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Parametric Insurance: Can it provide the financial safety net India needs against climate risks?

Between 2000 and 2019, India experienced the third-highest number of natural disaster events globally. The future looks grim as the frequency and intensity of these disasters are projected to increase, causing losses and damages running into billions of U.S. dollars. Traditional government funds may not be enough to cover these costs, highlighting the need for innovative financial solutions. One such novel tool India is cautiously experimenting with is parametric insurance. Unlike conventional insurance schemes, which rely on indemnity and post-disaster loss evaluations, parametric insurance operates on predefined parameters that, when met, trigger immediate payouts. This approach is particularly crucial in a country like India, which experiences natural disasters quite frequently. According to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment, India encountered weather-related disasters almost daily in the first nine months of 2022 alone. Between 2019 and 2023, these disasters led to damages worth $56 billion.

CSE calls for uniformity in India’s upcoming national carbon market, seeks rigorous monitoring cycles for making it effective

NEW DELHI: As India prepares to roll out its own national compliance-based carbon market, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has brought out a report assessing several emission-trading schemes, and suggested bringing uniformity in the upcoming market and introducing “heavy penalties and rigorous monitoring cycles” for making the system effective. To ensure uniformity, it suggested freeing up the carbon-intensive sectors from the ‘perform, achieve and trade’ (PAT) scheme at the earliest, so that ‘carbon credit and trading scheme’ (CCTS) remains the only nationwide scheme for these sectors, leaving no room for mismanagement and confusion. Suggestions from the CSE, a Delhi-based think tank, come in the backdrop of the govt’s announcement in the 2024-25 budget about a plan to put in place “appropriate regulations” for the transition of hard-to-abate sectors (such as steel and cement) from the PAT mode to an Indian carbon market (ICM) mode. “A roadmap for moving the ‘hard to abate’ industries from ‘energy efficiency’ targets to ‘emission targets’ will be formulated,” finance minister Nirmala Sitharam had announced in her budget speech on July 23. Carbon market is one of the tools to combat climate change where credits are assigned to projects that can reduce greenhouse gases. These credits, measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e), are then priced and traded. People and businesses that wish to offset their emissions can buy these credits and ‘neutralise’ their carbon footprints. “The upcoming ICM scheme should kick start with a large coverage of the country’s emissions. A single nation-wide carbon market scheme for carbon-intensive sectors should be brought in to ensure effective implementation and avoid any complexity. For this scheme to be effective, it also needs to ensure a high carbon price, data integrity and transparency,” said Sunita Narain, director general, CSE. Formation of the Indian Carbon Market (ICM) had first been announced under the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act of 2022. Later, CCTS was notified in July 2023 with an aim to reduce GHG emissions. Speaking about the PAT scheme, Nivit Yadav, programme director of industrial pollution at CSE, said, “The scheme was initiated with the good intention of increasing energy efficiency in industrial sectors, but faced several shortcomings in implementation. Our analysis shows it has achieved marginal emissions reduction, which is not enough as India attempts to travel towards decarbonisation, especially in the hard-to-abate industries."

CSE calls for uniformity in India’s upcoming national carbon market, seeks rigorous monitoring cycles for making it effective

NEW DELHI: As India prepares to roll out its own national compliance-based carbon market, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has brought out a report assessing several emission-trading schemes, and suggested bringing uniformity in the upcoming market and introducing “heavy penalties and rigorous monitoring cycles” for making the system effective. To ensure uniformity, it suggested freeing up the carbon-intensive sectors from the ‘perform, achieve and trade’ (PAT) scheme at the earliest, so that ‘carbon credit and trading scheme’ (CCTS) remains the only nationwide scheme for these sectors, leaving no room for mismanagement and confusion. Suggestions from the CSE, a Delhi-based think tank, come in the backdrop of the govt’s announcement in the 2024-25 budget about a plan to put in place “appropriate regulations” for the transition of hard-to-abate sectors (such as steel and cement) from the PAT mode to an Indian carbon market (ICM) mode. “A roadmap for moving the ‘hard to abate’ industries from ‘energy efficiency’ targets to ‘emission targets’ will be formulated,” finance minister Nirmala Sitharam had announced in her budget speech on July 23. Carbon market is one of the tools to combat climate change where credits are assigned to projects that can reduce greenhouse gases. These credits, measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e), are then priced and traded. People and businesses that wish to offset their emissions can buy these credits and ‘neutralise’ their carbon footprints. “The upcoming ICM scheme should kick start with a large coverage of the country’s emissions. A single nation-wide carbon market scheme for carbon-intensive sectors should be brought in to ensure effective implementation and avoid any complexity. For this scheme to be effective, it also needs to ensure a high carbon price, data integrity and transparency,” said Sunita Narain, director general, CSE. Formation of the Indian Carbon Market (ICM) had first been announced under the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act of 2022. Later, CCTS was notified in July 2023 with an aim to reduce GHG emissions. Speaking about the PAT scheme, Nivit Yadav, programme director of industrial pollution at CSE, said, “The scheme was initiated with the good intention of increasing energy efficiency in industrial sectors, but faced several shortcomings in implementation. Our analysis shows it has achieved marginal emissions reduction, which is not enough as India attempts to travel towards decarbonisation, especially in the hard-to-abate industries."

India's Carbon Market Roadmap Unveiled By CSE

As India prepares to launch its national carbon market, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has outlined a clear roadmap to guide this transition In the 2024-25 Budget, India’s Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, announced that a plan and appropriate regulations would be implemented to transition hard-to-abate sectors from the Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) scheme to the Indian Carbon Market (ICM) mode. CSE released its proposed roadmap today during a global webinar as part of its new report titled The Indian Carbon Market: Pathways towards an Effective Mechanism. This report collates lessons from compliance-based emission trading schemes worldwide, including those in India, to facilitate the effective operationalisation of carbon markets in India. The goal is to ensure these markets serve their intended purpose of reducing emissions. India has pledged to meet its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets by 2030. It aims for net-zero emissions by 2070, in line with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) guidelines. The country is developing and launching its own national compliance-based carbon market to achieve these ambitious goals. The formation of the Indian Carbon Market (ICM) was initially announced under the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act of 2022. More recently, the Carbon Credit and Trading Scheme (CCTS) was notified in July 2023 to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The CSE report analyses four Emission Trading Schemes (ETS) currently in use worldwide: the European Union Emission Trading System, the Korean ETS, the Chinese ETS, and the Surat ETS. It also assesses India's Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) scheme, which has set the base for the upcoming Indian Carbon Market scheme by specifying energy reduction targets over three-year cycles. In its assessment of the PAT scheme, CSE examined emissions reductions in the power, steel, and cement sectors. According to Parth Kumar, Programme Manager for Industrial Pollution at CSE, the findings reveal that the Indian steel sector's emissions stood at 135 million tonnes (MT) of CO2 in 2016, but the sector managed to reduce an average of only 2.5 MT of CO2 emissions per year between 2012 and 2020. This equates to a mere 1.85 percent reduction in emissions annually. Similarly, the cement sector’s reduction was less than 1 percent, while the power sector managed to cut down 2.3 percent of its overall CO2 emissions in 2016 over six years. These findings highlight the challenges in the PAT scheme, which include the excess availability of Energy Saving Certificates (ESCerts), lenient targets, and delayed compliance. The newly proposed Carbon Credit and Trading Scheme (CCTS), which aims to build on the PAT framework, needs to address these shortcomings. Several challenges could affect the proposed new scheme. One significant issue is the low price of carbon credits and low market liquidity. Many global carbon markets, including India’s PAT scheme, initially faced challenges such as low pricing and excess availability of certificates. Additionally, the PAT scheme has faced criticism for setting unambitious targets, leading to the overachievement of goals and an oversupply of ESCerts, which has resulted in poor market prices. Kumar emphasises that CCTS must avoid these past mistakes by setting ambitious targets for individual entities and sectors, considering best practices and going beyond existing policies to ensure the market drives genuine progress rather than mere compliance. Another challenge is the dependence on the PAT scheme, which may limit the potential of CCTS and its selection of obligated entities, making the scheme less effective and potentially delaying decarbonisation efforts. Running both schemes concurrently could create confusion within the sector. Currently, entities completing their PAT cycle are expected to receive CCTS targets, which may not be the best way to shortlist participants for the scheme. This approach does not clearly signal the need to achieve maximum emission reductions under CCTS. The scheme also lacks a revenue generation clause. While ETS schemes worldwide generate revenue through auctioning allowances, which are then allocated to modernisation, support for new entrants and small businesses, and financing decarbonisation, the Indian Carbon Market model currently does not propose any form of auctioning, which limits the potential for revenue generation. Data quality is another concern, as issues have been reported in other ETSs, such as data fraud in the Chinese ETS. The PAT scheme has also faced transparency concerns, and smaller industries in CCTS may struggle to produce accurate data for their raw materials and fuels, which are often sourced from informal markets. The absence of a market stability mechanism is also problematic. Such mechanisms play a crucial role in ensuring stability by holding and releasing credits into the market in response to unexpected external events. The Indian Carbon Market has yet to propose any detailed mechanism for this. Non-imposition of penalties has been another issue under the PAT scheme, where penalties are rarely enforced. Even if penalties are strict, the effectiveness of the scheme is undermined if regulators do not impose them, as was the case with power sector defaulters under PAT. If similar practices continue under CCTS, entities may disregard their obligations to buy credits. The inclusion of offset credits and interaction with other credit schemes also pose challenges. The proposed CCTS will include offset market credits, but experiences from markets like the EU-ETS show challenges with offset surges and integrity issues. India’s various market-based mechanisms aim to enhance sustainability and efficiency, but oversupply in older schemes like PAT and potential double counting among different upcoming credit systems could threaten the integrity of credits and require strict regulatory frameworks. Additionally, the CCTS aims to include large industrial sectors, many of which rely on MSMEs. These MSMEs may become part of the market, directly or indirectly, but they face challenges such as obtaining accurate emissions data, using inefficient technologies and fuels, and lacking financing sources. These factors hinder their ability to meet targets and may lead to struggles in affording carbon credits, potentially causing unfair competition with larger companies. Finally, the exclusion of thermal power plants from the carbon market scheme would miss out on a significant portion of the country’s emissions, as the electricity sector contributes nearly 40 percent of India’s GHG emissions. Several power plants have similar conditions but disparities in efficiency and emissions, and CCTS could play a crucial role in bridging this gap.

Experimenting with biogas from cactus

Cactus research in Jhansi aims to boost the production of the spineless fodder cacti to improve farmers’ income as rhe cacti can be used for fodder, food, fibre, fertiliser and fuel. Research organisations working on this are planning to produce biogas from the cactus slurry in Bundelkhand using a viable alternative to traditional feedstocks such as cow dung that produces 65% biomethane. After a small-scale study with cactus slurry achieving up to 61% methane content in biogas production, scientists involved in the experiment are hopeful that it can be a commercially viable option. To enhance the production of biogas in Uttar Pradesh’s semi-arid region of Bundelkhand, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI) and International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) are pioneering a transformation in agricultural practices with the spineless fodder cactus in Jhansi. Germplasm of 15 varieties of spineless cacti, locally known as Nagphani, were imported from countries such as Mexico, Brazil, Tunisia and Italy back in 2014 to experiment with growing the varieties here to substitute the need for green fodder during summers. “Apart from fodder, the plant also has several other uses,” said D. R. Palsaniya, Head and Principal Scientist, Agronomy, IGFRI. “The plant is used for five ‘Fs’ that stand for fodder, food, fibre, fertiliser and fuel. The fruit of this cactus, known as prickly pear, is eaten as fruit in many countries while the cactus has also found uses in manufacturing vegan leather. The slurry of the cactus when mixed with cow dung makes for good, organic fertiliser while also producing biofuel,” he said. After conducting feeding trials on various herbivores in the IGFRI campus, the scientists found that the cactus could be mixed with any kind of fodder to substitute 30% of the dry-matter requirement of the animals and provide enough water content in summer. Prince Jain, a local farmer and resident of Sakrar village near Jhansi, who has grown this cactus on a rocky piece of land near his cowshed, told Mongabay India that he has started feeding it to stray cows he takes care of in the cowshed. “When IGFRI started experimenting with this cactus and distributed the saplings to local farmers, I decided to grow them on a rocky piece of land, unfit for cultivation. These cacti need the least maintenance care and keep growing throughout the year. I mix this with dry fodder, as per the ratio told by the scientists at IGFRI and the stray cows here have developed a taste for it,” said Jain. This plant is now the focal point of research aimed at harnessing its potential for biogas generation, marking a significant stride towards renewable energy amidst the climate change crisis. As per a 2022 report by the Centre for Science and Environment, Uttar Pradesh had 100 compressed biogas projects underway, the highest in the country. It adds that due to the ample amount of organic feedstock available for the production of biomethane, it has the potential to set up around 1,000 such plants in future. But the scenario for the Bundelkhand belt differs significantly from the rest of the state due to its climatic conditions. As the region is not known for growing paddy, a water-intensive crop that majorly contributes to producing the stubble that can be used for the production of biogas, scientists at IGFRI are experimenting with the spineless fodder cactus to produce biogas with the help of ICARDA, a non-profit agricultural research institute that aims to improve the livelihoods of the resource-poor communities across the world’s dry areas. “We identified the accessions best suitable for the Bundelkhand climate as it is a semi-arid climate and these xerophytic plants (plants that are adapted to survive in arid regions like desert) thrive in this environment. We then expanded our area of research to see if the species produces enough methane for commercial uses,” said Palsaniya. To find out if the cactus could generate enough bio-methane, Neha Tiwari, National Associate Scientist at ICARDA, conducted the first experiment to produce biogas from this cactus at ICARDA’s Amlaha campus in Madhya Pradesh last year. The cactus samples from IGFRI were used to produce biogas in a small plant, in natural conditions. Tiwari told Mongabay India that they started with 100% cow dung to get the system started and then started reducing the quantity of cow dung and substituting cactus slurry in small instalments. “We began with 100% cow-dung, then reduced it to 90% with 10% cactus slurry, then reduced the cow-dung further and gradually with 90% cactus slurry and just 10% cow-dung, we got around 60 to 61% of methane, which is a good quantity and can be commercially viable. We get around 65% bio-methane from cow dung but the availability of cow dung in such a quantity is a challenge, especially in the Bundelkhand region,” she said. She added, “We had to keep some quantity of cow dung as it has the bacteria that help in breakdown of the raw material which takes the process further. This is a pretty good quantity in natural conditions. We think it could even be higher if it is done in insulated fermenters.” After the success of the small-scale study in Madhya Pradesh’s Amlaha, IGFRI in collaboration with the state government of Rajasthan, the Ministry of Rural Development, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and ICARDA planted the cacti in a 1.5-hectare farm in Hingonia, Rajasthan, near its biogas plant in 2023. “Since we did not have a biogas plant here in IGFRI, we decided to grow the cacti in Hingonia, a small village near Jaipur. Once they are big enough to be harvested, we will conduct a pilot experiment at a bigger level to understand the success and pitfalls,” added Palsaniya. To make it fitter for use in fodder as well as for biogas production, the scientists at IGFRI are trying to increase the yield and the biomass in the cacti with various experiments at their Jhansi campus. “We are trying the drip-irrigation method and adding fertilisers to the soil to increase the cactus biomass as it will help generate more biogas and will be a better substitute for green fodder. We are in the initial stages of trial and will get more clarity in the coming years,” said Palsaniya. But despite IGFRI’s many efforts to engage and motivate local farmers to grow this species of cactus on their farm fences, farmers and even dairy farmers have not started adopting this. “We distributed free samples to the farmers to grow on their farm fences or on uncultivated land that they own but this is not catching on due to the absence of market linkages and buyers,” he added. Palsaniya added that while the Department of Land Resources is promoting the use of cactus in its Watershed Development Component-Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, farmers here have no access to buyers like companies and government agencies working to promote its use in biofuel. “There is also a lack of awareness and some practical challenges in growing this as the saplings are eaten by stray animals when they are planted in wastelands. But monetising it remains the biggest challenge. When someone like Prince Jain succeeds, many more will follow,” he concluded.

India’s Carbon Market Roadmap Unveiled By CSE

CSE has released its proposed roadmap as part of its new report titled The Indian Carbon Market: Pathways towards an Effective Mechanism. In assessing the PAT scheme, CSE examined emissions reductions in the power, steel, and cement sectors. CSE (Centre for Science and Environment) has released its proposed roadmap as part of its new report, The Indian Carbon Market: Pathways towards an Effective Mechanism. India has pledged to meet its Nationally Determined Contribution targets by 2030. This report collates lessons from compliance-based emission trading schemes worldwide, including those in India, to facilitate the effective operationalisation of carbon markets in India. The goal is to ensure these markets serve their intended purpose of reducing emissions. India has pledged to meet its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets by 2030. It aims for net-zero emissions by 2070, in line with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) guidelines. The country is developing and launching its own national compliance-based carbon market to achieve these ambitious goals. The CSE report analyses four Emission Trading Schemes (ETS) currently in use worldwide: the European Union Emission Trading System, the Korean ETS, the Chinese ETS, and the Surat ETS. It also assesses India‘s Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) scheme, which has set the base for the upcoming Indian Carbon Market scheme by specifying energy reduction targets over three-year cycles. In assessing the PAT scheme, CSE examined emissions reductions in the power, steel, and cement sectors. The findings highlight the challenges in the PAT scheme, including the excess availability of Energy Saving Certificates (ESCerts), lenient targets, and delayed compliance. The newly proposed Carbon Credit and Trading Scheme (CCTS), which aims to build on the PAT framework, must address these shortcomings. Several challenges could affect the proposed new scheme. One significant issue is the low price of carbon credits and low market liquidity. Many global carbon markets, including India’s PAT scheme, initially faced challenges such as low pricing and excess certificate availability. Additionally, the PAT scheme has faced criticism for setting unambitious targets, leading to the overachievement of goals and an oversupply of ESCerts, which has resulted in poor market prices. Kumar emphasises that CCTS must avoid these past mistakes by setting ambitious targets for individual entities and sectors, considering best practices and going beyond existing policies to ensure the market drives genuine progress rather than mere compliance. Another challenge is the dependence on the PAT scheme, which may limit the potential of CCTS and its selection of obligated entities, making the scheme less effective and potentially delaying decarbonisation efforts.

CSIR-NPL Launches Certification Process for Continuous Emission Monitoring

The Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) is now an important tool for accurately tracking pollution in India’s industries. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) made it mandatory to install CEMS in 2014. However, even though it’s very important, many industries don’t use it as much as they should because they worry about how reliable it is. Regulatory Mandate In 2014, the CPCB made it mandatory for 17 types of highly polluting industries to install CEMS to meet environmental standards. However, problems with data reliability have made it difficult to use these systems effectively for regulation. Certification and Quality Assurance To improve reliability, a strong certification system is necessary. In August 2019, the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) was appointed as the national agency responsible for verifying CEMS. Certification Development After five years of work, CSIR-NPL has set up a certification program and testing facilities for CEMS. Now, manufacturers can apply for certification for systems that monitor gas emissions, and certification for systems that measure particulate matter will be available soon. To get certified, manufacturers must submit two identical CEMS units for testing. A committee, which includes different stakeholders, manages the certification process by directing tests and reviewing the results. Proper certification makes sure that CEMS meets both national and international standards. This prevents the use of outdated systems, helping to ensure that pollution data is accurate and reliable. Quality Assurance Framework The certification process includes four levels of quality assurance (QAL-1 to QAL-3) along with yearly checks to keep CEMS functioning well. QAL-1 focuses on proving the equipment’s suitability through thorough testing and audits. A report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in 2022 recommended that India adopt a CEMS certification system similar to European standards. This report highlighted the importance of strong product certification to avoid the use of poor-quality equipment in India. To further improve the quality of CEMS data, CSIR-NPL is working with the CPCB to develop additional quality assurance procedures, aiming to create a complete framework. Facts About CSIR-NPL CSIR-NPL is a top research institute in India. It was set up in 1947. It focuses on measuring and setting standards. It helps industries by making sure their measurements are correct. It works with other countries on measuring standards. The lab has advanced research facilities for many scientific areas.

जमीनी हकीकत: वायु प्रदूषण से निपटने के लिए हो सार्थक पहल, तैयारियों के बीच असल समस्या पर किसी का ध्यान ही नहीं

वायु प्रदूषण की समस्या अब घातक हो चुकी है। अब यह बहस का मुद्दा भी नहीं है। हम लोगों में से अधिकांश लोग जो गैस चैंबर जैसे शहरों में जी रहे हैं, उन्हें मालूम है कि सांस लेने के लिए यह हवा सही नहीं है। लेकिन हम इसके बारे में क्या कर रहे हैं? यहीं से समस्या उतनी ही गहरी हो जाती है जितनी कि इस प्रदूषित हवा में हम सांस लेने के लिए बाध्य हैं। हम यह जानने की कोशिश करते हैं कि आखिर हम साफ नीले आसमान और स्वस्थ फेफड़े की लड़ाई में जीत हासिल क्यों नहीं कर पा रहे हैं। वर्ष 2019 में केंद्रीय पर्यावरण, वन एवं जलवायु परिवर्तन मंत्रालय (MOEFCC) ने राष्ट्रीय स्वच्छ वायु कार्यक्रम (NCAP) की शुरुआत की जिसका मकसद शहरों की वायु गुणवत्ता को सुधारना था। इस कदम का अर्थ यह है कि उच्चतम न्यायालय के बजाय सरकारें वायु प्रदूषण पर कार्रवाई करेंगी। प्रदूषण की समस्या से सबसे ज्यादा जूझने वाले 131 शहरों के लिए साफ हवा के लक्ष्य तय किए गए। इन शहरों को वर्ष 2017 की तुलना में 2024 तक हवा के ठोस प्रदूषित कणों में 20-30 प्रतिशत की कमी लाने का लक्ष्य दिया गया था जिसे बाद में बढ़ाकर वर्ष 2019-20 की तुलना में वर्ष 2025-26 तक 40 प्रतिशत कर दिया गया। आप यह कह सकते हैं कि यह अच्छी बात है। इससे भी अच्छी बात यह थी कि 15वें वित्त आयोग ने 42 शहरों और मुख्य शहरी केंद्रों से जुड़े अधिक आबादी वाले 7 शहरी क्षेत्रों को सीधे तौर पर अनुदान दिया जिनकी आबादी 10 लाख से ज्यादा है ताकि वे वायु प्रदूषण को कम करने की दिशा में काम कर सकें। बाकी शहरों के लिए मंत्रालय ने फंड मुहैया कराए। इस तरह वर्ष 2025-26 तक पांच वर्ष की अवधि के लिए लगभग 20,000 करोड़ रुपये का प्रावधान किया गया। इतना ही नहीं प्रत्येक राज्य सरकार और प्रत्येक शहर को एक प्रदूषण के स्रोतों से जुड़े अध्ययन के आधार पर कार्ययोजना बनाने की जरूरत है ताकि कार्रवाई की प्राथमिकता तय की जा सके। फंडिंग प्रदर्शन से जुड़ी है जिसके लिए शहरों को हवा के प्रदूषण स्तर में सुधार और ‘बेहतर हवा’ वाले दिनों की संख्या में बढ़ोतरी दिखानी होगी। आमतौर पर हवा का गुणवत्ता सूचकांक 200 से कम होने पर ही अच्छा माना जाता है। वर्ष 2022 में मंत्रालय ने स्वच्छ वायु सर्वेक्षण के नाम की रैंकिंग शुरू की थी जिसमें उन शहरों की पहचान की गई जो घातक प्रदूषण को कम करने के लिए कदम उठा रहे थे। असल समस्या यह है कि प्रदूषण दूर करने की सारी तैयारियों में ही हम मुख्य काम को ही भूल गए हैं। मेरे सहकर्मी इस कार्यक्रम का गहराई से अध्ययन कर चुके हैं और उन्होंने पाया है कि सबसे बड़ी समस्या यह है कि NCAP के तहत सिर्फ पीएम10 प्रदूषण को ही मुख्य प्रदूषक माना जाता है। इसका मतलब है कि सारे उपाय सिर्फ पीएम10 को कम करने के इर्द-गिर्द ही घूम रहे हैं, न कि पीएम 2.5 को कम करने पर जोर है जो प्रदूषक कणों का बहुत छोटा रूप है और यह कई बीमारियों को जन्म देता है। ये इतने छोटे होते हैं कि खून में भी घुस जाते हैं और सिर्फ अस्थमा और फेफड़ों को ही नुकसान नहीं पहुंचाते हैं बल्कि दिल की बीमारियां भी पैदा करते हैं। दरअसल, पीएम10 बड़े कण होते हैं जो धूल के कण हैं और ये खुद प्रदूषण नहीं फैलाते। ये समस्या तब बनते हैं जब इन पर विषाक्त पदार्थ चिपक जाते हैं और यह ज्यादातर वाहनों या फैक्ट्रियों जैसी जगहों से निकलते हैं। हमें इस पर ध्यान देना जरूरी है, लेकिन इसके साथ ही हमें सड़कों पर बढ़ते वाहनों से निकलने वाले प्रदूषण, कोयले का इस्तेमाल करने वाली फैक्ट्रियों से निकलने वाले धुएं, कचरे को खुली जगहों पर जलाने से होने वाले प्रदूषण और इनमें से सबसे खराब, खाना बनाने के लिए जैव ईंधन के इस्तेमाल से होने वाले प्रदूषण को भी कम करने के लिए सख्त कदम उठाने होंगे। ये न सिर्फ हवा को दूषित करते हैं बल्कि महिलाओं की सेहत पर भी बुरा असर डालते हैं। धूल जैसे प्रदूषक को नियंत्रित करने पर सबसे ज्यादा ध्यान दिया जा रहा है क्योंकि इसके लिए विशेषतौर पर कोई जिम्मेदार नहीं है जबकि वाहनों से निकलने वाले प्रदूषण के लिए वाहन निर्माता और कोयला जलाने वाले बिजलीघरों के लिए बिजली उत्पादक जिम्मेदार होते हैं। मेरे सहकर्मियों की समीक्षा में पाया गया है कि प्रदूषण नियंत्रण के लिए दिए गए पैसे का 64 प्रतिशत, सड़क बनाने, सड़कें चौड़ी करने, गड्ढे भरने, पानी का छिड़काव और सड़क साफ करने पर खर्च किया गया है। भले ही सड़कों के गड्ढे भरना कितना भी जरूरी हो, लेकिन हम भारतीय लोग जानते हैं कि यह काम कभी पूरा नहीं होगा। यह एक बेकार कवायद है और हैरानी की बात है कि इसे प्रदूषण नियंत्रण के नाम पर किया जा रहा है। यह सही तरीका नहीं है। दूसरी समस्या यह है कि पीएम10 के स्तर में कमी और शहरों द्वारा की गई कार्रवाइयों के बीच कोई वास्तविक संबंध नहीं है। वास्तव में इसका उलटा ही हो रहा है यानी जो शहर प्रदूषण कम करने में सबसे आगे होते हैं, वही कभी-कभी सबसे कम कार्रवाई करते हैं। इस बेमेलपन के कारण नीतिगत भ्रांतियां पैदा होती हैं और हमें यह पता नहीं चलता कि प्रदूषण का सामना करने के लिए क्या किया जाना चाहिए, क्या चीजें काम कर रही हैं और किस जगह काम कर रही हैं। हवा प्रदूषण के मुद्दे को सरकार ने बहुत महत्त्व दिया है, लेकिन इसे केवल कागजी कार्रवाई तक सीमित नहीं रखा जा सकता। हमें वास्तविक कदम उठाने की जरूरत है। यह हमारे सांस लेने वाली हवा से जुड़ी है और हमें पता होना चाहिए कि हवा प्रदूषण सभी को समान रूप से प्रभावित करता है, चाहे वे अमीर हों या गरीब। यह पानी के प्रदूषण जैसा नहीं है, जहां अमीर लोग अपने घरों में पानी की गुणवत्ता बनाए रख सकते हैं या बोतलबंद पानी पी सकते हैं। हवा हर वक्त सांस लेने के लिए जरूरी है और वायु को शुद्ध करने का यंत्र हर जगह की हवा साफ नहीं कर सकता। (लेखिका सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट से जुड़ी हैं)

Will India listen to repeated environmental warnings?

Prasanna Kumar, a survivor of the deadly landslides that struck Kerala's Wayanad district on July 30, saw his sister and her family being swept away by the swirling and powerful muddy waters. Several others who were sleeping were caught unaware and were also washed away. "I have seen many landslides in this region but this was devastating. The ground shook and the earth under my feet gave way in the blink of an eye. There was a trail of death and destruction after," Kumar told DW from a relief camp. Fragile ecosystems Rescue operations are winding down in the search for some 200 people who are still missing, including Kumar's relatives. The natural disaster took the lives of over 300 people and caused damage to property and infrastructure. It has also prompted soul-searching over whether India should be taking more steps to avoid environmental catastrophes in the future. Sunita Narain, director at the Centre for Science and Environment in New Delhi, highlighted natural disasters in the Himalayan region as examples of the environment being unable to withstand damaging activities such as deforestation and ill-considered construction. Last year, Joshimath town in the state of Uttarakhand was reported to be "sinking," with cracks in the town's buildings and streets. In October, a dam containing a glacial lake in Sikkim burst. The following month, a cave-in left over 40 Indian workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel of the Himalayas for 17 days. "It is just one example of the mindless way we are making hydroelectric projects in the fragile Himalayan zone. Should there not be better planning to decide what is good for people and good for the ecology? What is important is that we should have viable livelihood options for people in these fraught areas," Narain told DW. Officials ignored recommendations from ecologists In Kerala, the Western Ghats region where the landslides occurred is also an ecologically sensitive region where suggestions from environmentalists have been ignored. Quarrying and deforestation is carried out in unsuitable or dangerous locations. An expert panel led by environmental scientist Madhav Gadgil recommended in 2010 that 75% of the 129,037 square-kilometer (49,821 square-mile) area of the Western Ghats be declared environmentally sensitive, citing its dense forests and the presence of many endemic species. But this was reduced to 50% just three years later based on recommendations by a second panel. There are 5,924 quarries in Kerala, including in the most ecologically fragile zones, according to online outlet Mathrubhumi, citing a report by Gadgil. While not all quarrying is government-sanctioned, there is a lack of enforcement to crack down on quarrying without permits. Gadgil attributed the landslide tragedy to the Kerala government's failure to implement crucial ecological recommendations, telling Indian media: "There is a direct link between hard-rock quarrying and slope failures in the form of landslides, especially in a place like Wayanad." Should India update its weather warning system? Nearly half of Kerala comprises hills and mountainous regions with slopes exceeding 20 degrees. A recent risk assessment, based on nearly 81,000 landslides covering 17 states in the country between 1998 and 2022, showed that Kerala witnessed 6,039 landslides and was the worst hit among non-Himalayan states, according to the Landslide Atlas of India. Human-induced climate change is already intensifying weather extremes in India, including heat waves and flooding. Such events are likely to exacerbate disasters in already sensitive areas, such as on the steep slopes of Kerala. Ahead of the disaster, an unusually large 572 millimeters (22.5 inches) of rainfall was reportedly recorded in Wayanad in just 48 hours, triggering the massive landslides. Akshay Deoras, a meteorologist from the National Centre for Atmospheric Science and the Department of Meteorology at the UK's University of Reading, called for India to adapt its current warning system to reflect the dramatic changes in climate the country is experiencing. "The efficacy of the current color-coded warning system and the language used in alerts or forecasts must be re-examined by consulting all stakeholders in the country, including the media, citizens, disaster relief forces and state governments. Traditional ways of managing disasters are not going to work for such events," said Deoras. He suggested that early warning systems in India be made more robust by exploiting the use of Doppler radars, satellites, real-time observations and direct communications with people. "The focus needs to be on improving weather prediction models as well," Deoras told DW. "Meteorologists must be empowered to alert people directly, reducing the dependency on state governments or local authorities for the dissemination of alerts. The tornado warnings and prediction systems in the US provides some clues," he said.

Chennai sees ground-level ozone peak this summer despite fewer excess days: study

Chennai saw prolonged periods of high ground-level ozone levels in the summer of 2024, though the problem was less widespread than in previous years, a recent study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has found. The number of days with ozone levels exceeding safe limits was relatively low, with only nine days of exceedance reported. However, the city’s peak ozone concentration reached 192.7 µg/m³, the third highest among the 10 cities studied, indicating severe spikes despite fewer excess days. Ground-level ozone is a colorless gas that forms just above the Earth’s surface. It is considered a “secondary” pollutant because it results from the reaction of sunlight with primary pollutants. These primary pollutants include nitrogen oxides from vehicle emissions and industrial processes, as well as volatile organic compounds from vehicles, solvents, and various industrial activities. There are two sets of standards for ozone: an 8-hourly standard of 100 µg/m³ and one hourly standard at 180 µg/m³. Significantly, the study notes, as the Central Pollution Control Board caps data at 200 μg/m³, it is difficult to assess how high concentrations actually reach, making it challenging to evaluate the one-hour standard. The CSE assessment examines summer trends (April 1-July 18) from 2020 to 2024 using real-time, 15-minute average data from the CPCB’s online portal. It includes data from the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System at official stations across 10 metropolitan regions, including nine stations in the Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA). Anumita Roychowdhury from CSE highlights that ground-level ozone, a harmful gas, poses serious health risks, especially for those with respiratory issues and vulnerable populations like children and the elderly. Despite its indirect emission sources—like vehicles and industrial processes—ozone’s toxic effects are undeniable, and its levels have significantly increased over recent years, she says. Velachery, Perungudi most affected The CSE study points out that ozone levels persist year-round, though they peak during the summer. In Chennai, this summer saw a decrease in excess days compared to previous years, but the problem remains critical. Velachery and Perungudi in South Chennai are the most severely impacted areas by ground ozone pollution in CMA. This year, Velachery exceeded the pollution standard for six days, while Perungudi surpassed it for three days. Further, ground-level ozone should ideally become negligible in the night air, but CMA has been witnessing a rare phenomenon where ozone levels remain elevated hours after sunset.

देश की राजधानी दिल्ली समेत कई बड़े शहरों में बढ़ा ओजोन का स्तर, CSE की रिपोर्ट में हुआ बड़ा खुलासा !

देश की राजधानी दिल्ली समेत कई बड़े शहरों में ओजोन का स्तर बढ़ गया है, जो स्वास्थ्य के लिए बेहद खतरनाक हो सकता है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, ओजोन की अधिक मात्रा फेफड़ों को नुकसान पहुंचा सकती है और सांस की समस्याओं को बढ़ा सकती है। इसका खतरा अब जानलेवा बनता जा रहा है। क्या कहती है CSE की रिपोर्ट ? इस साल देश की राजधानी में रहने वाले लोगों ने प्रचंड गर्मी का एहसास किया है। इस अप्रत्याशित बदले हुए मौसम के पैटर्न का सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (CSE) ने गहन अध्ययन किया। इस नए अध्ययन में बड़ा खुलासा हुआ है जिसको लेकर कहा गया है कि 2024 की गर्मियों में भारत के 10 प्रमुख महानगरीय क्षेत्रों में ओजोन का स्तर बढ़ गया है। ओजोन का स्तर बढ़ जाने से देश की राजधानी दिल्ली बुरी तरह से प्रभावित पाई गई। जिन शहरों में यह अध्ययन किया गया है उनमें बेंगलुरु मेट्रोपॉलिटन एरिया (कर्नाटक), चेन्नई मेट्रोपॉलिटन एरिया (तमिलनाडु), दिल्ली-एनसीआर, ग्रेटर अहमदाबाद (गुजरात), ग्रेटर हैदराबाद (तेलंगाना), ग्रेटर जयपुर (राजस्थान), कोलकाता मेट्रोपॉलिटन एरिया (पश्चिम बंगाल), ग्रेटर लखनऊ (उत्तर प्रदेश), मुंबई मेट्रोपॉलिटन क्षेत्र (महाराष्ट्र) और पुणे मेट्रोपॉलिटन क्षेत्र (महाराष्ट्र) शामिल हैं। इस अध्ययन के लिए 1 अप्रैल से 18 जुलाई तक साल 2020 से 2024 तक का डेटा लिया गया है। CSE की नई रिपोर्ट में देश के जिन बड़े शहरों का जिक्र किया गया है, उनमें आजोन का स्तर सामान्य से अधिक पाया गया है। दिल्ली-NCR में ग्राउंड लेवल ओजोन गैस का स्तर 176 दिनों तक सामान्य से ऊपर रहा, जबकि मुंबई और पुणे में यह स्थिति 138 दिनों तक रही। जयपुर में ओजोन गैस का स्तर 126 दिनों तक असामान्य रहा, हैदराबाद में 86 दिनों तक, कोलकाता में 63 दिनों तक, बेंगलुरु में 59 दिनों तक, लखनऊ में 49 दिनों तक और अहमदाबाद में 41 दिनों तक असामान्य रहा। वहीं, चेन्नई में ऐसे दिनों की संख्या सबसे कम करीब 9 दिन दर्ज की गई है। देश में इस साल हालात काफी बिगड़े दिखाई दिए हैं। CSE की नई रिपोर्ट में इस बात का भी खुलासा किया गया है कि इस बार साल 2024 में ओजोन प्रदूषण की समस्या साल 2020 में लॉकडाउन के दौर में गर्मियों में पैदा हुई समस्या से कई ज्यादा बढ़ी है। यह सब प्रदूषण बढ़ने के कारण हो रहा है। बढ़ते प्रदूषण की समस्या अब जानलेवा होती जा रही है और ये केवल बड़े शहरों में ही नहीं छोटे शहरों में भी पहुंच रही है।

500% surge in toxic ground-level ozone in Pune metropolitan region

The Pune metropolitan region ranked third among 10 most polluted cities surveyed in India with a 500% increase this year in ground-level ozone — a highly toxic gas caused by vehicular pollution — compared to 2023, said a study by researchers at the Centre for Science and Environment. Researchers said exposure for eight hours to the poisonous gas could lead to serious respiratory and cardiovascular problems and for 24 hours could be fatal for vulnerable people. Ozone gas is formed by reactions between nitrogen dioxide emitted by vehicles and the burning of substances and oxygen in the presence of sunlight. While the ozone gas layer is protective in the stratosphere, it is fatal for people at ground level. The study said that in Pune, the gas is formed in areas with heavy vehicular pollution and eventually settles in green spaces. Dr Sundeep Salvi, director of Pulmocare Research and Education Foundation, told TOI that ozone does have a significant impact on the lungs and gets deposited in airways. It manifests mainly into upper respiratory tract infections. “It can worsen asthma, and people with comorbidities, children and senior citizens are heavily affected, because it makes the tract irritable and vulnerable to catching bacterial as well as viral infections. We had a very hot summer this year and ground-level ozone must have increased with motor vehicle pollutants, air and sunlight. This was primarily the reason behind respiratory issues this summer,” he added. Avikal Somvanshi, head, Urban Lab, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and co-author of the study, told TOI, “Once the ground-level ozone is formed, it reacts with nitrogen oxide (NO2) again and gets subdued. However, its continuous formation produces high levels of toxic gas which move to green areas with less NO2 and form pockets of these chambers across the city. Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) has a lot of big green areas where the gas deposits and its levels increase.” The study explored the increase based on data from 2020 to 2024 from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)’s Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) of which there are 12 in Pune and three in Pimpri Chinchwad. The monitors measure the gas only at one- and eight-hour averages and gas concentration every 15 minutes. However, the safety standard is defined only for one-hour and eight-hour averages. According to CPCB standards, the safe limit for ground-level ozone is 100 microgramme per cubic metre and anything above is exceedance. This summer, exceedance was reported on 58 days. In mid-May, six of 16 stations in Pune metropolitan region reported exceedance, making the situation the worst the region had seen in five years. It also marked the 500% increase from last year. Somvanshi said, “The reason is drastic increase in vehicular pollution in Pune over the last five years. The toxic gases concentrate in areas with congestion and also add to the release of natural gases from municipal solid waste. The excessive heat wave observed in 2024 was a primary reason for the increase.” A senior official from the PMC environment department told TOI that the number of vehicles registered with a BSVI engine, which is more advanced, had increased in 2024. “This will help us mitigate the problem of toxic gases. We have been promoting CNG, electric buses, electric personal vehicles and Metro transportation. The traffic police has also taken action to reduce congestion in areas to prevent concentration of the ozone gas. Unfortunately, over the past few years, the city’s population has drastically increased and along with it the number of vehicles. Excessive air pollution is an obvious byproduct. As far as we know, we have kept nitrogen dioxide levels under control.” Meanwhile, the study identified SPPU as most chronically affected by ground-ozone pollution, exceeding the standard for 119 days, so far, this year. It was followed by Gavalinagar and Thergaon in Pimpri with 119 days and 99 days of exceedance each. Shivajinagar’s pollution was calculated with PM2.5 levels making its AQI the worst in the city, though the ozone gas was still at a minimum. Researchers said the hourly peak on average had gone up by 200% from 2020. The maximum eight-hour average was recorded at SPPU when the level hit 212.7 µg/m3 on March 22. “It was startling to see cities smaller than Delhi and Mumbai with such high levels of ozone gas,” Somvanshi said about Pune ranking the third most polluted among the 10 cities surveyed. Ground-level ozone should ideally become negligible in the night air, said researchers. However, night ozone was still observed almost exceeding up to 100 µg/m3 most frequently at Gavalinagar in Pimpri and SPPU. Ozone gas also traps heat, which is attributed to the high night temperatures observed in Pune, this year. “The gas has an immediate impact unlike PM2.5 which affects a person due to long-term exposure. Ozone gas is correlated to the most number of deaths from air pollution. In order to mitigate the problem, vehicular congestion must be reduced, emission testing done and instruments to process nitrogen dioxide installed within vehicles. Taking a walk at the park becomes dangerous if levels are so high,” said Somvanshi. Even though the ground-level ozone exceedance is the worst during summer months, it remains a year-long problem for Pune which provides hot and sunny weather conditions for the gas to build up. Air pollution activist Hema Chari Madabhushi told TOI, “We had always known that ozone gas formation was occurring dangerously in the city, but didn’t know how bad it was. Especially near SPPU, the traffic is extremely congested and all heritage trees along the road have been chopped. It causes a significant amount of air pollution.” She said children, senior citizens, traffic police personnel and autorickshaw drivers were at greater risk now, considering how much pollution occurs along roadsides. “Ozone is affecting temperatures, increasing heat island effect and also impacting precipitation. The civic body needs to take the study seriously and must immediately focus on ensuring back-to-back and well-connected public transportation, otherwise the problem will never be resolved,” Madabhushi added.

MCG forms teams to crack down on dumping of C&D waste across city

Gurugram: The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has formed multiple teams to crack down on illegal contractors who continue to dump construction and demolition (C&D) waste and debris at various locations across the city, officials said on Friday. These illegal dumping activities, often carried out at night under cover of darkness, have turned into a nightmare for the municipal corporation since they lead to traffic snarls, pollution as well as environmental degradation. Joginder Singh, former president RWA said that the dumping of C&D waste along city roads, especially on the service lanes of NH-48, the Gurugram-Faridabad Road, and in Sector-12, has become a significant problem. “It not only disrupts traffic flow but also poses a threat to public health and safety. The resurgence of illegal C&D waste dumping has alarmed residents and environmentalists alike. The Aravallis, once celebrated for their picturesque landscapes and ecological significance, are now under threat due to the mounting heaps of C&D waste. This issue, which was largely brought under control in 2020 and 2021, has emerged once again raising concerns about the current waste management practices in Gurugram,” Singh said. The MCG was the first municipal corporation in the country to implement a door-to-door C&D waste collection system. However, this service is currently non-functional, leaving residents with no option but to rely on unauthorised transporters to dispose of their waste. These transporters charge anywhere from ₹1,500 to ₹2,000 per tractor-trolley, only to dump the waste illegally along roadsides or in low-lying areas, leading to blocked drains and waterlogging during the monsoon season. MCG commissioner Narhari Singh Bangar said their teams are penalising people dumping C&D waste illegally on the road or in the Aravallis. “We are keeping a close watch on unauthorised transporters and have registered cases against them in the last two months,” he said. “The lack of a functional door-to-door waste collection service and an effective enforcement mechanism has led to the rampant dumping of C&D waste across the city. This indiscriminate dumping not only brings down air quality but also clogs drains and sewage pipelines, aggravating the city’s waterlogging problems,” said Rajkumar Yadav, president RWA, Sector 46. Moreover, illegal land sharks are involved in this as they use the dumped waste to fill low-lying areas, enabling them to grab land for unauthorised constructions. These activities not only pollute the environment but also contribute to the city’s recurring issues with waterlogging. The situation marks a stark contrast to the progress made in 2020 and 2021 when Gurugram was lauded for its exemplary C&D waste management strategies. A 2021 report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and NITI Aayog, titled ‘Waste-wise Cities,’ recognized Gurugram’s approach to C&D waste management as a model practice worthy of replication across India. The report, which documented best practices in municipal solid waste management, highlighted Gurugram’s success in reducing illegal C&D waste dumping by 60%.

Intense rainfall lashes Delhi; ‘yellow alert’ issued for weekend

Brief, but intense, spells of rain lashed the city on Friday evening leading yet again to widespread episodes of waterlogging and traffic congestion across Delhi. People on their way back home from work were greeted with packed roads as peak-hour traffic was thrown out of gear with most of the rain coming in the evening. Delhi will be on a “yellow alert” for rain over the weekend with light to moderate rain on the cards, according to a forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Serpentine jams, meanwhile, were reported by commuters on several pockets of key arterial roads, including the Ring Road and Outer Ring Road. Congestion was also reported in areas like Sewa Marg, Nahar Singh Marg, Uttam Nagar, Sarita Vihar to Kalindi Kunj, and Khanpur Road near Sainik Farms, traffic police said. Some commuters, meanwhile, reported congestion at Raja Dhir Sen Marg, Moti Nagar Metro station, NH48 to Gurugram, Shiv Murti Dhaula Kuan, Bhishma Pitamah Marg and Mukarba Chowk among others. The Delhi Traffic Police issued advisories, saying that traffic was affected on Rohtak Road on both carriageways from the Tikri border to Peeragarhi and vice versa. The traffic police advised commuters to avoid these routes and try to commute via UER-II, Najafgarh-Nangloi Road to reach Peeragarhi. A cluster bus also broke down on a waterlogged stretch on the Najafgarh-Phirni Road. The combination of waterlogging and congestion — a perennial mess that plagues Delhi every monsoon — pointed to a crumbling infrastructure once again. An array of issues including inadequate desilting of drains, encroachment on public infrastructure like drain covers and footpaths, and unauthorised construction deteriorate the situation every year. Between 5.30pm and 8.30pm, Safdarjung, representative of Delhi’s weather, recorded 14mm of rain, while Palam recorded 29.6mm, Najafgarh 37.5mm and Mayur Vihar 28mm, IMD data showed. On Friday, the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) recorded multiple calls about waterlogging and uprooted trees. PWD received 17 complaints about waterlogging and 28 about uprooted trees, from Karkardooma Metro Station road, Dichaon Kalan, Rohini Sector 7, Tilak Nagar, Kishanganj, east of Loni Road, and other areas, officials said. From 6am to 2pm, the central control room of MCD received 14 calls about waterlogging and one call about an uprooted tree. From 2pm to 6pm, the agency received three waterlogging calls and four regarding uprooted trees. MCD said waterlogging was reported at Sector 16 Rohini, Mahipalpur Extension, Lajpat Nagar, Sonia Vihar, Mahavir Enclave, Tagore Garden Extension, Kamla Nagar, Karol Bagh, Prem Nagar and Dilshad Garden. Fallen trees were reported at Nangal Raya, Ashok Nagar, Budhela, Sonia Vihar, Sector 5 Dwarka, near Tis Hazari court, Trilokpuri and Mayur Vihar Phase 2 Pocket B. Meanwhile, an interplay of patchy rain and good wind speed kept Delhi’s average air quality index (AQI) reading in the “satisfactory” for 13th consecutive day. The city’s average 24-hour average AQI was 60, according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s national bulletin. On Thursday, Delhi recorded its cleanest air day of this year at 53 also “satisfactory”. The last time Delhi had a similar streak was last July when 13 consecutive “satisfactory” air days between July 5 and 17 were recorded. Forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) show that more rain is in store for Delhi over the weekend. Light to moderate showers is expected to continue across Delhi-NCR on Saturday and Sunday, which will likely allow the clean air streak to prevail. The Safdarjung observatory, considered representative of Delhi’s weather, recorded 2.8mm in the 24 hours till 8.30am and 3.4mm in the next nine hours. Palam received 41.9mm till 8:30 am and 0.5mm in the next nine hours. Lodhi road had 2.7mm till 8:30 am and 8.6mm till 5:30 pm. North Delhi’s Ridge meanwhile recorded 3.9mm till 8:30 am and 11.3mm in the next nine hours. East Delhi’s Mayur Vihar had the highest rainfall during the day, recording just 1mm till 8:30 am, followed by 37.5mm in the next nine hours. “Most parts of Delhi recorded patchy light rain. Light to moderate showers are expected in the early hours of Saturday and towards the evening again. Some isolated places may even record a short but intense spell,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice president at Skymet, a private observatory. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said monsoons bring clean air to Delhi-NCR but ideal meteorological conditions were required for these conditions to persist — a combination of good wind speed and rain. “What is needed is consistent rain over several days, which has a washout effect. The rain brings down pollutants like PM2.5 and PM10 and then, you start to see gases like CO, or O3 become prominent pollutants in the air. If wind speed is good, they also blow away to an extent and you get clean air, close to national standards. This is what we are seeing right now,” she said.