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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.

MESHA hosts the African Science Journalists Conference, launches the inaugural State of Environment Report in Africa

The sixth African Conference of Science Journalists, which was held in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital ended with a resounding success. The 3-day conference closed its doors on Friday October 13th, 2023 with a call from scientists for the media to keep aflame reporting on climate change, environmental degradation and pandemic preparedness. This year’s edition was supported by funding from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), India and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) based in Nairobi. Hosted by Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA), the event provided a platform to discuss current status and future of science and environmental journalism in Africa including the preparedness of the continent to deal with future pandemics. Lack of biodiversity data was also noted as a challenge in the fight towards keeping our wetlands safe. Senior editors attending the conference spoke on the emerging trends in environment and science reporting in Africa and India. Editors Hellen Miseda formerly of Standard Group; Richard Mahapatra, Managing Editor, Down To Earth, India; Godfrey Ombogo, Editor, Sayansi Magazine, Kenya; and Francis Kagolo, Senior Producer-News, New Vision, Uganda were part of this panel that concurred that media houses need to introduce climate desk for effective and regular reportage of climate change issues. “Unless there’s a global event like COP or Africa Climate Summit, it is rare to find climate stories in the media. After that, it is just politics after politics,” said Ms Miseda. Two health related science cafes were also held within the conference. The first one was about the triple threat. The major highlight of the conference was the launch of the CSE’s State of Africa’s Environment (S0E) 2023 report by Kenya’s National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), Mamo Boru Mamo. The report reveals how the continent’s progress is being held back by a confluence of factors that include poor leadership, bad governance and unethical practices by big business interests. It details the environmental situation in the context of climate change, energy access, air pollution, biodiversity, land and agriculture, mobility, water and waste management, among other development issues on the continent. A media science café dedicated to “Triple Threat” and its implications looked into the insights into the challenges, opportunities and innovative approaches for addressing the issues. Ms Caro Kinoti, Head of County Support Division, National Syndemic Diseases Control Council, Nairobi said that the gender based violence continues to contribute immensely to the spread of HIV. On their part, Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) warned of an imminent failure of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The union claims that despite the government doing a lot ahead of the launch of the program, the government seems not to have learnt a lesson from its failures in the past two attempts to roll out the program. “In Kenya today, we have one doctor to 16,000 Kenyans. This is against World Health Organisation’s (WHO) requirement of one doctor to 1,000 people,” said Dr Dennis Miskellah, KMPDU Deputy Secretary General during his presentation. Dr Miskellah challenged journalists to continue shining light on health issues in the country, so as to help stakeholders understand the situation. He noted that poor management of the health sector could hamper the implementation of critical programs such as the Universal Health Coverage. Francis Angirah from the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Kisumu urged journalists to interrogate lessons learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic and report on them so as to ensure that the masses are prepared for the next pandemic. With the partnership with MESHA, CSE and Down To Earth (DTE) have committed to release the State of Environment (SOE) in Africa annually. Journalists who attended the conference observed that it was a dynamic networking and training event, leaving them reinvigorated and motivated to continue doing science stories. In the words of Teresia Gitau, who covers climate change issues from a religion perspective, the conference was amazing because of the information shared, opportunity to network with people from other mainstream media houses and the challenges ‘new opportunities’ the journalists faced while working and partnering with other organizations. “It was a pleasant surprise to meet another journalist of faith and could relate to some of the issues journalist of faith experience,” she added. While giving the closing remarks, Aghan Daniel, Secretary MESHA urged the journalists to be always ready to learn and tell African science stories that impact lives of the people. “One untold story is a life lost,” he said. According to the report, Africa continues to bear the brunt of the repercussions of climate change even though African countries contribute less to the triggers of the phenomenon. The report also examines Africa’s potential to feed itself and the role poor governance policies play in frustrating efforts towards food security. Despite having 65 percent of arable land, for instance, Africa still imports foods, the authors of the report note. Mamo further said that the contents of the report will be domesticated to help the continent with strategies to deal with climate change. He noted that despite Kenya having a pro-conservation constitution supported by eight other regulations, the biggest challenge to dealing with conservation issues has been enforcement. “This report is very timely and will build into NEMA report and policies,” said Mamo. He announced that from January 2024 all vehicles in Kenya will undergo emission testing. Jabes Okumu, Programs and Advocacy Manager, East African Wild Life Society while speaking on Central Kenya’s lakes and wetlands and how to protect them and their biodiversity said that there is need for a single authority to govern the wetlands in Kenya. “We need to equip our communities with skills to prevent human-wildlife conflicts and discourage wetland encroachment,” he said.

Delhi to launch campaign to curb industrial pollution

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 there's no laxity on their part," Rai said. 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 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. Published On Oct 18, 2023 at 01:48 PM IST

Ban stubble burning, firecrackers: Delhi environment minister’s recommendations for NCR to tackle pollution

Delhi’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday wrote a letter to Union Minister Bhupender Yadav requesting a meeting with all environment ministers in the National Capital Region (NCR), which comprises the states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, to prepare an action plan to tackle the issue of pollution during winters. He outlined seven key recommendations aimed at mitigating environmental challenges in NCR. “In the winter, pollution levels turn severe. The Delhi government is taking various measures under the winter action plan, such as an anti-dust campaign and efforts to control pollution levels at hotspots. However, until the sources of pollution in the NCR states are not controlled, these steps being taken will not be effective,” read Rai’s letter. A report from the Centre for Science and Environment stated that “31% of the pollution in Delhi originates within the city itself, while 69% stems from sources of pollution in NCR states,” as mentioned by Rai. He requested Yadav, who is the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, to convene a meeting of the environment ministers of the NCR to prepare an action plan on these points so that the level of pollution can be reduced. The environment minister mentioned that pollution levels have been reduced by 30% due to certain measures, and also stated the need for coordinated efforts with neighbouring states to control pollutants, as 69% of Delhi’s pollution originates from them. As Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) entered the “poor” category, certain restrictions on vehicular traffic entering Delhi are enforced to mitigate pollution during peak periods under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Here is the list of recommendations : Mandate CNG or Electric Vehicles for public transport: Public transportation from NCR to Delhi should exclusively use Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or electric power to reduce the carbon footprint. Ban stubble burning in NCR: Strict regulations are needed to prevent stubble burning in the NCR region, addressing this harmful agricultural practice. Convert Industrial Units to Natural Gas: Industrial units in NCR states still using polluting fuels should be converted to piped natural gas. Upgrade brick kilns: Heavily polluting brick kilns in NCR states should adopt zig-zag technology to reduce pollution. Ensure reliable electricity supply for housing societies: Housing societies in NCR states should have a stable electricity supply to reduce reliance on diesel generators and promote cleaner energy sources. Complete firecracker ban similar to Delhi: NCR states should enforce a comprehensive ban on firecrackers, similar to Delhi, to mitigate air quality deterioration, especially during festivals. Regulate Non-Destined Vehicles on Peripheral Expressways: State governments should direct non-destined vehicles to use Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways from their initial entry points to reduce traffic congestion and pollution in residential areas. Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) Delhi’s AQI was recorded in the ‘moderate’ category at 9 AM on Wednesday and the minimum temperature settled at 17.3 degrees Celsius, a notch below normal. The city witnessed poor air quality on Sunday and Monday. It improved slightly afterwards as gusty winds accompanied by rains lashed parts of the national capital on Monday night. According to the AQI scale, air quality ranging from 0 to 50 is categorized as “good,” 51 to 100 as “satisfactory,” 101 to 200 as “moderate,” 201 to 300 as “poor,” 301 to 400 as “very poor,” and 401 to 450 as “severe.” When the AQI surpasses 450, it is deemed to be at the “severe+” level.

Why organic is not in your shopping cart

Taste this one. I bet you would have never eaten anything like this before," Dilip Patidar, a farmer from Mandsaur district in Madhya Pradesh, told this reporter during a recent visit. Then he plucked an okra, bhindi in vernacular, and offered it for tasting. It was tender and crunchy, with a hint of sweetness. “This entire plot is for vegetables grown for our own kitchen. We do not use fertilizers or medicines while growing them," the farmer said. By medicines, he meant pesticides. This is a common practice among farmers. They often grow their own food, be it grains or vegetables, in a separate plot and apply little or no chemical fertilizers and zero pesticides. The reason? Most consider what they sell in the markets as harmful for health, laced with chemical residues. But most consumers, except a minority, seem blissfully unaware of what goes into their food. Cauliflowers dunked in chemicals to make them sparkling white; bottle gourds pumped with growth hormones to make them grow bigger; heavy sprays of pesticides on okra and brinjal, which are cooked unpeeled. Off-season vegetables often have a higher chemical load, farmers say. They use more pesticide to protect off-season vegetables: because those sell at a premium and growing costs are higher. Consumer preference for cheaper food is one reason why the market for organic, that is food grown without chemical fertilizers and pesticides, is miniscule in India, food companies complain. How small is it? Less than ₹4,000 crore in a year, including non-certified produce. As per data from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), till March this year, 5.4 million hectares—or just about 3.5% of total cultivated land of 154 million hectares—is registered under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), a body that provides certification standards for organic production. Interestingly, India had the highest number of farmers practising organic farming (1.4 million) in the world, while Australia had the largest area under organic agriculture (36 million hectares), according to the World of Organic Agriculture report 2021. In 2022-23, Indian farmers produced 2.9 million tonnes of certified organic produce which includes foodgrains, oilseeds, perishables, cotton and tea. India exported ₹5,525 crore worth of organic produce in 2022-23, significantly higher than the estimated domestic sales. Organic produce, unlike in India, is a huge trend in developed markets—according to the Organic Agriculture report cited earlier, global organic food and beverages sales was estimated at €106 billion in 2019, with the US, Germany and France accounting for over 60% of the market. 24 Mantra Organic, the largest organic food brand in India, clocked a turnover of ₹330 crore in 2022-23. Exports accounted for 45% of its revenue. In comparison, the annual turnover of Nalli Sarees, a premium garment retailer, was over ₹500 crores in the year ending March 2022. Even a boutique ice cream brand like Naturals sells more (over ₹200 crore in a year) than what the largest organic food brand could sell within India. Mint spoke to several companies to understand what is holding back the market for organic food. When consumers can afford to spend on premium cars, shoes or garments, why not spend on food grown without chemical fertilizers? Here’s why in a nutshell: due to steeper prices, the market is limited to an elite set of consumers. Higher prices are driven by retail outlets demanding ‘crazy’ margins, and costs incurred towards certification. Repeated price fluctuations push farmers to drop out frequently: when vegetable prices fall sharply, there is little incentive for them to continue with organic methods. Which means erratic supply for sellers and frequent stock-outs, especially for fruits and vegetables. Limited scale of production leads to higher certification, processing and marketing costs, leading to higher retail prices. This, in turn, discourages consumers. When consumers turn their back, the farmer loses interest. The cycle plays in a loop. In addition, the lip service accorded to natural farming by governments, both at the state and central levels, is not matched by financial support. In 2022-23, subsidies on chemical fertilizers were at a staggering ₹2.25 trillion. The federal budget for the National Mission on Natural Farming? Less than ₹500 crore. Consumer awareness continues to be poor. There is a sense of mistrust if organic food is really what it is sold as. So, consumers often pick up the cheapest staple on offer because there is hardly any data on the quality and safety aspects of conventional (non-organic) food. The last large-scale survey by the agriculture ministry, on pesticide residues in food, was conducted more than five years back. The results were kosher. Just 2.2% of the samples were found to exceed prescribed pesticide residue limits. But farmers seem to know better. Which is why some of them separately grow the food they eat and the food they sell. “When India embarked on the green revolution in the mid-1960s, it created a support system to help farmers transition into a new technology. That support is missing for farmers who want to shift to organic. We need to provide farmers marketing support and a robust government extension system—agronomists and field staff—who can teach farmers how to prepare various organic and bio inputs and how to control pests and weeds," said Vineet Kumar, programme manager, sustainable food systems at the Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi, a research and advocacy organization. Price buildup On a bright September morning, Pappu Patidar, a 32-year-old farmer from Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh, was busy tending to his field. Hired workers harvested ripe soybeans while Patidar plucked out weeds by hand from a small plot of groundnut. It took Patidar nine years to move all his 15 acres into certified organic farming. “In the first few years, the yields dropped but then recovered gradually," he said. Earlier this year, Patidar sold organic wheat to 24 Mantra for ₹2,800 per quintal, at a 20% premium compared to market price of conventionally grown wheat. His costs of certification were borne by 24 Mantra. Agronomists and field staff from the company taught Patidar how to prepare bio-pesticides and organic manure from cow dung. “My biggest savings are on chemical pesticides—about ₹40,000 every year. The crops are healthy because they are grown on healthy soils," Patidar said. The field staff from the company claimed that the package of practices adopted by the farmer has boosted soil organic carbon content, a critical indicator of soil health. 24 Mantra, which now works with 35,000 farmers in 16 states, began its journey in 2005. Its revenue nearly doubled, from ₹169 crore in 2017-18 to ₹330 crore in 2022-23. According to Rajasekhar Reddy Seelam, founder and managing director of 24 Mantra, consumers are taking to organic food, but at a slow pace. “Awareness and trust are important factors. Yet, over the last five years, we estimate that the number of families who have experimented or are regularly purchasing organic items have increased from 1 million to over 4 million," Seelam said. “For us, high retail margins are a big hurdle. That money could be better spent on consumer awareness," Seelam added. For instance, most retail stores ask for a 25-30% margin for stocking organic brands. They consider organic staples to be a premium product which will sit on the shelves for longer. Smaller brands that have less bargaining power compete among each other and end up offering a high margin to retailers. This drives up consumer prices. For instance, the retail margin on a packet of conventional rice is usually less than 10% but exceeds 30% for organic variants. We had started our journey with the premise that everything we sell on our platform should be organic one day," said Seshu Kumar Tirumala, national head of buying and merchandise at BigBasket, a popular online grocery store. Over the past five years, the share of organic staples, which include non-perishables like grains, pulses and oils, has increased from 5% to 14% of overall sales, he added. But of the 18,000 tonnes of fresh fruits and vegetables sold monthly on the platform, less than 8% are from a category the company describes as ‘organically grown’. Products sold here are grown organically but are not certified. BigBasket has created this unique category to deal with erratic supplies. Vegetables have a short crop cycle and are grown on smaller plots of land. Planting decisions often change in response to market demand. Incurring certification costs is an impediment. So, BigBasket instead ensures that the produce is grown without chemical inputs in the season it is procured. To be ‘certified organic’, no chemical inputs can be used in a plot of land for at least three years. “We are being transparent with the consumer here. Our agronomists work closely with farmers to monitor their practices. But at a policy level, we need to figure out how certification can be simplified for this category," Tirumala said. For staples, this isn’t a challenge. On its platform, 85% of the organic staples are sold under a private label, BB Organic. On consumer demand, Tirumala said that customers are not willing to pay beyond a certain point for organic food. A price premium of over 20-25% is the maximum consumers are comfortable paying to switch to organic. “We are mindful of this premium while putting a price tag. Right now, we are not chasing profits but genuinely want to promote this category," Tirumala added. Pesticide-free While BigBasket created the ‘organically grown’ category to deal with erratic supplies of fresh produce, some are experimenting with other methods. In Andhra Pradesh, a large community managed natural farming project has created a safe food movement with participation of six million farmers. Safe Harvest, which sold ‘pesticide-free’ produce worth ₹50 crore in 2022-23, now works with 18,000 farmers spread across 11 states. Small farmers who cultivate low fertility soils find it very difficult to switch to organic, said Rangu Rao, CEO of Safe Harvest. “So, instead of organic, we are helping farmers move towards rational use of fertilizers and teaching them how to stay off chemical pesticides which are more harmful," Rao said. Rao added that organic certification is both expensive and complex for farmers to adopt. Currently, India follows two distinct systems: NPOP certification for exports and domestic sales where the produce is certified by third-parties, and participatory guarantee system (PGS) where farmer groups certify each other. PGS certification, which is less stringent and cheaper, is only meant for the domestic market. “For the domestic market, PGS certification is a better option. The certification costs are low (between ₹400 and ₹700 per hectare compared to ₹2,000 under NPOP for a group of farmers) but the standards are similar compared to NPOP," said G.V. Ramanjaneyulu, executive director at the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA), Hyderabad. CSA, a research organization, works with farmer groups in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and has so far certified about 100,000 hectares under the PGS system. It has created a state-level federation of farmer groups which sells its produce under the Sahaja Aharam brand. “Our key objective is to increase the farmer’s share in what the consumer pays for organic food. While conventional farmers receive about ₹25,000 per hectare in fertilizer and other subsidies, there is no such support for organic growers," Ramanjaneyulu added.

Fire Cracker Ban: गोपाल राय ने केंद्र से की पटाखों पर बैन लगाने की मांग, बोले- NCR से आता है 69% प्रदूषण

Fire Cracker Ban: दिल्ली-एनसीआर में ठंड के साथ-साथ प्रदूषण भी बढ़ने लगता है. ऐसे में दिवाली पर आतिशबाजी के बाद प्रदूषण का लेवल और बढ़ जाता है. इसको लेकर दिल्ली सरकार के पर्यावरण मंत्री गोपाल राय ने वायु प्रदूषण पर लगाम लगाने के लिए मंगलवार को केंद्र सरकार से पटाखों पर पूरी तरह प्रतिबंध लगाने की मांग की. इसको लेकर उन्होंने केंद्रीय पर्यावरण मंत्री भूपेंद्र यादव को पत्र लिखा कि दिल्ली सरकार ने सर्दी के मौसम में वायु प्रदूषण पर अंकुश लगाने के लिए कई कदम उठाए हैं. लेकिन, ये तब तक प्रभावी साबित नहीं होंगे जब तक हरियाणा, राजस्थान और उत्तर प्रदेश एनसीआर में प्रदूषण के स्रोतों से खत्म नहीं होंगे. गोपाल राय ने कहा कि पर्यावरण के लिए काम करने वाली संस्था ‘सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट’ की रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि दिल्ली में केवल 31% प्रदूषण राष्ट्रीय राजधानी के स्रोतों से होता है. वहीं 69 प्रतिशत प्रदूषण एनसीआर से आता है. इसको लेकर गोपाल राय ने केंद्र सरकार से मांग की है कि राष्ट्रीय राजधानी दिल्ली में वायु प्रदूषण के लिए जिम्मेदार कारकों से निपटने पर चर्चा के लिए आपात बैठक बुलाई जाए.

दिल्ली सरकार औद्योगिक प्रदूषण से निपटने के लिए अभियान शुरू करेगी

पर्यावरण मंत्री गोपाल राय ने बुधवार को कहा कि दिल्ली सरकार औद्योगिक प्रदूषण से निपटने के लिए 20 अक्टूबर से एक महीने तक अभियान चलाएगी। उन्होंने संवाददाताओं से कहा कि राजधानी में 1,700 से अधिक औद्योगिक इकाइयों में इस्तेमाल होने वाले ईंधन पर नजर रखने के लिए 66 टीम गठित की गई हैं। राय ने कहा, ‘‘हालांकि ये इकाइयां प्राकृतिक गैस पर स्थानांतरित हो गई हैं, हम यह सुनिश्चित करेंगे कि उनकी ओर से कोई ढिलाई न बरती जाए।’’ मंत्री ने मंगलवार को केंद्र से मांग की थी कि वायु प्रदूषण से निपटने के लिए पटाखों पर पूर्ण प्रतिबंध लगाया जाए और पूरे राष्ट्रीय राजधानी क्षेत्र (एनसीआर) में केवल सीएनजी और इलेक्ट्रिक वाहनों की आवाजाही की अनुमति दी जाए। राय ने केंद्र में अपने समकक्ष भूपेन्द्र यादव को लिखे पत्र में कहा था कि दिल्ली सरकार ने सर्दियों के मौसम के दौरान वायु प्रदूषण से निपटने के लिए कई महत्वपूर्ण कदम उठाए हैं। उन्होंने कहा, ‘‘लेकिन ये कदम तब तक प्रभावी नहीं होंगे जब तक हरियाणा, राजस्थान और उत्तर प्रदेश की ओर से एनसीआर क्षेत्र में प्रदूषण के स्रोतों से निटपने के लिए प्रभावी कदम नहीं उठाये जाते।’’ उन्होंने कहा कि स्वतंत्र पर्यावरण थिंक टैंक ‘सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट’ की एक रिपोर्ट से पता चलता है कि दिल्ली में 31 प्रतिशत प्रदूषण राष्ट्रीय राजधानी के स्रोतों से होता है, जबकि 69 प्रतिशत एनसीआर राज्यों के स्रोतों से होता है। राय ने मांग रखी कि केंद्र राष्ट्रीय राजधानी में वायु प्रदूषण से निपटने के लिए समाधान पर चर्चा के वास्ते एक आपातकालीन बैठक बुलाए। दिल्ली के मंत्री ने कहा कि एनसीआर के राज्यों को पूरे क्षेत्र में पटाखों और पराली जलाने पर पूर्ण प्रतिबंध लगाना चाहिए और केवल सीएनजी और इलेक्ट्रिक वाहनों को अनुमति देनी चाहिए।

Delhi government to launch campaign to curb industrial pollution

The Delhi government will run a month-long campaign to curb industrial pollution starting from October 20, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on October 18. He told reporters, in New Delhi, that 66 teams have been set up to keep an eye on the fuels being used in more than 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," Mr. Rai said. 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. Mr. 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. Mr. 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.

Govt to launch campaign to curb industrial pollution in Delhi

The Delhi government, under the leadership of Environment Minister Gopal Rai, has announced a month-long initiative commencing on October 20 to combat industrial pollution. Rai revealed that 66 teams have been deployed to monitor the fuels used in more than 1,700 industrial units in the capital, even though these units have transitioned to natural gas. Additionally, Rai urged the central government to enforce a total ban on firecrackers and restrict the movement to CNG and electric vehicles within the National Capital Region (NCR) to mitigate air pollution. He emphasised that Delhi’s efforts alone won’t suffice unless neighboring states like Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh address pollution sources in the NCR. Rai cited a report from the Centre for Science and Environment, indicating that 31% of Delhi’s pollution stems from within the city, while 69% originates from NCR states. He called for an emergency meeting at the national level to discuss effective solutions to the factors contributing to air pollution in the capital region. Furthermore, Rai advocated for a comprehensive ban on firecrackers and stubble burning throughout the NCR states, advocating for the exclusive use of CNG and electric vehicles. (With inputs from PTI)

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai Asks Centre To Impose Complete Ban Of Firecrackers, Stubble Burning In NCR

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai called for a comprehensive prohibition on firecrackers and the exclusive use of CNG and electric vehicles throughout the entire National Capital Region as a measure to combat air pollution. Gopal Rai, in a letter to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, 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." 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 on Tuesday demanded that the Centre convene an emergency meeting to discuss solutions to 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. "Many industrial units in NCR states are still running on polluting fuels. They should be immediately converted to piped natural gas. The heavily polluting brick kilns running in NCR states should be asked to adopt zig-zag technology to check pollution," he said. "Electricity should be ensured for all housing societies in NCR states to reduce dependence on diesel generators. The state governments concerned should be asked to divert non-destined vehicles from their origin point on the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways," Rai wrote in the letter.