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Jaipur देश के तीन सबसे प्रदूषित शहरों में हनुमानगढ़, सिरोही की हवा सबसे शुद्ध

राजस्थान न्यूज डेस्क, प्रदेश में बढ़ते वायु प्रदूषण के बीच चिंता बढ़ाने वाली खबर है। भिवाड़ी पर तो प्रदूषण का दाग गहराता रहा ही है, अब हनुमानगढ़ भी इसकी चपेट में है। दिल्ली के विज्ञान एवं पर्यावरण केंद्र (सीएसई) ने 2023-24 की शीतकालीन रिपोर्ट में दावा किया है कि भारत के 3 सर्वाधिक प्रदूषित शहरों में दिल्ली एनसीआर, बेगूसराय और हनुमानगढ़ शामिल हैं। हनुमानगढ़ में शीतकालीन औसत 171.6 µg/m³ रहा। इस सर्दी में 20 सबसे प्रदूषित शहरों में धौलपुर, भिवाड़ी व श्रीगंगानगर भी रहे। प्रदेश में सबसे साफ हवा सिरोही में है। 254 शहरों की रिपोर्ट में राजस्थान के 33 शहर शामिल किए गए। स्विस एयर क्वालिटी मॉनिटरिंग संस्था आईक्यूएयर ने रिपोर्ट में भारत को तीसरा सबसे प्रदूषित देश माना है। दुनिया के 50 सबसे प्रदूषित शहरों में 42 भारत के हैं, जहां 2023 में पीएम 2.5 (प्रदूषण के महीन कण) का औसत स्तर डब्ल्यूएचओ के मानकों से करीब दस गुना ज्यादा खराब था। जयपुर न्यूज डेस्क!!!

Jaipur देश के तीन सबसे प्रदूषित शहरों में हनुमानगढ़, सिरोही की हवा सबसे शुद्ध

जयपुर न्यूज़ डेस्क, जयपुर प्रदेश में बढ़ते वायु प्रदूषण के बीच चिंता बढ़ाने वाली खबर है। भिवाड़ी पर तो प्रदूषण का दाग गहराता रहा ही है, अब हनुमानगढ़ भी इसकी चपेट में है। दिल्ली के विज्ञान एवं पर्यावरण केंद्र (सीएसई) ने 2023-24 की शीतकालीन रिपोर्ट में दावा किया है कि भारत के 3 सर्वाधिक प्रदूषित शहरों में दिल्ली एनसीआर, बेगूसराय और हनुमानगढ़ शामिल हैं। हनुमानगढ़ में शीतकालीन औसत 171.6 µg/m³ रहा। इस सर्दी में 20 सबसे प्रदूषित शहरों में धौलपुर, भिवाड़ी व श्रीगंगानगर भी रहे। प्रदेश में सबसे साफ हवा सिरोही में है। 254 शहरों की रिपोर्ट में राजस्थान के 33 शहर शामिल किए गए। स्विस एयर क्वालिटी मॉनिटरिंग संस्था आईक्यूएयर ने रिपोर्ट में भारत को तीसरा सबसे प्रदूषित देश माना है। दुनिया के 50 सबसे प्रदूषित शहरों में 42 भारत के हैं, जहां 2023 में पीएम 2.5 (प्रदूषण के महीन कण) का औसत स्तर डब्ल्यूएचओ के मानकों से करीब दस गुना ज्यादा खराब था।

Hanumangarh is among the three most polluted cities of the country, Sirohi has the purest air.

There is worrying news amid increasing air pollution in the state. The stain of pollution has been deepening on Bhiwadi, now Hanumangarh is also in its grip. Delhi’s Center for Science and Environment (CSE) has claimed in its winter report of 2023- 24 that Delhi NCR, Begusarai and Hanumangarh are among the 3 most polluted cities of India. The winter average in Hanumangarh was 171.6 µg/m³. Dholpur, Bhiwadi and Sriganganagar were also among the 20 most polluted cities this winter. Sirohi has the cleanest air in the state. 33 cities of Rajasthan were included in the report of 254 cities. • Swiss air quality monitoring organization IQair has considered India as the third most polluted country in its report. India has 42 of the world’s 50 most polluted cities, where the average level of PM 2.5 (fine particles of pollution) in 2023 was nearly ten times worse than WHO standards. Highest increase in Kota-Bhiwadi compared to last year PM 2.5 levels have increased in 39 out of 62 cities. There are 8 cities of Rajasthan among these. The highest increase of 42% was in Bhiwadi, Kota. It increased by 38% in Jaipur, 28% in Pali, 15% in Alwar. Sharanjit Kaur, associated with the organization, said, studied Delhi NCR, Haryana, Punjab, UP, Rajasthan. It is necessary to bring plans of big cities to small cities also CSE researcher Avikal Somvanshi said, Rajasthan is a dry state. The air is not clean due to industries. Throwing construction waste without adequate treatment also increases pollution. Such problems are also there in Chennai but there the sea absorbs the pollution and the air remains clean. In Ganganagar and Hanumangarh, pollution increases due to stubble in winter.

Lok Sabha Elections : दिल्लीवालों को चाहिए जाम से मुक्ति, भाजपा नुमाइंदों के लिए आसान न होगा यह वादा पूरा करना

वाहनों के दबाव से कराह रही दिल्ली को अब जाम से मुक्ति चाहिए। चार दशक पहले सरकारों ने फ्लाईओवर को आवाजाही बेहतर करने का तरीका माना था, लेकिन यहां वाहन रेंगते नजर आते हैं। आलम यह है कि व्यस्त समय में वाहनों की रफ्तार दस किमी प्रति घंटा भी नहीं रहती। ऐसे में जाम इस बार सियासी मुद्दा बना है। पहली बार भाजपा के सातों उम्मीदवारों ने चुनाव जीतने के बाद के 100 दिनों के भीतर इसका समाधान करने का वायदा किया है। वहीं, आप व कांग्रेस भी इसे कोर इश्यू मान रही हैं। यातायात प्रबंधन करने वाली पुलिस का भी कहना है कि फ्लाईओवर आज आवाजाही के लिए कारगर साबित नहीं हो रहे हैं। वाहनों के दबाव से फ्लाईओवर पर भी जाम आम है। अतिक्रमण और निर्माण कार्य ने भी समस्या को बढ़ाया है। विशेषज्ञों का कहना है कि कई योजनाएं लाने के बाद भी आवाजाही बेहतर नहीं हुई है। अब वक्त यातायात व्यवस्था में बुनियादी बदलाव लाने का है। इसके लिए बड़े स्तर पर सरकारों को काम करना पड़ेगा। पेश है पुरुषोत्तम वर्मा की रिपोर्ट... जाम में फंसे बड़े फ्लाईओवर गीता कॉलोनी, आजादपुर चौक, मुकरबा चौक, हनुमान सेतू, रानी झांसी, पालम व द्वारका, सरिता विहार, बंदा बहादुर वैरागी मार्ग, पीरागढ़ी व पंजाबी बाग फ्लाइओवर पर वाहनों की भारी आवाजाही रहती है। इससे यहां वाहन रेंगते नजर आते हैं। दिल्ली की मौजूदा स्थिति दिल्ली के मानचित्र का 23 फीसदी हिस्से पर रोड नेटवर्क है। फ्लाईओवर की संख्या भी करीब 100 है। अंडरपास और रेल ओवर ब्रिज भी जरूरत के हिसाब से हैं। देश का सबसे बड़ा मेट्रो नेटवर्क व ई-बसों का बेड़ा दिल्ली में है। इसके बावजूद सड़कें जाम रहती हैं। इसका सीधा मतलब यह है कि जहां काम करना है, वहां ध्यान नहीं दिया गया, तभी सड़कों पर निजी वाहनों की संख्या बहुत ज्यादा है। किस रेंज में कितनी जगहों पर जाम पूर्वी रेंज : इस रेंज के शाहदरा जिले में 5, पूर्वी जिले में 5 और उत्तर-पूर्व जिले में 10 जगहों पर जाम लगता है। बाकी जगहों पर निर्माण कार्य, अतिक्रमण और अन्य कारण हैं। वाहनों की भारी आवाजाही से पूर्वी जिले में चार, उत्तर-पूर्वी जिले में 5 जगह और शाहदरा जिले में रोड नंबर 6 पर जाम लगता है। नार्थ रेंज : उत्तर-पश्चिमी जिले में 6, रोहिणी में 13 और बाहरी-उतरी जिले में 8 जगहों पर जाम लगता है। भारी वाहनों के कारण उत्तरी-पश्चिमी जिले में चार, रोहिणी में सात, बाहरी-उत्तरी जिले में 12 जगहों पर जाम लगता है। सेंटर रेंज : मध्य जिले में 10 और उत्तरी जिले में 11 जगहों पर सबसे ज्यादा जाम लगता है। भारी वाहनों की आवाजाही से मध्य जिले में 12 और उत्तरी जिले में 7 जगहों पर जाम लगता है। सर्दन रेंज : दक्षिण जिले में 12 व दक्षिण-पूर्व जिले में 10 ऐसी जगह हैं जहां सबसे ज्यादा जाम लगता है। नई दिल्ली रेंज : नई दिल्ली जिले में पांच और दक्षिण-पश्चिमी जिले में तीन जगहों पर सबसे ज्यादा जाम लगता है। नई दिल्ली में सिर्फ वाहनों की भारी आवाजाही से जाम लगता है। वेस्टर्न रेंज : बाहरी जिले में 6, द्वारका में 8 व पश्चिमी जिले में 5 जगहों पर सबसे ज्यादा आए दिन जाम लगता है। दिल्ली में 1971 में बना था पहला फ्लाईओवर आजादी के बाद राजधानी को पहला फ्लाईओवर शादीपुर में बना था। यह फ्लाईओवर रेलवे फाटक की वजह से जाम की समस्या को खत्म करने के लिए दिल्ली नगर निगम ने बनाया था। मुख्य कार्यकारी पार्षद विजय कुमार मल्होत्रा ने 14 फरवरी 1971 को इसका उद्घाटन किया था। वर्तमान में दिल्ली में 100 से ज्यादा फ्लाईओवर हैं, जबकि चार से पांच फ्लाईओवर निर्माणाधीन हैं। निर्माण कार्य व अतिक्रमण भी समस्या ट्रैफिक पुलिस का हालिया अध्ययन बताता है कि पूरी दिल्ली की 117 प्रमुख सड़कों पर जाम लगता है। यहां वाहनों का दबाव क्षमता से ज्यादा रहता है। वहीं, अलग-अलग कॉरिडोर पर चलने वाले निर्माण कार्य व अतिक्रमण भी आवाजाही बाधित करते हैं। अगर सड़क पर कोई वाहन खराब हो जाता है तो समस्या और भी बढ़ जाती है। एनडीएमसी क्षेत्र में जाम के कारण सर्वोच्च न्यायालय, दिल्ली उच्च न्यायालय और पटियाला हाउस कोर्ट परिसर के पास पार्किंग की कमी से जाम लगता है। कर्तव्य पथ, इंडिया गेट, नेशनल आर्ट गैलरी, राष्ट्रपति भवन, जंतर मंतर, कनॉट प्लेस, मंडी हाउस, चिडिय़ाघर, पुराना किला, राष्ट्रीय विज्ञान संग्रहालय के नजदीक पर्यटकों की भीड़ रहती है। नेशनल स्टेडियम, विज्ञान भवन, ताल कटोरा स्टेडियम, सुषमा स्वराज सदन और आईटीपीओ में आयोजन समस्या बढ़ाते हैं। विरोध प्रदर्शन, जुलूस, रैलियां, आंदोलन जाम की वजह बनती हैं। ट्रैफिक पुलिस के इंतजाम अलग-अलग प्वाइंट पर ट्रैफिक पुलिसकर्मी की तैनाती। नियम तोड़ने वालों पर कानूनी कार्रवाई। वाहन चालकों में जागरूकता। सड़क के डिजाइन में सुधार। बेहतर तकनीक का इस्तेमाल। ट्रैफिक पुलिस दिल्ली में इंटीग्रेटेड ट्रैफिक मैनेजमेंट सिस्टम (आईटीएमएस) भी लागू करने जा रही है। आईटीएमएस सिस्टम दिल्ली में सिग्नल को सिंक्रोनाइज करेगा, जिससे यातायात के प्रवाह को सुचारू बनाने में मदद मिलेगी। जाम वाली जगहो कारण पता कर उसे हटाने का प्रयास किया जा रहा है। - एचजीएस धालीवाल, विशेष पुलिस आयुक्त, यातायात पुलिस बुनियादी ढांचा होने के बाद भी आवाजाही खराब है तो इसका सीधा मतलब यही है कि जहां जरूरत है, वहां काम नहीं हुआ। सबसे पहले सार्वजनिक परिवहन सेवा मजबूत करनी पड़ेगी। बसों का वेटिंग टाइम कम करना होगा। -डॉ. अनुमिता रॉय चौधरी, कार्यकारी निदेशक, सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट और पर्यावरण यातायात नियमों के प्रति वाहन चालकों को जागरूक होना होगा। जब भी वाहन लेकर सड़कों पर निकलें तो ट्रैफिक एडवाइजरी को जरूर देखना चाहिए, ताकि वाहन चालकों को पहले से पता रहे कि किस मार्ग पर ज्यादा ट्रैफिक होगा और कौन सा मार्ग यातायात के लिए बंद है। -अतुल रणजीत कुमार ट्रांसपोर्ट एक्सपर्ट सियासी किस्से : वर्मा ने विरोधी शर्मा की तारीफ में पढ़े कसीदे वर्ष 1999 का दिलचस्प किस्सा है। बाहरी दिल्ली लोकसभा क्षेत्र से भाजपा के टिकट पर साहिब सिंह वर्मा व कांग्रेस से दीपचंद शर्मा चुनाव लड़ रहे थे। दोनों दिल्ली देहात से आते थे। साहिब सिंह मुंडका गांव से थे, जबकि दीपचंद शर्मा किराड़ी गांव से। चुनाव प्रचार के लिए जब साहिब सिंह अपने विरोधी प्रत्याशी के गांव किराड़ी पहुंचे तो उन्होंने दीपचंद शर्मा पर कतई भी कटाक्ष नहीं किया। इसकी जगह उनकी तारीफ में जमकर कसीदे पढ़े। वर्मा ने शर्मा को देहात का ही नहीं, पूरी दिल्ली का मशहूर नेता बताया। उन्होंने कहा कि शर्मा का पूरी दिल्ली में बहुत सम्मान है। एमसीडी में बहुत काम किया है। विभिन्न पदों पर रहकर दिल्ली की सेवा की है। दिल्लीवाले इन्हें हमेशा याद रखेंगे। हम सब हैरान। समझ में नहीं आया कि साहिब सिंह किसके लिए वोट मांगने आए हैं। थोड़ी देर और तारीफ के बाद साहिब सिंह ने पलटी मारी। वह बोले, लेकिन आज शर्मा की उम्र 75 साल हो गई है। वे बुजुर्ग हो गए हैं। उनके लिए बाहरी दिल्ली के 30 लाख मतदाताओं की जिम्मेदारी उठाने के लिए दौड़ धूप करना मुश्किल है। उन्हें अब राजनीति छोड़ देनी चाहिए। इसकी जगह मुझ जैसे लोगों को आशीर्वाद देना चाहिए। इतना सुनकर सबने ठहाके लगाए। मतगणना के दौरान इसका असर भी दिखा। किराड़ी गांव में उन्हें दीपचंद शर्मा से ज्यादा वोट मिले और दो लाख से ज्यादा मतों से जीत भी हासिल की। (भाजपा नेता व पूर्व पार्षद पुष्पराज से बातचीत आधारित ) यादों में : दिल्ली की महिलाओं की आवाज बनीं तीरथ द्र और दिल्ली सरकार में मंत्री रहीं कृष्णा तीरथ ने दिल्ली में लोकसभा और विधानसभा को मिलाकर कुल 10 चुनाव लड़े। कार्यकर्ताओं के विश्वास और जोश के भरोसे उन्होंने चुनाव जीते। वर्ष 1983 में दिल्ली मेट्रोपोलिटन काउंसिल के चुनाव से अपने राजनीतिक भविष्य की शुरुआत की और 2004 तक दिल्ली विधानसभा की सदस्य रहीं। वर्ष 1998 में शीला दीक्षित के नेतृत्व वाली दिल्ली सरकार में समाज कल्याण, एससी, एसटी, श्रम और रोजगार मंत्री रहीं। दिल्ली विधानसभा उपाध्यक्ष की जिम्मेदारी भी संभाली। 2004 और 2009 के लोकसभा चुनाव जीतकर संसद पहुंचीं। वह उत्तर पश्चिम दिल्ली लोकसभा निर्वाचन क्षेत्र का प्रतिनिधित्व करते हुए मनमोहन सिंह के दूसरे मंत्रिमंडल में महिला एवं बाल विकास मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (स्वतंत्र प्रभार) रहीं। उन्होंने कहा बताया कि 20-25 साल पहले वह घर-घर जाकर चुनाव प्रचार करती थीं। कार्यकर्ताओं के साथ मिलकर वाल पेंटिंग व हाथ से बैनर-पोस्टर भी बनाती थीं। उस समय 4-5 लाख पर्चियां हाथ से ही बनती थीं। घर-घर जाकर झंडे-बिल्ले बांटे जाते थे। हमारी ही तरह बाकी प्रत्याशियों के कार्यकर्ता पोलिंग स्टेशनों पर पर्चियां बांटते थे। बैठकों में क्षेत्र विशेष के बड़े नेताओं को बुलाया जाता था। उत्तराखंड, पूर्वांचल वोटरों के लिए ऐसा होता था। 3-4 विधानसभा क्षेत्र की एकाध पब्लिक बैठक होती थी। इसमें पैसे खर्च नहीं होते थे।

INDIA’S COAL GASIFICATION PLANS: MORE GLITTER THAN GOLD?

The country has abundant reserves of coal to achieve its 100 MT by 2030 gasification target, but issues such as poor quality coal, questions regarding price competitiveness and lack of effective carbon capture and utilisation technologies need to be addressed in order to make it sustainable In recent years, India has embarked on a massive coal gasification push. The reasons for this are simple— India has pledged to combat the climate crisis by “transitioning away” from fossil fuel and reducing its carbon emission intensity. India also intends to achieve the net-zero by 2070. But at the same time, it faces the prospect of leaving its abundant supply of cheap domestic coal unutilised. In such a scenario, India views coal gasification as a viable “cleaner option compared to burning of coal” to reduce the emissions and cut its rising import bills of natural gas and energy fuels like methanol, ethanol, and ammonia. Planning for gasification of coal and lignite has gained momentum over the past decade. Two years ago, in September 2021, the government published its first comprehensive mission document outlining the country’s Coal Gasification Mission. Niti Aayog and the Union coal ministry formed key committees to steer and implement the gasification roadmap. Then in January this year, the Union Cabinet approved the scheme to promote coal/lignite gasification projects in the country. The government announced an outlay of ₹8,500 crore (approx. $1.02 billion) for these projects. This was followed by the coal ministry issuing three draft requests for proposal (RFP) to “solicit feedback from interested Government PSUs and Private Investors” to establish coal gasification plants in India. But there are, however, some significant obstacles to overcome on this path. These include the poor quality of coal found in India to absence of effective technology to store and utilise the carbon (CCUS) emitted during the process. Public and private companies have shown interest in setting up the plants, but expect huge subsidies by the government. This makes gasification a financial challenge. India is looking to use coal gasification for industries such as steel and fertilisers. But a big question will be about competitiveness. Will gasification provide products cheaper than they are already available in the international market? These are some of the critical issues that need to be addressed urgently to make this mission a success. The need and targets In 2017, the then coal secretary Susheel Kumar had claimed that coal gasification will reduce India’s import bill (of natural gas, coking coal and other chemicals like urea, methanol and ammonia etc) by $10 billion in five years. According to the government’s mission document: “With environmental concerns and development of renewable energy, diversification of coal for its sustainable use is inevitable.” The government touts coal gasification plants as “strategically important” assets because “coal prices are non-volatile and domestic coal is abundantly available”. India has set a target of 100 million tonnes (MT) of coal gasification by 2030. However, there is no clarity if this is an annual or cumulative amount of coal to be gasified. The document further says, “Coal gasification is considered a cleaner option compared to burning of coal. Gasification facilitates utilisation of the chemical properties of coal. SynGas produced from Coal gasification can be usable in producing Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG), energy fuel (methanol & ethanol), ammonia for fertilisers and petro-chemicals.” “In line with the mission document, Coal India Limited has signed MOUs with BHEL, GAIL and IOCL to take up coal gasification projects in the country,” the press release by the Ministry of Coal said on July 26, 2023. It further stated, “In order to promote coal gasification, Ministry of Coal has formulated a policy wherein, a provision has been made for 50% rebate in revenue share for all future commercial coal block auctions for the coal used in gasification purpose provided the coal quantity used for gasification is at least 10% of total coal production. Further, a separate auction window under NRS (non- regulated sector) has been created for making coal available for new coal gasification plants.” Union minister for chemical and fertiliser Mansukh Mandaviya announced last year that the country’s first-ever coal gasification-based Talcher Fertiliser plant in Odisha will be ready by October 2024. This will be just one of the many projects in the pipeline when India’s coal gasification becomes a reality. “By utilising new technological interventions like coal gasification in our fertiliser plants and using our own sampada (resources) like coal, India is moving towards self-sufficiency in the Urea sector. With this vision, the Government of India has been reviewing the progress of Talcher unit which will be India’s largest and first coal gasification urea plant,” Mandaviya said, while reviewing the progress of Talcher Plant. Old plan, new initiatives Coal gasification was envisioned under the Integrated Gas Combined Cycle (IGCC) in early 2000. But before that, the fertiliser plant in Sindri gasified coal for fertiliser production in the 1960s. Public sector company BHEL planned a 400 MW coal to gas plant as early as 2006. In December 2022, the then Union coal secretary Amrit Lal Meena and Coal India Limited (CIL) Chairman Pramod Agrawal visited Jindal Steel’s (JSPL) facility in Angul, Odisha, which the company claimed to be the “world’s largest gasification plant.” “JSPL, in its Angul plant, is operating a gas-based Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) plant by domestic coal. Talcher Fertilizer Limited (TFL) is also going ahead with mixing pet coke in high ash domestic non coking coal for urea production,” the coal ministry’s mission paper stated. Proponents say a successful coal gasification mission can be beneficial for India on two fronts. First, as mentioned earlier, the import of natural gas, coking coal and chemicals will be significantly reduced and second, it may help in controlling carbon emissions and air pollution. According to the government’s own data, in FY 2022-23, India imported around 56 MT of coking coal, which was almost 23.5% of total imported coal. It cost the exchequer more than $19.2 million. Similarly, around 50% of natural gas is imported by India. Parth Kumar, programme manager at Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi, says “Syngas produced through gasification of domestic coal can help reduce the dependence of blast furnace technology on coking coal and the direct reduced iron technology on natural gas, which are the two major iron-making technology routes in India, currently dependent on these imported fuels. It further leverages the advantage of being a cleaner technology in terms of air pollution, compared to traditional processes of burning coal directly, therefore improving regional air quality.” The mission paper of the government also clearly stated that “syngas can be made available for steel making through the Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) route and increase in usage of Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) and Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) will also help towards reduction of import bill for furnace oil.” India also imports over 90% of its ethanol consumption and roughly around 15% of ammonia. Ammonia or methanol is produced during the process of coal gasification. Ammonia is used in agriculture (to produce fertilisers) and other sectors like leather, refrigeration and pharmaceuticals, whereas ethanol and methanol are used in fuel as well as in the paint industry. Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has been advocating for production of methanol from gasification of coal. He asked Niti Aayog to study the automobile specifications that China has developed for running its vehicles on ethanol. The question to be asked here is how competitive will the products from coal gasification be? This is an open question with few answers. Coal gasification comes with added costs that include capital expenditure for the infrastructure needed for gasification and carbon capture as well as the costs of energy required for both processes. These are likely to be passed down to the consumers. However, optimum use of resources and creation of value chains that feed into other industries could make these products more competitive. For example, captured carbon/CO2 can be fed into the cement industry or the fertiliser industry in the case of ammonia, which is a by-product of gasification. Its success would also depend on how low-carbon technology is incentivised (or conventional steel is dis-incentivised) through the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), since steel is a targeted industry for the scheme.

Ten NGOs Championing the Cause of India’s Forest Cover on World Forestry Day 2024

World Forestry Day, observed annually on March 21st, serves as a global platform to raise awareness about the importance of forests and trees in sustaining life on Earth. First established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1971, this day provides an opportunity to celebrate the invaluable contributions of forests to biodiversity, climate regulation, water conservation, and human well-being. It also highlights the urgent need to address deforestation, degradation, and other threats facing forest ecosystems worldwide. World Forestry Day underscores the interconnectedness between forests, people, and the planet, emphasizing the imperative for collective action to protect and manage our forest resources sustainably. For India, a country endowed with rich biodiversity and diverse forest landscapes, this day holds particular significance, as it recognizes the vital role of forests in supporting millions of livelihoods and preserving ecological balance. As we commemorate World Forestry Day, it’s imperative to recognize the critical role that forests play in sustaining life on our planet. In India, where forests are not only rich in biodiversity but also crucial for millions of livelihoods, the conservation and expansion of forest cover are of paramount importance. Fortunately, numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have taken up the mantle to safeguard and enhance India’s forest resources. Here are ten NGOs at the forefront of this noble endeavour: Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) Founded in 1998, WTI has been tirelessly working towards the conservation of India’s wildlife and forests. With a multifaceted approach that includes habitat conservation, anti-poaching efforts, and community engagement, WTI has made significant strides in safeguarding India’s forests. Their projects often focus on creating wildlife corridors, reforestation initiatives, and mitigating human-wildlife conflicts. Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) FES operates with the belief that local communities are the custodians of their natural resources. Through participatory approaches, FES works closely with rural communities to restore and manage degraded lands, including forests. Their emphasis on community-led forest governance has led to the revival of numerous degraded forest areas across India, ensuring sustainable resource management and livelihood opportunities for local populations. Greenpeace India Greenpeace is renowned worldwide for its environmental advocacy, and its Indian chapter is no exception. In the realm of forestry, Greenpeace India has been instrumental in campaigning against deforestation, illegal logging, and promoting forest conservation policies. Through research, advocacy, and grassroots mobilization, they strive to hold governments and corporations accountable for their actions impacting India’s forests. Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) CSE’s approach to forestry revolves around promoting policies and practices that reconcile environmental conservation with developmental imperatives. Their work encompasses issues such as forest governance, biodiversity conservation, and climate change adaptation. CSE’s research and advocacy efforts have been instrumental in shaping India’s forest-related policies and fostering public awareness on the importance of forests. The Nature Conservancy India Leveraging its global expertise in conservation, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) collaborates with local stakeholders to protect and restore India’s forests and biodiversity. TNC employs science-based approaches to identify priority conservation areas, implement restoration projects, and engage communities in sustainable land-use practices. Their holistic approach considers both ecological and socio-economic dimensions, aiming for lasting conservation outcomes. Vanashakti Operating primarily in the Western Ghats region, Vanashakti focuses on protecting and restoring forest ecosystems, particularly in ecologically sensitive areas. Their initiatives range from advocating for the declaration of protected areas to conducting tree plantation drives and biodiversity surveys. Vanashakti also actively engages with local communities to promote ecotourism and sustainable livelihood alternatives, thereby fostering a symbiotic relationship between people and forests. Aranyak Foundation Aranyak Foundation focuses on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in Northeast India. With a particular emphasis on the Eastern Himalayas, Aranyak works on habitat restoration, wildlife protection, and community-based natural resource management. Their initiatives aim to conserve critical forest ecosystems while promoting the socio-economic well-being of indigenous communities. Sankalp Taru Foundation Sankalp Taru Foundation specializes in large-scale afforestation and reforestation projects across India. Through innovative techniques such as aerial seed bombing and community-driven tree planting campaigns, Sankalp Taru aims to restore degraded landscapes, combat desertification, and mitigate climate change impacts. Their efforts have led to the establishment of numerous green corridors and carbon sinks. Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) BNHS is one of India’s oldest and most respected organizations dedicated to the study and conservation of nature. In addition to its research activities, BNHS undertakes various conservation projects aimed at protecting India’s biodiversity hotspots, including forests. Their work involves habitat restoration, species conservation, and environmental education to promote greater awareness and appreciation for India’s natural heritage. Kalpavriksh Kalpavriksh, meaning “Tree of Life,” is an environmental action group that focuses on biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and environmental justice. In the context of forests, Kalpavriksh advocates for the protection of natural habitats, indigenous rights, and community-based forest management. Their initiatives often involve research, policy analysis, and grassroots activism to address issues such as deforestation, land degradation, and forest-dependent livelihoods. Kalpavriksh’s work emphasizes the holistic relationship between humans and nature, striving for equitable and ecologically sustainable solutions to forest conservation challenges in India. As we reflect on the significance of forests for the well-being of present and future generations, it’s heartening to see these NGOs leading the charge in safeguarding India’s forest cover. Their dedication, innovation, and collaborative efforts offer hope for a greener, more sustainable future where forests thrive, biodiversity flourishes, and communities prosper in harmony with nature. Let us celebrate and support their invaluable contributions to India’s environmental heritage.

Climate Change Directorate Issues Call For Media Fellowship

In continuation of its media promotional program on State-level Media Fellowship on Climate Change Reporting, the State’s Directorate of Environment and Climate Change has issued a fresh call for the year 2024-2025 from interested journalists based in the State. The fellowship program, initiated in 2019, is broadly aimed at promoting interests in local journalists on climate-related issues in Manipur with a larger perspective on national and global concerns. Each year beginning 2019, the Directorate awards ten fellowships to local journalists working in both print and electronic media, either based in the plains or in the uplands, with the urge to cover all possible aspects of climate-related issues on water, health, agriculture, food and other aspects. The call, open up to the 31st March, is open to local journalists interested and willing to report on three sub-themes, namely, climate and health, climate and agriculture, and climate and water. The fellowship is open in four categories, namely, open category for print media reporter; open category for electronic media reporter; woman journalist category for print media reporter; and hill journalist category for print media reporter. Journalists with minimum one year of reporting experience can apply for the fellowship carrying a consolidated amount of INR 50,000. Applications have to accompany by a letter of endorsement from the editor concerned and addressed to the Director, Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Manipur, and will be screened by a panel of experts. The larger opportunity for the fellowship program is exposure to subnational and national-level knowledge exchange programs and capacity-building exercises with experts from the Indian Institute of Sciences (Bengaluru), Centre for Science and Environment (Delhi) and other reputed institutes. In the long-term design of the program, excelling reporters will have the opportunity to attend national and global conferences on climate change. The impact of the fellowship program has seen many of the fellows, including relevant expert members in the panel under the Directorate’s Media Resource Center of the State Climate Change Cell, attending national and international programs on climate-related issues. The program, too, has been much appreciated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India and other national institutes for pioneering work in the subject matter which is of global concern today.

जानिए इन मशहूर Indian Women Environmentalists के बारे में

आज ढेरों समस्या एं हैं जो कि पर्यावरण को नुकसा न पहुंचा ती हैं।हैं इंसा न को पर्यावरण का ध्या न रखना आवश्यक है नहीं तो पृथ्वी प कुछ ऐसे लो ग भी हैं जो पर्यावरण को लेकर बहुत जा गरुक हैं और उसके बा रे में जा गरूकता फैला ते हैं। Know About These Famous Indian Woman Environmentalists: दुनिदुनिया के फ्लोरा एंड फौ ना कु एक हैं।हैं परंतुरं तुआज ढेरों समस्या एं हैं जो कि पर्या वरण को नुकसा न पहुंचा ती हैं।हैं बदलते हुए जमा ने के सा थ इंसा न को प रखना आवश्यक है, है नहीं तो पृथ्वी पर जी वन संभव नहीं । पर कुछ ऐसे लो ग भी हैं जो पर्या वरण को लेकर बहुत जा गरु जा गरूकता फैला ते हैं।हैं ऐसे एक्टि वि स्ट अपनी जिं दगी का यह मि शन बना लेते हैं कि वह इस प्रकृति के लि ए आवा ज़ उ जा नि ए ऐसी ही कुछ महि ला ओं 3. सुनी ता ना रा यण सुनी ता ना रा यण भा रत की मो स्ट प्रॉ मि नेंट एनवा यरमेंटल एक्टि वि स्ट में से एक हैं।हैं वह भा रत के एनवा यरनमेंट के बा रे में जा गरूकता फैला रही हैं।हैं वह

North and east India most polluted in winter, finds CSE study

The Centre for Science and Environment’s (CSE) review of winter air quality revealed that Delhi and Chandigarh were the most polluted Union Territories / states in the country, recording PM2.5 levels of 188 microgram per cubic metre and 100.9 µg / m³, respectively. Karnataka has cleaner air with a winter average of 32 µg / m³. The conclusive report for the 2023-24 winter season revealed a stark reality—north and east India remained the most polluted regions. North India experienced a significant deterioration in air quality compared to the previous winter, while east India showed signs of improvement. South India maintained its top position with the lowest PM2.5 levels. Smaller cities in Bihar (Begusarai) and Rajasthan (Hanumangarh) emerged as pollution hotspots, rivaling major metropolitan areas like Delhi. As winter settled in, the resurgence of toxic air pollution started earlier than usual and was exacerbated by meteorological factors such as low rainfall in September-October and sluggish winds throughout the season. Goa pollution control board asks tyre producers to register tyres to prevent pollution from burning The Goa state pollution control board (GSPCB) directed all producers, recyclers and retreaders dealing with tyres to register their units in a bid to prevent tyre waste fouling up the environment. GSPCB issued a notice last week informing the units that they have to obtain consent to operate from the board under Section 25/26 of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution), Act 1974 and under Section 21 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The ministry of environment, forest and climate change had notified hazardous and other wastes (management and transboundary movement) amendment rules 2022 in a notification dated July 21, 2022 for extended producer responsibility for waste tyre, the notice stated. 2 Rajasthan thermal power plants put on pollution notice The Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) issued a show-cause notice against state-owned Chhabra Thermal Power Station (CTPS) in Baran district, a month after a penalty was imposed on Kalisindh Thermal Power Plant (KTPS) in Jhalawar district. As per ‘polluter pay principle’, RSPCB has estimated that an environmental compensation of ₹2.01 crore is to be levied on CTPS. After a site inspection of the power station, an RSPCB team reported that the unit egregiously failed to adhere to the provisions of the Water Act, 1974; Air Act, 1981; Environmental Protection Act, 1986; and the EIA Notification of 2006, which are viewed with utmost seriousness by the board, TOI reported. The notice claimed the power plant has not been complying with the zero liquid discharge condition. Also, fly ash deposition on the top of silo is showing the inadequacy of the installed pollution control measures. No proper arrangement for arresting fugitive emissions from fly ash handling and storage at ash dyke was provided. Fly ash and coal mixed water is being discharged in natural drains and ultimately mixed in River Parvati, according to the notice. Bangladesh, Pakistan and India top three most polluted country globally in 2023: Study A new global report by IQAir—a Swiss air quality technology company— found that in 2023, India stood as the third most polluted nation globally, recording an average population-weighted fine particulate matter (PM) 2.5 concentration of 54.4 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3). The sixth edition of the report analysed PM2.5 air quality data from 7,812 cities spanning 134 countries, regions and territories. India’s PM 2.5 concentration value exceeds the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guideline value of 5 μg/m3 by over 10 times. Begusarai, in Bihar, India, was the most polluted metropolitan area globally in 2023, with a PM 2.5 value of 118.9 µg/m3, followed by Guwahati in northeast India with 105.4 µg/m3, and then New Delhi. Bangladesh leads the list at 79.9 μg/m3, followed by Pakistan with 73.7 μg/m3, DTE reported. The report notably stated that Africa remains significantly underrepresented, with one-third of its population lacking access to air quality data. Better air quality linked to reduced suicide rates: Study According to a University of California study conducted in China, cleaner air may be associated with reduced suicide rates. The study estimated that China’s efforts to reduce air pollution have prevented 46,000 suicide deaths in the country over just five years. Earlier, the same researchers had studied the effect of temperature on suicide rates in India, finding that excessive heat drives rates up. ET reported that the researchers were curious to notice that the suicide rate in China dropped faster than the global rate. In 2000, the country’s per-capita suicide rate was higher than the global average, but two decades later, it has fallen below that average, which itself is declining, the researchers said. At the same time, air pollution levels were plummeting, they said.

Delhi back as world’s most polluted capital

New Delhi named most polluted capital in 2023 with PM2.5 levels 20 times safe standard; India third most polluted country, 42 of top 50 cities are Indian. New Delhi gained the notorious distinction of being labelled the most polluted capital city in the world in the year 2023, as residents breathed air that is nearly 20 times the international safe standard, according to data from Swiss firm IQAir revealed on Tuesday, which also ranked India as the world’s third most polluted country. With an annual population-weighted PM2.5 of 92.7µg/m3, New Delhi edged out Dhaka (80.2 µg/m3) to become the world’s most polluted national capital. Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou, with a population-weighted PM2.5 of 46.6µg/m3, was a distant third on the list. Of the 50 most polluted cities in the world, 42 were Indian — up from 39 in 2022, with Begusarai (118.9µg/m3) in Bihar occupying the top spot, followed by Guwahati (105.4µg/m3). The larger Union territory of Delhi recorded an average PM2.5 concentration of 102.1µg/m3 in 2023 making it the third most polluted city globally. The smaller capital of New Delhi was on the sixth spot globally. Across the National Capital Region (NCR), Delhi was followed by Greater Noida (88.6µg/m3) as the most polluted, ranking 11th in the list of the world’s most polluted cities. Gurugram (84µg/m3) was next at 17th. In 2022, after Delhi, Ghaziabad was the most impacted (88.6). The findings were part of the World Air Quality Report 2023 and are concurrent with the annual spectre of air pollution that engulfs the National Capital Region around Diwali every year and extends well into the winter. Of late, the residents of India’s capital are not even spared the onslaught of pollution even in the thick of winter. In the 2022 iteration of the report, New Delhi ranked as the second most polluted capital in the world behind Chad’s N’Djamena (89.7µg/m3). In 2021, it was again the most polluted capital city in the world with an annual average of 85µg/m3, ahead of Dhaka (78.1µg/m3). “PM2.5 levels in the National Capital Territory, Delhi, rose by 10% in 2023, with levels peaking in November which saw a monthly average of 255 µg/m3,” the report said. To be sure, some regions, including Chad, were dropped from the list due to lack of sufficient data. Delhi usually goes through three fortnights where the AQI is routinely in the severe zone: The first half of November, the second half of December, and then mid-January. During the first phase, the toxicity is fuelled largely by smoke from farm stubble fires in Punjab. The second and third phases are, however, down largely to local sources of pollution like vehicular and industrial emissions, which are in turn worsened by nearly still winds and dipping temperatures. According to IQAir’s report, vehicle emissions are responsible for 40% of PM2.5 emissions in the city. The report looked at data from more than 30,000 air quality monitoring stations across 7,812 locations in 134 countries, territories, and regions and tracked PM2.5 concentrations – fine particulate aerosol particles measuring up to 2.5 microgrammes per cubic metre – to understand the exposure to the people living in the specific area and determine a population-weighted exposure level. Over the last decade, both the central and state governments have introduced measures to help combat the pollution. In 2016, the Centre approved the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) for Delhi-NCR — a series of emergency-level measures that are enforced every winter, based on the prevailing air quality. In 2021, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for NCR was constituted to enforce measures and bring down pollution in Delhi. Exposure to PM2.5 air pollution can exacerbate numerous health conditions, including but not limited to asthma, cancer, stroke, and lung disease. It can also lead to impairment of cognitive development in children, and complication in existing illnesses including diabetes. The report noted that northern India and Delhi struggle with smoke from crop burning, vehicle emissions, coal burning, waste burning, and biomass burning for heat and cooking. “Annual crop burning in northern India and neighbouring Pakistan regularly results in Delhi experiencing emergency-level air quality days,” it said. Mullanpur (100.4µg/m3) in Punjab and Lahore in Pakistan (99.5µg/m3) ranked number four and five, respectively. India’s annual PM 2.5 was 54.4µg/m3 — behind only Pakistan (73.7µg/m3) and Bangladesh (79.9µg/m3), the report said. In 2022, when the country ranked 8th in the list of most polluted countries, India’s annual PM 2.5 average was 53.3µg/m3. Chad (89.7 µg/m3) was the most polluted country in 2022, followed by Iraq (80.1µg/m3) and Pakistan (70.9 µg/m3). The other countries ahead of India were Bahrain, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso and Kuwait. In the latest report, while Chad is missing due to lack of air quality data, Iraq, Bahrain, Burkina Faso and Kuwait have shown an improvement. There were nine new entrants in the top 50 most polluted cities list, on account of data being available for the first time in 2023. These included eight Indian cities: Goshaingaon in Assam (ranked 9), Samastipur in Bihar (15), Hanumangarh in Rajasthan (23), Bandhwari in Haryana (32), Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh (33), Mushalpur in Assam (45), Dhaulpur in Rajasthan (49) and Ganganagar in Rajasthan (50). Experts said that the high number of Indian cities featuring in the most polluted list indicated that pollution levels across the country were high. “This shows that we possibly have high pollution across the country, but don’t have adequate ambient air quality stations spread so far. Begusarai, which has been ranked as the world’s most polluted city, also is a hub of fossil-fuel based industries. This shows the possible impact such industries can have on the air,” said Avinash Chanchal, campaigner at Greenpeace India. The only city from southern India that found a mention on the list was Vayushaktinagar in Hyderabad, ranked 60 among the most polluted Indian cities. In 2022, Lahore in Pakistan (97.4), Hotan in China (94.3) and Bhiwadi in Rajasthan (92.7) were the world’s most polluted cities, with Delhi ranking fourth overall (92.6). Interestingly, in the 2023 rankings, Bhiwadi is down to 31 rank overall, recording an average concentration of 77.1. The report said only seven — Australia, Estonia, Finland, Grenada, Iceland, Mauritius, and New Zealand — out of the 134 countries analysed were able to meet the World Health Organization (WHO) annual PM 2.5 average of 5µg/m3 or less. “IQAir’s annual report illustrates the international nature and inequitable consequences of the enduring air pollution crisis. Local, national, and international effort is urgently needed to monitor air quality in under-resourced places, manage the causes of transboundary haze, and cut our reliance on combustion as an energy source,” said Aidan Farrow, senior air quality scientist, Greenpeace International. “In 2023, air pollution remained a global health catastrophe. IQAir’s global data set provides an important reminder of the resulting injustices and the need to implement the many solutions that exist to this problem,” he added. According to the report, India’s overall PM 2.5 concentration was 10 times higher than the WHO permissible limit, putting nearly 1.36 billion people at risk of health hazards. “Furthermore, 1.33 billion, or 96% of the population, experience PM2.5 levels more than seven times the WHO annual PM2.5 guideline,” the report said. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said the latest rankings once again highlight how air quality continues to remain challenging in rapidly motorising and urbanising Indian cities. “To fix this, we need transformative multisector action across all regions under the National Clean Air Programme for time bound reduction in pollution levels. While most global rankings happen based on the PM2.5 concentration, our NCAP programme is solely focused on evaluating performance of cities based on PM10 which diverts attention and resources towards dust control. This also shows that we need stronger strategies for controlling more harmful finer fraction of PM2.5 that comes largely from combustion sources,” she said.

Telangana Hyderabad sees significant improvement in Winter Air Quality

The winter air quality in hyderabad has changed significantly, according to the independent think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The study, which covers the months of october 1, 2023, and january 31, 2024, provides important information about the pollution levels in the city, with a special emphasis on PM2.5 concentrations. Hyderabad's wintertime PM2.5 levels were much lower than they were the year before, according to the CSE's data. Hyderabad's average wintertime PM2.5 concentration was 43.6 µg/m³, a 7% drop from the previous wintertime average. Furthermore, Hyderabad's winter peak PM2.5 level was reported at 99 µg/m³, demonstrating a significant decrease and a 35 percent drop from the winter peak the year before. Although hyderabad has made significant strides in reducing wintertime pollution, the CSE research also provides insight into South India's overall air quality situation. Gummidipoondi in tamil Nadu was found to be the most polluted city in South india in terms of PM2.5 levels during the winter season, out of 46 cities in the area having real-time monitoring and enough data for study of the winter air quality. Gummidipoondi recorded a worrying amount of pollution in the winter, with a high PM2.5 level of 191 µg/m³. The average winter PM2.5 level was 83.4 µg/m³. With an average winter PM2.5 level of 73.3 µg/m³ and a high of 156 µg/m³, Visakhapatnam in andhra pradesh rated as the second most polluted city in the area, closely behind Gummidipoondi.

Hyderabad sees significant improvement in winter air quality

Hyderabad has experienced a notable shift in its winter air quality, as revealed by the independent think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The report, covering the period between October 1, 2023, and January 31, 2024, highlights crucial insights into the city’s pollution levels, particularly focusing on PM2.5 concentrations. According to the CSE’s findings, Hyderabad saw a significant improvement in its winter PM2.5 levels compared to the previous year. The average winter PM2.5 level for Hyderabad stood at 43.6 µg/m³, which represents a decrease of 7 per cent compared to the previous winter period. Additionally, the winter peak PM2.5 level in Hyderabad was recorded at 99 µg/m³, showcasing a substantial decline and indicating a 35 per cent reduction compared to the previous winter’s peak.

Green Credit Scheme’s ‘methodology’ doesn’t inspire confidence among experts

India’s environment ministry released the methodology for generating green credits from tree planting. Experts raised concerns about the environmental soundness of the scheme, as well as possible regulatory gaps that the methodology doesn’t address. The tree planting methodology includes fewer details compared to its draft version and leaves out important information about plant survival and tenure of project. On February 22, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MOEFCC) released a detailed methodology for a component of its Green Credit Programme, effectively enabling the trade of environmental benefits arising from tree planting. The Union government calls the programme an “innovative market-based mechanism designed to incentivise voluntary environmental actions across diverse sectors.” But environmentalists and policy experts are wary about the extent to which market forces can support conservation and sustainability goals. The fine print of the scheme says the objective is to “encourage industries, companies and other entities to meet their existing obligations,” under current compliance laws, while also encouraging “other persons and entities” to participate voluntarily. The methodology, issued in February, encourages large-scale tree planting on open forests and scrub lands, among other land types, to generate credits. These credits can be bought to meet obligations under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG). They can also be exchanged to meet compensatory afforestation requirements under the Forest (Conservation) Act, which makes it mandatory for project developers to raise plantations at an alternate site for cutting down trees on forest land. Launched in October 2023, the Green Credit Programme aims to create tradable credits from a range of activities, such as reducing air pollution and incorporating sustainable infrastructure. The Ministry had sped up the process of officiating the scheme by cutting down the window for civil society and others to submit their objections and suggestions to the scheme. “The Green Credit Programme is trying to do some pioneering work on inter-sector fungibility, and to build a national market in which there is fungibility in green actions. This is important because what we’re trying to do is create equivalence and deliver the same value to various actors,” said Swapan Mehra, founder and CEO of IORA Ecological solutions, an environmental consultancy firm that helped design and conceptualise the Green Credit Programme. “With tree planting, even if initially it is linked to forest department lands and regulations like CSR, the long-term goal is to incentivise these contributions voluntarily, so that entities want to contribute towards sustainability,” he added. A new Green Credit website set up by the government says there are already 267 “registered plantation blocks”, amounting to over 17,000 hectares of land available for tree planting, as on March 18. The government has plans of showcasing its leadership with the Green Credit Programme on an international stage, with the Global Green Credit Initiative. However, the initiative has raised several concerns domestically. Experts Mongabay India spoke to raised concerns about the environmental soundness of the scheme, as well as possible regulatory gaps that the tree planting methodology doesn’t directly address. Departure from draft guidelines The final methodology to generate green credits through tree planting departs significantly from its draft version, which included more details about how the scheme would operate. According to the final methodology, forest and state departments will identify and “make available” degraded land, open forests, scrub lands, wastelands and catchment areas for large-scale tree plantations. Each tree planted on such land generates one credit and the minimum area of land eligible under the scheme is five hectares. Participants must pay the forest department to raise the plantations and credits will be issued by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) after the plantations are evaluated. The methodology does not describe the criteria that the plantations will need to meet in order to secure approval, only that it must hold 1100 trees per hectare of land, which some ecologists have said may exacerbate degradation. Mehra agreed the stipulation on density of saplings per hectare could be less stringent. “The number of saplings per location should be allowed to be slightly flexible, because in some cases, putting 1100 per hectare might be difficult for certain types of species and land types.” The final methodology leaves out several details that were incorporated in the original draft, which laid an emphasis on contributions of individuals, co-operatives and small land-holding farmers. The draft had proposed the credits be issued progressively over 10 years, depending on the survivability of the plants as well as evidence of their maturation. It also suggested the minimum number of trees planted per hectare be 100, and the maximum 1000. The draft methodology even considered issuing credits on a gradient across different rainfall zones, with a list of appropriate forestry and horticulture species that can be planted. None of these details, however, made it to the final version. “The methodology uses a tree-for-tree approach without considering the cultural importance or ecosystem services provided by forests and land,” said Meenakshi Kapoor, an independent environmental researcher who closely tracks changes to India’s environmental norms. The newly launched Green Credit website says the credits will be issued within two years of the forest department completing the plantation – a detail that doesn’t find mention in the final notified methodology. “How will these plantations survive in the long term? The methodology doesn’t address this,” Kapoor added. Large-scale plantation programmes, managed by state forest departments, have been marred by poor monitoring and compliance. An investigation into state afforestation programmes by news website Scroll found that several plantations existed only on paper. A 2013 report by the Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) also noted serious discrepancies in compensatory afforestation efforts by states. In a letter issued on March 19, a group of 91 retired civil servants wrote to the MOEFCC calling the scheme “unscientific.” “Compensatory afforestation plantations already undertaken in our country are known to have dubious success rates. At any rate, the government also has huge unspent funds for such afforestation programmes and does not need further investment from any private agency. It would be a much better plan to merely protect and restore these degraded lands to their original condition,” the civil servants wrote in their letter, shared with the media. Links to the carbon market The Green Credit Programme will run parallel to the domestic carbon market, but the rules suggest that some activities can be shared by both green credits and carbon credits. Since activities generating green credits “may have climate co-benefits…an activity generating green credit under Green Credit programme may also get carbon credit from the same activity,” the rules say. Experts say that the Green Credit Programme’s intended linkages with India’s upcoming carbon market, as well as its applicability to compensatory afforestation requirements, could prove to be tenuous without rigorous regulations. The objective of India’s domestic carbon market is to reduce carbon emissions from key sectors. Trees and forests have a potential role to play by acting as carbon sinks that absorb and store carbon. “Without proper regulation, it could turn into a problem of additionality in the carbon market,” Trishant Dev, programme officer of climate change at the Centre for Science and Environment and co-author of the report Discredited, which investigated the operations of the international voluntary carbon market in the country, told Mongabay India. In carbon markets, “additionality” refers to the assurance that emissions reductions, achieved through the sale of carbon credits, would not have happened without financial support from those credits. “If an activity has already been compensated for through the exchange of green credits, the question then is, how can the same activity be compensated for by another entity in exchange for carbon credits? It would be a violation of the principle of additionality,” Dev explained. Mehra says the Green Credit Scheme doesn’t support double counting, but encourages “double claiming,” as a way of enhancing the monetary value of planting trees, particularly for small land-holders who have not had access to the carbon market due to high transaction costs. “Double claiming is when you can claim multiple forms of payment for different services rendered by the same asset. This is different from double counting, where the same commodity is sold twice,” he said, adding, “There cannot be double counting because the Green Credit Programme doesn’t monetise carbon. On additionality, existing carbon market standards require that the project not be part of any other markets, in which case the landowner can see which, carbon credits or green credits, gives them higher value. The cash flows of a project will also reveal how much was funded by the green credit programme, and if it exceeds the threshold of the requirements in the carbon market, it can be deemed non-additional.” Mehra believes that as the programme evolves, a distinction will emerge between green credits generated on forest department land and community-owned land, with differing implications on additionality. The methodology for tree planting also says green credits generated “may be exchanged for meeting the compliance of the compensatory afforestation,” under the Forest (Conservation) Act. In 2022, the rules for compensatory afforestation were altered to allow private entities and individuals to raise plantations and sell them to project developers looking to compensate for the forest-loss caused by their projects. These plantations would need to be at least five years old, spread across 10 hectares or more, with a canopy density of 40%. The green credit methodology doesn’t suggest how this will be rationalised with its own stipulation of selling credits two years after the plantation is established. “The methods don’t talk about who will bear the risk if the plantations fail. If a credit is being issued, how can it be taken back? The methodology needs to make the question of who will bear risk clear.” said Dev. “Operating both a carbon market, and a green credit market will require a sophisticated regulatory set-up. For instance, maintaining registries and then also ensuring that there is some interoperability between them, so there’s no duplication,” he added. Pressure on ‘wastelands’ Ecologists have long questioned the rationale of raising plantations on degraded land and other open landscapes. In a recent op-ed about the green credit programme, ecologists Anuja Malhotra and Abi T. Vanak, with Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, wrote the biogeography of the land should be taken into consideration when planning plantations.

Air in NCR cities worse compared to 2022, shows global air quality report

Air quality worsened across major cities of the National Capital Region (NCR) in 2023 compared to 2022, with only Ghaziabad recording an improvement in its annual PM 2.5 concentration, the latest ‘World Air Quality Report 2023’ released on Tuesday, showed. The report, released annually by the Swiss firm IQAir, showed that Delhi, with an average PM 2.5 concentration of 102.1µg/m3, was the third most polluted city in the world and the worst in NCR. The annual PM 2.5 concentration has increased by 10.1 percent in Delhi – up from 92.7µg/m3 in 2022 “PM 2.5 levels in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, rose by around 10% in 2023, with levels peaking in November which saw a monthly average of 255 µg/m3. Northern India and Delhi struggle with smoke from crop burning, vehicle emissions, coal burning, waste burning and biomass burning for heat and cooking. Annual crop burning in northern India and neighbouring Pakistan regularly results in Delhi experiencing emergency-level air quality days,” said the report, adding that vehicular emissions were responsible for nearly 40% of PM 2.5 emissions in Delhi. Greater Noida ranked the second most polluted in NCR and the 11th most polluted city overall in the world, recording an average PM 2.5 concentration of 88.6µg/m3 in 2023. This was 6.5 percent higher than 2022’s levels of 83.2µg/m3. Among the other major NCR towns, Gurugram ranked third overall and 17th worldwide, followed by Faridabad (25th rank), Noida (26th rank) and Ghaziabad (35th rank overall). These towns recorded annual PM 2.5 levels of 84, 79.9, 79.8 and 76.1µg/m3 respectively, the report said. Among these, Gurugram recorded the highest increase – by 20 percent, increasing from 70µg/m3 in 2022 to 84µg/m3. Faridabad increased by 0.2% -- increasing from 79.7 to 79.9 and Noida was up by 1.4% -- from 78.7 to 79.8. Ghaziabad was the only exception in the list – with its overall rank down from the 11th most polluted city in the world in 2022, to 35th overall in 2023. The PM 2.5 concentration dipped there by 14.1% -- from 88.6µg/m3 in 2022, to 76.1µg/m3 in 2023. Experts say it is difficult to pinpoint why Ghaziabad has recorded such an improvement in NCR, but said overall improvements in the region were largely being linked to a phaseout of coal in industries. “Last year, coal was banned as a source of fuel in industries in NCR. Ghaziabad in UP and Bhiwadi in Rajasthan, which are industrial clusters, have both shown improvements in 2023 as compared to 2022, which could mean that industries are switching from coal to PNG. Overall, we had a very peculiar winter though, with meteorology and calm winds playing an important role in 2023. Local meteorology could have also impacted some locations negatively and others, positively,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). NCR is amongst the most polluted regions in the world and has been the centre of action against air pollution in the country. In 2016, the Centre approved the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) -- a series of emergency-level measures to combat air pollution in NCR, which come into effect at a certain air quality threshold.

From sun to plate: India yet to embrace solar cooking benefits

Majority of Indians rely on biomass or Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for cooking meals, which adds to India’s emission burden. Solar cooking could be a viable alternative. Currently, India does not have subsidies or incentives to promote domestic or community solar cooking. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy attributes the lack of subsidies to the absence of commercial models, while entrepreneurs in the field say an initial push with subsidies would lead to scale, market acceptance and further innovation. For the past four years, at 9 a.m. every day, Reva Malik heads to the terrace of her independent house in Bengaluru. She sets up a solar cooker and places dishes in trays for a three-course meal. Unlike conventional cooking, she does not have to stir the veggies or add spices at intervals. Judging by the sunshine, Malik sets a timer and returns to other chores for the day. An hour and a half later, brunch for her family is ready. Malik, who runs a consulting firm, started solar-based cooking four years ago, using her parents’ solar cooker, which had been unused for decades. The transition from LPG gas cylinders to solar-powered cooking equipment has not only reduced the family’s carbon footprint but also provided financial benefits. The solar cooker is a one-time investment of Rs. 18,000. Before shifting to solar, her family used at least six cylinders annually. But over the past four years they have not purchased a cylinder and she estimates savings of at least Rs. 28,000 on gas cylinders. The transition to solar also necessitated a shift in her cooking style. The solar cooker is not ideal for making chapatis or deep-frying vegetables. “We happily changed our eating habits. Instead of chapati, we consume wheat in other forms such as dalia (a cereal dish from cracked wheat) or littis (wheat flour dough ball) that can be cooked in the solar cooker,” she said. Despite its advantages, solar cooking has some limitations, such as longer cooking time and the need to cook outdoors in the sun. To overcome these challenges, Saswat Sourav Panda, a resident of Puri, Odisha, integrated three solar-based cooking systems at his house for different cooking processes. A solar box cooking system is used for slow cooking, a parabolic concentrator for heavy cooking and a solar glass tube-based system for cooking even without sunlight. With a total investment of Rs. 31,000, Panda reduced his annual consumption of gas cylinders from twelve to four. “Once I started to appreciate the enhanced natural taste due to slow cooking in solar, we switched entirely. What kept my family committed to solar cooking were the cost savings and the safety,” he told Mongabay India, emphasising his family’s dedication to using low-emission technology. A push for solar cooking in the 80s India’s Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES) promoted solar box cooking in the early 1980s with a subsidy of 30%, which was later reduced to 15%. The subsidy for box cooking, which continued until 1994, resulted in the sale of 3.4 lakh (340,000) solar cookers in India in that period of 12 years, according to Solar Cookers International, a U.S.-based non-profit. The government stopped subsidies for solar cookers in 1994 but continued with grants to the state Renewable Energy Agencies to cover the cost of education and publicity about solar cookers. While the subsidies to encourage solar cooking emerged from the global oil crisis in the ’80s, as the oil crisis subsided, so did the country’s traction for solar cooking. “That’s why it took more than two decades for the Indian industry to domestically develop products like parabolic cookers which drastically reduced cooking time compared to box cookers,” said Vivek Kabra, founder of Simplified Technologies for Life (STFL), a startup that designs solar appliances. An imported parabolic solar cooker, SK-14 Parabolic dish, manufactured internationally, did come to the market in the 1990s, costing Rs. 11,500. It reduced the cooking time but it did not solve the problem of cooking outdoors. “The rich who could afford to buy solar cooking equipment were hesitant to go outdoors (to cook) and the poor who were willing to cook in the sun could not afford the equipment,” said Deepak Gadhia, Chairman of Sunrise CSP India Pvt. Ltd, a company that manufactures solar thermal concentrators in India. Solar cooking equipment such as the Scheffler Concentrator, enables indoor cooking for a large quantity of people in a reduced time. While it is suitable for community cooking or for a large family, it is not ideal for domestic cooking, given its cost. “The product costs Rs. 3.5 lakh (Rs. 350,000) and can be a perfect choice for large-scale cooking,” said Gadhia, who manufactures the product. Chicken and egg situation Solar cooking equipment that cuts down cooking time and can be used indoors is yet to reach the market. Experts say that introducing subsidies for solar cooking equipment could be a game changer in bridging the technological gap. However, the absence of subsidies for solar cooking is due to the lack of established commercial models, Dinesh Dayanand Jagdale, Joint Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) told Mongabay India. “We don’t have the technology that can be acceptable in households. If there is a technology, we are ready to evaluate and introduce subsidies,” he added. Kabra however provides a different perspective. “The initial push with subsidy would help create demand that can bring in the economics of scale, which in turn would drive more innovation and market acceptance. This is exactly what has happened with solar water heaters first and photovoltaic panels over the last decade,” he said. For both domestic and community solar cooking, subsidies will play an integral role in encouraging citizens to turn to this form of renewable cooking, said Kabra. The government has made attempts to generate a buzz around solar cooking solutions through competitions. In 2018, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) instituted grand challenge awards for designing solar cooking solutions at the household and community level and another one, in 2017, was carried out by the ONGC Energy Centre. However, these have been attempts towards creating awareness and enthusiasm among the masses, but there has been no concrete follow-up. “There isn’t a single, dedicated policy solely focused on promoting solar cooking in India,” said Binit Das, Programme Manager, Renewable Energy, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Stating that the implementation of a dedicated policy would signify the government’s enduring dedication to solar cooking, Das said that it would also stimulate investment and ensure sustained sectoral advancement. Experts suggest that policies promoting solar cooking could help India address challenges related to traditional cooking fuel such as indoor pollution, use of non-renewable sources such as LPG and energy security. “The (solar cooking) policy could effectively tackle pertinent challenges such as affordability, awareness enhancement and technology refinement through tailored interventions. Furthermore, it could streamline collaboration among various government bodies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and private enterprises. By offering clear directives and earmarking resources, a dedicated policy would facilitate the promotion and expansive adoption of solar cooking,” Das said. Currently, LPG continues to be promoted under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), a government scheme launched in 2016, to distribute LPG connections as a way to move people away from polluting cooking fuels such as wood, dung and crop residue and reduce indoor air pollution. Over the past eight years, the government has distributed 101.5 million LPG connections. However, approximately 41% of the Indian population still relies on wood, cow dung or other biomass for cooking, emitting approximately 340 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. Additionally, LPG is non-renewable and depleting. As one of the few heavily traded fuels, it adds to the concerns related to energy security. “It is a shame that the government is not promoting technology (solar cooking) that would save millions of lives, forests and environment but promoting photovoltaics because it is easily scalable,” said Gadhia.

Book Review: The Future Of Taste

First Food: Future Of Taste features easy-to-make and nutritious recipes based on local biodiversity that can help us survive the growing food insecurity due to climate change.” On a scorching summer afternoon, I met a farmer who was crossing the bone-dry Manjara river, on foot. It was April, 2016, the second consecutive year of acute drought in Maharashtra. Several rivers/rivulets and water sources in the state had run dry. A special ‘water train’ was sanctioned to transport drinking water to Latur in south-eastern Maharashtra where the Manjara dam stood, waterless. The groundwater in the district had dipped below 1,200-1,500 feet, and borewells were of no use. Local newspapers and regional television channels were filled with news about rising farmer suicides. Latur lies in a semi-arid region of Marathwada, which is notorious for recurring droughts and has one of the highest rates of farmer suicides in the country. Yet, most farmers here cultivate sugarcane, a highly water-intensive crop. Uday Deshpande, a farmer from Nagzari village in Latur, who was crossing the dry Manjara river, explained why. “We grow what people eat and what we can sell as we also have families to feed. Our sugarcane is picked up by the local sugar factories and we earn some money.” The farmer said how traditionally, they cultivated jowar [sorghum, a millet], which needs very little water. It was convenient and cheaper. “But, how many people in cities eat jwarrichi bhakri [jowar flat bread]? What is the guarantee that if we cultivate millets, our produce will be picked up and we will get a good price for it,” he asked. What Despande told me eight years ago came back to me when I picked up First Food: Future Of Taste, a publication of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down To Earth, with over 100 plus recipes sourced from across the country. The 258-page book was released recently in New Delhi. First Food: Future of Taste is the fourth book in the CSE series that celebrates biodiversity and its link with the food that has sustained communities for centuries. It holds out hope to help us survive the climate disruptions (see Interview:). The delicious recipes offer healthy and tasty food options to those who are concerned about how our food is cultivated and consumed, and how each one of us can contribute our bit – from our home kitchens and kitchen gardens – to address the growing problem of carbon emissions from the agriculture sector, and climate change. Sunita Narain, director general of CSE, sets the tone of the book 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.” She says the government must enable policies that will promote growing of crops that are both nutritive and compatible with the local environment. Change of cropping patterns towards climate-resilience will need a supportive structure. And the book describes just how this can be achieved. Food is not just about nutrition. It is also about traditional knowledge and age-old wisdom. Food diversity is linked to diversity in the biological world, and each region of our country has its own dietary patterns and habits, which have evolved over centuries based on the local environment. But, in a world of short-lived Instagram reels and even shorter attention spans, the real knowledge of our food systems has taken a backseat, and is at the risk of getting lost forever. Back To The Future First Food: Future of Taste takes us back to our roots, figuratively and literally, and urges us to consume roots, seeds, wild flowers, shoots and peels that our ancestors cooked and ate. There are four sections in the book. The first one is on millets that have received a fillip both locally and globally due to their water efficiency and climate resilience. Vibha Varshney, who has conceptualised and researched on this book, writes that millets have been cultivated in the semi-arid regions of sub-Saharan Africa and Asia for at least 5,000 years. The cultivators selected varieties based on their ability to withstand dry conditions, rather than on their yields. This is the reason that millets have not lost their natural tolerance to stress during the domestication process, unlike wheat and paddy. A number of people have shared their recipes for millet in the book. Jatin Mallick, Chef and Co-owner of Tres Restaurant in New Delhi, writes about Summer Vegetable Loaf (foxtail millet recipe); Manjit S Gill, former corporate chef, ITC Hotels, has a recipe Anar Kutki (kutki millet, a lesser known millet variety); Vegetable Paella made with kodo millet is another. Recipes such as Ragi Srikhand Cannoli and Sorghum Sweet Beverage add a dash of sweetness. For the every morning dilemma of what to make for breakfast, First Food: Future of Taste offers many ideas. These include the nutritious Bathua (Chenopodium album) stuffed paratha and Bathua poori; Faba Bean/ Vicia Faba pancake/ chilla; Karela (bitter gourd) leaf pakora and scrambled eggs with karela leaves, and so on. The Meals section of the book has a recipe of Meetha Karela from the hills of Uttarakhand, which has nothing to do with bitter gourd. It is made of Cyclanthera pedata (meetha karela) that is more like the cucumber. It is known as pahadi karela, Ram karela, kankoda, etc. There are other dishes that use wild flowers to make delectable curries and soups. There are separate sections for Chutneys and Pickles, Sweets, and Beverages, which use local ingredients to prepare delectable fare. The book is a primer to survive food shortages brought in by uncertainties of extreme weather events, which are on the rise and are likely to get worse. The seeds, leaves, fruits, weeds and flowers that the book documents as part of the recipes can also be grown in our kitchen gardens and backyards. As Narain rightly points out that there is a need to change the future of taste so that it works for the people and the planet. And farmers like Uday Deshpande of Latur can go back to cultivating their traditional crop of millets, while we revisit our roots too. Priced at Rs 950, First Food: Future of Taste can be ordered online here at a discounted price of Rs 750. All four books in the food series can be purchased for Rs 2,000 here.