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Cse In News

Pożary na farmach w północnych Indiach widoczne na satelitarnych obrazach z NASA

Pożary na farmach na północy Indii zaczęły pojawiać się na obrazach satelitarnych NASA, z wieloma zdarzeniami pożarowymi odnotowanymi w Punjabie, Haryanie i Uttar Pradesh od 15 września, zgodnie z danymi opublikowanymi przez Indijski Instytut Rolniczy (IARI). Konsorcjum ds. Monitorowania i Modelowania Agroekosystemów z Kosmosu (CREAMS), centrum należące do IARI, monitoruje spalanie resztek roślinnych w regionie od 15 września do 30 listopada. W dniach od 15 do 18 września, Punjab odnotował sześć pożarów, co jest niższą liczbą niż w poprzednich latach. W tym samym okresie w zeszłym roku w Punjabie odnotowano 22 pożary, natomiast w 2021 roku liczba ta wyniosła 11. Haryana zanotowała po jednym pożarze w dniach 15 i 16 września, w porównaniu do zaledwie jednego pożaru w całym zeszłym miesiącu wrześniu. Uttar Pradesh odnotowało dwa pożary 16 września, podczas gdy pierwszy pożar na farmie w tym stanie miał miejsce 30 września ubiegłego roku. VK Sehgal, profesor i główny naukowiec w IARI, wyjaśnił, że we wrześniu zazwyczaj występują izolowane pożary, głównie w Amritsarze lub Tarn Taran w Punjabie, gdzie zbieranie ziemniaków odbywa się w inny cykl w porównaniu do zbiorów ryżu. Pomimo braku opadów w sierpniu, Punjab prawdopodobnie będzie miał w tym roku obfite plony, co wymaga zwiększonego wysiłku w celu zwalczania pożarów. Pożary na farmach w regionie przyczyniają się do kryzysu zdrowotnego, szczególnie dotykając Delhi, gdy nad północną Indią tworzy się kurtyna smogowa. Wpływ na jakość powietrza w Delhi zwykle jest odczuwalny od października, gdy kierunek wiatru staje się północno-zachodni po zakończeniu południowo-zachodniego monsunu. Zasiewy zostały dotknięte nieprawidłowym wzorcem monsunowym w tym roku, z deficytem 10% opadów na terenie całego kraju oraz powyżej-normalnymi opadami w lipcu. To skłoniło ekspertów do przypuszczenia, że spalanie resztek roślinnych może zostać przesunięte na październik z powodu niedawnych deszczy na północnym-zachodzie Indii. Wrzesień uważany jest za odpowiedni moment dla rządów stanowych, aby zająć się tym problemem. Anumita Roychowdhury, dyrektor wykonawczy ds. badań i obrony w Centrum Nauki i Środowiska (CSE), podkreśliła znaczenie wczesnej interwencji i współpracy z rolnikami w celu zapobieżenia pożarom na farmach. Zeszłoroczny trend spadku liczby pożarów we wrześniu był zachęcający. Monitorowanie pożarów na farmach za pomocą obrazów satelitarnych dostarcza cennych informacji dla decydentów politycznych i władz, aby podjąć odpowiednie działania i złagodzić wpływ na jakość powietrza i zdrowie publiczne.

Delhi Government Launches ‘Green War Room’ to Combat Air Pollution

The Delhi government has taken a significant step in the fight against air pollution by launching a ‘green war room’ on October 3, 2023. This proactive measure aims to combat air pollution, which has long plagued the national capital, particularly during the winter months. Delhi’s Persistent Air Pollution Problem Delhi grapples with high levels of air pollution caused by various sources, including vehicles, industry, and construction. Stubble burning by farmers in neighboring Punjab and Haryana exacerbates the pollution levels, especially in winter. The Green War Room Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai inaugurated the ‘green war room’ to tackle air pollution head-on. The war room is seamlessly integrated with a mobile application known as the Green Delhi app. The ‘green war room’ is managed by a 17-member team consisting of scientists and engineers. It acts as a unified platform, connecting 28 government departments, and allows citizens to report pollution-related complaints through the Green Delhi app. Complaints received on the app are jointly reviewed by all relevant departments, including those from the central government, Delhi government, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The Winter Action Plan Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal unveiled a comprehensive 15-point Winter Action Plan on September 29, 2023, to combat air pollution during the winter season. As part of this plan, an anti-dust campaign is set to launch on October 5, 2023. Insights from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) A report from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) indicates that 31% of pollution sources are internal (within Delhi), while 69% are external (from surrounding states). Vehicles have been identified as a major real-time pollution source, particularly contributing to particulate pollution in Delhi. The report highlighted that despite relatively low air pollution levels in winter 2022, Delhi remained the most polluted among five major cities in the national capital region. Large-scale air quality monitoring commenced in Delhi in 2018, providing valuable data on air quality. Public Engagement and Resolution Over 70,684 complaints have been registered on the Green Delhi App, with an impressive 90% of them successfully resolved. Many of these complaints were related to the functioning of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Air Quality Index (AQI) The air quality index (AQI) for Delhi stood at 155 on October 3, 2023, categorizing it as ‘moderate.’ AQI categories range from ‘good’ to ‘severe,’ reflecting different pollution levels.

‘It could be a bad year if on-ground steps inadequate’: Nasa expert on farm fires

Farm fires in the agrarian states of Punjab and Haryana this season could follow similar trends as the past, according to assessments of cropping patterns by a remote sensing expert from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa), who added that it will now be crucial for on-ground administrations to step in and dissuade the practice. Senior aerosol remote sensing scientist at Nasa Goddard Space Flight Center, Hiren Jethva said that based on the area cultivated in Punjab and Haryana, 2023, if farmers continue “an as usual burning” practice as before, the year could record the fourth highest active fire season after 2021, 2016 and 2020. “Rice harvest in northwest India is approaching soon. My prediction for 2023 seasonal residue fires from Aqua MODIS Sep NDVI (satellite imagery) suggests 16,000 occurrences in Punjab and Haryana under an ‘as usual burning scenario’. Prediction stands (2023) as the fourth most active fire season after 2021, 2016, 2020,” Jethva said. He, however, added that on-ground action by state agencies could significantly reduce the number of farm fires, as it has happened in the past. “Satellite detected 16% less fire activities than predicted in 2022 — an indication of actions on the ground to reduce instances of agricultural fires. Hoping for more momentum and efforts this year too,” he said. Predicting the pre-winter air quality crisis is difficult since there is wide variation in human and atmospheric factors: whether farmers choose to burn the paddy residue is a key determinant, as is the sort of weather that prevails (including wind direction). This year, farmers have also reported using a higher proportion of a new variety of paddy which matures early and leaves shorter remnants, potentially cutting the volumes needed to be burnt closer to the critical October-end, November-beginning period when the weather too is unsuited for blowing the smoke away. Authorities in both states have also said that they are making efforts to distribute and rent out new harvesting and seeding machines that do away with the need to burn paddy stubble. On the other hand, delayed rains also upset sowing schedules, potentially leaving farmers with a shorter window for them to ready their fields for the winter crops --- a crunch that is among the main reasons they take to burning the paddy residue. Data from the Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change shows that last year, 49,992 stubble fires were reported from Punjab and 3,549 stubble fires reported from Haryana. In Punjab, 71,304 fires were recorded in 2021 and 82,693 fires were seen in 2020. Government data also showed that in Punjab last year, five districts reported the highest number of fires — Sangrur, Bhatinda, Firozpur, Muktsar and Moga. While local residents in these areas are the first victims of plumes of smoke released from such mass burning, Delhi also bears the brunt of Punjab and Haryana’s unchecked stubble fires every year, as the wind direction during these months carries pollutants to the Capital, setting the tone for the high pollution concentrations recorded in the city during winter months. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (research and advocacy), Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said that government agencies must increase monitoring and action against early signs of stubble fires. She also said that along with increased monitoring, administration should also ensure that machines to mulch stubble is also readily available to farmers. “The problem requires solution at multiple levels. You have to make machines accessible, provide financial incentives to farmers and also create a functional alternative for straw management. Meanwhile, on-ground monitoring of fires needs to happen more effectively,” said Roychowdhury.

Will weather aid in Delhi’s pollution fight like last year? Unlikely, say experts

According to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment, last winter, the average PM 2.5 level in the city was the lowest from 2018-19 onwards. With the paddy harvest and instances of stubble burning having picked up pace in the northern districts of Punjab, and winter around the corner, how is Delhi’s air quality likely to fare this winter? According to experts, the meteorological factors that helped keep Delhi’s air cleaner than usual last winter may not extend into the upcoming winter. Gufran Beig, founder-project director, System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), said, “Last year, there were natural factors that came to NCR’s rescue. Wind speeds were higher for a majority of the time. But this year, that is unlikely because La Nina conditions are not there. Last year, due to La Nina conditions, winds in the northern part of India were faster, while it was calmer over the southwestern part of the country. That is one of the reasons that in the southwest, in Mumbai and other places, air quality had worsened. But in Delhi it was better relative to the previous year. This is unlikely in an El Nino year. This year, festivals are also around the time when it is colder. Steps will have to be taken.” La Nina refers to abnormally cool sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, while El Nino is the phenomenon of warmer waters in the Pacific Ocean. Last year, on the day after Diwali for instance, higher wind speeds had helped disperse pollutants, and Diwali was in October, when colder conditions had not yet set in. According to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment, last winter, the average PM 2.5 level in the city was the lowest from 2018-19 onwards. In November 2022, the daily peak contribution of stubble burning to PM 2.5 levels in Delhi was also lower than previous years, standing at 34%. This figure was over 40% in 2021, 2020 and 2019. Meanwhile, satellite data from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) shows that Punjab has recorded 456 crop residue burning events so far this season, while there have been 120 such instances in Haryana. VK Sehgal, Principal Scientist, IARI, said that in Punjab, the instances are mostly in Amritsar and Tarn Taran. “Harvesting has begun and peak of harvesting would come somewhere around the last week of October and first week of November,” he said. Delhi’s AQI was 146 in the ‘moderate’ category on Monday. According to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, the AQI is likely to remain in the ‘moderate’ category from October 3 to 5. The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) came into effect on October 1, which means that measures under GRAP can begin to be invoked when the AQI is in the ‘poor’ category (201 to 300).

Can rooftop solar projects help states achieve their renewable purchase obligation targets?

by Down To Earth Many of the renewable-rich states in India, such as Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, are not able to meet their renewable purchase obligation (RPO) targets. RPO is a mechanism in which the obligated entities are mandated to purchase a minimum of their total power consumption from non-conventional energy sources such as solar and wind, according to the Electricity Act, 2003. For 2023, the government has mandated RPO compliance of 24.61 per cent, and for 2024, RPO compliance has been set at 27.08 per cent. Renewable energy service company (RESCO)-based Rooftop Solar Photo Voltaic (RTS PV) would help utilities achieve their RPO targets. RESCO is one of the models of RTS PV installation in which the project developer installs the RTS PV on the consumer’s (rented to the project developer) rooftop, and the consumer does not have to pay an upfront cost for installation. In a RESCO model, an energy provider delivers electricity produced by a solar power project to the grid or the consumer whose property in which the project is installed. RTS PV in the RESCO model would help the utilities achieve their RPO targets, reducing the need for renewable energy certificates (REC). In order to bridge the gap in fulfilling the RPO targets, distribution companies (DISCOMs) resort to buying RECs. For 2022-2023, 46 per cent of the country’s total renewable energy supply of 354 billion units (BU) is generated by large hydropower plants, according to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy statistics. The dependence on solar power has increased significantly recently, with a 29 per cent contribution in the current financial year, followed by wind energy. An analysis carried out by the Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment recommended RTS PV should be deployed in areas with high transmission and distribution (T&D) losses. DISCOMs can calculate the maximum value of the T&D loss beyond which the RTS PV can be beneficial for them. The per unit savings of the DISCOMs improve as T&D losses in the region increase. The RTS PV penetration level, however, increases the total savings for the DISCOMs. DISCOMs can be useful in many ways, such as lowering the tariff for the end-user, lowering the cross-subsidy charges, lowering the direct subsidy charges and profit sharing with end-users, among others. RTS PV can benefit low-paying end-users by lowering T&D losses in areas that have been difficult for the utility to manage. RTS PV systems facilitate local generation and distribution, incurring fewer losses as compared to the total T&D loss for the DISCOMs. Although there is currently no definitive information on the overall residential rooftop capacity to date, based on the information available in the public domain, residential RTS PV has a very nominal share. Nearly 2 gigawatts account for about 20 per cent of the overall RTS PV capacity. This does not indicate confidence in the residential sector, which is riddled with various challenges. Solar-based generation plays a predominant role in achieving RPO targets. This makes a compelling case for the states to pursue and scale up solar PV, maximising the potential for ground-mounted and rooftop solar PV. DISCOMs in states with strong financial status should work as producers, developers and financiers. The consumer database of the utilities is equipped with the knowledge of the T&D losses and the rooftop availability. They are up to date about the end-users behaviours and manage grid interconnections, metering, inspections, billing cycles and engineering procurement construction services. The solar PV production cost continues to fall, which means the PV market and the end-users will find a way to keep RTS PV moving forward regardless of the role played by the utilities. Given the potential of the residential, commercial and industrial RTS PV developments, it is critical to consider scaling rooftop solar PV in the residential segment to increase the share of clean power generation. This requires experimenting with various models involving multiple stakeholders. Most importantly, distribution companies with access to every grid-connected household/consumer in their respective jurisdiction of power supply can play the leading role in terms of mobilising consumers. Thereby, they can aggregate the potential and demand for rooftop solar PV, which would also augment their reliance on non-conventional energy sources in terms of procurement and supply, especially in rural areas. DISCOMs can partner with multiple stakeholders, such as developers and consumers, to conduct the feasibility analysis of projects, followed by project development through appropriate models such as CAPEX, OPEX (RESCO) and DISCOM-facilitated community projects. Considering the security of a long-term contract, renewable energy service companies (RESCO) have ranked low-paying end-users as ‘low.’ The tariffs on rooftop solar PV power are relatively high compared to the subsidised power that the low-paying end-users receive. Both these scenarios make the RESCO model unappealing for such end-users. The eventual alternative is the DISCOM-based model, but DISCOMs do not want to fund the system inherently. They are debt-ridden, with a weak financial position. One of the challenges faced by the Indian power sector is the compelling issue of aggregate technical and commercial losses (AT&C), which is lowered by RTS PV as generation and consumption are co-located. The places where AT&C losses are high can deploy RTS PV.

Countdown To COP28 UAE: The UAE Ambassador Brings Together Key Stakeholders To Build Collaboration For Climate Action

New Delhi – In the run-up to the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to be held at Expo City, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the UAE Ambassador to India, H.E. Dr. Abdulnasser Alshaali hosted a roundtable discussion with senior civil society and think tank leaders in New Delhi. The roundtable, which deliberated upon critical climate action strategies, highlighted the role of constructive dialogue in support of COP28 UAE outcomes, bringing together dignitaries from The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI); the International Solar Alliance (ISA); Centre for Science and Environment (CSE); Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW); Rockefeller Foundation and Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), among others. The roundtable underlined the UAE COP Presidency’s four-pillar strategy to accelerate global climate action, by fast-tracking the energy transition, transforming climate finance, focusing on lives and livelihoods, and full inclusivity of the COP process. As a milestone COP, the Presidency will work to ensure that the world moves forward from COP28 with a clear, collective, collaborative, and inclusive plan of action that leaves no one behind. Underlining this spirit of inclusion and collaboration, roundtable participants emphasised the scale of global climate change and its impact on communities around the world, highlighting the need for whole-of-society solutions. They highlighted the importance of working together post the G20 summit to ensure the implementation of climate financing and opportunities for climate action, commitments on mitigation, and adaptation. Reinforcing the importance of collective action, international cooperation, and shared responsibility in addressing the pressing challenges posed by climate change, H.E. Dr. Abdulnasser Alshaali, the UAE Ambassador to India, stated, “The UAE is fully committed to playing a pivotal role in advancing climate action and fostering collaboration among nations as we head towards the first global evaluation of Paris COP21. India has been a valued partner to the UAE Presidency’s vision for COP, and today’s roundtable is a testament to our collective dedication to creating a resilient future for all by enabling an inclusive and solutions-oriented COP28.” The roundtable discussions reaffirmed the COP28 UAE’s aim to disrupt business-as-usual climate approaches, unite around decisive action, and achieve game-changing results in an inclusive manner, bolstering the UAE’s call to the world to Unite. Act. Deliver. The COP28 roundtable in New Delhi was held as a precursor to COP28, which will be held from November 30 to December 12, 2023.

Triple jeopardy in health

We now know that antibiotics — medicines that we take in times of grave health dangers — are getting increasingly ineffective in killing the microbes that make us ill. This silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is caused by overuse and misuse of antibiotics, which has made pathogens mutate and build defence mechanisms against these drugs. Today, AMR is taking lives. Estimates say that the inability of life-saving medicines to work led to some five million deaths in 2019. This is not all. Not only are we not conserving the existing stock of medicines, the drug pipeline for new antibiotics is drying up, or has done so already. Major pharmaceutical companies in the business of research, development, and discoveries are opting out of this line of medicine. It would mean that in the years to come we are in for triple jeopardy. One, the antibiotics we know today would be increasingly ineffective; two, there would be no new antibiotics available; and, three, there would be a critical need for access to these medicines for all. This is a dire health emergency — perhaps more serious than anything we have seen to date. In the 1940s, after the Second World War, there was mass production of penicillin — the first antibiotic, discovered in 1928 — and the world’s dependence on this line of medicines grew substantially. More discoveries were made in the decades that followed. But all this stopped by the 1980s. What then happened was not discovery of novel classes of antimicrobials, but reformulation of the same classes of drugs against which bacteria can develop resistance easily. The problem is compounded because there are, what the World Health Organization (WHO) calls, “priority pathogens”. Most of these priority pathogens are Gram-negative bacteria that have complex cell walls and cause some of the worst infections in the world, including pneumonia. We need new classes of antibiotics to address these priority pathogens and we need them to be accessible to people across the world, even those who do not have the ability to pay the high cost of new drugs. The WHO’s annual review of antimicrobial agents in different stages of drug development reveals that in the past five years, only two of the 12 antibiotics approved can be considered novel; and of these, only one is targeting a “critical” priority pathogen. (The WHO’s priority pathogens are sub-categorised into “critical”, “high”, and “medium”). What’s worse is that the drug pipeline is drying up, and fast. For the past few years, only one or two antibiotics have made it to the stage of new drug application. The future is even bleaker. There are just nine new drug candidates in phase 3 of clinical trials — the point before a drug can make it to the approval stage — and most of them do not target critical priority pathogens. The real irony is that this does not mean there is no research on novel antibiotics. The pre-clinical basket has over 217 antimicrobial possibilities. However, these are being developed not by large pharmaceutical firms but in the backrooms of universities and small businesses. According to the WHO, 80 per cent of the pre-clinical novel drug finds are in businesses with less than 50 employees. But as the drug moves up the ladder, the costs of development increase, and innovation falls through the cracks. So, why is Big Pharma not investing in R&D, or not even taking the innovation from the small businesses to big markets, or not using it to make big finds? Worse, why is Big Pharma getting out of the antibiotic business, when, as my colleagues in their analysis ask, they are making humongous profits through other drugs? The reasons are both economic and moral. Pharmaceutical companies say the cost of development is high; there are risks and so on. But the real reason is that there is much more profit in drugs that are used for treating diseases like cancer or diabetes. There is even more profit in doing research and bringing to the market drugs that are made for what are called orphan diseases — rare diseases that may afflict only a few million, but for which medicines are necessary and high-end. The moral issue is that the companies are exiting the critical antibiotic business when they are making record profits. This desperate health emergency calls for game-changing solutions. This class of medicines is defined by two imperatives. One, their usage has to be limited — misuse and overuse is what is creating the problem of AMR. These life-saving drugs must be conserved, which means careful, restricted use, even if less money is made in sales. Two, access to these medicines is to be ensured — this means that drugs will have to be affordable, which also limits the profit interests of pharmaceutical firms. So, it is time to look at antibiotics as a global public good. This would perhaps mean new taxes — on profits of pharmaceutical firms — and creating conditions that ensure public research is used for the common good. We cannot fail even if the markets fail.

Delhi govt on course to remove mountains of garbage: CM Kejriwal

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal inspected the Bhalswa landfill in north Delhi on Saturday and said over 4.5 million tonne of garbage will be removed from the site by May 15, 2024. Kejriwal said that nearly 35 acres of land will subsequently be reclaimed, adding that the work was progressing at a fast pace. “We promised the people of Delhi that we would remove the garbage hills in Delhi. The target was set to remove 1.4 million tonne of garbage from Bhalswa by September 30. The agency has already removed more than 1.8 million tonne. With this speed, it is expected that by May 15, 2024, instead of the designated target of 3 million tonne, 4.5 million tonne of garbage will be removed,” Kejriwal said. Delhi is sitting on around 27 million tonne of waste across three landfills at Bhalswa, Ghazipur and Okhla. Clearing Delhi’s garbage mountains was the first of the 10 “guarantees” that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) made in the run-up to the civic polls in December 2022. After winning the elections, the AAP-led MCD on March 3 this year announced that the project has been expedited, with a target to clear Okhla by December 2023, Bhalswa by March 2024, and Ghazipur by December 2024. The erstwhile three municipal corporations in July 2019 began an ambitious project to clear the three landfills in Delhi through the process of biomining after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered that the Capital’s legacy waste dumps be cleared within a year. HT had reported on September 24 that four years on, since the AAP came to power, the process to clear these “garbage mountains” at Okhla, Bhalswa, and Ghazipur has made little headway — the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s latest progress report dated July 31 this year noted that the civic body has been able to clear 8,999,000 tonne of legacy waste — less than a third of the original 28,000,000 tonne of legacy waste. Kejriwal said the work at Bhalswa began in November last year and the goal was to remove approximately 3 million tonne within the next 18 months. By September 30, 2023, the target was to remove around 1.4 million tonne. “It is reported that approximately 6 to 6.5 million tonne of garbage are at the Bhalswa landfill site. In addition to this, the site receives about 2,000 tonne of new garbage daily. The process of hiring another agency is underway so that both agencies can work together to completely clear the site,” Kejriwal said. Earlier, an MCD officer associated with the landfill projects had said that over the last year, from July 2022 to July 2023, 3,553,000 tonne of waste was biomined from the three landfills, but around 2,226,000 tonne of fresh waste was dumped there in the same period, making for slow progress. Another senior MCD official had said the Okhla and Bhalswa deadlines were unrealistic. “The progress of biomining operations further slowed down due to the rainy season,” the official said. Biomining is a process through which various components of legacy waste, such as plastic, paper, cloth, sand, and bricks are separated by passing them through trommel machines, which act as cylindrical rotating sieves. The chief minister also said that a second agency will be hired to remove the remaining garbage after the 4.5 million tonne is removed. “We are waiting for the Supreme Court’s order regarding this after which elections for the standing committee will be held. Tenders cannot be issued without the recommendation of the standing committee, so this is stuck in a legal process,” Kejriwal said. The CM has planned to visit the other two landfill sites as well. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party Delhi chief Virendra Sachdeva visited the Ghazipur landfill site and claimed that the work on waste disposal was progressing at a snail’s pace. The Ghazipur landfill is the largest among the three landfill sites. “When BJP was in power in MCD, around 4,500 tonne of garbage was processed every day, now under AAP only around 1,300 tonne is processed out of the 2,450 tonne dumped daily. It is leading to the creation of a new mountain of waste at the landfill site,” Sachdeva said. Sachdeva claimed that the work at Ghazipur has stopped for the past eight months, adding that less than 10,000 metric tonne of garbage is disposed of daily from Ghazipur. He said that about 2,500 MT of garbage was being added to the Ghazipur landfill every day, resulting in a new garbage mountain. Meanwhile, experts said that the disposal of fresh municipal solid waste at dumps was still a matter of grave concern. “While it’s good that efforts are underway, there is a pressing need to develop comprehensive strategies to manage fresh waste. Unfortunately, Delhi has lagged behind in this regard, with questionable collection coverage and a lack of recycling and treatment facilities,” said Richa Singh, programme manager, solid waste management and circular economy, Centre for Science and Environment.

All you need to know about ban on large diesel generators in Delhi-NCR

Ahead of the upcoming winter season known for increased pollution levels, the ban on diesel generators is scheduled to take effect on October 1. As per the directives of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), after September 30, the use of diesel generators will be prohibited throughout the National Capital Region (NCR). However, on Friday CAQM offered a partial exemption, allowing the use of diesel generators for essential services in the NCR up to December 31. All you need to know about ban on large diesel generators What CAQM has specified Starting in October, diesel generator sets with a capacity ranging from 19kW to 125kW will be required to operate in dual fuel mode. However, these devices can only be utilised for a maximum of two hours a day when the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) restrictions are in effect. Diesel generator sets with a power capacity of 125kW to 800kW must operate in dual fuel mode and also need to be retrofitted with Emission Control Devices (ECDs). Generator sets exceeding 800kW must be retrofitted with either dual fuel kits or ECDs, but they can also be operated for up to two hours a day if GRAP measures are in place. Resistance from residential clusters and industries Many industries and residential clusters have expressed concerns about their inability to either transition from diesel generators to Piped Natural Gas (PNG) or use dual fuel due to the substantial costs involved. They have also emphasized the necessity of uninterrupted power supply to industries from distribution companies (discoms). Who does this apply to? All residential, commercial, and industrial establishments are required to switch to modified generators that emit relatively fewer pollutants compared to their diesel counterparts. This includes hospitals, residential societies, offices, and factories. Pollution from diesel generators Diesel generator sets are known to be highly polluting devices. An analysis conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) found that, on average, a 250kVA DG set emits 3kg of nitrogen oxides (NOx), 1.5kg of carbon monoxide (CO), and 0.183kg of PM10 pollutants if it operates for three hours a day. Expert opinions A consistent supply of electricity to all households, industries, hospitals, etc., would eliminate the need for reliance on diesel generator sets. In addition to air pollution, diesel emissions pose a carcinogenic risk to individuals with prolonged exposure to fumes from DG sets. Patial Relief | Permission for essential services until the year end Extension for essential services CAQM has extended three months permission for the use of diesel generator sets for essential services purely to avoid disruptions in emergency services and to provide more time for the implementation of emission control measures. CAQM had previously stated that the ban on diesel generators, enforced annually during winter to combat air pollution, would also encompass essential services. The one-time exception applies to nine categories, including - Commercial and residential complexes employing elevators, escalators, and travelators. (Subject to the DG set operation being purely limited to operation of elevators / escalators / travelators etc. and not for any other activities of commercial entities / residential societies.) - Medical facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes using critical medical equipment. - Railway services / Railway stations - Metro Rail & MRTS Services, including trains and stations - Airports and Inter-State Bus Terminals (ISBTs) - Sewage treatment plants - Water pumping stations - Projects of national significance related to national security - Services related to telecommunications, information technology, and data management

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal unveils 15-point winter action plan

NEW DELHI: Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal unveiled a 15-point winter action plan on Friday and stressed the cooperation of NCR states to make the season less harsh on everyone. "Pollution knows no boundaries. The air from Haryana comes to Delhi, and Delhi's air goes to Uttar Pradesh," he said. Hotspot-specific action plans, monitoring of open-waste burning, and alternative routes on 90 roads are part of the action plan. Track the pollution level in your city CM: Use Green Delhi app to report polluting activities Data from the Centre for Science and Environment shows that 31% of pollution in Delhi is due to internal sources, while 69% is from external sources. We appeal to neighbouring states to allow CNG-based vehicles to enter Delhi, their industries don't use polluting fuel, brick kilns use zig-zag technology. There should be 24-hour electricity supply to avoid the need for generators. There should be a complete ban on firecrackers in the NCR," said Kejriwal. Stating that the pollution level in the city has declined in Delhi by 30% over the past few years, the CM said that multiple teams have been constituted to check dust pollution, 385 teams to check PUC certificate and keep old vehicles from plying, 600 teams to check open burning and 67 teams to check industrial pollution. "There will be strict monitoring of construction sites, anti-dust machines will be used, and efforts made to reduce vehicular pollution. Additionally, there will be a ban on open-waste burning. If pollution levels rise, Graded Response will be implemented rigorously, and collaborative efforts with neighboring states will continue," said Kejriwal. The 15-point action plan includes identification of 13 hotspots with specific action plan; spraying bio-decomposer to discourage stubble burning; controlling dust pollution at construction sites, mechanical road sweeping; curbing vehicular pollution; ban on open-waste burning; ensuring that 1727 Industrial units in Delhi don't use unauthorised fuel; establishing green war room; and encouraging people to use Green Delhi App. "Green Delhi App launched 3 years ago, has become quite popular among the public. The app has received more than 70,470 complaints so far. Out of these, 63,344 complaints have been resolved, which is 90%. We appeal to all residents of Delhi to download the Green Delhi App on their mobile phones and report any pollution-related activities anywhere in Delhi. We will take action based on those reports," said Kejriwal. The CM said a 'Real-Time Source Apportionment Study' is being conducted in collaboration with IIT Delhi and Delhi Pollution Control Committee for which a super site has been established at Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya on Rouse Avenue Road. "The data from this study will be used to take focused actions in various areas," said Kejriwal. As part of efforts to increase green cover, he said, more than 1 crore new saplings will be planted, out of which the Delhi government will plant 52 lakh saplings.

Delhi CM unveils 15-point winter pollution plan

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday announced a 15-point ‘winter action plan’ to deal with air pollution in the national capital during winter, with the same points announced as part of a similar plan last year. Pointing out that the issue of pollution is not just Delhi’s, Kejriwal appealed to the states in the NCR to ensure that electricity is supplied round-the-clock to prevent use of generator sets. He also added that a meeting would have to be called, either by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) or the Union government, so that a joint plan can be made. “The issue is not just of Delhi. People of Punjab, Haryana and UP also need to get clean air,” he said at a press conference. Addressing the issue of stubble burning in Punjab, Kejriwal said: “Last year, stubble burning had fallen by 30% compared to the previous year. This year, the Punjab government has taken steps, which include diversification of crops, that is growing crops other than paddy, to which there has been a good response. Another step is varieties of paddy – focus on short-term varieties that generate less stubble and leave more time to dispose of stubble. There has been a good response to this too. For ex-situ management of stubble, some companies have come forward and adopted districts. In those districts, these companies will transport the stubble and will convert it into energy or fertilizer. It will be difficult to say how much stubble burning will be reduced this year, but there should be an improvement.” Paddy stubble burning events in Punjab have seen a marginal uptick recently, with 68 burning events being recorded on Friday, as per IARI data from satellites. This is up from 33 on Thursday, 21 on Wednesday and three on Tuesday. A combination of factors — low wind speeds, cold temperatures, smoke from stubble burning in other parts of northwest India, emissions from other sources like vehicles and industries — keep the NCR’s air polluted in winter. An analysis of air pollution in the NCR last winter by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) had said that Delhi’s average PM2.5 levels from October 1 to January 31 was highest among 27 NCR towns and cities, including Noida, Ghaziabad, Greater Noida, Gurgaon, and Faridabad. Measures that city will be taking this year are similar to those taken last year – checking construction sites for enforcement of dust pollution norms, anti-smog guns, mechanised sweeping, checking of PUC certificates, a war room for monitoring, and focused action at the city’s 13 air pollution hotspots, which includes Anand Vihar, Jahangirpuri, RK Puram and Punjabi Bagh. Kejriwal also pointed out measures that have been taken so far, including shutting off the two coal-based power plants in the city, purchasing new buses including 800 electric ones, Delhi’s Electric Vehicle Policy, and industrial units being made to shift to PNG use. He added that there has been a reduction in pollution, though the situation is not yet “ideal.”

UAE roundtable in Delhi to build collaboration for climate action

In the build-up to the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), which will be held in Dubai later this year, the UAE Ambassador to India Dr Abdulnasser Alshaali had a detailed discourse with civil society and think-tank leaders in Delhi. They deliberated upon critical climate action strategies, highlighted the role of constructive dialogue in support of COP28 UAE outcomes. It brought together dignitaries from The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), Rockfeller Foundation and Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF). Said Dr Alshaali, "The UAE is fully committed to playing a pivotal role in advancing climate action and fostering collaboration among nations as we head towards the first global evaluation of Paris COP21. India has been a valued partner to the UAE presidency's vision for COP, and today's roundtable is a testament to our collective dedication to creating a resilient future for all enabling an inclusive and solutions-oriented COP28." The roundtable reaffirmed UAE's aim to interrupt business-as-usual climate approaches, bond around decisive action, and achieve game-changing results in toto. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier assured India's support for UAE's COP28 presidency, which will be held at the Expo City in Dubai from November 30 to December 12.

क्या है पॉल्यूशन का परमानेंट सॉल्यूशन? जानिए CSE की एग्जीक्यूटिव डायरेक्टर की राय

Pollution News: जिलाधीश एवं डीसी निशान्त कुमार यादव ने बढ़ते प्रदूषण पर नियंत्रण के लिए गुरुग्राम जिला में पटाखों के भंडारण, बिक्री व इस्तेमाल (ग्रीन पटाखों को छोड़कर) पर रोक लगाने के आदेश जारी किए है. जारी आदेशों में फ्लिपकार्ट, अमेज़न आदि ई- कॉमर्स कम्पनियां पटाखों के किसी भी ऑनलाइन ऑर्डर को स्वीकार नहीं करने की मनाही की गई है. दिल्ली एनसीआर में प्रदूषण एक बेहद परेशान करने वाला समस्या है, जिसे लेकर आज ज़ी मीडिया ने 'विज्ञान और पर्यावरण केंद्र' यानी Centre for Science and Environment की एग्जीक्यूटिव डायरेक्टर अनुमिता रॉय चौधरी से बातचीत की. जानिए उन्होंने क्या कहा?

Kejriwal launches 15-point plan to keep air breathable in Delhi winter

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday unveiled a 15-point winter action plan to kick in from October 1, when teams from various agencies will fan out across the city to intensify vehicle checks, curb sources of dust and industrial pollution, stop crop burning, and carry out regular cleaning of roads in an effort to stave off the annual pre-winter air quality crisis. The CM also urged other National Capital Region (NCR) states to assist in the efforts, especially on curbing farm fires and the use of firecrackers during Diwali, a day after Gurugram announced it would allow the bursting of green firecrackers in a two-hour window for the festival. Experts doubt green firecrackers are any better than conventional ones. “We have identified thirteen hot spots where pollution is high and an action plan has been made for each hot spot and a war room has been made too. Thirteen special teams have been also formed. Last year, we used bio-decomposer to control stubble burning in 4,400 acres, this year it will be used in 5,000 acres,” the CM said. The government has formed 591 teams to monitor construction sites, a big source of dust, Kejriwal added. The plan, which involves 28 departments including environment, transport, traffic police, municipal bodies, and other agencies to check pollution, has been prepared based on reports and suggestions from these departments. A joint meeting regarding this was held on September 14. Every winter, Delhi and NCR experience a huge spike in air pollution due to a combination of local, external and meteorological factors. Chief among them is the practice of setting afire paddy remnants after harvesting, which is rampant in parts of Punjab and Haryana. These emissions then combine with smoke from burning of garbage, road dust and tailpipe gases, creating a toxic cocktail that settles in on the region for days on end as low temperatures and weak winds prevent them from blowing away. Smoke from firecrackers used during Diwali invariably worsens this crisis. For at least seven years now, the Capital’s air has plunged into the severely polluted category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) climbing past 400 and even 450. The concentration of ultra fine PM2.5 particles, which can reach deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, shoots up to levels unfit for breathing, and has forced the administration to close schools and ask the elderly and children to stay indoors. To be sure, the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government unveiled 15 action points to tackle pollution last year as well and this is a yearly affair. The party is also in power in Punjab, where a bulk of the farm fires take place. Punjab has pledged to reduce the number of such fires by 50%. On Friday, Kejriwal said the AAP took multiple steps in six months and claimed a 30% reduction in stubble burning in Punjab, according to government data. “Multiple steps have been taken this year by Mann government such as diversification of crops which will reduce usage of water and stubble burning, use of short term varieties of paddy which produces less stubble and also afford long period for disposal of stubble,” he said. The CM also said that the Delhi government has put in consistent efforts through the years to curb pollution in the city, and added that in the last seven years, Delhi had witnessed a 30% reduction in pollution. “In 2014, the (average) PM2.5 was 149 which reduced to 103 in 2023. In 2014, PM10 was 324 (on average) has come down to 223 in 2023. In 2016, Delhi had 109 good air days which has increased to 163 days in 2023,” Kejriwal said. Underlining the role of public transport in checking air pollution, he said the government has purchased buses on a large scale, especially e-buses. “Currently, 7,135 public buses are on the streets of Delhi, including 800 electric buses and 17% of total vehicles being purchased in the Capital are e-vehicles,” Kejriwal said. Stating that the menace of air pollution does not follow the boundaries between Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, Kejriwal said the state government will make coordinated efforts with the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) as well as other NCR states. “The data of the Centre for Science and Environment shows that 31% of pollution in Delhi is caused by internal sources and 69% due to external (outside Delhi) sources. We appeal to nearby states to ensure that vehicles entering Delhi from nearby states are converted to CNG vehicles,” Kejriwal said. Experts say the success of the action plan will depend on its implementation. Anumita Roychowdhury, CSE’s executive director (research and advocacy) said: “The effectiveness will depend on the scale and speed of implementation of the strategies identified. At the same time the ongoing action targeting all key sources of pollution needs to gather momentum for more sustained changes.”

दिल्ली : राजधानी में विंटर एक्शन प्लान का एलान, हवा जहां जैसी होगी ‘बीमार’, वहां वैसा ‘इलाज’

राजधानी में सर्दी के मौसम में होने वाले वायु प्रदूषण की रोकथाम के लिए दिल्ली सरकार सख्त हो गई है। जिस इलाके की हवा में जैसे प्रदूषक होंगे, वैसे ही इसे खत्म करने के इंतजाम किए जाएंगे। मुख्यमंत्री अरविंद केजरीवाल ने शुक्रवार को प्रदूषण के खिलाफ 15 सूत्रीय विंटर एक्शन प्लान की घोषणा की है। इसके तहत 13 हॉटस्पॉट के लिए अलग-अलग एक्शन प्लान बनाए गए हैं। केजरीवाल ने बताया कि इस बार पांच हजार एकड़ से अधिक खेतों में बॉयो डी-कंपोजर का निशुल्क छिड़काव किया जाएगा। वहीं, निर्माण साइटों पर कड़ी नजर रखी जाएगी और एंटी डस्ट मशीनों का इस्तेमाल किया जाएगा। वाहन प्रदूषण को कम करने के साथ खुले में कूड़ा जलाने पर भी रोक रहेगी। इसके अलावा प्रदूषण बढ़ने पर सख्ती से ग्रेडेड रिस्पांस एक्शन प्लान (ग्रैप) को लागू किया जाएगा। दिल्ली सचिवालय में प्रेसवार्ता में केजरीवाल ने कहा कि पिछले कुछ सालों में प्रदूषण के स्तर में करीब 30% की कमी आई है। प्रदूषण के खिलाफ इस जंग में इस बार फिर से दिल्ली तैयार है। उन्होंने कहा कि दूसरे राज्यों में विकास की गतिविधियां बढ़ने के साथ प्रदूषण भी बढ़ा है, लेकिन दिल्ली में कमी आई है। सरकारी एजेंसी और केंद्र सरकार के साथ मिलकर बहुत सारे कदम उठाए गए हैं। जिसकी वजह से दिल्ली में पिछले 8 सालों में प्रदूषण में काफी कमी आई है। वर्ष 2016 में अच्छी हवा 109 दिन थी, अब यह 163 दिन हो गई है और सीवियर पॉल्यूशन 26 दिन होते थे, जो घटकर 6 दिन रह गए हैं। केजरीवाल ने आंकड़ों के जरिये बताया कि 2014 में दिल्ली में पीएम-2.5 149 होता था, जबकि अब ये 103 है। इसी तरह 2014 में पीएम-10 324 होता था, अब ये 223 है। इस दिशा में पिछले कई सालों से युद्ध प्रदूषण के विरुद्ध कैंपेन चलाया है। दिल्ली सरकार का 15 सूत्रीय विंटर एक्शन प्लान केजरीवाल ने कहा कि दिल्ली में 13 हॉटस्पॉट चिह्नित किए गए हैं। इनमें रोहिणी, विवेक विहार, आरके पुरम, नरेला, पंजाबी बाग, ओखला, मुंडका, वजीरपुर, जहांगीरपुरी, द्वारका, अशोक विहार, बवाना व आनंद विहार शामिल हैं। इन हॉटस्पॉट के लिए अलग-अलग एक्शन प्लान बनाया गया है। इस साल 5000 एकड़ से अधिक बासमती और गैर-बासमती कृषि भूमि पर मुफ्त में बायो-डीकंपोजर का छिड़काव किया जाएगा। आईआईटी दिल्ली और डीपीसीसी के साथ रियल टाइम सोर्स अपोरशंमेंट स्टडी की जा रही है। इसके लिए रॉउस एवेन्यू रोड पर स्थित सर्वोदय बाल विद्यालय में एक सुपर साइट बनाई गई है। निर्माण साइट्स पर निगरानी रखने के लिए कई टीमें बनाई गई हैं। 500 वर्गमीटर से ज्यादा वाले निर्माण साइट को डस्ट कंट्रोल करने के लिए वेब पोर्टल पर पंजीकृत करना होगा। 5 हजार वर्ग मीटर से ज्यादा वाले निर्माण साइट पर एंटी स्मॉग गन लगाना अनिवार्य होगा। सड़कों पर सफाई के दौरान उड़ने वाली धूल को रोकने के लिए 82 मैकेनिकल रोड स्वीपिंग मशीन लगाई गई हैं। वाहन से होने वाले प्रदूषण को रोकने के लिए पीयूसी सर्टिफिकेट की जांच की जाएगी। साथ ही 10 साल पुराने डीजल और 15 साल पुराने पेट्रोल वाहन के प्रतिबंध को सख्ती से लागू करने के लिए 385 टीमें गठित की गई हैं। इसके तहत अत्यधिक ट्रैफिक वाली 90 सड़कों की पहचान की गई हैं। प्रदूषण कोई बाउंड्री नहीं देखता है। हरियाणा की हवा दिल्ली आती है, दिल्ली की हवा यूपी जाती है। केजरीवाल ने कहा कि कोशिश है कि आसपास के राज्यों के साथ मिलकर प्रदूषण को कम करें। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट का डेटा बताता है कि दिल्ली में 31 फीसदी प्रदूषण दिल्ली के आंतरिक स्रोतों की वजह से होता है, जबकि 69 फीसदी बाहरी स्रोतों की वजह से है। 1727 औद्योगिक इंडस्ट्रीज अब पीएनजी से संचालित होती हैं। इसकी निगरानी के लिए 66 टीमों का गठन किया गया है। ये टीमें सुनिश्चित करेंगी कि ये इकाई किसी भी अनधिकृत और प्रदूषणकारी ईंधन का उपयोग तो नहीं कर रही हैं। एक ग्रीन वार रूम बनाया गया है, जिसके जरिये 24 घंटे निगरानी की जाएगी। यहां सभी एजेंसियों द्वारा हर दिन की गई कार्रवाई की रिपोर्ट का विश्लेषण करेगी और अगले दिन की योजना बनाएगी। खुले में कूड़ा जलाने पर रोक : दिल्ली के अंदर खुले में कूड़ा जलाने पर पूरी तरह से प्रतिबंध है। इसकी निगरानी के लिए 611 टीमों टीमों का गठन किया गया है। ग्रीन दिल्ली एप : एप पर अभी तक 70,470 से अधिक शिकायतें आईं हैं। इसमें से 63,344 शिकायतों का समाधान किया जा चुका है। पटाखों पर प्रतिबंध : इस साल भी पटाखों के उत्पादन, भंडारण और किसी भी प्रकार की बिक्री या खरीद पर पूरी तरह प्रतिबंध रहेगा। हरित क्षेत्र को बढ़ाना : दिल्ली में ग्रीन कवर बढ़ाने के लिए एक करोड़ से ज्यादा पौधे लगाए जाएंगे, जिसमें से 52 लाख पौधे दिल्ली सरकार लगाएगी। इको ई-वेस्ट पार्क : होलंबी कलां में एक ई-वेस्ट पार्क बनाया जा रहा है। जन जागरूकता अभियान : प्रदूषण के प्रति जागरूकता बढ़ाने के लिए विभिन्न जन जागरूकता अभियान चलाए जाएंगे। ग्रैप का क्रियान्वयन : दिल्ली में ग्रैप को सख्ती के साथ लागू किया जाएगा।