne for category 1 (pet bottles and the like); ₹1,500 per tonne for flexible plastic (packaged food and other household items); and ₹2,500 per tonne for compostable material. Each tonne of plastic recycled is equal to one EPR certificate. Taking an average rate of ₹1,500 per tonne, the value of 17 million tonnes of plastic waste recycled by India since 2022 comes to ₹2,500 crore. If PIBOs do not meet their targets for recycling, they are charged a hefty environmental compensation. This cost of non-compliance is 2.5 times the cost of compliance. The CPCB estimates that the cost of plastic waste recycling is ₹4,000 per tonne, which it then distributes equally between municipalities and producer companies, averaging ₹2,000 per tonne. If PIBOs fail, they are slapped with an environmental compensation of ₹5,000 per tonne for category 2 plastic, for instance. This sounds great. In fact, it sounds so great that the government is said to be considering taking this system to the stock market to allow trading of EPR certificates. But then, I ask again, if this system is working so well, why do we see so much plastic everywhere? My colleagues audited plastic in the drains of Agra city and found that branded plastic packaging made up 70 per cent of the waste. Then how can companies claim 100 per cent collection? You will find the same if you look at any garbage dump in your vicinity. Let’s look at what can go wrong. First, does the PIBO target underestimate the waste generated? In 2024, my colleagues analysed the official EPR portal and found that 41,544 PIBOs had registered and were assigned recycling targets based on self-reported data. How this quantity was validated is not clear. Second, how does the CPCB verify the volume of waste processed and recycled? The CPCB says it does this through audits and ground-checks. On June 26, the CPCB directed different states to take action against non-compliant PWPs. The audit (not available publicly) seems to suggest that many PWPs were generating certificates more than their registered capacity and other violations. The problem is compounded because it is difficult to trust or verify in this business. The CPCB says PWPs must upload GST (goods and services tax) invoice as proof of sale of the finished recycled product. The product, in most cases, is plastic pellets, which are then used mostly by industries in the informal sector. Worse, the high rate of GST, at 18 per cent, makes “open” business unviable. The third issue is even more fundamental. If it costs PIBOs 2.5 times more to pay for non-compliance, they should want to pay for recycling at PWPs. But this cost also creates a perverse incentive to “arrange” for certificates and not for recycling. It is also because in many cases, recycling is not feasible at the agreed rate. Our research finds that the real cost of recycling the same category 2 plastic would be ₹4,000 to ₹6,000 per tonne — much higher than the set rate of ₹1,500 per tonne. That said, we need more ways to improve the learning for scrutiny and compliance. But the opposite is happening. As on June 28, 2026, the EPR portal is available only to a closed group of users. It can be argued that this has been done because EPR is a lucrative business and private information must be kept confidential. But this lack of transparency will only make things worse. This is not governance for tomorrow, not even of yesterday. The writer is at the Centre for Science and Environment; sunita@cseindia.org, X: @sunitanar

BRICS Declaration Pushes Renewable Energy and Clean-Tech Cooperation

The BRICS declaration has called for greater cooperation on renewable energy, smart grids, energy storage, low-emission hydrogen and clean industrial development, with the Centre for Science and Environment saying the commitments could strengthen the shift towards cleaner energy across member countries. The declaration, issued at the BRICS summit, places clean technology and green industrial development alongside climate-related priorities. It also includes support for a photovoltaic industry action plan and expanded cooperation in low-emission hydrogen, smart grids and energy storage. CSE programme manager Avantika Goswami said BRICS countries are facing rapidly rising energy requirements, making an immediate end to fossil-fuel use unlikely. She said the declaration nevertheless emphasised a just, orderly, equitable and inclusive energy transition, while also highlighting energy security and resilient supply chains. The emphasis on supply chains is significant because the declaration links clean-energy deployment with industrial development and manufacturing capacity. CSE deputy programme manager Trishant Dev said broader cooperation would be needed to help developing countries move up the global high-value manufacturing chain. According to the CSE assessment, BRICS countries are adopting clean technologies such as solar power and electric vehicles at a fast pace. The group is also responsible for more than half of global solar-energy production, making its decisions relevant to the availability, manufacturing and deployment of clean-energy technologies beyond the member countries. The declaration calls for renewable energy to be expanded across economic sectors and for carbon emissions to be reduced. Its listed areas of cooperation cover generation, electricity-system management, storage, hydrogen and industrial production rather than focusing only on electricity generation. The document also addresses trade-related climate measures. BRICS countries have opposed unilateral and protectionist measures linked to climate policy, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, or CBAM. The declaration further reiterates commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. The announcement does not specify project-level funding, implementation deadlines or the institutional mechanism through which the proposed cooperation will be delivered. The immediate focus is on establishing cooperation in photovoltaic manufacturing, low-emission hydrogen, smart grids and energy storage while balancing faster clean-energy adoption with the member countries’ continuing energy needs.

पराली जली कम, फिर भी दिल्ली की हवा दमघोंटू... आखिर प्रदूषण की असली वजह क्या है?

पंजाब से मॉनसून वापस जा रहा है. अक्टूबर तक धान की कटाई होती है. इसके बाद गेहूं की फसल लगाई जाती है. इस बीच, उत्तरी भारत में हवाओं का गर्मी वाला जोर कम हो जाता है, वे उत्तर-पश्चिम से आती हैं और धीमी पड़ जाती हैं, और पंजाब और हरियाणा के ऊपर हवा में जो कुछ भी होता है, वह दिल्ली की ओर बढ़ने लगता है और वहीं जमा हो जाता है. इसी क्रम को दिल्ली में सर्दियों के दौरान सांस लेने लायक हवा न होने के लिए जिम्मेदार ठहराया जाता रहा है. इस साल, यह क्रम टूट गया है. इंडियन एग्रीकल्चरल रिसर्च इंस्टीट्यूट की रोजाना की रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, 2025 के धान के मौसम में 15 सितंबर से 30 नवंबर के बीच पंजाब में फसल जलाने की 5,114 घटनाएं सैटेलाइट से रिकॉर्ड की गईं. 2021 में ऐसी 71,304 घटनाएं रिकॉर्ड की गई थीं. यानी पांच सीजन में इसमें लगभग 93 प्रतिशत की कमी आई है. 2021 के बाद से हर सीजन में यह संख्या पिछले सीजन से कम रही है. लेकिन दिल्ली की हवा पर इसका वैसा असर नहीं दिखा. सेंट्रल पॉल्यूशन कंट्रोल बोर्ड के आंकड़े सेंट्रल पॉल्यूशन कंट्रोल बोर्ड के आंकड़ों के अनुसार, इन्हीं पांच पतझड़ के मौसमों में, 1 अक्टूबर से 30 नवंबर की अवधि के लिए शहर का औसत एयर क्वालिटी इंडेक्स (AQI) 2021 में 273 से बढ़कर 2025 में 288 हो गया. इन पांचों में सबसे साफ हवा 2022 में थी, जब AQI 264 था. उस सीजन में पंजाब में आग लगने की 49,922 घटनाएं रिकॉर्ड की गई थीं, जो पिछले साल की तुलना में दस गुना ज्यादा थीं. सबसे खराब दिनों में जरूर कमी आई. 2021 में, दिल्ली में 11 दिन AQI 400 से ऊपर रहा, जिसे "गंभीर" (severe) श्रेणी माना जाता है. 2025 में ऐसे दिन तीन थे. पूरे साल के हिसाब से देखें तो सुधार और भी साफ दिखता है- कमीशन फॉर एयर क्वालिटी मैनेजमेंट के अनुसार, दिल्ली का जनवरी से नवंबर का औसत AQI 2021 में 197 के मुकाबले 2025 में 187 रहा, जो 2018 के बाद से इस अवधि का सबसे अच्छा स्तर है. रोजाना के खराब दिनों की स्थिति में कोई बदलाव नहीं आया. पूरे साल के हिसाब से देखें तो फसल जलाने का मौसम एक ऐसी लाइन पर अचानक बढ़ने वाली बढ़त (spike) की तरह है जो कभी भी साफ हवा के स्तर तक नीचे नहीं आती. इस साल भी यह पैटर्न नहीं बदला है. 1 जनवरी से 13 सितंबर के बीच, दिल्ली का औसत AQI 172 रहा. 2025 में इन्हीं दिनों में यह 166 था. इस साल, हमने 19 दिन AQI को 300 से ऊपर देखा, जबकि पिछले साल यह संख्या 17 थी. इस जनवरी में दो दिन—18 और 19 जनवरी—AQI 400 से ऊपर रहा. 2025 में इसी समय के दौरान AQI कभी भी इस स्तर तक नहीं पहुंचा. दोनों पैमानों पर, 2026 की स्थिति थोड़ी खराब रही. पराली जलाने का मौसम—जब असल में दोनों सालों के आंकड़ों में अंतर दिखेगा—अभी आना बाकी है. इसमें पराली का कितना हिस्सा है? सालों तक, "दिल्ली की सर्दियों की हवा में पराली जलाने का कितना योगदान है?" सवाल का ईमानदार जवाब यही है कि कोई नहीं बता सकता. अब यह अंतर कम हो गया है, और जवाब उस तर्क से कहीं कम है जो आमतौर पर दिया जाता है. सेंट्रल पॉल्यूशन कंट्रोल बोर्ड ने पर्यावरण कार्यकर्ता अमित गुप्ता की 'सूचना का अधिकार' (RTI) अर्जी के जवाब में बताया कि अक्टूबर से दिसंबर 2025 के दौरान दिल्ली के PM2.5 में पराली जलाने का योगदान 3.5 प्रतिशत था, जो 2021 में 13 प्रतिशत था. जवाब से यह भी पुष्टि हुई कि बोर्ड अभी भी 'द एनर्जी एंड रिसोर्सेज इंस्टीट्यूट' और 'ऑटोमोटिव रिसर्च एसोसिएशन ऑफ इंडिया' की 2018 की स्टडी पर निर्भर है. इस स्टडी में दिल्ली के प्रदूषण के हर स्रोत के योगदान का हिसाब लगाया गया था—लेकिन यह उस शहर की आठ साल पुरानी तस्वीर है जो अब बदल चुका है. लेकिन तीन महीने का औसत एक लंबा समय है. सिर्फ अक्टूबर और नवंबर के दौरान, 'सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट' ने औसत योगदान लगभग चार प्रतिशत और सबसे खराब दिन का योगदान लगभग 22 प्रतिशत बताया. पराली जलाना ज्यादातर दिनों में एक छोटी भूमिका निभाता है, लेकिन कुछ दिनों में यह मुख्य कारण बन जाता है. पराली जलाना बंद नहीं हुआ—बस जगह बदल गई दिल्ली खुद को जो कहानी सुनाती है, वह पंजाब के बारे में है. हालांकि, अब डेटा सिर्फ उस राज्य तक सीमित नहीं है. जबकि पंजाब में आग लगने की घटनाओं में 93 प्रतिशत की कमी आई, बुलेटिन में शामिल अन्य पांच राज्यों—हरियाणा, उत्तर प्रदेश, मध्य प्रदेश, राजस्थान और दिल्ली—में ऐसी घटनाओं में 35 प्रतिशत की वृद्धि हुई (20,743 से बढ़कर 27,914 हो गईं). यह बढ़ोतरी ज्यादातर मध्य प्रदेश में हुई है, जहां हर सीजन में यह संख्या 8,160 से बढ़कर 17,067 हो गई है और अब यहां इन छह राज्यों में सबसे अधिक मामले दर्ज किए जाते हैं. उत्तर प्रदेश 7,290 मामलों के साथ दूसरे नंबर पर है. पंजाब तीसरे नंबर पर है.

Plastic regime needs transparency

The estimated value of this plastic-recycling trade comes to a whopping ₹2,500 crore — enough to fund four Chandrayaan-3 missions. Considering that India annually produces 3.8 million tonnes of plastic waste, going by CPCB estimates, we have been successful in getting rid of at least four-five years of plastic waste generated. If this is the case, and it clearly is, based on official documents of June 2026, then why do we still see mountains of plastic waste in our cities, villages and riverways? Clearly, something is not quite right. EPR is an instrument used universally to manage waste. It puts the onus of collecting and recycling plastic on its manufacturers — producers, importers or brand owners (PIBOs). From 2023-24, in India, PIBOs are mandated to collect 100 per cent of the plastic waste they generate. As of last year, PIBOs had the target to recycle 40-60 per cent of this collected packaging material.

BRICS backs fossil fuels’ continued role in global energy mix amid energy transition

Avantika Goswami, programme manager of the Climate Change and Green Economy unit at Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said, “The BRICS nations comprise a diverse mix of developing and emerging countries with growing energy needs, industrialisation aspirations and multiple development challenges -- it is unlikely that we will hear a fossil fuel phase-out declaration any time soon.”

ഹിമാലയത്തിൽ വേണ്ടത് വൻകിട നിർമിതികളല്ല; പ്രകൃതിയെ അറിഞ്ഞുള്ള വികസനം: സുനിതാ നാരായൺ

English Summary: Renowned environmentalist Sunita Narain warns against the dangers of reckless development in the Himalayas, highlighting how an aggressive engineering mindset clashes with the region's fragility. She links climate change to recent disasters and calls for an urgent shift in land-use practices to prevent future tragedies. പത്തനം തി ട്ട ∙ മഹാ പർവതങ്ങളെ യും അതി ൽ നി ന്നു ൽഭവി ക്കു ന്ന നദി കളെ യും വഴി തി രി ക്കാ നും കെ ട്ടി നി ർത്താ നും എൻജി നീ യറി ങി ലൂ ടെ സാ ധി ക്കു മെ ന്ന മനോ ഭാ വമാ ണ് ഹി മാ ലയത്തിന്റെ കാ ര്യ ത്തിലെ ങ്കി ലും മാ റേണ്ടതെ ന്നു പ്ര ശസ്ത പരി സ്ഥി തി പ്ര വർത്തക സു നി താ നാ രാ യൺ. നേപ്പാ ൾ ഹി മതടാ ക പ്ര ളയപശ്ചാ ത്തലത്തിൽ ന്യൂ ഡൽഹി സെ ന്റർ ഫോ ർ സയൻസ് ആൻഡ് എൻവയൺമെ ന്റ് മേ ധാ വി കൂ ടി യാ യ സു നി ത നൽകി യ ഓൺലൈ ൻ അഭി മു ഖത്തിൽ നി ന്ന്: പു തി യ ജലവൈ ദ്യു തി പദ്ധതി ഡാ മു കളും ടൂ റി സം സർക്യൂ ട്ട് പാ തി കളും റെ യി ൽപാ തകളും മറ്റും നി ർമി ക്കു ന്ന വൻകി ട വി കസന പദ്ധതി കൾ പലതും ഹി മാ ലയത്തെ എങ്ങനെ ബാ ധി ക്കും ? ഹി മാ ലയത്തെ മെ രു ക്കി യെ ടു ക്കാ മെ ന്ന ധാ രണ തെ റ്റാ ണ്. കാ ലാ വസ്ഥാ മാ റ്റവും മണ്ണു മര്യാ ദ മറന്ന വി കസന കാ ഴ്ചപ്പാ ടും ചേർന്നാൽ എന്താ കും എന്നതി ന് ഉദാ ഹരണമാ ണ് കേ ദാ ർനാ ഥ് മു തൽ നേപ്പാ ൾ വരെ ഹി മാ ലയത്തിലെ ആവർത്തിക്കു ന്ന ദു രന്തങ്ങൾ. മനു ഷ്യ ന്റെ തെ റ്റാ യ കാ ഴ്ചപ്പാ ടി നനു സരി ച്ച് പു ഴകളെ യും പർവതങ്ങളെ യും മാ റ്റി മറി ക്കാ മെ ന്ന ധാ രണ കഴിഞ്ഞ ഏതാ നും പതി റ്റാ ണ്ടു കളാ യി പി ന്തു ടരു ന്നു. ഇത് തെ റ്റാ ണെ ന്നു പറയാ ൻ നേപ്പാ ളി നെ ക്കാ ൾ ആഴമു ള്ള ഒരു മു റി വു വേ ണ്ട. ദുഃ ഖഭരി തമാ യ ഈ നി മി ഷങ്ങളെ വി വരി ക്കാ ൻ പരി സ്ഥി തി നി ഘണ്ടു വി ലെ ങ്ങും വാ ക്കു കളി ല്ല. എല്ലാ അളവു കോ ലു കൾക്കും അപ്പു റമാ ണ് ഈ ദു രന്തത്തിന്റെ തീ വ്ര വ്യാ പ്തി . ഏത് ഉയരത്തെ യും എത്ര വലി യ ആഴത്തെ യും കീ ഴടക്കി ക്കളയാ മെ ന്ന മനോ ഭാ വമാ ണ് മാ റേ ണ്ടത്. അതി വേഗം വി കസനം എന്ന കാ ഴ്ചപ്പാ ടി ന്റെ അപകടമാ ണ് ഈ മഹാ ദു രന്തം .

16 Things You Might Not Know About American Food

Some American breads still contain potassium bromate, a synthetic dough strengthener classified as "possibly carcinogenic to humans." It's banned or restricted in the EU, Canada, the UK, Brazil, China, and India. The FDA still allows it. Potassium bromate is a flour additive that strengthens dough, helping bread rise higher and produce a lighter, fluffier texture. It has been used in commercial baking since the early 1900s. Concerns about its safety emerged after studies found kidney and thyroid tumors in rats. Based on animal studies, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified potassium bromate as Group 2B, or "possibly carcinogenic to humans," in 1987 and reaffirmed that classification in 1999. Several countries subsequently restricted or eliminated its use in flour. The UK banned potassium bromate as a flour improver in 1990, while it has never been permitted as a flour treatment agent in the EU. Canada removed it from its list of permitted food additives in 1994. The consensus wasn't only European: the UN's expert committee on food additives concluded in 1992 that using bromate as a flour treatment agent was not appropriate, and the Codex Alimentarius withdrew its specifications for potassium bromate in 2012. At the federal level, potassium bromate remains permitted in the US. It's exempt from the Delaney Clause — which requires the FDA to ban additives shown to cause cancer in animals, and which forced Red Dye No. 3 off the market — because it was approved before the 1958 amendment that created that rule, a status known as prior sanction. The FDA has encouraged bakers to stop using it voluntarily since 1991, and major bakeries including Best Foods (maker of Arnold, Entenmann's and Oroweat breads), Pepperidge Farm and Pillsbury switched to bromate-free processes. The industry's safety argument is that potassium bromate is intended to convert to harmless bromide during baking, so that when bread is properly baked, little or no bromate should remain. But the conversion can be incomplete. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the FDA tested several dozen baked goods in 1992–93 and again in 1998–99 and found that many contained bromate at levels the agency considered unsafe. Since the FDA regulates the amount that can be added to flour rather than the amount left in the finished loaf, there is no federal residue limit for baked goods and no routine testing program. States have moved faster. California has required a Proposition 65 cancer warning on bromated flour since the early 1990s, and under the state's Food Safety Act it will prohibit foods containing potassium bromate entirely beginning January 2027. Sources: IARC, CSPI, 21 CFR 136.110, California AB 418, Down To Earth policy brief, Centre for Science and Environment

Transmission upgrades, coal flexibilisation: How India is planning to unlock green power

India announced its first-ever net zero target during the COP26 Summit in Glasgow — with Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledging that the country would become carbon neutral by 2070. New Delhi also achieved a capacity of 283.46 GW from non-fossil fuel sources in April this year, with top officials noting that India now ranked third globally in Renewable Energy Installed Capacity. But the national power grid has faltered while handling the changes — with transmission bottlenecks, thermal stress and battery storage concerns taking centre stage. “The rapid growth in RE, particularly solar energy, which has seen a 3.5-fold increase in six years, now exceeding 140 GW of installed capacity, has fundamentally altered the demand–supply balance in the grid, creating deep intra-day variability and operational stress on conventional generation while presenting a fundamental challenge to the stability of the national power grid,” the Centre for Science and Environment explains in a new study. Union Minister Shripad Naik also told Parliament in late July that the government held back 8,133 GWh of solar power in the April-June quarter owing to transmission constraints. News agency Reuters calculated that India had been unable to run 7% of its solar capacity at full output due to infrastructure curbs. A separate statement from Union Minister Pralhad Joshi indicated that India had installed a total capacity of 283.46 GW from non-fossil fuel sources by March 31 this year. He noted that renewables had met 51.5% of the country’s total electricity demand of 203 GW in the past year. Renewable energy soars as India eyes 500 GW by 2030 Data from the government’s Report of the Expert Committee on Energy Statistics contended in July that the “estimated potential for generation of energy from renewable resources reached 4,704 GW by the end of March 2025”. Solar led the list with a staggering growth from 748,990 MW in FY24 to 33,43,378 MW during FY25. Wind Power now stands at 11,63,856 MW while large hydro is at 1,33,410 MW. By the end of July 2026, the country had crossed 300 GW of non-fossil fuel-based installed electricity generation capacity. The figure marked more than 60% of the 500GW target for 2030. A record capacity of 55.29 GW non-fossil fuel based electricity capacity was installed in the country during 2025-26 with key contributions from 44.6 GW solar power and 6 GW wind power. “The growth in clean energy generation has been anchored by stellar contributions across sectors. Solar energy remains the key growth engine with around 165 GW at present from just 2.8 GW in 2014. Concurrently, the wind energy sector has also seen strong momentum reaching to over 58 GW from 21 GW in 2014,” a PIB press note said in August. By the end of July 2026, the country had crossed 300 GW of non-fossil fuel-based installed electricity generation capacity. The figure marked more than 60% of the 500GW target for 2030. A record capacity of 55.29 GW non-fossil fuel based electricity capacity was installed in the country during 2025-26 with key contributions from 44.6 GW solar power and 6 GW wind power. “The growth in clean energy generation has been anchored by stellar contributions across sectors. Solar energy remains the key growth engine with around 165 GW at present from just 2.8 GW in 2014. Concurrently, the wind energy sector has also seen strong momentum reaching to over 58 GW from 21 GW in 2014,” a PIB press note said in August. But the program has become a victim of its own success — with grid bottlenecks emerging as a massive constraint. According to energy think tank Ember, transmission constraints have led to a loss of 300 gigawatt-hours of clean electricity between January and March 2026. Naik told Parliament in late July that curbs in transmission occurred mainly during peak solar generation hours — when power flows can exceed the capacity of available transmission lines. “India has made good progress in renewable energy, but we still have a long way to go to reach 500 GW by 2030. The challenge now is not just adding more solar and wind capacity. We need to make sure our transmission network and storage capacity grow at the same pace. Otherwise, generating more renewable power alone will not be enough,” warned Hanish Gupta, Founder and Managing Director, Sunkind India Limited. “The main challenge remains adding new transmission capacity and power market reforms to absorb more intermittent renewable power into the grid,” Rustagi agreed. The ‘variable nature’ of renewable energy UK-based Ember Energy warned in mid-May that India’s accelerated renewable energy buildout is beginning to outpace its transmission and evacuation infrastructure. The think tank cautioned that there was a “growing mismatch between fast-moving solar projects and slower-moving transmission infrastructure” — tagging it as the “most critical operational risk” to the 2030 target. “Renewable energy sources particularly wind and solar are variable and intermittent in nature, and integrating a substantial share of such generation into the Grid presents challenges related to grid security, stability, and safety. The government has taken several steps to ensure grid stability and integration of renewable energy…” Naik added before Parliament. Ember also flagged “right-of-way disputes, fragmented land ownership, forest and biodiversity clearances, and a thin global supplier base for high-voltage direct current components” as the primary causes. The problem is compounded by the renewable energy buildout across the country — where Rajasthan in the Northern Regional Grid and Gujarat in the Western Regional Grid house most of its utility-scale solar and wind capacities. “Such concentration of capacities, combined with delayed transmission and evacuation infrastructure, is producing long queues at key pooling stations. On average, projects awaiting commissioning in FY2026–27 face connectivity delays of four to five months, with some Rajasthan stations experiencing significantly longer wait times…Around one in four Inter-State Transmission System schemes nationwide faces a delay of a year or more,” the Ember report added. The geographic energy divide Details shared by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation also highlights a concerning geographical imbalance to this green expansion — with more than 70% of India’s entire renewable energy potential heavily bottlenecked in just six states. At the same time, India remains heavily dependent on coal and the price-sensitive volatility of energy imports.

Nepal floods halt contentious hydropower exports to Bangladesh via India

The Baharampur-Bheramara corridor is also loaded with India’s own exports to Bangladesh. India’s Central Electricity Authority “doesn’t want to run the line close to its thermal limit … on a line that also carries India’s own bilateral exports”, notes Binit Das, deputy programme manager for renewable energy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). For the India-Bangladesh link, battery storage could potentially help if the line has spare capacity during periods of lower demand, Abhyankar adds. But feasibility depends on how much the power flow on the interconnection varies over the day.

Delhi-NCR to get 55 new air quality monitoring stations by year-end, total to reach 157

The ambient air quality monitoring network across Delhi-NCR is set to become significantly denser, with 55 more continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) to be added by the end of this year, officials aware of the matter said. The expansion will take the total number of operational stations across Delhi and NCR towns in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan from the current 102 to 157, meeting a coverage criterion of a station every 25-50 square kilometres (5km x 5km) set by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and the Union environment ministry. Plan to increase monitoring stations The plan requires at least one monitoring station for every 25 sq km in Delhi and contiguous NCR cities such as Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Faridabad and Sonepat. For other district headquarters and cities in the NCR, the criterion is one station for every 50 sq km. The ministry and CAQM announced the expansion plan in February 2026, when Delhi-NCR had 84 stations. Of these, 40 were in Delhi, 22 in Haryana, 18 in Uttar Pradesh and four in Rajasthan. A senior CAQM official said several review meetings had been held since February, both at the ministerial level and by the commission with individual states. “In the latest review meeting, held in August, the figure has increased from 84 stations to 102 stations. However, another 55 stations will be added by the end of this year, taking the total across NCR to 157 stations. This will satisfy the criteria set in February and will be a scientific approach towards data monitoring,” the official, who requested anonymity, said. Delhi currently has 47 CAAQMS and will get another 13, taking the total to 60. Haryana’s NCR towns, which currently have 22 stations, will get 23 more, taking their total to 45. Uttar Pradesh will add 16 stations to its existing 27, taking its total to 43, while Rajasthan’s NCR towns will add three to their existing six, taking the total to nine. The final locations are yet to be decided, the official said. “The final locations are still being fixed so the final list will only be shared in the coming months. However, a number of these stations are already in the tendering stage and we expect them to be able to generate air quality data this winter itself,” he said. The expansion is aimed at addressing gaps in the region’s air-quality data, particularly in areas that currently have limited or no continuous monitoring. A Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report released in September last year had highlighted the gaps in Delhi’s existing network. It found that monitoring stations covered only 26% of the city’s geographical area within a 2km radius, while 75% was covered within a 5km radius. This left around 25% of the city as a monitoring “shadow area”, largely in peripheral districts.

Delhi-NCR to get 55 new air quality monitoring stations

Gaps in air quality data The expansion aims to fill gaps in air quality data, especially in areas with little or no continuous monitoring. A report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) had pointed out these gaps last year. It found that monitoring stations covered only 26% of Delhi's geographical area within a 2km radius and 75% within a 5km radius, leaving around 25% of the city as a "shadow area," mostly in peripheral districts.