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The heat is on

India is witnessing the longest heatwave that is showing no signs of abating in several parts of the country even as an early monsoon has weakened and threatens to be delayed in reaching the central and northern states. Studies on the high temperatures — several cities have recorded over 50 degrees Celsius this summer — and their repercussions are worrying. A recent World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) report predicts even higher mercury levels globally in the five years till 2028. The mean temperatures are 90% likely to be warmer for this five-year period than the previous one, because of which Indian agriculture could be further hit. In 2023, which was the hottest year globally in terms of data available since 1850, the WMO reported record levels of greenhouse gas emissions, ice cover loss, and climate challenges. In India, heatwaves have led to decline in crop yields in the pre-monsoon season. The sobering predictions imply that the central and state governments will have to help farmers combat climate threats, including interventions in tweaking farming methods. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, the chief of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), recently said that heatwaves will be more frequent, durable and intense, if precautionary or preventive measures are not taken. A business-as-usual approach at this juncture would come at a cost of human lives as well as productivity. According to one study that looked at data since 1990, more than 153,000 deaths annually around the world are linked to heatwaves, with India accounting for the highest share with over one-fifth. A study published in One Earth found that if the tropics heat up by another 1°C, it would lead to a loss of half the working hours for nearly 800 million people. In such a scenario, India has to mull over novel approaches to work and include flexible hours for outdoor workers who face the brunt. It is also true that urban areas everywhere are affected much worse by heat waves than rural areas. Last month, a study by the Centre for Science and Environment on six megacities in India pointed out that they were not cooling at night at the rate they did earlier. Its analysis showed that a lethal combination of air and land surface temperatures, and relative humidity adversely impacts heat stress in cities. It observed trends like increase in relative humidity in all climate zones, and significant increase in the built-up areas in all cities, which also has a direct co-relation with rise in urban heat stress.

बॉन जलवायु वार्ता : जलवायु वित्त के मुद्दे पर आम सहमति बनाने में बहुत कम प्रगति हुई

जर्मनी के बॉन में आयोजित मध्य-वार्षिक संयुक्त राष्ट्र जलवायु वार्ता में जलवायु वित्त के महत्वपूर्ण मुद्दे पर आम सहमति बनाने में देशों ने बहुत कम प्रगति की। यह बैठक कई देशों में बाढ़, अत्यधिक बारिश और भीषण गर्मी से जन-जीवन और आजीविका प्रभावित होने की पृष्ठभूमि में हुई। अब वार्ताकारों को अजरबैजान के बाकू में संयुक्त राष्ट्र जलवायु सम्मेलन (सीओपी29) में सफलता प्राप्त करने के लिए असाधारण रूप से कड़ी मेहनत करनी होगी, जहां विश्व नये सामूहिक लक्ष्य (एनसीक्यूजी) पर सहमत होने की समय सीमा तक पहुंच जाएगा। स्वतंत्र ‘थिंक टैंक’ सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट ने कहा कि एनसीक्यूजी पर विकसित और विकासशील देशों के बीच मतभेद कम होने के बजाय और अधिक गहरा गए हैं, जो बाकू में समझौते के लिए एक लंबे और कठिन रास्ते का संकेत देता है।

印度现50℃高温,已有211人被热死!首都居民:没法住

每年的夏天，印度都伴随着高温，从3月持续到9月，高温天气将持续半年。但没有一个夏天，像今年这样难熬。 43°C，45°C，48°C，49.9°C，每一天都在刷新历史最高温度，这是印度有史以来最热的一个夏天。如果持续下去，气温将达到人类生存的极限。 在这个常住人口2900 多万的印度首都里，缺水情况非常严重，许多地方一滴水都没有了。印度人民正在渡劫。 01 印度最热一天 印度首都新德里，一辆水车驶入拥挤的街区，人群爆发了一阵骚动。数十名居民疯狂追赶水车，挥舞着水桶、瓶子和软管，有些甚至跳到水车顶上，誓要取完最后一滴水。 当天，新德里气温飙升至 49 ℃，这是有记录以来新德里最热的一天。 每天早上，住在维维卡南德营地贫困飞地的社会卫生工作者特里皮（Tripti）都要提着水桶和水壶站在烈日下，焦急等待运水车的到来。 特里皮说：“为了打几桶水，我们必须排2-3小时的队。但气温还在不断升高，这无疑是雪上加霜。天气越来越热，需要的水越来越多，但供应量却在不断减少。我们承受着高温的痛苦，几乎无法活下去。” 炎热是新德里的常客。在这里，夏天常常是闷热的，富人们待在家里吹空调，而穷人只能聚集在风扇下，用湿抹布降温。 5月份的热浪席卷了印度北部的大部分地区，近一周的气温常常超过45 ℃，数百万居民表示难以忍受。因为从事户外建筑或劳动工作，有一些人无法为自己降温，几乎要失去生命。 5月29日，印度德里地区蒙盖什布尔气温监测站记录到52.9℃高温，创下德里地区最高气温纪录。随后官方表示，52.9℃的高温数字有误，实际最高温度为49.9℃。 专家和居民一致认为，因为印度首当其冲地受到气候危机的影响，所以今年夏季的印度气温远远高于正常水平。 02 热岛效应 但除了气候危机的影响，城市“热岛效应”也在加剧持续高温天气。 印度环境学家Avikal Somvanshi 表示：“二十年前，印度早晚温差约为 12 摄氏度或更高，但现在的新德里不可能再有这么大的昼夜温差。” 他表示，新德里生活着太多的人，人们无限压缩绿化面积建造混凝土建筑，来缓解拥挤不堪的空间。 但这样的钢铁森林，加剧了城市热岛效应。 由于城市建筑和道路使用了大量的混凝土、沥青等材料这些材料的热容量大，吸热能力强导致热量积累。 其次，城市中的绿地面积相对较小，植被覆盖不足以通过蒸发和光合作用有效降温。 所以在夏季高峰期，这座城市的昼夜温差，不会超过 6 到 7 摄氏度。 《柳叶刀》发表的研究显示，夜晚炎热的日子，人们的死亡风险提高了 50%。 6月3日消息，过去24小时内，印度奥里萨邦至少有45人死于可能与炎热有关的疾病。截至目前，印度全国因炎热死亡人数上升至211人。 此外，印度媒体还透露，目前中暑和因中暑死亡人数上报有滞后性，实际死亡人数可能远远超过官方政府公布数据。 持续多日的高温还赶上印度大选。5月25日和6月1日，印度大选分别举行第六阶段和第七阶段的投票，据媒体报道，北方邦6月1日投票期间有至少33名选举工作人员因中暑而死亡，死者包括安保和卫生保洁人员。 03 贫富同此凉热 此外，由于数百万富人使用空调，新德里各地长时间停电，导致电力需求达到历史新高，情况更加恶化。 热浪影响了电力变压器，甚至有电力变压器因高温起火。 新德里消防局局长表示，他每天能接到200多个火灾电话，这是过去十年来的最高水平。 5 岁的尼廷-辛格（Nitin Singh）是一名律师，居住在拉杰帕特纳加尔（Lajpat Nagar）社区，他讲述了每天停电给他和年幼的孩子以及 81 岁患病的父亲带来的毁灭性影响。他说，自从高温来袭，新德里已变得 “无法居住”。 “我家有三台空调，但停电让我束手无策，”辛格说， “昨晚停电了两个小时，我为生病的父亲和孩子们在酒店开了一间房。我和妻子在家里的阳台上过了大半夜，但好几个小时难以入睡。” 37 岁的穆罕默德-阿什拉夫-汗（Mohammad Ashraf Khan）在奥克拉（Okhla）地区经营着一家空调出租店，他说，自从气温超过 45 摄氏度后，他的电话都快被打出火来了。通常他每个季节出租 80 台空调，但今年的需求增加到 130 台。 “今年关于空调过热和故障的投诉越来越多，”他说，“极端高温使普通空调也无法满足降温需要。”

City chokes on rising NO2, readings far above safe levels

Gurgaon: Concentration of nitrous dioxide, released into the air from industrial and vehicular emissions, has seen an uptick this month, with levels far exceeding the amount considered safe. Data by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed that average NO2 concentration was 87ug/m3 on June 1, two times the level considered safe in India, at the Sector 51 air quality monitoring station. It went up to 105 ug/m3 on June 3 and 134 ug/m3 on June 5. City chokes on rising NO2, readings far above safe levels In contrast, the average NO2 level in the last week of May was 26 ug/m3 daily. According to CPCB, NO2 levels should not increase beyond 40 ug/m3. World Health Organization’s safety standard is even lower — at 25 ug/m3. Similarly, Gwal Pahari station recorded NO2 concentration at 112 ug/m3 on June 8 and 118 ug/m3 on June 12. Experts said on Wednesday that most cities focus on cutting down particulate matter pollution — PM2.5 and PM10 — and nitrous dioxide goes under the radar despite its levels being far above safety limits. They said NO2 concentration is likely to have gone up this month due to excessive use of personal vehicles and generators as NCR grapples with unusually high temperatures and frequent power cuts. “This is mainly due to vehicular emissions. Use of old vehicles and traffic congestion are the key sources of NO2,” said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment. An official of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) said commuters keep their cars on even in traffic jams and at red lights to keep the air conditioner working. “Also, gensets are active for several hours in various areas as the demand for electricity has increased. These machines release NO2 as well. We have already directed traffic police to monitor congestion points across the city and take action,” the official added. Doctors said long exposure to NO2 can cause asthma and other respiratory infections. “There is also an increased risk of otitis media, eczema, ear/nose/throat infections and sensitisation to food allergens in children, as well as increased blood coagulability after periods of elevated ambient exposure in adults,” said Dr Tushar Tayal, lead consultant at the department of internal medicine, CK Birla Hospital. We also published the following articles recently Capricorn, Horoscope Today, June 11, 2024: Concentrate on long-term goalsToday, Capricorn's focus is on structure and achievement as Saturn brings a serious tone. Discipline and commitment enhance managing responsibilities. Incorporate weight training for physical well-being.110880017 Delhi water crisis: ADM, SDM level officers to be deployed in each Zone to monitor situationDelhi government deploys officials to address water crisis, monitor distribution of water tankers, and repair pipeline leaks within 12 hours to conserve water during scarcity.110928914 Jupiters Rise from Combustion on June 6, 2024: These Zodiac Signs Will See Increased ProsperityOn June 6, 2024, Jupiter, the divine preceptor, will come out of combustion, impacting each zodiac sign based on their birth chart houses.

Explainer: आखिर दिल्ली क्यों हो रही हर साल इतनी गर्म, कैसे कम होगा चढ़ता पारा

नई दिल्ली: हाल ही में आई एक रिपोर्ट में दावा किया गया है कि जिन शहरों का तापमान सबसे तेजी से बढ़ रहा है, उसमें दिल्ली एनसीआर चौथे नंबर पर है। पहले नंबर पर अहमदाबाद, दूसरे पर जयपुर और तीसरे पर राजकोट का नाम है। दिल्ली एनसीआर का तापमान हर दशक में 0.90 डिग्री बढ़ रहा है। मई में आई इस रिपोर्ट में बताया गया है कि गर्मी बढ़ने की 60 फीसदी वजह शहरीकरण है। क्लाइमेट चेंज का असर भी अधिक है। बीते 40 साल के दौरान राजधानी में गर्मी बढ़ रही है। औसत अधिकतम तापमान में इजाफा हो रहा है। मौसम विभाग के अनुसार, 1975 के बाद से गर्मी तेजी से बढ़ रही है। 1980 से 2022 तक औसत अधिकतम सालाना तापमान में इजाफा हुआ है। जबकि 1940 से 1980 के दौरान राजधानी में गर्मी नहीं बढ़ रही थी। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट की डीजी सुनीता नारायण के अनुसार पब्लिक ट्रांसपोर्ट को बेहतर बनाना होगा। पैदल चलने, साइकल को भी इसमें जोड़ा जाए। इसके लिए बने ट्रैक पर हरियाली हो। वॉटर बॉडीज को सरंक्षित करना होगा। द एनर्जी एंड रिसोर्सेज इंस्टिट्यूट (टेरी) की डीजी डॉ विभा धवन के अनुसार क्लाइमेट एक्शन और सस्टेनेबल डिवेलपमेंट पर भी फोकस करना होगा। ग्रीन बजट की पहल करनी होगी। बिहार, असम आदि इसे लेकर पहल कर चुके हैं। इलेक्ट्रिक उपकरणों जैसे AC के लिए हायर स्टार रेटिंग दें। ताकि यह बहुत अधिक गर्मी न बढ़ाएं।

3 Things The New Govt Must Do to Make Development Sustainable & Work For the Planet

The new Government must rebuild trust by being tolerant to ideas, opinions and information. It needs to strengthen ground-level institutions because participatory democracy can ensure development delivery. In this age of climate risk, the Government also needs to re-engineer development to make it inclusive, affordable and sustainable. The new Government must rebuild trust by being tolerant to ideas, opinions and information. It needs to strengthen ground-level institutions because participatory democracy can ensure development delivery. In this age of climate risk, the Government also needs to re-engineer development to make it inclusive, affordable and sustainable. The agenda for the new Government is the old one, but with a fundamental difference. The fact is that the list of priority action areas remains the same. We have unfinished business when it comes to virtually everything—from energy to water and sanitation to food and nutrition to, of course, health and education. We know that the Government has schemes in place and budgets allocated for all these issues. We also know that ensuring the welfare and well-being of people is a work in progress. During this election, as journalists fanned out to listen to the opinions of voters—perhaps the only time when their opinions count—we heard that unemployment is a major concern; lack of clean drinking water and sanitation tops the agenda; the energy crisis is still wicked as the price of the LPG cylinder is unaffordable and electricity unreliable. Farmers are still distressed. So, a lot of work still needs to be done. This should not come as a surprise. India is a vast country, with a massive deficit in governance. The last mile for any government scheme is about making sure that it reaches people—not once but every time. At the same time, we are seeing the impact of climate change. Our data shows that every day, some or the other part of the country is being battered by at least one extreme weather event. This has huge implications for development programmes—unseasonal and extreme weather lead to more droughts, floods and loss of livelihoods, putting additional strain on the resources of the government. This means that development will need to be more efficient and delivered at scale and speed. But for all this to change and more, the Government’s new agenda and must be different in the following respects. First, it must be based on rebuilding institutions for increased feedback and accountability. Anybody who has a differing perspective is not an enemy of the state. Alternative information is not dissent or targeted criticism of the Government. These sources of news and analysis must be seen as part of the tapestry of development. The more we learn about what is working and what is not, the more governance improves. Currently, most differing voices have been silenced—perhaps not deliberately but through the unsaid that makes it more acceptable to be acceptable if you have things that the powers want to hear. It is like an echo chamber where only cheerleaders thrive. In my view, this only makes a government poorer—they hear nothing and learn little. So, the agenda for the Government is to be open—this is not about inclusion in government committee rooms but in the tolerance of information, ideas and opinions. Rebuilding trust is key—not just for schemes to succeed but also for societies to thrive. Second, we need institutions for new India. Over the past few years, most conventional institutions have been deliberately, or by sheer neglect, allowed to decay. The reason, the Government may tell you, is that these agencies were not doing their jobs well; they needed to go. But the fact is that nothing has been done to replace the key functions that these institutions are required to play. Take the case of agencies set up to control pollution. They have become mute and meaningless. Maybe because when they had power, some indulged in making money from the business of combating pollution. But the fact is that combating pollution needs institutions that can apply deterrence with accountability and have the ability to navigate inconvenient and tough decisions. This is completely missing today. So, it should not surprise us that we have more pollution, not less, all across our rivers and in the air. For this to change, we need two next-generation reforms. One, we need to strengthen the ground-level institutions, where local people take part. We need participatory democracy to make development programmes work. It is now over 30 years since the country passed the 74th and 75th amendments to the Constitution to empower people’s institutions—the Panchayati Raj in rural areas and the municipal system for urban India. We have also experimented with deepening democracy through the strengthening of gram sabhas—village assemblies. But all this is unfinished work. We have much more to do to give control over natural resources to village and City Governments. We need them to manage funds and schemes; to create green jobs; to invest in natural resources for livelihoods. We need to celebrate the noise of democracy. Third, we need imagination in the design of development schemes. For too long, governments have been caught between the welfare approach—which is often dismissed as the handout—and the capitalistic minimum approach. In my view, this age of climate risk needs a new narrative. The Government needs to rework and re-engineer development so that it is inclusive, affordable and, thus, sustainable. This means reimagining the way we work in almost every sphere—from the supply of clean water, so that it is not resource- or capital-intensive, to the access to energy so that it is clean but, most importantly, affordable. This will require changes in design and then in delivery. We need a new development paradigm that can work for the Planet, but for this, it needs to work for every last person. This, then, is where we need the focus and attention of the old-new Government. This is our common agenda. This article was originally published by @down2earthindia. Published by The Better India with permission.

Opinion | Climate-Resilient Cuisine: A Recipe for a Sustainable Future

Many years ago, while returning from a remote rural area somewhere near Delhi’s outskirts, our group stopped at a village farm. The farmer-couple who ran the informal eatery served us delicious but unusual-tasting khichdi, rotis and parathas with a green, leafy raita. My curious fellow travellers asked what the foods were made of. The wife replied that these were bajra khichdi (pearl-millet), bajra roti, and bathua (chenopodium) parathas with bathua curd. She added (translated): “These are very good for health and also suited to our climate for cultivation. But you urban folk wouldn’t know of it. Even if your grandparents did know, you may not be familiar.” The simple, unlettered rural woman was expressing a truth increasingly discussed by climatologists, environmentalists, nutritionists, scientists, and other experts. Biodiversity has a link to food which has sustained communities for ages. Foods based on local biodiversity create healthy and nutritious meals and also save the environment and protect us from possible, future food shortages and climate crises. Generations of our ancestors and elders used these vegetables, seeds, shoots, roots, peels, wild flowers, etc., in their daily meals, knowing in their innate wisdom that eating seasonal foods was important and that food was medicine since each has a range of health benefits. Thus, they encouraged farmers also to grow more of these environment-friendly, climate-resilient, nutrient-packed and generally water-prudent crops, given the logic that farmers respond to demands of consumers. So, it was a win-win situation all round. However, now, with people losing this knowledge of environment-friendly, nutritious foods based on local biodiversity, not to talk of the growing fondness for processed foods/junk foods, we are endangering our own health as well as that of our earth. This is especially true in urban areas, whereas rural India still retains some of this knowledge and good eating habits. Sadly, the consumption of several vegetables, millets and tubers have become confined to small rural pockets and a few tribal communities. World over, including India, concerns are being expressed. Fortunately, there are a few individuals and organisations who are actually working to do something about it. Prominent among them is New Delhi-based think tank, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), headed by well-known environmentalist Dr Sunita Narain. CSE is a public-interest research organisation that works for sustainable and equitable development. CSE has just published a book – ‘First Food: Future of Taste’ with over 100 recipes and corresponding essays by India’s top cuisiniers. Each recipe is based on local biodiversity, foods that have rich medicinal and nutritional properties and would help us survive the climate-risked world and prevent the possibility of food shortage crises. The essays explain the historical background, scientific properties and nutritional benefits of these super-foods, while the recipes tell you how to include these superfoods in your meals and are directed at all home-chefs, homemakers, and professional chefs. If everyone includes more of these in their daily diets, not only will individuals and families benefit with better health, but farmers who produce according to demand will also produce more of these foods, thus helping to heal and save our planet. This is because, as Narain points out, climate change is about emissions not only from fossil fuels but also food. The good news is that most of these can also be grown in our backyards and kitchen gardens. The book ‘First Food: Future of Taste’ champions millets in its opening pages, citing their value as a rich source of protein, dietary fibre, micronutrients, and antioxidants with disease-preventing properties. Interestingly, the United Nations declared 2023 the International Year of Millets based on a proposal from India. CSE’s recipe book features a wide variety of sections: breakfast and snacks, meals, chutneys and pickles, sweets, and beverages. The book showcases scores of recipes drawn from across India, representing cuisines from the Northeastern states to South and North India. These include tempting dishes like bathua paratha, poori, dal with watermelon-rind chunks, haldi ki sabji, meethe karele ki sabji, rohu fish with radhuni, lasoda pickle, anne soppu palya, and kaitha rasam. Don’t worry if some of these names are unfamiliar! The book includes an excellent

Rising temperatures in India are pushing those who have to be outdoors to adapt to a new reality

In New Delhi, rickshaws are a convenient and affordable mode of transport through the city’s crowded roads. But these days, the small three-wheeled vehicles — which are shaded but open from both sides — allow for blasts of hot air to lash passengers in the face as they barrel down the street. It can feel like you’re sitting in front of a furnace, barely able to keep your eyes open. Large swaths of northern and central India have been sizzling under scorching heat for several weeks. In late May, temperatures shot up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit in many states and the capital, New Delhi. Coinciding with India’s general election, the relentless heat unleashed a public health crisis, killing 56 people. An auto-rickshaw driver rests in his vehicle parked under the shade of a tree on a hot summer day in Ahmedabad, India, June 7, 2024. Ajit Solanki/AP No escape for some For those who have to be outdoors — like construction workers, vendors and farmers — there is no escape from the heat. Zayed Ali, who works for an internet provider and goes door-to-door to make sales calls, steps out at 8:30 a.m., fully prepared. He said he wears gloves and wraps his head with a cloth under his motorbike helmet. “I spend the whole day outside, and I am always drenched in sweat,” he said. He strives to be well-hydrated throughout the day, he added, asking every customer for water and finishing the entire bottle. Headaches and dizziness have become normal for him, and the only relief he gets is at lunchtime when he’s able to sit in the shade. Intense weather A group of rickshaw drivers waiting on a sidewalk in Delhi said they have no choice but to work in the heat. Plus, they said the heat this year has been more intense than anything they’ve experienced before. A tea vendor sits under a large umbrella with a cotton towel on his head to beat the Delhi heat. Sushmita Pathak/The World “It is much more severe,” confirmed Avikal Somvanshi, a researcher at the Center for Science and Environment in Delhi. “In fact, of the 24 year-data that I have analyzed so far, this is the worst.” A striking component of this year’s heat wave has been elevated nighttime temperatures, Somvanshi explained. Many cities, including Delhi, are seeing unusually warm nights, which is a cause of concern. “Your body and all the systems don’t really get a chance to rest and recoup so that they can be ready to face the heat again the next day,” Somvanshi said. “And that is a very dangerous thing from a health perspective.” Then there’s the high humidity, which interferes with sweating — the body’s natural cooling mechanism. , Somvanshi said that humidity levels across Delhi and the northern plains have been steadily rising over the years.

India’s temperature will keep rising. The ‘State of India’s Environment Report 2024’ has released its statistics!

The ‘State of India’s Environment Report 2024‘ was released on May 31, 2024, by the Center for Science and Environment in collaboration with Down To Earth magazine. India has registered its Second-Hottest Year in 2023, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for 2023. Most Affected Countries: In 2023, extreme weather events caused losses in about 109 nations. This is most prevalent in West Asian, African, and European nations. With around 19 million people, Indonesia has the biggest number of individuals affected by extreme weather occurrences. The nation with the greatest death toll is Libya. Hottest heatwave to hit India in 122 years: India saw the hottest temperature in 122 years in August and September of 2023 alone. Nearly every day of the year has seen a severe weather event occur in the nation. To be precise, 318 days out of the 365 days between January 1 and December 31 have seen these kinds of encounters in India. According to the Down To Earth report, 3,287 people have died as a result of these extreme weather situations. It is estimated that they have impacted 2.21 million hectares of agricultural land and have caused damage to 86,432 homes. As a result, 124,813 animals have died. Most Affected States in India: The research claims that these meteorological phenomena affect all of India’s states and union territories. Specifically, 149 days of harsh weather were recorded in Himachal Pradesh and 141 days in Madhya Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh and Kerala come next, both with over 119 days. As per the data, Bihar is the state with the highest number of deaths. Here, severe weather events have claimed the lives of 642 people. In Haryana, numerous crops have been impacted. According to the research, Punjab saw the highest number of animal deaths while Gujarat saw the greatest number of damaged homes.

Winds of change: First time in 8 mths when AQI was ‘satisfactory’

Gurgaon: The city recorded its first ‘satisfactory’ air day since October last year, underscoring – yet again – the persistent problem that is pollution in the region. Data showed that Gurgaon’s 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) was 95 on Monday. The last time that AQI fell below 100 was on Oct 9 last year, when the count stood at 97. Since then, daily AQI has been ‘moderate, poor or very poor’. Experts said winds up to 18kmph washed away pollutants from the air on Monday. Asked why there was no let-up in air pollution — mainly recognised as a health hazard in the winter months, when smog shrouds skies over NCR — officials said local emissions are to blame. These include vehicular traffic, construction activities and open waste burning. “Polluting industries are now out of NCR and we are monitoring other sources. We have given directions to ULB and MCG to ensure that construction waste and other kinds of waste are collected and processed as per the norms,” said an official of Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB). Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment, said NCR cities need to cut down pollution all year-round. “Over the years, vehicular emissions as well as construction activities have shot up in the region. Civic bodies need to ensure that these emissions are lowered and take adequate steps like increasing public transport and plantation drives,” he said. Sachin Panwar, an environmentalist, said another reason for high pollution levels is the lack of rainfall over the past few months. “The region has seen lower rainfall this year compared to 2023. Also, with temperatures touching 44-45 degrees Celsius, the air becomes ionised, which means that pollutants are removed,” he said. Last year, Gurgaon recorded 14 ‘satisfactory’ AQI days between March and June 10, mostly because of frequent bouts of rainfall. On Monday, doctors said they have been seeing an increase in the number of patients complaining of respiratory illnesses. “There is so much dust here. Gurgaon has loose dust due to large scale construction, urbanisation and pollution from vehicles. We are seeing around 10 patients daily in our OPD complaining of cough, fever and various types of pneumonia. Bronchitis patients have also increased in our OPDs. They are coming up with complaints of choking due to dust,” said Dr Kuldeep Kumar Grover, head of critical care and pulmonology at CK Birla Hospital in Gurgaon. He said people with persistent cough should take a consult if antibiotics aren’t helping resolve the problem. For the next few days, the city’s AQI is expected to remain ‘moderate’ or ‘satisfactory’, according to the central govt’s System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research. “The predominant surface wind is likely to be coming from west in Delhi-NCR with a speed of 18-25km/h till Friday. This will fasten the dispersion rate,” Safar has predicted.

SEBI’s green prod to companies

ndian companies, nudged by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), have started reporting on their environmental and sustainability performance, but their submissions lack details and relevant information – finds a survey and assessment done by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). New Delhi: Indian companies, nudged by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), have started reporting on their environmental and sustainability performance, but their submissions lack details and relevant information – finds a survey and assessment done by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). In May 2021, SEBI, in a welcome move, had launched an initiative called ‘Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR)’. Under it, the Board wanted the top 1,000 listed companies in India – identified based on their worth in the stock market – to disclose their non-financial data from 2021 to 2023, including data on “environmental stewardship”. SEBI’s BRSR framework asks for this data for two financial years: the current and the previous. CSE has reviewed 28 reports submitted by 14 of these top companies. Its assessment, titled ‘Strengthening Environmental Reporting under BRSR (Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting)’, is largely focused on data provided by the companies pertaining to their actions and records on environmental stewardship. Says Nivit Yadav, programme director, industrial pollution, CSE: “We have reviewed the reports for two consecutive years – 2021-22 and 2022-23 – and also analysed the data for three consecutive years: 2020-21 to 2022-23. The primary aim behind our assessment has been to find out how the format can be strengthened to get quality data out in the public domain, which can then be used by policymakers and investors for more informed decision-making.” Shobhit Srivastava, deputy programme manager, industrial pollution, CSE adds: “The criteria for selection of the 14 companies was to have as much diversity as possible in terms of the sector. The selection is random as well, and is based on the availability of reports.”

Environment: Jammu and Kashmir has a long road to traverse – II

In my last article titled ‘Environment- Jammu and Kashmir has a long road to traverse-I ’, Greater Kashmir of June 5, the World Environment Day, I sounded the alarm regarding deteriorating environmental situation in Jammu and Kashmir. To substantiate my argument, I wrote that we need to look at the condition of our rivers, streams, springs, lakes, glaciers, wetlands, forests, pasture lands, karewas and flora and fauna and notice the state of decline of many of these natural assets. The truth is that most of these are in a state of decline. I also pointed to the poor standards of urban municipal governance in our towns and cities and lack of proper arrangements for sanitation and waste disposal in the rural areas where the responsibility rests with Panchayats under the Panchayat Act. I referred to high levels of air pollution caused by ever increasing number of vehicles on the roads, need for a new policy for tourism in J&K to make this economically vital industry environmentally sustainable, urgency of protection of forests and need to adopt a more cautious approach towards allowing use of forest land for non- forest purposes or in allowing felling of forest trees. In this regard I mentioned about the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2023 which allows in large parts of J&K’s geographical territory exemption from prior permission for diversion of forest land for security and defence constructions and infrastructure. The purpose of writing this second instalment of the same article is to invite the attention of the local UT government as also of the concerned ministries in the central government towards the important issues of our environmental situation in Jammu and Kashmir so that concrete steps are taken at all levels to reverse the decline and pull the situation back from the brink. It was gratifying to hear our Hon. LG’s address in the NLCO’s World Environment Day function at Srinagar where he called for all round effort for protection of environment, natural resources and natural beauty of Jammu and Kashmir. As far as water bodies are concerned, it is necessary to have a system for regular desilting and prevention of dumping of solid and other waste into water bodies, be it rivers or lakes. To illustrate this point, let us give a few examples: Wular lake continues to be silted and encroached notwithstanding the existence of the Wular Authority for many years now, Aanchar lake is virtually filled up with little water surface left, Brarinambal in the heart of Srinagar city is shrinking in full public view and no agency of the UT government seems to be taking responsibility. Admittedly, some success stories are also there. In rural areas, the condition of water bodies like streams and Kuls, nallahs and springs is pathetic and are not being desilted regularly or protected from encroachment which responsibility devolves on local Panchayats as per the Panchayat Act. Solid waste including plastic waste has become a big nuisance all over Jammu and Kashmir. Although the municipal authorities in towns and cities have arrangements for collecting and dumping solid waste but large quantities remain uncollected and strewn here and there. There are no recycling plants within Jammu and Kashmir for the non-biodegradable waste nor a foolproof system to carry the solid waste outside J&K for sale to the recycling plants there. Not sure whether any steps are being taken by the municipal bodies to dispose of biodegradable waste apart from carrying and dumping it at selected sites. Since the householders have neither been trained nor incentivized to treat biodegradable waste at the household level, large part of the biodegradable waste ultimately finds its way into the water bodies along with the non-biodegradable waste, notwithstanding the possibilities of converting biodegradable waste into animal feed, manure or use in other gainful ways. Another big worry in Jammu and Kashmir is the environmental impact of large infrastructure projects including roads, highways and tunnels passing through and involving geologically weak hillsides and forest areas. These type of projects have caused serious damage in states like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh in the form of subsidence of entire villages as in Joshimath, tunnel collapse and frequent mega land slides experienced in Himachal Pradesh. Similar problems, though not of same scale, have been witnessed around Ramban town and Ramban- Banihal sector of the remodelled Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Then there are Z- Morh and Zojilla tunnels and proposed Baltal-Amarnath motorable road in Kashmir division. It is imperative to start environmentally sensitive projects of these kinds only after preparation of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and hopefully that has been done and conditionalities thereof made part of the above projects. Anything done to short circuit the EIA process may result in dangerous and uncontrollable consequences during or after execution. Another major cause of environmental degradation in Jammu and Kashmir is the large scale building construction activity, both in the public and private sector. House construction in J&K in general and Kashmir Valley in particular is environmentally unfriendly as most materials like stone, sand and clay are mined locally, bricks are baked using rich alluvial soil obtained from agricultural lands and Karewas and timber from forests. There is therefore need for new designs, smaller sized homes and use of environment friendly or green materials in construction. It is now high time that the UT government wakes up to this serious problem and comes up with a housing policy that addresses all these issues. There is also need to substantially restrict use of limited agriculture land for construction of residential houses and place complete ban on its use for raising commercial and industrial structures. Real Estates Regulatory Authority (RERA) needs to be operationalized to regulate constructions in urban areas. Next in priority is shift to new and renewable sources of energy. That is presently slow in Jammu and Kashmir and we are possibly lagging behind other states. The country has a target of 500 GWs from new and renewable sources and hydro is also categorised as renewable apart from solar, wind and biomass. Use of hydrogen as fuel is also one of the major objectives of the new energy policy. The UT government needs to reveal to the public its plans and achievements under new and renewable sources of energy and popularize use of renewables at the household level and have local grids for sharing and transmission of this energy. Shift to EVs as part of the national policy should also be part of immediate planning as that will partly address air pollution. India has committed in a big way in COP meetings to the effort against global warming by way of commitment to reduction in the use of fossil fuels, increase in tree and forest cover to create additional carbon sink of about 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes by 2030, adoption of LIFE (life style for environment) and climate action plan for mitigation and adaptation against global warming. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC), Government of India may have updated its National Action Plan for Climate Action after updating its NDCs (Nationally Determined Contribution) with United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2022 and so should the UT government do. Jammu and Kashmir state used to have a State Action Plan some years back and quite obviously that would also require updating followed by implementation. With global warming seen this year at its worst in all parts of the world including India, it is high time this country comes out of its singular obsession with economic growth and substitutes it with sustainable economic growth to balance economic development and environmental protection. This is also the only way to achieve targets under 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Otherwise, India will go the China way who are now pulling back and pulling all stops to reduce the suffering of its citizens due to hazardous environmental effects of unbridled economic and industrial activities of the last three decades. It is no wisdom to get wise after the event. So, let us do now what we will be forced to do later for the safety and well being of our own citizens. Sunita Narain, DG, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi, one of the pioneers of environment movement in this country has the same message for the ‘new- old government’ at the centre, that is to embark on the path of environmentally sustainable development and not environmentally unsustainable development and this message she conveyed on the World Environment Day. The Jammu and Kashmir government also has no option but to follow and enforce the environmentally sustainable model of development. However, the most telling warning has come from the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres himself. He said, “ our planet is trying to tell us something but we are not listening. We need an exit ramp to get off the highway to climate hell.” He and the experts with UN see a bad future for the human race and other life forms on planet earth if warnings are not heeded. They have called for an immediate 30 % cut in fossil fuel production and use by 2030.

At Bonn, talks hit climate finance roadblock ahead of Baku summit

Half way through the two week Bonn Climate Change Meeting, observers said there has been no progress on talks to define a new collective quantified goal (NCQG) , which is expected to define the contours of discussion at the next UN climate conference, COP29, at Baku, Azerbaijan. The US has repeated its stance on how contributing to the new fund, meant to replace the existing goal of $100 billion per year, should be voluntary. The Arab group, Cuba and African nations have called for determining the quantum of the new goal. The agenda of COP29 this November is to negotiate a new financial goal to be set from the floor of $100 billion for the post-2025 period. This is expected to help developing countries transition to a low-carbon future. “Proper progress is urgently needed at the UNFCCC climate negotiations this week as, with each day passing, the talks are turning into a cesspit of inaction,” said an update by the Climate Action Network on Monday. According to Loss and Damage Collaboration, a climate policy group that is tracking the negotiations, the US has argued that NCQG is separate from the provisions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This weakens the provision in the convention and the Paris Agreement that developed nations ought to deliver climate finance to developing countries, experts said. They also said developed countries are urging to expand the number of donors by including emerging economies and limiting beneficiaries to least developed countries. The African group of countries have demanded discussions on what will be the quantum of this new goal. “What we are focusing on is the $1.3 trillion (demand) that was put forward by developing countries and how we’re going to deliver,” Ambassador Mohamed Nasr, Egypt’s chief climate negotiator said on behalf of the Africa group on Saturday during a meeeting on the NCQG. “At the end of week one we are still far from convergence on an ambitious finance target. Multiple options are on the table, and developed countries are still making bad faith demands to open up discussions like the contributor base, despite Article 9 of the Paris Agreement being clear that finance must flow from developed to developing countries. The G77 is so far united in its asks and must scale up pressure in week two to move the need ahead of COP 29,” said Avantika Goswami, programme manager - climate change, Centre For Science And Environment.

New Government’s Agenda: Plan them cool

As urban India turns into a heat trap, the government must focus on improving cities’ liveability Cities are fast becoming hotspots for environmental action. As they grow to cater to the needs of the expanding urban population, there is an increase in motorisation, concretisation, proliferation of slums and shrinking green and blue spaces. In a warming world, cities suffer due to the urban heat island effect, flooding, water scarcity, improper solid waste management, pollution of air and water and overall deteriorating liveability. The Centre has taken measures to combat these impacts. For instance, Union Budget 2024-25 allocated Rs 10,400 crore for the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Smart Cities Mission; Rs 21,336 crore for metro rail projects; Rs 5,000 crore for the Swachh Bharat Mission; and Rs 80,761 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). The 15th Finance Commission of India and the National Clean Air Programme have also proposed more funds to urban local bodies to tackle some problems. However, action so far has been slow and is not quite outcome-oriented. Sustainable growth of cities needs measurable indicators that bring tangible results: HOUSING SUPPORT PMAY or the Housing for All mission has led to the development of millions of affordable housing units. However, these units may not provide thermal comfort, given the lack of criteria for thermal performance. This is confirmed in a 2021 study by Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The Affordable Rental Housing Complexes scheme, a sub-programme under PMAY introduced in 2020, comes with great opportunity to align the rental housing stock with national thermal comfort goals. Provisions of the scheme, such as the technology innovation grant to facilitate adoption of innovative, sustainable, green and disaster-resilient technologies and building materials, must be linked to better thermal performance. The criterion for this grant is speedy, innovative and sustainable construction, which is quite open-ended and less binding. Here is where thermal comfort standards for different climate zones become crucial. Currently, no housing scheme has parameters to ensure access to important infrastructure such as schools, healthcare facilities or public transport, says a 2021 CSE report, “Mass housing and liveability”. Even in slum rehabilitation projects, most times, beneficiaries are relocated to unsuitable peripheral locations that compromise liveability. This model results in creation of more slums and vacant housing at the periphery, CSE notes in another 2021 report titled “Towards affordable and sustainable rental housing”. Housing schemes must focus on in situ rehabilitation. Alternatively, a balanced scorecard approach, in which sites with adequate access to infrastructure are prioritised, can help decision-makers ensure future housing stock has the crucial liveability parameters. Further, affordable housing projects, and cities in general, are yet to reap the benefits of environmental services like nature-based decentralised wastewater treatment, in situ solid waste management and solar rooftop. This is despite incentives—for instance, under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, independent homeowners can avail a subsidy of Rs 30,000 per kW and group housing societies can avail Rs 18,000 per kW. Such benefits must be mandatory for affordable housing projects. HEAT MANAGEMENT IN CITIES The urban heat island effect has become widespread, affecting most cities and leading to increased heat exposure. This not only poses health risks to people, but could create a vicious cycle where air-conditioning becomes a quick fix for thermal comfort and ejects more heat into ambient environment. The government has initiatives such as the India Cooling Action Plan, 2019; energy conservation building codes; National Mission for Sustainable Habitat 2.0; addendums to Urban and Regional Development Plan Formulation and Implementation (URDPFI) Guidelines, 2014; and Model Building Bye-Laws, 2016. However, heat management in cities has not seen comprehensive action so far. In an analysis of 37 heat action plans, Delhi-based think tank Centre for Policy Research reveals that focus is mainly on disaster preparedness and emergency response. Plans do not identify vulnerable groups and lack local bearing. CSE also analysed four cities (Jaipur, Delhi, Pune and Kolkata) of various sizes and in different climate zones to understand how land surface temperatures (LSTs) may be affected by the height and density of buildings and roads, roof materials, natural green cover and water-bodies. The study revealed that cities can mitigate LSTs by as much as 10°C by increasing green spaces with thick canopy trees, reducing street exposure to the sun, enabling mutual shading and proper orientation of buildings and using materials that do not trap heat. Cities must aim to increase their green space in line with the World Health Organization recommendations of at least 9 sq m per capita. URDPFI guidelines recommend a larger green space of 12-18 sq m per capita. Compact development with mid-rise buildings; heat-resilient streets that use water elements like fountains, swales and rain gardens; shading elements; reflective materials; and cool and green roofs can help enhance microclimate and improve thermal comfort to a great extent. All this must be captured in cities’ building by-laws. Heat mitigation must also move beyond disaster response during a heatwave. Cities must assess vulnerability for prioritised and localised action, such as retrofits in certain areas. Global adaptation funds and current fiscal support to urban local bodies could be leveraged to enable these actions. Heat management needs to be institutionalised with city climate change cells, which are currently being set up, as a nodal agency.

New Government’s Agenda: Look beyond dust

Reinvent National Clean Air Programme to focus on fine particulate matter and trans-boundary pollution Only a year is left for the polluted cities of India to clean up their act. In January 2019, the Union environment ministry launched a comprehensive policy framework, the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), to improve air quality in 131 cities and urban agglomerations that consistently reported high pollution levels. The aim was to lower the concentration of particulate matter in these cities by up to 40 per cent by 2025-26, from the 2019 level. To enable implementation, NCAP promised performance-linked funding—a first-of-its-kind strategy to curb air pollution. A massive Rs 19,711 crore was earmarked for the programme. By 2023, as stated in the ministry’s Annual Report 2023-24, all the 131 cities showed improvement in the levels of PM10 (particulate matter with a diameter of 10 microns or less). But have these cities managed to reduce air pollution effectively, which can cause a host of illnesses from lung cancer to cardiovascular diseases to low birth weight and lead to premature death? There are questions around this, and let me tell you why. Of the Rs 19,711 crore earmarked under NCAP, Rs 16,539 crore is for 49 cities and urban agglomerations, each housing more than 1 million people; the remaining Rs 3,172 crore has been earmarked for 82 cities with smaller populations, as per the ministry’s Annual Report 2023-24. However, an analysis of this data shows poor utilisation of funds—an indicator of ineffective implementation. Till December 2023, the 49 million-plus cities received Rs 8,357.51 crore, but spent only 70 per cent— Rs 5,835.03 crore—of it. The 82 smaller cities received Rs 1,292.5 crore, and spent only 37.5 per cent, or Rs 480.92 crore, of it. This indicates the scale and speed of action to tackle air pollution are yet to catch up with the target. The metrics used for judging progress in air pollution abatement are also questionable. For instance, NCAP was originally planned to reduce concentrations of both PM10 and PM2.5. But in practice, only PM10—the coarser dust particles—is considered as the basis for assessing air quality improvement. This has diverted attention and investments towards dust control, while PM2.5, the more harmful particles emitted largely from combustion sources, remains neglected. Analysis of the spending under NCAP shows that as much as 64 per cent of the funds have gone into activities such as paving and widening roads, repairing potholes, water sprinkling and buying mechanical sweepers. By comparison, funds allocated to reduce emissions from combustion sources, responsible for PM2.5, are a lot less—only 14.51 per cent of the total funding under NCAP has been spent on controlling biomass burning, 12.63 per cent on tackling vehicular pollution and a mere 0.61 per cent on industrial pollution control. While cities under NCAP need to only demonstrate improvement in PM10 levels to access funds, under a parallel programme of the Union environment ministry called Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan (SVS), cities are ranked based on action taken in different sectors along with PM10 reduction. These include policy measures to reduce vehicular and industrial emissions, emissions from biomass and municipal solid waste, road dust and dust from construction and demolition waste, and also on public awareness about these policies. But performance based on PM10 reduction under NCAP and ranking based on action taken under SVS often do not match. While both the assessment strategies for NCAP and SVS are steps in the right direction, transformative changes are possible only if the method of tracking progress and compliance is stronger. So here are a few suggestions for the new government to achieve clean air. Use PM2.5 as benchmark: PM2.5 is a more relevant health indicator to assess improvement in air quality. Besides, the impact of policy action on PM10 levels is difficult to establish, as it is highly impacted by wind-blown dust, loose sub-soil from farmlands, and is released by specific sources like mining and construction. Choose the right metrics: Since under NCAP, PM10 is used as the indicator to measure progress in air pollution, focus is on dust control. Key combustion sources like transport and industry, which are the major sources of PM2.5, do not receive priority for developing mitigation pathways. Besides, most industrial sources and power plants are located outside municipal boundaries, and thus remain beyond the ambit of city action plans. Small- and medium-scale units that exist in the non-confirming areas of cities are often not considered. Some information on industrial pollution control measures get reported only if a city is an industrial city or town. Even then, information on steps to accelerate transition to clean fuels and technologies is scanty. Similarly, often progress reports of cities are inadequate on the indicators set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for improvement in on-road emissions management, old vehicle phase out, vehicle electrification, public transport improvement and non-motorised transport. These strategies are not well developed quantitatively and qualitatively for implementation, funding and reporting. Link policy action with air quality improvement: Currently, there is no way to establish the link between policy action and improvement in pollution levels. Cities ranked high under NCAP for improved PM10 levels do not necessarily rank high under SVS for taking policy action. Similarly, cities that score high for good policy action under SVS can be the worst performing cities under NCAP for not improving PM10 level. An assessment by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Delhi, shows that in 2022-23, Guntur city of Andhra Pradesh and Angul town of Odisha were among the best in their respective city categories for taking good action under SVS, but were worst performers under NCAP for not improving PM10 levels. In 2022, Lucknow was among the top performers for good action under SVS but in 2023, it was among the worst performers under NCAP. This needs to be fixed.

New Government’s Agenda: Think long-term

India needs continued emphasis on flagship programmes, aligned to long-term planning that focusses on water security and circular economy in a climate-risked era India has made substantial progress in creating infrastructure for water supply and sanitation over the past decade. At present, as many as five schemes and programmes are being undertaken nationally in mission mode to sustain the country’s recently achieved open defecation-free (ODF) status, ensure solid and liquid waste management, keep the rivers clean, conserve water for the future and supply drinking water to every house. These include Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Mission Amrit Sarovar, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), and the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG). Their successful implementation can help the country reach the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal on safe water and sanitation by the target year of 2030. Researchers from Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) travelled the length and breadth of the country to assess the performance and implementation of some of the schemes at the ground level. There are good and bad stories. Let’s start with Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G), whose objective is to achieve universal sanitation coverage, sustain it and improve the level of cleanliness in villages. About 114.5 million toilets have been built under SBM-G since the launch of the mission in 2014, as per government data released in February 2024. Under SBM, the government has promoted construction of toilets with dual-pit honeycomb structure. In this structure, one pit gets filled at a time. Once it is filled, the toilet is connected to another pit. While the second pit gets filled, the sludge in the first pit gets degraded into manure that can be directly reused in fields. While the government has been making people aware about the benefits of degraded sludge, the purpose is defeated if people do not use it. The new government should incentivise the use of degraded faecal sludge. Local governments like village panchayats that enforce reuse plans should be provided incentives. Since toilets that do not follow the recommended design lead to partial digestion of faecal sludge, documentation and dissemination of best practices of toilet construction should be done extensively. Management of wastewater discharged from the washing area, bathroom and kitchen is another integral component of SBM-G. Rural households with functional taps get 55 litres per capita of water daily. Experts estimate that about 70 per cent of this is converted into greywater. The mission prioritises greywater management using simple techniques such as soak pits and kitchen garden. CSE researchers found greywater flowing into open drains and polluting ponds and other waterbodies in several villages. The new government must ensure that greywater is managed on site or near the source. MAKE SOURCES SUSTAINABLE Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is another flagship programme that envisions “to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2024 to all households in rural India”. Since the launch of the programme in 2019, an impressive 76 per cent of the 193 million households in the rural areas have been connected to taps, as per the JJM dashboard accessed on May 17, 2024. The government must now ensure that the programme does not meet the fate of previous such programmes. As many as six rural water supply programmes, launched since Independence, failed within years as the sources were unsustainable. JJM, thus, plans to focus on protecting or recharging the water sources, which is mainly groundwater, through measures such as water conservation, rainwater harvesting and recharge and reuse through greywater management. It should take the following measures to ensure that water supplied from the tap is safe and sustainable. (i) Map the aquifer at local levels. Since 89 per cent of India’s water sources are groundwater dependent, mapping of the recharge and discharge areas should be done at the district and sub-district levels. Groundwater board and the rural departments should develop the discharge and recharge zones together. Communities should be part of this exercise to make use of their local knowledge about the quality of the soil and the geomorphic features. (ii) Add features on sustainability to the JJM dashboard. Currently, the dashboard has village-level data on the contaminants in the drinking water supply. It also needs to display sites of groundwater recharge or rainwater harvesting, especially if the drinking water source is groundwater-dependent. Details of the design and the cost of the recharge project should be displayed. Measuring the impact of the recharge projects, engaging local communities for monitoring of groundwater and budgeting the available water is key to sustainability. (iii) Ensure sustainability of surface water sources. Since JJM focuses on using surface water in areas where groundwater is contaminated or scarce, there is a need to ensure that the water sources are clean, which again means treating greywater for reuse or safe disposal into open waterbodies.