Centre for Science and Environment masthead Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Donate

Cse In News

Cse In News

“Drowning Fields, Failing Policies: The Northeast’s Silent Agrarian Crisis”

Every monsoon season, an uninviting ritual plays out across Northeast India. Rivers breach their banks. Paddy fields disappear under brown water. Hillsides give way. And somewhere in Manipur, Nagaland, or Assam, a farmer who spent months tending to a crop watches it vanish in hours, receiving, if lucky, two kilograms of rice from the government in relief. This is not a story about nature's fury. It is a story about policy failure dressed up as a natural disaster. The Numbers Behind the Silence: The data is damning, if anyone cares to look at it. More than 60 per cent of cultivated land in Northeast India depends on rain-fed agriculture, making it uniquely exposed to every shift in rainfall patterns. Several studies indicate that rice and maize yields decline by 5–10 per cent and 3–8 per cent respectively for every single degree Celsius rise in temperature. Nationally, rainfed rice yields are projected to fall by 20 per cent by 2050 in the absence of adaptation measures and the Northeast, with its fragile hill terrain and subsistence-farming communities, will absorb the worst of that blow. The recent record is sobering. In June 2025, floods in Manipur affected over 1.6 lakh people, damaged 35,000 houses across 643 localities, triggered 169 landslides, and wiped out 162 hectares of crops in a matter of days. One resident of Thambalkhong, flooded for the third time in as many years in 2024, June 2025, and again in September 2025 described receiving just two kilograms of rice across three catastrophic floods. In Nagaland's Phek district, flash floods in Zhavame village destroyed hundreds of hectares of paddy fields, devastating the food security of over 40 households in a single stroke. In Tuensang, landslides in 2024 damaged or destroyed 378 homes and displaced over 750 people. These are not anomalies. They are the new annual average. Why This Matters Now: Northeast India sits at a dangerous climatic crossroads. The region is significantly influenced by the southwest monsoon, and despite relatively stable long-term precipitation trends, it is experiencing increasingly intense extreme weather events heavier downpours concentrated in shorter windows, followed by dry spells that crack the same soil that was flooded weeks before. The Himalayas are warming faster than the global average, disrupting crop cycles and increasing erosion and pest pressure. Extreme weather events in India now occur on roughly 90 per cent of days between January and September, according to the Centre for Science and Environment. For the hill farmers of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Meghalaya, this is not a future projection. It is already here. And unlike farmers in the plains who may have irrigation buffers, credit access, or crop insurance, the small and marginal farmers of the Northeast the overwhelming majority farm on steep slopes, without irrigation, without formal market access, and without meaningful safety nets. The economic consequences ripple outward. Smallholder income losses drive debt. Debt drives distress migration. Blocked national highways like the NH-2 cut off by a 25-metre landslide near Phesama in June 2025 isolate communities, drive up the cost of food and fuel, and compound every other vulnerability. Climate change is now also a documented driver of food price inflation, with researchers from the Potsdam Institute and the RBI both flagging it as a macroeconomic concern. And yet, the political response remains stubbornly reactive: relief camps after flooding, temporary embankment repairs after breaches, promises of committees and studies that rarely survive the return of dry weather. The Policy Gap: The central government's National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) exists on paper. Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) are being set up 10,000 across India by early 2025. But these initiatives are designed largely around the agricultural realities of the Gangetic plains, not the rain-fed, shifting-cultivation, terrace-farming realities of Northeast India. Manipur did not even qualify for the central flood assistance package announced in the 2024 budget, despite suffering what residents described as one of the worst floods in living memory. The High Court of Manipur has had to take suo-motu cognisance of recurring floods and file a PIL against the state and 40 respondents a judicial intervention prompted by the failure of executive governance. Meanwhile, deforestation in upper river basins continues, reducing natural water retention. Urbanisation encroaches on floodplains. Drainage infrastructure in Imphal and other valley towns is decades old, built for a smaller population. Natural streams are blocked or built over. When rain falls heavily and it falls more heavily now there is simply nowhere for the water to go except into paddy fields and living rooms. What Needs to Happen: The path forward requires structural commitment, not seasonal sympathy. First, the central and state governments must establish a Northeast-specific Climate-Resilient Agriculture Fund, ring-fenced from general NMSA allocations, tailored to the unique challenges of hill and rain-fed farming in the region. This fund should prioritise community seed banks with climate-adapted crop varieties, slope-stabilisation and terracing support, and farmer-level weather advisory systems linked to the India Meteorological Department. Second, flood management must shift from emergency response to watershed governance. This means legally binding deforestation limits in upper catchment areas, mandatory environmental impact assessments for all hill road construction, and real investment in early-warning systems and flood-plain zoning not just relief camps. Third, crop insurance must be made genuinely accessible in the Northeast. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has low uptake in the region because its design assumes land records, bank accounts, and administrative infrastructure that many hill communities lack. Simplified, community-based insurance models need to be piloted urgently. Finally, disaster relief criteria at the centre must be reformed to reflect the Northeast's unique vulnerability. A state can be simultaneously underdeveloped, geographically isolated, and climate-exposed and still fall through the cracks of assistance formulae designed for more legible catastrophes. The Farmer Who Cannot Wait: The farmer standing in his flooded paddy field in Phek or Thambalkhong is not asking for a climate summit. He is asking whether the embankment will hold next year. Whether the road will open before his harvest rots or whether the government will remember him when the water recedes. For too long, Northeast India has been treated as a peripheral concern in national climate and agricultural policy its farmers too small, its states too remote, its disasters too routine to demand sustained attention. But the region is on the sharpest edge of a crisis that will only deepen. The rain is not going to become more predictable. The question is whether the policy will.

A river, a memory, a warning: Inside Mahanadi Utsav in New Delhi

The Mahanadi is often described as the lifeline of Odisha, a river that has carried not just water, but memory, livelihood, and culture across centuries. Flowing through fertile plains and historic towns, it has shaped identities as much as landscapes. For many, it is not merely a river but a living presence, sometimes even called the Ganges of Odisha for its cultural and emotional significance. It was this layered legacy that came into focus at Mahanadi Utsav 2026, held at the India International Centre in New Delhi. Organised as an evening of reflection, art, and dialogue, the event brought together voices from culture, governance, and environmental discourse — all centred on one urgent theme: the story of rivers, and what they are becoming. The evening opened not with speeches, but with performance, a deliberate choice that set the tone. A classical dance invocation unfolded first, measured and graceful, drawing from traditions that have long found inspiration in nature and flowing water. This was followed by a musical interlude featuring flute, tabla, and sitar, where the notes seemed to echo the rhythm of a river itself, sometimes gentle, sometimes insistent. Another dance performance followed, closing the cultural segment with a sense of continuity between art and ecology. The discussions that followed were grounded, reflective, and at times quietly urgent. Justice Harishankar, one of the panelists, began by appreciating the richness of classical traditions before moving into a more personal reflection. He spoke of travelling through Kerala by train, recalling how the landscape stayed with him. “Green is the most beautiful colour,” he observed, adding that a greener earth would mean a better future for all. He also noted that this was the first time he had encountered an event dedicated entirely to rivers — an idea he described as both rare and necessary, especially in a time when their importance is often overlooked. Cmmentator Satya Narayan Sabu expanded on this thought, suggesting that rivers must be understood not just literally but also symbolically, as a roopak, or metaphor, for continuity and life itself. He pointed out how even modern cities have historically grown around rivers, underlining their role in shaping civilisation. Rivers, he noted, are also vital for the transport of goods, quietly sustaining economies in ways that often go unnoticed. Recalling Sambalpur, he mentioned a temple with a slight tilt,!drawing a comparison to the Leaning Tower and urged people to visit the region to better understand its heritage and connection to the Mahanadi. Adding an environmental perspective, Richard Mahapatra, editor of Down To Earth, brought the conversation to a sobering reality. He remarked that rivers have existed for millions of years, far older than human civilisation, yet in recent decades, their condition has changed drastically. “Nothing in the last 45 years has been normal,” he noted, reflecting on how human activity has altered the natural balance of the planet. He posed a stark question: what happens when a river stops flowing? It no longer remains a river, he said, but becomes a drain, losing its ability to sustain life. Referring to the Mahanadi and several other major rivers, he warned that many are now facing the threat of drying due to climate change and environmental degradation. The purpose of gatherings like this, he suggested, is to confront what humanity has done to its own natural systems. The sentiment was echoed across the panel, including by other speakers who emphasised the urgency of awareness and collective responsibility. If the performances celebrated the spirit of the Mahanadi, the conversations served as a reminder of its fragility. The evening, in that sense, was not just a cultural tribute but a call to attention, urging those present to see rivers not as distant entities but as living systems deeply intertwined with human survival.

A river, a memory, a warning: Inside Mahanadi Utsav in New Delhi

The Mahanadi is often described as the lifeline of Odisha, a river that has carried not just water, but memory, livelihood, and culture across centuries. Flowing through fertile plains and historic towns, it has shaped identities as much as landscapes. For many, it is not merely a river but a living presence, sometimes even called the Ganges of Odisha for its cultural and emotional significance. It was this layered legacy that came into focus at Mahanadi Utsav 2026, held at the India International Centre in New Delhi. Organised as an evening of reflection, art, and dialogue, the event brought together voices from culture, governance, and environmental discourse — all centred on one urgent theme: the story of rivers, and what they are becoming. The evening opened not with speeches, but with performance, a deliberate choice that set the tone. A classical dance invocation unfolded first, measured and graceful, drawing from traditions that have long found inspiration in nature and flowing water. This was followed by a musical interlude featuring flute, tabla, and sitar, where the notes seemed to echo the rhythm of a river itself, sometimes gentle, sometimes insistent. Another dance performance followed, closing the cultural segment with a sense of continuity between art and ecology. The discussions that followed were grounded, reflective, and at times quietly urgent. Justice Harishankar, one of the panelists, began by appreciating the richness of classical traditions before moving into a more personal reflection. He spoke of travelling through Kerala by train, recalling how the landscape stayed with him. “Green is the most beautiful colour,” he observed, adding that a greener earth would mean a better future for all. He also noted that this was the first time he had encountered an event dedicated entirely to rivers — an idea he described as both rare and necessary, especially in a time when their importance is often overlooked. Cmmentator Satya Narayan Sabu expanded on this thought, suggesting that rivers must be understood not just literally but also symbolically, as a roopak, or metaphor, for continuity and life itself. He pointed out how even modern cities have historically grown around rivers, underlining their role in shaping civilisation. Rivers, he noted, are also vital for the transport of goods, quietly sustaining economies in ways that often go unnoticed. Recalling Sambalpur, he mentioned a temple with a slight tilt,!drawing a comparison to the Leaning Tower and urged people to visit the region to better understand its heritage and connection to the Mahanadi. Adding an environmental perspective, Richard Mahapatra, editor of Down To Earth, brought the conversation to a sobering reality. He remarked that rivers have existed for millions of years, far older than human civilisation, yet in recent decades, their condition has changed drastically. “Nothing in the last 45 years has been normal,” he noted, reflecting on how human activity has altered the natural balance of the planet.

Envu India Supports National Conclave Uniting India's Public Health Leadership to Advance Urban Vector-Borne Disease Control

Envu India's support for this conclave is grounded in a conviction the company holds about the significant opportunity to advance mosquito control in Indian cities. Research by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), India, found that the standard municipal thermal fogging mixture is 95 per cent diesel and 5 per cent insecticide, with Delhi alone estimated to consume 4.5 lakh litres of diesel in a single fogging season, comparable to the daily fuel use of over 2,000 cars. A national technical conclave on advances in urban pest management and vector control concluded in Ahmedabad on 28 April 2026, bringing together senior public health leaders, government officials, armed forces medical specialists, and scientific institutions for two days of focused scientific exchange. The conclave addressed the growing burden of dengue, malaria, and chikungunya in India's rapidly expanding cities, and the need for systematic, evidence-based, integrated strategies to manage them effectively. Organised by the Indian Society for Malaria and Other Communicable Diseases (ISMOCD) in collaboration with Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and supported by Envu India, the conclave drew participants from national and state public health programmes, the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, academic institutions, and international scientific contributors. Sessions covered the epidemiology of dengue, malaria, and chikungunya in Ahmedabad's urban setting; advances in surveillance, including ovitrap-based monitoring with AI-assisted analysis; the WHO-aligned Integrated Vector Management framework; the Urban Malaria Scheme and National Urban Health Mission; preparedness for vector-borne disease control during mass-gathering events; and some innovations in public health insecticides. Envu contributed an international perspective on integrated urban vector management, drawing on experience from the iDEM (Integrated Dengue Epidemiology and Management) programme in Malaysia. Envu India's support for this conclave is grounded in a conviction the company holds about the significant opportunity to advance mosquito control in Indian cities. Research by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), India, found that the standard municipal thermal fogging mixture is 95 per cent diesel and 5 per cent insecticide, with Delhi alone estimated to consume 4.5 lakh litres of diesel in a single fogging season, comparable to the daily fuel use of over 2,000 cars. The WHO's guidance on Integrated Vector Management recommends going further: addressing larvae and interrupting the breeding cycle for sustained, measurable impact, rather than relying on adult mosquito knockdown alone. Envu believes Indian cities are ready for that more complete approach, and offers water-based, WHO Pre-Qualified vector control formulation combined with safer larvicidal solutions that make it possible. Envu welcomes engagement from public health authorities, urban local bodies, and state vector control programmes on what that transition could mean in practice for their city or district.

Urban Vector Risks Under Focus

Rapid urbanisation, climate variability and population density are intensifying the spread of vector-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria and chikungunya across Indian cities. Public health experts have increasingly emphasised the need for integrated, evidence-based approaches that move beyond reactive measures and instead focus on long-term prevention, surveillance and capacity building. At the core of this shift lies a growing recognition of the role of research, training and cross-sector collaboration. Academic institutions, public health bodies and scientific organisations are expected to play a more active role in generating data, strengthening field-level expertise and supporting policy implementation. The intersection of education, research and public health practice is therefore becoming critical in shaping more resilient urban health systems. Against this backdrop, a national technical conclave on advances in urban pest management and vector control concluded in Ahmedabad on 28 April 2026. The two-day event brought together public health leaders, government officials, armed forces medical specialists and scientific institutions for discussions on managing the rising burden of vector-borne diseases in urban settings. Organised by the Indian Society for Malaria and Other Communicable Diseases (ISMOCD) in collaboration with Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and supported by Envu India, the conclave saw participation from national and state health programmes, the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, academic institutions and international scientific contributors. The sessions covered a wide range of topics, including the epidemiology of dengue, malaria and chikungunya in Ahmedabad; advances in surveillance systems such as ovitrap-based monitoring supported by AI-assisted analysis; and the World Health Organisation-aligned Integrated Vector Management framework. Discussions also examined existing public health initiatives such as the Urban Malaria Scheme and the National Urban Health Mission, along with preparedness strategies for vector control during mass gatherings. From an education and research perspective, the conclave highlighted the need to strengthen interdisciplinary training and knowledge exchange. Experts noted that integrating emerging technologies like artificial intelligence into public health curricula, as well as expanding field-based learning through partnerships with municipal bodies, could enhance the effectiveness of future interventions. Data presented during the discussions pointed to inefficiencies in conventional approaches. Research by the Centre for Science and Environment indicated that municipal thermal fogging typically uses a mixture of 95 per cent diesel and 5 per cent insecticide, with Delhi alone estimated to consume around 4.5 lakh litres of diesel in a single fogging season. This has prompted calls to shift towards more sustainable and preventive methods, particularly those targeting mosquito breeding cycles rather than relying solely on adult mosquito control. Global perspectives were also shared, including insights from the Integrated Dengue Epidemiology and Management programme in Malaysia, offering comparative learning opportunities for Indian stakeholders. Such international exposure was seen as important for both policy development and academic research in vector control. Padma Shri Prof (Dr) Aditya Prasad Dash, former Vice Chancellor, Central University of Tamil Nadu and former WHO Adviser, highlighted India’s progress in disease control. He noted that malaria deaths have declined significantly since independence, while cases of kala-azar and lymphatic filariasis have also reduced sharply. However, he stressed that achieving the country’s target of eliminating malaria, lymphatic filariasis and kala-azar by 2030 would require stronger collaboration between academic institutions, government bodies and research organisations. He underscored that partnerships in innovation, technology transfer and policy would be essential, particularly in urban areas where disease transmission dynamics are more complex. Dr Bhavin Solanki, Medical Officer - Health, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, pointed to the importance of aligning scientific research with on-ground implementation. He noted that institutional collaboration, combined with training and adoption of evidence-based approaches, can improve public health outcomes. The discussions also reflected a broader consensus that public health education must evolve to address contemporary challenges. This includes incorporating practical exposure, strengthening research ecosystems and fostering collaboration between academia, industry and governance structures. As India continues to urbanise, the convergence of education, research and policy is likely to play a decisive role in shaping effective responses to vector-borne diseases, particularly in rapidly growing cities where the risks remain high.

The Disappearing Public Space in Indian Cities: Malls Over Parks, Gates Over Access

There used to be a maidan near the old bus stand in the city where I grew up. Children played there in the mornings, vegetable vendors set up in the evenings, and once a year, a small mela took place for three days, drawing the whole neighbourhood out. Now, the maidan has turned into a parking lot. The mela has moved elsewhere. This isn’t just nostalgia; it’s a well-documented trend that is growing in Indian cities. The privatisation of public spaces is not just a byproduct of urbanisation; in many cities, it’s part of the plan. The Green Space Number Nobody Talks About Most Indian cities offer less than 3 square meters of public green space per person, compared to the World Health Organisation’s suggestion of 9 square meters. The Centre for Science and Environment place the national urban average below 1.5 square meters. This gap between what cities supply and what a decent urban life needs is not evenly distributed. It closely follows class lines. Data from Pune in May 2024 showed that densely populated, low-income neighbourhoods reached surface temperatures of 69°C. In contrast, affluent areas with trees remained significantly cooler. This difference is not accidental. Wealthy neighbourhoods keep their trees and parks, while low-income areas are denser, greener in name only, and hotter as a result. The Air Conditioning Trap Air conditioner use has surged, which is understandable. Cities are getting hotter, outdoor spaces are disappearing, and for those who can afford it, staying indoors seems like the only choice. However, this solution comes with consequences. Air conditioners make rooms cooler by pushing heat outside. As more people depend on them, the streets heat up more, leading to an even greater need for indoor cooling. This creates a cycle of comfort for some while conditions worsen for others. In many low-income neighbourhoods, families live in cramped spaces with little ventilation, stuck between suffocating indoors and burning heat outside. The cooling experienced in other areas merely shifts to these regions. The heat is not reduced; it changes location from those who can escape it to those who cannot. Who Public Space Is Built For The master plan reveals who a city believes it is serving. In most Indian cities, this belief is clear. Roads and parking take up land that should have parks. Development projects get approved on green spaces. The URDPFI guidelines recommend 12-18% green cover in urban areas, yet almost no Indian city meets this. The Smart Cities Mission prioritises green and blue infrastructure on paper, but the gap between this goal and actual green cover in participating cities is vast. What gets developed, malls, gated communities, and commercial parks with restricted access, shares one common trait: it is space that can be monetised. The underlying belief of Indian urban planning is that public space is what remains after productive uses are accounted for. Parks are built in planned cities like Chandigarh and Gandhinagar because such developments are part of their initial designs. In cities where most of India’s urban poor live, parks are just what hasn’t been converted yet. Gated communities extend this idea into living spaces. The street in front of a gated complex is technically public, but it feels unwelcoming to anyone who isn’t a resident or guest. Informal businesses, the tea stall, the vegetable cart, the bicycle repair shop, are pushed out of these areas not by law but by design: speed bumps, security guards, no stopping signs, CCTV. Street vendors and kite flyers don’t appear in the design plans. What the Absence of Public Space Costs Lack of public space affects health. Urban heat islands lead to more deaths in dense areas with insufficient greenery. People in these regions also have less access to cooled indoor spaces to survive extreme heat. Heat-related hospitalisations and deaths are concentrated among the urban poor—those who are already far away from the little green public space that exists. It costs livelihoods, too. Street vendors, construction workers, gig delivery workers, and domestic workers rely on outdoor spaces for their work. When those spaces become hotter, more uncomfortable, and less accessible, their income and safety decline. The NDMA’s advisory in June 2025 recognised the need for shaded rest areas and water access for outdoor workers. This addressed the loss caused by insufficient public infrastructure, but it still isn’t legally binding for anyone. It also costs community life. The maidan and the park are places where people gather outside of private or commercial dealings. They are spots for protests and where communities connect across class lines. As these spaces shrink or become unreachable, the ability for public life that is not controlled by money diminishes alongside them. What Would Change This To address declining green space, make the URDPFI minimum green cover requirements mandatory through building permit processes and development approvals. Use AMRUT 2.0 funding to require measurable green space targets per ward, exposing differences between slum and suburban environments seen in satellite data. The FSI clawback mechanism, which some cities are beginning to test for affordable housing, could also apply to green spaces. Developers who exceed limits on green-zone conversions could be required to help fund the development of public parks in proportion to what they have taken away. Singapore has implemented this successfully through planning laws. Indian cities have the legal structures; what they lack is the political will to enforce them. A city’s true vitality lies in its public spaces, accessible to all. Change requires not only policies but a shift in who urban life is designed for. It is possible for maidans and melas to return, for streets to belong to everyone again. Until then, the struggle for inclusive cities continues, shaped by who has the right to gather, play, and connect, and who does not.

New Ganga Waters Treaty Cannot Reflect Geopolitics, It's About Climate Change

The Ganga is under stress, and the waters treaty needs more than renewal, ran the headline in Down To Earth magazine. Authored by Mahesh Ganguly, a teaching assistant and research fellow at IIT Bombay, it makes the simple argument that as India and Bangladesh prepare to begin negotiations on renewing the treaty, it cannot just be about geopolitics. The question is whether 'the Ganga can remain sustainable at all … given a rapidly shifting hydrological regime driven by climate change … intensified lean-season scarcity in some years and sudden high-flow episodes in others, driven by changing rainfall patterns and accelerating Himalayan glacier retreat … studies warn that by the 2050s the basin could witness substantial changes in river flow patterns.' Add to that pollutants along the Indian stretch of the Ganga. Rapid industrialisation has increased pollutant load due to the discharge of heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, chromium, nitrates and more, disrupting microbial processes that are essential for river health. Nearly 0.12 million tons of micropollutants are also being released annually. These weaken the mangrove ecosystem's ability to sequester CO2 — thereby deepening climate vulnerability in the delta. Ganguly suggests adopting the principles of the Helsinki Rules on the Uses of the Waters of International Rivers. This approach emphasises not only equitable and reasonable utilisation, but also cooperative governance, information sharing, and integrated river basin management. While India has often been reluctant to commit to broader multilateral water conventions, the author cites this as a position that deserves reconsideration. He also urges that the existing framework of measuring total water availability and integrated climate projections be included in the renewed agreement. This would include contingency measures such as drought protocols, flood coordination mechanisms, and joint basin-level cooperation on sedimentation and embankment planning. In order to tackle pollution, the Ganga Waters treaty must incorporate groundwater into joint assessments, coordinated monitoring, enforceable water-quality standards, shared telemetry stations, and investment in river restoration. Lastly, a mandatory periodic river clause is important to recalibrate allocations and governance mechanisms based on updated field data and statistical analysis on future water flow, along with the river's ecological stress indicators. Water must be treated as a shared security challenge and not a zero-sum national resource, for the benefit of both nations.

Envu India Backs National Conclave Uniting India's Public Health Leaders To Advance Urban Vector-Borne Disease Control

Envu India's support for this conclave is grounded in a conviction the company holds about the significant opportunity to advance mosquito control in Indian cities. Research by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), India, found that the standard municipal thermal fogging mixture is 95 per cent diesel and 5 per cent insecticide, with Delhi alone estimated to consume 4.5 lakh litres of diesel in a single fogging season, comparable to the daily fuel use of over 2,000 cars. The WHO's guidance on Integrated Vector Management recommends going further: addressing larvae and interrupting the breeding cycle for sustained, measurable impact, rather than relying on adult mosquito knockdown alone. Envu believes Indian cities are ready for that more complete approach, and offers water-based, WHO Pre-Qualified vector control formulation combined with safer larvicidal solutions that make it possible. Envu welcomes engagement from public health authorities, urban local bodies, and state vector control programmes on what that transition could mean in practice for their city or district.

Envu India supports national conclave uniting India’s public health leadership to advance urban vector-borne disease control

A national technical conclave on advances in urban pest management and vector control concluded in Ahmedabad on 28 April 2026, bringing together senior public health leaders, government officials, armed forces medical specialists, and scientific institutions for two days of focused scientific exchange. The conclave addressed the growing burden of dengue, malaria, and chikungunya in India’s rapidly expanding cities, and the need for systematic, evidence-based, integrated strategies to manage them effectively. Organised by the Indian Society for Malaria and Other Communicable Diseases (ISMOCD) in collaboration with Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and supported by Envu India, the conclave drew participants from national and state public health programmes, the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, academic institutions, and international scientific contributors. Sessions covered the epidemiology of dengue, malaria, and chikungunya in Ahmedabad’s urban setting; advances in surveillance, including ovitrap-based monitoring with AI-assisted analysis; the WHO-aligned Integrated Vector Management framework; the Urban Malaria Scheme and National Urban Health Mission; preparedness for vector-borne disease control during mass-gathering events; and some innovations in public health insecticides. Envu contributed an international perspective on integrated urban vector management, drawing on experience from the iDEM (Integrated Dengue Epidemiology and Management) programme in Malaysia. Envu India’s support for this conclave is grounded in a conviction the company holds about the significant opportunity to advance mosquito control in Indian cities. Research by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), India, found that the standard municipal thermal fogging mixture is 95 per cent diesel and 5 per cent insecticide, with Delhi alone estimated to consume 4.5 lakh litres of diesel in a single fogging season, comparable to the daily fuel use of over 2,000 cars. The WHO’s guidance on Integrated Vector Management recommends going further: addressing larvae and interrupting the breeding cycle for sustained, measurable impact, rather than relying on adult mosquito knockdown alone. Envu believes Indian cities are ready for that more complete approach, and offers water-based, WHO Pre-Qualified vector control formulation combined with safer larvicidal solutions that make it possible. Envu welcomes engagement from public health authorities, urban local bodies, and state vector control programmes on what that transition could mean in practice for their city or district. “Vector-borne diseases, caused by viruses, bacteria, and parasites, account for over 17% of infectious diseases globally, all transmitted through vectors. India has made remarkable progress in controlling these diseases. Malaria deaths have declined from eight lakh annually at independence to just 83 in 2023. Kala-azar cases dropped from 9,241 in 2014 to 449 in 2024, nearing elimination, while over 100 districts have eliminated lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem. Dengue mortality has also reduced significantly. These achievements reflect India’s sustained commitment to disease control,” said Padma Shri Prof Dr Aditya Prasad Dash, former Vice Chancellor, Central University of Tamil Nadu, and former WHO Adviser. He added, “India aims to eliminate malaria, lymphatic filariasis, and kala-azar by 2030. Achieving this, especially in urban areas, requires stronger collaboration among scientific institutions, government bodies, and municipal agencies. Growing partnerships between academia, industry, and research organisations in innovation, technology transfer, and policy are key to this effort. Strengthening such collaborations will be critical for achieving India’s Sustainable Development Goals.” Dr Bhavin Solanki, Medical Officer of Health, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, said, “Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has always believed that public health outcomes improve when institutions invest in the right science, the right partnerships, and the right people. Our vector control teams are trained, equipped, and committed to adopting approaches that deliver real, measurable results for the communities we serve. The scientific inputs and global experience that Envu brought to this conclave added meaningful depth to the discussions and helped broaden our perspective on integrated vector management. Conclaves like this one, which bring together national scientific expertise, government experience, and industry knowledge, considerably strengthen that work. We look forward to continuing to build on the collaborations that have emerged from this platform.” M. Arun Kumar, Managing Director, Envu India, said, “India’s cities are at the centre of the vector-borne disease risks, and this conclave brought the right people into this conversation at exactly the right time. As a company, our commitment goes beyond supporting events like this. We believe the way mosquito control is practised in Indian cities today has room to advance, and Envu is here for the long term, alongside India’s public health institutions, to help make that happen.”

Ahmedabad hosts national conclave on urban pest and vector control strategies

A national technical conclave on advances in urban pest management and vector control concluded in Ahmedabad on April 28, 2026, bringing together senior public health leaders, government officials, armed forces medical specialists, and scientific institutions for two days of focused scientific exchange. Organised by the Indian Society for Malaria and Other Communicable Diseases in collaboration with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and supported by Envu India, the conclave addressed the growing burden of dengue, malaria, and chikungunya in rapidly expanding urban environments, highlighting the need for systematic and evidence-based strategies. Participants included representatives from national and state public health programmes, the Armed Forces Medical College, academic institutions, and international experts. Key discussions focused on urban epidemiology, AI-enabled surveillance tools such as ovitrap monitoring, and adoption of the World Health Organization-aligned Integrated Vector Management framework. Sessions also explored preparedness for vector-borne disease control during mass gatherings and innovations in public health insecticides. Envu brought global insights from Malaysia’s Integrated Dengue Epidemiology and Management (iDEM) programme, reinforcing the importance of moving beyond traditional fogging practices. Research by the Centre for Science and Environment highlights that conventional thermal fogging in cities relies heavily on diesel, underscoring environmental and efficiency concerns. Experts emphasized the need to target mosquito breeding cycles through larval control for long-term impact. Padma Shri Prof. Aditya Prasad Dash noted that vector-borne diseases account for over 17% of infectious diseases globally and highlighted India’s progress in reducing malaria, kala-azar, and dengue mortality. He stressed that achieving the country’s 2030 elimination targets will require stronger collaboration between government, academia, and industry. Dr. Bhavin Solanki, Medical Officer of Health at AMC, underscored the importance of scientific partnerships and global knowledge exchange in strengthening urban public health outcomes. M. Arun Kumar, Managing Director of Envu India, highlighted that Indian cities are at the centre of vector-borne disease risks and called for advancement in mosquito control practices through sustained collaboration.

Rs 10,000 Fine & No Fuel For Vehicles Without Valid PUC In Delhi

Every year during winter, Delhi and nearby areas experience heavy smog and high AQI levels. Last year, the Centre for Science and Environment released a new analysis stating that gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide have shown a significant spike in the Delhi-NCR region. The study also mentioned that emissions from vehicles are adding to the problem and contributing to rising pollution levels. Pollution is one of the major issues that people living in the national capital have been facing for a very long time. Authorities often come up with new regulations, like diesel bans, to keep a check on this issue. Now, in order to intensify efforts to control pollution, concerned authorities have introduced a new set of directives. As per the new circular, fuel pumps in Delhi will only dispense fuel to vehicles with a valid PUC certificate. Vehicles without a valid PUC certificate will not only be denied petrol, diesel, or CNG but will also be given hefty fines. A valid PUC is now mandatory for any kind of fuel, and this new measure has been turned into a permanent anti-pollution initiative, which means these checks will be in place all year round. Agencies such as the Transport Department, the Food and Supplies Department, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, and the Delhi Traffic Police are responsible for enforcement. If your vehicle doesn’t have a valid Pollution Under Control certificate and you drive to the nearest petrol pump, it can lead to consequences beyond just a basic fine. Under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, authorities will issue a challan on the spot. This could be done either by a traffic police officer or through an automated system. The fine amount is expected to be Rs 10,000 and upwards. It doesn’t end there. If your PUC certificate has expired, it may also cause delays or even lead to the denial of insurance claims. Many insurance companies expect compliance with emission norms, and a lack of a valid pollution control certificate could delay or even result in the rejection of claims. While the central law has set the maximum fine, the actual amount may vary depending on the area and how strictly the new rules are enforced. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta last month had given directives to officials to ensure that the ‘No PUC, no fuel’ rule is strictly followed in Delhi. Every year during winter, Delhi and nearby areas experience heavy smog and high AQI levels. Last year, the Centre for Science and Environment released a new analysis stating that gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide have shown a significant spike in the Delhi-NCR region. The study also mentioned that emissions from vehicles are adding to the problem and contributing to rising pollution levels. The analysis by CSE collected data from October 1 to November 15. It found PM2.5 levels rising and falling in tandem with nitrogen oxide (NO₂) during morning and evening hours. PM2.5 levels increased during office hours, when more vehicles are on the road - both during morning commutes and evening returns. The data clearly indicated how vehicles and traffic congestion are contributing to the worsening situation. Hopefully, the new rules and instructions will be implemented strictly, and we will see an improvement in AQI levels in the coming times.

At 8,596, Delhi’s rooftop solar installations double in FY26

However, sustaining this growth will depend on addressing second-order challenges: discom integration, net metering stability, and behind-the-meter storage and load management,” Binit Das, programme manager for the renewable energy team at Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said. Delhi has recorded the highest number of rooftop solar installations in the 2025-26 financial year, as per government data. The two power distribution companies in the city –- Bombay Suburban Electric Supply (BSES) and Tata Power-DDL (TPDDL) –- logged a total of 8,596 rooftop solar connections in the past year. According to the data provided by discoms, BSES energised 4,585 connections, up from 2,761 connections in 2024-25 and TPDDL recorded 4,011 installations this financial year, up from 1,849 in the previous year. Discom officials have attributed the jump to a stronger solar push, aided by combined incentives of up to ₹1.08 lakh under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and the new Delhi Solar Policy. Delhi’s power minister Ashish Sood said the increase in numbers was a combination of lucrative subsidies and increased awareness. “We know there are challenges as not every household will have a rooftop with adequate space. However, we have been trying to aggressively promote solar rooftop installations and holding camps with RWAs across the city. This serves a dual purpose as it reduces electricity bills as well as air pollution,” Sood told HT. He said the government is analysing alternatives for unauthorised colonies and flats, such as Odisha’s Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) model, where 1 kilowatt (kW) solar energy can be converted for ₹5,000 upfront cost. “Over time, the number of installations should increase further. The previous governments did not allow the Centre to assist. We are allowing assistance under both the Central and state schemes,” Sood said. Explaining the savings that a typical domestic user can incur, discoms said that under the CAPEX model, one can save around ₹720 per month per kW installed. While, under the RESCO model, the estimated savings can range between ₹240 to ₹350 per month per kW. The solar CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) model involves the consumer paying the full upfront cost for solar equipment, installation, and operation while the RESCO (Renewable Energy Service Company) model is a zero-investment solar financing structure where a third-party developer owns, installs, operates, and maintains a solar power system on a client’s property. Assistance and subsidies have sharply reduced upfront costs and shortened payback periods, making rooftop solar a financially viable option for a much wider base of consumers. With a combined subsidy of up to ₹1.08 lakh from both the central government scheme and state policy, the barriers to entry have vanished,” said a TPDDL official. Meanwhile, BSES officials said that at present, a typical 5 kW residential rooftop solar system can potentially save ₹3,500+ every month, depending on usage pattern and tariff slab. “Every 1 kW rooftop system can generate approximately 100–120 units power per month, and the investment can typically be recovered in around 3–4 years,” said a BSES official. According to the report, BSES energised a record 4,585 rooftop solar connections with a connected load of 53.87 megawatt (MW) in FY 2025–26 . “This is the highest-ever annual addition by BSES in both number of rooftop solar installations and connected load, underlining the rapid acceleration in solar adoption,” the official said. The figures stood at 2,761 in 2024-25, 1,204 in FY 23-24, 941 in 2022-23 and 952 in 2021-22. Overall, around 13,600 rooftop solar net-metering connections have been provided by BSES, with a cumulative connected load of nearly 260 MW across its areas. TPDDL data showed a similar trend. In 2025-26, it provided 4,169 solar rooftop connections. In FY 2024-25, the figure stood at 1,849; in 2023-24, it was 647, in 2022-23, it was 403 and 295 in 2021-22. TPDDL said the connections have been provided across 18,000 households. “Consumers now see it as a smart way to reduce electricity bills, save money and support a cleaner Delhi. Through awareness campaigns, simplified digital processes and dedicated support, the shift to solar has become easier for consumers. At the same time, subsidies, incentives and easy financing have made rooftop solar more affordable and attractive,” the official said. The Delhi Solar Energy Policy 2023 has set a target of total 4,500 MW installed solar capacity by 2026-27. This includes a specific goal of 750 MW for rooftop solar installations within Delhi and 3,750 MW of utility-scale solar from outside the city. Experts in the past had said that Delhi has failed to meet its domestic, as well as national targets for solar rooftop energisation. Experts said the figures point at a clear inflection point in the urban distributed renewable energy uptake. “The trend is consistent with the broader national momentum under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, which has already crossed over 29 lakh installations nationwide as of early 2026. In Delhi, it appears to be policy driven. The convergence of central subsidies (up to ₹78,000) and state top-ups, bring the total support for a typical 3 kW system to around ₹1.08 lakh. However, sustaining this growth will depend on addressing second-order challenges: discom integration, net metering stability, and behind-the-meter storage and load management,” Binit Das, programme manager for the renewable energy team at Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said.

कैसे भारत में लोकतंत्र के लिए खतरा बन रही हैं चरम मौसमी घटनाएं?

भारत की बात करें तो सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट के आंकड़े बताते हैं कि 2022 में 365 में से 314 दिन देश में कहीं न कहीं चरम मौसमी घटना दर्ज हुई। जनवरी से नवंबर 2025 के बीच यह आंकड़ा 331 दिनों तक जा पहुंचा, साल के 99 फीसदी से भी ज्यादा दिन। पिछले चार सालों में यह सबसे ज्यादा है। और भारत में कोई न कोई चुनाव साल के हर हिस्से में होता है। तो यह टकराव अब रुकने वाला नहीं।

How poor classroom design makes schools heat risk sites for children

Children spend approximately 1,000 to 1,200 hours each year in classrooms. As warming becomes a background condition rather than a seasonal trend, schools emerge as one of the primary sites through which climate risk is lived. Summer vacations and reactive closures are no longer sufficient protection. India no longer experiences heat as a summer event; it’s slowly becoming a year-round phenomenon. The country recorded its warmest winter in 124 years in 2025. This came on the back of 2024 being recorded as the hottest year in over a century. An analysis of Delhi’s heat index by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) revealed that nearly every year between 2014 and 2023, at least 10 “Extreme Caution” days were recorded per month from May to September, with 42-70 such days between July and September alone. Emerging research also shows a rise in dangerous, “moist” heatwaves during the monsoons, when high humidity combines with high temperatures. High temperatures arrive earlier, last longer and spill across what were once considered cooler months. The school system in India, however, has not woken up to this reality. Most schools continue to rely on summer vacations and closures as the sole means of protecting children from heat. But for millions of children studying in poorly-designed classrooms without adequate coping measures, heat is slowly becoming an everyday condition that threatens their well-being and learning. Schools unprepared Schools across the country rely on heatwave declarations by state governments to trigger responses. In the recent past, several states such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and others have adjusted timings, extended vacations or ordered closure of schools and colleges on heatwave days. But this alone is insufficient in the long run. Urban heat researchers have demonstrated that temperatures can vary widely across different parts of the city due to the urban heat island effect: high-density neighbourhoods with low-levels of green cover experience hotter conditions than low-density, green neighbourhoods. Not to mention, indoor air temperature can be much higher than ambient air temperature due to factors such as the use of heat-trapping materials like concrete, asbestos, glass, poor building design and lack of ventilation. This means that heatwave-like conditions can exist in pockets of the city even if a heatwave is not declared for the city. Another significant blind spot lies in our understanding of how heat affects children’s bodies. Much of how we define dangerous heat is based on adults’ physiology. Children regulate heat differently. They gain heat faster, sweat less efficiently and lack the agency to control their space or respond to their body’s needs. The impact of heat on pre-existing vulnerabilities like disability, neurodivergence, chronic illness, anaemia, and menstruation is also poorly understood. Studies show that children’s ability to recognise these risks themselves is skewed, making them dependent on their environment and caregivers to cool down. In schools, where one adult oversees dozens of such students, this reliance becomes a serious risk. Schools act as a unique site of heat risk because this poor design and understanding of child physiology is layered with institutional norms that restrict children’s agency and adaptive capacity. Research consistently shows that heat stress impairs concentration, memory, and cognitive performance, and lowering temperatures from 30°C to 20°C can improve performance by about 20%. In addition to the difficult environment that children have to endure, their ability to adapt to this environment is also curbed in schools. They need to ask for permission for everything. Hydration is restricted to breaks. Movement is scheduled. Uniforms remain climatically inappropriate. These are just some of how the modalities of schooling amplify heat risk. In short, schools congregate hundreds of such bodies within poorly designed spaces, under rigid schedules, and with limited personal control. How can schools adapt? Responding to heat in schools begins with acknowledging that dangerous heat stress exists even when heatwave thresholds aren’t crossed. The critical distinction is that heatwaves are meteorological events defined by temperature thresholds, while heat stress is a physiological condition that is a combination of various factors, including physiological vulnerabilities, building design and school pedagogy. Adapting to heat in schools begins by acknowledging that thermal comfort is imperative for learning and well-being. Enhancing thermal comfort is not just about changing spatial design and materials but also about institutional culture, and will require action across policy, school systems and everyday practice. Public schools are often the most vulnerable, and governments need to prioritise their upgradation. Climate education and climate-resilient measures are already being piloted across states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala, through the Green School Initiative and Weather Warriors initiative, respectively. We urgently need to embed climate-responsive design within school board accreditation frameworks. This will mandate schools to proactively adapt and signal quality and safety alongside education outcomes to parents. Schools can experiment with retrofit solutions like green roofs, strategic shading, tree plantation, and passive cooling technologies such as earthen pots for ventilation or solar chimneys. Climate-responsive design must further be accompanied by institutional reforms like flexible hydration, scheduled breaks, season-appropriate uniform and climate education. Sustained sensitisation of students, teachers, parents and support staff is essential to build a shared understanding of heat risk and enable more responsive decision-making within school environments. These pathways point to actions required across the education ecosystem. They ask us to rethink what we consider normal within schooling itself. Responding to heat and shifting our schools from a culture of endurance to one of care is no longer an aspiration but a necessary precondition to education in a warming world. Malavika S and Rohit M are urban researchers working at Socratus and co-founders of Project Living Cities, a collective working to reimagine Indian cities. Malavika has a background in architecture and urban studies, while Rohit comes with a background in history and urban studies. This research was part of Heat Futures at 78° E, an initiative by Lagori Collective and Good Life X, supported by the British Council’s Climate Futures: South Asia programme.

Extreme Weather Hits 94 Global Elections; India's Heatwaves Disrupt Voting

Extreme Weather Disrupts Global Elections The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) released a report on Earth Day 2026, finding that 94 elections in 52 countries have been significantly disrupted by extreme weather over the past two decades. India's electoral process is increasingly facing these climate challenges. Data from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) shows extreme weather events occurred nearly every day in 2022. The period from January to November 2025 saw the highest frequency in four years, highlighting a growing crisis.