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New Delhi chokes as trash mountain fire spreads hazardous fumes

India’s capital choked on toxic fumes Tuesday, as a thick and pungent haze spread from a fire at a towering trash dump, the latest in a series of landfill blazes that authorities have struggled for years to bring under control. Sections of the Ghazipur landfill in New Delhi burst into flames on Sunday, causing dangerous heat and methane emissions and adding to India’s growing climate challenges. By Tuesday, the blaze at the capital’s largest landfill had largely been put out, but people living nearby complained of throat and eye irritation due to lingering acrid air, according to local media reports. The cause of the fire remains unknown; landfill blazes are often triggered by combustible gases from disintegrating garbage. Every year, as mercury levels soar during New Delhi’s scorching summers, the city’s landfills burst into flames, with rotting waste adding to India’s climate-heating methane gas emissions. Methane is the second most abundant greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide but is a more potent contributor to the climate crisis because it traps more heat. India creates more methane from landfill sites than any other country, according to GHGSat, which monitors emissions via satellites. The trash mountain at Ghazipur is just one of some 3,000 Indian landfills overflowing with decaying waste and emitting hazardous gases, according to a 2023 report from the Center for Science and Environment, a nonprofit research agency in New Delhi. Standing at 65 meters (213 feet), it is nearly as tall as the historic Taj Mahal, and an eyesore that towers over surrounding homes, harming residents’ health. Exposure to methane can aggravate lung diseases, cause asthma and increase the risk of stroke, according to the non-profit Global Clean Air Initiative. Methane emissions aren’t the only hazard stemming from landfills. Over decades, toxins have seeped into the ground, polluting the water supply for thousands living nearby. At Bhalswa, one of Delhi’s other large landfills, residents in 2022 complained of deep, painful skin gashes and respiratory issues from years of living near the hazardous mound.

Process to flatten Delhi’s landfills slowest at Ghazipur, fresh dumping goes on

An ongoing process to flatten Delhi’s three landfills is progressing slowest at Ghazipur, according to a progress report submitted by MCD to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) in February this year. The report said that of the 28 million tonnes of legacy waste at Delhi’s three landfill sites — Ghazipur, Bhalswa and Okhla —11.9 million tonnes was cleared since July 2019. Of the remaining 17.2 million tonnes (current estimate of waste at sites including fresh waste), Ghazipur holds the maximum 8.40 million tonnes with the MCD clearing only 2.25 million tonnes since trommels were deployed in 2019. In comparison, 5.8 million tonnes has been removed from Bhalswa and 3.927 million tonnes was cleared from Okhla in the same duration, the report said. Currently, Bhalswa landfill holds 5.45 million tonnes of legacy waste and Okhla has 3.4 million tonnes of waste. Biggest, oldest landfill in Delhi Delhi started dumping waste at Ghazipur in 1984, earmarking a 70-acre site for waste management in the city. Ideally, the Ghazipur site should have closed in 2002, but in the absence of a new site, waste dumping continues even now. The garbage mountain reached a height of 50 metres in September 2017. That year, a major section of the dump collapsed after heavy rains in the Capital. Nearly 50 tonnes of garbage came crashing down like an avalanche that swept away a car and three two-wheelers on a nearby road, killing two people and injuring five. However, the height of the dumpsite continued to rise, and by May 2019, when the National Green Tribunal intervened in the matter, the landfill had accumulated over 14 million tonnes of legacy waste reaching a height of 65 metres -- just eight metres short of the iconic Qutub Minar. Work on to clear waste The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Delhi government launched the process of biomining at the landfill, which is basically a process of separating various waste components such as plastic, paper, cloth, sand, and bricks by passing them through large cylindrical trommel machines. An MCD official said that 58 trommel machines are currently deployed at the three landfill sites — 22 at Bhalswa, 25 Ghazipur, and 11 at Okhla. An MCD official said that fresh dumping of waste continued at the landfill site, slowing down any net progress in clearing legacy waste. MCD data shows that more than 1.16 million tonnes of fresh garbage was dumped at the site between July 2022 to February 2024. “The performance of the contractor at the Ghazipur landfill site has been slow, and we have issued several warnings. The company is facing internal challenges. Meanwhile, we are unable to hire new companies as the MCD standing committee is not in place,” the official said. Procedural hurdles The constitution of the powerful 18-member committee that controls the purse strings of the civic body has been stuck in the political battle between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party at MCD as well as legal challenge to the appointment of the 10 aldermen by Delhi lieutenant governor. Every project involving expenditure of more than ₹5 crore has to be approved by standing committee which explains the delay in the appointment of a new concessionaire to operate the trommel machine at Ghazipur. The MCD report showed that the biomining process at Ghazipur was be slowest of the three dumpsites. The civic body has already pushed the deadlie to flatten garbage dump from December 2024 to 2026. What experts say Siddharth Singh programme manager of Environmental Governance and Solid Waste Management at Centre for Science and Environment, said landfill fires are not new for Delhi. It has become the annual air pollution season, he said. “We talk about this issue when the landfills are on fire but we forget about them when situation is under control. As a long-term solution, the segregation of waste at household level is one of the key areas that a city like Delhi needs to focus on. A lot of attention and funds have been mobilised towards remediation of dumpsites. It is happening but not at a desired pace. On the other hand, dumping fresh waste further slows down the process,” he said.

फेयरनेस की फैंटेसी किडनी पर कितनी भारी, नई मेडिकल रिपोर्ट ने चेताया

मेडिकल जर्नल किडनी इंटरनेशनल में पब्लिश एक रिपोर्ट कहती है कि गोरा बनाने वाली क्रीमों में मर्करी की भारी मात्रा किडनी को नुकसान पहुंचाने के लिए भी जिम्मेवार है. कई एक्सपर्ट तो ये भी मानते हैं कि ये एक परेशान करने वाली लत है क्योंकि इसका इस्तेमाल आप बंद भी कर देंगे तो त्वचा का रंग और भी गहरा हो जाता है. फेयरनेस को लेकर फैंटेसी आज की नहीं, बल्कि यूं समझिए कि सदियों पुरानी है. फैंटेसी मतलब ऐसी मान्यता, जिसके पीछे कोई ठोस तथ्य या प्रमाण ना हो. फेयरनेस एक ऐसी ही चीज़ है. इसे लेकर दुनिया भर में तमाम तरह के क्रीम, लोशन बनते हैं. इसका प्रचार प्रसार बड़े से बड़े सेलिब्रेटीज मोटी-मोटी रकम लेकर करते हैं. इस सेगमेंट को कॉस्मेटिक्स कहा जाता है, जिसका सालाना टर्न ओवर अरबों डॉलर का है. ये पूरा कारोबार इस वैज्ञानिक तथ्य के बावजूद चलता है कि आप किसी की त्वचा के रंग को बदल नहीं सकते. त्वचा का रंग प्राकृतिक होता है और ये मुख्य तौर पर अनुवांशिक और भौगोलिक स्थिति के हिसाब से तय होता है. बाहरी साधनों के इस्तेमाल से इसका टोन हल्का-फुल्का बदल सकता है, लेकिन पूरा रंग नहीं बदल सकता. ये तथ्य है. लेकिन गोरा होने का ख्वाब दिन ब दिन बड़ा होता जा रहा है. गोरेपन के इस ख्वाब पर एक कहानी फिर कभी, क्योंकि ये इंसान की सोच औरसभ्यता से जुड़ा हुआ है, इस आर्टिकल में बात खतरे की. ये खतरा इतना बड़ा है कि गोरेपन की चाहत में आपकी किडनी फेल हो सकती है. जो रिपोर्ट ये गंभीर चेतावनी दे रही है, वो एक मशहूर मेडिकल जर्नल- किडनी इंटरनेशनल में छपी है. रिपोर्ट कहती है कि इन क्रीमों में मर्करी की भारी मात्रा किडनी को नुकसान पहुंचाने के लिए भी जिम्मेवार है. रिपोर्ट में और क्या कहा गया है? मर्करी की भारी मात्रा वाली फेयरनेस क्रीम के बढ़ते इस्तेमाल से मेम्ब्रेन नेफ्रोपैथी (एमएन) के मामले बढ़ रहे हैं. मेम्ब्रेन नेफ्रोपैथी एक ऐसी सिचुएसन है जो किडनी के छानने के प्रोसेस को नुकसान पहुंचाती है और प्रोटीन रिसाव की वजह बनती है. मेम्ब्रेन नेफ्रोपैथी एक ऑटोइम्यून बीमारी है जिसके कारण नेफ्रोटिक सिंड्रोम होता है – यह एक किडनी डिसऑर्डर है जिससे शरीर यूरीन में बहुत अधिक प्रोटीन उत्सर्जित करता है. दरअसल मर्करी आपकी स्किन के अंदर जा सकता है और किडनी के फिल्ट्रेशन प्रोसेस में बाधा डालता है. इसकी वजह से एमएन हो सकता है, जिसमें पैरों में सूजन, मूत्र में प्रोटीन का रिसाव और हाई क्रिएटिनिन लेवल बढ़ने जैसे लक्षण शामिल हैं. लगभग 30% मामलों में, यह क्रोनिक किडनी रोग की वजह बन भी सकता है. इस रिसर्च के लिए 2021 से सितंबर 2023 के बीच दर्ज किए गए मेम्ब्रेन नेफ्रोपैथी के 22 मामलों की जांच की गई. अस्पताल में भर्ती इन मरीजों में अक्सर थकान होने, हल्की सूजन और यूरिन में झाग बढ़ने जैसे कई तरह के लक्षण पाए गए थे. जिनमें सिर्फ तीन मरीजों में खतरनाक सूजन थी, लेकिन सभी के यूरिन में प्रोटीन का स्तर बढ़ा हुआ पाया गया था. एक मरीज को तो सेरेब्रल वेन थ्रोम्बोसिस हुआ, मस्तिष्क में खून का थक्का जम गया था. पहले भी आ चुकी है ऐसी रिसर्च ये भी यहां जानना जरूरी है कि इस तरह की रिसर्च कोई पहली बार नहीं आई है. सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनावायरमेंट यानी सीएसई ने साल 2014 में ही अपनी एक रिसर्च के हवाले से ये बताया था कि स्किन केयर प्रोडक्ट में भारी मेटल मौजूद होते हैं. सीएसई की रिसर्च में कहा गया था कि गोरा बनाने वाली क्रीम में मर्करी है जो काफी जहरीला मान जाता है. लिपस्टिक, जिसके बिना हममें से कई लोगों का काम नहीं चल पाता, क्रोमियम से भरी हो सकती है, जिससे कैंसर होने की संभावना बढ़ जाती है. 2013 की बात है, कैलिफोर्निया के रिसर्चर्स ने अमेरिकी बाजार में मौजूद 32 ब्रांडों की लिपस्टिक का टेस्ट किया था. 75 फीसदी लिपस्टिक में कई खतरनाक मेटल जैसे टाइटेनियम, मैंगनीज, एल्यूमीनियम, कैडमियम और क्रोमियम की मात्रा पाई गई. ये सभी मेटल स्वास्थ्य के लिए घातक मानी जाती हैं. लंबे समय तक इन सबके संपर्क में रहने से लीवर और किडनी जैसे शरीर के अंगों को नुकसान हो सकता है और यहां तक कैंसर भी हो सकता है.

World Earth Day: Plastic remains biggest threat for environment

Every year, April 22 is celebrated as Earth Day. The United Nations General Assembly had declared April 22 as International Mother Earth Day through a resolution adopted in 2009. Here are some facts about the Earth Day… What is Earth Day and why is it celebrated? The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in its sixty-third session on 22nd April, 2009, proclaimed April 22 as the International Mother Earth Day. The resolution acknowledged that “Earth and its ecosystems are our home, and convinced that in order to achieve a just balance among the economic, social, and environmental needs of present and future generations, it is necessary to promote harmony with nature and the Earth”. The resolution invited all member states, UN organisations, civil society and other relevant stakeholders to observe and raise awareness of the proclaimed day. Theme for Earth Day 2024: Planet vs Plastics The theme for this year’s Earth Day is ‘Planet vs Plastics’. According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the world produces around 430 million metric tonnes of plastic every year. Plastic has revolutionised human existence and can be found in use from food packaging, medical equipment to the international space station. However, it has also impacted the environment and human body alike. As population increases, plastic waste has become an alarming problem with a whopping 46% of plastic waste being dumped into landfills, 22% constituting litter while 17% being incinerated and only around 15% finding its way to recycling. However, only less than 9% of waste plastic is put into use. What are plastics and why have they become a headache? According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), up to 99% of plastics are made from polymers. These polymers, in turn, are derived from non-renewable hydrocarbons, namely crude oil and natural gas. Polymers, commonly known as plastics, are larger units which consist of smaller molecules (monomers), joined together by chemical bonds. These plastics are used to produce plastic packaging. Plastic packaging constitutes around 36% of plastic production. Plastic pollution is often a result of lack of waste management. As mentioned in the Centre for Science and Environment’s (CSE) report on Global Plastic Treaty Negotiations, plastic is often seen as a separate issue from climate change. However, its production, use, distribution and disposal are major sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Together, these processes contributed about 1.8 million metric tonnes (MMT) or approximately 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 alone. Out of this, production of plastic alone contributed to 90% of these emissions. The impact on the environment has been devastating as well. The United Nations Economic Programme (UNEP) has stated that around 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic are being dumped into the world’s oceans, rivers and lakes every day. Over 13,000 chemicals have been associated with plastics with many posing high toxicity to humans. What is the world doing to combat plastic surge? The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) adopted resolution 5/14 in the year 2022. The resolution prescribes the formation of an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) representing member states, which would be responsible for crafting a global set of rules to end plastic pollution across its life cycle. So far, three rounds of negotiations have been completed with the first one conducted in 2022 in Punta del Este in Uruguay and second and third rounds taking place in Paris and Nairobi. Member states are all set to convene in Ottawa, Canada with the fourth rounds slated to begin from 23rd April. However, talks have been rocky. While many small developing islands in the Pacific have embraced the calls for stronger provisions, small groups of countries, mostly oil and plastic producing nations have registered strong disagreement. With a strong ecosystem around petrochemicals which consists of many refineries and a huge domestic market to boast of, India too has voiced its discontent. It is yet to be seen if the original deadline of a global plastics treaty by the end of 2024 will become a reality.

Oh-zone! Why this prominent pollutant in Delhi air is becoming a cause for concern

New Delhi: Ground-level ozone has started rising in the city with many stations exceeding the eight-hour standard. It has become a prominent pollutant in Delhi's air as shown in an analysis of Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) data. Ground-level ozone can cause many health problems and ozone levels are predicted to rise further in the coming days. Ozone is produced from the complex interaction between nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are emitted from vehicles, power plants, factories, and other combustion sources. These undergo cyclic reactions in the presence of sunlight to generate ground-level ozone. An analysis by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in 2023 stated that ozone is a highly reactive gas that has serious health consequences. Those with respiratory conditions, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and particularly children with premature lungs and older adults are at serious risk. Ground-level ozone can inflame and damage airways, make lungs susceptible to infection, aggravate asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis and increase the frequency of asthma attacks leading to increased hospitalisation, CSE has said. CPCB’s data shows that the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Narela, Nehru Nagar and RK Puram saw high ozone levels, which was more than the national ambient air quality standards of 100 micrograms per cubic metre for eight hours. The ozone levels were at peak during 11 am to 6 pm. Sunil Dahiya, South Asia analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, said: “Throughout the year, PM2.5 remains a concern, but ozone levels witness a surge in summer. Fossil fuel combustion and biomass burning, coupled with high temperature, leads to ozone production. VOCs also enhance ozone levels and it is necessary to curb the sources of PM2.5 and ozone.” He added that the trend of previous years shows that the ozone period has begun. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director for research and advocacy at CSE, said: “The problem of ozone aggravates during summer. This is a very harmful gas and needs immediate policy attention to curb the emission of gases that contribute to ozone formation. Ozone is not emitted directly from any source but formed from the reaction of other gases in the atmosphere. The number days exceeding the ozone standard increases in frequency during summer. Even short-term exposures to high levels can be very harmful.” We also published the following articles recently Anemia: 5 naturopathic remedies to increase your iron levels and blood hemoglobinAddress anemia naturally by incorporating beets, spinach, moringa leaves, black sesame seeds, and drinking water from copper vessels. These remedies help improve iron levels and combat symptoms like fatigue and hair loss.109409597 Can yogurt help control blood sugar levels in diabetics? Read thisUS FDA approves health claims on yogurt's role in reducing Type 2 diabetes risk. Probiotics in yogurt support gut health. Macronutrients vary depending on milk type. Low glycemic index yogurt helps in blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity.109342626 No checks on waste burning in open: Why citys CO level is abnormally highGurgaon's AQI is high due to PM2.5, PM10, and elevated CO levels. Experts attribute CO surge to waste burning. CAQM calls for stricter waste management. HSPCB monitors actions on waste burning. Air quality expected to be moderate.109445080

Rising Ground-Level Ozone Levels Pose Health Risks in Delhi

Ground-level ozone has emerged as a significant pollutant in Delhi’s air, surpassing the eighthour standard at multiple monitoring stations, according to an analysis of data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The escalating ozone levels are anticipated to further increase in the upcoming days, posing health hazards to residents Ozone Formation and Sources Ozone is produced through the intricate interplay of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), emitted from various sources such as vehicles, power plants, factories, and combustion processes. Under sunlight, these compounds undergo cyclic reactions, leading to the generation of ground-level ozone. Shooting Range, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Narela, Nehru Nagar, and RK Puram, surpassing the national ambient air quality standards of 100 micrograms per cubic meter for eight hours. Peak ozone levels are typically observed between 11 am and 6 pm. Expert Insights Sunil Dahiya, South Asia analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, attributes the surge in ozone levels during summer to fossil fuel combustion, biomass burning, and high temperatures. He emphasizes the need to address sources of both PM2.5 and ozone to mitigate pollution levels. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director for research and advocacy at CSE, underscores the urgency of policy interventions to curb emissions contributing to ozone formation. While ozone is not directly emitted, measures to control precursor gases are crucial, particularly as the frequency of ozone exceedances rises during summer, posing significant health risks even with short-term exposure to elevated levels.

Children of a lesser God

Nestlé, the world’s largest consumer goods company, is once again in the dock for allegedly taking millions of its customers in developing countries for granted. Just nine years ago, its best-selling product Maggi was banned in India after revelations of the presence of high levels of MSG (monosodium glutamate) and lead, which were 17 times higher than the permissible limit. This time, campaigners from Public Eye, a Swiss investigative organisation, found that the company adds sugar and honey to infant milk and cereal products sold in many poorer countries, contrary to international guidelines aimed at preventing obesity and chronic diseases. The products involved are Nido, a follow-up milk formula brand intended for use for infants aged one and above, and Cerelac, a cereal aimed at children aged between six months and two years. The jury is still out as the charges haven’t been proved as yet and the company has dismissed them. While the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has decided to probe the issue, what is really disturbing is that the Belgian laboratory, which did the testing on behalf of Public Eye, found no added sugar in formulas for young children in Nestlé’s main European markets. This, if true, reflects dangerous double standards and Nestlé must stop adding sugar in all products for infants, in every part of the world. While not everybody should be painted with the same brush, such unfortunate episodes only lend credence to the perception that multinational companies often misbehave, deviating from the expected rules of conduct in different countries. This requires more attention and responsibility from the companies to reduce the negative consequences of their actions, especially in emerging markets. In this case, obesity is increasingly a big problem — globally more than 1 billion people are living with this — and no company, whether MNC or domestic, can afford to be irresponsible in their actions. A few years ago, a study by the Centre of Science and Environment said that global fast food companies do not have any India-specific commitments to eliminate the misuse of antibiotics in their meat supply chains. The same companies, however, made time-bound commitments in the richer countries. And it’s not MNCs alone. Many food companies in India are focused on cutting corners to remain “affordable” to the mass market, and do not prioritise safety as a pillar of their business. The onus really should be on the Indian government to have responsible agencies which set acceptable standards and ensure their compliance on an ongoing basis. Though India’s food safety regulations and enforcement have come a long way from the earlier shoddy standards, a lot more needs to be done. For instance, a Comptroller and Auditor General report a few years back found that in more than 50% of cases tested and checked during the audit, licences were issued based on incomplete documentation. It was also found that out of the 72 state food laboratories to which the FSSAI and state food authorities sent food samples for testing, at least 65 of them did not possess the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories accreditation. The FSSAI must ensure that standards are constantly updated based on scientific assessment and global health advice, and enforced. Data on foodborne illness are startling, and companies can’t be allowed to get away by treating citizens in emerging nations as children of a lesser God.

Why adverse climatic condition is no poll issue in Bundelkhand

JHANSI: While the scientists have predicted 2024 to be even hotter than the previous year amidst El Nino effect breaking all past records, this isn't anything different for Bundelkhand, a region known for its extreme climatic conditions. The region has been vulnerable to swift changing climatic conditions making life tough for its inhabitants. For example, the region recently witnessed huge crop damage due to untimely rain and hailstorm followed by damages due to wildfire because of hot winds in a period of a month. The delayed monsoon to the region makes it difficult for the farmers here to sustain their cattle, forcing them to abandon them - a cruel tradition known as 'annapratha' locally. During the monsoon months, lightning claims a higher number of lives here as compared to the rest of Uttar Pradesh. Heavy rains result in severe loss of crops. While the local population deals with these issues every day, surprisingly, these don't figure in the poll campaigns in the region. Recently, a group of women water warriors, known as 'Jal Saheli', raised the issue from a public platform while demanding it to be on the poll agenda of all the political parties. Executive director, Centre for Science and Environment, Anumita Roychowdhury, says, "Local signs of worsening climate impacts are already starkly evident in the Bundelkhand region indicating high economic impacts. This reality needs immediate local political attention to build an electoral mandate around the need for mainstreaming the climate narrative in the local development agenda and mobilise political and electorate support for it." Climate activist Sanjay Singh says that lack of sensitivity among common people and politicians towards the tough climatic conditions here has marginalised the issue that regularly affects the population. BJP sitting MP and Lok Sabha candidate from Jhansi- Lalitpur constituency Anurag Sharma says, "While making the list of local issues, we seek opinion from people from all quarters of the constituency, but there are hardly any people who raise this issue. However, climate-related issues do appear in our national manifesto." The Lok Sabha candidate of the INDIA bloc from this constituency and former Union minister, Pradeep Jain, says, "Local climatic conditions may not be the issue in our manifesto, but we have been raising related issues such as illegal mining which is a major cause very strongly for many years."

दिल्ली की हवा में मौजूद हैं ये प्रदूषक तत्व, जो बन रहा चिंता का कारण

वर्ष 2023 में सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एन्वायरमेंट के एक विश्लेषण में जानकारी दी गई है। इस विश्लेषण के मुताबिक ओजोन एक अत्यधिक प्रतिक्रियाशील गैस है। अगर इसके संपर्क में आया जाए तो ये कई गंभीर स्वास्थ्य समस्याएं खड़ी कर सकती है। राष्ट्रीय राजधानी दिल्ली में ओजोन का जमीनी स्तर बढ़ना शुरू हो गया है। बीते आठ घंटों में कई स्टेशनों पर ओजोन का स्तर नियमित मानक से अधिक हो गया है। केंद्रीय प्रदूषण नियंत्रण बोर्ड (सीपीसीबी) के आंकड़ों के विश्लेषण की मानें तो दिल्ली की हवा में ओजोन का बढ़ना एक प्रमुख प्रदूषक हो गया है।

All the world’s a platter

Koktuiwon, the funnel-shaped, deep purple, blue, pink and white flowers of wild turmeric, is used by the Thangkul Naga tribe to flavour curries and soups. In Manipuri, it is called yaipan, tikhur in Hindi, kethuri halodhi in Bengali and tavakeera in Marathi—the wannabe turmeric that blooms in the rainy season from July to August, unfortunately, is never seen in the local market. We stumbled upon it in a book, Future of Taste, published under the First Food series by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi. This consolidated document has essays from authors and easy-to-make and nutritious recipes based on local biodiversity including weeds and trees to long-lasting seeds, plants with short life cycles, and even those parts of cultivated plants that are generally wasted that can help us survive the growing food shortages due to climate change. There are over 100 recipes made from foods that are very different from those produced by our current unsustainable agricultural systems. Sadly, farmers only grow what people eat and what they can sell in bulk because they, too, have families to feed. Millets, which need very little water, are convenient, cheaper to grow, and not consumed by the masses; hence, they don’t draw demand. Sunita Narain, director general of CSE, sets the book’s tone in her Foreword, where she points out that “the choice of food that farmers grow is in the hands of consumers – us; what we eat; and why we eat it. If we change our diets, it provides signals to the farmer to grow differently.” Vibha Varshney, who conceptualised and researched this book, has written several essays, one of which caught our attention: the fish mint, a herb that tastes and smells like fish and has several benefits. The plant has beautiful white flowers and broad, heart-shaped leaves, which can be used in a full-bodied salad. Chef Jatin Mullick reminisces about kaladi cheese, which was invented by the nomadic tribal Gujjars centuries ago to preserve milk in a solid form during the sweltering summer months. “Sold in the markets of Jammu and Kashmir, it is now available year-round, and so are other fruits and vegetables; it makes us appreciate seasonal produce far less than we used to. Both seasonal and alternate produce are the need of the hour; besides putting less pressure on the ecosystem, environment and food chain, it pushes chefs to innovate and be creative,” he says. Besides the challenges with sourcing and consistent supply, Mallick feels “The demand for alternative cuisine still needs to come from the customers, who are in for a treat if they have diverse options to choose from, but again, it is on the chef to introduce it to them as well.—” Chef Manish Mehrotra, a champion of local cuisine, shared a beautiful recipe of ragi shrikhand cannaoli for the book. He says, “Our food has always been hyperlocal, with different textures, different flavours and colours, before brown-yellow-orange gravies took over.” He remembers the simple gandheria (sugarcane cubes, served cold with a splash of rose water) from his childhood and how he recreated it in his kitchen. “Gandheria is a dose of nostalgia for many, but now it’s time to make it relatable for the next-gen, so they can have newer memories with it. The bael fruit I picked last week went into our kitchen to be made into bael ki shikanji—everyone loved it. It’s important to refine the memories with the time,” he adds.

‘No checks on waste burning in open’: Why city’s CO level is abnormally high

Gurgaon: It’s not only PM2.5 and PM10 that are pushing the city’s air quality index (AQI) to high levels. The level of carbon monoxide (CO) too is over 75 times the permissible limit, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The CO concentration in the city in the past five days varied between 103µg/m³ and 150µg/m³, while the safe limit is 1.7µg/m³. High concentrations of CO can cause breathlessness, difficulty in focusing and memory loss. It also affects the supply of oxygen to vital organs. ‘No checks on waste burning in open’: Why city’s CO level is abnormally high This surge in CO poses a significant risk to the health of the city’s residents and could potentially lead to various respiratory and cardiovascular issues. Experts have attributed the rise to an increase in waste burning in the city. The burning of waste, particularly materials like plastic and rubber, releases large amounts of CO into the atmosphere. “The high concentration of CO in the city is due to local factors like garbage burning and the use of diesel vehicles,” said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment. On Friday, Teri Gram had the highest CO level at 150 µg/m³, followed by Sector 51 (147µg/m³) and Vikas Sadan (108µg/m³). Gwalpahari’s CO level wasn’t recorded. Residents of several areas said they have made multiple complaints to police, MCG and Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) about illegal waste dumping and burning, but such incidents are still being witnessed daily. “Authorities should take immediate measures to curb waste burning incidents and enforce stricter waste management protocols,” a resident of Sector 90 said. The CAQM has also called for strong punitive actions and sought inspections in hotspots where waste burning is rampant. On Tuesday, it also ordered HSPCB to apprise it about actions taken against violators, the status of cases, and plans to end waste burning in the open. In response to this, HSPCB issued a show-cause notice to MCG on Thursday. The civic body has been given 15 days to respond as to why legal action should not be initiated against them for failing to strictly prohibit the burning of waste materials in the city’s open areas. But it’s not just CO that’s a concern — the city’s particulate matter levels have also exceeded safe limits multiple times. On Friday, the PM2.5 level was the highest in Sector 51 (289 µg/m³), followed by Teri Gram (247 µg/m³) and Vikas Sadan (223 µg/m³). PM10 emissions were the highest at Sector 51 (258µg/m³), followed by Teri Gram (223 µg/m³). Vikas Sadan doesn’t record PM10 data. As per the CPCB, the annual average permissible limits for PM2.5 and PM10 are 40µg/m³ and 60µg/m³, respectively. Meanwhile, the city’s AQI continued to stay in the ‘poor’ category for the second consecutive day on Friday with an overall reading of 267, up from Thursday’s 242. The air quality early warning system said AQI is likely to be ‘moderate’ from April 20 to 22 as the predominant surface wind is likely to be coming from the northwest direction in Delhi-NCR with wind speeds ranging from 4kmph to 20kmph. According to guidelines issued by the CPCB, when AQI is in the ‘moderate’ category, people with asthma and lung or heart disease can face breathing discomfort. In ‘poor’ AQI, breathing discomfort can be felt by most people on prolonged exposure.

मैगी के बाद सेरेलेक को लेकर नेस्ले विवादों में, पहले कैडबरी और पेप्सी पर भी लग चुके हैं आरोप!

Nestle: हाल ही में स्विस एनजीओ 'पब्लिक आई' ने एक चौंकाने वाला खुलासा किया है और इस पर चिंता जताई है। दरअसल, एनजीओ ने अपनी रिपोर्ट में दावा किया कि नेस्ले द्वारा भारत में बेचे जाने वाले सेरेलैक प्रोडक्ट्स में प्रति सर्विंग 2.7 ग्राम अतिरिक्त चीनी होती है। इसमें आरोप लगाया गया है कि नेस्ले मध्यम आय वाले देशों में अतिरिक्त चीनी के साथ बेबी फूड प्रोडक्ट्स बेचती है, जबकि ये प्रोडक्ट्स स्विट्जरलैंड, जर्मनी, यूके और फ्रांस जैसे विकसित देशों में अतिरिक्त चीनी के बिना बेचे जाते हैं। लेकिन आपको बता दें कि ऐसा पहली बार नहीं है जब कोई बड़ी विदेशी फूड या ड्रिंक कंपनी विवादों में घिरी हो, इससे पहले भी कई प्रमुख विदेशी कंपनियां इस तरह के विवादों में घिर चुकी हैं। कैडबरी भारत में वर्ष 2003 में कैडबरी डेरी मिल्क के साथ कुछ ऐसा हुआ, जिसकी वजह से कैडबरी की ब्रांड और बिक्री दोनों मिट्टी में मिल गई। यह घटना अक्टूबर 2003 में हुई, जब मुंबई में ग्राहकों ने डेयरी मिल्क चॉकलेट में कीड़े मिलने की शिकायत की। शिकायत पर तुरंत कार्रवाई करते हुए महाराष्ट्र फूड एंड ड्रग एडमिनिस्ट्रेशन (एमएफडीए) ने कैडबरी के पुणे प्लांट में बने चॉकलेट स्टॉक को जब्त कर लिया। कैडबरी ने शुरू में दावा किया कि चॉकलेट में कीड़े फैक्ट्री में नहीं लगे, बल्कि दुकानदारों ने चॉकलेट को सही से स्टोर नहीं किया, उस वजह से लगे। लेकिन एमएफडीए इस तर्क से सहमत नहीं था, उन्हें मैन्युफैक्चरिंग के दौरान खराब पैकेजिंग या मैन्युफैक्चरिंग प्लांट में गंदगी पर शक था। विवाद के कारण नेगेटिव पब्लिसिटी हुई, जिससे कैडबरी की बिक्री में 30% की गिरावट आई, जबकि आमतौर पर त्योहारों पर 15% की बढ़ोतरी देखी जाती थी, क्योंकि दीपावली नजदीक ही थी। लेकिन फिर जनवरी 2004 में कैडबरी ने डेयरी मिल्क की पैकेजिंग को नया रूप देने के लिए इंपोर्टेड मशीनरी पर ₹15 करोड़ खर्च किए, एक 'मेटलिक पॉली-फ्लो पैकेजिंग' पेश की, जो महंगी थी लेकिन चॉकलेट की कीमत में वृद्धि नहीं हुई। कैडबरी ने भारी-भरकम एंडोर्समेंट के लिए ब्रांड एंबेसडर अमिताभ बच्चन को भी शामिल किया, अपनी पर्सनल इक्विटी को दांव पर लगाया, और 2004 के जनवरी-मार्च क्वॉर्टर के लिए विज्ञापन खर्च में 15% से अधिक की वृद्धि की। मई 2004 में डेरी मिल्क की रिकवरी फिर से शुरू हुई और जून तक कैडबरी ने दावा किया कि ग्राहकों ने उस पर फिर से भरोसा करना शुरू कर दिया है। कोका कोला और पेप्सी 2003 में कोका-कोला और पेप्सी को अपने सॉफ्ट ड्रिंक्स में पेस्टीसाइड्स (कीटनाशक) कंटामिनेशन के आरोपों के कारण भारत में संकट का सामना करना पड़ा थे। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) ने दावा किया कि दोनों कंपनियां जो सॉफ्ट ड्रिंक बनाती हैं, उनमें यूरोपीय संघ के नियमों से 40 गुना अधिक स्तर तक पेस्टीसाइड थे। इसके कारण कई राज्यों में विरोध प्रदर्शन, प्रतिबंध और बिक्री में 35 से 40 प्रतिशत की गिरावट आई। कोका-कोला और पेप्सी ने सीएसई की रिपोर्ट को खारिज कर दिया और कहा कि उनके प्रोडक्ट इंटरनेशनल फूड सिक्योरिटी नॉर्म्स को पूरा करते हैं। हालांकि, सीएसई ने अपनी रिपोर्ट का बचाव करते हुए बेहतर फ्रेमवर्क और सॉफ्ट ड्रिंक्स की मैन्युफैक्चरिंग में उपयोग किए जाने वाले पानी की क्वालिटी पर सख्त नियमों की आवश्यकता का हवाला दिया। भारत सरकार ने मामले की जांच के लिए एक संयुक्त संसदीय समिति गठित की, जिसने सीएसई की रिपोर्ट को सही ठहराया। हालांकि, कोक और पेप्सी ने सीएसई की रिपोर्ट को बदनाम करने के लिए अपनी आपसी प्रतिद्वंदिता छोड़कर संयुक्त रूप से एक अभियान चलाया, केस दर्ज किए, लेकिन सीएसई ने अपना पक्ष रखा और केस वापस ले लिए गए। इस संकट से निपटने के लिए, दोनों कंपनियों ने अपनी छवि को फिर से बेहतर बनाने के लिए कदम उठाए, जिसमें पब्लिक रिलेशन को बेहतर करना और टॉप लेवल मैनेजमेंट को चेंज करना शामिल था। नेस्ले भारत में 2015 का मैगी क्राइसिस, नेस्ले को एक बड़ा झटका था। मामला तब सामने आया जब लैब टेस्ट्स में पाया गया कि मैगी नूडल्स में अत्यधिक लेड और मोनोसोडियम ग्लूटामेट (एमएसजी) मौजूद है, जिसके कारण वो इंसानों के खाने के लिए असुरक्षित और खतरनाक थी। विवाद 2014 में शुरू हुआ जब उत्तर प्रदेश के बाराबंकी जिले के फूड सिक्योरिटी रेगुलेटर्स ने मैगी नूडल्स में अत्यधिक लेड और एमएसजी के मौजूद होने की सूचना दी। फिर इस मामले की जांच शुरू हुई और मैगी के सैंपल सेंट्रल फूड लेबोरेटरी (सीएफएल) को भेजे गए, और सीएफएल ने मैगी में लेड के ज्यादा स्तर में मौजूद होने की बात को सही ठहराया। इसके बाद फूड सेफ्टी एंड स्टैंडर्ड्स ऑथोरिटी ऑफ़ इंडिया (एफएसएसएआई) ने नेस्ले को मैगी नूडल्स वापस लेने को कहा। नेस्ले के पास 5 जून से 1 सितंबर, 2015 के बीच बाजार से लगभग 38,000 टन मैगी वापस लेने के अलावा कोई चारा नहीं था। इसी के साथ एफएसएसएआई ने नेस्ले को मैगी को बाजार में बेचने के लिए बैन भी कर दिया गया था। क्राइसिस के कारण भारतीय बाजार में मैगी की हिस्सेदारी 80 प्रतिशत से घटकर शून्य हो गई। बैन के कारण नेस्ले को ₹500 करोड़ से अधिक का नुकसान हुआ और कॉरपोरेट अफेयर्स मिनिस्ट्री ने मैगी में एमएसजी होने के लिए नेस्ले पर ₹640 करोड़ का जुर्माना भी लगाया था। हालांकि, अगस्त 2015 में बॉम्बे हाई कोर्ट ने मैगी पर से बैन हटा दिया, इस शर्त पर कि मैगी को री-लॉन्च किया जाएगा और वह भी एफएसएसएआई से अप्रूवल के बाद। फिर नवंबर 2015 में नेस्ले को एफएसएसएआई से मंजूरी मिली और मैगी को री-लॉन्च किया गया।

Heat assault in sync with global climate change

Dubai is flooded. Kolkata is staring at a heatwave. These might well have been scenes from a sci-fi movie a decade ago. Now, they are as real as they get. Such extreme weather events, scientists said, are an indication that the earth is bearing the brunt of climate change more and more frequently. The day temperature in Kolkata stopped just short of 40 degrees on Thursday. A Met bulletin issued on Thursday iterated that “heatwave conditions” were in store for Kolkata and most districts of south Bengal between Friday and Monday (April 19-22). “Severe heatwave conditions” are likely in the other districts of south Bengal in the same period. Summer has just started and this is already the second such heatwave to have struck south Bengal. The Telegraph takes a deeper look. April sizzles The world is now warming faster than at any point in recorded history. Warmer temperatures over time are changing weather patterns and disrupting the usual balance of nature. This newspaper recently reported on a study that analysed daily temperatures recorded in Bengal between 1969 and 2020 to show that the minimum temperature in most of the state, Kolkata included, has increased in the past 50 years. “The rise in the number of extreme weather events and increasing variability in the weather are two dominant effects of climate change,” said H.R. Biswas, head of the weather section at the Regional Meteorological Centre, Kolkata. A lookback at April in the past decade reveals a similar trend. Based on the Met archives, April and May are the hottest months in Kolkata. The “mean daily maximum temperature” is 35.4 degrees Celsius in April and 35.5 degrees in May. In 2022, there was not a drop of rain in Kolkata for 60-odd days between February-end and April-end, the longest dry phase in the city in over four decades. The Met office declared “heat-wave conditions” in districts neighbouring Kolkata. Last year, the city was officially under a heatwave. The scorching conditions in April were something that the city had not seen since 2016. On seven days in April 2016, the Celsius had touched the 40-degree mark in Kolkata. “While unusually hot days are extreme weather events, the variability is established in the recurrence of such days — a long gap since 2016 and then happening almost every year,” said Biswas. Heat islands A researcher said there is a “very clear link” between climate change and frequent heatwaves. “Besides long-term trends across the country, we have been witnessing local impacts in the form of more heat conditions and more frequent breaching of the temperature thresholds in Kolkata and neighbouring areas,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director for research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in New Delhi. “What further aggravates the overall ambient temperature trend in an urban landscape is the heat-island effect,” she said. An urban heat island is a metropolitan or town area that is significantly warmer than its surrounding rural areas because of concrete density and dwindling greenery and water bodies, besides other factors. The elevated urban temperatures result from the heat trapped by the excessive occurrence of concrete surfaces as well as the waste heat generated through machines. The extra heat should dissipate after sunset, but pollution and the continuing generation of waste heat prevent cities from cooling. No respite The satellite imagery of weather systems and wind flow patterns from across the subcontinent do not offer a speck of hope for south Bengal, Met officials said. An anticyclone was over the southeast Bay on Thursday morning. The southwesterly wind flow on the northeast Bay is ensuring that the bulk of the moist winds is headed towards the Northeast. A cyclonic circulation over Bangladesh is only helping in the convergence of the moist winds over the northeastern parts of India and Bangladesh. “Fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall/snowfall with isolated thunderstorm and lightning and gusty winds are likely in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura till April 22,” said a release from the India Meteorological Department. The same report said: “A trough/wind discontinuity runs from Cape Comorin area (in Tamil Nadu) to south Telangana in lower tropospheric levels.” Under its influence, several areas of peninsular and coastal south India are likely to get drenched over the next few days. While Kolkata felt like a cauldron even around 7.45pm on Thursday, rain-bearing thunderclouds were gathering over Karnataka, said a Met official tracking the satellite images. On the northwestern frontier, another Western Disturbance was brewing. As the storm moves west to east, it is likely to trigger rain across swathes of northern and northeastern India. “But in south Bengal, there is no forecast of uniform and widespread showers till at least Monday,” the Met official said.

India braced for heatwaves as nearly 1bn head for marathon summer elections

Please use the sharing tools found via the share button at the top or side of articles. Copying articles to share with others is a breach of FT.com T&Cs and Copyright Policy. Email licensing@ft.com to buy additional rights. Subscribers may share up to 10 or 20 articles per month using the gift article service. More information can be found at https://www.ft.com/tour. https://www.ft.com/content/91001704-ed3f-4241-af5c-d492ec57b22b?accessToken=zwAAAY8FgVJkkdORABcE7T9CQdOvXNSS7FeyKw.MEUCID7wyYiEVKgQ3qJFlvSlrZvup2dndotvhGyivRF-ZHHOAiEA5cIQS5Lo_uz__CQW_auR0eHS22q7kNosKAlaL0PKW9M&segmentId=e95a9ae7-622c-6235-5f87-51e412b47e97&shareType=enterprise India is braced for “severe heatwaves” during its general elections as public health experts warn that hundreds of millions of voters are at risk and local authorities fear turnout may be affected by record summer temperatures. Nearly 1bn people, out of a population of 1.4bn, are expected to vote over the next six weeks in staggered rounds of polling that will end on June 1. The extended period of outdoor rallies, roadshows and polling will coincide with temperatures expected to exceed 45C in places. On the first day of polling on Friday, temperatures were already at 42C in some constituencies in Maharashtra, the third most populous state. The India Meteorological Department expects 10 to 20 days of heatwaves between April and June — more than double the typical summer average of four to eight days. Authorities are making preparations for the extreme heat, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week chairing a meeting of India’s National Disaster Management Authority. Kiren Rijiju, a government minister, recently told local media that voters would be gathering “while braving severe heatwave conditions”. Around the world climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions as a result of burning fossil fuels have been behind tumbling records over the past year. Global average land temperatures in March exceeded the pre-industrial average for the month by 1.68C. Each fraction of a degree of warming exacerbates weather events. The dangers from rising temperatures have already taken a high toll on India. An estimated 1,116 deaths were attributable to heatwaves annually across 10 major cities, according to the latest academic study. Last April alone, 14 people died and hundreds suffered heatstroke after a rally of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata party in Maharashtra. This year, temperatures which are more than 7C above average for early April reportedly caused dozens of visitors to the Taj Mahal in north India to faint. “One problem with climate change is that it has toppled all the predictions,” said Anjal Prakash, a climate researcher at the Indian School of Business. Prakash added that while elections had previously taken place during summer “we do not have much precedent for this”. “The way in which we’re warming up so early, so fast — that has been a recent phenomenon,” Prakash said. The confluence of heat and elections underscores how India, the world’s most populous country, is among the places most vulnerable to the increasingly intense and frequent weather events related to climate change, from dangerous heat to violent monsoon rains. While the BJP and its rival Indian National Congress party have pledged in their manifestos to promote the energy transition, climate change has been largely absent from grassroots campaigns in heat-stricken areas. “The manifesto is one thing but the actual [reality] on ground is another,” Prakash said. “There are other emotive issues on which elections are fought.” The country has scaled up renewable energy capacity under Modi while it continues to rely heavily on coal for most of its power, and also sought to improve local preparedness for heatwaves and extreme weather. Nikunja Dhal, the chief electoral officer for Odisha, an eastern state of more than 40mn people where temperatures were past 43C this week, said the authorities had told parties not to campaign outdoors between 11am and 3pm. Drinking water and paramedics would be made available on voting days, he said. Recommended The Big Read Is India’s BJP the world’s most ruthlessly efficient political party? “It’s much more challenging this time compared to the previous elections,” Dhal said. “It could definitely affect turnout to some extent because it’ll be difficult for people to come out [during the day].” Public health experts say that often state measures are only loosely enforced on the ground, however. Researchers have reported that early warning and preparedness systems have only recently been made a matter of policy at the city government level. Avikal Somvanshi, an environmentalist at the Centre for Science and Environment think-tank, said it was “not sustainable” to hold elections during the summer and they should be conducted at other times of year. Some previous general elections have occurred in cooler months, such as in October and February. “People are forced to line up outside these voting centres and these lines can take hours,” Somvanshi said. “We can’t go ahead doing elections in such harsh conditions without doing major infrastructure building.”

Ludhiana: Threeke govt school gets green certificate

Under the green school programme of the central government launched in association with State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) Punjab and Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi, the Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS) of Threeke received the green certification for the year 2023-24. The schools were judged on the basis of information collected under six heads, including water, air, energy, food, land and waste. Around 31 government schools of Punjab were accredited with green certification. Out of these, GSSS, Threeke, being the only government school in the district.

Ahead of U.N. meet, India chooses to ‘regulate’, not ban, single-use plastic

Ahead of week-long negotiations involving 192 countries that are expected to begin in Toronto, Canada, next week on getting the globe to progress on eliminating plastic pollution, India is in favour of “regulating” and not outright eliminating single-use plastic, according to an analysis of various countries’ public negotiating positions by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a not-for-profit based in New Delhi. In 2022, India brought into effect the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules (2021) that banned 19 categories of ‘single-use plastics’. These are defined as disposable goods that are made with plastic but are generally use-and-throw after a single use and include plastic cups, spoons, earbuds, decorative thermocol, wrapping or packaging film used to cover sweet boxes and cigarette packets, and plastic cutlery. It, however, doesn’t include plastic bottles – even those less than 200ml— and multi-layered packaging boxes (like in milk cartons). Moreover, even the single-use plastic items that are banned are not uniformly enforced nationally with several outlets continuing to retail these goods.