Centre for Science and Environment masthead Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Donate

Cse In News

Cse In News

India’s 500 GW clean energy goal faces a critical mineral challenge

Sehr Raheja, programme officer at the Centre for Science and Environment, said, “Critical minerals are a real strategic vulnerability for India. The more immediate weak link is processing and ‌refining, not just mining.” India is increasing its focus on renewable energy further, owing to the rising tensions in the Middle East, which create concerns about fuel supply. The country depends on imports for about 80 per cent of its oil and gas, now exposed to global risks. It also relies heavily on imports of key minerals required for clean energy technologies. India aims for 500 GW in renewables, including solar, wind, and hydro, by 2030. It is also scaling up battery storage and electric vehicles. The current climate goal of the nation aims for 60 per cent of power capacity from non-fossil sources by 2035, which will further increase demand for minerals. While India produces some materials like aluminium, copper and graphite, it relies on imports for key minerals such as lithium, cobalt and nickel. A report by NITI Aayog said demand for these minerals is expected to rise sharply by 2030 due to growth in renewable energy, storage and electric vehicles. A study by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry and Deloitte warned that rising demand could create supply risks if India does not build domestic capacity. Sehr Raheja, programme officer at the Centre for Science and Environment, said, “Critical minerals are a real strategic vulnerability for India. The more immediate weak link is processing and ‌refining, not just mining.” India has launched a National Critical Mineral Mission to improve supply through mining, recycling and overseas sourcing, but progress has been slow due to project delays and other challenges. Saloni Sachdeva Michael, lead energy specialist at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, pointed out, “Even if companies want to set up refining units, there are gaps around financing, technology and clarity on who will buy the processed materials.”

India’s renewable energy drive exposes reliance on foreign mineral supplies

“Critical minerals are a real strategic vulnerability for India. The more immediate weak link is processing and refining, not just mining,” said Sehr Raheja, program officer at the Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi-based think tank. The conflict in the Middle East is pushing India, which imports 80 percent of its oil and gas, to accelerate its shift to renewables, but the country is also dependent on imports for the minerals and rare earth metals needed to power its green transition. India aims to install 500 gigawatts of green energy capacity including solar, wind and hydropower by 2030, alongside expanding battery storage and electric transport. The country’s latest climate goals, announced last month, also aim for 60 percent power capacity from non-fossil sources by 2035, which could further increase demand for critical minerals. While India produces some green minerals like copper and graphite, it remains highly dependent on imports for several others such as lithium, cobalt and nickel. A report by NITI Aayog, the government’s premier think-tank, found demand for these minerals is likely to rise sharply by 2030, driven by demand for renewable energy, storage and electric vehicles. A separate analysis by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry and Deloitte warned this rising demand could expose India to supply chain risks unless it built domestic capabilities. India’s energy transition is increasingly tied to securing these minerals and building processing capacity, areas where it remains dependent on foreign suppliers. It also faces difficult choices on where to invest, whether to prioritize mining, processing or recycling, each requiring time, capital and technological capability, energy experts told Thomson Reuters Foundation. “Critical minerals are a real strategic vulnerability for India. The more immediate weak link is processing and refining, not just mining,” said Sehr Raheja, program officer at the Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi-based think tank. “Batteries, electric vehicles and clean-tech manufacturing are more directly exposed, but the broader power transition is not immune,” Raheja said. Building the entire value chain domestically will take time, said Saloni Sachdeva Michael, lead energy specialist.

INDIA’S GREEN PLEDGE: NEW CLIMATE TARGETS SET 60% CLEAN POWER AND 47% EMISSIONS

The Centre for Science and Environment similarly projected the 60 per cent target may be reached seven years ahead of schedule, even without new policy action, assuming policy inertia continues. India’s updated climate targets to the Paris Agreement have come, well over a year later, and the debate over whether the world’s third-largest emitter has put forth sufficient targets has begun. On March 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-chaired Union Cabinet cleared India’s third Nationally Determined Contribution, which will be effective from 2031 to 2035. Its key three points: achieving a 47 per cent reduction in the emissions intensity of its GDP compared to 2005 levels by 2035 (up from 45 per cent by 2030); 60 per cent non-fossil fuel-based electricity installed capacity by 2035; and a forest and tree cover carbon sink of 3.5 to 4 billion tons of CO equivalent by 2035. “We will achieve these targets very easily by the speed at which we are pushing non-fossil fuel sources in our country. Successive targets in India’s climate plans always built upon the past objectives, many of which were achieved much ahead of schedule,” Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw declared happily. It’s true that India achieved its non-fossil installed capacity of over 50 per cent 5 years early and had achieved 52.57 per cent by February 2026. But critics contend the new goals aren’t bold enough given the projected pace. Vibhuti Garg, with IEEFA, stated the 60 per cent goal ‘does not truly reflect the pace of development nor the extent of opportunity going forward, noting India may even reach 60 per cent as early as 2028. The Centre for Science and Environment similarly projected the 60 per cent target may be reached seven years ahead of schedule, even without new policy action, assuming policy inertia continues. Avantika Goswami of CSE noted that the goals demonstrate ‘that India is doing more than its fair share, given that its historical contribution to global emissions is negligible, and a time when developing countries are going backwards on climate ambitions, strengthening their dependency on fossil fuels, and dragging the world towards war; India’s message conveys that the global south will lead with concrete and effective climate actions. The World Resources Institute characterised the declaration as one that ‘keeps India deeply attached to the multilateral climate process’. However, it also expressed concern over structural barriers, as 69% of India’s power comes from coal, and India is looking to add 56 GW of new coal plants by 2030.

Whether oil and gas, or green tech, India depends on imports

"Critical minerals are a real strategic vulnerability for India. The more immediate weak link is processing and refining, not just mining,” said Sehr Raheja, program officer at the Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi-based think tank. "Batteries, electric vehicles and clean-tech manufacturing are more directly exposed, but the broader power transition is not immune,” Raheja said. The conflict in the Middle East is pushing India, which imports 80 percent of its oil and gas, to accelerate its shift to renewables, but the country is also dependent on imports for the minerals and rare earth metals needed to power its green transition. India aims to install 500 gigawatts of green energy capacity including solar, wind and hydropower by 2030, alongside expanding battery storage and electric transport. The country’s latest climate goals, announced last month, also aim for 60 percent power capacity from non-fossil sources by 2035, which could further increase demand for critical minerals. While India produces some green minerals like copper and graphite, it remains highly dependent on imports for several others such as lithium, cobalt and nickel. A report by NITI Aayog, the government’s premier think-tank, found demand for these minerals is likely to rise sharply by 2030, driven by demand for renewable energy, storage and electric vehicles. A separate analysis by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry and Deloitte warned this rising demand could expose India to supply chain risks unless it built domestic capabilities. India’s energy transition is increasingly tied to securing these minerals and building processing capacity, areas where it remains dependent on foreign suppliers. It also faces difficult choices on where to invest, whether to prioritize mining, processing or recycling, each requiring time, capital and technological capability, energy experts told Thomson Reuters Foundation. “Critical minerals are a real strategic vulnerability for India. The more immediate weak link is processing and refining, not just mining,” said Sehr Raheja, program officer at the Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi-based think tank. “Batteries, electric vehicles and clean-tech manufacturing are more directly exposed, but the broader power transition is not immune,” Raheja said. Building the entire value chain domestically will take time, said Saloni Sachdeva Michael, lead energy specialist at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, an energy policy think-tank. Last year India launched a National Critical Mineral Mission to boost domestic supply through mining, recycling and overseas sourcing. But progress has been slow, with limited participation in mining auctions, long project timelines, and land and environmental hurdles. While India is focusing on expanding mining of these minerals, the bigger hurdles lie in processing and refining them. “Even if companies want to set up refining units, there are gaps around financing, technology and clarity on who will buy the processed materials,” Sachdeva said, adding that cost competitiveness with global suppliers is a concern. The global race for these minerals is intensifying. Resource-rich countries, particularly in Africa, are pushing to capture more value domestically through processing, while China dominates refining and major economies such as the United States and European Union are moving to lock in supply chains. While India is a late entrant in this race, Sachdeva said it could still build a role in processing, refining and recycling, even if it continues to rely on imports for some materials. India is the third-largest producer of electronic waste and is making early investments to recover more minerals from waste. “Recycling is the lowest hanging fruit for India right now,” Sachdeva said. For India, Raheja and Sachdeva said the challenge was no longer just adding renewable capacity, but building the material backbone needed to support it in a tightening global supply system. – Reuters

15 साल पुरानी बसें तो बंद होंगी पर हवा में जहर घोल रहे भोपाल नगर निगम के 50 साल पुराने वाहनों का क्या...?

भोपाल में पांच साल पहले तक वाहनों से होने वाला प्रदूषण देश के बड़े शहरों में सबसे कम माना जाता था। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (सीएसई) की 14 शहरों पर जारी रिपोर्ट में यह बात सामने आई थी। उस समय दिल्ली में परिवहन से सबसे ज्यादा प्रदूषण था, जबकि भोपाल सबसे बेहतर स्थिति में था। लेकिन अब हालात पूरी तरह बदल चुके हैं। राजधानी में वर्तमान वायु प्रदूषण में 30 फीसदी हिस्सेदारी वाहनों की हो गई है, जिसमें 15 फीसदी डीजल और 15 फीसदी पेट्रोल वाहन शामिल हैं। वाहनों से निकलने वाले पार्टिकुलेट मैटर, नाइट्रोजन ऑक्साइड और कार्बन डाईऑक्साइड पर्यावरण को नुकसान पहुंचा रहे हैं।

Pre-monsoon season emerging as new high-risk period for crops, analysis shows

The monsoon has long been seen as the most destructive season for Indian agriculture, with heavy rains and floods between June and September damaging crops across large areas. However, an analysis of data from 2022 to early April 2026 suggests a shift in both the timing and scale of risks to farming.Alongside the monsoon, the pre-monsoon season is now emerging as a new period of high risk to crops, according to the analysis based on India’s Interactive Atlas on Weather Disasters. Rising crop losses before the monsoonUnseasonal rains and hailstorms during the pre-monsoon period are increasingly damaging crops at a time once considered relatively safe for farming.In three of the past four years — 2022, 2024 and 2025 — a significant cropped area was affected by extreme weather events, particularly hailstorms, during the pre-monsoon season.The trend appears to be continuing in 2026. In just the first 38 days of the pre-monsoon period this year (March 1 to April 7), unseasonal rains ... Source: downtoearth.news https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change/pre-monsoon-season-emerging-as-new-high-risk-period-for-crops-analysis-shows

What are the health impacts of sea-level rise, and who should pay?

The director general of India’s Centre for Science and Environment, Sunita Narain, said: “It is clear that women are disproportionately hit … The increased frequency and intensity of these weather events puts pressure on livelihoods and this means that the men are the first to migrate in search of work. “This then puts additional pressure on women to cope and indeed survive.” In November in Solomon Islands, the former Tongan health minister Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala stood outside the main hospital in Honiara and “watched seawater lapping at its outer walls”. “The facility is now under threat, with plans under way to relocate it to higher ground – a massive and costly undertaking,” Saia, a surgeon and now the World Health Organization’s regional director for the western Pacific, tells the Guardian. “It should never have come to this.” The impact on patients and health services is just one part of a growing health burden driven by sea-level rise, including water contamination, infectious disease, food insecurity, displacement and worsening mental health. In 2024, at the inaugural UN general assembly meeting on sea-level rise, representatives of small island developing states and low-lying countries described the issue as a global crisis threatening 1 billion people worldwide, urging governments globally to act to protect their health and lives. “We contributed almost nothing to this global scourge but it is our land that is being consumed by the sea,” Samoa’s then prime minister, Afioga Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, told the meeting. The result is a Lancet Commission on sea-level rise health and justice, co-chaired by the leading climate negotiator Christiana Figueres and enlisting almost two dozen health and environment experts as commissioners – Saia among them. One of the most difficult questions the commission will grapple with is this: who should be responsible for paying when cities like Honiara are forced to rebuild critical infrastructure due to the impacts of some of the most polluting corporations and countries? In 14 Pacific island countries, Saia says, 62% of health infrastructure lies within 500 metres of the coast. “The consequences of inaction are now too severe to ignore,” he says. “The evidence of climate‑related health harm is overwhelming and irrefutable. “As both a doctor and a former health minister, I firmly believe that health is ultimately a political choice.” What are the health impacts of sea-level rise? One of the most immediate health consequences is unsafe water, as saltwater seeps into underground freshwater sources and contaminates drinking supplies. Flooding can overwhelm sanitation systems, pushing sewage and pollutants into water sources and increasing the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera and leptospirosis. Human migrations and displacements caused by sea-level rise also lead to overcrowding and poor conditions, fuelling the spread of infectious disease. Salinated water may lead to increases in blood pressure, with higher salt intake linked to hypertension and damage to the heart, brain, kidneys and blood vessels. And when salinated water destroys crops, populations become malnourished, with many losing their livelihoods as farmland becomes unviable. A co-chair of the commission, Prof Kathryn Bowen, said sea-level rise would be a core component of the health chapter of the seventh report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the UN body that assesses the science related to climate change. “One of the core human needs is fresh water,” she says. “We’re starting to see that this salinity and contamination is linked to worse cardiovascular, renal and pregnancy related health outcomes, and we know that the combination of sea water intrusion and agricultural practices has also been linked to heavy metal sources being found in groundwater.” What are the gender inequality impacts? In some countries, women and girls are largely responsible for collecting water for cooking and sanitation, and are forced to travel further when local supplies are polluted. Longer journeys increase their exposure to sexual violence, as well as exploitation and waterborne disease. Sea-level rise also makes weather events more dangerous, as storm surges and flooding reach further inland. Crowded emergency shelters can expose women and girls to sexual violence and poor sanitation, leading some to avoid shelters altogether. Pregnant women and young children are particularly vulnerable to diseases from drinking-water contamination, and disrupted healthcare access is linked to poor pregnancy outcomes and child health risks. The director general of India’s Centre for Science and Environment, Sunita Narain, said: “It is clear that women are disproportionately hit … The increased frequency and intensity of these weather events puts pressure on livelihoods and this means that the men are the first to migrate in search of work. “This then puts additional pressure on women to cope and indeed survive.” What impacts does relocation have? Even when relocation in response to the threat of sea-level rise is planned, Bowen says, deliberate and permanent relocation ahead of disaster has profound impacts, with education, housing and other critical services also needing to move. Saia has seen the health impacts of this relocation first-hand. “In the Pacific, health is inseparable from identity,” he says. “Sea‑level rise does not just take land; it erodes culture, traditions and people’s sense of belonging. “In low‑lying atoll countries such as Kiribati, Nauru, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu, families are being pushed off ancestral land as erosion worsens and flooding becomes routine. This disrupts food systems, community practices and social cohesion. “Protecting health means safeguarding both physical facilities and the deep connections to place that sustain wellbeing.” How will the Lancet Commission work? The commission will focus its work on areas where sanitation systems are compromised, waterborne and vector-borne diseases are accelerating and health services are strained. By the end of 2027, it will present recommendations designed for adoption by governments, institutions and civil society. “This commission is obviously going to be fairly dire in many of its findings,” Bowen says. “But we have to balance that with the fact that we know how to get ourselves out of this, that we’ve got so many ingredients to propose a strong set of solutions. “One of the principals of the Commission’s work is imagination, and as part of that we need to find ways to promote empathy and connection and move away from the individualistic ways of life we are all being pushed towards, particularly through political structures. “But quite fundamentally, we need to be urgently reducing our emissions. We can’t adapt our way out of this.”

Be warned: Soft drinks are silent killers

Research conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has raised serious concerns about the contents of soft drinks, including the presence of pesticide residues. These beverages are composed of carbonated water, high quantities of sugar or corn syrup, artificial sweeteners like aspartame, caramel coloring, phosphoric and citric acids, caffeine, and chemical preservatives such as potassium benzoate and potassium citrate. Some studies have also reported traces of harmful pesticides including lindane, DDT, and malathion, highlighting the potential risks associated with regular consumption. With the onset of summer, a familiar yet troubling pattern emerges across society. Alongside rising temperatures comes an equally sharp rise in the consumption of soft drinks. Fueled by relentless advertising campaigns, particularly during high-profile events like the IPL, these beverages are promoted as symbols of refreshment and enjoyment. Supermarkets and shopping malls witness a surge in bulk purchases, while refrigerators in many homes are stocked with bottles of sugary drinks, often treated as essential summer staples. However, the perception that soft drinks provide cooling relief is largely misleading. Scientific evidence increasingly points to the contrary, indicating that these beverages contribute significantly to deteriorating health. Over time, people have unknowingly embraced habits that undermine their well-being, influenced by modern consumer culture and aggressive marketing strategies. Research conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has raised serious concerns about the contents of soft drinks, including the presence of pesticide residues. These beverages are composed of carbonated water, high quantities of sugar or corn syrup, artificial sweeteners like aspartame, caramel coloring, phosphoric and citric acids, caffeine, and chemical preservatives such as potassium benzoate and potassium citrate. Some studies have also reported traces of harmful pesticides including lindane, DDT, and malathion, highlighting the potential risks associated with regular consumption. Despite such alarming findings, regulatory responses have remained inadequate. Soft drink companies continue to generate enormous profits, often at the expense of public health. Compounding the issue is the role of celebrities and athletes who endorse these products for substantial financial gain, thereby normalizing and encouraging their consumption among the masses. The health implications of soft drink consumption are profound and far-reaching. Their acidic nature, often compared to that of certain cleaning agents, can have damaging effects on the human body. Regular intake is linked to obesity, hypertension, diabetes, respiratory complications, weakened bones, joint pain, and digestive disorders. Over the long term, it increases the risk of kidney failure, liver disease, cardiovascular problems, and even cancer. Pregnant women who consume these beverages may inadvertently expose their unborn children to potential health risks. The high sugar content in soft drinks frequently exceeds recommended daily limits, leading to weight gain, insulin resistance, and the development of Type 2 diabetes. Their acidity erodes dental enamel, resulting in cavities and long-term dental damage, while also causing irritation to the digestive system. One striking illustration of their corrosive nature is often cited: human teeth, which can withstand extreme conditions such as fire and prolonged burial, have been observed to deteriorate when immersed in soft drinks over a period of days. While this example is often used symbolically, it underscores growing concerns about the impact of these beverages on the body’s internal systems. In contrast, traditional and natural alternatives such as buttermilk, lassi, fresh fruit juices, ragi malt, and seasonal fruits like watermelon and cucumber offer safer and more nutritious options, particularly during the summer months. Encouraging these choices requires a conscious shift in lifestyle, beginning within households and extending to social practices. Avoiding soft drinks at public gatherings, including weddings and celebrations, can serve as an important step toward promoting healthier habits. The issue also calls for broader societal and policy-level interventions. Increased public awareness, responsible advertising practices, and stricter regulatory measures are essential to curb the unchecked spread of unhealthy consumption patterns. There is also a need to hold public figures accountable for endorsing products that may harm community health. Soft drinks, often perceived as harmless refreshments, demand closer scrutiny. The growing body of evidence suggests that they function less as thirst quenchers and more as contributors to long-term health risks. Recognizing this reality is the first step toward safeguarding public health and fostering a culture that prioritizes well-being over convenience and commercial influence.

Whether oil and gas, or green tech, India depends on imports

"Critical minerals are a real strategic vulnerability for India. The more ⁠immediate weak link is processing and refining, not just mining," said Sehr Raheja, programme officer at the Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi-based think tank. The conflict in the West Asia is pushing India, which imports 80 per cent of its oil and gas, to accelerate its shift to renewables, but the country is also dependent on imports for the minerals and rare earth metals needed to power its green transition. India aims to install 500 gigawatts of green energy capacity including solar, wind and hydropower by 2030, alongside expanding battery storage and electric transport. The country's latest climate goals, announced last ‌month, also aim for ⁠60 per cent power ⁠capacity from non-fossil sources by 2035, which could further increase demand for critical minerals. While India produces some green minerals like copper and graphite, it remains highly dependent on imports for several others such as lithium, cobalt and nickel. A report by NITI Aayog, the government's premier think-tank, found demand for these minerals is likely to rise sharply by 2030, driven by demand for renewable energy, storage and electric vehicles. A separate analysis by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry and Deloitte warned this rising demand could expose India to supply chain risks unless it built domestic capabilities. India's energy transition is increasingly tied to securing these minerals and building processing capacity, areas where it remains ⁠dependent on foreign ‌suppliers. It also faces difficult choices on where to invest, whether to prioritise mining, processing or recycling, each requiring time, capital and technological capability, energy experts told Thomson Reuters Foundation. "Critical minerals are a real strategic vulnerability for India. The more ⁠immediate weak link is processing and refining, not just mining," said Sehr Raheja, programme officer at the Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi-based think tank. "Batteries, electric vehicles and clean-tech manufacturing are more directly exposed, but the broader power transition is not immune," Raheja said. Global race for minerals Building the entire value chain domestically will take time, said Saloni Sachdeva Michael, lead energy specialist at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, an energy policy think-tank. Last year India launched a National Critical Mineral Mission to boost domestic supply through mining, recycling and overseas sourcing. But progress has been slow, with limited participation in mining auctions, long project timelines, and land and environmental hurdles. While India is focusing on expanding mining of these minerals, ‌the bigger hurdles lie in processing and refining them. "Even if companies want to set up refining units, there are gaps around financing, technology and clarity on who will buy the processed materials," Sachdeva said, adding that cost competitiveness with global suppliers is a concern. The global race ⁠for these minerals is intensifying. Resource-rich countries, particularly in Africa, are pushing to capture more value domestically through processing, while China dominates refining and major economies such as the United States and European Union are moving to lock in supply chains. While India is a late entrant in this race, Sachdeva said it could still build a role in processing, refining and recycling, even if it continues to rely on imports for some materials. India is the third-largest producer of electronic waste and is making early investments to recover more minerals from waste. "Recycling is the lowest hanging fruit for India right now," Sachdeva said. For India, Raheja and Sachdeva said the challenge was no longer just adding renewable capacity, but building the material backbone needed to support it in a tightening global supply system.

दिल्ली के उद्योग का दम घुट रहा है: प्रदूषण जांच और नाला-सड़क-पानी की चुनौती

दिल्ली-एनसीआर के औद्योगिक क्षेत्र जगह और बुनियादी ढांचे की भारी कमी के बीच काम कर रहे हैं, जिससे साझा पर्यावरणीय सुविधाओं को लागू करना मुश्किल हो जाता है… औद्योगिक क्षेत्रों के अंदर टूटी-फूटी, धूल भरी सड़कों जैसी रोज़मर्रा की असलियत प्रदूषण के स्तर को काफ़ी बढ़ा देती हैं. -शोभित श्रीवास्तव, प्रोग्राम मैनेजर, औद्योगिक प्रदूषण, CSE तरनजीत सिंह संधू के दिल्ली के उपराज्यपाल पद पर शपथ लेने के एक हफ़्ते बाद, सत्ता के गलियारों में एक जानी-पहचानी दस्तक फिर सुनाई दी. यह “स्वागत और बधाई” देने के लिए एक मुलाकात का अनुरोध था, लेकिन इसके पीछे दिल्ली के उद्योगों को फिर से ज़िंदा करने की एक लंबे समय से नज़रअंदाज़ की जा रही और लगातार बढ़ती हताशा भरी कोशिश छिपी थी. जब भी कोई नया मुख्यमंत्री या उपराज्यपाल पदभार संभालता है, तो यह सिलसिला हर बार दोहराया जाता है. उद्योगपति अपनी शिकायतें इस उम्मीद में पेश करते हैं कि सत्ता बदलने पर उनकी बात सुनी जाएगी. इस बार, यह अपील नारायणा इंडस्ट्रीज़ एसोसिएशन (NIA) की ओर से आई, जो शहर के सबसे पुराने औद्योगिक केंद्रों में से एक का प्रतिनिधित्व करता है. संधू को 18 मार्च को लिखे पत्र में कहा गया है, “हम आपका ध्यान नारायणा औद्योगिक क्षेत्र में बुनियादी ढांचे की मौजूदा स्थिति की ओर भी विनम्रतापूर्वक दिलाना चाहेंगे. इस क्षेत्र के सुधार और औद्योगिक गतिविधियों के सुचारू रूप से चलने के लिए इस पर तत्काल ध्यान देने और हस्तक्षेप की आवश्यकता है.” दिल्ली का औद्योगिक क्षेत्र लगभग 4 लाख लोगों को रोज़गार देता है और शहर की अर्थव्यवस्था में 50,000 करोड़ रुपये से ज़्यादा का योगदान देता है, लेकिन इसकी सबसे ज़रूरी मांगें तकनीक को बढ़ाने या वैश्विक प्रतिस्पर्धा से जुड़ी नहीं हैं. यह चाहता है कि बुनियादी ज़रूरतों जैसे कि नाला, सड़क, पानी पर ध्यान दिया जाए. दिल्ली-एनसीआर के औद्योगिक क्षेत्र जगह और बुनियादी ढांचे की भारी कमी के बीच काम कर रहे हैं, जिससे साझा पर्यावरणीय सुविधाओं को लागू करना मुश्किल हो जाता है… औद्योगिक क्षेत्रों के अंदर टूटी-फूटी, धूल भरी सड़कों जैसी रोज़मर्रा की असलियत प्रदूषण के स्तर को काफ़ी बढ़ा देती हैं. -शोभित श्रीवास्तव, प्रोग्राम मैनेजर, औद्योगिक प्रदूषण, CSE ये चिंताएं दिल्ली के औद्योगिक समूहों में हर जगह फैली हुई हैं—ओखला की कपड़ों और प्रिंटिंग यूनिट्स से लेकर नारायणा के भारी-भरकम औद्योगिक रसोई और होटल उपकरणों के केंद्रों तक और पूर्वी दिल्ली में छाए पॉलीविनाइल क्लोराइड (PVC) केबल और इस्पात उद्योगों तक. नारायणा इंडस्ट्रीज़ एसोसिएशन के अध्यक्ष राकेश सचदेवा ने कहा, “एक दशक से भी ज़्यादा समय से, हम उन्हीं चिंताओं, उन्हीं परेशानियों को ढो रहे हैं.” उनके चेहरे पर साफ-साफ थकान झलक रही थी. उन्होंने कहा, “एमसीडी हर साल इन क्षेत्रों से संपत्ति कर वसूलती है, लेकिन रखरखाव पर कुछ भी खर्च नहीं करती. हम विक्रेताओं के लिए अलग ज़ोन और उद्योगों के लिए बिजली की कम दरें तय करने की मांग कर रहे हैं.” उन्होंने आगे कहा कि औद्योगिक क्षेत्रों में अतिक्रमण इतना ज़्यादा बढ़ गया है कि माल ढोने वाले वाहन गलियों से मुश्किल से ही गुज़र पाते हैं. 1990 के दशक में, फैक्ट्रियों पर ‘प्रदूषण फैलाने वाले उद्योगों’ का ठप्पा लग गया था और उन्हें खास इंडस्ट्रियल ज़ोन में शिफ़्ट कर दिया गया था, जो अक्सर शहर के बाहरी इलाकों में होते थे. इन ज़ोन को आर्थिक गतिविधियों के केंद्र के तौर पर सोचा गया था, लेकिन आज वे थके-हारे से दिखते हैं, सड़कों पर गड्ढे ही गड्ढे हैं, नालियां कचरे से अटी पड़ी हैं और बिजली की सप्लाई भी ठीक नहीं है. यह सेक्टर एक मुश्किल हालात में फंसा हुआ है. फैक्ट्रियां बिना सही इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर के प्रदूषण से जुड़े नियमों का पालन करने के लिए जूझ रही हैं. शहर की अर्थव्यवस्था में मैन्युफैक्चरिंग का हिस्सा कम हो गया है और रोज़गार के आंकड़े भी घट गए हैं. 2025-26 के दिल्ली आर्थिक सर्वेक्षण में भी इसकी वजह बड़े पैमाने पर रोज़गार देने वाली कंपनियों का “प्रदूषण से जुड़े सख़्त नियमों” के कारण दूसरी जगहों पर चले जाना बताया गया है. रेखा गुप्ता के नेतृत्व वाली भाजपा सरकार ने इंडस्ट्रियल इलाकों को बेहतर बनाने और प्रदूषण से निपटने का वादा किया है, लेकिन ऐसे ही वादे शीला दीक्षित और अरविंद केजरीवाल के कार्यकाल में भी सुने गए थे. पिछले 15 सालों में, दो इंडस्ट्रियल नीतियां बनाई गई हैं और अनगिनत चर्चाएं हुई हैं. फिर भी, शहर की इंडस्ट्रियल रीढ़ की हड्डी सबसे बुनियादी सुधारों का इंतिज़ार कर रही है. कई उद्योगपतियों के लिए, यह विरोधाभास बहुत ही परेशान करने वाला है. उनसे आधुनिक बनने और साफ-सफाई रखने के लिए कहा जाता है, और फिर उन्हें उनके हाल पर छोड़ दिया जाता है.

Whether oil and gas or green tech, India depends on imports

The conflict in the Middle East is pushing India, which imports 80% of its oil and gas, to accelerate its shift to renewables, but the country is also dependent on imports for the minerals and rare earth metals needed to power its green transition. India aims to install 500 gigawatts of green energy capacity including solar, wind and hydropower ​by 2030, alongside expanding battery storage and electric transport. The country's latest climate goals, announced last month, also aim for ‌60% power ‌capacity from non-fossil sources by 2035, which could further increase demand for critical minerals. While ​India produces some green minerals like copper and graphite, it remains highly dependent on imports for several others such as lithium, cobalt and nickel. A report by NITI Aayog, the government's premier think tank, found demand for these minerals is likely ⁠to rise sharply by 2030, driven by demand for renewable energy, storage and electric vehicles. A separate analysis by the Federation of Indian ⁠Chambers of Commerce & Industry and Deloitte warned this rising demand could expose India to supply chain risks unless it built domestic capabilities. India's energy transition is increasingly tied to securing these minerals and building processing capacity, ​areas where it remains dependent on foreign suppliers. It ⁠also faces difficult choices on where to invest and whether to prioritize mining, processing or recycling, each requiring time, capital and technological capability, energy experts said. "Critical minerals are ⁠a real strategic vulnerability ​for India. The more immediate weak link is processing and refining, not just mining," ​said Sehr Raheja, program officer at the Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi-based think tank. "Batteries, ​electric vehicles and ‌clean-tech manufacturing are more directly exposed, but the broader power transition is not immune," Raheja said. Building the entire value chain domestically will take time, said Saloni Sachdeva Michael, lead energy specialist at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, an energy policy think tank. Last year, India launched a National Critical Mineral ‌Mission to boost domestic supply through mining, recycling and overseas sourcing. But progress has been slow, with limited participation in mining auctions, long project timelines, and land and environmental hurdles. While India is focusing on expanding mining of these minerals, the bigger hurdles lie in processing and refining them. "Even if companies want to set up refining units, there are gaps around financing, technology and clarity on who ​will ​buy the processed materials," Sachdeva said, adding that cost competitiveness with global suppliers is a concern. The ​global race for these minerals is intensifying. Resource-rich countries, particularly in Africa, are pushing to capture more value domestically through processing, ⁠while China dominates refining and major economies such as the United States and European Union are moving to lock in supply chains. While India is a late entrant in this race, Sachdeva said it could still build a role in processing, refining and recycling, even if it continues to rely on imports for some materials. India ​is the third-largest producer of electronic waste and is making early investments to recover more minerals from waste. "Recycling is the lowest hanging fruit for India right now," Sachdeva said. For India, Raheja and Sachdeva said the challenge was no longer just adding renewable capacity, but building the material backbone needed to support it in a tightening global supply system.

What’s Ailing India’s Green Credit Programme?

“However, GCP does not need to adhere to these standards because it is not traded internationally under the Paris Agreement,” said Trishant Dev, deputy programme manager specialising in climate, trade and green industrial policy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). “If India were to make these credits tradable internationally under the agreement, they may fall short of the standards laid down in the agreement,” he said. First, in 2004 when the Brahmaputra river breached its banks and swallowed whole his home and farmland in Assam’s Goalpara district. Overnight, he was rendered homeless. With few options left, he and others from the inundated village pitched makeshift houses in a government land close to his village. Brick by brick, a settlement grew: homes, farms, a mosque, even an anganwadi. The Mondals rebuilt their life on a one-acre land. Then, just as suddenly as the floods did, the forest department arrived with bulldozers in early 2025. Overnight, 1,040 people were evicted and displaced. “First they buried our paddy fields under soil. Then they planted bamboo," said Mondal. “Now the land is fenced off, and we are no longer allowed near our own land,” he added. A few days later on March 24, 2025, the district forest department posted on social media: “GCP [Green Credit Program] monitoring team visits evicted site in Lakhipur, Goalpara! New beginnings: Plantation drive to revive elephant habitat to commence soon!” The GCP programme was started in October 2023 by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to “encourage voluntary plantations” among corporations and industries. State forest departments provide a list of “degraded lands” which are then afforested using “green credits” bought by companies. Internal documents accessed through the Right to Information Act show that in numerous “restoration” sites, locals—like the Mondals—have been evicted in the name of ecological restoration. Furthermore, in some sites, lands claimed by forest-dwelling communities under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act or Forest Rights Act have been fenced off and listed for afforestation. The documents also show the rocky path to the implementation of the afforestation programme. Environment officials and funding companies have raised concerns of financial irregularities, of local authorities deviating from approved eco-restoration plans by raising monoculture plantations or planting lower densities of trees, or choosing sites where plantations would be difficult to sustain. For experts and policy analysts, these instances have added to the skepticism of the programme which they say would violate international norms, particularly on mandates of social justice and involvement of local communities, for market-linked environmental action. IndiaSpend has written to MoEFCC for comment on safeguards to assess eligible land, steps taken to address irregularities, and concerns around dilution of intent of compensatory afforestation. We will update this story when we receive a response. Expanding the scope of Green Credits The Green Credit Programme (GCP) came into effect with the notification of the Green Credit Rules on October 12, 2023 under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. The rules created a record of degraded land that can be used to promote voluntary plantation activities and eco-restoration projects across the country by awarding “green credits”. One Green Credit is equivalent to one tree planted. These credits, to be bought by individuals, communities and private companies, can be traded domestically. While the scheme hoped to enrol individuals and private sector industries, until now, it has attracted investments from only state-run oil, coal and power companies. Seventeen public sector units—including, Indian Oil Corporation and other petrochemical corporations, Coal India Limited and its subsidiaries, National Thermal Power Plant Corporation—have bought green credits. Since its launch, eco-restoration has begun in 225 sites across 12 states covering 48.53 sq.km. of “degraded land”, show data from the MoEF&CC. Plantations after evictions and displacements Internal documents accessed from the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), a government body supervising the programme, through the RTI Act, show that GCP is being carried out in multiple sites where local communities have been evicted. The documents include inspection reports conducted by ICFRE and PSU representatives in 169 GCP sites across 10 states. These sites are spread over 3,530 hectares (35.30 sq.km.) of forest involving Rs 117 crore worth of green credits. In Bihar, during March 2025, an ICFRE inspection team found mud huts and “agricultural activities” in 50 hectares and 55 hectares of degraded forest in Rohatas and Nawada districts, respectively. “Necessary action must be taken to remove the encroachments,” stated a letter dated April 29, 2025 to the Forest department, adding that protection against grazing should be in place. In Assam, five sites spanning 214 hectares were cleared of homes, farmlands, tea plantations and even two schools. One of them “will be used as a camp hut for plantation and one forest battalion will be placed there to stop any further encroachment,” said the ICFRE inspection report from March 2025. Assam has seen an uptick in anti-encroachment drives in recent years, particularly in forest land. Land Conflict Watch, an organisation that documents ongoing land and resource conflicts in India, estimates that 15,684 people were affected by evictions in forest lands in Assam. In another 84-hectare site, the ICFRE team—which included officials from Coal India Limited which is funding the eco-restoration—observed that while major portions of encroachments were cleared the previous year, “a significant portion” remained which “must be cleared before the commencement of ecorestoration activities”. “While large-scale eviction drives were successfully carried out at several sites, one location continues to face issues of residual encroachment. These must be fully cleared before plantation activities can begin to ensure sustainability and avoid future land conflicts,” said a letter dated April 15, 2025. However, Ajay Kumar from Green Credit Cell, ICFRE, told IndiaSpend that eviction drives were not linked to the programme. “We have given no such direction. This is the state's law and order problem. We try to refrain from taking such lands. All states have to give undertaking that people were not displaced from the land for plantations,” he said. He said the Green Credit Cell verifies the status of the land through satellite imagery to ensure that it did not have local communities. In Assam’s case, the sites were chosen after clarifications and assurances from the state Forest department, he said. When contacted, Tejas Maraswamy, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Goalpara district, said the evictions were done only after a survey revealed that the residents were not eligible for claims under the Forest Rights Act. “The evictions were conducted because the area is a reserve forest and a protected area. It was not done for the purpose of plantations,” he said, and added: “It was good we got the opportunity later for plantation and the revival of habitat through the (GCP) programme. We had to prevent encroachment because it degrades the land.” A grey zone with few safeguards The Green Credit Programme currently lacks explicit safeguards for indigenous and local communities. In contrast, internationally traded carbon credit programmes are increasingly attempting to incorporate ethical standards and safeguards to prevent human rights violations. In a bid to attract private investment, the Union government, in August 2025, expanded the scope of the GCP to allow the credits to be utilised for compensatory afforestation. Prior to this, if a company wanted to acquire forest lands to set up an industry, they would have to “compensate” for the forest loss by paying for afforestation primarily in alternative non-forest land. But, now, companies could just buy green credits which will pay for afforestation in existing forest lands. “These degraded forest lands could have anyway been regenerated using existing public funds,” said Prakriti Shrivastava, a former Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer. “Instead, companies have been allowed an easy route out through these credits,” she said. In March 2025, Shrivastava and other members of environmental groups, People for Aravalli and Rainbow Warriors, filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court questioning the criteria for determining credits or “degraded” lands. The PIL is yet to be heard. The August notification also dilutes the stated intention of the Green Credit mechanism. “I have not been too comfortable with the Carbon Credit System since it reflects “wrong doer’s penance” in monetary terms. There is a need to develop a more positive approach,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi about GCP’s objectives, quoted prominently on the website. "There is a significant shift in logic from restitution of forest harm to market-mediated compliance. This fundamentally weakens the legal safeguards of the Compensatory Afforestation regime and normalises forest loss through market instruments," said Meenal Tatpati, independent lawyer and researcher, who has closely studied the green credit mechanism. The programme also escapes scrutiny of international guidelines. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which is the primary international treaty for coordinating the global response to climate change, had placed “mandatory environmental and human rights” safeguards while introducing the concept of carbon credits. Policy observers point to the preamble to the 2015 Paris Agreement where 194 countries (and the European Union) agreed to recognise that climate action must be grounded in justice, human rights, including the “the rights of indigenous peoples (and) local communities”. The UN body responsible for establishing the carbon market has finalised a grievance and appeals procedure for anyone affected by the carbon credit market. More safeguards are expected to be put in place to empower vulnerable communities and individuals. “However, GCP does not need to adhere to these standards because it is not traded internationally under the Paris Agreement,” said Trishant Dev, deputy programme manager specialising in climate, trade and green industrial policy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). “If India were to make these credits tradable internationally under the agreement, they may fall short of the standards laid down in the agreement,” he said.

Shyam Metalics Plant Shut Over Pollution Violations: India Struggles to Enforce Environmental Rules Amid Rapid Growth

Another widely cited assessment by the Centre for Science and Environment tracked pollution across industrial clusters and found that environmental quality in several of them worsened between 2009 and 2018, despite regulatory oversight. When authorities ordered the closure of a steel plant in Odisha, it appeared to be a clear case of enforcement. The unit, run by Shyam Metalics & Energy Limited, had been found violating multiple environmental norms. Inspectors reported emissions far above permissible limits, untreated wastewater leaving the premises, and hazardous waste stored in the open. The violations were not minor. Particulate emissions were recorded at more than five times the allowed level. The plant is now shut. But the incident raises a larger question that extends far beyond one factory. As industry expands, who is ensuring that environmental discipline keeps up? Industrial Pollution in India The scale of the issue is not small. A detailed analysis by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water found that industry contributes significantly to India’s air pollution burden, especially in concentrated zones where factories operate at scale. Another widely cited assessment by the Centre for Science and Environment tracked pollution across industrial clusters and found that environmental quality in several of them worsened between 2009 and 2018, despite regulatory oversight. These are not marginal effects. They point to a pattern. Pollution in India is not just an urban traffic problem. It is also shaped by where and how the country produces. Industrial Clusters Pollution Hotspots If you map India’s most polluted regions, a pattern emerges quickly. Industrial belts stand out. From steel and cement to chemicals and power generation, these clusters bring jobs and investment. They also concentrate emissions in ways that are hard to ignore. Air, water and land degradation often move together in these regions. A government-backed classification of “critically polluted areas” has repeatedly identified industrial zones where environmental stress has crossed safe limits. The Odisha plant fits into this geography. It is not an exception. It is part of a system. Rapid Industrial Growth in India India’s growth story is closely tied to manufacturing. States compete to attract factories. Industrial corridors are planned. Clearances are fast-tracked to keep projects moving. The logic is straightforward. More industry means more jobs, more output, more growth. But regulation has to move at the same speed. Research published by Springer Nature on environmental enforcement in India notes that pollution monitoring is often infrequent, sometimes limited by staffing and technical capacity. In several cases, large plants are inspected only periodically, not continuously. That creates a simple problem. Pollution happens every day. Monitoring does not.

Life at the water's edge: a Lancet Commission on sea-level rise, health, and justice

As seas rise in a warming world, the advancing waterline is reshaping daily life for hundreds of millions of people, presenting an escalating and uneven threat to health and wellbeing.1 Sea-level rise is amplifying existing health inequities, driving new patterns of disease, accelerating displacement, and eroding the social, cultural, and ecological foundations of health. The impacts and risks of sea-level rise along low-lying coasts are increasing, including a loss of land and livelihoods, trauma and injury from coastal flooding and storm surges, increased transmission of waterborne and vector-borne diseases as sanitation systems fail, contamination of freshwater supplies, disruption of food and nutrition security, escalating eco-anxiety, and profound multispecies and ecosystem harm.2–4 Sea-level rise rarely acts in isolation, but combines with other climate hazards, creating cascading risks and becoming a powerful multiplier of climate-related vulnerabilities across the life course. Elevation modelling under high-emissions pathways indicates that up to 410 million people are projected to live on land below the high-tide threshold by 2100.5,6 Small Island Developing States and countries across the Western Pacific region are already experiencing extreme impacts, despite minimal contribution by these countries to driving emissions.1,4 In 2024, Western Pacific Health Ministers called for urgent global attention, improved governance, and accelerated action to protect populations from the health consequences of sea-level rise.7 This political mandate is a central impetus for the Lancet Commission on sea-level rise, health, and justice, which brings together multidisciplinary expertise from six continents, including intergenerational leadership. The Commission will analyse how sea-level rise reshapes health and wellbeing and deepens injustice, proposing actionable responses for governments, communities, and global institutions. We will examine how rising seas are transforming health and wellbeing across geographies and generations, and what responses, anchored in justice, rights, and solidarity, can protect those living by the water's edge. The Commission's work is guided by three principles: connection, imagination, and justice. Connection recognises that health, culture, environment, and place are inseparable from rising seas, and essential to preserve distinct traditional and cultural groups, identity, and ways of being and knowing. Imagination enables responses beyond current policy and scientific frames, to encompass human and environmental wellbeing. Justice ensures that populations most vulnerable to sea-level rise are minimally impacted, and compensated as necessary, and is a means of accountability; community voices need to shape the narrative and proposed solutions. These principles inform the structure and mandate of five transdisciplinary Commission Working Groups. Following our inaugural Commission meeting in Seoul, South Korea, in September, 2025, each Working Group will produce a comprehensive evidence review, prioritise gaps, and define modelling in partnership with international scientific collaborators. Concurrently, Working Groups will engage with regional affected communities, grounding evidence in lived experience and reflecting local priorities and realities. Working Groups will be organised around ocean modelling and epidemiology, including waterborne and other diseases;2,6,8 culture, connection, and place;9–11 law, policy, and justice (existing legal instruments and future needs);12,13 economics and technology;14,15 and ethics and values.16,17 Our global Commissioners' wide-ranging academic specialties and diverse life experiences will help ensure that proposed adaptation strategies are equitable, intergenerational, and grounded in shared ethical principles and values. Community engagement is central to the work of this Commission. Many coastal and island communities live with the realities of saline intrusion, coastal erosion, and cultural disruption. By weaving together lived experience, First Nations Knowledges, Indigenous sciences, and robust scientific analyses, the Commission aims to create an integrated account of the health and wellbeing implications of sea-level rise, and the solutions required. Commissioner 'Ofa Kaisamy describes a need for “reimagining the future, with community at the core” for a partnership between science, local leadership, political commitment, and sustainable financing that will drive action and advance health equity. The Commission will present frameworks and recommendations designed for adoption by governments, multilateral institutions, and civil society, with mechanisms for accountability and sustained action. Findings will be amplified through health-focused events at the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Seventh Assessment Report (IPCC AR7), the World Health Assembly, and other global fora to encourage coordinated and justice-oriented responses. Life as experienced at the water's edge not only impacts coastal peoples, but also affects communities and populations everywhere. As the haunting Indigenous Pacific Islander proverb, shared by Commissioner Brianna Fruean, reminds us, “What is felt on the coast, will soon be felt inland. What is felt by the East, will also be felt by the West”. Competing Interests SD is employed as a Director by WHO. KB reports institutional grants from the Wellcome Trust, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and WHO; consulting fees from Green Climate Fund; travel support from WHO; and is a member of the Port Philip EcoCentre Committee of Management. AP reports grants from the Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council and Madjulla; and is a Representative Member of Kimberley Land Council, Executive Chair and Director of Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council, Managing Director (voluntary) of Madjulla, Deputy Chair of the Australian Peace and Security Forum, and a Patron of Sustainable Populations. TL was Executive Editor at The Lancet from 2013 to 2023 and is now a Consulting Editor; she receives fees from WHO as consultant Secretariat for this Commission and is an unpaid member of the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Embedding Ethics into Health and Climate Change Policy. JC is a Member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. RH is the Editor-in-Chief of The Lancet. We declare no other competing interests. CF, KB, and JC are Co-Chairs, SD, OK, and AP are Commissioners, and SD and TL are the Secretariat Leads of the Lancet Commission on sea-level rise, health, and justice. The Commissioners of the Lancet Commission on sea-level rise, health, and justice are Christiana Figueres, Kathryn Bowen, Jiho Cha, John Coggon, Sandro Demaio, Kristie Ebi, Brianna Fruean, Georgiana Gordon-Strachan, Jim Hall, Christina Hicks, Cunrui Huang, ‘Ofa Kaisamy, Ilan Kelman, Ho Kim, James Logan, Jemilah Mahmood, Susan Mercado, Sunita Narain, Anne Poelina, Nicole Redvers, Matilde Rusticucci, Vera Siesjö, Brett Sutton, Michael Taylor, Morgan Wairiu, and Wanga Zembe.

Ula, small town in Nadia ranks 10th globally as highly air-polluted city

“The latest results underline the importance of shifting the focus from specific cities, as being the current policy, to aggressively targeting key pollution sources across entire airsheds with speed and scale to protect public health,” said Anumita Roy Choudhury, an air pollution expert with the Delhi-based environmental thinktank, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Ula, a small town in Bengal near Ranaghat in Nadia, also known as Birnagar, is the 10th most air-polluted city in the world in 2025, according to a global report released on Sunday. The World Air Quality Report 2025, published by IQAir, shows that Ula and some towns on the fringes of Calcutta are some of the most polluted cities in Bengal. Calcutta has seen better air quality post-COVID, but it is still more polluted than the national average. It has been pushed to 77th rank globally with an annual average of particulate matter 2.5 — refers to fine atmospheric particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres — of 51 micrograms per cubic metre in 2025. India’s average is 40 micrograms. PM 2.5 pollutants are tiny and hence extremely dangerous as they can invade deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, causing serious cardiovascular and respiratory health problems. IQAir combines satellite data with real-time ground-based data, including government stations and low-cost sensors, to measure and map air pollution across the world. Ula, the historic heritage town famous for its 18th-century mansions and temples, has a population of around 40,000. It was found to have a PM2.5 of 86.8 micrograms per cubic metre in 2025. The figure is more than 17 times the World Health Organisation’s specified safe guideline of 5 micrograms. The West Bengal Pollution Control Board’s remote sensor-based air pollution measurement, as showcased by IQAir, showed that Ula had a PM2.5 value of 113 micrograms and air quality index (AQI) of 191 at 7pm on Sunday, vindicating the trend. This AQI is expected to trigger breathing discomfort for people with lung and heart diseases. According to the World Air Quality Report 2025, a copy of which is with The Telegraph, Madhyamgram and Barrackpur on the northern fringes of Calcutta, and Baruipur on the southern fringes were the most polluted cities after Ula in Bengal. Howrah, Bali, Durgapur, Asansol, Calcutta, Haldia and Siliguri are the other most polluted cities in Bengal. Asked why Ula had such high air pollution, Kalyan Rudra, the chairman of the state pollution control board, said on Sunday evening that it was difficult to track the exact reason without proper groundwork. "However, Nadia has a very high cropping density that may play a role by producing high levels of dust,” he said. Another official pointed out: “We need to see if small local industries such as rice mills and the like are pushing up pollution in the region.” The global report, which covered 9,446 cities across 143 countries, found that five of the 10 most polluted cities in the world were in India. Loni, a small town 20km from Delhi, was found to be the most polluted in the world, with a pollution level over 22 times that of the WHO guideline limits, followed by Byrnihat in Meghalaya ranked third globally. Delhi and Ghaziabad ranked fourth and seventh globally, respectively. Among countries, Pakistan was the most polluted, followed by Bangladesh. India has been ranked sixth. “The latest results underline the importance of shifting the focus from specific cities, as being the current policy, to aggressively targeting key pollution sources across entire airsheds with speed and scale to protect public health,” said Anumita Roy Choudhury, an air pollution expert with the Delhi-based environmental thinktank, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).