• Urban Lab

Stubble burning not only to blame for alarming spike in air quality in Delhi: CSE report

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, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said in its latest study. 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.

• Urban Lab

Stubble burning not only to blame for alarming spike in air quality in Delhi: CSE report

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, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said in its latest study. 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. Releasing the new analysis by CSE of the deadly winter pollution that has gripped Delhi-NCR these days, CSE Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Anumita Roychowdhury said: “This winter season has started with a much higher pollution level compared to November last year. The combination of adverse meteorological conditions, onset of crop residue burning, and high local pollution has tilted the scale dangerously, increasing public health risk. “Even though the overall long-term pollution curve is stable and downward, it is still significantly above the national ambient air quality standards. This demands most stringent and sustained action on vehicles, industry, energy systems and waste management across the region.” The analysis has been done by CSE’s Urban Lab, whose head Avikal Somvanshi said: “This kind of rapid build-up is not uncommon during this part of the season and is generally associated with smoke-fall from farm stubble fire and meteorological factors assisting transportation of the smoke to Delhi-NCR and topping the high local pollution. “But it must be kept in consideration that this rapid build-up in a short time span is able to tip air quality into severe category because baseline pollution from local sources is already very high.” The report pointed out that the most notable trend this year is the “sudden and rapid build-up of smog” episode in this early phase of winter. “On November 2, PM2.5 levels in Delhi crossed 300 microgrammes/cubic metre or ‘severe plus’ level for the first time this season. It was a very sudden escalation as the level rose a staggering 68 per cent within 24 hours,” it said. The analysis pointed out that during the previous five years, overall trends show that PM2.5 levels start to rise steadily from the beginning of October. “This year, the levels started to rise from the middle of September. Illustratively, this increase was at a slower rate and by the end of October, the levels were 20-30 per cent lower than the average levels for the corresponding Octobers of the previous five winters – since 2018-19,” it said. It further pointed out that early beginning of bad air quality days this year due to lower rainfall during September and October. “In contrast to the previous winter of 2022-23, the smog episode has started earlier this year. The last day with ‘good’ PM2.5 AQI before the onset of winter was observed on September 9, 2023,” it said. It remains to be seen how many more smog episodes with varying durations may occur this winter. As is the global practice, at least three continuous days of severe AQI is considered as one smog episode. In previous winters, such episodes have been recorded lasting six-10 days the winters between 2018 and 2021 had, on an average, experienced three smog episodes each. During the winter of 2022-23, only one smog episode was recorded from January 6-9. Also, Diwali and late December of 2022-23 did not witness a smog episode (like in the earlier winters). The analysis by CSE’s Urban Lab listed the key factors behind Delhi’s toxic air. The report noted that this spike in pollution levels is not uncommon during this time of the year and is generally associated with stubble burning in north Indian states before farmers start work on the winter crop. Meterological factors helping the movement of smoke to Delhi-NCR is also behind the jump in Delhi’s Air Qualty Index, it said. The report also stated that share of PM2.5 in PM10 is an important indicator of the impact of combustion sources. “While coarser PM10 comes largely from dust sources, the tinier PM2.5 come more from vehicles, industry and open burning. This year the percentage share of PM2.5 in PM10 has crossed 50 per cent, which indicates higher impact of combustion sources. On November 2, the ratio for PM2.5 stood at 60 per cent — highest this season indicating the higher influence of combustion sources,” the report stated.

• Urban Lab

Stubble burning not only to blame for alarming spike in air quality in Delhi: CSE report

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, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said in its latest study.

• Urban Lab

Delhi Air Pollution Local Pollution Not Farm Fires Behind Toxic Air This Year Study – दिल्ली में इस बार पराली जलाने से नहीं बढ़ा प्रदूषण, गाड़ियों के धुएं से जहरीली हो रही हवा : स्टडी

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट की एक्जिक्यूटिव डायरेक्टर अनुमिता रॉयचौधरी ने NDTV को बताया कि उनकी हालिया रिपोर्ट में पाया गया है कि दिल्ली-एनसीआर में PM 2.5 का स्तर 2 नवंबर को 24 घंटे के अंदर 68 प्रतिशत बढ़ गया, जो बेहद चौंकाने वाला है. इसकी वजह से प्रदूषण का संकट अचानक गहरा गया.” दिल्ली के प्रदूषण में वाहनों का योगदान 50% से 60% तक पर्यावरण विशेषज्ञों के आंकलन के मुताबिक दिल्ली-एनसीआर इलाके में प्रदूषण के आंतरिक स्रोतों में वाहनों का योगदान 50% से 60% तक है, जो बहुत चिंताजनक है. एक तरफ जहां सरकार प्रदूषण संकट से जूझ रही है. वहीं आम लोगों को इसका खामियाजा भुगतना पड़ रहा है CSE की अर्बन लैब के एनालिसिस में समझाई गईं वजहें CSE की अर्बन लैब के एनालिसिस में दिल्ली की जहरीली हवा के पीछे प्रमुख वजहों को उजागर किया गया है. रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि इस साल अबतक प्रदूषण के स्तर में हुई वृद्धि असामान्य नहीं है. आमतौर पर उत्तर भारतीय राज्यों में किसान सर्दियों की फसल पर काम शुरू करने से पहले पराली जलाते हैं. लेकिन, दिल्ली के एयर क्वालिटी इंडेक्स में उछाल के पीछे दिल्ली-एनसीआर में धुएं की आवाजाही में मदद करने वाले मौसम संबंधी कारक भी हैं.” CSE के अर्बन लैब के प्रमुख अविकल सोमवंशी ने कहा, “यह ध्यान में रखा जाना चाहिए कि कम समय में यह तीव्र वृद्धि एयर क्वालिटी को गंभीर कैटेगरी में ले जाने में सक्षम है, क्योंकि स्थानीय स्रोतों से बेसलाइन प्रदूषण पहले से ही बहुत अधिक है.” 2020 के बाद ये अभी तक का सबसे सीवियर स्मॉग अनुमिता रॉयचौधरी ने बताया, ” जब स्मॉग की शुरुआत हुई, तो हम काफी चौकन्ने हुए. क्योंकि प्रदूषण काफी रफ्तार से बढ़ा. 24 घंटे में ही 68% तक प्रदूषण बढ़ चुका था. उसके बाद 4 दिनों तक लगातार 300 से ज़्यादा स्तर पर PM2.5 का कंसंट्रेशन रहा. शायद 2020 के बाद ये अभी तक का सबसे सीवियर स्मॉग है.” उन्होंने कहा, “दिल्ली-एनसीआर की हवा में PM2.5 स्तरों में अभूतपूर्व वृद्धि, ऐसे समय में दर्ज की गई; जब राजधानी के PM2.5 लेवल में पराली जलाने की हिस्सेदारी धीरे-धीरे घट रही है.”

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Delhi Air Pollution: Share of farm fires in PM2.5 to rise further

NEW DELHI: With the stubble burning season reaching a peak, the component of stubble burning in Delhi's PM2.5 is likely to rise. Though the share reached a high of 35.4% on November 3, it has remained mostly 20-25% so far. The share of stubble burning in the PM2.5 is estimated to be 25.6% on Tuesday and 30.8% on Wednesday, according to Decision Support System (DSS). Delhi pollution An analysis of the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) data of previous years shows that the peak single day source of stubble burning in Delhi's PM2.5 was 34% in 2022, 48% in 2021, 42% in 2020, 44% in 2019 and 58% in 2018. Though SAFAR stopped sharing the data this year, DSS does publish the figure on the contribution of biomass burning to the PM2.5 after synchronising the information between the two systems. Track the pollution level in your city "The intensity of the fires rises between November 1 and 15, but wind directionand speed determine stubble burning's impact on Delhi's air. Calm wind conditions in the city can also aggravate pollution," pointed out Gufran Beig, SAFAR founder and project director. He added the current absence of active western disturbance or strong winds or rain had resulted in the city's prolonged misery. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment, said, "Even if the number of fire counts have reportedly gone down over the years, the problem persists. While solutions have been well identified, their implementation at scale within a short time span hasn't been possible. On ground preparedness is needed to ensure each and every farmer has affordable access to the machinery for mulching the straw in the field." She added, "Adequate storage and transportation infrastructure are available for the straw to be taken for industrial use. This can act as an economic incentive for farmers not to burn the rice stubble." Sunil Dahiya, analyst, Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, felt the government's focus should be to engage farmers and ensure policy implementation on procurement of stubble with financial incentives and by promoting crop diversification for the next sowing cycle.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Delhi Air Pollution: Curbs on 2-wheelers will boost odds of success

NEW DELHI: The odd-even rule of road rationing, implemented for the first time in January 2016 when the air quality deteriorated to "very poor", will make a comeback to the capital next week. While Delhi government believed that the measure was necessary as the air quality index had slipped into the "severe" category and the prevailing weather conditions and poor wind speed were not helping much either, experts argued that it should have been implemented by now. Track the pollution level in your cityThe rule, which restricts the movement of cars on the basis of the last digit of their numberplates, was implemented twice in 2016 and once in 2019. It had to be called off in 2017 after the National Green Tribunal refused to exempt two-wheelers. Emergency and police vehicles, women-driven cars, and those occupied by differently abled and carrying VIPs were also exempted. Several organisations analysed the impact of the first odd-even plan. A CSIR-CRRI study observed that among the most tangible outcomes was the absence of congestion and gridlocks across the arterial stretches on weekdays, but the average level of PM2.5 was only marginally less compared to the same days in previous years. A study published in a journal, Current Science, stated that the 15-day odd-even rule had failed to improve the capital's air pollution levels as there was barely any impact on the vehicular pollution load. It added that people shifted their travel schedule to beat the 8am-8pm restrictions and there was a sharp rise in the number of exempted buses, autos, taxis and two-wheelers. A study by IIT-Delhi researchers had also found that the rationing had reduced air pollution by only 1-3%. Delhi Technological University stated in a 2019 study that the level of particulate matter had reduced only by 4.7-5.7%. International Council on Clean Transportation's India managing director, Amit Bhatt, however, said the current situation was so extreme that any reduction in air pollution would be good for people. "It is easy to implement because it falls under Delhi government's domain. In fact, the odd-even rule should be part of the long-term strategy to combat air pollution, a through-the-year phenomenon in the city," he said. But Bhatt argued against exempting two-wheelers as they, along with light commercial trucks, were the most polluting vehicles due to their sheer number. He added that PM and nitrogen oxides, which actually cause air pollution, were still not part of the pollution-under-control testing regime. Anumita Roychowdhury, Centre for Science and Environment's executive director (research and advocacy), said it was among the emergency measures undertaken to prevent further loading of pollution when Delhi was witnessing consecutive "severe" air quality days. "Vehicles contribute more than half of the total daily pollution from local sources during winter. Some of the past studies have indicated tapering off of peak levels and downward dip during odd-even weeks... But its effectiveness will depend on the comprehensive design of the scheme with minimal exemptions and enforcement," she said. Sunil Dahiya, an analyst with Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, said, "The rule should have been implemented by now. The government decided to enforce the rule from November 13 as it lacked proper infrastructure."

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Delhi odd-even scheme: Its impact on vehicular pollution levels, and why it is not a silver bullet

Reducing the number of vehicles on the road will definitely reduce the peak pollution levels, but this emergency action is not a silver bullet and its impact will be limited because two-wheelers — which contribute significantly to emissions — are exempted, and so are taxis. “Transport has two components — one is exhaust from the tailpipe, and the other is from tyre and brake wear and tear. Tailpipe emissions have PM2.5, which will have soot, organics, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and some poly-aromatic hydrocarbons,” said Sachchida Nand Tripathi, Professor, IIT Kanpur, and Steering Committee member, National Clean Air Programme. But transport is the top contributor to pollutants, and it cannot be left out when air quality remains ‘severe’ for days together. “If you look only at Delhi’s local sources, transport is the top contributor to pollutants. Vehicles are the biggest part of the problem now and you cannot leave vehicles out while taking emergency action,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). While pollution would come down with the scheme, experts say it is difficult to estimate exactly how much. “This time, it would be difficult to say. Some parts of transport sector emissions come from outside Delhi, and these restrictions are being implemented in Delhi. Restrictions are also only a small subset of the transport fleet which actually plies on the roads. Even within that subset, there are exemptions. It’s also about how effective you can make it. With all that, it doesn’t give the result you would expect. If you have many interventions concurrently, it would be difficult to say what impact an individual intervention might have,” said IIT Kanpur’s Prof Tripathi said.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

BJP scapegoating Punjab for air pollution in Delhi: Gopal Rai

New Delhi: Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Monday said the BJP is scapegoating Punjab for air pollution in the national capital, while their own governments have failed to ban diesel buses in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Referring to a study by the independent think tank Centre for Science and Environment, he revealed that 69 per cent of Delhi's air pollution originates from neighbouring states. "While Delhi is taking all possible steps to tackle the issue, the acti...

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Delhi chokes under toxic smog

New Delhi and its adjacent areas have been engulfed in a thick layer of smog for the past seven days, prompting authorities to take drastic measures including the closure of schools and calling a halt to non-essential construction activity and truck movements. Despite the several measures that have been put in place, the government is struggling to contain the worst haze and smog of this season, which is a catastrophe for India's capital and has become an annual blight. Experts anticipate that the air quality will be aggravated further due to low wind speeds and the onset of winter, and have urged the government to immediately declare a health emergency. On Nov 6, the air quality index (AQI) in Delhi stood at 471 and the city remains in the "severe" category, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), a government project that monitors air pollution. It marked the fourth consecutive day that the capital recorded "severe" air quality. Similar situations prevailed in the capital's outskirts, including in Ghaziabad, Noida and Gurgaon, triggering health concerns among the residents. On Nov 3, the AQI hit 500 — the highest the measurement can go and 100 times the limit deemed to be healthy by the World Health Organization. Arun Chandel, a taxi driver in central Delhi, complained that the haze was hurting his eyes and making it hard for him to breathe. "Everyday, it is like that I am inhaling 15 to 20 cigarettes, poisonous smoke going inside my chest," said Chandel, who finds it difficult to stay indoors despite the smog as he lives hand to mouth and needs his daily income. According to SAFAR, AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", while a reading between 51 and 100 is deemed "satisfactory", between 101 and 200 is deemed "moderate", while 201-300 range is "poor", 301-400 "very poor", and 401-500 "severe". Beyond 500 is severe plus emergency. On Nov 6, the Delhi government announced restrictions on use of vehicles from Nov 13 to 20, allowing vehicles with odd number plates to ply on odd dates and vehicles with even registration numbers allowed on alternate days. Last week, the government asked residents to work from home, extended a shutdown of schools until Nov 10, put in place traffic restrictions and banned non-essential construction work, in a bid to contain the rising level of pollution. The number of patients in hospital due to respiratory and breathing problems has increased because of a spike in the pollution levels in the air, said Ujwal Parikh, a pulmonologist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi. The worsening air pollution has triggered political blame games between the Delhi local government and India's federal government that is run by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Aam Aadmi Party, a competitor of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, is in power in Punjab state and in Delhi, which is not a full-fledged state but classified as a Union Territory. "The blame games among the policy makers happen every year. The federal government accuses the Delhi government of the situation, and the Delhi government accuses the federal government ... It is high time to take some steps instead of blaming each other," said Ashish Jain, a resident of central Delhi. Burning of crop stubble by farmers in Punjab and neighboring Haryana, compounded by winds that carry the pollutants into Delhi and a drop in temperatures trapping the particles, aggravate the smog situation every year during this time. Stubble burning is a cheap and effective way of clearing fields after harvest, preparing farmers for next year's crops. Other key reasons for pollution in New Delhi are car emissions, construction and the burning of garbage at waste plants. Stubble burning accounts for about 25 percent of the pollution over Delhi. Satellite images showed more than a thousand such fires burning in Punjab State alone on Nov 5. Falling temperatures play a large part in the rising pollution as cooler air settles on the region and wind speeds cannot rise, trapping pollutants and preventing them from dispersing, said Anumita Roychowdhury, an executive director at the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment. Electrification of transport fleets, encouraging people to use public transport, faster switching to electric vehicles from fossil fuel-based vehicles and transitioning to natural gas in industrial areas are some of the long-term measures needed to curb the pollution, Roychowdhury said. Farmers should be encouraged to adopt some bio-decomposer method to clear their fields, and they should be offered cash incentives to stop stubble burning, said Umesh Chandra Kulshrestha, a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, also calling for the phasing out of old vehicles and halting of overloaded trucks.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Odd-Even In Delhi: Has It Ever Worked? It's All Optics, Says Supreme Court

The Delhi Government on Tuesday said that it will study and incorporate the directive of the Supreme Court in the odd-even vehicle rationing system that will come into effect on 13 November. The development came after the Supreme Court questioned the effectiveness of the restrictions in bringing down the air pollution levels in Delhi. What if there was no Delhi Metro "Have you evaluated how it worked in previous years? Such schemes are only optics," the SC Bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia said. The bench also said that the air pollution situation in the National Capital Region would have been worse had the metro railway system not been in place. "An issue is extreme weather conditions. God knows what would have happened if Metro was not there. Though point-to-point connectivity is still an issue," Justice Kaul said. What SC said The Court, while hearing an application regarding air pollution in the national capital, further urged the Delhi government to control the entry of "orange-tagged" vehicles (polluting diesel cars) and taxis from other States in the national capital. How Delhi government reacted Reacting to the SC observations, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that the government will incorporate the Apex Court's directions on pollution in finalising details of the odd-even car rationing scheme. "The Supreme Court has given its observations related to stubble burning, firecrackers, and air pollution in Delhi. Our government will implement the order of the Supreme Court. The problem of pollution is the problem of the whole of North India. I request all governments that if we implement all the steps to reduce pollution, we will succeed," Rai said. Why odd-even On Monday, the Delhi government decided to bring back the 'Odd-Even' rule in the city between November 13 and 20. The AAP government first introduced the odd-even traffic scheme in December 2016 to reduce the number of vehicles plying on the road and, thus, emissions from them. Under this scheme, vehicles with licence plates ending in odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, and 9) will be allowed to operate on odd days, while vehicles with even-numbered plates (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8) will be permitted on even days. How much air pollution do vehicles cause? According to the Delhi Transport Department, vehicular pollution is considered to be a major source of air pollution in the national capital. A 2021 Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) study found that emissions from cars and other vehicles in Delhi was the single-largest contributor to air pollution in the capital.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Clear Blue Skies Of COVID-19 Lockdown Are Things Of Past As Air Pollution Grips Delhi-NCR

Air Pollution levels have shot up across Indian cities, especially in Delhi and other cities of the National Capital Region like Noida, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, Faridabad etc. According to the data provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) website, AQI levels in Delhi on Tuesday (November 7) remained in the severe category - Anand Vihar recorded 432, RK Puram measured 437, Punjabi Bagh showed 439, and New Moti Bagh registered a reading of 410. In Noida, a reading at Sector 62 at 6 am showed an AQI of 384 (very poor) while in Gurugram, a reading at Sector 51 at 6 am showed an AQI of 399 (very poor). While several reasons contribute to air pollution, vehicular emission remains a major source of pollution in cities like Delhi. Crop burning by neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana, construction activities, and cold weather are some of the other reasons for air pollution in NCR. Clear Blue Skies During Covid-19 Lockdown As economic activities came to a halt and a lockdown was implemented in March 2020, air across cities cleared up. Between March 25 and May 18, 2020, Delhi saw a drastic drop in air pollution levels and according to reports, the air quality index (AQI) in the capital remained in the “satisfactory” category for most of the time. According to news articles, the Centre for Science and Environment said in a report, "In Delhi-NCR, one of the major factors that led to the drop in pollution was a 97% reduction in overall traffic and 91% reduction in trucks and commercial vehicles entering the capital during April, as compared to the pre-lockdown months of December-January." This clearly shows how vehicular emissions greatly impact Delhi's pollution levels. More than three years later when economic activities are in full swing, and life is so-called back to normal, Delhi is reeling under the impact of toxic air. Particulate Matter: Impact Of Vehicular Emission On Health Vehicles emit several pollutants depending upon the quality of the fuel they consume, engine efficiency, vehicle type, maintenance of vehicle and more. The major pollutants released as vehicle/fuel emissions include particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, photochemical oxidants, air toxics like benzene, aldehydes, and oxides of sulphur, among others. All these pollutants have a severe impact on a person's health. Talking about vehicular emissions, Dr Viswesvaran Balasubramanian, Consultant Interventional Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad, says, "Carbon monoxide is one of the most important vehicular pollutant produced by the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels in vehicles. When inhaled, it binds to haemoglobin in the bloodstream, reducing the blood's ability to carry oxygen. This can lead to symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, and even hypoxia (oxygen deficiency). In individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), CO exposure can worsen their symptoms." He adds that nitrogen dioxide (NO2), another vehicular pollutant, irritates the airways which can lead to inflammation of the respiratory tract. This can worsen conditions like bronchitis and asthma. Prolonged exposure to NOx is associated with increased respiratory symptoms and reduced lung function. "Apart from gases, particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) from vehicle emissions can be inhaled deep into the lungs. This can cause or exacerbate respiratory issues, such as bronchitis, asthma, and reduced lung function. Long-term exposure to PM has been linked to an increased risk of lung cancer and other respiratory diseases," says Dr Balasubramanian. Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) is primarily emitted from industrial sources and power plants, and vehicle emissions can also contribute to SO2 levels in the air. SO2 can irritate the respiratory system, leading to symptoms like coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. It can also worsen asthma and other respiratory conditions, the doctor says. "Reducing exposure to these pollutants is essential for protecting respiratory health. This can be achieved through measures like using cleaner transportation options, supporting regulations for stricter vehicle emissions standards, and living in areas with reduced traffic-related air pollution. Public health initiatives and policies are crucial in addressing the impact of vehicle pollution on respiratory health," suggests Dr Balasubramanian.

• Sustainable Food Systems

The silent killer of Indian farms: A brewing AMR catastrophe

As Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) rapidly takes root in India, it threatens to bring back the days when once-treatable diseases became life-threatening again. A recent study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) lays bare the alarming rise in resistance to last-resort antibiotics. Among the many reasons for this spike in AMR, the excessive use of antimicrobials in various sectors, notably animal agriculture, is turning out to be a key factor. Role of animal agriculture in AMR The sprawling landscape of India's livestock farming is interspersed with practices that rely heavily on antibiotics. Often, these are not for disease treatment but for purposes such as growth promotion and mass prophylaxis. Antibiotics are frequently mixed into animal feed, targeting the gut directly, or are used in low doses, both of which provide conducive environments for resistance evolution. India's penchant for poultry is backed by unsettling facts. The Centre for Science and the Environment has consistently highlighted the rampant use of antibiotics in India's chicken industry. In one of its reports, a cocktail of six prominent antibiotics, frequently used in poultry, was detected. The sheer volume of antibiotics funneled into the livestock is astounding. A global mapping exercise, led by Van Boeckel et al. estimated India's antibiotic consumption in livestock at a staggering 63,151 tons in 2010, projecting an alarming 67 per cent increase by 2030. “On a factory farm, the presence of so many animals in close proximity creates a melting pot for disease, providing ‘Big Ag’ the opportunity to sell antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals to farmers,” said award-winning author and CEO of Compassion in World Farming, Philip Lymbery while taking about his book ‘Sixty Harvests Left: How to Reach a Nature-Friendly Future’. “It is no coincidence that 73 per cent of the world’s stock of antibiotics goes to farmed animals, largely to ward off diseases associated with intensive farming. The biggest six drug companies rely on the animal farming sector for $9 billion of sales each year,” he added. The consequences of unchecked AMR are not distant but are being felt now. Europe witnesses 33,000 deaths annually due to antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, with a significant percentage attributed to bacteria that resist even the last-line antibiotics. The United States paints a similar picture with over 35,000 deaths every year from such infections. These statistics are merely the tip of the iceberg. A report by the UN Interagency Coordination Group on Antimicrobial Resistance postulates that by 2050, drug-resistant infections could lead to a harrowing 10 million deaths annually. Presently, the world sees a death toll of 7,00,000 every year due to drug-resistant infections. To standardise AMR surveillance and develop strategies at all levels, the World Health Organisation introduced the Global Antimicrobial Resistance And Use Surveillance System (GLASS). The 2020 GLASS report presented a concerning pattern, revealing that only a third of AMR incidences occur in high-income countries. The bulk, two-thirds of these incidences, are concentrated in low and medium-income countries. India's immediate crisis Returning to the ICMR's findings, the diminishing efficacy of the antibiotic carbapenem stands out as a cautionary tale. As surgeries and other medical procedures risk becoming fatal endeavors in the absence of effective antibiotics, it's evident that India stands at a crossroads. However, not all is lost. Andhra Pradesh provides a blueprint for a possible solution. Consider it as an approach where stakeholders across the board collaborated for a common goal: combating AMR. The programme’s mission was to address the misuse of antibiotics in AP's poultry and aquaculture sectors. Through meticulous research, strategic stakeholder collaboration, and sustained government engagement, the stakeholders not only revealed the challenges but also galvanized consensus against using antibiotics as growth promoters. The integration of evidence-based research with community and governmental engagement laid the foundation for a transformative paradigm shift. By fostering agreement on antibiotic cessation and advocating for a dedicated 'One Health' cell, efforts like these shine as a beacon of hope. This holistic strategy underscores the value of collective action and stakeholder unity in steering agriculture towards sustainability, thereby addressing the AMR challenge head-on. To circumvent the looming crisis, a critical reassessment of animal agriculture and its intertwined role in the rise of AMR in India is paramount. The integration of sustainable and responsible practices is more than a need – it is an imperative. As global networks become more interwoven, the call for sustainable practices reverberates beyond borders, underscoring that this is not solely India's challenge but a global responsibility.

• Urban Lab

Rain deficit led to ‘smog episodes’ and ‘poor AQI’ in Delhi, says CSE’s report

A recent report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) suggests that the city’s “earlier beginning” in smog episodes and poor air quality this year began earlier compared to last year, which may be attributed to the low rainfall in September and October. The report mentioned that during the winter of 2022-23 in Delhi, one such smog episode was recorded from January 6 to January 9. In global practice, three continuous days of severe AQI is considered one smog episode. Over the winters in previous years, such episodes have been recorded lasting 6 to 10 days. This year Delhi recorded a 64 percent deficit in rainfall in October and a 33 percent deficit in September, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

• Urban Lab

Delhi Smog: दिल्ली के स्मॉग का है बारिश से कनेक्शन!, पलूशन पर CSE की रिपोर्ट चौंका रही

CSE Report On Delhi Pollution: दिल्ली-एनसीआर में जहरीली हवा के पीछे इस साल कम बारिश का होना बताया जा रहा है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट ने अपनी रिपोर्ट में इसका जिक्र किया है।

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

'GRAP temporary measure, penal action required'

NEW DELHI: There is nothing like a disaster to galvanise authorities and this is quite evident in Delhi-NCR where inadequate round-the-year action on the ground and lack of enforcement of existing rules emerge as the weakest link in the fight against air pollution.Experts, tracking the issue for years, have flagged how all sectors have policies and rules but their implementation and enforcement are not stringent and uniform, leaving people in the capital and neighbouring areas gasping for breath. They also underlined that real action to deal with vehicular pollution (the largest contributor of pollution in Delhi), industrial emissions, waste burning and construction/ demolition dust should not be pushed to back burner while red-flagging only episodic events like stubble burning whose contribution, in any case, is less than the other sources put together. "While several measures taken over the years to clean up fuels and technology across transport and industry as well as to control dust have helped to stabilise and bend the longer term particulate trends, more action is needed at scale and speed to address the remaining policy gaps for meeting the clean air targets in Delhi," said Anumita Roychowdhury of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Noting that the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) measures are just temporary emergency response to prevent further loading of pollution when the pollution is already tapped in the city, she said, "While this emergency action is largely confined to dust control, construction, truck movement, open burning etc, this requires very stringent enforcement, monitoring and penal action cross the city." Asked to identify few actions which Delhi-NCR should have taken round-the-year but it didn't, another expert Sunil Dahiya of Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) pointed out at inefficient progress on strengthening public transportation and non-motorised transport infrastructure, lack of enforcement of emission regulations aiming to reduce emission load from industries and coal-based power plants, and absence of emission load reduction-based approach for key polluting sectors and geographies as critical gaps which led to the current situation. He also underlined that the portrayal of false solutions to air pollution in the form of anti-smog guns and smog towers has actually led to diversion from real solutions of emission load reduction at pollution sources. Both Roychowdhury and Dahiya pitched for using an airshed approach to deal with the situation through comprehensive measures as air pollutants don't have boundaries. "The regional or airshed based approach to pollution control with a strong compliance and implementation strategy, effective financing and monitoring are urgently needed to make a difference," said Roychowdhury.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Delhi schools to remain closed till November 10; Noida Schools to hold online classes

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government has extended the period of closure for all schools up to class 5, till Friday, November 10,2023. Delhi Education Minister Atishi annouced of the development on X (formerly Twitter). She tweeted, "As pollution levels continue to remain high, primary schools in Delhi will stay closed till 10th November". — AtishiAAP (@AtishiAAP) Several schools in Noida have stopped outdoor activity of students, such as morning assemblies or sports activities. Raising concerns over students' health, some schools have announced that they will switch to online mode of classes. "We have decided to conduct online classes from tomorrow until the situation improves. Only the class 11, 12 students will be coming tomorrow for exams..." TOI quoted Aditi Basu Roy, principal of a private school in Greater Noida. The announcement comes as Delhi grapples with record-breaking levels of air pollution. Earlier, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal had announced a two day closure of schools in Delhi, for November 4 & 5. ALSO READ: Delhi schools shut as air pollution hits 'severe' mark; MCD schools to hold online classes Scientists have warned that the AQI levels are likely to remain severe till the end of this week. Falling temperatures, stagnant winds and the surge in post-harvest stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana have contributed to the accumulation of this toxic haze blanketing the region. TOI on Monday, November 6, reported that the sub-committee of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and adjoining areas implemented the Graded Response Action Plan - GRAP Stage IV as Delhi's AQI touched 454. ALSO READ: GRAP IV in Delhi: Vehicular Pollution in Focus The commission said that state governments in NCR would decide on allowing public, municipal and private offices to work on 50% stength and the rest to work from home. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment, was quoted by TOI, saying, "The current smog situation requires the most stringent emergency measures to not add further to the health risk." How is the AQI measured? The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a measure of how clean or polluted the air is. It is calculated using data from air quality monitors that measure the concentration of five major pollutants: ground-level ozone, particle pollution (PM2.5 and PM10), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. The AQI is reported on a scale of 0 to 500. The higher the AQI, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern