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Ensure Adequate Hygiene, Safe Toilets By 2030, FG Tasks Stakeholders

In a collaborative effort between the Federal Ministry of Environment (FME) and the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation (FMWR&S), stakeholders and the public have been tasked with accelerating efforts to ensure that every Nigerian has access to adequate hygiene and safe toilets by 2030. During the press briefing for the 2023 World Toilet Day (WTD) in Abuja, titled ‘Accelerating Change,’ the Minister of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas highlighted that the issues of open defecation in Nigeria are no longer acceptable. He emphasised that sanitation is a human right, and access to these services is crucial for people’s health, business, and the environment. The theme for this year’s World Toilet Day, “Accelerating Change,” aims to inspire individuals to take personal action in improving toilets and sanitation systems. Abbas stressed that every sector and every Nigerian has a role to play in addressing the sanitation crisis. Toilets, according to Abbas, are fundamental to public health, playing a crucial role in protecting the environment by removing human waste away from homes hygienically. However, he lamented that toilets and the supporting sanitation systems are neglected in many parts of the world, including Nigeria, with dire consequences for health, economics and the environment, especially in marginalised communities. Abbas disclosed alarming statistics, noting that about 4.2 billion people worldwide live without safe toilets, and approximately 48 million Nigerians still practice open defecation, using the bush and water bodies for waste disposal. This practice extends to many public and private institutions that lack functional sanitary facilities. The consequences of poor excreta and sewage disposal include a high rate of diarrhoea diseases, the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children under the age of five. Cholera outbreaks, according to Abbas, are also a manifestation of inadequate toilet facilities. He emphasised that these issues could be mitigated through safe excreta disposal by individuals. The Federal Government of Nigeria, Abbas assured, remained committed to addressing sanitation challenges and ensuring proper excreta management. The FME will continue interventions to control open defecation and promote the provision of safe and adequate toilets across the country, particularly in public places. To strengthen the capacity of environmental health officers, the Ministry has renewed a memorandum of understanding with the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), India, focusing on technology transfer, technical assistance, capacity building and research development in water, sanitation and environmental management. The CSE has conducted specialised training on affordable toilet designs and feacal sludge management for Environmental Health Officers and Sanitation Desk Officers. Abbas urged stakeholders and commercial entities, including shopping malls, to take measures to ensure everyone has access to toilets in their domains. He solicited support from development partners, NGOs, CSOs, the organised private sector and the public for the sanitation programmes of the Federal Ministry of Environment. In his address, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev highlighted the global significance of the World Toilet Day theme, “Accelerating Change.” He pointed out the poor progress made globally towards meeting the goals of the water, sanitation and hygiene sector under the targets set by SDG6.1 and 6.2. According to the 2023 update report of the WHO/UNICEF joint monitoring programme, an estimated 3.5 billion people worldwide lack access to safe toilets, and over 40% of wastewater is discharged into the environment without treatment. In Nigeria, over 100 million people lack access to basic sanitation, and an estimated 48 million practice open defecation. Utsev stressed that access to adequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services is crucial for the socio-economic development of any nation, impacting human capital outcomes such as early childhood survival, health and educational attainment. He encouraged everyone to do more to attain the 2025 target date of ending open defecation in Nigeria. Representing the Minister of Works, David Umahi, the director overseeing the permanent secretary of the ministry, Omotayo Olusanya emphasised the contagious impact of poor sanitation on the environment. He reiterated the importance of World Toilet Day in raising awareness and fostering collective responsibility for improved sanitation practices.

沦为全球空气污染最严重的城市，印度首都怎么了？

11月12日-11月16日，印度迎来了本年度最盛大的节日——排灯节。节日期间，家家户户都会点亮蜡烛或油灯，还会燃放烟花爆竹，人们期望光明驱逐黑暗、善良战胜邪恶、智慧击败无知。 然而，在节庆的狂欢之下，印度本就严峻的空气质量问题，雪上加霜。 12日当天晚上，浓浓的烟雾笼罩着首都新德里，午夜过后，仍不时传来烟花爆竹响声，空气中弥漫着厚重的硝烟味。 印度排灯节放烟花的人。（图源：社交媒体） 追踪空气质量的瑞士组织IQAir的数据显示，印度首都新德里的空气质量指数在11月13日一度达惊人的420点，位列全球十大空气污染最严重的城市之首。 除了新德里，还有两座印度城市在排灯节期间跻身这个榜单。分别是印度金融中心孟买（排名第六，AQI为157），东部的加尔各答（排名第七，AQI为154）。 用印度媒体的话形容，这里的空气质量“已经上升到威胁人类健康的程度”。 美国芝加哥大学能源政策研究所（EPIC）的研究也表明，自2013年以来，全球空气污染中的增量，近6成来源于印度。 当地的医疗工作者们表示，每天在这样的空气中生活，相当于吸25-30支香烟。人长时间暴露在高浓度污染物中会刺激皮肤和眼睛，可能导致严重的神经、心血管和呼吸系统疾病，增加死亡风险。 印度政府有何解决办法呢？ “空气末日” 雾霾给印度首都镀上了一层灰蒙蒙的褐色滤镜。 玛卡一家在新德里已经居住了十几年，她见证了这座城市的空气状况是如何越来越糟的。 “每到这个季节，整座城市都被黑暗的雾气笼罩，”玛卡说，“那场景仿佛时刻提醒我们，正生活在空气末日之中。” 一名孕妇干脆用胶带封住了家中所有窗缝，并全天开启空气净化器；一位父亲想为孩子寻找空气净化器，但整座城市都在缺货。 印度新德里，孩子们捂着脸以防空气污染。（图源：社交媒体） 据路透社报道，一位花店的店主说，这段时间室内绿植的销量翻了一番。 拥有3300万多万人口的新德里，近年来连续4次被评为全球污染最严重的首都。根据IQAir提供的数据，全球100个污染最严重的城市有63个在印度。 由于当地风速小、降水少，车辆尾气、工业生产、建筑粉尘、焚烧农作物残渣所带来的污染物难以散去，新德里常年处于严重污染水平，PM2.5浓度也一度为安全上限的7倍。 印度中央污染控制委员会称，新德里今年10月份的污染水平，是2020年以来最严重的。芝加哥大学能源政策研究所发布的报告还指出，新德里居民由于空气质量问题，寿命可能会缩短11.9年。 尽管印度政府早早就劝导民众在排灯节期间不要燃放演化爆竹，同时也下令取缔贩卖爆竹的摊贩，但不少民众仍然无视这一禁令。 排灯节傍晚，新德里街头就传出爆竹声响，入夜后更加密集，夜空也不时被烟火照亮，还有民众自制的小型天灯，空气弥漫硝烟味。 据新德里当地的消防局通报，排灯节以来，一晚上就接获208通火警报案电话，其中至少有22件与民众燃放爆竹与烟火有关。 许多民众表示失望，他们认为当地执法部门未严格执行烟花禁令。 玛卡的邻居计划明年举家搬迁，因为孩子不能适应这里的空气环境，已经出现呼吸苦难的症状。“这里的空气污染不只危险和可怕，我认为留在这里，对我们孩子的未来而言，并不公平。”邻居说。 政府出手 为了解决空气问题，印度政府出台了一系列政策，但到目前为止，这些措施效果有限。 在这一次排灯节来临之前，新德里市政府从11月3日开始就要求全市所有小学停课，同时还要求建筑工地停工，私家车实施单双号限行，并多次呼吁民众不要燃放烟花爆竹。 新德里的街头（图源：社交媒体） 印度最高法院也于11月7日宣布，禁止新德里周边各邦农民焚烧农作物秸秆。 然而，这些举措似乎没有什么用，仍有不少民众无视政府的禁令，在空气污染严重的情况下，继续燃点烟火及蜡烛等庆祝。 据当地媒体报道，一些印度教徒对排灯节禁令感到不满，认为这是试图干扰他们庆祝宗教节日。 医护人员也在抱怨，他们表示，大批市民患上哮喘等呼吸道疾病，更有甚者有生命危险。 新德里一间医院的高级顾问迪帕克表示：“医院内的病人正在遭受痛苦。作为一个社会，我们还不了解清洁空气的价值。”在他看来，排灯节期间空气质量只会比平时更糟糕，燃烧烟花所产生的烟雾，可能会导致眼睛发痒和喉咙发炎。 为了治理空气，新德里有两座“烟雾塔”，每座耗资200多万美元。所谓“烟雾塔”即带有巨型风扇的空气净化系统，每秒可过滤1000立方米的空气，但研究表明，它们只能净化周围几百米内的空气，对整座城市来说基本没有什么效果。 印度政府甚至想用人工降雨来解决空气问题。 据《印度斯坦时报》报道，新德里政府已经考虑引入人工降雨技术，带走笼罩在首都上空的颗粒物。他们计划在多云的情况下撒播碘化银，借此催化云层中的冷水滴，凝固成冰晶，最后滴落成雨。 目前，这个人工降雨方案已经提交给印度最高法院，如若通过且天气条件允许，将在11月20日或21日实施。 但科学家们对于该方案的有效性仍存在疑问。在不少专家看来，如果不切断污染源，人工降雨的方案治标不治本。 被浓雾笼罩的印度首都街头。（图源：社交媒体） “这根本不是一种解决方案，而只是一种暂时的缓解措施。”新德里科学与环境中心研究员阿维卡尔说。 很多观点认为，新德里的空气污染与周边农民燃烧农作物有关系，但专家们认为，还有不少其它污染源一直得不到足够的重视。 阿维卡尔表示，即使在空气最糟糕的日子里，农作物燃烧产生的烟雾也只占首都污染的三分之一左右。停止农田焚烧并不能使烟雾消失，因为周边地区还有其它污染活动，包括燃煤发电、砖窑、垃圾焚烧、家庭使用木材和木炭做饭等等。 印度能源和清洁空气研究中心的分析师达希亚也表示，其实在过去五年里，新德里周边地区燃烧麦秆的情况已大幅减少，但由于人口增长，包括建筑施工和低效炉灶在内的其他污染源正变得更加严重。 达希亚举例称，新德里周边运营的发电厂本应安装污染控制装置，但由于执行不力，大多数发电厂根本没有安装。 早在2019年，印度政府就启动国家清洁空气计划，提出到2024年，将102个空气质量不达标城市的空气污染水平，在2017年基础上降低20%至30%。 但从目前的情况来看，由于缺乏更好的监管和规划，印度首都及其周边的空气状况看不到任何明显改善。 “我最担心的是，有生之年再也看不到一个没有雾霾的首都了。”阿维卡尔说。

沦为全球空气污染最严重的城市，印度首都怎么了？

11月12日-11月16日，印度迎来了本年度最盛大的节日——排灯节。节日期间，家家户户都会点亮蜡烛或油灯，还会燃放烟花爆竹，人们期望光明驱逐黑暗、善良战胜邪恶、智慧击败无知。 然而，在节庆的狂欢之下，印度本就严峻的空气质量问题，雪上加霜。 12日当天晚上，浓浓的烟雾笼罩着首都新德里，午夜过后，仍不时传来烟花爆竹响声，空气中弥漫着厚重的硝烟味。 印度排灯节放烟花的人。（图源：社交媒体） 追踪空气质量的瑞士组织IQAir的数据显示，印度首都新德里的空气质量指数在11月13日一度达惊人的420点，位列全球十大空气污染最严重的城市之首。 除了新德里，还有两座印度城市在排灯节期间跻身这个榜单。分别是印度金融中心孟买（排名第六，AQI为157），东部的加尔各答（排名第七，AQI为154）。 用印度媒体的话形容，这里的空气质量“已经上升到威胁人类健康的程度”。 美国芝加哥大学能源政策研究所（EPIC）的研究也表明，自2013年以来，全球空气污染中的增量，近6成来源于印度。 当地的医疗工作者们表示，每天在这样的空气中生活，相当于吸25-30支香烟。人长时间暴露在高浓度污染物中会刺激皮肤和眼睛，可能导致严重的神经、心血管和呼吸系统疾病，增加死亡风险。 印度政府有何解决办法呢？ “空气末日” 雾霾给印度首都镀上了一层灰蒙蒙的褐色滤镜。 玛卡一家在新德里已经居住了十几年，她见证了这座城市的空气状况是如何越来越糟的。 “每到这个季节，整座城市都被黑暗的雾气笼罩，”玛卡说，“那场景仿佛时刻提醒我们，正生活在空气末日之中。” 一名孕妇干脆用胶带封住了家中所有窗缝，并全天开启空气净化器；一位父亲想为孩子寻找空气净化器，但整座城市都在缺货。 印度新德里，孩子们捂着脸以防空气污染。（图源：社交媒体） 据路透社报道，一位花店的店主说，这段时间室内绿植的销量翻了一番。 拥有3300万多万人口的新德里，近年来连续4次被评为全球污染最严重的首都。根据IQAir提供的数据，全球100个污染最严重的城市有63个在印度。 由于当地风速小、降水少，车辆尾气、工业生产、建筑粉尘、焚烧农作物残渣所带来的污染物难以散去，新德里常年处于严重污染水平，PM2.5浓度也一度为安全上限的7倍。 印度中央污染控制委员会称，新德里今年10月份的污染水平，是2020年以来最严重的。芝加哥大学能源政策研究所发布的报告还指出，新德里居民由于空气质量问题，寿命可能会缩短11.9年。 尽管印度政府早早就劝导民众在排灯节期间不要燃放演化爆竹，同时也下令取缔贩卖爆竹的摊贩，但不少民众仍然无视这一禁令。 排灯节傍晚，新德里街头就传出爆竹声响，入夜后更加密集，夜空也不时被烟火照亮，还有民众自制的小型天灯，空气弥漫硝烟味。 据新德里当地的消防局通报，排灯节以来，一晚上就接获208通火警报案电话，其中至少有22件与民众燃放爆竹与烟火有关。 许多民众表示失望，他们认为当地执法部门未严格执行烟花禁令。 玛卡的邻居计划明年举家搬迁，因为孩子不能适应这里的空气环境，已经出现呼吸苦难的症状。“这里的空气污染不只危险和可怕，我认为留在这里，对我们孩子的未来而言，并不公平。”邻居说。 政府出手 为了解决空气问题，印度政府出台了一系列政策，但到目前为止，这些措施效果有限。 在这一次排灯节来临之前，新德里市政府从11月3日开始就要求全市所有小学停课，同时还要求建筑工地停工，私家车实施单双号限行，并多次呼吁民众不要燃放烟花爆竹。 新德里的街头（图源：社交媒体） 印度最高法院也于11月7日宣布，禁止新德里周边各邦农民焚烧农作物秸秆。 然而，这些举措似乎没有什么用，仍有不少民众无视政府的禁令，在空气污染严重的情况下，继续燃点烟火及蜡烛等庆祝。 据当地媒体报道，一些印度教徒对排灯节禁令感到不满，认为这是试图干扰他们庆祝宗教节日。 医护人员也在抱怨，他们表示，大批市民患上哮喘等呼吸道疾病，更有甚者有生命危险。 新德里一间医院的高级顾问迪帕克表示：“医院内的病人正在遭受痛苦。作为一个社会，我们还不了解清洁空气的价值。”在他看来，排灯节期间空气质量只会比平时更糟糕，燃烧烟花所产生的烟雾，可能会导致眼睛发痒和喉咙发炎。 为了治理空气，新德里有两座“烟雾塔”，每座耗资200多万美元。所谓“烟雾塔”即带有巨型风扇的空气净化系统，每秒可过滤1000立方米的空气，但研究表明，它们只能净化周围几百米内的空气，对整座城市来说基本没有什么效果。 印度政府甚至想用人工降雨来解决空气问题。 据《印度斯坦时报》报道，新德里政府已经考虑引入人工降雨技术，带走笼罩在首都上空的颗粒物。他们计划在多云的情况下撒播碘化银，借此催化云层中的冷水滴，凝固成冰晶，最后滴落成雨。 目前，这个人工降雨方案已经提交给印度最高法院，如若通过且天气条件允许，将在11月20日或21日实施。 但科学家们对于该方案的有效性仍存在疑问。在不少专家看来，如果不切断污染源，人工降雨的方案治标不治本。 被浓雾笼罩的印度首都街头。（图源：社交媒体） “这根本不是一种解决方案，而只是一种暂时的缓解措施。”新德里科学与环境中心研究员阿维卡尔说。 很多观点认为，新德里的空气污染与周边农民燃烧农作物有关系，但专家们认为，还有不少其它污染源一直得不到足够的重视。 阿维卡尔表示，即使在空气最糟糕的日子里，农作物燃烧产生的烟雾也只占首都污染的三分之一左右。停止农田焚烧并不能使烟雾消失，因为周边地区还有其它污染活动，包括燃煤发电、砖窑、垃圾焚烧、家庭使用木材和木炭做饭等等。 印度能源和清洁空气研究中心的分析师达希亚也表示，其实在过去五年里，新德里周边地区燃烧麦秆的情况已大幅减少，但由于人口增长，包括建筑施工和低效炉灶在内的其他污染源正变得更加严重。 达希亚举例称，新德里周边运营的发电厂本应安装污染控制装置，但由于执行不力，大多数发电厂根本没有安装。 早在2019年，印度政府就启动国家清洁空气计划，提出到2024年，将102个空气质量不达标城市的空气污染水平，在2017年基础上降低20%至30%。 但从目前的情况来看，由于缺乏更好的监管和规划，印度首都及其周边的空气状况看不到任何明显改善。 “我最担心的是，有生之年再也看不到一个没有雾霾的首都了。”阿维卡尔说

沦为全球空气污染最严重的城市，印度首都怎么了？

11月12日-11月16日，印度迎来了本年度最盛大的节日——排灯节。节日期间，家家户户都会点亮蜡烛或油灯，还会燃放烟花爆竹，人们期望光明驱逐黑暗、善良战胜邪恶、智慧击败无知。 　　 然而，在节庆的狂欢之下，印度本就严峻的空气质量问题，雪上加霜。 　　 12日当天晚上，浓浓的烟雾笼罩着首都新德里，午夜过后，仍不时传来烟花爆竹响声，空气中弥漫着厚重的硝烟味。 　　 　　 追踪空气质量的瑞士组织IQAir的数据显示，印度首都新德里的空气质量指数在11月13日一度达惊人的420点，位列全球十大空气污染最严重的城市之首。 　　 除了新德里，还有两座印度城市在排灯节期间跻身这个榜单。分别是印度金融中心孟买(排名第六，AQI为157)，东部的加尔各答(排名第七，AQI为154)。 　　 用印度媒体的话形容，这里的空气质量“已经上升到威胁人类健康的程度”。 　　 美国芝加哥大学能源政策研究所(EPIC)的研究也表明，自2013年以来，全球空气污染中的增量，近6成来源于印度。 　　 当地的医疗工作者们表示，每天在这样的空气中生活，相当于吸25-30支香烟。人长时间暴露在高浓度污染物中会刺激皮肤和眼睛，可能导致严重的神经、心血管和呼吸系统疾病，增加死亡风险。 　　 印度政府有何解决办法呢？ 　　 “空气末日” 　　 雾霾给印度首都镀上了一层灰蒙蒙的褐色滤镜。 　　 玛卡一家在新德里已经居住了十几年，她见证了这座城市的空气状况是如何越来越糟的。 　　 “每到这个季节，整座城市都被黑暗的雾气笼罩，”玛卡说，“那场景仿佛时刻提醒我们，正生活在空气末日之中。” 　　 一名孕妇干脆用胶带封住了家中所有窗缝，并全天开启空气净化器；一位父亲想为孩子寻找空气净化器，但整座城市都在缺货。 　　 　　 据路透社报道，一位花店的店主说，这段时间室内绿植的销量翻了一番。 　　 拥有3300万多万人口的新德里，近年来连续4次被评为全球污染最严重的首都。根据IQAir提供的数据，全球100个污染最严重的城市有63个在印度。 　　 由于当地风速小、降水少，车辆尾气、工业生产、建筑粉尘、焚烧农作物残渣所带来的污染物难以散去，新德里常年处于严重污染水平，PM2.5浓度也一度为安全上限的7倍。 　　 印度中央污染控制委员会称，新德里今年10月份的污染水平，是2020年以来最严重的。芝加哥大学能源政策研究所发布的报告还指出，新德里居民由于空气质量问题，寿命可能会缩短11.9年。 　　 尽管印度政府早早就劝导民众在排灯节期间不要燃放演化爆竹，同时也下令取缔贩卖爆竹的摊贩，但不少民众仍然无视这一禁令。 　　 排灯节傍晚，新德里街头就传出爆竹声响，入夜后更加密集，夜空也不时被烟火照亮，还有民众自制的小型天灯，空气弥漫硝烟味。 　　 据新德里当地的消防局通报，排灯节以来，一晚上就接获208通火警报案电话，其中至少有22件与民众燃放爆竹与烟火有关。 　　 许多民众表示失望，他们认为当地执法部门未严格执行烟花禁令。 　　 玛卡的邻居计划明年举家搬迁，因为孩子不能适应这里的空气环境，已经出现呼吸苦难的症状。“这里的空气污染不只危险和可怕，我认为留在这里，对我们孩子的未来而言，并不公平。”邻居说。 　　 政府出手 　　 为了解决空气问题，印度政府出台了一系列政策，但到目前为止，这些措施效果有限。 　　 在这一次排灯节来临之前，新德里市政府从11月3日开始就要求全市所有小学停课，同时还要求建筑工地停工，私家车实施单双号限行，并多次呼吁民众不要燃放烟花爆竹。 　　 　　 印度最高法院也于11月7日宣布，禁止新德里周边各邦农民焚烧农作物秸秆。 　　 然而，这些举措似乎没有什么用，仍有不少民众无视政府的禁令，在空气污染严重的情况下，继续燃点烟火及蜡烛等庆祝。 　　 据当地媒体报道，一些印度教徒对排灯节禁令感到不满，认为这是试图干扰他们庆祝宗教节日。 　　 医护人员也在抱怨，他们表示，大批市民患上哮喘等呼吸道疾病，更有甚者有生命危险。 　　 新德里一间医院的高级顾问迪帕克表示：“医院内的病人正在遭受痛苦。作为一个社会，我们还不了解清洁空气的价值。”在他看来，排灯节期间空气质量只会比平时更糟糕，燃烧烟花所产生的烟雾，可能会导致眼睛发痒和喉咙发炎。 　　 为了治理空气，新德里有两座“烟雾塔”，每座耗资200多万美元。所谓“烟雾塔”即带有巨型风扇的空气净化系统，每秒可过滤1000立方米的空气，但研究表明，它们只能净化周围几百米内的空气，对整座城市来说基本没有什么效果。 　　 印度政府甚至想用人工降雨来解决空气问题。 　　 据《印度斯坦时报》报道，新德里政府已经考虑引入人工降雨技术，带走笼罩在首都上空的颗粒物。他们计划在多云的情况下撒播碘化银，借此催化云层中的冷水滴，凝固成冰晶，最后滴落成雨。 　　 目前，这个人工降雨方案已经提交给印度最高法院，如若通过且天气条件允许，将在11月20日或21日实施。 　　 但科学家们对于该方案的有效性仍存在疑问。在不少专家看来，如果不切断污染源，人工降雨的方案治标不治本。 　　 　　 “这根本不是一种解决方案，而只是一种暂时的缓解措施。”新德里科学与环境中心研究员阿维卡尔说。 　　 很多观点认为，新德里的空气污染与周边农民燃烧农作物有关系，但专家们认为，还有不少其它污染源一直得不到足够的重视。 　　 阿维卡尔表示，即使在空气最糟糕的日子里，农作物燃烧产生的烟雾也只占首都污染的三分之一左右。停止农田焚烧并不能使烟雾消失，因为周边地区还有其它污染活动，包括燃煤发电、砖窑、垃圾焚烧、家庭使用木材和木炭做饭等等。 　　 印度能源和清洁空气研究中心的分析师达希亚也表示，其实在过去五年里，新德里周边地区燃烧麦秆的情况已大幅减少，但由于人口增长，包括建筑施工和低效炉灶在内的其他污染源正变得更加严重。 　　 达希亚举例称，新德里周边运营的发电厂本应安装污染控制装置，但由于执行不力，大多数发电厂根本没有安装。 　　 早在2019年，印度政府就启动国家清洁空气计划，提出到2024年，将102个空气质量不达标城市的空气污染水平，在2017年基础上降低20%至30%。 　　 但从目前的情况来看，由于缺乏更好的监管和规划，印度首都及其周边的空气状况看不到任何明显改善。 　　 “我最担心的是，有生之年再也看不到一个没有雾霾的首都了。”阿维卡尔说。 责任编辑：cnfol001标签烟雾污染源禁令 热门搜索 郑州抓获涉传销人员130余人 江西挖出巨型阴沉木 76集团军在高原进行演习 大熊猫国家公园正式获批 NHK自揭731细菌战暴行 全国建2442公里红色旅游公路 为您推荐 李东生出席首届《财富》创新论坛：以全球产业布局破解贸易保护主义 复星“深挖矿”筑牢高质量发展基底 2023收入利润双增长 先健科技公布2023年度业绩：国际业务增长强劲，创新驱动稳健发展 聆听亚洲声音 恒昌九度绽放博鳌亚洲论坛共促新质生产力 连连数字港股上市首日破发跌7.63% 净募资5.48亿港元 港股异动 | 零跑汽车(09863)尾盘涨超7% 全年毛利率首次转正 ... 佩蒂股份(300673.SZ)：具备了中国、东南亚和新西兰多国制造，零... SIGEP China携手冰淇淋烘焙咖啡品牌与您相聚4月24日深圳福田 3月28日老凤祥黄金673元/克 铂金365元/克 P2P钱包余额互换，助力国际友人畅享移动支付 九方财富港股跌4.39% 2023年上市首年净利降58.6% 瑞玛精密(002976.SZ)：通过直接或间接方式向客户供应精密结构件... 云汉芯城与全球手工焊接技术品牌Weller达成合作 VESYNC(02148)发布年度业绩 股东应占溢利7748.1万美元... 助推品质生活新升级，小天鹅全新推出硬核智炫S11挂机空调 净利润增长近5成 招金矿业“猛吸金” 今年多项目重点推进

沦为全球空气污染最严重的城市，印度首都怎么了？

本文来源：时代周报 作者：马欢 11月12日-11月16日，印度迎来了本年度最盛大的节日——排灯节。节日期间，家家户户都会点亮蜡烛或油灯，还会燃放烟花爆竹，人们期望光明驱逐黑暗、善良战胜邪恶、智慧击败无知。 然而，在节庆的狂欢之下，印度本就严峻的空气质量问题，雪上加霜。 12日当天晚上，浓浓的烟雾笼罩着首都新德里，午夜过后，仍不时传来烟花爆竹响声，空气中弥漫着厚重的硝烟味。 印度排灯节放烟花的人。（图源：社交媒体） 追踪空气质量的瑞士组织IQAir的数据显示，印度首都新德里的空气质量指数在11月13日一度达惊人的420点，位列全球十大空气污染最严重的城市之首。 除了新德里，还有两座印度城市在排灯节期间跻身这个榜单。分别是印度金融中心孟买（排名第六，AQI为157），东部的加尔各答（排名第七，AQI为154）。 用印度媒体的话形容，这里的空气质量“已经上升到威胁人类健康的程度”。 美国芝加哥大学能源政策研究所（EPIC）的研究也表明，自2013年以来，全球空气污染中的增量，近6成来源于印度。 当地的医疗工作者们表示，每天在这样的空气中生活，相当于吸25-30支香烟。人长时间暴露在高浓度污染物中会刺激皮肤和眼睛，可能导致严重的神经、心血管和呼吸系统疾病，增加死亡风险。 印度政府有何解决办法呢？ “空气末日” 雾霾给印度首都镀上了一层灰蒙蒙的褐色滤镜。 玛卡一家在新德里已经居住了十几年，她见证了这座城市的空气状况是如何越来越糟的。 “每到这个季节，整座城市都被黑暗的雾气笼罩，”玛卡说，“那场景仿佛时刻提醒我们，正生活在空气末日之中。” 一名孕妇干脆用胶带封住了家中所有窗缝，并全天开启空气净化器；一位父亲想为孩子寻找空气净化器，但整座城市都在缺货。 印度新德里，孩子们捂着脸以防空气污染。（图源：社交媒体） 据路透社报道，一位花店的店主说，这段时间室内绿植的销量翻了一番。 拥有3300万多万人口的新德里，近年来连续4次被评为全球污染最严重的首都。根据IQAir提供的数据，全球100个污染最严重的城市有63个在印度。 由于当地风速小、降水少，车辆尾气、工业生产、建筑粉尘、焚烧农作物残渣所带来的污染物难以散去，新德里常年处于严重污染水平，PM2.5浓度也一度为安全上限的7倍。 印度中央污染控制委员会称，新德里今年10月份的污染水平，是2020年以来最严重的。芝加哥大学能源政策研究所发布的报告还指出，新德里居民由于空气质量问题，寿命可能会缩短11.9年。 尽管印度政府早早就劝导民众在排灯节期间不要燃放演化爆竹，同时也下令取缔贩卖爆竹的摊贩，但不少民众仍然无视这一禁令。 排灯节傍晚，新德里街头就传出爆竹声响，入夜后更加密集，夜空也不时被烟火照亮，还有民众自制的小型天灯，空气弥漫硝烟味。 据新德里当地的消防局通报，排灯节以来，一晚上就接获208通火警报案电话，其中至少有22件与民众燃放爆竹与烟火有关。 许多民众表示失望，他们认为当地执法部门未严格执行烟花禁令。 玛卡的邻居计划明年举家搬迁，因为孩子不能适应这里的空气环境，已经出现呼吸苦难的症状。“这里的空气污染不只危险和可怕，我认为留在这里，对我们孩子的未来而言，并不公平。”邻居说。 政府出手 为了解决空气问题，印度政府出台了一系列政策，但到目前为止，这些措施效果有限。 在这一次排灯节来临之前，新德里市政府从11月3日开始就要求全市所有小学停课，同时还要求建筑工地停工，私家车实施单双号限行，并多次呼吁民众不要燃放烟花爆竹。 新德里的街头（图源：社交媒体） 印度最高法院也于11月7日宣布，禁止新德里周边各邦农民焚烧农作物秸秆。 然而，这些举措似乎没有什么用，仍有不少民众无视政府的禁令，在空气污染严重的情况下，继续燃点烟火及蜡烛等庆祝。 据当地媒体报道，一些印度教徒对排灯节禁令感到不满，认为这是试图干扰他们庆祝宗教节日。 医护人员也在抱怨，他们表示，大批市民患上哮喘等呼吸道疾病，更有甚者有生命危险。 新德里一间医院的高级顾问迪帕克表示：“医院内的病人正在遭受痛苦。作为一个社会，我们还不了解清洁空气的价值。”在他看来，排灯节期间空气质量只会比平时更糟糕，燃烧烟花所产生的烟雾，可能会导致眼睛发痒和喉咙发炎。 为了治理空气，新德里有两座“烟雾塔”，每座耗资200多万美元。所谓“烟雾塔”即带有巨型风扇的空气净化系统，每秒可过滤1000立方米的空气，但研究表明，它们只能净化周围几百米内的空气，对整座城市来说基本没有什么效果。 印度政府甚至想用人工降雨来解决空气问题。 据《印度斯坦时报》报道，新德里政府已经考虑引入人工降雨技术，带走笼罩在首都上空的颗粒物。他们计划在多云的情况下撒播碘化银，借此催化云层中的冷水滴，凝固成冰晶，最后滴落成雨。 目前，这个人工降雨方案已经提交给印度最高法院，如若通过且天气条件允许，将在11月20日或21日实施。 但科学家们对于该方案的有效性仍存在疑问。在不少专家看来，如果不切断污染源，人工降雨的方案治标不治本。 被浓雾笼罩的印度首都街头。（图源：社交媒体） “这根本不是一种解决方案，而只是一种暂时的缓解措施。”新德里科学与环境中心研究员阿维卡尔说。 很多观点认为，新德里的空气污染与周边农民燃烧农作物有关系，但专家们认为，还有不少其它污染源一直得不到足够的重视。 阿维卡尔表示，即使在空气最糟糕的日子里，农作物燃烧产生的烟雾也只占首都污染的三分之一左右。停止农田焚烧并不能使烟雾消失，因为周边地区还有其它污染活动，包括燃煤发电、砖窑、垃圾焚烧、家庭使用木材和木炭做饭等等。 印度能源和清洁空气研究中心的分析师达希亚也表示，其实在过去五年里，新德里周边地区燃烧麦秆的情况已大幅减少，但由于人口增长，包括建筑施工和低效炉灶在内的其他污染源正变得更加严重。 达希亚举例称，新德里周边运营的发电厂本应安装污染控制装置，但由于执行不力，大多数发电厂根本没有安装。 早在2019年，印度政府就启动国家清洁空气计划，提出到2024年，将102个空气质量不达标城市的空气污染水平，在2017年基础上降低20%至30%。 但从目前的情况来看，由于缺乏更好的监管和规划，印度首都及其周边的空气状况看不到任何明显改善。 “我最担心的是，有生之年再也看不到一个没有雾霾的首都了。”阿维卡尔说。

Particulate matter in city air 8 times above norms

Kanpur: At 203, air quality index in Kalyanpur area is unhealthy, while in Ashok Nagar, FTI Kidwai Nagar, Gurdev Palace, IIT Kanpur, Keshavpuram, Nehrur Nagar and Panki, the status is poor. The current particulate matter 2.5 concentration in Kanpur is 7.9 times above the recommended limit given by the WHO 24 hours air quality guidelines value. According to details of the report, FTI Kidwai Nagar has highest density PM-10 value at 68. IIT Kanpur and Keshavpuram recorded PM-25 as 119 and PM-10 value as 65 at both places. The current guidelines state annual average concentrations of PM2.5 should not exceed 5 µg/m3, while 24-hour average exposures should not exceed 15 µg/m3 more than 3 - 4 days per year. The level of air pollution had increased on Monday, the day next to Diwali but clear sky and airflow improved the situation. According to regional pollution control board officer Amit Mishra, level of pollution increased a little but situation was under control . The measures adopted earlier had controlled it. He said due to burning of firecrackers over the last three days, level of sulphur, carbon and nitrogen in the air increased . But in comparison to previous years, it was low, said Mishra. Meanwhile, state government released a sum of Rs 82 crore to Kanpur Munipal Corporation to control pollution. The state government had earlier released a sum of Rs 148 crore in two installments and it was spent on purchase of water cannons and equipment, installation of tiles on clay pathways and on developing hanging gardens and green belts at several places in the city. KMC upgraded electric crematorium machines and increased their number so that people could perform the last rites in an environment-friendly manner. Municipal commissioner Shiv Sharanappa said the sum KMC received would be spent on controlling and minimising pollution in the city. We also published the following articles recently Air & sound pollution levels soar during Deepavali daysAir and sound pollution in Bengaluru spiked during the last two days of Deepavali due to widespread bursting of crackers. Quantification of the drop in air quality is underway, with almost all areas of the city experiencing increased pollution levels. The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) tracker recorded high levels of particulate matter in the air, particularly PM 2.5 and PM 10. Meteorological factors, such as sunny days and clear skies, contributed to the pollution spike this year. Efforts to raise awareness and control pollution will continue.105245899 Mumbai Air Pollution: Local factors pollute the air, experts counter BMC chiefEnvironment experts in Mumbai have rejected the claim by municipal commissioner Iqbal Chahal that air pollution in the city is due to global factors. They argue that local sources such as vehicular and industrial pollution are more consistent and responsible for the toxic smog-filled environment. While global phenomena like El Nino may intensify the adverse weather conditions, the experts emphasize the need to focus on reducing local pollution sources through a comprehensive approach by the local administration, state, and central government.105159118 'Need strictness with our control measures': Centre for Science and Environment on increasing pollution in Delhi Post-DiwaliAir pollution levels in Delhi have escalated following Diwali celebrations, with the Air Quality Index falling into the 'Poor' category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. Despite a ban on firecrackers, visuals from various parts of the city showed fireworks lighting up the sky. The air has become still, causing an accumulation of pollution. The government has imposed strict control measures, including a ban on firecrackers and closure of primary classes, to tackle the worsening pollution situation. The concentration of PM 2.5 in the city is 20 times higher than the limit prescribed by the WHO.105183329

State pollution control board to initiate legal action against erring govt bodies

Patna: In a bid to combat air pollution, the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) has decided to initiate legal action against government bodies failing to comply with environment protection laws. According to the Central Pollution Control Board's Air Quality Index (AQI) bulletin of 244 cities issued on November 14, Saran (Chhapra) was the most polluted city in the state, with AQI of 386, followed by Bettiah (345) and Patna (324). The AQI of these cities plunged to 'very poor', which causes respiratory illness on prolonged exposure. BSPCB chairman Devendra Kumar Shukla told PTI on Wednesday, "The air quality has deteriorated in several districts of the state. We are taking all possible measures to combat it. Strict action is being taken against those, including government bodies, failing to comply with the environment protection laws under the existing provisions." "Legal action against government bodies is being initiated under the provisions of Section 48 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, Section 41 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and Section 17 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. All these existing laws deal with the offences (non-compliance of environment protection laws) by government departments," he said. The BSPCB on Tuesday served notice to the Bihta Municipal Council for non-compliance with environment protection laws, he said. The pollution control board has already issued instructions to district administrations concerned to strictly enforce laws to check air pollution in their respective areas, Shukla said. He said the sections of the three above-mentioned Acts state that the head of the department shall be deemed guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be prosecuted against and punished accordingly. "All district magistrates concerned have been asked to identify (pollution) hotspots in their respective districts. All departments concerned have been instructed to depute a nodal officer who will communicate daily with the BSPCB control room on the action taken on the hotspots," the official said. To prohibit uncovered constructions, waste burning, open stockpiles of construction materials along roads, provisions of Section 133 of the Criminal Procedure Code can be initiated against the violators, he added. PTI We also published the following articles recently Many Bihar cities record AQI over 300, BSPCB tells DMs to enforce laws to check air pollutionThe state pollution control board in Bihar has instructed district administrations to enforce laws to combat air pollution as the air quality in several cities across the state has deteriorated. The Central Pollution Control Board's daily Air Quality Index (AQI) bulletin revealed that several districts in Bihar, including Begusarai, Saran, and Patna, had very poor air quality. The AQI assesses air quality based on eight pollutants and an AQI exceeding 300 indicates very poor air quality. The pollution control board has instructed district administrations to address issues such as construction activities, waste management, and agricultural stubble burning.105167198 'Need strictness with our control measures': Centre for Science and Environment on increasing pollution in Delhi Post-DiwaliThe air quality in Delhi has deteriorated to the 'Poor' category following the bursting of firecrackers during Diwali. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is in the 'Very Poor' category in several areas, indicating an increase in pollution levels. The air has become still, causing an accumulation of pollution. The government has imposed a complete ban on firecrackers and is considering artificial rain as a solution to tackle the pollution. The concentration of PM 2.5 in the city is 20 times the limit prescribed by the World Health Organisation.105183329 Air pollution leads to surge in respiratory issuesThe poor air quality in Ludhiana is causing an increase in respiratory issues among residents. Health experts have reported a significant rise in patients seeking treatment for breathing problems. The surge in respiratory problems is attributed to air pollution and changing weather conditions. Patients with pre-existing respiratory ailments such as asthma and TB, as well as new cases, are seeking medical assistance. Additionally, there has been an increase in viral infections and pneumonia cases. Experts advise caution, including avoiding crowded places and wearing masks, when air quality is low.105160197

Met factors help improve AQI, but Gurgaon air still 'poor'

GURGAON: The city's air quality index (AQI) improved to 297 (poor) on Wednesday after staying in the 'very poor' category for two consecutive days. The wind speed was 8kmph on Wednesday, up from 6kmph the day before, which helped pollutants disperse and bring the AQI down from Tuesday's 386. Gurgaon pollution The highest AQI on Wednesday was recorded at the Sector 51 station (309), followed by Teri Gram (300) and Vikas Sadan (281). Data wasn't available at the Gwalpahari station. Track the pollution level in your city While the city's air quality has improved, it is likely to deteriorate in the coming days, according to the Centre's System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). With a dip in temperature as well as wind speed, the AQI is likely to hover between 'very poor' and 'severe' categories, it forecast on Wednesday. "Surface winds with speeds of up to 4kmph-6kmph are expected for the next six days. The AQI in Delhi-NCR will remain 'very poor' or 'severe'," it said. "The improvement in air quality is just temporary. In the coming days, when mercury dips further, local factors will contribute to pollution. With low wind speed, pollutants will linger in the atmosphere, making the air hazardous," said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment. The PM2.5 level was highest in Sector 51 (230 g/m³) on Wednesday, followed by Teri Gram (220 g/m³) and in Vikas Sadan (201 g/m³). The level of PM10 was the highest at Sector 51 (219 g/m³), followed by Teri Gram (204g/m³). Vikas Sadan doesn't record PM10 data, while data of both pollutants wasn't available at the Gwalpahari station. According to CPCB, the annual average permissible limits for PM2.5 and PM10 are 60g/m³ and 100 g/m³, respectively. Satellites detected 62 farm fires in Haryana and 49 in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. The share of stubble burning in Delhi-NCR's PM2.5 was estimated at 23.32% on Wednesday. In this season, the highest farm fires in a single day were reported on November 5 at 3,230. However, the highest per day counts recorded in 2022 were 3,916 on November 11 in Punjab. From September 15 to November 15, Punjab has witnessed 30,661 stubble burning counts this year as opposed to 45,464 in 2022. During the same period, Haryana recorded 1,940 farm fires in 2023 and 3,149 in 2022. In contrast, UP has seen a rise in paddy residue burning events during the same period from 1,457 incidents in 2022 to 2,057 in 2023. As wind direction is likely to shift from north-westerly to easterly, the contribution of biomass burning in the region's PM2.5 is predicted to reduce to 11.72% on Thursday and further to 4.74% on Friday. Meanwhile, Delhi's AQI was at the upper end of 'very poor' category at 397 on Tuesday and it deteriorated further to 'severe' category on Wednesday due to adverse meteorological conditions, including calm winds, low temperature and low mixing layer height, caused accumulation of pollutants. Safdarjung, which is the city's base station, recorded the lowest night temperature of the season on Wednesday at 10.9 degrees Celsius, three degrees below normal. The AQI in adjoining NCR districts remained mostly in 'very poor' category on Wednesday. The readings at the index were 390 at Faridabad, 378 at Ghaziabad, 338 in Greater Noida and 360 in Noida. A thick layer of 'haze' hung over the city in the early hours of morning with visibility of around 500 metres at 7 am at Safdarjung and Palam. However, the visibility improved to over 1,500 metres during the day. "Winds dropped to nil on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning at Safdarjung and Palam. However, light winds at the speed of around 6 kmph at Safdarjung and around 9 kmph at Palam blew during the day, but winds became calm again at these two stations after 5 pm," said Kuldeep Srivastava, scientist and head, Regional Weather Forecasting Centre, India Meteorological Department. He added that calm winds are likely to prevail during the night and early hours of morning on Thursday, while light winds are expected during the daytime. Health experts said that patients with pre-existing respiratory conditions or medical conditions are at more risk now and may also require short hospitalisations. "A surge in PM 2.5 levels is notably detrimental to respiratory health. We are witnessing a rise in patients suffering from respiratory distress, obstructive pulmonary disease, and COPD. Nebulizers, steroids and flu shots are in high demand these days," said Dr Prathiba Dogra, senior consultant (pulmonology) at Marengo Asia Hospital.

US and China agree to triple renewable energy capacity globally by 2030

US and China, two of the largest emitters, have agreed to triple renewable energy capacity globally by 2030 in line with the intention expressed in the G20’s New Delhi Declaration issued this September. They have also suggested that their emissions from the power sector will peak during this decade. China is the largest emitter followed by the US and India based on 2019 data compiled by World Resources Institute. Both countries “support the G20 Leaders Declaration to pursue efforts to triple renewable energy capacity globally by 2030 and intend to sufficiently accelerate renewable energy deployment in their respective economies through 2030 from 2020 levels so as to accelerate the substitution for coal, oil and gas generation,” they said in a joint statement titled “Sunnylands Statement on Enhancing Cooperation to Address the Climate Crisis” released on Tuesday. They also anticipate post-peaking emission reduction from the power sector during this decade. US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and China Special Envoy for Climate Change Xie Zhenhua met in Beijing from 16 to 19 July 2023 and at Sunnylands, California, from 4 to 7 November 2023 which led to these decisions. “The United States and China recognize that the climate crisis has increasingly affected countries around the world. Alarmed by the best available scientific findings including the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, the United States and China remain committed to the effective implementation of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, reflecting equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in light of different national circumstances, to achieve the Paris Agreement’s aim in accordance with its Article 2 to hold the global average temperature increase to well below 2 degrees C and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees C,” read the statement. The statement however, has been silent on phasing out/phasing down of fossil fuels and places too much focus on carbon removal/sequestration technologies which are still at a nascent stage and whose effectiveness has not been fully proven. The US and China intend to recommence bilateral dialogues on energy policies and strategies, carry out exchanges on mutually agreed topics, and facilitate track II activities to enhance pragmatic cooperation. “The two countries aim to advance at least 5 large-scale cooperative carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) projects each by 2030, including from industrial and energy sources,” the statement said. Another important development is that the US and China have noted the expectation of the developed countries that the $100 billion goal will be met in 2023. “Reaffirm the urging of developed country Parties to at least double their provision of adaptation finance; anticipate the adoption by COP 29 of the new collective quantified goal; and make finance flows consistent with the Paris Agreement goals,” the statement has said. The statement added that the US and China are determined to end plastic pollution and will work together to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. The US-China statement comes days ahead of the UN Climate Summit (COP28) with several scientific reports flagging that the world is not on track to meet the 1.5 degree C goal of the Paris Agreement. “I welcome and congratulate the US and China on this significant announcement, which responds to the global community’s repeated calls for action and raises the bar for an ambitious response to the first Global Stocktake.The world needs good news, and expectations remain high. We must restore trust in multilateralism. Today’s announcement demonstrates that, when we work towards a greater good, we can deliver historic, meaningful, high-ambition outcomes,” said COP President, Sultan Al Jaber. “The consensus reached between the US and China is a significant outcome ahead of COP28. Tripling renewables capacity and cutting power-sector emissions by 2030, coupled with commitments to urgently reduce methane emissions and tackle all greenhouse gases through economy-wide NDCs, whilst anticipating peaking in this critical decade, will have a meaningful impact for generations to come,” he added. The top three GHG emitters — China, the United States and India — contribute 42.6% total emissions, while the bottom 100 countries only account for only 2.9%. While India ranks high among emitters, when population is factored in to look at per capita GHG emissions, the highly populated country ranks significantly lower than the other top 10 emitters, WRI added. “The US and China uniting in support of the goal on tripling renewable energy capacity is a positive signal no doubt, but phasing up renewables without phasing out fossil fuels is unhelpful to global emissions reduction efforts. The absence of language on fossil fuels is problematic since the US continues to be a major oil and gas consumer and producer, and China is the largest coal consumer. Support for methane reductions is useful but insufficient when the countries remain the largest and second largest carbon dioxide emitters,” said Avantika Goswami, programme manager, climate at Centre for Science and Environment.

Trung Quốc và Ấn Độ trong 'cuộc đua' làm sạch không khí

(CAO) Trong một thời gian dài, người dân sống ở hai thủ đô đông dân của châu Á đã phải hứng chịu làn khói bụi độc hại bao phủ khắp thành phố của họ, nhưng giờ đây, thủ đô Bắc Kinh của Trung Quốc tình hình đã khả quan hơn rất nhiều. Vào một số ngày, khi khói bao phủ Delhi và Bắc Kinh - cả hai thành phố đông đúc với hơn 20 triệu dân bị nhấn chìm trong một màu xám cam và không khí có mùi khói. Người dân Bắc Kinh thậm chí còn đặt cho thảm họa một biệt danh phổ biến "airpocalypse". Thời điểm đó trong năm đã quay trở lại ở Delhi, nhưng Bắc Kinh đang có bầu không khí dễ chịu hơn nhiều. Vật chất dạng hạt, được gọi là PM2.5 các hạt nhỏ đến mức có thể xâm nhập sâu vào phổi và một hỗn hợp khí nặng trĩu đang bao phủ ở Delhi, một trong những thành phố ô nhiễm nhất thế giới. Tốc độ gió thấp khiến các chất ô nhiễm trong bầu khí quyển ở tầm thấp nên chất lượng không khí trở nên tồi tệ hơn. Nhà chức trách đóng cửa các trường học trong thời gian ngắn, ra lệnh cấm xe chạy bằng diesel lưu thông trên đường, tạm dừng công việc xây dựng, yêu cầu người dân làm việc tại nhà, cấm đốt pháo. Phần lớn điều này khó thực thi tại Ấn Độ. Hôm 13-11, buổi sáng sau Diwali, lễ hội ánh sáng của đạo Hindu, khi những người vui chơi đốt pháo bất chấp lệnh cấm, Delhi nằm trong số những thành phố ô nhiễm hàng đầu thế giới. Một ứng dụng của chính phủ cho thấy Chỉ số chất lượng không khí hay AQI ở một số nơi tăng lên trên 520 vào sáng 13-11 (so với ngưỡng dưới 50 được coi là tốt). Vào buổi sáng cùng ngày ở Bắc Kinh, bầu trời trong xanh hơn và mức AQI thấp hơn 1/5 so với Delhi. Kể từ năm 2013, Bắc Kinh - và Trung Quốc nói chung - đã tiến hành một cuộc chiến quyết tâm chống ô nhiễm không khí bằng một loạt các biện pháp mạnh mẽ. Một kế hoạch hành động đầy tham vọng đã cấm các các lò đốt than mới, tắt hệ thống sưởi bằng nhiên liệu than trong các tòa nhà dân cư, nâng cao tiêu chuẩn nhiên liệu và động cơ trên xe tải chạy bằng diesel và loại bỏ những chiếc xe cũ gây ô nhiễm, cùng nhiều biện pháp khác. Mọi người được khuyến khích chuyển sang ô tô điện và đi xe đạp cho những chuyến đi ngắn hơn. Theo Lauri Myllyvirta, nhà phân tích tại Trung tâm nghiên cứu năng lượng và không khí sạch có trụ sở tại Helsinki, Bắc Kinh đã nỗ lực cải thiện chất lượng không khí trong thành phố và đang mở rộng nỗ lực vượt ra ngoài giới hạn thành phố. Nhà nghiên cứu này cho rằng bằng cách thiết lập một "khu vực kiểm soát then chốt" bao gồm các cụm công nghiệp và các nguồn phát thải chính bên ngoài thành phố, chính quyền đã đạt được những kết quả có tác động mạnh mẽ hơn. Ngân sách của Bắc Kinh để chống ô nhiễm không khí đã tăng từ hơn 430 triệu USD năm 2013 lên hơn 2,6 tỷ USD vào năm 2017. Kết quả thật ấn tượng. Ô nhiễm không khí ở Bắc Kinh đã giảm khoảng 50% và khoảng 40% trên toàn quốc kể từ năm 2013, theo Chỉ số chất lượng cuộc sống không khí, hay AQLI, do Viện Ô nhiễm năng lượng của Đại học Chicago ấn hành. "Bắc Kinh từng xếp hạng rất cao về chỉ số ô nhiễm không khí. Nhưng nó đã có sự cải thiện đáng kể. Có sự thúc đẩy mạnh mẽ việc chuyển từ than đá sang khí đốt và các nguồn năng lượng tái tạo. Mua ô tô điện dễ hơn mua ô tô chạy xăng" - Chim Lee, nhà phân tích Trung Quốc tại đơn vị tình báo Kinh tế nói với BBC. Các chuyên gia thừa nhận rằng nỗ lực kéo dài hai thập kỷ của Delhi nhằm cải thiện chất lượng không khí cũng đã cho thấy một số kết quả. Thành phố đã loại bỏ các ngành công nghiệp gây ô nhiễm chính thức, đóng cửa các nhà máy điện chạy bằng than, triển khai chương trình giao thông công cộng chạy bằng khí đốt tự nhiên lớn nhất thế giới, cấm các phương tiện thương mại cũ ra đường, áp dụng các tiêu chuẩn khí thải nghiêm ngặt hơn và xây dựng một hệ thống tàu điện ngầm hiệu quả. Anumita Roychowdhury, một chuyên gia về ô nhiễm không khí và giám đốc điều hành của Trung tâm khoa học và môi trường có trụ sở tại Delhi cho biết: "Xu hướng chất lượng không khí dài hạn ở Delhi cho thấy mức độ không tăng lên hàng năm. Nó thực sự đang giảm xuống. Điều đó có nghĩa là Delhi đã ổn định vấn đề và điều chỉnh đường cong ô nhiễm. Nhưng điều đó cũng có nghĩa là Delhi cần phải cắt giảm mức PM2.5 thêm 60% nữa để có thể đáp ứng các tiêu chuẩn không khí trong lành". Tuy nhiên, cuộc chiến chống ô nhiễm không khí của Delhi gặp khó khăn. Nghiên cứu cho thấy hơn một nửa tình trạng ô nhiễm ở Delhi bắt nguồn từ khí thải từ phương tiện giao thông. Tiếp theo là khói từ các ngành công nghiệp đốt than, đốt chất thải và bụi từ các công trường xây dựng. Trong mùa đông, việc đốt rơm rạ ở vùng lân cận Punjab và Haryana - một hoạt động phổ biến trong mùa thu hoạch - có thể góp phần gây ra tới 1/4 ô nhiễm không khí ở Delhi vào một số ngày nhất định, tùy thuộc vào tốc độ và hướng gió. Chính phủ đảng Bharatiya Janata (BJP) của Thủ tướng Narendra Modi hiện đổ lỗi cho bang láng giềng Punjab, do một đảng chính trị đối lập điều hành, đã không giải quyết được vấn đề. Bằng cách cấm các phương tiện cũ, Delhi đã giảm số lượng ô tô trên đường - gần 8 triệu - hơn một phần ba so với con số được ghi nhận vào năm 2015. Tuy nhiên, khí thải từ phương tiện giao thông vẫn là nguyên nhân chính gây ô nhiễm. Hệ thống tàu điện ngầm Delhi Metro dài gần 400km (248 dặm) là mạng lưới tàu điện ngầm dài nhất và bận rộn nhất ở Ấn Độ nhưng khả năng kết nối chặng cuối với nhà ở và nơi làm việc vẫn còn thiếu sót. Trong khi khoảng 14% trong số 7.000 xe buýt công cộng của thành phố là xe điện, trớ trêu thay, lượng hành khách đi xe buýt đang giảm do những bất tiện trong việc sử dụng. Bất chấp kế hoạch tổng thể của Delhi nhằm mục đích 80% số chuyến đi bằng phương tiện cơ giới được thực hiện bằng phương tiện công cộng, việc thiếu sự tích hợp giữa hệ thống tàu điện ngầm và xe buýt đã cản trở việc hiện thực hóa mục tiêu này. Bà Roychowdhury nói: “Ngay cả khi bạn có giải pháp thì bạn cũng không thể thực hiện được vì bạn đã thiết kế nó không đúng”. Việc thiếu quy hoạch vùng cũng cản trở sự tiến bộ. Trong khi các cuộc thảo luận xoay quanh tình trạng ô nhiễm ở Delhi, thì các thành phố lân cận trên đồng bằng Ấn - Hằng rộng lớn - trải dài khắp miền bắc Ấn Độ, miền đông Pakistan và một phần của Nepal và Bangladesh - cũng bị bao phủ trong khói bụi. Các nghiên cứu cho thấy mức độ ô nhiễm không khí ở Bihar thường cao hơn ở Delhi, tuy nhiên vấn đề này vẫn còn hạn chế. Bà Roychowdhury cho biết thêm: “Cuộc trò chuyện không thể chỉ xoay quanh Delhi. Nó phải được mở rộng trên toàn bộ khu vực”. Các chuyên gia cho rằng đây chính là điểm mà Bắc Kinh đã làm đúng. Chính phủ đặt mục tiêu giảm ô nhiễm không khí xuống 1/4 vào năm 2017 và triển khai kế hoạch khu vực bao gồm các tỉnh lân cận. Từ năm 2013 đến năm 2017, mức độ hạt mịn ở Bắc Kinh và khu vực xung quanh đã giảm lần lượt khoảng 35% và 25%. Theo đánh giá của Liên Hợp Quốc thì “không có thành phố hoặc khu vực nào khác trên hành tinh đạt được thành tích như vậy”. Bắc Kinh rời bỏ than và dầu diesel nhanh hơn nhiều so với Delhi. Bà Roychowdhury nói: “Phần lớn việc đưa ra quyết định mà Bắc Kinh thực hiện là khó khăn ở một nền dân chủ như Ấn Độ”, đồng thời cho biết thêm rằng Delhi - và Ấn Độ - nên xem xét cách các thành phố của Mỹ và châu Âu kiểm soát ô nhiễm không khí. Bà Roychowdhury nói với BBC: "Delhi không có thời gian. Chúng tôi phải triển khai mọi thứ trong vài năm tới. Delhi - và Ấn Độ - cần chuẩn bị cho những hành động đột phá".

प्रदूषण जैसी गंभीर समस्या पर पार्टियां आरोप-प्रत्यारोप नहीं करें: रजत शर्मा

दिवाली के बाद दिल्ली की हवा एक बार फिर बेहद खराब कैटेगरी में पहुंच गई। केंद्रीय प्रदूषण नियंत्रण बोर्ड के मुताबिक़, आनंद विहार का एयर क्वालिटी इंडेक्स 296, पंजाबी बाग का 280, और ITO का 263 तक पहुंच गया। वहीं पूसा रोड का AQI 362 और आर.के. पुरम का AQI 290 रिकॉर्ड किया गया। दिल्ली पॉल्यूशन कंट्रोल कमेटी का कहना है कि पिछले साल की तुलना में इस बार दिवाली के बाद दिल्ली की हवा में प्रदूषण का स्तर 45 परसेंट बढ़ गया। प्रदूषण की वजह पटाखों को बताया जा रहा है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस ऐंड एनवायरमेंट CSE के वैज्ञानिकों ने बताया कि रात दो बजे दिल्ली के कुछ इलाक़ों का एयर क्वालिटी इंडेक्स 900 से एक हज़ार तक पहुंच गया था हालांकि सोमवार को दोपहर बाद इसमें कुछ कमी आई। DPCC की रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक़, दिवाली के बाद दिल्ली की हवा में 2.5 पार्टिकुलेट मैटर्स यानी PM 2.5 33 परसेंट बढ़ गए थे, तो PM 10 का लेवल पिछले साल की दिवाली की तुलना में 45 परसेंट तक बढ़ा हुआ रिकॉर्ड किया गया। PM 2.5 को फेफड़ों के लिए बेहद नुक़सानदेह माना जाता है। दिल्ली के पर्यावरण मंत्री गोपाल राय ने आरोप लगाया कि दिल्ली में पटाखों पर प्रतिबंध लगे होने के कारण साज़िश करके हरियाणा और यूपी से पटाखे दिल्ली लाए गए ताकि दिल्ली की हवा को ख़राब किया जा सके। गोपाल राय ने इसमें भी बीजेपी नेताओं का हाथ बताया। बीजेपी नेता कपिल मिश्रा ने राय के आरोपों को बेतुका बताया। दिलचस्प बात ये है कि इस बार पंजाब सरकार ने दावा किया है कि पूरे पंजाब में दिवाली के बाद एयर क्वालिटी इंडेक्स 2022 की तुलना में लगभग 8 परसेंट सुधर गया। वहीं, 2021 के मुक़ाबले इस बार दिवाली के बाद पंजाब का एयर क्वालिटी इंडेक्स क़रीब 23 परसेंट बेहतर रहा। पंजाब सरकार पिछले आंकड़ों से तुलना करके अपनी पीठ थपथपा रही है, लेकिन सच्चाई ये है कि दिवाली से पहले की तुलना में पंजाब का एयर क्वालिटी इंडेक्स, दिवाली के बाद 30 परसेंट तक ख़राब हो गया। 11 नवंबर को पंजाब के कई शहरों का AQI 100 के आस-पास था लेकिन दिवाली के बाद पटियाला का AQI 169, लुधियाना का 166, अमृतसर का एयर क्वालिटी इंडेक्स 161 और संगरूर का 167 दर्ज किया गया। साफ है कि पंजाब की भगवंत मान सरकार पिछले दो साल के आंकड़ों से तुलना करके अपनी तारीफ़ कर रही है। मगर,सच्चाई ये है कि पंजाब में भी दिवाली के बाद हवा ख़राब हुई। फिलहाल,आम आदमी पार्टी ने ये नहीं बताया है कि पंजाब की एयर क्वालिटी ख़राब होने के पीछे ज़िम्मेदार कौन है। ये सोचकर भी अजीब लगता है कि दिल्ली का प्रदूषण सियासी टकराव का मसला बन गया है। दिल्ली में रहने वाले दो करोड़ लोग ज़हरीली हवा में सांस लेने को मजबूर हैं और दिल्ली की सरकार के मंत्री इसका हल निकालने की बजाय ये बताने में लगे हैं कि दिवाली की रात पटाखे बीजेपी वालों ने चलाए। दूसरी तरफ के लोग ये समझाने में लगे हैं कि पटाखों और आतिशबाजी पर पाबंदी लगाने का कोई फायदा नहीं हुआ, न दिल्ली में, न मुंबई में। ये भी कहा गया कि पटाखों पर पाबंदी का समर्थन करने वाले हिंदू विरोधी हैं। असलियत है कि किसी को नहीं पता कि दिल्ली में वायु प्रदूषण की असली वजह क्या है, पंजाब की पराली या दिल्ली की आतिशबाजी? न ही किसी को ये पता है कि वायु प्रदूषण का हल क्या है? आसमान से बरसात हुई तो दिल्ली की हवा साफ हो गई, हवा चली तो प्रदूषण कम हो गया, बरसात बंद हुई, हवा रुकी तो प्रदूषण फिर लौट आया। अच्छा तो ये होगा कि सभी पार्टियों के लोग मिलकर अपना दिमाग लगाएं, मिलकर बैठें और सोचें कि वायु प्रदूषण का समाधान क्या है, ताकि अगले साल फिर इसी तरह की बयानबाज़ी न करनी पड़े।

बच्चों तक पहुंची ज़हरीली हवा..हर 3 मिनट में 1 मासूम की मौत

Air Pollution: दिल्ली-एनसीआर, यूपी में जहरीली हवा (Poisonous Air) बच्चों पर मौत बनकर मंडरा रही है। जहां बैक्टीरिया से ज्यादा पॉल्यूशन (Pollution) बच्चों में संक्रमण की वजह बन रहा है। वहीं पॉल्यूशन 0 से 5 साल के बच्चों की मौत का पहला कारण बन जाएगा। डॉक्टर, एनवायरमेंट (Environment) साइंटिस्ट के अलावा आईसीएमआर (ICMR) की रिसर्च रिपोर्ट में यह सच सामने आया है। रिसर्च रिपोर्ट्स के अनुसार दिल्ली-एनसीआर में हर तीन मिनट में एक शिशु की मौत (Death Of Baby) पॉल्यूशन से हो रही है। पीएम-2.5 महामारी बनने की ओर बढ़ता जा रहा है। आपको बता दें कि इंडियन काउंसिल ऑफ मेडिकल रिसर्च (Indian Council of Medical Research) और ग्लोबल बर्डेन आफ डिसीज की रिपोर्ट बताती है कि यूपी में फेफड़ों के संक्रमण से प्रति लाख पांच वर्ष तक के 110 से ज्यादा शिशुओं की मौत हुई। फेफड़ों के निचले भाग में संक्रमण (Infection) से बड़ी संख्या में शिशुओं की जान गई। और एनवायरमेंट पर काम करने वाली नई दिल्ली की संस्था सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट ने पिछले दिनों गाजियाबाद, मेरठ, फरीदाबाद, नोएडा, गुरुग्राम जैसे शहरों में वायु प्रदूषण के प्रभावों का आंकड़ा बनाया। जिस पर पर्यावरण विशेषज्ञों ने प्रेजेंटेशन दिया। आईसीएमआर की रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक बैक्टीरियल और वायरल संक्रमण (Bacterial and Viral Infections) से ज्यादा पीएम-1 और पीएम-2.5 से शिशुओं के निचले श्वसन तंत्र में संक्रमण हुआ। बच्चों में एक्यूट ब्रोंकाइटिस, ब्रोंकाइटिस और निमोनिया में तेजी से बढ़ोतरी हुई है। 0-5 वर्ष और 5-14 वर्ष की उम्र के बच्चों की मौत में फेफड़े के निचले हिस्से का संक्रमण बड़ी वजह मानी जा रही है। फेफड़ों के लोअर पार्ट में हो रहा इन्फेक्शन बाल रोग विशेषज्ञ डॉ. राजीव तेवतिया (Dr. Rajeev Tewatia) का कहना है कि पांट साल तक के बच्चों की मौत में डायरिया, निमोनिया, मलेरिया, खसरा, मेनेंजाइटिस, पैदाइशी बीमारी बड़ी वजह है। लेकिन जो नए रिसर्च हैं उसमें पता चला है कि बच्चों की डेथ में बड़ा कारण उनके फेफड़ों के लोअर पार्ट में इन्फेक्शन भी आया है। भारत में बच्चों पर ज्यादा खतरा मेरठ मेडिकल कॉलेज में बाल रोग विभाग की डॉ अनुपमा (Dr. Anupama) का कहना है कि पॉल्यूशन की वजह से प्रति एक हजार बच्चों में सबसे ज्यादा भारत में बच्चों की जान जा रही है। भारत में प्रति हजार बच्चों पर 48 बच्चों की मौत पॉल्यूशन से होती है। क्या बताते हैं पीएम 2.5 सामान्य आंखों से न दिखने वाले पीएम 2.5 के कण हवा (Aarticle Air) में घुला जहर है। इसमें कैडमियम, क्रोमियम, मॉलिब्डेनम, बेंजीन, निकिल, पारा, जिंक, आयरन एवं सेलेनियम जैसे हेवी मेटल हैं। जो सांस के जरिए शरीर में अंदर पहुंच कर बोन, ब्लड कैंसर बढ़ रहे हैं। ग्लोबल बर्डेन ऑफ डिसीज (Global Burden of Disease) की रिपोर्ट बताती है कि औद्योगिक चिमनियों, जनरेटरों, ईंट भठ्ठों, डीजल से संचालित पुराने वाहनों एवं प्लास्टिक कचरा जलाने से कार्बन मोनो ऑक्साइड, सल्फर डाई आक्साइड, ओजोन, नाइट्रोजन डाई आक्साइड, ओजोन, अमोनिया, कार्बन डाई आक्साइड जैसी खतरनाक गैसें फेफड़े में पहुंचकर जिंदगी के लिए खतरा बनती हैं।

Delhi Air Pollution: Not Firecrackers Or Stubble Burning, Vehicular Emission Is The Largest Contributor

Every year, the air quality in Delhi and NCR turns toxic during winter, making the national capital nearly uninhabitable. A combination of factors, including meteorological conditions, low wind speed, stubble burning in neighbouring states, firecrackers during Diwali, pollution from local sources like construction and emissions from vehicles and factories have been blamed for making Delhi the most polluted capital city in the world. But how much these elements contribute to the overall pollution levels has been a subject of intense political debate for many years, and often, the fingers are pointed at the farmers burning stubble in states like Punjab and Haryana. How much emissions contribute to Delhi's air quality? However, a new study has found that the Delhi government and IIT-Kanpur found that vehicular emissions accounted for about 38 per cent of the capital's air pollution on Wednesday, November 15. Secondary inorganic aerosols -- particles such as sulfate and nitrate that are formed in the atmosphere due to the interaction of gases and particulate pollutants from sources like power plants, refineries, and vehicles -- are the second major contributor to Delhi's foul air, accounting for 30 to 35 per cent of the air pollution in the city over the last few days. A system developed by the Pune-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology to identify the contribution of different pollution sources showed stubble-burning accounted for 23 per cent of the air pollution in the capital on Wednesday and 11 per cent on Thursday. It is likely to come down to four per cent on Friday. What other studies said The findings of the Delhi government-IIT Kanpur study are in line with another report that came out earlier this month. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) had said that Delhi's pollution level – PM2.5 concentration – saw its first huge spike of this winter season on November 2 with a sudden and staggering 68 per cent jump within 24 hours, crossing 313 microgramme per metre cubed which was equivalent to "severe plus" category as per the Air Quality Index (AQI) concentration range. It also said that stubble burning alone could not have led to this alarming spike in Delhi's air pollution levels if local factors, including vehicle emissions, had not already poisoned the national capital's air.

Delhi AQI: Why Indian capital lags behind Beijing in the battle to breathe

or a long time, people living in two densely populated Asian capitals have suffered the toxic smog that blanket their cities. On some days, when the smoke draped Delhi and Beijing - both teeming cities with more than 20 million people - in an orange-grey hue, and the air tasted smoky, people said it felt like living in a dystopian nightmare. Beijing residents even gave the calamity a popular nickname - "airpocalypse". That time of the year is back in Delhi, but Beijing is breathing much better. Particulate matter, known as PM2.5 - particles so small they can be ingested deep into the lungs - and a cocktail of gases hang heavy over land-locked Delhi, among the world's most polluted cities. Low wind speeds trap pollutants in the lower atmosphere, worsening air quality. Authorities briefly close schools, order diesel vehicles off the roads, halt construction work, ask people to work from home, ban firecrackers. Much of this is difficult to enforce in India's chaotic democracy. Residents cough, wheeze and outrage, and life goes on. On Monday, the morning after Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, when revellers burst firecrackers despite the ban, Delhi was among the world's top cities for pollution. A government app showed the Air Quality Index, or AQI in some places climbing to above 520 on Monday morning. (Anything below 50 is considered good.) On the same morning in Beijing, the skies were bluer, and the AQI levels were less than a fifth of Delhi's. Since 2013, Beijing - and China at large - has waged a determined war on air pollution using a range of command-and-control measures. An ambitious action plan banned new coal capacities, shut off coal-fuelled heating in residential buildings, raised fuel and engine standards on diesel trucks and scrapped old, polluting cars, among other measures. People were encouraged to switch to electric cars and ride their bicycles for shorter trips. Beijing worked hard to enhance air quality within the city, but the significant improvements over the last decade came when they extended their efforts beyond the city limits, according to Lauri Myllyvirta, an analyst at the Helsinki-based Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air. By establishing a "key control region" that covered industrial clusters and major emission sources outside the city, authorities achieved more impactful results, he told me. Beijing's budget to fight air pollution leapt from just over $430m (£350m) in 2013 to more $2.6bn in 2017. The results have been impressive. Air pollution in Beijing has declined by about 50%, and by about 40% countrywide since 2013, according to The Air Quality Life Index, or AQLI, produced by University of Chicago's Energy Pollution Institute. "Beijing used to rank very high [in the air pollution indexes]. But it has seen a dramatic improvement. There's a strong push from coal to gas and renewable power sources. It is easier to buy electric cars than petrol ones," Chim Lee, China analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit, told me. Experts acknowledge that Delhi's two decade-long effort to improve air quality has also shown some results. The city has moved out formal polluting industries, shut coal-based power plants, introduced the world's largest natural gas-based public transport programme, forced old commercial vehicles off the roads, slapped stricter emission standards and built an efficient metro. Have these measures impacted the city's air quality? Yes, they have, says Anumita Roychowdhury, an air pollution expert and the executive director of Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment. "Long term air quality trends in Delhi show that levels are not going up on year-on-year basis. It is actually coming down. It means Delhi has stabilised the problem and bent the pollution curve. But it also means Delhi needs to slash PM2.5 levels by another 60% to be able to meet clear air standards," she told me. Yet, Delhi's battle against air pollution stumbles due to inadequate planning, wrongly designed policies and partisan politics. Research shows that over half of Delhi's pollution stems from vehicular emissions. This is followed by smoke from coal-fired industries, burning of waste and dust from construction sites. During winter, the burning of crop stubble in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana - a common practice during the harvesting season - can contribute up to a quarter of Delhi's air pollution on certain days, depending on wind speed and direction. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government now blames the neighbouring state of Punjab, run by an opposition political party, for failing to tackle the problem. By banning old vehicles, Delhi has reduced the number of cars on its roads - nearly 8 million - by more than a third from the numbers recorded in 2015. Yet, vehicular emissions remain the primary contributor to pollution in a city whose urban design is friendlier towards cars and skewed against pedestrians and cyclists. The nearly 400km (248 miles)-long Delhi Metro is the longest and busiest metro network in India but last-mile connectivity to homes and workplaces remains spotty. While around 14% of the city's 7,000 public buses are electric, ironically, bus ridership is declining due to inconveniences in usage. Despite the Delhi master plan aiming for 80% of motorised trips to be taken by public transport, the lack of integration between the metro and bus systems has hindered the realisation of this target. "Even if you have a solution you are not able to make it work because you have not designed it rightly," says Ms Roychowdhury. The lack of regional planning also hinders progress. While discussions revolve around pollution in Delhi, the neighbouring cities on the vast Indo-Gangetic plain - stretching across northern India, eastern Pakistan and parts of Nepal and Bangladesh - are also shrouded in smoke. Studies show that air pollution levels in Bihar are frequently higher than those in Delhi, yet there is limited discussion on the matter. "The conversation cannot be just about Delhi. It has to be scaled up across the entire region," adds Ms Roychowdhury. This is where Beijing got it right, say experts. It set a target to reduce air pollution by a quarter by 2017 and rolled out a regional plan that included neighbouring provinces. Between 2013 and 2017, fine particle levels in Beijing and the surrounding region fell by around 35% and 25% respectively. "No other city or region on the planet has achieved such a feat," according to a United Nations review. Beijing moved away from coal and diesel much faster than Delhi. "Much of the decision making Beijing did is tough in a democracy [like India]," Ms Roychowdhury says, adding that Delhi - and India - should be looking at how US and European cities controlled air pollution. Also, despite progress, Beijing remains three times more polluted than Los Angeles - the most polluted US city - and falls short of being among the least polluted cities on Earth, according to AQLI. "Delhi doesn't have time. We have to roll out everything in the next few years. Delhi - and India - needs to be prepared for disruptive action," Ms Roychowdhury says.

Noise level lowest since 2018 in housing hubs on Diwali, highest in commercial areas

GURGAON: The city recorded a dip in noise levels in residential areas on the night of Diwali (November 12) this year compared to the last five years, according to the data from the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB). Decibel levels, however, spiked in commercial areas. HSPCB has set up three temporary noise monitors in the city - one each in a residential area (DLF 2), commercial area (Sohna Road) and silent area (Sector 10 Civil Hospital). Noise level lowest since 2018 in housing hubs on Diwali, highest in commercial areas TNN | Nov 15, 2023, 07.20 AM IST Noise level lowest since 2018 in housing hubs on Diwali, highest in commercial areas GURGAON: The city recorded a dip in noise levels in residential areas on the night of Diwali (November 12) this year compared to the last five years, according to the data from the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB). Decibel levels, however, spiked in commercial areas. HSPCB has set up three temporary noise monitors in the city - one each in a residential area (DLF 2), commercial area (Sohna Road) and silent area (Sector 10 Civil Hospital). Gurgaon Noise level In DLF 2, the average noise level on the day before Diwali was 57 A-weighted decibels (dBA, a measure of how loud things sound to the human ear), a marginal dip from 58 dBA the same day in 2022, and the lowest since 2018. This Diwali, it saw a 3.2% dip in average noise levels compared to the day of the festival last year (64 dBA) at 61.9 dBA - again the lowest in the last five years (se graphic), HSPCB data revealed. Track the pollution level in your city On Sohna Road, however, the scenario was the opposite. The average pre-Diwali noise level was 73 dBA this time, a 4% rise from the same day last year (69 dBA), and the highest since 2018. On Diwali, it saw a 27% rise from 70.1 dBA in 2022 to 89.3 dBA this year, again the highest in five years. The noise monitor at Civil Hospital was a temporary one installed for the first time days before Diwali, which recorded a noise level of 53 dBA on the day before the festival, and 55.7 dBA on Sunday. Overall, noise pollution recorded over a six-hour period on Diwali ranged from 60.8 dBA and 63.3 dBA in DLF 2, from 81 dBA to 97 dBA on Sohna Road, and from 54 dBA to 57.4 dBA at Civil Hospital. The CPCB standard guideline for noise pollution recommends not more than 55db in residential areas, 65db in commercial areas and 75db in industrial areas, during the daytime. At night, the corresponding upper limits are 45db, 55db and 70db. Despite a two-hour window to burst 'green' crackers on Diwali, firecrackers kept going off every few seconds till late into the night on Sunday, leaving behind a trail of pollutants and smog. But as only three areas were monitored for noise pollution on Diwali, this data can't be indicative for the entire city, experts said. HSPCB officials, meanwhile, said the reduction in decibel levels in residential areas was because of the nature of crackers that were burst. "Though Diwali witnessed a spike in air pollution, the low intensity of crackers burst in residential areas resulted in a dip in noise levels. On the other hand, Sohna Road witnesses heavy traffic movement along with bursting of crackers, due to which the noise levels were higher," said Vijay Chaudhary, HSPCB regional officer, (south) Gurgaon. Experts said more locations should be chosen for installing monitors to get proper comparative data that is representative of the city's areas. "Ideally, more locations should be covered by the pollution board to study noise pollution fluctuation before and on Diwali in the city," said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment. "Simply installing a noise meter at random areas won't serve the purpose. The authorities should get in touch with RWAs across the city, and through them, educate residents about the impact of noise pollution. Also, older parts of Gurgaon and new sectors are not being covered in this data. The monitoring stations are only at two locations, which doesn't present a fair picture of the city as a whole," Tiwari added. Residents across the city expressed different opinions regarding noise pollution on Diwali this year. While some said they witnessed a quiet Diwali, others had a harrowing experience. Areas like DLF 2, MG Road and Sushant Lok witnessed low bursting of crackers, while it was rampant and went on till the early hours of Monday in sectors 31, 50, 89, 90 and 92. "It was definitely not a smooth Diwali this time. Bursting of crackers started at 7pm and continued past midnight. There was no monitoring," said Seema Priyadarshini, a resident of Sector 31. In new sectors, residents said the cracker bursting on Diwali led to breathlessness and a sleepless night. "Diwali was bad for senior citizens like me who have lung-related ailments. The fireworks went on all night in the newly developing sectors along the Dwarka Expressway. Dogs howled in pain and we couldn't sleep either. A day after Diwali, I could not breathe normally," said Sudha Sharma, resident of Sector 89. "There are no civic bodies to monitor new sectors. Some residents just went on bursting crackers without sparing a thought about the condition of others already suffering due to the poor air quality," she added. Asked if HSPCB plans to set up more noise monitoring stations in the city, an official said they will install a continuous, real-time noise level measuring system with a digital display board and a centralised networking system at four locations in the city. The system will monitor noise-level continuously for 24 hours, round the year. "We have a plan for installing permanent noise monitoring stations in Gurgaon soon. HSPCB already has a network of real-time monitoring stations for ambient air quality in the city and we will install the noise monitoring stations in the same locations," the official said. According to the noise standards for ambient air and for automobiles, domestic appliances and construction equipment, which were notified in Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, the noise level shouldn't be more than 55 dB in residential, 65 dB in commercial areas and 75 dB in industrial areas. Near sensitive areas such as hospitals, noise levels shouldn't exceed the limit of 45 dB. At night, the limit is 45 dB in residential areas, 55dB in commercial areas and 70 dB in industrial areas.

Capital unable to shed its post-firecracker shroud

The national capital on Tuesday remained locked in the shackles of an oppressive smog two days after Diwali, with a combination of low temperatures, overcast skies and calm winds keeping the remnants from Sunday’s unfettered firecracker-burning trapped in the city’s air, pushing the air quality index (AQI) to the cusp of the deep red “severe” zone. Delhi on Tuesday clocked a 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) of 397 at 4pm, a shade below the severe zone (which starts at a reading of 401) and significantly worse than 358 on Monday, which in turn was much worse than 218 on Diwali evening (Sunday). Despite this, the city remained shorn of pollution data through much of Tuesday, with data from the 24 Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) air monitoring stations unavailable till 4pm. As a result, the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) Sameer app displayed an average AQI for Delhi that was far lower than accurate throughout the day. The monitors went dark for eight hours, with DPCC attributing it to a “server error”, without giving further details. To be sure, the monitors were back up by 3pm, and CPCB’s official AQI bulletin took into account data from all the active pollution stations in Delhi, the agency said. The city is reckoning with a crisis purely of its making, as residents burnt firecrackers relentlessly on Diwali evening in petulant disregard of the Supreme Court’s directives and pushed the city’s air pollution up to noxious levels, overriding even favourable weather conditions. This meant that the city ended up squandering one of the best run-ups it had to Diwali in recent memory, and residents were left with pollution levels that were among the worst in recent years. All this played out under the watchful eye of the Delhi Police, which did little to crack down on violators. Delhi’s PM2.5 concentration at 4pm on Sunday was 45.6µg/m³, below India’s safe standard of 60µg/m³. However, smoke from firecrackers propelled this value to 550.8µg/m³ at midnight, nearly 10 times above the safe limit. On Tuesday, Delhi’s PM2.5 peaked concentration peaked at 342µg/m³ at 12 am. With winds still blowing in from the northwest and bringing in smoke from burning paddy fields in Punjab and Haryana, Delhi’s pollution levels are unlikely to relent, especially with calm speeds and dipping temperatures, warned meteorological experts. Officials in Punjab recorded 1,776 farm fires on Tuesday, an uptick from 1,624 on Monday. The agrarian state, which burns more farm fires than any other state before the winter cropping season, has now recorded 28,117 blazes so far. Punjab recorded 49,922 fires between September 15 and November 30 last year. Experts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said there won’t be a significant change in the city’s weather over the next three days, with low temperatures and calm winds early in the morning. Between noon and 5pm over the next three days, Delhi should continue to see an average wind speed of 6-8km/hr, it said, speeds that won’t be enough to scatter and disperse pollutants. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said Delhi’s air on Tuesday was composed of a mix of pollutants from firecrackers, vehicles, biomass burning and other local and transboundary sources. “We are seeing only winds picking up during the day for a few hours and while some pollutants may disperse during that period, our background emissions are so high that more pollutants are constantly being added and the end result is no significant change in air quality,” she said, underlining that Delhi will get no respite from the noxious air till strong winds wash the air clean.