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NCR industrial emission data fragmented, undermining pollution control efforts: CSE

New Delhi, Despite multiple regulatory mechanisms to monitor and control industrial emissions in the National Capital Region , the information needed to evaluate their effectiveness remains fragmented and often difficult to access, according to a new analysis. The analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment has revealed that emission monitoring data is inconsistently available across public portals, and ambient air quality monitoring reports are often dispersed across different administrative systems. This has led to significant gaps in transparency and traceability of industrial emissions in the region, according to CSE's report, 'Behind the Smoke: Industrial Fuel Use, Emission Monitoring and Regulatory Blind Spots in the National Capital Region'. Speaking to PTI on Friday, Nivit Kumar Yadav, programme director at CSE's sustainable industrialisation unit, said the analysis shows that the root of the region's pollution problem was not just the winter spike but also the lack of data-driven action taken during the summer months. "Until regulatory bodies are strengthened with the capacity to compile, understand, and make data-driven decisions and plan accordingly, the massive monitoring network remains practically useless," he added. For the analysis, the authors examined continuous emission monitoring system data from the real-time data monitoring system platform for 142 industrial units in the NCR region of Rajasthan and Haryana during the period November 10-20, 2025. CEMS data is supposed to show pollutant releases from industries' air emissions and effluent discharges. However, the authors found that of the industrial facilities examined, only 58 facilities had CEMS data available for download and analysis. The remaining 84 facilities either showed no data availability or had access restrictions that prevented data retrieval. "This substantial data unavailability raises concerns about monitoring effectiveness and regulatory compliance," said the analysis. The authors also looked at how the industries' ambient air quality monitoring data is recorded in the NCR region and disclosed in practice.

NCR industrial emission data fragmented, undermining pollution control efforts: CSE

June 5 Despite multiple regulatory mechanisms to monitor and control industrial emissions in the National Capital Region (NCR), the information needed to evaluate their effectiveness remains fragmented and often difficult to access, according to a new analysis. The analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has revealed that emission monitoring data is inconsistently available across public portals, and ambient air quality monitoring reports are often dispersed across different administrative systems. This has led to significant gaps in transparency and traceability of industrial emissions in the region, according to CSE’s report, 'Behind the Smoke: Industrial Fuel Use, Emission Monitoring and Regulatory Blind Spots in the National Capital Region'

NCR industrial emission data fragmented, undermining pollution control efforts: CSE

Despite multiple regulatory mechanisms to monitor and control industrial emissions in the National Capital Region (NCR), the information needed to evaluate their effectiveness remains fragmented and often difficult to access, according to a new analysis. The analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has revealed that emission monitoring data is inconsistently available across public portals, and ambient air quality monitoring reports are often dispersed across different administrative systems. This has led to significant gaps in transparency and traceability of industrial emissions in the region, according to CSE’s report, ‘Behind the Smoke: Industrial Fuel Use, Emission Monitoring and Regulatory Blind Spots in the National Capital Region’. Speaking to PTI on Friday, Nivit Kumar Yadav, programme director at CSE’s sustainable industrialisation unit, said the analysis shows that the root of the region’s pollution problem was not just the winter spike but also the lack of data-driven action taken during the summer months. “Until regulatory bodies are strengthened with the capacity to compile, understand, and make data-driven decisions and plan accordingly, the massive monitoring network remains practically useless,” he added. For the analysis, the authors examined continuous emission monitoring system (CEMS) data from the real-time data monitoring system platform for 142 industrial units in the NCR region of Rajasthan and Haryana during the period November 10-20, 2025.

A national environmental survey whose time came

Anthropologist Anna Tsing writes, “Anthropocene, <is> the epoch in which human disturbance outranks other geological forces…..although some interpreters see the name as implying the triumph of humans, the opposite seems more accurate: without planning or intention, humans have made a mess of our planet.” It is in this precise predicament that India finds itself: environmental damage has slipped beyond intention and control, belonging to no one entirely and to everyone at once. An unfolding crisis A survey by the Yale School of the Environment of 10,751 Indians (December 2024-February 2025) found that most respondents had experienced at least one extreme event, including heat waves (71%), agricultural pests and diseases (60%), power outages (59%), water pollution (53%), droughts and water shortages (52%), and air pollution (52%). Based on Indian meteorological department and State of India’s Environment findings, nearly half of the 37% of 870 river-monitoring stations recorded alarming levels of toxic heavy metals. Air pollution in 2022 reduced average life expectancy by about three years, while some parts of the country experienced extreme weather for nearly 88% of the year. The Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India estimates that 29.7% of the country’s land is degraded. Yet, despite this mounting environmental crisis, India still lacks a comprehensive understanding of the state of its environment. In India, the environment sits on the back bench — starved of funds, with only 0.07% of the annual budget allocated to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), understaffed, and intellectually neglected. Its custodians often work in silos with overlapping jurisdictions. The result is ignorance masquerading as knowledge. The MoEFCC’s annual reports outline forest-restoration initiatives such as the National Afforestation Programme (NAP) and REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries ‘+’ additional forest-related activities that protect the climate), yet say little about the scale of State-wise deforestation, its impact on biodiversity and livelihoods, or the country’s preparedness for future environmental challenges. Beyond these omissions, the reports often obscure the nuances behind impressive plantation figures, sidestep scrutiny of fund utilisation and environmental compliance, and overlook findings from global assessments.

A new scheme targets Delhi-NCR’s older trucks and buses to tackle air pollution. Here’s why it matters

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday (June 3) approved a two-year clean mobility scheme to reduce air pollution in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) that will incentivise replacement of older trucks and buses with BS-VI or stricter emission-compliant vehicles. Government vehicles will be excluded from this scheme. BS refers to Bharat Stage, a set of emission standards to regulate and reduce vehicular air pollution. While BS-IV regulated tailpipe pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM), BS-VI introduced stricter limits on such tailpipe emissions besides pushing cleaner fuels and advanced onboard diagnostics. There have been Union government and Delhi government schemes introduced and implemented in the past few years to incentivise a transition to electric vehicles or BS-VI vehicles, including for buses, such as the PM-eBus Sewa. The new scheme, however, specifically targets BS-IV vehicles as well as older trucks and buses compliant with BS-IV emission norms in Delhi-NCR. The scheme is likely to benefit 2.07 lakh (1.91 lakh trucks and 16,329 buses) owners in Delhi-NCR, said a government statement on the Cabinet decision. While scrapping is mandatory for BS-III or older vehicles, BS-IV vehicles may either be scrapped or sold outside NCR, only in places which are not covered by the National Clean Air Programme. Why targeting clean mobility transition is vital Delhi-NCR suffers from extreme air pollution and the predominant sources of pollution are transport sector, dust, industrial pollution, and biomass burning. These sources are both local as well as regional within a broader geographical airshed. The contribution of these sources, though, varies depending on the season, as meteorological factors play a crucial role in saturation or dispersal of pollutants. Vehicular emissions remain a key concern as Delhi-NCR’s vehicle fleet is high at 2.98 crore vehicles and it is growing at 7% per annum, as per government data. Earlier this year, a meta-analysis of multiple emission source apportionment studies from 2015 and 2010 by a panel of air quality experts attributed 23% of winter PM2.5 pollution and 19% of summer PM2.5 emissions to the transport sector. This expert panel was tasked by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in Delhi-NCR to assess reasons behind the worsening of air quality in the region. One of the most important studies on source apportionment has been the August 2018 study by The Energy and Resources Institute and The Automotive Research Association of India, which had found that the transport sector accounted for 40% of CO and 63% of NOx emissions in Delhi-NCR. Moreover, within the transport sector, trucks and buses account for 36% of PM2.5 emissions, which are lethal, fine particles that go deep inside lungs and enter the bloodstream too, causing respiratory and cardiovascular ailments. Even as the share of trucks and buses compliant with older emission norms is only 3% of the total fleet, their emission load is disproportionate to their stock. It is estimated that one pre-BS norms heavy-duty vehicle pollutes as much as 14 times of the modern, BS-VI compliant vehicles. The official government note on the Cabinet decision stated that even a BS-IV vehicle emits 2.7 times more than its BS-VI counterpart, making the transition to cleaner technology an important step to reduce air pollution. Emission potential and vehicle stock As per official data submitted to the Supreme Court in December 2025 by CAQM, goods carrier vehicles — including light, medium and heavy goods — accounted for 4.1% of the region’s fleet as on August 31, 2025. In absolute numbers, they account for 11.80 lakh of the total 2.88 crore vehicle fleet. Buses account for only 0.6% of 1.61 lakh of the 2.88 crore fleet in the region. However, of these 1.61 lakh buses, only 34,449 are compliant with BS-VI fuel emission norms while 1,26,549 fall in the pre-BS to BS-IV-compliant category. BS-II standards came into force from April 1, 2000, for four-wheelers and from October 24, 2001 for medium and heavy commercial vehicles. BS-III and BS-IV standards came into force from April 1, 2005 and April 1, 2010, respectively. Last year, CAQM submitted to the Supreme Court that even though a vehicle might be fit otherwise, it would still be emitting pollutants as per its BS standard, which are outdated. The CAQM-constituted panel of air quality experts had noted in their report that older vehicles, particularly those operating beyond their regulatory life, exhibit higher emission intensity due to engine deterioration and compromised emission control performance. In its June 4 press statement welcoming the Cabinet’s decision, the Centre for Science and Environment said that older, legacy vehicles lack advanced efficient emission control systems like BS-VI variants, such as diesel particulate filters and selective catalytic reduction.

Shrinking Green Cover And Rising Surface Temperatures Heating Up Delhi

Large parts of Delhi are experiencing persistent heat stress, according to a new report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which highlights how rising temperatures, shrinking green cover, and expanding urban development are making the city more vulnerable to extreme heat. Heat stress in Delhi According to the study, 76 per cent of the total area of Delhi has been facing heat stress for at least ten years. Also, in the period from 2015 to 2024, more than 99 per cent of Delhi's land faced heat stress at least once. Heat stress occurs when temperatures become too high to negatively impact human beings through increased chances of suffering from heat exhaustion or heatstroke. The problem is widespread across the city. In all of Delhi's 272 wards, there are 82 wards that have 90 per cent of their total land covered with heat stress.

एनसीआर औद्योगिक उत्सर्जन डेटा खंडित,ऐसे में प्रदूषण नियंत्रण प्रयास कमजोर पड़ जाते हैं:सीएसई

राष्ट्रीय राजधानी क्षेत्र (एनसीआर) में औद्योगिक उत्सर्जन की निगरानी और नियंत्रण के लिए कई नियामक तंत्र होने के बावजूद, उनकी प्रभावशीलता का आकलन करने के लिए आवश्यक जानकारी अब भी खंडित है और अक्सर उसे प्राप्त करना मुश्किल होता है। एक नये विश्लेषण में यह बात सामने आयी है। ‘सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट’ (सीएसई) के इस विश्लेषण में सामने आया है कि उत्सर्जन निगरानी से जुड़ा डेटा सार्वजनिक पोर्टलों पर असंगत रूप से उपलब्ध है और परिवेशीय वायु गुणवत्ता निगरानी रिपोर्ट अक्सर विभिन्न प्रशासनिक प्रणालियों में बिखरी हुई हैं।\ सीएसई की ‘धुएं के पीछे: राष्ट्रीय राजधानी में औद्योगिक ईंधन उपयोग, उत्सर्जन निगरानी एवं नियामकीय खामियां’ नामक रिपोर्ट के अनुसार इससे क्षेत्र में औद्योगिक उत्सर्जन की पारदर्शिता और निगरानी में गंभीर कमी आई है। सीएसई की संपोषणीय औद्योगीकरण इकाई के कार्यक्रम निदेशक निवित कुमार यादव ने शुक्रवार को ‘पीटीआई-भाषा’ से कहा कि विश्लेषण से पता चलता है कि क्षेत्र में प्रदूषण की समस्या की जड़ केवल सर्दियों में होने वाली वृद्धि ही नहीं बल्कि गर्मियों के महीनों के दौरान डेटा-आधारित कार्रवाई की कमी भी है। उन्होंने कहा, ‘‘जब तक नियामक निकायों को डेटा संकलन, विश्लेषण और डेटा-आधारित निर्णय लेने तथा तदनुसार योजना बनाने की क्षमता से युक्तकर उन्हें मजबूत नहीं बना दिया जाता है, तब तक विशाल निगरानी नेटवर्क व्यावहारिक रूप से बेकार ही रहेगा।’’

कचरे से ऊर्जा तक : हिमाचल के 7 स्कूल बने पर्यावरण की मिसाल, जीता ग्रीन अवार्ड

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) के अनुसार वर्ष 2025-26 के राष्ट्रीय ग्रीन स्कूल्स प्रोग्राम ऑडिट में हिमाचल प्रदेश के 321 स्कूलों ने हिस्सा लिया था। इनमें से 35 स्कूल ग्रीन रेटिंग हासिल करने में सफल रहे। सीएसई के पर्यावरण शिक्षा इकाई के कार्यक्रम प्रबंधक नीरज कुमार का कहना है कि सम्मानित स्कूल यह दिखाते हैं कि पर्यावरण शिक्षा केवल पाठ्यक्रम का हिस्सा नहीं, बल्कि व्यवहारिक बदलाव का माध्यम भी बन सकती है। स्कूलों को आमतौर पर पढ़ाई और परीक्षाओं के लिए जाना जाता है, लेकिन हिमाचल प्रदेश के सात स्कूलों ने यह साबित किया है कि शिक्षा केवल किताबों तक सीमित नहीं होती। कहीं बच्चों ने कचरे को संसाधन में बदला, कहीं बारिश के पानी को सहेजने की पहल की गई और कहीं सौर ऊर्जा के जरिए ऊर्जा बचत का मॉडल तैयार किया गया। इन प्रयासों ने इन स्कूलों को पूरे प्रदेश में अलग पहचान दिलाई है। विश्व पर्यावरण दिवस पर शुक्रवार को राजधानी शिमला के ऐतिहासिक रिज मैदान में आयोजित राज्य स्तरीय समारोह में मुख्यमंत्री सुखविंदर सिंह सुक्खू ने सात स्कूलों को मुख्यमंत्री ग्रीन स्कूल्स प्रोग्राम (जीएसपी) रोलिंग ट्रॉफी से सम्मानित किया। पर्यावरण संरक्षण और संसाधनों के बेहतर उपयोग के क्षेत्र में किए गए कार्यों के लिए इन स्कूलों को यह सम्मान मिला। इस अवसर पर चंबा जिले को भी प्रदेश का सर्वश्रेष्ठ ग्रीन जिला घोषित किया गया। जिले के स्कूलों ने ग्रीन स्कूल्स प्रोग्राम में सबसे अधिक भागीदारी दर्ज कराते हुए पर्यावरण संरक्षण के प्रति अपनी सक्रियता का परिचय दिया। पुरस्कार प्राप्त करने वाले स्कूलों में चंबा का राजकीय वरिष्ठ माध्यमिक विद्यालय चनेड़ विशेष रूप से चर्चा में रहा। स्कूल ने पहली बार ग्रीन स्कूल्स ऑडिट में हिस्सा लिया और पहली ही कोशिश में ग्रीन रेटिंग हासिल कर ‘न्यूकमर अवार्ड’ अपने नाम कर लिया। सोलन जिले के राजकीय वरिष्ठ माध्यमिक विद्यालय ओच्छघाट को ‘चेंजमेकर अवार्ड’ से सम्मानित किया गया। स्कूल ने लगातार प्रयासों और सुधारों के दम पर पर्यावरण संरक्षण के क्षेत्र में उल्लेखनीय उपलब्धि हासिल की। सोलन के बी.एल. सेंट्रल पब्लिक सीनियर सेकेंडरी स्कूल, कुनिहार को ‘एयर मैनेजर अवार्ड’ दिया गया। स्कूल ने प्राकृतिक रोशनी के अधिक उपयोग और पर्यावरण अनुकूल परिवहन को बढ़ावा देकर ऊर्जा की बचत और बेहतर वातावरण बनाने की दिशा में काम किया। वहीं राजकीय वरिष्ठ माध्यमिक विद्यालय प्रथा को ‘एनर्जी मैनेजर अवार्ड’ मिला। स्कूल ने सौर ऊर्जा के उपयोग और ऊर्जा संरक्षण को अपनी कार्यप्रणाली का हिस्सा बनाया। कांगड़ा जिले का राजकीय प्राथमिक विद्यालय बांदोल भी सम्मानित स्कूलों में शामिल रहा। विद्यालय को ‘लैंड मैनेजर अवार्ड’ दिया गया। स्कूल ने हरित क्षेत्र बढ़ाने, पौधारोपण और जैव विविधता संरक्षण के जरिए पर्यावरण संरक्षण का संदेश दिया। चंबा के राजकीय वरिष्ठ माध्यमिक विद्यालय होबार को जल संरक्षण के लिए ‘वाटर-वाइज अवार्ड’ मिला। स्कूल ने वर्षा जल संचयन और पानी के पुनः उपयोग जैसी पहलें अपनाईं। वहीं राजकीय वरिष्ठ माध्यमिक विद्यालय खरगाट को ‘वेस्ट वॉरियर अवार्ड’ से सम्मानित किया गया। स्कूल ने कचरे के पृथक्करण, कम्पोस्टिंग और रीसाइक्लिंग के जरिए यह दिखाया कि कचरा भी8 संसाधन बन सकता है। मुख्यमंत्री सुखविंदर सिंह सुक्खू ने समारोह में कहा कि हिमाचल प्रदेश उत्तर भारत के “फेफड़ों” की तरह है और यहां के जंगल तथा नदियां देश के बड़े हिस्से की जीवनरेखा हैं। उन्होंने कहा कि पर्यावरण संरक्षण को केवल सरकारी जिम्मेदारी नहीं माना जा सकता और इसमें हर नागरिक की भागीदारी आवश्यक है। उन्होंने लोगों से अधिक पेड़ लगाने, पानी बचाने और प्लास्टिक के उपयोग को कम करने का आह्वान किया। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) के अनुसार वर्ष 2025-26 के राष्ट्रीय ग्रीन स्कूल्स प्रोग्राम ऑडिट में हिमाचल प्रदेश के 321 स्कूलों ने हिस्सा लिया था। इनमें से 35 स्कूल ग्रीन रेटिंग हासिल करने में सफल रहे। सीएसई के पर्यावरण शिक्षा इकाई के कार्यक्रम प्रबंधक नीरज कुमार का कहना है कि सम्मानित स्कूल यह दिखाते हैं कि पर्यावरण शिक्षा केवल पाठ्यक्रम का हिस्सा नहीं, बल्कि व्यवहारिक बदलाव का माध्यम भी बन सकती है। ग्रीन स्कूल्स प्रोग्राम के तहत स्कूलों का मूल्यांकन पानी, ऊर्जा, वायु, भूमि और कचरा प्रबंधन जैसे क्षेत्रों में किया जाता है। जो स्कूल संसाधनों का जिम्मेदारी से उपयोग करते हैं, वर्षा जल संचयन अपनाते हैं, नवीकरणीय ऊर्जा का इस्तेमाल बढ़ाते हैं, कचरे का पुनर्चक्रण करते हैं और विद्यार्थियों में पर्यावरण के प्रति जागरूकता पैदा करते हैं, उन्हें ग्रीन स्कूल की श्रेणी में रखा जाता है।

CSE report: जंगली जानवरों का बढ़ता कहर, फसलों को भारी नुकसान, किसान खेती छोड़ने को मजबूर

भारत के कई राज्यों में मानव और वन्यजीवों के बीच संघर्ष तेजी से बढ़ रहा है। इसका सबसे ज्यादा असर किसानों पर पड़ रहा है। जंगली और आवारा जानवर फसलों को नुकसान पहुंचा रहे हैं, जिससे किसानों को भारी आर्थिक नुकसान उठाना पड़ रहा है और कई किसान खेती छोड़ने को मजबूर हो रहे हैं। यह बात सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) और इसकी पत्रिका डाउन टू अर्थ (Down To Earth) की एक विशेष जांच रिपोर्ट में सामने आई है।

Report: जलवायु संकट की मार झेल रही खेती... बढ़ती गर्मी, अनियमित बारिश और ओलावृष्टि से किसानों की बढ़ी चिंता

भारत की कृषि आज एक ऐसे दौर से गुजर रही है, जहां मौसम का बदलता मिजाज किसानों के लिए सबसे बड़ी चुनौती बनता जा रहा है। कभी असमय बारिश, कभी भीषण गर्मी, तो कभी ओलावृष्टि और बाढ़, चरम मौसम की घटनाएं खेती की लागत बढ़ाने और उत्पादन घटाने का कारण बन रही हैं। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की ताजा रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, वर्ष 2025 में देश 99 प्रतिशत दिनों तक किसी न किसी चरम मौसम घटना से प्रभावित रहा, जिसका सीधा असर किसानों, फसलों और ग्रामीण अर्थव्यवस्था पर पड़ा।

दिल्ली की सेहत बिगड़ी: प्रदूषण WHO मानक से 20 गुना ज्यादा, 80% इलाका 'डार्क जोन' में

दिल्ली आज भी देश में सर्वाधिक प्रदूषित है। प्रमुख मुददों को लेकर भी शहर की स्थिति बहुत दयनीय है। इससे बड़ी चिंता की बात और क्या होगी कि देश की राजधानी न सिर्फ प्रदूषण, बल्कि जल संकट, कचरा निस्तारण एवं साल दर साल बढ़ती गर्मी सहित लचर स्वास्थ्य सेवाओं से भी हांफ रही है। विश्व पर्यावरण दिवस पर सेंटर फार साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) द्वारा जारी रिपोर्ट ''स्टेट आफ इंडियाज एनवायरनमेंट 2026 : इन फिगर्स'' दिल्ली की मौजूदा स्थिति को लेकर चिंताजनक तस्वीर पेश करती है। रिपोर्ट बताती है कि आने वाले साल राजधानी के लिए पर्यावरण, सेहत और इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर के लिहाज से चुनौतीपूर्ण होने वाले हैं। 20 गुना अधिक पीएम 2.5 का स्तर दिल्ली में पीएम 2.5 का वार्षिक औसत स्तर 100 से 110 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घनमीटर के बीच है। यह विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन (डब्ल्यूएचओ) के सुरक्षित मानक (पांच माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घनमीटर) से लगभग 20 गुना और भारत के राष्ट्रीय मानक (40 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घनमीटर) से करीब तीन गुना अधिक है। पिछले एक दशक की तुलना में दिल्ली में ''अत्यधिक गर्म दिनों'' की संख्या में 40 प्रतिशत की बढ़ोतरी देखी गई है। मास्टरप्लान व कंक्रीट के बढ़ते जाल के कारण दिल्ली के थर्मल हाटस्पाट (जैसे नजफगढ़, नरेला और आनंद विहार) में रात का तापमान भी सामान्य से 3.5 से 5.0 डिग्री सेल्सियस तक अधिक दर्ज किया जा रहा है। दिल्ली रोजाना लगभग 11,000 टन ठोस कचरा पैदा करती है। रिपोर्ट के आंकड़ों के मुताबिक, इसमें से केवल 65 से 70 प्रतिशत कचरे को ही प्रोसेस या रीसायकल किया जा पाता है।

Sariska at 52: A Conservation Triumph Under Scrutiny

Replying to this, Task Force Chairperson Ms. Sunita Narain said that key problem was that the conservationist constituency had become extremely exclusivist. She accused “some conservationists of having a direct interest … through businesses in hotels and film making which has led to even greater alienation of all against the tiger, which they believe is being protected for the sake of a few.” When the extinction of tigers at Sariska was officially acknowledged in 2005, the government of the day swung into action and appointed a five-member task force, to investigate the reasons for the extinction and recommend measures to improve tiger conservation. The Task Force was made up of wildlife and environmental experts. This followed a visit to the Reserve by a team of trackers from Wildlife Institute of India (WII), that failed to discover any trace of the animal even after 15 days of scouring the range. An independent inquiry by the CBI endorsed this finding. The Sariska extinction came as a big setback to India’s flagship ‘Project Tiger’ conservation programme kicked off in 1973 to prevent extinction of this majestic big cat. The Task Force, that included renowned ecologist, Madhav Gadgil, and Hemendra Singh Panwar, former Project Tiger head, submitted a 206-page report ‘Joining the Dots’, perhaps the most comprehensive report on tiger conservation ever published in the country. The Task Force painted a damning picture. Tigers had not simply disappeared from Sariska; they had been systematically wiped out by poachers while park authorities and their officials continued to report reassuring — and ultimately misleading — population figures year after year, consecutively for five years. The deception masked a deepening crisis. At the same time, illegal mining operations were eating away at the reserve’s fragile ecosystem, degrading habitat and draining scarce water resources across the Aravalli landscape. By the time the truth emerged, one of India’s premier tiger reserves had been emptied of the very species it was meant to protect. It recommended among other things a re-organisation of the tiger conservation administration and measures to strengthen protection. Who Owns the Forest? The Debate Over Inviolate Spaces One contentious question that emerged in the report was creation of people-free ‘inviolate spaces’ habitation protected areas (PA) for the regeneration and survival of tigers. The alternative was to allow human wildlife coexistence to continue. The creation of ‘inviolate space’ involves the uprooting of hundreds of villages that have existed from well before the PAs came into existence, a process which is politely referred to, in official and scientific circles as ‘relocation’. For its part, the report conceded that policy must accept that people will continue to live in PAs, but it left the issue unresolved. It must be kept in mind that it was in 2006 that the Forest Rights Act (FRA) was passed by Parliament recognizing the rights of forest dwellers. Relocating villages from tiger reserves; Picture Source The Indian Express Further, the report pointed out that the tiger habitats were also the areas where the majority of tribals co inhabit the tiger’s home and were forest-dependent. They lived within a biomass subsistence economy; and could only survive only if they have access to forest resources. For them, life is just not possible without the forests. ‘Resolution, therefore — untested across the world — will lie in our abilities to create an environment so that the tiger, forests and people can coexist.’ The controversy surrounding the idea of an ‘inviolate space’ for tigers was so pronounced that it surfaced within the pages of the Task Force Report itself. The document revealed a sharp divergence of opinion among its authors, reflecting a broader national debate over whether effective conservation required the exclusion of human activity from critical tiger habitats. A dissent note was submitted by its member, Valmik Thapar, a naturalist and wildlife film maker, who protested against its recommendation that the habitat must be shared between the people and the tigers. Replying to this, Task Force Chairperson Ms. Sunita Narain said that key problem was that the conservationist constituency had become extremely exclusivist. She accused “some conservationists of having a direct interest … through businesses in hotels and film making which has led to even greater alienation of all against the tiger, which they believe is being protected for the sake of a few.” This assumes great significance in tiger conservation as there are as many as 29 villages in the Sariska Reserve core area (Gobind Sagar Bharadhwaj), according to a report ‘View of Sariska Tiger Reserve: A Managerial Approach to the Problems of Landscape’. Three villages have been moved out, but in addition, there are another 146 villages within a 3-km radius of the Reserve. Where Tigers and People Once Lived Together The Report also noted that, many researchers had recorded the special relationship traditionally existing in Sariska between the Gujjars, the Tigers and the nature. But official interference and constant intimidation had led to such a breakdown that, it is widely suspected that villagers hired the services of traditional hunting communities to ‘protect’ themselves and their livestock from the tigers. It is important to note here that the government has no provision for awarding compensation for livestock killed by animals inside a protected area. Sariska tiger translocation 2008; Picture Source The Hindu The Report also noted that, many researchers had recorded the special relationship traditionally existing in Sariska between the Gujjars, the Tigers and the nature. But official interference and constant intimidation had led to such a breakdown that, it is widely suspected that villagers hired the services of traditional hunting communities to ‘protect’ themselves and their livestock from the tigers. It is important to note here that the government has no provision for awarding compensation for livestock killed by animals inside a protected area. From reintroduction to revival; Picture Source WWF India According to the WII Monitoring Report, the tigers began to breed only after 2012. By 2022 their number had grown to 19 and they crossed the 50-mark by 2025. The numbers are based on estimates that use a combination of techniques – radio collars, direct sighting, camera traps and pug marks. These techniques were put into use after the unreliability of counting pug marks was revealed by the Sariska episode in which no one had any idea of the dwindling number of tigers, till the last few months. According to wildlife experts, in the absence of reliable population monitoring there is no way of knowing whether efforts to save the tiger are succeeding The controversy surrounding the idea of an ‘inviolate space’ for tigers was so pronounced that it surfaced within the pages of the Task Force Report itself. The document revealed a sharp divergence of opinion among its authors, reflecting a broader national debate over whether effective conservation required the exclusion of human activity from critical tiger habitats. A dissent note was submitted by its member, Valmik Thapar, a naturalist and wildlife film maker, who protested against its recommendation that the habitat must be shared between the people and the tigers. Replying to this, Task Force Chairperson Ms. Sunita Narain said that key problem was that the conservationist constituency had become extremely exclusivist. She accused “some conservationists of having a direct interest … through businesses in hotels and film making which has led to even greater alienation of all against the tiger, which they believe is being protected for the sake of a few.” This assumes great significance in tiger conservation as there are as many as 29 villages in the Sariska Reserve core area (Gobind Sagar Bharadhwaj), according to a report ‘View of Sariska Tiger Reserve: A Managerial Approach to the Problems of Landscape’. Three villages have been moved out, but in addition, there are another 146 villages within a 3-km radius of the Reserve. Where Tigers and People Once Lived Together The Report also noted that, many researchers had recorded the special relationship traditionally existing in Sariska between the Gujjars, the Tigers and the nature. But official interference and constant intimidation had led to such a breakdown that, it is widely suspected that villagers hired the services of traditional hunting communities to ‘protect’ themselves and their livestock from the tigers. It is important to note here that the government has no provision for awarding compensation for livestock killed by animals inside a protected area. Sariska tiger translocation 2008; Picture Source The Hindu The Report also noted that, many researchers had recorded the special relationship traditionally existing in Sariska between the Gujjars, the Tigers and the nature. But official interference and constant intimidation had led to such a breakdown that, it is widely suspected that villagers hired the services of traditional hunting communities to ‘protect’ themselves and their livestock from the tigers. It is important to note here that the government has no provision for awarding compensation for livestock killed by animals inside a protected area. From reintroduction to revival; Picture Source WWF India According to the WII Monitoring Report, the tigers began to breed only after 2012. By 2022 their number had grown to 19 and they crossed the 50-mark by 2025. The numbers are based on estimates that use a combination of techniques – radio collars, direct sighting, camera traps and pug marks. These techniques were put into use after the unreliability of counting pug marks was revealed by the Sariska episode in which no one had any idea of the dwindling number of tigers, till the last few months. According to wildlife experts, in the absence of reliable population monitoring there is no way of knowing whether efforts to save the tiger are succeeding

Laboring Under Delhi’s Harsh Heat, Workers Must Choose Health or Wages

Sunil Rastogi, an auto-rickshaw driver in New Delhi, normally works 12-hour days to make ends meet and save for the heart surgery he needs. But in summer, as temperatures climb above 100 degrees, he faces a dilemma. Should he work fewer hours, bringing home less for his family and delaying his surgery, or press ahead and risk worsening his fragile health? “I feel tired as it is,” Mr. Rastogi said last week. “This heat makes me even more tired.” For millions of workers like Mr. Rastogi — wage laborers, construction workers, street vendors, delivery drivers — the scorching summer in New Delhi often forces them into a bitter trade-off between health and income. They keep the machinery of this city running, and they are among the most susceptible to its harshest conditions. On the hottest days, the surface temperature of the ground can reach 140 degrees, according to the Center for Science and Environment, a New Delhi-based think tank. That is when tarmac starts to soften and barefoot workers risk blistering their feet. Mr. Rastogi, 54, said he had to choose his health during the summer heat. He works only about five hours each day, seven less than usual, to avoid the sweltering midday sun. That may mean putting off his surgery, but it lowers the short-term risk of a health emergency that could force him to stop working. “I have two children,” Mr. Rastogi said. “I have responsibilities.” Others work through the stifling heat, which can still undermine their earnings. Nitin Verma, 58, runs a street-side flower stall. When the weather is pleasant, he said, he can earn as much as 3,000 rupees, about $31, a day. But on many summer days, he is unable to recoup even the roughly 100 rupees, or $1, that he spends on tea and drinking water.

Delhi-NCR truck scrappage plan: Can replacing old vehicles clean air?

Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at the Centre for Science and Environment, said targeting older commercial vehicles could yield substantial benefits because of their disproportionately high emissions. The government's ₹9,585-crore scheme to replace more than 200,000 ageing trucks and buses in Delhi-NCR could help reduce emissions from one of the region's most polluting vehicle segments. But experts say the measure alone is unlikely to deliver dramatic improvements in air quality, particularly during winter smog episodes. The scheme, approved by the Union Cabinet on Tuesday, seeks to incentivise owners of BS-IV and older commercial vehicles to switch to BS-VI-compliant or electric alternatives. Around 207,000 vehicles, including 191,000 trucks and over 16,000 buses, are expected to be covered under the programme. The government will provide interest subvention on loans, fuel vouchers and support for electric vehicle purchases, while participating states will offer tax concessions and fee waivers. One pre-BS-VI heavy-duty vehicle can emit several times more pollution than a BS-VI vehicle. Why focus on trucks and buses? The government's rationale stems from the outsized role heavy commercial vehicles play in transport-related pollution. According to the Cabinet note, the transport sector contributes about 14 per cent of PM2.5 emissions and 63 per cent of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in Delhi-NCR. Within the sector, trucks and buses account for 36 per cent of PM2.5 emissions despite constituting only about 3 per cent of the vehicle fleet. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at the Centre for Science and Environment, said targeting older commercial vehicles could yield substantial benefits because of their disproportionately high emissions. "This scheme to swap legacy trucks and buses in Delhi-NCR along with fiscal support is an important step forward to improve regional air quality. Studies have shown that even though heavy-duty vehicles make up just 3 per cent of the vehicle fleet in NCR, they are responsible for a staggering 36 per cent of transport-related particulate emissions and toxic gases," she said. Roychowdhury added that older diesel trucks emit several times more pollution than modern vehicles. "Replacing them with BS-VI and ideally more with electric vehicles can cut toxic public exposure at the source," she said. The Cabinet note also estimates that a single pre-BS heavy-duty vehicle can emit as much pollution as 14 BS-VI-compliant vehicles, while a BS-IV vehicle emits 2.7 times more than a BS-VI counterpart. How much difference can the scheme make? Experts say the policy could meaningfully reduce emissions from the transport sector, but its impact on overall air quality is likely to be more modest. Shubham Thakur, a climate and sustainability expert, said replacing nearly 200,000 older commercial vehicles could reduce emissions of NOx and black carbon - both major pollutants associated with diesel vehicles. "If a large majority of the targeted fleet is replaced with BS-VI vehicles, transport-sector PM emissions could fall by roughly 20-40 per cent, while transport-sector NOx emissions could decline by around 30-50 per cent," he said. However, he added that transport is only one contributor to Delhi-NCR's pollution burden. "Road transport contributes only part of Delhi-NCR's pollution burden. Winter smog is also driven by stubble burning, industry, dust, biomass burning and adverse weather. There has to be a multi-front war against pollution rather than stand-alone steps," Thakur said. His assessment aligns with findings from several source-apportionment studies, which have shown that the relative contribution of pollution sources in Delhi varies by season, with transport, dust, industry and biomass burning all playing important roles. Will winter smog disappear? Probably not. Experts caution that while the scheme could lower the baseline level of pollution, it is unlikely to eliminate severe winter episodes that are influenced heavily by meteorological conditions and regional pollution sources. "The scheme may lower the pollution baseline and reduce peak levels somewhat, but it is unlikely to prevent 'severe' AQI episodes by itself," Thakur said. That view showcases a longstanding debate around Delhi's clean-air strategy. Over the years, authorities have introduced measures ranging from the odd-even road rationing programme to tighter emission standards, restrictions on older diesel vehicles and the rollout of BS-VI fuel. While these interventions have helped curb emissions from specific sectors, experts have consistently argued that no single measure can address the region's complex pollution problem. The implementation challenge Beyond environmental gains, the success of the scheme will depend on whether vehicle owners find it financially viable to replace ageing fleets. Vaibhav Pratap Singh, executive director at the Climate and Sustainability Initiative (CSI), said the timing may work in the scheme's favour because many BS-IV vehicles are approaching the end of their first ownership cycle. "The scheme comes at an opportune time for truck owners operating BS-IV or older vehicles, many of which were last sold in 2020 and are likely nearing the end of their first ownership cycle," Singh said. He added that financing support could be critical given the higher cost of newer vehicles. "Given the higher costs associated with BS-VI vehicles, particularly those with longer chassis requirements, interest subvention can help keep the transition financially viable," he said. At the same time, Singh suggested that credit-guarantee mechanisms could further strengthen adoption by encouraging banks and non-banking finance companies to expand lending for electric trucks and buses. A useful step, not a silver bullet The emerging expert consensus is that the truck scrappage programme ranks among the more consequential vehicle-focused interventions attempted in Delhi-NCR because it targets a small but highly polluting segment of the fleet. Yet the policy's ultimate success may be measured less by the number of vehicles replaced and more by whether it forms part of a broader strategy that simultaneously tackles dust, industrial emissions, biomass burning and other major pollution sources. Replacing old trucks and buses may make Delhi-NCR's air cleaner. But experts say it is unlikely to clean it on its own.

बढ़ता शहरीकरण गर्मी में ज्यादा बीमार कर रहा है

आधुनिकता और अनियंत्रित विकास के इस दौर में हमारे महानगर रहने लायक ठिकाने कम और ‘तपते तवे’ अधिक बन चुके हैं. बुनियादी ढांचे का चरमराना, ‘अर्बन हीट आइलैंड’ (शहरी ऊष्मा द्वीप) का बढ़ता प्रभाव, पानी का गंभीर संकट और उस पर से बेहिसाब बिजली कटौती. इन सबने मिलकर आम जन के जीवन को एक दुःस्वप्न में बदल दिया है. यह संकट अब केवल शारीरिक थकावट या पसीने तक सीमित नहीं है, बल्कि यह बड़े पैमाने पर लोगों को गंभीर रूप से शारीरिक और मानसिक रूप से बीमार बना रहा है. प्रकृति का यह नियम रहा है कि सूर्यास्त के बाद धरती ठंडी होती है और रातें सुकून देती हैं. पर हमारे महानगरों में यह प्राकृतिक चक्र पूरी तरह ध्वस्त हो चुका है, जिसका मुख्य कारण ‘अर्बन हीट आइलैंड’ का प्रभाव है. जब किसी शहर में पेड़-पौधों, तालाबों और खुली जमीनों को खत्म कर वहां डामर की सड़कें, कंक्रीट की बहुमंजिला इमारतें और कांच से ढके टावर खड़े कर दिये जाते हैं, तो वे दिनभर सूरज की गर्मी को अपने भीतर सोख लेते हैं. रात के समय, जब तापमान कम होना चाहिए, ये कंक्रीट के ढांचे उस सोखी हुई गर्मी को वापस वातावरण में छोड़ना शुरू करते हैं. ‘सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट’ के वैज्ञानिक अध्ययन इस बात की पुष्टि करते हैं कि भारत के बड़े महानगरों में रात का तापमान ग्रामीण या खुले क्षेत्रों की तुलना में पांच से सात डिग्री सेल्सियस तक अधिक दर्ज किया जा रहा है. इसका अर्थ है कि महानगरों में रातें अब दिनों से भी अधिक भारी और उमस भरी हो रही हैं. रात की इस उमस में जब बिजली कटौती का झटका लगता है, तो नागरिक पूरी तरह असहाय हो जाता है. भारतीय चिकित्सा अनुसंधान परिषद (आइसीएमआर) और विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन की रिपोर्टें लगातार सचेत कर रही हैं कि अत्यधिक गर्मी और लगातार अधूरी नींद मनुष्य के शरीर के भीतर तापमान नियंत्रित करने की क्षमता को नष्ट कर देती है. जब लगातार कई दिनों तक मनुष्य की नींद पूरी नहीं होती, तो शरीर में तनाव बढ़ाने वाला हार्मोन ‘कोर्टिसोल’ अनियंत्रित रूप से बढ़ने लगता है. यही कारण है कि लोग गंभीर और अचानक उभरने वाली बीमारियों के शिकार हो रहे हैं. देश के बड़े शहरों के सरकारी अस्पतालों की आपातकालीन ओपीडी के आंकड़े बताते हैं कि मई-जून के महीनों में हीट स्ट्रोक, अचानक ब्लड प्रेशर बढ़ना, ब्रेन स्ट्रोक, गंभीर डिहाइड्रेशन और किडनी फेलियर के मामलों में एक-तिहाई से ज्यादा की वृद्धि देखी जा रही है. इस पूरे संकट का सबसे भयावह पहलू महानगरों में मानसिक रोगियों की बढ़ती फौज है. ‘द लैंसेट प्लैनेटरी हेल्थ’ में प्रकाशित एक वैश्विक शोध के अनुसार, तापमान में प्रति एक डिग्री की वृद्धि से मानसिक स्वास्थ्य समस्याओं और अवसाद के मामलों में दो प्रतिशत से अधिक की वृद्धि होती है. लगातार अनिद्रा और शारीरिक कष्ट के कारण लोग गंभीर चिड़चिड़ेपन, घबराहट और क्रॉनिक फटीग सिंड्रोम का शिकार हो रहे हैं. जब एक व्यक्ति रातभर बिना बिजली के तड़पता है और बिना सोये अगले दिन काम पर जाता है, तो उसकी मानसिक सहनशीलता समाप्त हो जाती है. महानगरों में घरेलू हिंसा, सड़कों पर मामूली बातों पर होने वाली ‘रोड रेज’ की हिंसक घटनाएं और दफ्तरों में कर्मचारियों के बीच बढ़ते टकराव के पीछे इस ‘थर्मल स्ट्रेस’ का बहुत बड़ा हाथ है. मनोचिकित्सकों के अनुसार, इन दिनों ओपीडी में आने वाले हर पांचवें मरीज में अनिद्रा और गर्मी जनित मानसिक तनाव एक मुख्य कारण बनकर उभर रहा है. गर्मी के दिनों में दिल्ली-एनसीआर, मुंबई या लखनऊ जैसे शहरों के उपनगरों और रिहायशी सोसाइटियों में हाहाकार मचा रहता है. ट्रांसफॉर्मर फुंकने और केबल जलने की घटनाएं आम हैं. ऐसे में अमीर वर्ग तो डीजल जनरेटरों के सहारे कुछ राहत पा लेता है, पर मध्यम और निम्न वर्ग के लोग कंक्रीट के छोटे-छोटे कमरों में ‘तंदूर’ की तरह पकने को मजबूर हैं. यदि हमें अपने शहरों को बीमारों का घर बनने से रोकना है, तो नये और साहसिक कदम उठाने होंगे. इस दिशा में एक अत्यंत व्यावहारिक और त्वरित समाधान यह हो सकता है कि प्रशासन दिन के बजाय रात के समय आवासीय परिसरों और कॉलोनियों की सड़कों पर स्प्रिंकलर ट्रकों को लगातार चलाये. दिन के समय पानी छिड़कने से वह तुरंत भाप बन जाता है और उमस को और बढ़ा देता है. पर रात के समय सड़कों और कंक्रीट के ढांचों पर लगातार पानी का छिड़काव करने से ‘अर्बन हीट आइलैंड’ के प्रभाव को सीधे तौर पर कम किया जा सकता है. इससे डामर और कंक्रीट द्वारा सोखी गयी गर्मी शांत होगी, जिससे रात के तापमान में कमी आयेगी और बिजली कटौती के दौरान भी लोगों को कुछ राहत मिल सकेगी. साथ ही, शहरी नियोजन में ‘व्हाइट रूफिंग’ को बढ़ावा देना और बिजली वितरण प्रणाली को सौर ऊर्जा के ग्रिड से जोड़कर मजबूत करना होगा. जलवायु परिवर्तन के इस दौर में यदि हमने अपने शहरों के बुनियादी ढांचे को पर्यावरण के अनुकूल और मानवीय नहीं बनाया, तो आने वाले समय में हमारी उत्पादक जनसंख्या का एक बड़ा हिस्सा अस्पतालों के चक्कर काटने और मानसिक अवसाद से जूझने में ही अपनी ऊर्जा गंवा देगा. यह अलार्म बेल है, जिसे हमारे नीति-नियंताओं को तुरंत सुनना होगा.

Coal Mining Advocates

IT is ironic that the only legacy the outgoing Rajya Sabha member WR Kharlukhi will leave is to advocate for lifting the ban on coal mining ostensibly because too many people depend on rat hole mining for their livelihoods. He could add that it is also the easiest way for sharks to earn money by sending migrant workers to negotiate those dangerous mines and if their luck fails, they are destined to die inside those very mines. No questions are asked and no one is penalized for causing such inhuman deaths inside a mine. The irony is doubled because on the very same day that Kharlukhi pleaded for reopening mines, the dead body of a 41 year old man was retrieved from an abandoned mine by the State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF). The man had gone to fetch water from the abandoned mine when he fell in and it took 8 days to retrieve his body. Now this is where the rat hole mining business gets complicated. In the many years Kharlukhi was a Rajya Sabha member he never once approached the Ministry of Mining and Geology to assist the state in reclaiming the abandoned mines which pose a past and present danger. According to the Centre for Science and Environment there are about 25,000 to 26,000 abandoned and unscientific rat hole mines in Meghalaya of which about 22,000 are in East Jaintia Hills. Since the 1980s when PA Sangma was Chief Minister he had broached the topic of reclaiming these abandoned mines because they posed a danger. The then Chief Secretary, KK Sinha had broached the subject with the central ministries but nothing happened. After that the matter was forgotten. People continued to die inside these rat hole mines which is why the National Green Tribunal banned rat hole mining until safety measures are in place. Those who propose lifting the ban on rat-hole mining should have a blueprint for safety of miners. In fact, civil society groups from Meghalaya should approach the courts on the need for the state to create a reclamation plan whereby all the 25,000 mines are filled up and reforested. Until that plan is implemented in letter and spirit merely lifting the ban on rat hole mining to allow a few influential politicians to get their kickbacks from the trade-off, should not be allowed to happen. If the people of Meghalaya cannot take responsibility for the resuscitation of nature they are headed towards a major environmental catastrophe.Death inside a coal mines happen because miners are digging horizontally for coal and suddenly they hit an abandoned mine that is flooded. The water then enters the active mine and before the miners can exit, they are sucked in the floodwaters and die inside. It takes a while before they are found. This happened in the Ksan Mining Tragedy that claimed 15 lives in December 2018. That these politicians from Meghalaya cannot think beyond the immediate profit and have not an iota of care or responsibility for the environment has been proved times without number. The Wah Lukha poisoned through acid mine drainage has not healed and no one cares. This is where the law must take its course and human greed must be nipped in the bud.