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India’s SHGs emerging world’s biggest microfin project

An SHG is usually a community of 10-12 women from a similar socio-economic background. These women form alliances to pool their financial resources for taking up joint economic activities, or to lend money at a reasonable interest rate to members for starting small businesses “On this International Women’s Day (March 8), we are celebrating a unique story of success: that of women leaders from India’s powerful Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Theirs is a real story of hope and triumph. This is women’s power – unstoppable, and one that is driving development work across the country. These SHGs are becoming the new cooperatives for managing everything, from water supply and solid waste management to community kitchens and slum development,” said Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), speaking at a webinar here to mark the Day. CSE organised the webinar against the backdrop of a cover story on SHGs done by Down To Earth, the magazine that it helps publish. Its panelists in the webinar included some of the women leaders and entrepreneurs who have been featured in the story – DrMeenu Singh, Director, AIIMS, Rishikesh; Heenaben Dave, Vice President, SEWA (Self-Employed Women’s Association), Ahmedabad; MeenaRahangdale, President, YogyataSwaSahayataSamuh, Balaghat (Madhya Pradesh); Mini Varghese, Mentor Resourceperson, Kudumbashree, Kerala; Padma Tashi, Production Manager, Looms of Ladakh Women’s Cooperative, Leh; and SabitaBehera, Jal Saathi, Puri (Odisha). An SHG is usually a community of 10-12 women from a similar socio-economic background. These women form alliances to pool their financial resources for taking up joint economic activities, or to lend money at a reasonable interest rate to members for starting small businesses. According to data released in December 2023 by the DeendayalAntyodayaYojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission, India has nine million SHGs, with almost 100 million women as its members. With 0.65 million villages in the country (as per the 2011 Census), this amounts to 14 SHGs per village, with every eighth Indian woman being an SHG member.Down To Earth estimates that each SHG helps eight to 10 women start their own businesses. SHGs trace their beginnings in India to the 1970s: a period when the most notable of them -- SEWA (Self-Employed Women’s Association) – took shape in Gujarat. In 1992, these groups were linked to banks under the SHG Bank Linkage Project (SHG-BLP). This was done to enable disbursal of small loans for setting up livelihood opportunities. These groups got a further boost in 1999 when the government decided to use them to promote self-employment in rural areas under its Swarn Jayanti Gram SwarojgarYojana. In the years that followed, SHGs have increasingly become stronger, thanks to the government’s deliberate efforts to make them the executors of India’s key development agenda. In 2014, the government created a special fund (Community Investment Fund) that provides SHGs with up to Rs 50,000 a year to decide on and design local livelihood programmes. Says Narain: “Today, India’s SHGs are collectively regarded as the world’s largest microfinance project. As per available official data, till February 2024, these groups disbursed loans amounting to Rs 1.7 lakh crore. Loans given by them rarely turn bad or require a waiver – the 2022-23 Economic Survey of India says SHGs’ bank repayment rate is over 96 per cent, underscoring their credit discipline and reliability.” Says Down To Earth Managing Editor Richard Mahapatra: “In a male-dominated society, where women play significant but never-recognised roles, being a member of an SHG has become a badge of honour and an assertion of a new identity of power. SHGs offer outstanding examples of how such groups have managed and sustained development works that had seemed impossible to deliver.” (https://www.cseindia.org/)

India's high rice yields come at a nutrient cost. What about Bangladesh?

While India has relentlessly developed and increased the use of high-yielding rice varieties over the past 50 years, similar to Bangladesh, to build a strong foundation for food security, a study reveals this success has come at a cost: a worrying decline in essential nutrients such as zinc and iron in these grains. Although India has conducted a study, there has been no such move in Bangladesh, said the heads of two major research institutes involved in the development of high-yielding rice varieties. However, referring to recommendations by Indian researchers to increase nutrients to bring them to normal levels, researchers in Bangladesh said they have discovered varieties with higher than normal nutritional content in rice over several years. Indian magazine Down To Earth recently published a report on how high-yielding varieties are becoming nutritionally deficient, citing a study by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Apart from revealing information on declining nutrition, the study also found that the levels of arsenic, which is harmful to health, increased significantly. ICAR researchers say modern varieties are less efficient at sequestering nutrients like zinc and iron, despite their availability in the soil. Consequently, over the past 50 years, concentrations of essential nutrients such as zinc and iron have decreased by 33% and 27% in rice and 30% and 19% in wheat, respectively. Worse, the concentration of arsenic, a toxic element, in rice increased by 1,493%. That is, the staple food grains rice and wheat are not only less nutritious but also harmful to health. In the constant genetic tampering under modern breeding programmes, breeds have also lost their defence mechanisms against toxic substances. Researchers in Bangladesh are developing new varieties through modern genetic tampering. The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has developed seven zinc- and iron-enriched varieties. Additionally, there are 13 varieties that have added protein. However, there is debate regarding the extent to which these varieties are being cultivated in the field and whether they are specifically available on the market. According to BRRI researchers, rice usually contains about 8% protein. However, there are 13 high-yielding varieties that contain more than 10% protein. Additionally, seven new varieties have been developed that are universally zinc and iron enriched. BRRI Director General Md Shahjahan Kabir told TBS, "About 13% of the rice produced in the country is enriched with zinc and iron. On the other hand, varieties are being developed with increased protein levels." He added, "Our success lies in not only increasing rice production but also in working extensively to enhance the nutritional quality of rice." India's rice and wheat have a close relationship with the Bangladesh market. India serves as a major source of imports for rice and wheat, both publicly and privately. However, it's worth noting that India has currently halted the export of rice and wheat. Although private sources make rice and wheat available in the market through various channels, rice imported through government departments reaches low-income individuals at a subsidised price. It creates fear that the people of Bangladesh may also suffer due to rice contaminated with low nutritional value and harmful levels of arsenic. Down To Earth magazine reports a "historical shift" in the nutrient profiles of rice and wheat, warning that the impoverished staple grains could exacerbate the country's growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). When the Green Revolution began in India, the goal was to feed a rapidly growing population and become self-sufficient in food production, researchers say. Hence, after the 1980s, breeders' focus shifted to breed innovation. Varieties that are developed are pest and disease resistant and tolerant to conditions such as salinity, humidity, and drought. They didn't have time to think about whether the plants were getting nutrients from the soil or not. Hence, over time, plants lose their ability to absorb nutrients from the soil. In Bangladesh, a similar situation unfolded. In the same context as India, aiming to ensure security in rice production, the main food grain of the people, the green revolution began in Bangladesh in 1973. In this country, too, researchers are focusing on high-yielding varieties to feed the rapidly growing population. Thanks to the development of high-yielding and resistant varieties, the country is now self-sufficient in rice. Production of 3.90 crore tonnes of rice was possible in the fiscal 2022-23, whereas the country's rice production was only in the range of 1 crore tonnes immediately after independence. The Agricultural Extension Department emphasises that achieving self-sufficiency in rice is only possible with the help of high-yielding varieties. Good rice production is attained through the development and extension of these varieties. According to the agriculture ministry, Ufshi seeds were predominantly utilised during the Aus, Aman, and Boro seasons. In the fiscal 2019-20, farmers across the country used a total of 142,283 tonnes of Ufshi seeds and 15,777 tonnes of hybrid seeds, with only 260 tonnes of local paddy seeds being utilised. Two institutes in Bangladesh – BRRI and the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) – are dedicated to developing high-yielding rice varieties. Together, they have developed a total of 137 varieties, including two high-yielding hybrid varieties. Most of these varieties are high-yielding, contributing to the country's rice production. Researchers say there is no detailed study on whether the nutritional value of high-yielding varieties is decreasing. However, there are many studies on soil properties, including excessive fertilisation, soil erosion, and loss of nutrients due to repeated cropping of the same land. In this context, researchers admit that the possibility of reduced nutritional value in plants and rice is by no means insignificant. BINA Director General Mirza Mofazzal Islam told TBS, "Although we don't have research on genetic potential, we are already doing some work. We have developed rice varieties enriched with zinc and iron, which are being cultivated in the field as well." He continued, "We are developing varieties with these nutrients through biofortification. In other words, even if there is a deficiency in the soil, we have created an opportunity to address it through this special variety."

Concrete Ambitions: The Environmental and Livelihood Toll of BJP's Decade-Long Infrastructure Drive

While “infrastructure” has become a ubiquitous development mantra in India over the past decade, its pitfalls deserve deeper scrutiny. Fueled by ambitions of becoming a manufacturing powerhouse and the goal of becoming a $5-trillion economy, rivalling China, the incumbent government has poured significant resources into this sector. Yet, the drive for infrastructure in the past ten years, evident in the year-on-year rise in capital expenditure, has been marred by the weakening of environmental protections. Ranked as the fourth deadliest country for environmental activists, India also holds the distinction of being the worst performing country in the 2022 Environmental Performance Index. A regime of ‘Clearance Raj’ The wholesale granting of environmental clearances has sparked concerns as they often tip the scales in favour of project promoters. There is clear evidence of project proponents frequently overlooking public consultations, and the new Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification of 2020 aims to diminish the importance of this step altogether. Let’s recall two recent high-profile industrial accidents: the gas leak at the LG Polymers plant in Visakhapatnam in May, 2020 and the fire at Oil India Limited’s Baghjan oil well in Assam’s East Tinsukia in June 2020. Both of the projects, in this case, were operating without any form of clearance. In the first four years of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, 520 infrastructure projects have received environmental clearances, which include industrial estates, buildings, roads, highways, and also projects in coastal areas. From 2018 to 2022, clearances for wildlife, forests, environment, and coastal zones witnessed a phenomenal growth of over 2,000%, soaring from 577 to 12,496. Weakening of environmental protections for infrastructure and industry According to an article in Down to Earth, since 2018, the EIA notification, which seeks to prevent environmental harm, has undergone a staggering number of around 110 changes, through office memorandums. The year 2023 has witnessed the largest number of such revisions. In 2022, in a move seen to favour the corporates, the government sought to eliminate the requirements of having mandatory environmental impact assessments for the expansion of airport projects. Fishing harbours with a capacity of up to 30,000 tons per year are now exempt, representing a threefold increase from the previous limit of 10,000 tons per year. Strategic highways have also been proposed to be exempted from the necessity of going through an environmental impact assessment. Another instance is the weakening of the 2006 EIA notification through a 2017 notification. Ironically, the government’s justification for this approach was to bring these projects into the regulatory framework and enable stricter monitoring. However, a fact sheet prepared by the Centre for Science and Environment in 2018 indicates a very poor track record of monitoring projects granted clearances since 2014. Initially intended as a one-time opportunity to approve projects, the 2017 notification evolved into a regular occurrence following a Union Environment Ministry notification in July 2021. This extended ex-post facto approval to over 100 projects until the Supreme Court intervened and placed a stay on the notification in January of this year. This move faced heavy criticism from environmental activists, who argued that the ministry failed to take a firm stance against projects that had already begun operations without adhering to the Environmental Protection Act of 1986. Efforts to expedite approvals for large-scale commercial projects have also come at the cost of weakening the safeguards established by the 2011 Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification. Fish worker unions and environmental groups criticised the notification on the grounds of lack of consultation with coastal communities and fisher folks, potentially paving the way for development that could harm coastal regions. For example, the revised CRZ notification has reduced the ‘No Development Zone’ along coastal areas and rivers from 200m, as stipulated in the CRZ Notification 2011, to just 50m. It permits the mining of critical atomic minerals such as uranium in environmentally sensitive coastal regions. Mining in ecologically sensitive Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZs) carries a multitude of risks. It can destabilise shorelines, increase saltwater intrusion into groundwater (displacing coastal communities), and potentially lead to radiation contamination, as evidenced by cases like Kanyakumari where effects were felt up to 85 km away. Fisher’s organisations have fiercely opposed such mining due to the threat it poses to their livelihoods. In addition to granting clearance exemptions to projects ranging from real estate to renewable energy– the diversion of forest areas for infrastructure projects through the Forest Conservation Amendment Act, 2023 is another such example of the dilution of existing environmental safeguards under the NDA government’s administration. The new Forest Conservation Amendment Act (FCA) removes protection from “deemed forests,” potentially exposing around 25% of India’s forests to urbanisation, mining, and infrastructural development. This may also impinge upon the rights of tribal and forest-dwelling communities under the Forest Rights Act 2006 (FRA). It also opens all forested areas within 100 km from India’s borders to “strategic linear projects of national importance, and concerning national security,” impacting communities in the northeastern states, western ghats, and trans Himalayan region. Offering a glimmer of hope, the Supreme Court recently directed the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to revert to the previous, more comprehensive definition of forests. This broader definition aligns with the significant 1996 Godavarman ruling, in contrast to the limited definition found in the recently amended Forest Conservation Act. From 2015 to March 2020, the government approved the conversion of 409 sq.km of forest land for various construction projects. Mega projects, mega messes: Environmental and social impacts of large-scale projects With its penchant for self-praise, the NDA government will beat the trumpet on the increased government investments on infrastructure. Undoubtedly, the allocation for infrastructure has surged notably from FY 2018-19 to FY 2024-25, witnessing a remarkable 269.82% increase in capital expenditure allocation. As per the records of Land Conflict Watch, more than 4.6 million individuals have been impacted by land-related disputes associated with infrastructure projects in India. Till 2024, there are 295 ongoing conflicts, covering a land area of 1,083,859 hectares. According to a 2020 Land Conflict Watch report, the infrastructure sector in India faces the highest number of land conflicts. Notably, 43% of these conflicts stem from infrastructure projects like townships, real estate development, road construction, and irrigation projects. For instance, the Mumbai coastal sea road project, reclaiming 164 hectares of land, has encountered significant opposition due to the potential threat it poses to the traditional fishing colonies of Mumbai’s fishing communities, and their livelihood. Fishermen lament that construction works around the project have driven fish farther offshore. On top of it, many environmental activists, and youth groups have raised their concerns that the project runs the risk of destroying the mangroves, and marine wildlife that thrives along the coast. Communities residing along Gujarat’s coastline have also underscored the occurrence of fish being compelled farther into the sea by large-scale industrial projects. Due to the onslaught of the industrial cluster, and purposeful unawareness of the Gujarat Pollution Control Board, the coastline of Gujarat has hardly any catch to offer. This intentional disregard for industrial pollution has become a part of the broader practice of State Pollution Control Boards granting exemptions to polluting industries, sparing them from regular inspections. An uncooperative and myopic dictate of ‘development’ In the past decade, NDA’s approach to development through relentless pursuit of infrastructure has come at a steep cost. To say the least, it has been both uncooperative and myopic in nature. As Virginius Xaxa has argued, the displacement of Adivasi tribes at the cost of large-scale infrastructure projects, points to the hollowness of the slogan “sabka sath, sabka vikas” which was one of the primary slogans with which the BJP had come to power in 2014. Despite the growing reality that large-scale infrastructure projects often threaten the livelihoods of coastal communities, the perverse pursuance of “development” through these projects in these areas remains concerningly prevalent. Under the Sagarmala Scheme, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has funded 171 projects worth Rs. 4533 Cr across coastal states and UTs. However, the precarious position of these infrastructure projects cannot be ignored. India ranks as the third-most affected country by climate change amongst the top 50 nations. This vulnerability is particularly acute in coastal regions, which face a multitude of land and marine hazards like shoreline erosion, devastating tropical cyclones, and storm surges. What makes the problem more dire is that climate-related extreme weather events have inflicted a staggering cost of Rs 3,65,860 crore in damages to infrastructure and housing, representing a significant 3% of India’s GDP. Raktim Majumder is a researcher working with the Infrastructure Finance team at the Centre for Financial Accountability, New Delhi. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/environment/centre-made-over-100-changes-in-environment-impact-assessment-notification-in-past-5-years-88619

Waste burns in open, MCG gets a notice

Gurgaon: Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) on Friday issued a show-cause notice to the MCG commissioner and joint commissioner-2 for non-compliance with Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2016. MCG has been given 15 days to respond to why legal action should not be initiated against it for not being able to strictly prohibit burning of waste material of any kind in open areas of the city. “A massive incident of garbage burning took place in a residential area in Sector 56, which is a gross violation of SWM Rules, 2016. Many complaints of garbage burning in Gurgaon are circulating on various platforms, including social media and in leading newspapers, which are of very serious nature… You are liable to pay environmental compensation,” said the letter by HSPCB regional officer Kuldeep Singh. The letter comes after trash was set ablaze in a green belt in Sector 56 on Wednesday. Residents said they approached the fire department after MCG officials didn’t respond to their complaints. Fire officials finally doused the flames. Residents of several areas said they have made multiple complaints to police, MCG and the pollution control board about illegal waste dumping and burning, but such incidents are still being witnessed daily. This has also led to deterioration in the city’s AQI over the past two days, they alleged. TOI spotted heaps of garbage on fire at several places across the city on Friday. Locals alleged shopkeepers, garbage collectors, sanitation workers, security guards and slum dwellers burn trash in the open. Waste burning hotspots include Kherki Daula toll plaza, areas along Dwarka Expressway, Ghata, and sectors 48, 55, 56 and 65, among others. “Garbage and horticultural waste like leaves and twigs are burnt here mostly in the late evenings or early mornings. Frequent waste burning has led to thick smoke and toxic fumes in the area. The AQI in our locality is worsening and people are facing breathing difficulties,” a Sector 65 resident said. “In new sectors, there is no mechanism to clean roads or maintain green belts. There is no garbage disposal system in place. So, people choose the easy option — burning their waste,” said Mukesh Kumar, a resident of Sector 86. Smoke from burning leaves and trash releases PM10, a coarse particle that can embed itself deep in the lungs. Waste burning on open grounds also releases pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide into the atmosphere, experts said. According to experts, high-speed winds from the Himalayas cleaned up pollutants from the atmosphere, which improved the AQI to ‘moderate’ between March 2 and March 6, but the air quality has worsened in the past few days due to lower wind speeds and widespread waste burning. The city hasn’t witnessed a single ‘good’ air day so far this year. “The city’s air quality is worsening because of several factors, which include meteorological conditions such as wind speed, apart from rampant waste burning, lack of public transport and unchecked construction activities. Policymakers need to focus on local factors to solve this problem, as it is no longer a seasonal issue,” said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at Centre for Science and Environment. “Waste accumulating on open grounds releases PM2.5, PM10, oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide when burnt. These make the air toxic,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director for research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment. “Waste burning is a health crime. We implore the administration and chief minister to take cognisance of this issue and set up infrastructure to process waste in the city so that the root of the problem can be addressed,” said Ruchika Sethi, an activist who has been working for proper waste management in Gurgaon. When contacted, HSPCB said they are taking steps to curb garbage burning. “We will take strict action against waste burning. No polluter will be spared,” regional officer Singh said. An MCG official acknowledged the corporation has received complaints of open waste burning and they have been forwarded to the sanitary inspectors concerned to carry out checks. “The issue will be resolved soon and violators will be penalised. Waste collection has resumed in the city,” the official added. Meanwhile, the city’s air quality index remained in the ‘poor’ category on Friday at 211, slightly down from Thursday’s 236. The Sector 51 station recorded an AQI of 108 on Thursday, followed by Vikas Sadan (74) and Teri Gram (70). Gwalpahari’s data was not recorded.

India’s women-led Self-Help Groups are emerging as the world’s biggest microfinance project

“On this International Women’s Day, we are celebrating a unique story of success: that of women leaders from India’s powerful Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Theirs is a real story of hope and triumph. This is women’s power – unstoppable, and one that is driving development work across the country. These SHGs are becoming the new cooperatives for managing everything, from water supply and solid waste management to community kitchens and slum development,” said Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), speaking at a webinar here to mark the Day. CSE organised the webinar against the backdrop of a cover story on SHGs done by Down To Earth, the magazine that it helps publish. Its panelists in the webinar included some of the women leaders and entrepreneurs who have been featured in the story – Dr Meenu Singh, Director, AIIMS, Rishikesh; Heenaben Dave, Vice President, SEWA (Self-Employed Women’s Association), Ahmedabad; Meena Rahangdale, President, Yogyata Swa Sahayata Samuh, Balaghat (Madhya Pradesh); Mini Varghese, Mentor Resourceperson, Kudumbashree, Kerala; Padma Tashi, Production Manager, Looms of Ladakh Women’s Cooperative, Leh; and Sabita Behera, Jal Saathi, Puri (Odisha). An SHG is usually a community of 10-12 women from a similar socio-economic background. These women form alliances to pool their financial resources for taking up joint economic activities, or to lend money at a reasonable interest rate to members for starting small businesses. According to data released in December 2023 by the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission, India has nine million SHGs, with almost 100 million women as its members. With 0.65 million villages in the country (as per the 2011 Census), this amounts to 14 SHGs per village, with every eighth Indian woman being an SHG member. Down To Earth estimates that each SHG helps eight to 10 women start their own businesses. SHGs trace their beginnings in India to the 1970s: a period when the most notable of them — SEWA (Self-Employed Women’s Association) – took shape in Gujarat. In 1992, these groups were linked to banks under the SHG Bank Linkage Project (SHG-BLP). This was done to enable disbursal of small loans for setting up livelihood opportunities. These groups got a further boost in 1999 when the government decided to use them to promote self-employment in rural areas under its Swarn Jayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana. In the years that followed, SHGs have increasingly become stronger, thanks to the government’s deliberate efforts to make them the executors of India’s key development agenda. In 2014, the government created a special fund (Community Investment Fund) that provides SHGs with up to Rs 50,000 a year to decide on and design local livelihood programmes. Says Dr.Narain: “Today, India’s SHGs are collectively regarded as the world’s largest microfinance project. As per available official data, till February 2024, these groups disbursed loans amounting to Rs 1.7 lakh crore. Loans given by them rarely turn bad or require a waiver – the 2022-23 Economic Survey of India says SHGs’ bank repayment rate is over 96 per cent, underscoring their credit discipline and reliability.” Says Down To Earth Managing Editor Richard Mahapatra: “In a male-dominated society, where women play significant but never-recognised roles, being a member of an SHG has become a badge of honour and an assertion of a new identity of power. SHGs offer outstanding examples of how such groups have managed and sustained development works that had seemed impossible to deliver.”

400 buses for election duty, owners told to get them ready

Noida: Of nearly 3,500 buses registered with the Noida transport department, bus operators will engage 400 private and UPSRTC buses for duties in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Siyaram Verma, ARTO Noida (administration), said, “400 buses will ply from Noida for election. We will have a meeting with district administration officials and the bus association in this regard.” As per govt guidelines, unfit buses and drivers without valid licences will not be a part of election duties. The bus owners have been told to ensure the buses are fit for plying and that the headlights, tail lights, indicators, horns, wipers, etc. are functioning. Lakko Venkateshwarlu, principal secretary, UP, released a letter on March 1 stating the revised rate list for vehicles engaged in elections. Remuneration will be provided for a litre of fuel for every 4km for a 37 seater bus, every 5km for a 23-36 seater bus, and every 6km for a 13-22 seater bus. For heavy vehicles, it will be a litre for every 3km for vehicles weighing 28,000 kg, 5km for 7,500-12,000 kg, 7k for 3,000-7,500 kg, and 10km for 3000kg. We also published the following articles recently More modern buses plying, but ridership dips in DelhiDelhi's bus ridership has sharply dropped by 48.5% despite an increase in the bus fleet. The Centre for Science and Environment predicts that private transport will surpass public transport by 2040. Anumita Roychowdhury suggests scaling up public transport and ensuring affordable and safe access. Scorpion sting: Hotel owner saves bus passengers life at SampajePradeep Kumar BS, a software engineer, was bitten by a scorpion during a trip to Puttur. Thajuddin Tarly, the hotel owner and chairman of SKSSF Viqaya Blood Donors Forum, provided first aid and arranged for an ambulance. Pradeep recovered with no complications. Sisters rescued from bus mishapTwo little girls, aged five and two, were hit by a bus in Mumbai's Naigaon (W) on Friday. The older girl suffered a fractured right leg, while her sister sustained an internal injury in the accident.f

Farmers in at least 65 countries rose up in protest since January 2023. Here’s why

Farmers protested in 67 per cent of countries in South America region, for a variety of reasons, such as wanting better export exchange rates and reduced taxes, amid of an extended economic downturn and Argentina's devastating drought, which have severely damaged crops and agricultural output. Brazilian farmers demonstrated against genertically modified maize-induced unfair competition in the agricultural markets. Farmers in Venezuela requested access to diesel that was subsidised. Colombian rice growers sought higher pricing. Around 47 per cent of countries in Europe saw protest by the farmers over low crop prices, rising costs, low-cost imports and environmental rules imposed by the European Union. For instance, farmers in France protested against low-cost imports, a lack of subsidies and higher production costs by taking to the streets. Farmers protested in 35 per cent of North and Central American countries. Farmers in Mexico demonstrated against the poor prices for their corn and wheat production, while those in Costa Rica called for further government help for the industry, which they alleged is beset by debt. Mexican farmers in the drought-stricken province of Chihuahua protested in September 2023 over their government's plan to export limited water supplies to the United States. Around 22 per cent countries across Africa witnessed protests by the farmers. The key reasons behind these protests included — poor pricing of the crops amid high costs of production. For example, in August 2023, the potato farmers in Kenya protested in demand of better price. While the Cocoa farmers in Benin were against eviction,destruction and sale of their cocoa plantations to foreign companies, the farmers in Cameroon were against the government ban on cocoa exports to Nigeria. Coffee farmers in Kenya protested against delicensing of most private millers in the county. In Kenya, the sugarcane and tea farmers protested against unfair government policies. The protest in Nigeria was unique as women farmers took to the streets to raise their voice on the challenges they continue to face across the country in the course of farming. Around 21 per cent of countries in the Asian region saw protests by farmers. This included the protests by Indian farmers reported from at least nine states / Union terrirories during the period. Farmers gathered in Delhi on February 13, 2024 with demands which included guaranteed crop prices, doubling of farmers' income and the loan waivers. Farmers in Nepal staged protests because they were not receiving a fair price for vegetables that were being imported from India. Protests in Malaysia and Nepal were driven by low prices for rice and sugarcane, respectively. Farmers' protests occurred in two nations, or 14 per cent of the countries in the Oceania region. In 2023, farmers in New Zealand staged protests against government regulations that were placed on them and other food producers. Farmers in Australia protested against the proposed high-voltage overhead powerlines that would pass through their land. This article is written by Kiran Pandey and republished from DownToEarth. Read the original article here.

Why are Farmer’s Protesting Globally and in India- Explained Pointwise

Farmer’s protest In India is not a standalone phenomenon, as Farmer’s Protest has been on the rise globally as well. Farmers in at least 65 countries of the world have rose up in protest since January 2023. The map below demonstrates the instances of Farmer’s Protest both Globally and in India. What are the reasons behind the Farmer’s protest Globally? South American Nations Protests 1. Better export Exchange rate to counter the economic downturn- Farmers in 67 per cent of countries in South America region have been protesting over the demand for better export exchange rates for their crops. 2. Unfair competition in the agricultural market due to GM crops- The GM crops have induced unfair competition in the agricultural markets, which have adversely impacted the farmers. For ex- Brazilian Farmer’s Protest against GM crops. 3. Higher Production costs and low-cost imports- The production costs of agriculture has shot up globally. For ex- Venezuelan Farmer’s Protests demanding subsidised diesel in agriculture. 4. Vagaries of Climate Change- Climate Change has interfered with the global rainfall patterns and has led to droughts and blizzards, which has impacted agricultural productivity and production. For ex- Demands of Farmers in Argentina demanding compensation for the devastating drought. European Nations Protest 1. Low cost agricultural Imports from Ukraine – The European countries have allowed low cost agricultural imports from Ukraine, which has led to depressed agricultural prices for the domestic farmers in the European countries. For ex- Farmer’s protests in France to limit agricultural imports from Ukraine. 2. Against European Govt policies making agriculture sector easy target for climate goals- The agriculturalists in developed countries have been protesting against their government’s making the farmers and the farming sector ‘easy targets’ to enforce emissions cut for meeting national climate goals. For ex- Protest of Ireland farmer’s against government’s decision to cull some 200,000 cows over the course of three years for meeting the country’s climate emission goals. 3. Tough environmental standards of EU- The tougher environmental standards for agricultural products in EU countries, has hampered the export potential of European farmers. African Nations Protests 1. Oppressive and unfair Government Policies- The protests in African countries have been mainly centred around the oppressive government policies. For ex- Cocoa Farmer’s protests in Benin, against the sale of the cocoa plantations to foreign companies. Protest of Farmer’s in Cameroon against the government ban on cocoa exports to Nigeria. Protest of Coffee farmers in Kenya against delicensing of most private millers in the county. 2. Concerns of African women farmers- As there has been increasing feminisation of agriculture in the African countries, women farmers have taken to the streets for the fulfilment of their demands. For ex- The women farmers protest in Nigeria on the challenges they continue to face across the country in the course of farming. What are the demands for which farmers are protesting in India? 1. Guaranteed MSP- Farm union leaders want a MSP Guarantee law to ensure assured state support in the form of minimum purchase price for crops. Presently, MSP based purchases benefit just around 7% of farmers. (Shanta Kumar Committee Report). 2. Implementation of the Swaminathan Committee MSP Formula- The farmers have also been demanding the determination of MSP in accordance with the Dr M S Swaminathan Commission’s report. 3. Withdrawal from WTO- Farmer’s in India are protesting against the WTO’s cap on agricultural subsidies. Farmers are demanding India’s withdrawal from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and freeze on all free trade agreements. 4. Enhanced Compensation during farm land acquisition- The farmers are seeking four times compensation and written consent from farmers before the land acquisition. 5. Increase in MGNREGA wages- Indian Farmers are demanding the linkage of MGNREGA with farming. They are also demanding to increase in number of guaranteed work days to 200 from 100, and daily wages to Rs 700. 6. Assured Pensions- The farmer’s in India have also been demanding assured pensions to farmers, to provide safety income-net during the old age. 7. Withdrawal of cases lodged during the Farmer’s Protest of 2020-21- Farmers have also cited the reason of non-withdrawal of cases registered during the last farmer’s agitation in 2020-21. What should be the way forward to handle the issue of Farmer’s Protest in India? 1. Implementation of a national Price Deficiency Payment Scheme- Both NITI Aayog and Economic Survey have recommended Price Deficiency Payment schemes, in which the government pays the farmers the difference between modal rate (the average prices in major mandis) and the MSPs. For ex- Price deficiency payment schemes of Madhya Pradesh (Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana), Haryana (Bhavantar Bharapai Yojana) can be launched as Central Sector Scheme. 2. Interest free loans to small and Medium Farmers- Interest-free lending to small and medium farmers will help them in countering the rising cost of production and will make the agriculture sector more remunerative. 3. Promotion of Co-operative Farming- Governments must provide all possible assistance for cooperative farming and cooperative-owned agro-processing industrial units. For ex- Success of 68,000 landless women’s cooperatives operating in Kerala whose net economic profit is five times more than other agricultural organisations. 4. Gradual expansion of crops under MSP- The government must gradually expand the list of crops eligible for MSP support, to encourage crop diversification and reduce the dominance of rice and wheat. This will provide farmers with more choices and promote the cultivation of crops in line with market demand. 5. Support to the Farmer’s Producers Organisations (FPOs)- Adequate financial support to FPOs, would result in better price realisation for farmers. For ex- Aim to replicating the success of AMUL in agriculture through FPOs. Read More- Down to Earth

MP’s first radio service for buses launched

Atal Indore City Transport Service Limited (AICTSL) on Wednesday launched ‘Atal Radio’ — MP’s first radio service for buses of public transport — and replaced 30 diesel-run buses with electric vehicles. Cabinet minister Kailash Vijayvargiya and mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava along with senior officials inaugurated both the services. “The Prime Minister always says that it is very important to have a dialogue. To strengthen democracy, it is important to have a dialogue and Atal Radio will serve this purpose,” Vijayvargiya said, adding that an age-wise survey of the types of people travelling in AICTSL’s buses should be carried out to help make programmes of their choice. “Radio is very popular in America, where it has been also linked to the information about any traffic jam and happenings in the city,” he said, Atal Radio can be useful for people by updating them with a lot of information. Around three lakh passengers travel daily through AICTSL-run buses. Atal Radio will broadcast programmes based on education, information and entertainment by giving platform to local artists. “The journey usually taken by a passenger in a bus is 15 minutes. Atal Radio, which can be accessed in AICTSL’s buses, at the bus stops and through mobile-app, will be helpful in carrying forward the mission of Smart India and Digital India,” Vijayvargiya said. Besides, podcasts based on employment information, career advice and motivation will also be broadcast for the youth, along with awareness programmes for women empowerment and safety and emergency announcements. The mayor will also speak on public-centric issues using it. On the occasion, AICTSL launched 30 electric buses that will replace as many diesel-run buses. On full charging, the electric bus, which has 35 seats, runs 250-300 km along with a wheelchair stepping facility for the persons with disability. These buses also have advanced fire safety system, emergency SOS and help the authority earn carbon credit points. During the day, AICTSL’s board members held a meeting and decided to invite tenders to start electric bus service at 26 intercity routes and develop around 600 city bus stops on built, own, operate and transfer mode. We also published the following articles recently E-buses to run in Pkl from March 1Panchkula residents can travel on electric buses from March 1. CM Manohar Lal Khattar will flag off 5 buses, with a total of 50 e-buses to be gradually introduced. Haryana Roadways has constructed a charging station and appointed a conductor for the buses.108091046 Commuters suffer as PMPML buses skip designated stopsCommuters in Pune are facing issues due to missing yellow markings in front of PMPML bus stops, leading to buses not stopping at designated spots. Passengers also face problems while alighting from buses on the carriageway. There is a need for proper shelters and markings at all bus stops.108091842 More modern buses plying, but ridership dips in DelhiA study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) reveals a sharp decline in bus ridership in Delhi despite having modern buses. Private transport is expected to surpass public transport by 2040. Anumita Roychowdhury suggests transformative changes in the transport infrastructure.108172204

Warning signals in State of India’s Environment 2024

The 2024 State of India’s Environment (SOE 2024) report was recently released by the Centre for Science and Environment’s (CSE). The report is collated and published annually by Down To Earth magazine. The CSE press release on the occasion states that the year 2023 has been the warmest year on record in the history of the Earth – 1.48 degrees warmer than the 1850-1900 period (pre-industrial average); the year also had the highest number of days with global mean temperatures above 1.5oC. Among a range of data and statistics, the report presents data that about 109 nations suffered losses due to extreme weather events in 2023, with countries in Africa, Europe and West Asia taking up the lion’s share: 59 countries in this region were impacted and the highest number of deaths from these events happened in this region. Indonesia had the maximum number of affected people (almost 19 million), while Libya suffered the most deaths. The report also warns that between 2013 and 2022, the Himalayan region in India accounted for 44% of all the disasters reported in the country. Floods, landslides and thunderstorms – 192 in all — constituted the bulk of these incidents. In fact, the cloudbursts and torrential rains experienced in the region in 2023 are curtain-raisers to a future that is already upon us and will become more pronounced with every passing year. The worst long-term and relentless damage is being seen in the upper reaches of the Himalayas, according to SOE2024. The rise in average surface temperatures in the Himalayas is causing glaciers to melt rapidly and retreat at an accelerating rate. The Hindu Kush Himalayas has seen a 65% faster loss of glacier mass, according to a study by the Nepal-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). During 2010-19, glaciers in the region lost a mass of 0.28 metre of water equivalent per year (m we) in comparison to 0.17 m we per year in the period 2000-09. The Karakoram Range, which was known to be stable, has also started showing a decline in glacier mass, losing 0.09 m we per year during 2010-19. In India, 2023 saw its warmest ever August and September in 122 years. Through the year, the country witnessed an extreme weather event almost every day — over the 365 days between January 1 and December 31, such events happened on 318 days. They claimed 3287 human lives, affected 2.21 million hectare of crop area, damaged 86,432 houses and caused 124,813 animal deaths. All 36 states and union territories were affected. Himachal Pradesh recorded the highest number of extreme weather events, with 149 days, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 141 days. Kerala and Uttar Pradesh were next with 119 days each. In terms of events, the report says the break-up was heavy rains, floods and landslides: 208 days; lightning and storms: 202 days; heatwaves: 49 days; cold waves: 29 days; cloudbursts: 9 days; snowfall: 5 days; and cyclones: 2 days. Bihar was the biggest sufferer in terms of deaths — 642 people lost their lives to extreme weather incidents. The largest expanse of affected crop area was in Haryana. Gujarat had the highest number of damaged houses, and Punjab accounted for the maximum number of animal deaths. The ice-melt from the Himalayan glaciers is also forming glacial lakes across the Himalayan range, the report warns again. The number of such lakes in Uttarakhand and east of Himachal Pradesh has increased from 127 in 2005 to 365 in 2015. The increasing frequency and ferocity of cloudbursts is causing these lakes to overflow or burst their banks and cause havoc downstream. Overall, the Himalayas have already lost more than 40% of their ice and are likely to lose up to 75% by the end of this century. This is making the vegetation line in the Himalayas shift upwards at the rate of 11 to 54 m per decade. With 90% of Himalayan agriculture being rainfed, this will make it impossible to sustain the livelihoods of the people who now inhabit the Himalayan region and endanger the lives of those in the plains who depend on its waters. The loss of permafrost can also lead to infrastructure damage.

संयुक्त राष्ट्र के सतत विकास लक्ष्यों की दिशा में प्रगति के मामले में भारत की 112वीं रैंकिंग पर संपादकीय

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट की भारत के पर्यावरण की स्थिति 2024 रिपोर्ट में 2023 में संयुक्त राष्ट्र के सतत विकास लक्ष्यों को प्राप्त करने की दिशा में प्रयासों के आधार पर भारत को 166 देशों में से 112 वें स्थान पर रखा गया है। पाकिस्तान और अफगानिस्तान भारत से पीछे केवल दो दक्षिण एशियाई देश हैं। यह रैंकिंग. 63.45% के स्कोर के साथ, भारत को 'गरीबी', 'स्थायी उपभोग' और 'जलवायु कार्रवाई' जैसे मापदंडों पर ट्रैक पर पाया गया - लेकिन इन सूचकांकों पर इसके प्रदर्शन में 2022 के बाद से कोई सुधार नहीं हुआ है। चिंता की बात यह है कि भारत गिर गया है 'असमानताओं को कम करने', 'भूमि पर जीवन' की रक्षा करने' - यह जैव विविधता के संरक्षण से संबंधित है - और 'शांति, न्याय और मजबूत संस्थान' सुनिश्चित करने में पीछे है। भारत के कुछ निकटतम पड़ोसियों के साथ तुलना उन कारणों को उजागर कर सकती है जिनके कारण भारत अपनी एसडीजी प्रतिबद्धताओं को पूरा करने में पीछे रह गया है। उदाहरण के लिए, दक्षिण एशिया में सबसे अच्छा प्रदर्शन करने वाले देश भूटान ने संवैधानिक रूप से यह अनिवार्य कर दिया है कि उसका 60% भूमि क्षेत्र हर समय वन आवरण के अंतर्गत होना चाहिए। दूसरी ओर, भारत में भौगोलिक क्षेत्र का मात्र 21.72% भाग वन आवरण के अंतर्गत है; हाल ही में, सुप्रीम कोर्ट को वनों की परिभाषा को 'काफ़ी हद तक कमजोर' करने के लिए केंद्र की खिंचाई करनी पड़ी। भारत में वायु प्रदूषण के कारण जीवन की औसत अवधि चार वर्ष और ग्यारह महीने है। श्रीलंका में यह आंकड़ा 1.8 वर्ष से कम है; यहां तक कि पाकिस्तान, जो सीएसई रिपोर्ट में भारत से नीचे है, क्लाइमेट पोजिशन्स की एक रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, पर्यावरण प्रदर्शन पर थोड़ा बेहतर प्रदर्शन करता है।

After Sikkim Floods, Another Fast-Growing Glacial Lake in Uttarakhand Himalayas Raises Worries, Say Scientists

“We have identified 13 such glacial lakes in Uttarakhand that are moraine-dammed lakes and around ten glaciers which are being continuously monitored, as they may pose threat to people downstream, similar to what we experienced in 2013 in Kedarnath, 2021 in the Rishiganga-Dhauliganga glacial avalanche, and more recently in Sikkim’s South Lhonak Lake,” said Dr Sain, speaking to News18 on the sidelines of the Anil Aggarwal Dialogue 2024 organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Even as Sikkim reels under the aftermath of a deadly glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in South Lhonak lake last October, another fast-expanding glacial lake in Uttarakhand Himalayas is becoming a cause of worry. The Bhilangana Lake has grown to about 0.38 sq km area in the last 47 years, said Dr Kalachand Sain, Director of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG). According to scientists, the rapid expansion of the glacial lake situated in the Bhagirathi catchment area is unsettling, as it can pose threat to people downstream, especially under the impact of rising temperatures. “The lake is situated at a very high altitude and the slope downstream is large – more than 25 degrees. We are continuously monitoring it, and have also reported about its expansion to the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority. So, if something like the Chorabari Glacier Lake outburst happens as we witnessed during the Kedarnath disaster in 2013, then we should be able to save the lives of people downstream,” Dr Sain told News18. RISING THREAT OF GLACIAL LAKE OUTBURSTS Glacial lakes form when the vast sheet of glaciers starts melting and the melt water gets accumulated. As the global temperatures rise and climate change intensifies, many of the glaciers have also begun to withdraw at a rapid rate, triggering the formation of numerous such glacial lakes, which, if unstable, can send torrents of water downstream and wreak disastrous floods. These lakes are also continuously expanding amid changing rainfall/snowfall patterns. Studies show that over a thousand such glacial lakes have formed in the Uttarakhand Himalayas, but their understanding is limited due to lack of adequate ground-based studies. “We have identified 13 such glacial lakes in Uttarakhand that are moraine-dammed lakes and around ten glaciers which are being continuously monitored, as they may pose threat to people downstream, similar to what we experienced in 2013 in Kedarnath, 2021 in the Rishiganga-Dhauliganga glacial avalanche, and more recently in Sikkim’s South Lhonak Lake,” said Dr Sain, speaking to News18 on the sidelines of the Anil Aggarwal Dialogue 2024 organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). GANGOTRI GLACIER RECEDING AT 15-20 MTRS/YEAR The team of glaciologists at the Dehradun-based institute has been studying changes in the Himalayan glaciers which are not only indicators of climate change, but also to prepare for future disasters. While there are about 9,575 glaciers in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) according to the Geological Survey of India (GSI), only 980 of them lie in the north-western state of Uttarakhand and the most sensitive ones are being continuously monitored by the team. The largest glacier in Uttarakhand Himalayas — Gangotri Glacier with a length of nearly 30 kms — is retreating at a rate of about 15-20 metres per year, said Dr Sain. “If the retreating continues at the same pace, it will be disastrous. We are studying other glaciers too, but not all glaciers are retreating at the same pace. In the Karakoram region, some are advancing. Therefore, we want to know the fate of the glaciers in the entire Himalayas amid the warming trends and their consequences for people living downstream,” he told News18 on the sidelines of the annual Anil Aggarwal Dialogue 2024. With the recent spate of disasters, the scientists say the Uttarakhand region is highly stressed — not only on account of activities happening beneath the land, but over it. This has been further intensified by changes due to warming. The need is to do a regular vulnerability assessment of the lower Himalayan region, and step up the monitoring. “The most vulnerable zones have to be monitored through web-based sensors which can also give information on the health of these glaciers and glacial lakes. Some sort of early warning system is also needed which must integrate the latest tools of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning. We need to learn lessons from the past, and use a balanced scientific approach,” he added.

India's Dysfunctional Environmental Clearance System Should Be Shut Down: Sunita Narain

In an interview with PTI, Narain -- the director general of independent think-tank Centre for Science and Environment -- suggested that the government overhaul the system to strike a balance between environmental preservation and development India's system for granting environmental clearances is badly broken and should be completely shut down to dispel any illusions about their effectiveness, eminent environmentalist Sunita Narain has said. -- To read the full article, please visit: https://www.ndtvprofit.com In an interview with PTI, Narain -- the director general of independent think-tank Centre for Science and Environment -- suggested that the government overhaul the system to strike a balance between environmental preservation and development -- To read the full article, please visit: https://www.ndtvprofit.com Expressing concern over the decriminalisation of environmental laws in India, Narain said the current system for granting environmental and forest clearances, and penalising polluters is 'so broken that it should be completely shut down so that we have no illusion of anything that is not working'. -- To read the full article, please visit: https://www.ndtvprofit.com Regarding environmental impact assessments, Narain pointed out the lack of accountability of committees granting clearances. -- To read the full article, please visit: https://www.ndtvprofit.com "The regional offices of the environment ministry responsible for compliance monitoring are understaffed and do not have the (monitoring) capacity," she said, adding that information on compliance is not made public. -- To read the full article, please visit: https://www.ndtvprofit.com Narain raised serious concerns over the construction of back-to-back hydropower projects in the Himalayas, terming the process of granting environmental clearances to these a 'sham'. -- To read the full article, please visit: https://www.ndtvprofit.com "You are re-engineering a river and you say even 10% of the flow (remaining) in the river is okay. This is the Ganga I am talking about. Each project has been cleared by a separate committee," she said. -- To read the full article, please visit: https://www.ndtvprofit.com Narain urged the government to redesign the system for the 21st century and return to the original intent of mitigating adverse environmental impacts. -- To read the full article, please visit: https://www.ndtvprofit.com Asked about the effectiveness of climate attribution studies, Narain emphasised the need for a globallyaccepted methodology for such studies to prevent politicisation and ensure fair compensation in future loss-and-damage agreements. -- To read the full article, please visit: https://www.ndtvprofit.com Climate attribution studies ascertain the contribution of climate change to disasters. -- To read the full article, please visit: https://www.ndtvprofit.com "These studies can very quickly turn political. Therefore, the methodology of these studies has to be much more universal. They have to be owned by countries of the Global South. Otherwise, in a loss-anddamage agreement tomorrow, someone could argue that according to this attribution study, only 10% of the disaster was caused by climate change. So, we will only pay you 10% of the cost," Narain said.

Dysfunctional environmental clearance system should be shut down: Narain

India's system for granting environmental clearances is badly broken and should be completely shut down to dispel any illusions about their effectiveness, eminent environmentalist Sunita Narain has said. In an interview with PTI, Narain -- the director general of independent think-tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) -- suggested that the government overhaul the system to strike a balance between environmental preservation and development. Expressing concern over the decriminalisation of environmental laws in India, Narain said the current system for granting environmental and forest clearances, and penalising polluters is "so broken that it should be completely shut down so that we have no illusion of anything that is not working". Regarding environmental impact assessments, Narain pointed out the lack of accountability of committees granting clearances. "The panel lays down hundreds of conditions so that it is not held to account but there is no way to know if the conditions have been complied with," Narain said. "The regional offices of the environment ministry responsible for compliance monitoring are understaffed and do not have the (monitoring) capacity," she said, adding that information on compliance is not made public. Narain raised serious concerns over the construction of back-to-back hydropower projects in the Himalayas, terming the process of granting environmental clearances to these a "sham". "You are re-engineering a river and you say even 10 per cent of the flow (remaining) in the river is okay. This is the Ganga I am talking about. Each project has been cleared by a separate committee," she said. Narain urged the government to redesign the system for the 21st century and return to the original intent of mitigating adverse environmental impacts. Asked about the effectiveness of climate attribution studies, Narain emphasised the need for a globally-accepted methodology for such studies to prevent politicisation and ensure fair compensation in future loss-and-damage agreements. Climate attribution studies ascertain the contribution of climate change to disasters. "These studies can very quickly turn political. Therefore, the methodology of these studies has to be much more universal. They have to be owned by countries of the Global South. Otherwise, in a loss-and-damage agreement tomorrow, someone could argue that according to this attribution study, only 10 per cent of the disaster was caused by climate change. So, we will only pay you 10 per cent of the cost," Narain said. Loss and damage refers to irreversible impacts of climate change.

Environmental Clearance System in India: A Call for Radical Overhaul by Sunita Narain

In a candid revelation to PTI, Sunita Narain, the renowned environmentalist and director general of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), voiced her strong critique of India's environmental clearance system. Stressing the system's ineffectiveness, Narain advocated for a complete shutdown, urging a reformation to reconcile environmental conservation with development needs. Broken Beyond Repair Narain described the current mechanism for granting environmental and forest clearances, along with penalizing polluters, as 'broken beyond repair'. Highlighting the superficiality of the environmental impact assessments, she pointed out the lack of accountability and transparency in the process. Narain criticized the environmental clearance committees for laying down conditions without ensuring compliance or making information public. Furthermore, she raised concerns over the understaffed regional offices of the environment ministry, which lack the capacity to monitor and enforce compliance effectively. Hydropower Projects in the Himalayas: A Case in Point The construction of consecutive hydropower projects in the Himalayas served as a prime example of the system's failures. Narain called the environmental clearance process for these projects a 'sham', emphasizing the detrimental re-engineering of rivers like the Ganga. Each project, cleared by separate committees without a holistic view of the cumulative impact, exemplifies the flawed approach to environmental preservation under the current clearance system. Looking Towards the Future Narain urged a redesign of the environmental clearance system fit for the 21st century, aiming to return to the original goal of mitigating adverse environmental impacts. She also stressed the importance of developing a globally accepted methodology for climate attribution studies to avoid politicization and ensure fair compensation in future loss-and-damage agreements. This call for reform highlights the need for a balanced approach that honors both environmental sustainability and development objectives, a challenge that India faces amidst rapid modernization and climate change. As the dialogue around environmental governance grows louder, Narain's critique presents an opportunity for reflection and action. Her insights compel us to reconsider our strategies for environmental preservation and development, advocating for a system that is transparent, accountable, and effective. The path forward requires a collective effort to reimagine and reconstruct our approach to environmental clearances, ensuring that it serves the planet and its people equitably.

Delhi Budget: Solar is govt’s new mantra for cheaper, reliable power

Atishi said that the government’s power subsidy scheme will continue in 2024-25, allowing a large population of Delhi’s consumers to continue receiving zero electricity bills The Delhi government will set up solar plants on the rooftops of all government buildings in 2024-25 to give a targetted push towards green energy, finance minister Atishi said during the Delhi Budget address on Monday, adding that a target of generating 4500 MW or around 25% of Delhi’s total power supply through solar energy by 2027 has been set. Atishi added that the government’s power subsidy scheme will continue in 2024-25, allowing a large population of Delhi’s consumers to continue receiving zero electricity bills. The Delhi government has allocated ₹3,353 crore, the budget estimate to the power sector for the financial year 2024-25, a marginal increase from ₹3,348 crore allocated last year (BE). The revised estimate for last year was ₹3,446 crore. Atishi said there were around 5.86 million domestic electricity consumers in Delhi, out of which around 68.33% or 4.02 million domestic electricity consumers are receiving benefits of the subsidy from the Delhi government. Out of these, over 2.2 million consumers were also receiving zero bills, she said. “In 2023, around 3.41 crores (34.1 million) zero electricity bills were issued to consumers. We will continue this subsidy scheme this year also,” Atishi said during her speech, adding that the government was inspired by the principles of “Ram Rajya”, where the “government’s responsibility was not just towards the people but also the environment”. Additionally, the government said it has planned a sustained push towards green energy and the Delhi Solar Policy 2024 will be notified soon. According to the policy, any consumer using more than 400 units of electricity can receive zero bills if they install adequate solar panels. “The government will not only give subsidies for installation of solar panels but also give money for per unit electricity production from solar panels. Today, about 30% of Delhi’s power supply comes from green and renewable energy. At present, 255 MW of electricity in Delhi is produced from rooftop solar power plants and around 1,280 government buildings have solar rooftop plants installed on them. I am delighted to share that by 2024-25, every building under the Delhi government will have solar plants on its roof,” she said, adding that an ambitious target of achieving 4,500 MW from solar rooftops by 2027 — around 25% of Delhi’s total power supply — has been set. Atishi said that in 2014, the residents of Delhi were grappling with power outages when the peak power demand was around 5,800 MW. “Delhi was able to meet a peak power demand of 7,438 MW on August 22 last year, without any load shedding... not only had the government managed to keep electricity prices and bills low, but the power distribution companies were also faring well,” the minister added. “In the January rating released by the central government, all three discoms (distribution companies) in Delhi received an ‘A+ rating.’ Delhi’s Discoms rank among the top three in the country... All of them operate at a profit and the people receive free electricity. If this is not Ram Rajya, what is?” she added. Experts said that the target of 4,500 MW by 2027 was ambitious — one that will require substantial support from citizens. ”Even if all Delhi government buildings are covered, the target is not likely to be met and one would still require Delhiites to adopt solar rooftop panels, in line with the new policy. We also have to ensure there is proper planning in terms of strengthening the distribution network as excess energy will be pumped back into the grid,” said Binit Das, deputy programme manager, renewable energy, Centre for Science and Environment. Meanwhile, Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party chief Virendra Sachdeva said that the finance minister was misleading the residents of Delhi by saying that the Kejriwal government was providing power subsidy to 2.2 million consumers even as discoms made a profit.