Centre for Science and Environment masthead Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Donate

Cse In News

Cse In News

Delhi Air Quality: AQI Drops To 'Poor' Category, Season's Lowest Minimum Temperature Recorded At 15.8°C

The air quality in national capital city Delhi has reportedly exacerbated and slipped into the 'poor' category on Saturday. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 224. Moreover, the city also recorded the lowest minimum temperature of the season which settled at 15.8 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Delhi government convenes meeting The Delhi governmnet conevened a joint meeting of states with the Centre on Friday where they urged the Union Environment Ministry to impose a complete ban on firecracker burning and the movement of diesel buses across the National Capital Region (NCR). This move comes following the publication of a report by an independent think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) which suggested that 31 per cent of Delhi's pollution originates from sources within the national capital, while 69 per cent stems from sources in NCR states. Earlier this month, a study by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) revealed the top 10 most-polluted cities, with Delhi being the most polluted city in India. Delhi, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Noida and Meerut in NCR took the top five spots on the list, followed by Patna and Muzaffarpur in Bihar.

Kolkata air takes a knock as festive season starts

The first casualty of the festival season has been Kolkata’s air. Several parts of the city reported a downslide in air quality, according to figures from the seven automatic air quality monitoring stations across Kolkata. Three out of the seven monitoring stations reported “moderate” air quality on Thursday. The rest recorded “good” or “satisfactory” air. The day before, five stations reported “moderate” air quality and the rest “good” or “satisfactory”. During the monsoon and summer, the stations consistently recorded “good” or “satisfactory” air. Air of moderate quality can cause “breathing discomfort to the people with lungs, asthma and heart diseases”, the Central Pollution Control Board has said. A combination of factors is at play. Scientists said a drop in temperature and wind speed traps pollutants — released by vehicles and other anthropogenic activities — closer to the ground. A large number of vehicles plying till late at night during the Puja adds pollutants to the air. Stronger winds during the summer months blow away the pollutants. Higher temperatures also helps the process. As the air warms up, it rises up and takes away the pollutants. This dispersal slows down with a drop in temperature as winter approaches. “This is the time when a build-up of pollutants closer to the ground starts and it worsens as winter approaches. This will become far worse in December and January,” said Anumita Roy Chowdhury, an air quality management specialist. “The drop in temperature and the slowing down of the wind speed traps pollutants closer to the ground. This increases the exposure level of people to poor air,” said Roy Chowdhury, executive director of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a research and advocacy organisation. A police officer who was managing the Puja crowd said he could feel a chill in the late evening air. “I started wearing full-sleeve shirts from Friday because it feels a little uncomfortable as the night progresses. There is also a haze,” he said. The air quality report for Thursday, available on the website of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB), showed that the concentration of PM2.5 in Kolkata’s air was 83.09 microgram per cubic metre. The concentration of PM10 was 153.42 microgram per cubic metre. Roy Chowdhury said the concentration of both these pollutants was more than the national standards. According to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, the 24-hour average limit for PM2.5 and PM10 are 60 and 100 microgram per cubic metre. PM2.5 — particulates that are 2.5 micron or less in size — can enter the deepest crevices of the lungs and trigger a host of critical ailments, such as lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. The gradual dip in air quality needs a host of measures to be implemented. Every year the civic authorities issue a host of guidelines for under-construction buildings to prevent dispersion of dust from their sites. A study published in 2019 showed that the transport sector contributed more than 20 per cent of PM2.5 present in Kolkata’s air. More than half of that was emitted by goods vehicles. The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) had done the study for the state pollution control board.

Delhi Government to run month-long campaign to curb industrial pollution: Rai

The Delhi government will run a month-long campaign to curb industrial pollution starting October 20. According to environment minister Gopal Rai, 66 teams have been set up to keep an eye on the fuels being used in over 1,700 industrial units in the capital. "Though these units have shifted to natural gas, we will ensure that there's no laxity on their part," said Rai directing officials to ensure regular lifting and proper scientific disposal of industrial waste from industrial areas. The environment minister further said 1753 registered industrial units of Delhi have been converted into PNG and any industrial unit that violates environmental regulations will face severe and appropriate repercussions from the relevant authorities.” “Under the Industrial Pollution Campaign, it has been decided to deploy patrolling teams to monitor the dumping of industrial waste in the whole of Delhi. Periodic reports will be submitted to the Environment Department based on their findings. The DPCC team has been instructed to take strict actions against any violation of environmental regulations by industrial units,” he added. Taking a dig at Rai, Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said except for holding press conferences every day, this government has done nothing to tackle pollution. Rai had on Tuesday demanded that the Centre impose a complete ban on firecrackers and allow the movement of only CNG and electric vehicles in the entire National Capital Region in a bid to curb air pollution. Rai, in a letter to Bhupender Yadav, his counterpart at the Centre, said the Delhi government has taken numerous steps to curb air pollution during the winter season. "But these steps will not be effective until Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh deal with the sources of pollution in the NCR region," he said. A report by independent environment think tank Centre for Science and Environment shows that 31 per cent of Delhi's pollution comes from sources within the national capital while 69 per cent is from sources in NCR states, he said. Rai demanded that the Centre convene an emergency meeting to discuss solutions to the factors contributing to air pollution in the national capital. The states in the National Capital Region (NCR) should impose a complete ban on firecrackers and stubble burning in the entire region and allow only CNG and electric vehicles, the Delhi minister said.

Delhi urges firecracker ban in entire NCR in meeting with Centre

In a joint meeting of states with the Centre on Friday, the Delhi government urged the Union environment ministry to impose a complete ban on firecracker burning and the movement of diesel buses across the National Capital Region. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai told reporters here that Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav held a meeting with environment ministers of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. During this meeting, Delhi suggested several measures to curb pollution in the entire NCR region, he said. Earlier, Rai had requested the Centre to convene a meeting of all NCR states to collaboratively develop an action plan to combat pollution during the winter season. In a letter to Yadav, Rai had said that the Delhi government has taken numerous steps to curb air pollution during the winter season but these steps won't be effective unless Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh address the sources of pollution in the NCR region. According to a report by independent environmental think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), 31 per cent of Delhi's pollution originates from sources within the national capital, while 69 per cent stems from sources in NCR states. Rai stressed that the states in the NCR should enforce a complete ban on firecrackers and stubble burning across the region and only permit CNG and electric vehicles to ply. Many industrial units in NCR states still use polluting fuels. They should be swiftly converted to piped natural gas. The highly polluting brick kilns operating in NCR states should be required to adopt zig-zag technology to mitigate pollution, he said. Also, electricity should be made available to all housing societies in NCR states to reduce reliance on diesel generators. The concerned state governments should also redirect non-destined vehicles from their point of origin on the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways, he added. Meanwhile, the Delhi government organised a run on Friday to raise awareness about the effects of air pollution and to seek public support in improving the city's air quality. Rai said officials from various Delhi government departments participated in the 'Run Against Pollution' event and pledged to use public transport, turn off vehicle engines when the traffic signal turns red and maintain clean surroundings. The government plans to relaunch the 'Red Light On Gaadi Off' campaign to combat vehicular pollution in the city. Another public awareness campaign, 'Patakhe Nahi Diye Jalao,' will be reintroduced to discourage the burning of firecrackers.

Inconvenient truths

As the world gears up for COP28, there is a need to thoroughly analyse the pitfalls of the previous carbon markets before exploring newer mechanisms At the next UN climate conference (COP28) in Dubai later this year, the issue of regulation of a carbon market will be discussed. World leaders need to learn from the mistakes of the voluntary carbon market so that this new market mechanism, which is designed for transformation in the world, does not repeat them. Our investigation, published in the magazine (‘Discredited’, October 1-15, 2023) and in the report by the Centre for Science and Environment, has found inconvenient truths, which should lead us to change. We find that the current carbon markets could end up increasing emissions in the world. The buyers of the credit—say an airline that has assured its customers to offset their carbon footprint or a food company that has declared itself net-zero—have continued to emit; they have even increased their emissions saying that they have bought credits. But as these credits are overestimated or do not really exist, the reductions are notional. This is a double jeopardy. This is what the climate-risked world does not need. The first, and the obvious step, is to ensure transparency in the market. My colleagues met with stiff resistance when they asked for information; they were asked to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) before visits to project sites; they were even told (by a Paris-based investor company) that travel in Indian villages was too dangerous and by one of the leading players, EKI Energy Services, that the “company is in a silent period”. The second step is to decide the objectives of the market—voluntary, bilateral or multilateral—and design rules accordingly. If the purpose of the market is to invest in projects that will lead to reduction in emissions in different parts of the world, then the market must be based on paying for the real cost of the projects. Currently, the market pays less than the costs of a renewable energy project or a biogas project. The poor are literally subsidising the rich emitters in this market. Third, the market only seems to work in the interest of project developers, consultants and auditors. The communities get virtually nothing from the proceeds, and this means they also have no stake in the emission reduction programme. The carbon market must be required to share the proceeds annually with communities in a verifiable manner. Take the issue of household devices, in this case, improved cookstoves. This market segment is growing exponentially, and understandably so, as it is lucrative for the project developers. The cost of the stove, which is all that households get in terms of carbon credit benefits, is barely 20 per cent of what the developer would earn over the five to six years of lifespan of the project. In other words, 80 per cent of the carbon revenue is kept as profit, and it is a handsome amount as each such project has thousands of devices to be distributed. And, this is assuming that the devices are supplied for free. At places, as we have found, poor households have actually paid for these cookstoves, against which the developer and its rich offset clients have made a killing. Then of course, there is the obvious question about actual carbon reduction, which has been used by companies to continue to emit. In the case of the household device programme, companies count carbon reduction on the basis of the distribution of stoves. There is little information on its actual usage—our research found that households were using multiple sources for cooking. Therefore, in spite of the army of project developers, verifiers, auditors and registries, there is widespread overestimation of emission reductions by project developers. One lesson that must be learnt is to keep the project design simple and to keep the control of the projects with public institutions and people. The most critical issue is, to whose account should the abated carbon be credited. This is not a hypothetical question, but a real one. To achieve the target of 50 per cent of India’s electric power requirements from non-fossil fuel sources, every megawatt of renewable power, including hydroelectricity, will need to be counted and factored in. Some 675 Indian renewable energy projects are registered under Verra and Gold Standard registries for 268 million carbon credits, of which 148 million have retired (or claimed against offsets). How can these be accounted for in India’s NDC (nationally determined contribution)? Or can they be? Will this not lead to double accounting? The fact is that the current voluntary carbon market is based on cheap options. This means countries have “sold” off the lowest-hanging fruit—the options of emission reductions that they could afford. They would now be in the balance sheet of foreign entities and governments. This only means that countries will not be able to afford to make investments in the hard-to-abate options; this will contribute to emissions and jeopardise our common future. DTE The writer is the Director-General of CSE and editor of DownToEarth. Views expressed are personal

Why construction dust is lethal for all and kids are the most vulnerable

Mega infrastructure projects Mumbai Coastal Road Project, Mumbai Trans Harbour Link Road, Mumbai Metro, a sprawling network of bridges, and construction in neighbourhood after neighbourhood — as of last count, a record of more than 2,500 construction permits issued by the BMC last year. All these have draped the city with construction dust at a scale unprecedented in sweep and volume. “The meteorological condition is almost similar across the city; therefore it is local factors like construction, garbage burning and vehicular emission that mostly determine AQI in certain pockets. Places which have higher number of construction works going are more likely to record poorer AQI,” says Gufran Beig, senior scientist and project director of SAFAR.

दिल्ली में प्रदूषण रोकने के लिए पूरे एनसीआर में लगे पटाखे जलाने पर प्रतिबंध, आप सरकार की केंद्र से मांग

केंद्र सरकार की राज्यों सरकारों के साथ शुक्रवार (20 अक्टूबर, 2023) को संयुक्त बैठक हुई. बैठक में दिल्ली सरकार ने केंद्रीय पर्यावरण मंत्रालय से नेशनल कैपिटल रीजन में पटाखे जलाने और डीजल बसों की आवाजाही पर पूर्ण प्रतिबंध लगाने का आग्रह किया. दिल्ली के पर्यावरण मंत्री गोपाल राय ने संवाददाताओं से कहा कि केंद्रीय पर्यावरण मंत्री भूपेंद्र यादव ने दिल्ली, पंजाब, हरियाणा, उत्तर प्रदेश और राजस्थान के पर्यावरण मंत्रियों के साथ बैठक की. गोपाल राय ने बताया कि बैठक के दौरान दिल्ली सरकार ने पूरे एनसीआर क्षेत्र में प्रदूषण पर अंकुश लगाने के लिए कई उपाय सुझाए. इससे पहले, गोपाल राय ने केंद्र से सर्दियों के दौरान प्रदूषण से निपटने के लिए सहयोगात्मक रूप से एक कार्य योजना विकसित करने के लिए सभी एनसीआर राज्यों की एक बैठक बुलाने का अनुरोध किया था. यादव को लिखे पत्र में राय ने कहा था कि दिल्ली सरकार ने सर्दियों के दौरान वायु प्रदूषण को रोकने के लिए कई कदम उठाए हैं, लेकिन ये कदम तब तक प्रभावी नहीं होंगे जब तक कि हरियाणा, राजस्थान और उत्तर प्रदेश एनसीआर क्षेत्र में प्रदूषण के स्त्रोतों पर ध्यान नहीं देते. गोपाल राय ने कहा, पटाखे और पराली जलाने पर लगे रोक स्वतंत्र पर्यावरण विचारक संस्था 'सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट' (सीएसई) की रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक, दिल्ली में 31 फीसदी वायू प्रदूषण राष्ट्रीय राजधानी के स्त्रोतों से उत्पन्न होता है, जबकि 69 फीसदी एनसीआर राज्यों के स्त्रोतों से उत्पन्न होता है. गोपाल राय ने इस बात पर जोर दिया कि एनसीआर राज्यों को पूरे क्षेत्र में पटाखों और पराली जलाने पर पूर्ण प्रतिबंध लगाना चाहिए और केवल सीएनजी और इलेक्ट्रिक वाहनों को चलाने की अनुमति देनी चाहिए. रेड लाइट ऑन गाड़ी ऑफ अभियान फिर शुरू करने की योजना दिल्ली सरकार ने वायु प्रदूषण के प्रभावों के बारे में जागरूकता बढ़ाने और शहर की वायु गुणवत्ता में सुधार के लिए जनता का समर्थन मांगने के लिए शुक्रवार को एक दौड़ का आयोजन किया. राय ने कहा कि दिल्ली सरकार के विभिन्न विभागों के अधिकारियों ने 'रन अगेंस्ट पॉल्यूशन' कार्यक्रम में भाग लिया और सार्वजनिक परिवहन का उपयोग करने, ट्रैफिक सिग्नल लाल होने पर वाहन के इंजन बंद करने और स्वच्छ वातावरण बनाए रखने का संकल्प लिया. सरकार शहर में वाहन प्रदूषण से निपटने के लिए 'रेड लाइट ऑन गाड़ी ऑफ' अभियान फिर से शुरू करने की योजना बना रही है.

Delhi calls for firecracker ban in entire NCR in meeting of states with Centre

In a joint meeting of states with the Centre on Friday, the Delhi government urged the Union environment ministry to impose a complete ban on firecracker burning and the movement of diesel buses across the National Capital Region. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai told reporters here that Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav held a meeting with environment ministers of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. During this meeting, Delhi suggested several measures to curb pollution in the entire NCR region, he said. Earlier, Mr. Rai had requested the Centre to convene a meeting of all NCR states to collaboratively develop an action plan to combat pollution during the winter season. In a letter to Mr. Yadav, Mr. Rai had said that the Delhi government has taken numerous steps to curb air pollution during the winter season but these steps won't be effective unless Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh address the sources of pollution in the NCR region. According to a report by independent environmental think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), 31 per cent of Delhi's pollution originates from sources within the national capital, while 69 per cent stems from sources in NCR states. Mr. Rai stressed that the states in the NCR should enforce a complete ban on firecrackers and stubble burning across the region and only permit CNG and electric vehicles to ply. Many industrial units in NCR states still use polluting fuels. They should be swiftly converted to piped natural gas. The highly polluting brick kilns operating in NCR states should be required to adopt zig-zag technology to mitigate pollution, he said. Also, electricity should be made available to all housing societies in NCR states to reduce reliance on diesel generators. The concerned state governments should also redirect non-destined vehicles from their point of origin on the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways, he added. Meanwhile, the Delhi government organised a run on Friday to raise awareness about the effects of air pollution and to seek public support in improving the city's air quality. Mr. Rai said officials from various Delhi government departments participated in the 'Run Against Pollution' event and pledged to use public transport, turn off vehicle engines when the traffic signal turns red and maintain clean surroundings. The government plans to relaunch the 'Red Light On Gaadi Off' campaign to combat vehicular pollution in the city. Another public awareness campaign, 'Patakhe Nahi Diye Jalao,' will be reintroduced to discourage the burning of firecrackers. In accordance with the practice of the last three years, Delhi had last month announced a comprehensive ban on the manufacturing, storage, sale and use of firecrackers within the capital city. The city government also introduced a 15-point action plan to mitigate air pollution in the capital during the winter season, focusing on addressing dust pollution, vehicular emissions, and open burning of garbage. Specific action plans for each of the 13 air pollution hotspots in Delhi have been developed based on real-time air quality data collected from 40 monitoring stations in the capital. There are already ongoing campaigns to combat dust pollution and industrial emissions.

Delhi to launch campaign to curb industrial pollution

The minister had on Tuesday demanded that the Centre impose a complete ban on firecrackers and allow the movement of only CNG and electric vehicles in the entire National Capital Region in a bid to curb air pollution. New Delhi: The Delhi government will run a month-long campaign to curb industrial pollution starting October 20, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Wednesday. He told reporters here that 66 teams have been set up to keep an eye on the fuels being used in over 1,700 industrial units in the capital. "Though these units have shifted to natural gas, we will ensure that The minister had on Tuesday demanded that the Centre impose a complete ban on firecrackers and allow the movement of only CNG and electric vehicles in the entire National Capital Region in a bid to curb air pollution. Rai, in a letter to Bhupender Yadav, his counterpart at the Centre, said the Delhi government has taken numerous steps to curb air pollution during the winter season. "But these steps will not be effective until Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh deal with the sources of pollution in the NCR region," he said. A report by independent environment think tank Centre for Science and Environment shows that 31% of Delhi's pollution comes from sources within the national capital while 69% is from sources in NCR states, he said. Rai demanded that the Centre convene an emergency meeting to discuss solutions to the factors contributing to air pollution in the national capital. The states in the National Capital Region (NCR) should impose a complete ban on firecrackers and stubble burning in the entire region and allow only CNG and electric vehicles, the Delhi minister said.

Africa’s environment report gives insight into global warming

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the India-based think tank, in association with Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA-Kenya) released the first edition of the State of Africa’s Environment 2023 report recently in Nairobi, Kenya — a valuable tool that provides insights into the disproportionate impact the continent is suffering due global warming. In this report, Sifelani Tsiko (ST), The Herald Agric, Environment & Innovations Editor speaks to Richard Mahapatra (RM), managing editor, CSE Down To Earth and head of the editorial board about this inaugural report. ST: What motivated CSE and MESHA to document the inaugural State of Africa’s Environment 2023 Report? RM: CSE has been working in Africa as a leading think tank focusing on the global south. Down To Earth is a fortnightly magazine that has been reporting the global south with a special focus on Africa. We see this as a first effort to make people aware of many environmental crises the continent is facing and also the solutions the continent is evolving to face those. Africa’s developmental challenges are critical to the world meeting all its challenges. So, the solutions the continent offers are also critical globally. The State of Africa Environment 2023 report aims to document this and thus working as a pan Africa annual report card that policy makers and others can use to design the development charter. It is also to equip us in general with an instrument that will help us change the ways the continent moves. ST: Coming up with such a report is not an easy and cheap. Can you share your experiences on how you collaborated with researchers and journalists in Africa to come up with this comprehensive report? RM: The inaugural edition has been in the making for the last three years. What makes this report unique and thus impactful is that it synthesised reportage and research of over 100 journalists, scientists, economists representing media houses, academic institutions, scientists and global bodies like the UN agencies. Local stories from over 23 countries were processed while experts’ analysis were used to bring out the key messages. One way, this is a report that brings in citizens’ involvement. It is an inclusive statement on the continent’s state of affairs in environment and development. ST: What do you think makes this report unique? What elements make it stand out?

Discourage importation of used vehicles to reduce carbon emission, says expert

The government has been urged to discourage importation of used vehicles through taxation and standards to reduce carbon emission. United Nations Environmental Programme Africa Focal, Jane Akumu, wants the government to replace the used vehicles with environment friendly electric vehicles. She said the new, cleaner vehicles can be made more available by encouraging local manufacturing, which will also create job opportunities. “Instead of importing oil we have sustainable electricity from renewable sources,” Akumu said. The State of Africa’s Environment 2023 report shows that African countries are becoming scrap yards for old vehicles from advanced economies. The report released last week by the Centre for Science and Environment, said there is an influx of imported old and polluting vehicles in Africa. “Used vehicle import is a rampant and flourishing trade in Africa. While advanced economies have the capacity to deal with the accompanying problems of vehicles changing several hands within their domestic markets, poorer economies do not,” the report said. It said low- and middle-income countries that do not have their own vehicle manufacturing base are the most vulnerable to unregulated and uncontrolled import of used vehicles The report said lack of strong environmental safeguards has contributed highly to the situation. It said lure of cheap vehicles and lack of clean automotive fuels have created conditions and incentives for the trade of used vehicles and uncontrolled dumping. The report said developing countries are beginning to frame regulations to reduce vehicular emissions due to pressure to meet clean air standards. “The scale of dumping from the rich countries to the poor is overwhelming. Back in 2014, it was estimated that globally, about 40 million vehicles a year approach their end-of-life, which is four percent of the total global automobile ownership,” it said. Estimates from the International Energy Agency say a lot of the old vehicles get traded to low and middle-income countries. According to the estimates, the number is expected to explode as global automobile fleet doubles by 2050. A 2014 World Bank estimate says the vehicle ownership rate in Africa, though much lower than the world average, is rapidly increasing across cities. Nairobi's car fleet has doubled between 2012 and 2018. Data from Deloitte Africa Automotive Insights Report, 2016 say vehicle imports in Kenya, Ethiopis and Nigeria are hugely dominated by used vehicles. The share of used vehicles in these countries is 80–90 per cent of the total imported fleet. In Kenya, the share of commercial vehicles in new sales is the highest at 86 per cent. UNEP says several regulations have evolved in Africa and South Asia that include fixing of age to ensure newer fleet is imported. This is in addition to emission-based taxation to import cleaner and more fuel-efficient vehicles. At least four countries in Africa namely, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa and Sudan have banned importation of used vehicles. Another 25 countries have imposed age restrictions of between 3-15 years on vehicles. Gabon, Libya, Mozambique, Niger and Tunisia have an age cap of five years and less. Benin and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have capped it at 10 years, while Liberia, Nigeria and Swaziland have capped it at 15 years.

Delhi government's month-long anti-industrial pollution drive from Friday

The Delhi government will launch a month-long drive to check industrial pollution in the national capital starting Friday, Delhi's Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Wednesday. Rai said as many as 66 teams have been formed to inspect the fuel being used in around 1,700 industrial units in the city. He earlier asked the Centre to ban firecrackers and petrol and diesel-based vehicles. Why does this story matter? IQAir's World Air Quality Report this year ranked Delhi fourth on its list of the world's most polluted cities. With winter and festive season approaching, concerns about worsening air quality have heightened as lower temperatures and foggy conditions worsen the air quality by trapping particulate matter (PM). Huge amounts of smoke due to stubble burning in Delhi's surrounding areas further add to the problem. Completely ban stubble burning: Rai to Centre Rai said although the industrial units have moved to natural gas, the drive will ensure there's no negligence. He wrote to Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav, demanding a complete ban on stubble burning in neighboring states. Listing out Delhi's precautionary measures, he said, "These steps won't be effective until Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh deal with the sources of pollution in the NCR region." 5/7 69% of Delhi's pollution from neighboring states: CSE Citing a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), an independent environment think tank, Rai said that 31% of Delhi's pollution comes from sources within the city, while 69% is traced to sources falling under the National Capital Region in neighboring states. 6/7 Pollution levels reduced since 2014: Delhi government The Delhi government said last month that industrial units in the city have switched to piped natural gas (PNG) to decrease emissions. It noted a 30% reduction in pollution levels in June. In 2014, PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels were 149 and 324, while now they are 103 and 223, respectively. Diesel generators were banned earlier this month in residential buildings.

दिल्ली-NCR की हवा फिर हुई ‘जहरीली’, मरीजों की संख्या में 30% की बढ़ोतरी, रिसर्च के नतीजे चौंकाने वाले

उत्तर भारत में मौसम का बदलाव हुआ और दिल्ली एनसीआर में बारिश हुई, जिससे प्रदूषण में कमी भी हुई। लेकिन, जहरीली हवा का अटैक बुधवार से फिर शुरू हो गया। माना जाता है कि अक्टूबर से जनवरी तक का महीना प्रदूषण के लिहाज से बेहद संवेदनशील होता है। ऐसे में अस्पताल में मरीजों की संख्या में काफी ज्यादा वृद्धि देखी जा रही है। देश के जाने-माने पल्मोनोलोजिस्ट और पीएसआरई अस्पताल में चाइमन के मुताबिक दिल्ली में पिछले कुछ सप्ताह में ही सांस लेने की परेशानी और खांसी की दिक्कत में 30 फीसदी मरीजों का इजाफा दिख रहा है, जो एक बड़ी समस्या हो सकती है। क्या कहती है सेंटर फॉर क्रॉनिक डिजीज और एम्स की स्टडी एक आकलन के मुताबिक पिछले दो साल की तुलना में इस बार अब तक प्रदूषित दिनों की संख्या बढ़ी है। पूर्वानुमान के अनुसार आने वाले दस दिनों में भी ज्यादातर दिन प्रदूषण बुरे स्तर पर रह सकता है। ऐसे में प्रदूषण के लिए अभी तक जो कदम उठाए जा रहे हैं, उनमें तेजी लाने की जरूरत है। क्योंकि एम्स और सेंटर फॉर क्रॉनिक डिजीस की स्टडी भी चौकने वाली हैं, खासकर के डायबिटीज के मरीजों के लिए। जानकारी के मुताबिक देश में लगभग 11.4 फीसदी लोग डायबिटीज के शिकार हैं, जिसमें अगर दिल्ली की बात की जाए तो 17 फीसदी डायबिटिक यहां हैं। ऐसे में रिसर्च में पाया गया है कि जो लोग डायबिटिक हैं उनके शरीर में इंफ्लामेशन बढ़ने लगा है और जो सीरियस केस में तब्दील होते दिखने लगा है। वहीं, जहां AQI ज्यादा था वहां ग्लूकोस रैंडम और एचबी1एसी भी बढ़े हुए मिले हैं। कहां और किन पर हुई रिसर्च यह रिसर्च देश के दो बड़े शहरों में की गई, जिसमें देश की राजधानी दिल्ली और चेन्नई शामिल है। इन जगहों पर करीब 12000 लोगों को लगातार सात साल तक मॉनिटर किया गया। चेन्नई में PM 2.5 का औसत लेवल 30-40 µg/m3 देखा गया तो, वहीं दिल्ली में औसतन 82-100µg/m3 मिला जो की दुगुना था। जिसकी वजह से डाइबिटीज के साथ-साथ हाइपरटेंशन का खतरा बढ़ता दिख रहा है। ठंड का आगमन और सितंबर में बारिश कम बना प्रदूषण की वजह सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट के एक्सपर्ट के मुताबिक इस बार समय से पहले ठंड ने दस्तक दी है यानी तापमान में अच्छी खासी गिरावट दर्ज की गई है, तो वहीं पराली भी जलने लगी है ऐसे में बीते साल से इस साल प्रदूषण का खतरा अभी से दिखने लगा है। बहरहाल, इस मुसीबत को कम करने की कवायद सरकारें तो कर रही हैं, लेकिन सड़कों पर उड़ती धूल को रोकना भी जरूरी है, क्योंकि ये सिर्फ सर्दियों में ही नहीं बल्कि पूरे साल एयर पल्यूशन बढ़ाने में मददगार बनती हैं, जिसकी वजह से कई तरह की बीमारियां बढ़ रही हैं। बीमारियों का खतरा ज्यादा ना बढ़े इसलिए जरूरी है कि प्रदूषण को लेकर सावधानी बरती जाए।

Do cities become smart by hiding the poor?

ABOUT 35 percent Indians live in urban areas and this number is estimated to rise to around 60 percent by 2050. In 2022, the urban population of India was reported to be about 51 crore. According to another report, urbanisation, that is, the rate at which people move to urban areas to find work, has increased by almost 4 percent in the last decade in India. The National Institute of Urban Affairs estimates that the urban population will grow from the current 31.16 percent to 40.76 percent of the total population by 2030. Quoting a World Bank report, the institute reports that the “urban sprawl” or the expansion of development on undeveloped land near a city, accounts for 55.3 percent of India’s total population. The World Bank has termed India’s urbanisation “messy and hidden”, pointing to the “relative lack of livability” in Indian cities. Right to housing While the Constitution of India does not provide for a specific right to housing, the rights of the underprivileged, which would include the right to housing, are affirmed under Articles 14, 15, 19(1)(d), 19(1)(e) and 21. The National Institute of Urban Affairs estimates that the urban population will grow from the current 31.16 percent to 40.76 percent of the total population by 2030. The Constitution also binds the State to ensure such basic rights are not denied in the form of the Directive Principles of State Policy under various provisions such as Articles 38, 39, 41, 42 and 47. Also read: Experiments with truth, Part 3: The moral and political dilemmas of housing rights Article 11(1) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1966 (ICESCR), which India ratified in 1976, recognises the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions. Government’s cognisance The Union government has acknowledged the need for the development of infrastructure as well as for improving the quality of life in urban areas. In pursuit of this acknowledgement, the government introduced the Smart Cities Mission in 2015 “to promote cities that provide core infrastructure and give a decent quality of life to their citizens”. The mission’s strategy recognises the core infrastructure elements such as adequate water supply; assured electricity supply; sanitation; efficient urban mobility and public transport; affordable housing; robust IT connectivity and digitalisation; good governance; a sustainable environment; and safety, security, health and education of citizens. According to the Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep S. Puri, smart cities represent the next generation of Indian cities. The government introduced the Smart Cities Mission in 2015 “to promote cities that provide core infrastructure and give a decent quality of life to their citizens”. Reportedly, the director of the G20 unit of the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Department M.B. Singh has stressed on the need for building new cities and said, “Haphazard expansion on the outskirts of existing cities is affecting the basic planning of these cities”. Furthermore, various affordable housing initiatives have been introduced in recent times to address the housing crisis of the urban poor. Among the recent ones, the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) was launched in December 2005 for planned development of urban areas. Its sub-missions of the Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP) and Integrated Housing & Slum Development Programme aimed at providing basic amenities and services to urban poor and slum dwellers such as security of tenure at affordable prices, improved housing, water supply, sanitation, education, health and social security. In September 2009, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation issued guidelines, which included provisions such as: “Care should be taken to see that the urban poor are provided housing near their place of occupation”. Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) was launched in 2011 to scale up BSUP. It was replaced by Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) in 2015. Also read: Is ‘unity in diversity’ a farce when it comes to housing in India? The housing scheme of PMAY-U was launched to provide houses to “eligible families or beneficiaries”, who belong to the economically weaker sections and low-income groups, by 2022. PMAY-U seeks to make home loans affordable for the urban poor through four programme verticals. However, two of its programmes, ‘beneficiary-led individual house construction or enhancement’ and ‘credit-linked subsidy’ mandate land ownership certificates and identity documents to obtain loans. Reportedly, this prerequisite excludes a majority of urban slum dwellers from availing subsidised housing loans. Peripheralisation of the poor Housing complexes for slum dwellers built under the JNNURM are, however, widely criticised for being far away from city centres and avenues of work and for poor-quality of the construction. According to a study by CEPT University, urban beautification and infrastructure projects in Ahmedabad have displaced thousands of poor households and vendors in the city. The effectiveness of the third vertical of PMAY-U— affordable housing in partnership— is also questioned since affordable housing projects in major cities can be allocated primarily in outskirt areas and satellite towns. In Ajay Maken versus Union of India (2019), the Delhi High Court identifies that many low-income service providers travel long distances for work in Delhi, live in deplorable conditions and suffer indignities. On account of the expansion of its peripheries, Delhi is referred to as a “border-less city”. According to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the present state of urban planning is pushing low-income groups to the peripheries of cities, disrupting livelihoods and increasing travel distances and costs for jobs, education, sanitation facilities and other essential services. The CSE’s report titled How accessible are low-income settlements? The Case of Delhi highlights that planned low-income settlements in Delhi, particularly the older resettlement areas such as Savda Ghevra, Baprola, Bawana, Holambi Kalan, Papan Kalan, Rohini and Narela have been relocated to the peripheries of the city. For instance, the report points out that in Savda Ghevra, the residents have endured a lack of bus connectivity, water supply, sewage network or other physical infrastructure provisions. “Affordable homes are not closer to affordable transport,” the report adds. According to a study by CEPT University, urban beautification and infrastructure projects in Ahmedabad have displaced thousands of poor households and vendors in the city. The study states that under the Basic Services to the Urban Poor Programme of the Union government, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation built housing in Vatwa, a south-eastern periphery of Ahmedabad between 2010 and 2014. Also read: Eminent domain doctrine in India and the lack of due process A 2018 article in The Quint explains the plight of slum dwellers allotted housing quarters at Sadaramangala and Bheemanakuppe in Bengaluru by the Karnataka Slum Development Board. Although around seven years had passed since the reallocation, the article explains that hundreds of residents continue to suffer the consequences of long-distance travel in the form of unemployment and lack of easy access to necessities including grocery stores and hospitals. The goal of providing affordable housing under the Smart Cities Mission is termed “slum clearance” on account of the lack of specific policies to ensure the development of slums. Furthermore, the article highlights that the residents are facing issues with essential services such as inadequate water supply, absence of electricity, incomplete housing infrastructure and lack of quality education. Reportedly, over the last two decades, 55,000 families of slum dwellers in Chennai have been forcibly relocated to “ghettos” that are at a considerable distance from the city. The resettled families in the peripheries have been facing problems in terms of access to basic needs of water, health and sanitation. In several of the resettlement areas built by the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board, schools and health centres were set up years after the resettlement. Madras Institute of Development Studies studied 200 relocated households in the peripheries of Ahmedabad and Chennai in 2018. It was found that in the case of resettlement houses in Perumbakkam and Gudapakkam in Chennai, the residents had to travel 25–35 km each way. Whereas, while the distance to travel was relatively shorter— 6 to 12 km— for resettlement areas of SKV Nagar and Umang Lambha in Ahmedabad, the transport arrangements were found to be inadequate, infrequent and scarce. As a consequence of the spatial dislocation, the report noted several shortcomings including poor housing infrastructure; high travel costs for jobs, healthcare and education; lack of safety for women; and lack of access to urban amenities such as the cinema, internet centres and markets. Under the PMAY-U, BSUP and RAY, “states and private builders alike seek out the cheapest available land for construction” of low-income housing units, causing their peripheralisation. The goal of providing affordable housing under the Smart Cities Mission is termed “slum clearance” on account of the lack of specific policies to ensure the development of slums. Also read: Tughlakabad eviction drive lays bare changing nature of citizenship For instance, slums in Bhubaneswar and Pune, falling under Smart City development projects, are to be relocated to the peripheries of the city in order to use the land for commercial purposes. In Ajay Maken, the Delhi High Court referred to the South African Constitutional Court in acknowledging the right of “meaningful engagement” of a person who is being evicted from informal settlements, with any relocation plans. The Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance and Redevelopment) Act, 1971 aims to make better provision for improvement, clearance and redevelopment of slum areas in Maharashtra. The Act also makes provisions for protection of occupiers from eviction and distress warrants. On September 26, the Bombay High Court heard two public interest litigations highlighting the issue of non-payment of transit rent by developers to slum dwellers. Transit rent is the rent paid by a developer to those vacating their houses for redevelopment or rehabilitation until permanent accommodation is provided. Reportedly, the court observed that despite a mechanism in place under the Act, the Slum Rehabilitation Authority has failed to ensure that the interest of the slum dwellers are protected. Mobility While low-income groups are active users of public transport, cycling and walking, the peripheralisation of the poor is bound to make travel to earn a livelihood in cities expensive and inconvenient. CSE’s study finds that the share of public transport is bound to drop by around 31 percent by 2030–31. The report notes that policies such as the Smart Cities Mission fail to address the transport needs of those living on the outskirts of cities since considerable investment is seen in road-building (50 percent of the funds allocated for 15 percent of users) as compared to affordable transport (24 of the funds for 85 percent of users). CEPT University’s study says, “Distant relocation along with lack of appropriate and affordable transport options negatively impact the mobility, work and livelihoods of a vast majority.” The Charter of the Right to the City was introduced under the New Urban Agenda during the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainability Development (Habitat III) in 2016. The study details the consequences of the distant reallocation in Ahmedabad on livelihoods such as high motorised travel expenses, dropping out of women from the workforce, underemployment and lack of casual work. The study also points out hardships in accessing amenities, including private schools, public healthcare, colleges and recreational open spaces. Absence of choice According to recommendations submitted by a civil society memorandum to the ministry, people’s participation in making an informed choice related to housing, including the design and size of the house, is vital. Also read: Eviction drive in Tughlakabad: 1,000 families sent notices to vacate their houses According to a study by the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, unlike choices available for usual residential relocation, slum-dwellers do not generally have multiple destination options. “Their [slum-dwellers’] destination site is generally determined by urban authorities based on land availability in different parts of the city, and they are rarely in a position to make a choice about it,” the study adds. In Ajay Maken, the Delhi High Court referred to the South African Constitutional Court in acknowledging the right of “meaningful engagement” of a person who is being evicted from informal settlements, with any relocation plans. The high court observed that under the Constitutional Court’s concept of “meaningful engagement”, the State is mandated to consider the needs of the affected persons and take them into confidence on the proposed schemes of rehabilitation. The State must be prepared to review the schemes based on the inputs from such affected groups, the high court adds. The right to the city The Charter of the Right to the City (RTTC) was introduced under the New Urban Agenda during the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainability Development (Habitat III) in 2016. The RTTC is an instrument that aims to ensure equitable enjoyment of the cities while respecting the principles of sustainability, democracy and social justice. The RTTC primarily promotes the equal use and enjoyment of cities and human settlements, seeking to promote inclusivity and ensure that all inhabitants, of present and future generations, without discrimination of any kind, are able to inhabit and produce just, safe, healthy, accessible, affordable, resilient and sustainable cities and human settlements to foster prosperity and quality of life for all. The RTTC is considered a collective international human right of all city inhabitants, especially the vulnerable and the disfavoured. In Ajay Maken, the Delhi High Court pointed to the “increasing recognition in the international sphere” of the RTTC. It considered the RTTC an essential element in the policy for the rehabilitation of slum dwellers. Notably, the high court indicated that the principle of RTTC acknowledges that those living in jhuggis or slums contribute to the economic and social life of a city, including sanitation workers, garbage collectors, domestic help, rickshaw pullers and labourers. Reportedly, several countries in the global South, including Brazil, Ecuador and Mexico have acknowledged the RTTC model in their legal frameworks. It is, therefore, vital that in the interest of social equity, the poor are not pushed to the peripheries of the city by ensuring affordable and reliable housing and transport in the core city areas.

Machines are digging, dragging, tearing into Delhi garbage mountains. Time’s running out

Ghazipur: The stench in the air around Ghazipur dairy farm is putrid. Tin sheets in this colony of cowsheds and haphazard buildings prevent the garbage at Delhi’s oldest and largest landfill from spilling into homes. Since last year, though, cranes have been rolling up and down the garbage mountain—nearly the size of Qutub Minar—digging, dragging, and tearing into it. But time is running out. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has until December 2024 to flatten the Ghazipur landfill. Two other dumping grounds, Okhla and Bhalswa, need to be cleared by May 2024. The three sites occupy over 200 acres of land. India’s cities can no longer ignore the stench, illnesses, pollution, fires, and accidents at landfills. They are the underbelly of a country that marches to the drumbeat of unplanned and unprepared urbanisation. Pressure to clear the landfills has been mounting. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the central government have set deadlines to clean cities and towns of their piling waste. In November last year, MCD hired three private companies to scientifically process the waste and reuse the fractions. Since then, contractors have rolled in heavy machinery like trommels and ballistic separators onto the trash piles. The unrelenting stench has not dampened confidence. “We have processed 13 lakh metric tonnes [of waste] in eight months at the Okhla landfill. We are confident of completing the job within the deadline,” says Ramakant Burman, managing director, Greentech Environ Management Pvt. Ltd. But, experts are sceptical of the tight deadlines. Flattening the land will likely take many more months before it could be reused for other purposes. Every towering mountain of garbage rests on legacy waste—old trash collected and now decomposed. Managing this is the first hurdle. Then there is the lack of disposal infrastructure for the fresh waste generated in the city. This makes the task more challenging. The dumpsites cannot be cleared at the rate at which the legacy waste is currently being processed. Additionally, different machines used at various sites have varying capacities to process the waste,” says Richa Singh, programme manager of the solid waste management team at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a think-tank. “Although it is a positive step, the deadlines are quite ambitious.”

CSE’s First State of Africa’s Environment 2023 Report

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the India-based think tank, in association with Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA-Kenya), released the inaugural edition of the State of Africa’s Environment 2023 report here yesterday at a media briefing attended by about 50 journalists from Kenya and some other countries from Africa. The report has been put together by India-based science, development and environment fortnightly Down To Earth, with contributions from a large number of African journalists, researchers and environmental experts. Mamo Bor Mamo, Director General, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Kenya released the report along with Sunita Narain, Director General, CSE. Explaining the rationale behind the report, Narain said: “We can read and get the immediate story today, but often we do not get the big picture. The report will help us get that big picture. It will enable us to understand the different aspects of the environment by putting together a comprehensive picture that makes the links clearer between environment and development. Environment and development are two sides of the same coin.” Speaking at the inaugural, Mamo Bor Mamo said: “Issues raised in this report are important and pertinent to our environment in Africa. We have a collective responsibility to manage our environment well. The report will give us direction on the position we will take during COP28.” Richard Mahapatra, Managing Editor, Down To Earth and head of the Editorial Board behind the report, Said: “A team of over 100 researchers and journalists from across the continent have brought in country-wise assessments, which have been analysed to get a continental perspective. The report covers climate change, wildlife and biodiversity, agriculture and land degradation, water and hygiene situations and emerging waste management issues.” Some key highlights from the report: The inaugural edition of the State of Africa’s Environment 2023 report emphasises on the “centrality of environmental well-being in the overall sustainable development of the continent”. Africa’s prosperity and economy is deeply linked to its enormously rich natural resources endowment, or its natural capital. Africa’s natural capital is estimated at US $6.2 trillion in 2018, thus making the continent richest in term of resources. This is nearly three times the economy of the entire continent. If natural capital degrades, development in future will not be sustainable – more people will have to fight for limited resources. Per capita natural capital is declining in Africa: from US $4,374 in 1995 to US $2,877 in 2018. Various estimates suggest that African countries could see a 10 per cent drop in GDP by 2030 and by 2050, and some 1.2 billion Africans could face higher water pollution; 1.5 billion people could face increased food insecurity, while millions would be exposed to coastal erosion risks. Climate change has been more rapid in Africa than the rest of the world. Says Narain: “This is a disproportionate impact given that Africa hardly contributes to global warming.” Over the past 15 years, several studies have warned of climate change and environmental stressors intensifying and aggravating regional, ethnic and resources-driven conflicts. However, African countries, in terms of committing to reduce emission and on steps to fight the global crisis are ahead of most of the countries in the world. The world’s second largest and second most populous continent hosts a quarter of the planet’s animal and plant species. But the species extinction rate in the continent is higher than the rest of the world. Here as well, African countries have some of the pioneering conservation models that put community at the centre. If Africa protects its biodiversity, the world gains from it. Protected areas in Africa if sustainably used can eradicate poverty and bring peace. Africa imported about 85 per cent of its food from outside the continent. This is when it has 65 per cent of the world’s arable lands that are yet to be cultivated. Desertification affects 45 per cent of the continent. Nevertheless, the continent’s joint efforts to restore degradation and build up natural capital are examples of modern time planetary efforts to save it. Air pollution kills 1.1 million people annually in the continent. Developed economies treat the continent as their dump yard for used vehicles adding to the woes of air pollution. Some countries are already taking policy initiatives that have potential for curbing this menace. Every year, some 130 million Africans have to be provided clean cooking fuels to meet the universal access target in 2030. This is the biggest development challenge as some 0.7 million people died in 2019 due to lack of clean cooking fuels. But Africa is leaping to the renewable energy world. It has a renewable energy potential of 9,000 GW with about 60 per cent of it concentrated in the Sub-Saharan region. Life expectancy in Africa has increased to 56 years in 2019 from 64 years in 2000. In Africa, 47 countries have already eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease. There are signs of progress in the continent meeting its health goals but challenges remain. Due to climate change, in eastern and southern Africa, an additional 75.9 million people will be at risk from 10-12 months’ exposure to malaria by 2080. How Africa manages its water resources will define how water-secure the world would be. Africa’s aquifers hold 0.66 million KM3 of water. This is more than 100 times the annual renewable freshwater resources stored in dams and rivers. Waste generation in Sub-Saharan Africa will increase 300 per cent by the year 2050. Sub-Saharan Africa manages to collect only 55 per cent of the waste it generates. Of this, only 19 per cent is managed in controlled facilities.