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From trash to treasure: The how and why of segregating waste

The amount of trash generated per capita is expected to rise by 1-1.33 percent each year. Let's talk about what happens to the trash we generate at home and other places, and why we need to lessen it. By India Today Information Desk: Nine years after the announcement of the Swachh Bharat Mission, a flagship nationwide cleanup effort, trash can no longer be seen through the lens of sweeping brooms or a civic consciousness drive. Swachh Bharat requires a warlike frontal attack by the government, private investors, and the public to avert a full-blown disaster which is quickly gathering stench. The dark side of India’s robustly growing economy, increasing urbanisation, rising income levels, and soaring consumption is a surge in garbage generation. Based on reports by Niti Aayog and Blackridge Research, India generates between 55-62 million tonnes (Mt) of municipal solid waste (MSW) annually. About 43 Mt is collected, of which 12 Mt are treated, and 31 Mt is dumped in open areas. This is over and above our legacy waste: approximately, 800 Mt of MSW already exists in 3159 open dumpsites across the country. The amount of trash generated per capita is expected to rise by 1-1.33 percent each year. With a population of 1.4 billion and growing, the quantity of MSW is expected to skyrocket to 125-165 Mt annually in 2030. Predictably, Hyderabad-based Mordor Intelligence estimates the business opportunity for waste management in India to be over USD 35 billion in 2030. PRIVATE SECTOR INTEREST Some startups have emerged with innovative ideas to 'valorize' waste into valuable resources. However, this industry is still nascent and grossly inadequate. The need for know-how, infrastructure, capacity, technology, and public-private partnerships is gargantuan. For instance, HariBhari, started by technopreneurs Amit Kumar and Sujay Jha, operates a waste management unit in Naini, Prayagraj. Originally set up to deal with the Maha Kumbh Mela waste, they cater to the 700 tonnes of MSW that Prayagraj City produces daily. In partnership with the municipal corporation, shiny green garbage trucks collect trash door-to-door. At the facility, mountains of waste are painstakingly sorted by both machines and ragpickers’ hands. Organic waste is biodegradable and converted to compost over a period of four weeks. KRIBHCO buys the entire lot. Combustible waste with a higher calorific value is converted into refuse-derived fuel (RDF), which is a renewable source of energy and is bought by local cement units. Recyclable waste, like plastic, is sent back, along the ‘kabadiwala’ route, to industries where it is repurposed. By purchasing trash-recycled products, companies gain carbon credits to offset their own CO2 emissions. This 'circular economy' concept works on the principles of reuse, recycling, refurbishing, and remanufacturing to reduce the impact of garbage on the environment. But even with the best efforts, 40 percent of the trash still goes to landfill. To improve their ratio, HariBhari is exploring tech know-how from a Norwegian waste management leader. WHY IS SEGREATING TRASH A HERO ACT? Mordor Intelligence estimates that just 30 percent of the 75 percent of recyclable waste is recycled in India. The key reason: people, like you and me, do not segregate household waste. As such, when trash lands at a waste management facility, the sheer enormity of sorting is daunting. The simple task of separating waste at its source in different coloured bins, both at home and in public places, could help every waste management facility gather speed. For example, three clear bins for three kinds of waste are suggested by Niti Aayog: Waste segregation dramatically improves how waste is consolidated and sent to recycling factories. If we do not separate garbage when we throw it, machines or labourers must undertake the sorting. Machines are powered by expensive diesel and may be inaccurate due to their automation. Manual sorting by daily wage workers is time-consuming. In 2017, an initiative to sort trash at source sent 250 tonnes less trash to the Mumbai landfills in one day. ARE INDIAN CITIES GEARED FOR SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT? Not adequately. Urban local bodies currently spend 60-70 percent of their budget on waste collection, 20-30 percent on transportation, and less than 5 percent on treatment and disposal. For most city dwellers, ‘kabariwalas’ and garbage dumps are the only ways to get rid of trash: unfortunately, most trash lands on the outskirts of their own city. By the end of 2021, Niti Aayog, in coordination with the Centre for Science and Environment, could identify only 28 zones where waste management processes were effective. Sadly, this is a scratch on the surface. India has more than 4,000 cities and towns; 46 cities have populations greater than 1 million and 254 have a population between 100,000 and 1 million. If these cities do not address their growing garbage, they will have no choice but to yield precious land to toxic landfills. WHAT NEXT? We must segregate our trash. The government must enable private investors and municipalities to set up waste management plants. But despite the best segregation and facilities, all garbage cannot be repurposed. To ultimately address trash, we must look at reducing it. Every household, every person. A sale at Zara? Buy only what you need, not what you want. Paper with scribbles on one side? Save it for the next time you need to take down notes. Ordering from Zomato? Choose no utensils at checkout. These minuscule changes create a ripple effect to reduce strain on our waste management systems. True, trash has some potential. But not so that we can keep generating them.

Man narrowly escapes lightning strike, video goes viral

The heart-stopping clip showed a lightning bolt striking a street in Attapur. It missed the pedestrian who was going home after running errands. Lightning strikes are common in India during the June-September monsoon, which is crucial to replenishing regional water supplies but also responsible for widespread deaths and destruction each year. It is pertinent to mention that Col Sanjay Srivastava, Chief of Lightning Resilient India Campaign, blamed deforestation, pollution and the depletion of bodies of water for an increase in lightning. The Director General of the Center for Science and Environment Sunita Narain named global warming as one of the reasons for the increase in lightning frequency. India saw a big jump in extreme weather events such as heatwaves and lightning strikes last year and related deaths rose to their highest in three years, with scientists blaming climate change for the heavy toll. According to government data, there were nearly eight times as many heatwaves, 27 in all, and lightning strikes rose more than 111 times, killing 907 people, the Ministry of Earth Sciences said in a report to parliament. Thunderstorms increased more than five times to 240.

CEA and CSE put joint effort to strengthen capacity

The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi, India have collaborated to conduct a training programme on strengthening the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process in Sri Lanka. The first workshop of the programme was conducted in Colombo from July 17 - 18 at the CEA Auditorium, whilst the second workshop was held in Kandy from July 20 - 21.

Harnessing data to optimise air quality policies

Deteriorating air quality and its adverse health impact have raised significant concerns amongst civil society, NGOs, and policymakers. Air pollution and climate change are closely intertwined, share common causes, and often exacerbate each other. While climate change is a long-term phenomenon, air pollution aggravates it significantly, leading to immediate and urgent consequences of immense magnitude. Given this correlation, measures to improve air quality, especially urban air pollution, will catalyse action on climate action. Assessing efficacy Ranked fourth in the World Air Quality Report by IQAir, Delhi generally makes headlines as one of the world’s most polluted cities. However, air pollution is essentially a pan-India urban menace, with 39 Indian cities featuring in the top 50 polluted cities globally. State governments in Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan devised actionable plans to address air pollution caused by stubble burning. In 2016, due to hazardous air pollution levels, authorities in Delhi implemented temporary measures, including shutting down schools, colleges, and industries, and banning diesel generators. The Delhi government and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) developed the Air Quality Index (AQI)-based Graded Response Access Plan (GRAP), which adjusts the level of action and measures taken according to the levels of air quality—from good to severe+ pollution, determined by averaging pollutant concentrations over specific time intervals. Similarly, state governments in Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan devised actionable plans to address air pollution caused by stubble burning. However, their attempts have largely remained confined to crisis response, as the extreme volatility of air quality makes identification of patterns and implementation of sustainable preventive measures difficult, especially in the absence of comprehensive yet targeted data analysis. Likewise, the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), implemented in 2019, aims to improve India’s air quality in 131 cities in India with real-time monitoring. The programme aims to achieve a 40-percent reduction in pollutant concentration, complying with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM 10 concentrations by 2026. PM 2.5 and PM 10 are fine particulate matter composed of tiny droplets of liquid, dry solid fragments, and solid cores with liquid coatings that can lead to harmful health effects when inhaled. Additionally, initiatives such as the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP), Commission for Air Quality Management, and subsidies for Turbo Happy Seeder machines (THS) aim to improve air quality by discouraging crop residue burning. The CPCB employs spatial averaging to assess compliance with NCAP standards because only around half of the NCAP cities have real-time monitoring stations and most of the cities’ monitoring stations did not meet the minimum data requirement. Despite such measures, a Centre for Science and Environment analysis revealed a minimal disparity in PM2.5 levels between cities included in the NCAP and those not covered by it, indicating that air pollution was a much wider urban problem. Data monitoring may play a significant role in explaining this observation. The CPCB employs spatial averaging to assess compliance with NCAP standards because only around half of the NCAP cities have real-time monitoring stations and most of the cities’ monitoring stations did not meet the minimum data requirement. In contrast, international agencies like the United States (US) Environmental Protection Agency ( The CPCB could consider implementing a robust protocol that regularly analyses real-time air quality data to ensure robust and effective policy response. Oklahoma Gas & Electric and Austin Energy in the US have implemented programmes that use data analytics to reduce the power demand for air conditioning by 30 percent without the end users even realising a change and thereby avoiding building additional power plant capacities. Deploying data analysis tools by cross-checking consumption against monthly electricity bills also helped the US to tackle energy theft. The US’ experience shows how improved data analysis, management, and collection can also be used for developing climate mitigation strategies effectively. Data-driven development Harnessing data is vital in combating climate change. Establishing a comprehensive and regularly updated air quality data repository is crucial to informed decision-making. As the G20 president, India emphasised the significance of “Data for Development” (D4D) in its agenda. India’s G20 Sherpa, Amitabh Kant, underlined the importance of accessible granular data to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while criticising those who limit data access and emphasising its value for academic and research purposes. A sustainable future calls for a discourse on data privacy norms, cross-border data sharing, localisation of sensitive data of national importance, and onboarding of all stakeholders. The Indian government has made large datasets of 36 critical sectors public, accompanied by analytics and visualisation tools. By making such large datasets public, India has taken the baton in the marathon of using data for real development. Implementing data-driven policy frameworks encourages other developing nations to build capacity in this space. It paves the way for future global collaboration to attain SDG 3.9, which seeks to reduce death and illness due to air, water, and soil contamination. A sustainable future calls for a discourse on data privacy norms, cross-border data sharing, localisation of sensitive data of national importance, and onboarding of all stakeholders. From data to insights In light of the abundance of data available, it is crucial to use it to extract valuable insights. Data analytics could enable the government to identify pain points and implement adaptable policies promptly, unlike the NCAP, where there are no time-bound targets for the reduction of pollution. Air quality monitors collect pollutant data hourly, creating an extensive repository of data that qualifies as big data due to its high velocity, variety, value, and veracity. Using spatial averages on such datasets is a rudimentary approach because it oversimplifies the complexity of air pollution by neglecting microscale variations of pollutants within a given area, population exposure to air pollutants and its impact on their health, source identification of pollution, and other geographical meteorological local conditions. In comparison, the Transfer Income Model, a microsimulation model that analyses the impact of tax, transfer, and health programmes in the US, is a better approach. It employs causal inferential statistics to examine variations within the sample and how policy changes across time and geography. Such a model could be used in India through a hybrid framework of NCAP and GRAP. Additionally, machine learning and artificial intelligence can be employed to automate the formulation, analysis, and ongoing enhancement of policies addressing the dynamic nature of air quality. Air quality monitors collect pollutant data hourly, creating an extensive repository of data that qualifies as big data due to its high velocity, variety, value, and veracity. Predictive analytics has found promising applications in healthcare, exemplifying its immense potential for future utilisation. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare uses predictive analytics to generate insights on factors like healthcare expenditure and population growth. Similarly, a predictive model can be created using past time series data from multiple air quality monitors to forecast AQI. For instance, if sulphur is the primary cause of severe AQI, the government should target specific activities contributing to sulphur pollution instead of implementing a basket of predetermined actions. Predictive analytics in AQI determination can assess policy effectiveness, identify optimal parameters that have minimal impact on the economy and ensure improved air quality. Way forward A dynamic framework incorporating predictive policy formulation supported by data can be the next phase in tackling air quality issues effectively and proactively in India. The utilisation of data is paramount in addressing global challenges such as climate change. This warrants increased attention, and analytics could provide valuable assistance. Addressing climate change necessitates a collaborative global plan, where India has the potential to emerge as a leading force, showcasing thought leadership and impactful action.

Indian expert sees gaps in our environmental laws

Sri Lanka has strong environmental laws for implementing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, but there are some gaps which need to be addressed to achieve the standards of the best international practices, says an Indian scientist. Speaking at a Seminar in Colombo, Delhi based Centre for Science and Environment Director Nivit Kumar Yadav said that proper data systems, good quality EIA reports, development of proper review systems, to evaluate EIA reports, enhancing the involvement of civil society, and compliance of approved projects through well-prepared Environmental Management Plan (EMPs), were essential. “Sri Lanka needs to improve the transparency when it comes to environmental compliance, which will push industries to take extra measures to comply with statutory norms”, Yadav said. The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi, India, have collaborated to conduct a workshop-cum-training programme on strengthening the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process in Sri Lanka. Although Sri Lanka has strong environmental laws under the National Environmental Act, it has to face various challenges, when it comes to implementation of those laws, according to the CEA and CSE. To achieve the objective of implementing EIA for prescribed development projects, data collection, impact assessment study, the preparation of the EIA report, and implementation of the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to facilitate compliance monitoring have to be executed in full spirit. As for implementation, the EIA process responsibilities lie with all relevant stakeholders, CEA, and the project proponents. There is also a need to improve the quality of the EIA report since decisions are made on the basis of the recommendations of the EIA report. Keeping this in mind, the CEA and CSE are conducting workshops-cum-capacity building programme to enhance the knowledge of environmental regulators to ensure better implementation of EIA in Sri Lanka. Supun S Pathirage, Chairman, CEA, and P B Hemantha Jayasinghe, Director General, CEA, expressed their gratitude to the CSE for their contribution in handling such a workshop and pointed out the benefits of environment conservation work in Sri Lanka, through strengthening the EIA process.

Extreme temperatures, torrent of rain: How Asia is facing the worst of climate crisis

The continent is facing record temperatures and a torrent of rainfall. Experts say South Asia in particular is vulnerable to climate change and warn that the worst is yet to come Asia is under siege from the climate crisis. The continent is facing record temperatures and a torrent of rainfall – and experts warn that the worst is yet to come. Let’s take a closer look at what is happening: The current monsoon rains which began in June have claimed the lives of 55 people including eight children. What do experts say? Experts say Asia, particularly South Asia is extremely vulnerable to climate change. As Saleemul Haq, director at the International Centre for Climate Change and Development, told Al Jazeera, “Over a billion and a half people are living in an area that is not such a big part of the world. It has major river systems from the Hindu Kush and the Himalayan mountain regions flowing through.” Pakistan-based climate scientist Fahad Saeed added that climate change has upset the ‘delicate balance’ needed for crops to grow – which is bound to impact South Asia’s standing as the region that feeds the world. The Tribune quoted the IMD chief as saying that an examination of records showed India had been facing an increase in the frequency, duration and intensity of extreme heat conditions due to climate change. “The irony of it is that the poor of the world are actually victims of climate change,” even if they aren’t the ones who “created the problem,” Sunita Narain, director general of the Centre for Science and Environment and veteran Indian environmentalist previously told CNN. “Floods, droughts and other devastating climate events are “all showing us very clearly what will the future be,” Narain added.

Single-use plastic ban stays on paper

More than a year after a nationwide ban on 19 single-use plastic (SUP) items came into force, the products continue to flood markets in the city. Experts blame poor enforcement, a lack of alternatives and no checks on the banned products manufactured in the informal sector. On July 1, 2022, the Centre had banned the SUP products while a ban on carry bags with 120 microns in thickness was enforced on December 31. Data compiled by Delhi Pollution Control Committee shows about 1,113.2 tonnes per day (TPD) of plastic waste is generated in the national capital, constituting about 10% of total municipal solid waste generation. Screenshot 2023-07-24 061501 According to various market associations in Delhi, the ban was never properly implemented and many vendors prefer cheaper SUP items to expensive sustainable products. Traders said barring the initial few months after the ban, the plastic items are back to being manufactured and supplied openly. According to Kamla Nagar Traders Association president Nitin Gupta, plastic items like straws, spoons and cups are still used widely by street vendors and regularly dumped on the roadside. "While many regular shopkeepers have shifted to approved and non-woven recyclable bags, small vendors selling sugarcane juice or street food are still using single-use plastic. The main issue is affordability, as sustainable cutlery or bags are expensive. What profit will a person selling sugarcane juice for Rs 20 make with a Rs 4 cup?" said Gupta. Ashok Randhawa, president of Sarojini Nagar mini-market association, said implementation of the plastic ban had found partial success. "The ban cannot be fully implemented. We can ask shopkeepers to adhere to it, but there is a large unorganised sector of vendors which openly uses SUP items. The main issue is seamless manufacturing and supply of such items. And until manufacturing of banned plastic items is not stopped, the issue will not be resolved," said Randhawa. Authorities had promised strict action and opening of dedicated and affordable stalls of paper bags and other alternatives, but they were never implemented, he added. However, no response was available from the Delhi government. Atin Biswas, programme director for municipal solid waste unit at Centre for Science and Environment, said, "The ban targeted mostly non-branded items. Apart from earbuds, nothing can be associated with popular brands. Since they are manufactured in the informal sector, there are no taxes and it is difficult to track them. Although buying and selling of such items can be enforced by local agencies, municipal corporations and pollution control bodies have limited staff and resources for this." He added, "Of the total plastic waste generated in India, 60-70% comes from the packaging industry. However, plastic packaging packets of chips, shampoo and other items have not been included in the list of banned products. So even if 19 items disappear, they won't have a huge impact." Priti Mahesh, chief programme coordinator, Toxics Link, said, "There were regular checks for banned items in the initial months, but this was not sustained. The ban can be a success only if the enforcement is strong and if there is availability of economically feasible substitutes. A small difference in the price of an item can impact local vendors. There has been little effort to make substitutes feasible. Besides, the city has a porous border and even if the production is banned in Delhi, the products are easily available in neighbouring cities." She added, "There is consumer awareness, but focus is needed on ensuring behavioural change among public and dealers. Measures should be taken to incentivise them so they move towards substitutes."

‘Andhra Pradesh has max PM 2.5 monitors, but poor AQI data’

However, none of these stations meet the minimum requirement of 104 days of monitoring per year. VISAKHAPATNAM: The recent report on the ‘Status of Air Quality Monitoring in India’ by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has exposed the sorry state of air quality monitoring system in India. According to the report, Andhra Pradesh has the highest number of manual PM 2.5 monitors, with 47 stations in place. However, none of these stations meet the minimum requirement of 104 days of monitoring per year. This, in fact, has raised a concern over the accuracy and comprehensiveness of air quality data in the State. The report highlighted that manual monitoring stations have doubled in the country since 2010, with 883 operating stations installed in 379 cities and towns across 28 States and seven Union Territories. Additionally, there has been a 20-fold increase in real-time monitoring stations, with 423 stations being set up in 221 cities. However, several stations, such as those in Vijayawada and other locations, have not reported any monitoring data in recent years. Though TNIE tried to get in touch with the regional officials, it yielded no result. The CSE report suggests that despite a significant increase in the number of manual and real-time monitoring stations in the past 13 years, nearly 47 per cent of the population lives outside the air quality monitoring network, with 62 per cent lacking access to daily alerts on the local air quality index. The national monitoring grid currently covers only 6-8 per cent of the recommended requirement, indicating a dire need for improvement. Out of India’s 4,041 census cities and towns, a mere 12 per cent have air quality monitoring systems, and only 200 cities monitor all six key pollutants. “Compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and clean air targets under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) require robust air quality monitoring, which is currently lacking in a vast majority of areas. Despite an increase in the number of monitoring stations, only 476 cities and towns out of 4,041 have air quality monitoring systems,” the report cited.

'आंध्र प्रदेश में अधिकतम पीएम 2.5 मॉनिटर हैं, लेकिन खराब AQI डेटा'

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) की 'भारत में वायु गुणवत्ता निगरानी की स्थिति' पर हालिया रिपोर्ट ने भारत में वायु गुणवत्ता निगरानी प्रणाली की खराब स्थिति को उजागर किया है। रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, आंध्र प्रदेश में 47 स्टेशनों के साथ सबसे अधिक संख्या में मैनुअल पीएम 2.5 मॉनिटर हैं। हालाँकि, इनमें से कोई भी स्टेशन प्रति वर्ष 104 दिनों की निगरानी की न्यूनतम आवश्यकता को पूरा नहीं करता है। वास्तव में, इसने राज्य में वायु गुणवत्ता डेटा की सटीकता और व्यापकता पर चिंता पैदा कर दी है। रिपोर्ट में बताया गया है कि 2010 के बाद से देश में मैनुअल मॉनिटरिंग स्टेशन दोगुने हो गए हैं, 28 राज्यों और सात केंद्र शासित प्रदेशों के 379 शहरों और कस्बों में 883 ऑपरेटिंग स्टेशन स्थापित किए गए हैं। इसके अतिरिक्त, वास्तविक समय निगरानी स्टेशनों में 20 गुना वृद्धि हुई है, 221 शहरों में 423 स्टेशन स्थापित किए गए हैं। हालाँकि, कई स्टेशनों, जैसे कि विजयवाड़ा और अन्य स्थानों पर, ने हाल के वर्षों में कोई निगरानी डेटा रिपोर्ट नहीं किया है। हालांकि टीएनआईई ने क्षेत्रीय अधिकारियों से संपर्क करने की कोशिश की, लेकिन कोई नतीजा नहीं निकला। सीएसई रिपोर्ट बताती है कि पिछले 13 वर्षों में मैनुअल और वास्तविक समय निगरानी स्टेशनों की संख्या में उल्लेखनीय वृद्धि के बावजूद, लगभग 47 प्रतिशत आबादी वायु गुणवत्ता निगरानी नेटवर्क के बाहर रहती है, जबकि 62 प्रतिशत को स्थानीय वायु गुणवत्ता सूचकांक पर दैनिक अलर्ट तक पहुंच की कमी है। राष्ट्रीय निगरानी ग्रिड वर्तमान में अनुशंसित आवश्यकता का केवल 6-8 प्रतिशत ही कवर करता है, जो सुधार की सख्त आवश्यकता को दर्शाता है। भारत के 4,041 जनगणना शहरों और कस्बों में से, केवल 12 प्रतिशत में वायु गुणवत्ता निगरानी प्रणाली है, और केवल 200 शहर सभी छह प्रमुख प्रदूषकों की निगरानी करते हैं। “राष्ट्रीय स्वच्छ वायु कार्यक्रम (एनसीएपी) के तहत राष्ट्रीय परिवेश वायु गुणवत्ता मानकों (एनएएक्यूएस) और स्वच्छ वायु लक्ष्यों के अनुपालन के लिए मजबूत वायु गुणवत्ता निगरानी की आवश्यकता होती है, जिसका वर्तमान में अधिकांश क्षेत्रों में अभाव है। निगरानी स्टेशनों की संख्या में वृद्धि के बावजूद, 4,041 में से केवल 476 शहरों और कस्बों में वायु गुणवत्ता निगरानी प्रणाली है, ”रिपोर्ट में उद्धृत किया गया है।

CSE CEA workshop to strengthen EIA process

The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) and the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi, India conducted a workshop cum training programme to strengthen the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process in Sri Lanka. The first workshop was conducted in Colombo from 17 – 18 July 2023 at the CEA Auditorium. The second was held in Kandy from 20 to 21 July 2023.

दिल्ली में फिर बाढ़ का खतरा, महाराष्ट्र-गुजरात में भी मानसून का कहर! आखिर भारत में इस बार क्यों हो रही इतनी मूसलाधार बारिश?

मूसलाधार बारिश के कारण देश के कई हिस्सों में हालात खराब हैं और प्रभावित लोगों को तत्‍काल मदद की जरूरत है. दिल्‍ली में यमुना का जलस्‍तर एक बार फिर बढ़ रहा है तो वहीं गुजरात के दक्षिणी और सौराष्‍ट्र क्षेत्र में भारी मानसूनी बारिश ने कहर बरपाया हुआ है. इस बीच केंद्रीय गृह मंत्री अमित शाह (Home Minister Amit Shah) ने रविवार को गुजरात के मुख्यमंत्री भूपेन्द्र पटेल (Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel) और दिल्ली के उपराज्यपाल वीके सक्सेना से बात कर दोनों राज्यों में ताजा हालात और राहत एवं बचाव इंतजामों की जानकारी ली. गुजरात में शनिवार को दक्षिणी और सौराष्ट्र क्षेत्र के कई जिलों में भारी से बहुत भारी बारिश हुई, जिससे शहरी इलाकों में बाढ़ और जलभराव की स्थिति बन गई और कई गांव अलग-थलग पड़ गए. बांधों और नदियों में जल स्तर खतरनाक स्तर तक बढ़ गया है, जिससे प्रभावित समुदायों की सहायता के लिए तत्काल हस्तक्षेप की आवश्यकता है. केंद्रीय गृह मंत्री अमित शाह ने गुजरात के कुछ इलाकों में बाढ़ जैसी स्थिति पर चर्चा करने के लिए मुख्यमंत्री भूपेन्द्र पटेल से टेलीफोन पर बातचीत की. किस कारण से बन रही है मौसम की चरम स्थिति मुख्यमंत्री ने उन्हें वर्तमान स्थिति और हाल की भारी वर्षा के कारण राज्य के सामने आने वाली चुनौतियों से अवगत कराया. जवाब में, अमित शाह ने जरूरतमंद लोगों की सहायता के लिए पर्याप्त संख्या में राज्य आपदा प्रतिक्रिया बल (एसडीआरएफ) और राष्ट्रीय आपदा प्रतिक्रिया बल (एनडीआरएफ) टीमों की उपलब्धता का आश्वासन दिया है. भारत के कुछ हिस्सों में मौसम की चरम स्थिति का सामना करना पड़ रहा है, एक नजर इस बात पर है कि इसके क्या कारण हो सकते हैं. यमुना में फिर बढ़ा जलस्‍तर, दिल्‍ली में बाढ़ की संभावना इधर, दिल्ली में यमुना नदी में जल स्तर में वृद्धि देखी गई है, जो रविवार को एक बार फिर खतरे के निशान को पार कर गया. उत्तराखंड और हिमाचल प्रदेश के कुछ हिस्सों में भारी बारिश के कारण हथिनीकुंड बैराज से डिस्चार्ज में वृद्धि ने राष्ट्रीय राजधानी में बाढ़ की स्थिति को लेकर चिंताएं बढ़ा दी हैं. यमुना नदी में जल स्तर में संभावित वृद्धि से बाढ़ से प्रभावित निचले इलाकों में चल रहे राहत और पुनर्वास प्रयासों में बाधा आ सकती है. गृहमंत्री अमित शाह ने की एलजी वीके सक्‍सेना से चर्चा केंद्रीय गृह मंत्री अमित शाह ने यमुना नदी में जल स्तर की स्थिति का आकलन करने के लिए दिल्ली के उपराज्यपाल वीके सक्सेना के साथ चर्चा की. इसका उद्देश्य बढ़ते जल स्तर से उत्पन्न संभावित चुनौतियों से निपटने के लिए रणनीति बनाना और पर्याप्त उपाय सुनिश्चित करना था. इसके अलावा, यह ध्यान दिया जाना चाहिए कि देश के कई अन्य क्षेत्रों में भी इस मौसम में मूसलाधार बारिश हो रही है. अभूतपूर्व बारिश के कारण कई क्षेत्रों में बाढ़ आ गई है, जिससे सामान्य जनजीवन बाधित हो गया है और संपत्ति और बुनियादी ढांचे को काफी नुकसान हुआ है. भारत में अत्यधिक बारिश का कारण क्या है? 10 जुलाई को आउटलुक रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, उत्तर भारत ने दो सक्रिय मौसम प्रणालियों के प्रभाव का अनुभव किया है. ,इससे क्षेत्र में मौसम की महत्वपूर्ण घटनाएं हुईं हैं. भारतीय मौसम विज्ञान विभाग (IMD) के प्रमुख मृत्युंजय महापात्रा के अनुसार, एक मौसम प्रणाली राजस्थान से उत्तरी अरब सागर तक फैली एक ट्रफ थी, जो पश्चिमी विक्षोभ से जुड़ी थी. समवर्ती रूप से, मजबूत मानसून की स्थिति ने बंगाल की खाड़ी से उत्तर की ओर हवाएंं ला दीं. इन दोनों प्रणालियों का संगम जम्मू-कश्मीर और हिमाचल प्रदेश के आसपास हुआ. परिणामस्वरूप, इन क्षेत्रों को अरब सागर और बंगाल की खाड़ी दोनों से प्रचुर मात्रा में नमी प्राप्त हुई, जिससे असाधारण रूप से भारी वर्षा हुई. केदारनाथ में विनाशकारी बादल फटना जैसी घटना मृत्युंजय महापात्रा ने कहा कि दो मौसम प्रणालियों के बीच इस तरह की घटना असामान्य नहीं है और अक्सर चरम मौसम की घटनाओं से जुड़ी होती है. उन्‍होंने कहा कि ऐसा खासकर उत्तर पश्चिम भारत के पहाड़ी क्षेत्रों में होता रहता है. उन्होंने जून 2013 के मध्य में हुई एक पुरानी घटना का उदाहरण का हवाला दिया, जहां एक पश्चिमी विक्षोभ ने बंगाल की खाड़ी में कम दबाव प्रणाली से उत्तर की ओर नमी खींची थी. इसके कारण मानसून पूरे देश में रिकॉर्ड गति से (16 जून तक) पहुंच गया और इसके परिणामस्वरूप विनाशकारी बारिश हुई, जिसमें उत्तराखंड के केदारनाथ में विनाशकारी बादल फटना भी शामिल था. मृत्युंजय महापात्रा ने बताया कि पर्वतीय क्षेत्र विशेष रूप से ऐसे संगमों के दौरान भारी वर्षा के लिए अतिसंवेदनशील होते हैं क्योंकि हवाएँ पहाड़ियों से टकराती हैं और ऊपर उठने के लिए मजबूर होती हैं, जिससे तीव्र वर्षा होती है. ऐसी चरम मौसमी घटनाओं की बढ़ने की संभावना यूके में यूनिवर्सिटी ऑफ रीडिंग के कीरन एम आर हंट, जिन्होंने भारत में एक रिसर्च स्‍टडी का नेतृत्‍व का किया. मृत्युंजय महापात्रा ने बताया गर्म होती दुनिया में इन संगमों के कारण होने वाली वर्षा की तीव्रता बढ़ सकती है. हालांकि इन अंतःक्रियाओं की आवृत्ति स्पष्ट प्रवृत्ति नहीं दिखा सकती है, किरन एम आर हंट ने बताया कि जब वे घटित होते हैं, तो उनके अत्यधिक वर्षा और बाढ़ से जुड़े होने की संभावना बढ़ जाती है. ऐसा माना जा सकता है कि दो सक्रिय मौसम प्रणालियों के अभिसरण से प्रभावित उत्तर भारत में हालिया मौसम पैटर्न के परिणामस्वरूप क्षेत्र में भारी वर्षा और महत्वपूर्ण मौसम घटनाएं हुई हैं. भविष्य में गर्म होती जलवायु में ऐसी चरम मौसमी घटनाओं की संभावना बढ़ सकती है. जलवायु परिवर्तन – चरम मौसम की घटनाएं होंगी बार- बार सीएनएन की एक रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, वैज्ञानिकों ने सख्त चेतावनी जारी की है कि मानवीय गतिविधियों के कारण बढ़ते जलवायु संकट के कारण चरम मौसम की घटनाएं अधिक बार और तीव्र हो जाएंगी. विश्व मौसम विज्ञान संगठन के वार्षिक जलवायु अपडेट ने अगले 5 वर्षों के भीतर एक महत्वपूर्ण जलवायु सीमा को पार करने की संभावना पर प्रकाश डाला क्योंकि वैश्विक तापमान पूर्व-औद्योगिक स्तरों से ऊपर बढ़ना जारी है. एशिया जलवायु परिवर्तन के परिणामों के प्रति अत्यधिक संवेदनशील रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि लगभग 4.4 अरब लोगों की विशाल आबादी वाला एशिया जलवायु परिवर्तन के परिणामों के प्रति अत्यधिक संवेदनशील है. क्षेत्र में चरम मौसम की हालिया घटनाओं के परिणामस्वरूप पानी की कमी, फसल की विफलता और आर्थिक असफलताएँ हुई हैं. पाकिस्तान में पिछले साल विनाशकारी बाढ़ आई, जिसमें 1,700 से अधिक लोगों की जान चली गई और लाखों लोग विस्थापित हुए. देश इस समय दशकों के सबसे खराब आर्थिक संकट से जूझ रहा है, जो पिछले साल की फसल के नष्ट होने से उत्पन्न मुद्रास्फीति के कारण और भी बदतर हो गया है. भारत भी जलवायु संकट से प्रभावित इंटरगवर्नमेंटल पैनल ऑन क्लाइमेट चेंज (आईपीसीसी) के अनुसार, भारत जलवायु संकट से गंभीर रूप से प्रभावित होने वाले देशों में से एक है, जिससे देशभर में 1.4 अरब लोग प्रभावित हो सकते हैं. देश को हाल ही में कुछ क्षेत्रों में भीषण गर्मी और अन्य में भीषण बाढ़ का सामना करना पड़ा है, जिससे महत्वपूर्ण व्यवधान पैदा हुए और लोगों को अपने घरों से भागने के लिए मजबूर होना पड़ा. वार्षिक गंभीर बाढ़ और भूस्खलन से लाखों लोग पलायन को मजबूर रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि मानसून के मौसम के दौरान ऐसी चरम स्थितियों के प्रति भारत की संवेदनशीलता स्पष्ट होती है, जो वार्षिक गंभीर बाढ़ और भूस्खलन लाती है. असम जैसे राज्य, जहां की आबादी 31 मिलियन से अधिक है, इन घटनाओं के दौरान अत्यधिक पीड़ित होते हैं. बाढ़ के पानी ने सैकड़ों-हजारों लोगों को प्रभावित किया है, जिससे पलायन हुआ है और जीवन की दुखद हानि हुई है. जलवायु परिवर्तन के सबसे कमजोर शिकार है गरीब लोग भारत में चरम मौसम की घटनाओं का प्रतिकूल प्रभाव विशेष रूप से देश के गरीबों द्वारा महसूस किया जाता है, जिसमें शहरी मलिन बस्तियों में रहने वाले लगभग 472 मिलियन लोग भी शामिल हैं, जैसा कि विश्व बैंक ने रेखांकित किया है. प्रसिद्ध भारतीय पर्यावरणविद् सुनीता नारायण ने इस बात पर जोर दिया कि गरीब, हालांकि जलवायु समस्या पैदा करने के लिए जिम्मेदार नहीं हैं, लेकिन जलवायु परिवर्तन के सबसे कमजोर शिकार हैं.

Deadlines for NCR buses for clean fuel

The Commission for Air Quality Management in national capital region and adjoining areas (CAQM) has fixed deadlines for NCR states to ensure that buses shift to cleaner fuels to reduce vehicular pollution. From November 1 this year, all buses originating from NCR districts in the respective states and plying to Delhi should be EV or CNG mode or diesel VI vehicle.Track the pollution level in your city The CAQM's July 19 order says that governments of Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh must target to achieve that all buses originating or terminating in NCR to run only on CNG or EV mode by June 30, 2026. The CAQM also directed them to plan for substantial number of buses originating or terminating in NCR in EV mode by June 30, 2028. According to source apportionment study carried out by The Energy and Resources Institute and Automotive Research Association of India in 2018, the contribution of transport to PM2.5 in Delhi's air is 39% and NCR's air is 13%, and 19% to Delhi's and 7% to NCR's PM10, respectively. "Transport sector's high contribution to the overall air pollution load in the entire NCR... needs no emphasis. Efficient and cleaner inter-city and intra-city public transport within NCR would help to abate air pollution from this sector," said the CAQM in its order. For reducing vehicular pollution, the CAQM had conducted meeting with the officials of Delhi and NCR states for developing detailed action plan for shifting to cleaner bus services. Following this, governments of Haryana, Rajasthan and UP have formulated their respective action plans to replace or relocate BS-III and BS-IV diesel operated buses in a phased manner. "Haryana plans to procure 1313 new BS-VI diesel buses during 2023-24 for replacement of old buses identified for condemnation and as replacement of older BS-III/IV buses, which are planned to be relocated to the non-NCR bus depots. Rajasthan informed about the RSRTC's plan to procure 590 new BS-VI buses during the year besides outsourcing the services of 440 BS-VI category buses to transform the entire bus fleet running in the NCR to cleaner mobility options," said the CAQM order. It added that UP government plans to induct 955 new BS-VI diesel buses in next 3-4 years to replace BS-III/IV diesel buses, prioritising those operating in NCR. Delhi has also informed that procurement of CNG buses and EVs is underway as per its EV Policy, said the order. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment, said, "While CNG programme is already underway, it is important to give an enforceable target for rapid electrification of the bus fleet to make urban commuting near zero emission in the region. This needs to be further supported by strategies to increase bus ridership to maximise air quality gains."

सैनेटरी नैपकिन के सुरक्षित और पर्यावरण अनुकूल निस्तारण के प्रारूप पर चर्चा कर राज्य स्तरीय नीति के लिए कार्यशाला का आयोजन

जयपुर। महिला अधिकारिता निदेशालय द्वारा राजस्थान प्रदूषण नियंत्रण बोर्ड और सेंटर फॉर साइंस एनवायरनमेंट, नई दिल्ली के संयुक्त तत्वाधान और यूएनएफपीए के सहयोग से गुरुवार को वानिकी प्रशिक्षण संस्थान में सैनेटरी नैपकिन के सुरक्षित और पर्यावरण अनुकूल निस्तारण की राज्यस्तरीय नीति के ड्राफ्ट को अंतिम रूप दिये जाने हेतु कार्यशाला का आयोजन किया गया। कार्यशाला में महिला एवं बाल विकास सचिव जीतेंद्र उपाध्याय ने कहा कि कार्यशाला का मुख्य उद्देश्य महिलाओं और किशोरियों द्वारा प्रयुक्त सैनेटरी नैपकिन के सुरक्षित निस्तारण और सुझावों पर विभिन्न तरीकों और स्थितिओ पर चर्चा करना है। इसी क्रम में सैनेटरी नैपकिन के सुरक्षित और पर्यावरण अनुकूल निस्तारण पर बने हुए प्रारूप पर चर्चा कर राज्य स्तरीय नीति बनाई जाएगी। उन्होंने कहा कि आई एम शक्ति उड़ान योजना के तहत सैनेटरी नैपकिन के पर्यावरण अनुकूल निस्तारण करने हेतु कारगर उपाय खोजना एक चुनौती है जिसके समाधान के लिए महिला एवं बाल विकास विभाग कार्य कर रहा है। आयुक्त महिला अधिकारिता रेणु जयपाल ने बताया कि सेनेटरी नैपकिन के सुरक्षित और वातावरण अनुकूल निस्तारण करने के उपायों पर मंथन करने के लिये विभाग विषेषज्ञों के साथ कार्यशालाओं का आयोजन करता है। उन्होने बताया कि इस कार्यशाला से पूर्व भी कई कार्यशालाएं आयोजित की जा चुकी हैं। उन्होंने बताया कि इस कार्यशाला का मुख्य उद्देष्य माहवारी स्वास्थ्य और स्वच्छता प्रबंधन परियोजना के तहत सेनेटरी नैपकिन के वितरण और जागरूकता के घटक को मजबूत करना तथा सैनेटरी नैपकिन के सुरक्षित और पर्यावरण अनुकूल निस्तारण की राज्यस्तरीय नीति के ड्राफ्ट को अंतिम रूप दिये जाना है। कार्यशाला में प्रदूषण नियंत्रण मंडल के वरिष्ठ पर्यावरण अभियंता शशि गुप्ता और भानुप्रिया ने कहा कि सैनेटरी नैपकिन के सुरक्षित और पर्यावरण अनुकूल निस्तारण की राज्यस्तरीय नीति में प्रदूषण नियंत्रण मंडल के दिशा निर्देशों की पालना की जाए। उन्होंने कहा कि आवश्यकता पड़ने पर प्रदूषण नियंत्रण मंडल की ओर से इस हेतु अलग से गाइडलाइन जारी की जाएगी। सेनेटरी नैपकिन के सुरक्षित और वातावरण अनुकूल निस्तारण की राज्य स्तरीय नीति की रूपरेखा पर तृषा पारीक, यूथ एण्ड जेण्डर स्पेषलिस्ट यूएनएफपीए तथा अंतरा त्रिवेदी कंसलटेंट यूएनएफपीए तथा सेनेटरी नैपकिन के सुरक्षित और वातावरण अनुकूल निस्तारण की राज्य स्तरीय नीति के प्रारूप पर डॉ. अतिन बिस्वास प्रोग्राम निदेषक, सेन्टर फॉर साइंस एनवायरनमेंट, न्यू दिल्ली ने प्रस्तुतिकरण दिया। वहीं सेनेटरी नैपकिन के सुरक्षित निस्तारण के प्रचलित तरिके पर किरण सिन्हा, प्रोजेक्ट को-ऑर्डिनेटर, सेन्टर फॉर एडवोकेसी रिसर्च तथा सेनेटरी नैपकिन के सुरक्षित निस्तारण के इनोवेटिव तरीके पर मनीष माथुर, फाउन्डर ब्लू मैंगों टेक्नोलॉजीज प्राइवेट लिमिटेड तथा संजीव पांडे, निदेषक, ब्लू मैंगों टेक्नोलॉजीज प्राइवेट लिमिटेड ने प्रस्तुतिकरण दिया। सेनेटरी नैपकिन के सुरक्षित निस्तारण के इनोवेटिव तरीके पर प्रवीण कुमार शुक्ला, सहायक महाप्रबंधक, टेलीकम्युनिकेषन कंसलटेंट इंडिया लिमिटेड द्वारा संबोधित किया गया।

Policy for safe disposal of sanitary waste will be ready by next mth

Jaipur: A policy for safe and environment-friendly disposal of sanitary napkins will be ready by next month, said officials from the women and child department on Thursday after a state level workshop to discuss the draft. The workshop was conducted by the directorate of women empowerment along with Rajasthan Pollution Control Board (RPCB), Center for Science and Environment, New Delhi and UNFPA. Jitendra Upadhyay, secretary for women and child development said, “The main objective of the workshop is to discuss various methods and conditions on the safe disposal and suggestions of sanitary napkins used by women and adolescent girls. A state level policy will be made after discussing the draft. Finding an effective solution for eco-friendly disposal of sanitary napkins under the IM Shakti Udaan scheme is a challenge for which the department is working.” This was the fourth workshop organised by the department to discuss the policy and officials said that with all the suggestions received, the policy will now be finalised. Renu Jaipal, commissioner women empowerment department said, “The main objective of this workshop is to strengthen the distribution and awareness component of sanitary napkins under the menstrual health and hygiene management project and to finalize the draft state level policy for safe and eco-friendly disposal of sanitary napkins.”

A Report Estimates The Potential Of Crop Residue Availability, As A Bioenergy Resource In India

India’s potential to produce bioenergy from surplus crop residue is lower than previously estimated, claims a study. It suggests a potential of 1313 petajoules (PJ) (1 PJ= 277778 MWh) of bioenergy annually, lower than earlier estimates ranging from 1738 to 4150 PJ. However, the study provides valuable insights into the district and crop-specific bioenergy potential, which can help the country better plan and utilise the available resource. The study conducted across India and supported by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), noted prevalent burning of crop residue, which is the material left behind after harvest, of crops such as rice, wheat, sugarcane, maize, millets, groundnut, oilseed, cotton and banana. Crop residue burning is an easy, low-cost way to dispose of residue. However, crop residue burning leads to pollutant emissions and can instead be targeted as a bioenergy resource, indicates the study. Sixteen institutes, including the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) and others, collaborated on this study where researchers used the bottom-up approach (starting with a ground survey) of country-wide surveys to estimate the quantity of surplus crop residue being burned on the field. They used primary survey data from over 43 representative districts and secondary data related to cattle numbers, socio-economic variables, and satellite-derived information. Based on the finding, researchers created a model to extrapolate it to all 735 districts of India, reflecting both location-specific variability and seasonal availability. The paper claims that the research findings are important for effectively utilising surplus biomass towards producing bio-energy while also controlling stubble burning to prevent air pollution. The study estimates large bioenergy potentials from surplus residues in the districts of Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, central/western regions of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. As per the study, rice (28%) and wheat (29%) are the largest contributors to surplus energy potential, followed by sugarcane (13%). The study indicates the months when bioenergy becomes available in each state. Most of the residue availability coincides with the rabi (March-May) and kharif (October–November) harvest periods. Some residues (such as sugarcane and banana) are available between December and February. Bioenergy availability is low in the country’s monsoon months (June–September). Information on location, season and crop-specific biomass availability, provided by the study, could help overcome bottlenecks in the use of crop residue as a bioenergy resource in India. Unlocking the potential Biomass, a renewable energy source, is carbon neutral and has the potential to provide significant employment in rural areas, notes the study. The use of crop residue as a bio-energy resource helps achieve emission reduction targets which in turn improves air quality. Bioenergy can be harnessed in various forms, such as co firing in coal power plants, independent thermal power plants (TPPs), combustion in cogeneration in sugar industries, biogas and bioethanol. Despite the multiple benefits of biomass utilisation and the multitude of policy interventions, incidents of stubble burning have not been reduced significantly. Although the government reported around a 30% decline in stubble-burning incidents during the kharif season, experts questioned the use of satellite data alone to give a clear picture of the change on the ground compared to last year. Speaking to Mongabay India, Taveen S. Kapoor from IIT-Bombay, one of the lead authors of the study, said that farmers burn crop residue due to lack of utilisation, high expenses in removing the residue and transportation. There is presently no monetary value attached to the residues, which makes residue collection and transportation for using crop residue as a bioenergy resource, expensive. A separate study conducted by the New Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) underlines the low usage of agro-residue (crop residue) and finds that not even 1% of the coal consumed yearly has been replaced with agro-residue in the eleven coal-based thermal power plants in the National Capital Region (NCR). The Ministry of Power (MoP) mandates thermal power plants to use 7% biomass pellets (densified form of farm stubble) along with coal. This is when surplus residue is sufficient to meet the present mandate. “Our study shows that the present surplus can provide approximately 8% of the energy needs in the power plants. This will compel the system to find innovative solutions for the collection and transportation problems to reduce costs,” says Kapoor. The research also suggests that the surplus use of biomass for co firing in TPPs is presently limited because of high transportation costs, highlighting the importance of setting up plants for other technologies, such as biogas and bioethanol, closer to crop residue sources. Kapoor believes that using the surplus crop residue in situ or near the generation of biogas/biofuel production plants is likely the best bet. Biogas/biofuel production plants can be set up to take residues from a cluster of villages. The produced fuels can be consumed within the villages, especially the biogas that can replace biomass-based cooking. Both ethanol and biogas can be blended with petrol and CNG, respectively. To ensure that TPPs use the mandatory blending of biomass pellets, the MoEFCC, on July 14, issued a notification to enforce penalties on power plants that do not adhere to the mandatory blending rule. Addressing the gap In the last decade, the union government has developed several policies to effectively utilise surplus biomass, especially to control stubble burning. In November 2014, the Ministry of Agriculture came up with the National Policy for Management for Crop Residue (NPMCR). In January 2019, the MoEFCC launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) as a long-term, time-bound, national-level strategy to tackle the air pollution problem nationwide. The NCAP identified agriculture crop residue burning in the Indo-Gangetic Plains as one major reason for air pollution. On October 8, 2021, the MoP issued the revised biomass policy mandating all TPPs in the country to use 5-7% of biomass pellets to cofire with coal. Apart from the MoP, the Commission on Air Quality Management (CAQM) has also directed TPPs located within 300 km of Delhi to initiate cofiring biomass-based pellets to curb air pollution from burning paddy straw. However, these efforts have not been able to push the usage of biomass. Responding to the slow progress, Aggarwal further explains that the supply chain of agri-biomass is extremely tricky and difficult to scale up. All stakeholders (MOP, CAAQM, MoEFCC) are working together and came up with the SAMARTH (Sustainable Agrarian Mission on Use of Agri-Residue in Thermal Power Plants) portal in 2021. But there is a lack of coordination among authorities. TPPs and pellet manufacturers have their own stories to tell and blame each other. Several factors affect the utilisation of surplus crop residue – seasonal availability, quality issues, logistics, a gap in demand and supply of biomass pellets, and the price of biomass pellets almost double domestic coal. Recognising the multiple issues stakeholders face, MoP revised the Biomass Cofiring Policy in June 2023 to enable the purchase of biomass pellets by Power Plants at benchmark prices. The decision would encourage farmers, entrepreneurs, and thermal power utilities to strive to establish a sustainable biomass supply chain. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), in its notification dated June 28, also introduced biomass-based production of green hydrogen target of 40,000 MT/annum under the incentive scheme of the National Green Hydrogen Mission. Anubha Aggarwal, Programme Officer at the Industrial Pollution Unit at CSE, says it makes sense to use surplus biomass instead of coal, as the calorific value of biomass pellets is comparable to coal (when used in TPPs). It can also replace coal in other states, like the Delhi-NCR region, where a lot of industry has shifted to biomass fuel in different forms. Aggarwal sees biomass not being quantified for multiple uses, such as TPPs, bio-CNG, bioethanol, and hydrogen, as one major bottleneck. “We are rampantly increasing our capacity for manufacturing pellets, bio-CNG, and bioethanol, without a clear idea of demand and surplus biomass availability in a region,” she says. Regarding the latest research from IIT and other institutes, Kapoor further informs that better planning of crop residue management will also generate employment for the village residents and organic fertilisers as a by-product for local farms. Biogas plants can also use other materials such as cow dung, municipal solid waste, and food processing waste, which ensures a steady supply of raw material.