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Only 5% of Thermal Capacity Meet Pollution Norms; Plants in Eastern States Non-Compliant: CSE Study

Astate-level analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on compliance with sulphur dioxide emission norms by thermal plants across the country throws up alarming indications of feet-dragging by the sector. At present, only 5% of thermal capacity meets the norms. Thermal plants in all the eastern states are non-compliant. Very few in the remaining regions are meeting the norms, says the analysis. The CSE analysis is based on the updated Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) status released by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). “The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) had issued a notification specifying the emission norms for coal-based power plants way back in December 2015. Since then, the norms have been diluted for several parameters and deadlines delayed,” said programme director, industrial pollution unit, CSE Nivit Yadav. According to the CSE analysis, the 5% of plants that have so far installed FGDs for controlling SO2 emissions include 9,280 MW that have been reported to have commissioned FGDs and another 1,430 MW that “claim to be SO2 compliant”. “We have found that despite five to eight years of extensions in deadlines, 43% of the capacity (Category A, which includes plants within 10 km radius of Delhi-NCR or cities with million-plus population); 11% of the capacity (Category B — within 10 km radius of critically polluted areas); and 1% of the remaining capacity (Category C) are unlikely to meet the norms by the latest deadlines of 2024, 2025 and 2026, respectively,” said CSE programme officer, industrial pollution unit Anubha Aggarwal. But a comparison of the likelihood of compliance between December 2021 and now shows that there has been an improvement. This can primarily be attributed to an extension in deadlines by another two years, combined with increased clarity for another 34 GW capacity, about which CEA had not been reporting until December 2021. None of the states in the eastern region — Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, and Jharkhand — have any thermal power plants (TPPs) that are at present complying with the emission norms. Although, apart from West Bengal, TPPs in all other states in this region are likely to meet the norms by their respective deadlines. You May Like Time for back to campus, Explore Laptops, Up to 40% OFF Croma by Taboola Sponsored Links All states in Western Region — Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra — have some TPPs that are complying with the SO2. The states and locations in the Northern Region are Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The Dadri TPP and Unchhar TPS in Uttar Pradesh and the Mahatma Gandhi TPP in Haryana (cumulative capacity of 3,150 MW) are the only plants in the northern region that are complying with the norms. Also, 1,025 MW capacity in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh is at a very initial stage of compliance. In case of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, 6,440 MW capacity was commissioned after January 1, 2017, two years after the enforcement of the emission norms, yet these plants are not complying with the norms.

India’s megacities face soaring temperatures brought on by urbanisation

Air conditioners in the main bazar of Paharganj, Delhi. Photo: iStock Metro cities across India are facing an increased challenge of rising temperatures. As these cities continue to industrialise, appliances like ACs and automobiles prove to be major contributors to deadly heat waves. This February 2023, India witnessed a temperature of 29.66 degrees Celsius, the hottest since 1901, according to the India Meteorological Department. India’s average annual temperature has increased at a rate of 0.62 degrees Celsius per 100 years between 1901 and 2020, according to data from the World Bank. Maximum temperatures have climbed even quicker at a rate of 0.99 degrees Celsius every 100 years. By 2100, India’s summer heat waves are projected to triple or quadruple while its average temperature is expected to rise by 2.4-4.4 degrees Celsius, according to a policy report by the International Food Policy Research Institute. While India faces the threat of an overall rise in temperatures, a study by Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment points out that India’s megacities have higher temperatures than other regions. Heat waves have severe consequences. The Lancet Countdown on Health and Cimate Change reported that India has witnessed around 20,000 deaths in adults of age 65 in between 2000 to 2004, and the number grew to 31,000 from 2017 to 2021. These studies cast doubt on Indian cities’ abilities to achieve sustainable growth. While the increase in city temperatures is widely attributed to only global warming, there are also contributing factors linked to urbanisation. ACs are a main contributor to heat in India’s megacities. Delhi and Chandigarh top the list of places having the highest demand for ACs. As per estimates, a house utilising air conditioning or emits 12,0000 British Thermal Units of heat in the surroundings. More the number of ACs, more is the heat generated. According to a report issued in February 2021 by Shanglio Sun, research expert at Statista, there is room for 9.7 million units of AC to be sold in the Financial Year (FY) 2023 in India. The second main contributor to heat is automobiles. Maruti Suzuki is India’s largest automobile manufacturer. In March 2023, the company sold a total of 170,071 units out of which 136,787 units were sold domestically, according to its press release. For the full FY 2022-23, the company posted its highest ever total sales of 1,966,164 units. According to the US Department of Energy in 2021, 68 per cent to 72 per cent of the energy from the fossil fuels in the vehicle’s tank is wasted as heat through the radiator and exhaust. This is in addition to heat-generating vehicular carbon dioxide emissions. The number of registered vehicles across India was around 295 million in FY 2019. Vehicle registrations grew at a compound annual growth rate of over 10 per cent between FYs 2007 and 2019, according to a research released in Februaru 2021 by Shangliao Sun, researcher at Statista. More structures continue being developed and trees cut down, adding to the heat. And again to get rid of this heat, ACs are purchased. This vicious cycle of demand for ACs and autos has converged together to aggravate the temperature rise. And to get rid of the acute guilt of actively contributing to heat creation, commemorating World Environment Day comes to our rescue. Before the future leaves us with no other alternative than to be burnt down, it is about time we start taking actions that are environment-friendly. Trishna Sarkar is an Assistant Professor (Department of Economics) at Dr BR Ambedkar College, University of Delhi Views expressed are the author’s own and don’t necessarily reflect those of Down To Earth https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/urbanisation/india-s-megacities-face-soaring-temperatures-brought-on-by-urbanisation-90251

Paris Finance Summit fails to promote transformative solutions – CSE

“We can no longer talk about small changes, or about short-changing the poor. We need answers and we need them fast,” said Sunita Narain, director general, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Sunita stated that the most vulnerable countries today, which also require funding for climate mitigation, have a crushingly high debt burden, and that while the summit did not result in any transformational solutions, it did start a conversation about the climate and development financing crisis, which cannot be lost. She was speaking about the just concluded Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in Paris, France, which was spearheaded by President Emmanuel Macron of France and attended by many leaders from the developing world and Europe. The Summit attempted to address the paucity of funds flowing to poor and vulnerable countries as they deal with “a cocktail of interconnected crises,” as Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called it: poverty, debt, and inflation caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as well as escalating climate impacts. According to Avantika Goswami, CSE’s programme manager for climate change, who also attended the Summit, countries in the Global South are in debt and are under pressure to decarbonize their economy without enough climate finance. “The Summit was never expected to solve these problems in a day and a half, but it has started a crucial conversation. It shone a spotlight on the scale of these crises, the clear demands from countries of the Global South, and the pathways of action that the Global North is choosing to advocate for.” Avantika emphasizes the magnitude of the situation by referencing Summit attendees, particularly Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who stated that African countries are suffering unprecedented budget constraints. Debt, both public and private, has reached new heights. “Inflation in almost all commodities has risen sharply, and today daily meals are the biggest issue for many Africans.” Barbados Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, issued a rallying call, stating that the poor world is falling in debt and hence vulnerable, and that developing countries are people, countries, and need similar respect. “The UK took a hundred years to repay its debt for World War I; Germany had all the benefits of being able to have its debt service capped at 3 to 5 percent of its GDP in order to rebuild after World War II.” What do governments in the Global South want? According to Nirmala Sitharaman, India’s finance minister, as stated by CSE, Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) are “being asked by non-borrowing shareholders to address transboundary challenges in addition to their core development mandate.” However, Avantika stated that this will put further strain on MDB resources, adding that developed countries want to squeeze more out of existing MDB resources while simultaneously incorporating climate into the Banks’ mandate. “Developed countries are resistant to paying more money from their budgets and also risking more influence from large economies such as India and China if their paid-in share rises.” Countries in the Global South are requesting additional concessional and grant finance, as well as debt reductions in developing countries, including debt cancellations for the least developed countries. Deals like the Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP) must also take into account each country’s circumstances, the requirements of workers and communities, and development aims to combat poverty and unemployment, as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has stated. He stated that the government must be flexible enough to recognize that some fossil fuel generation may need to continue in order to meet the country’s basic energy demands. They must also provide appropriate funding. “In the case of South Africa, for instance, the financing of US $8.5 billion that has been offered is far below the country’s estimated need of US $98 billion.” Kenya has advocated for a global finance structure free of national or shareholder interests, while Brazil has questioned why it must trade in dollars rather than its own currency. What was announced at the Summit? The Summit did not reach complete agreement on a contentious MDB Vision Statement document. Separately, it was announced that an additional $200 billion in lending capacity will be made available to emerging economies. The World Bank approved disaster clauses for debt agreements, which would stop debt payments in the event of severe weather. The Bank also announced the establishment of a Private Sector Investment Lab to “develop and rapidly scale solutions that address the barriers that are preventing the private sector from investing – at scale – in emerging markets and developing countries, with a specific focus on renewable energy and energy infrastructure.” The IMF stated that vulnerable countries have received US $100 billion in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs). The’recycling’ of SDRs from rich countries with central banks that do not require the cushioning to poor countries that do or MDBs that can route them has been advocated as a way to increase the amount of concessional funding available to developing countries. Senegal has signed a new Euro 2.5 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) agreement with a consortium of developed countries, with the goal of increasing the share of renewable energy in installed capacity to 40% of Senegal’s electricity mix by 2030. Many organizations advocated for a charge on shipping emissions. This issue is expected to gain pace at the International Maritime Organization convention in July. A financial transactions tax is also gaining popularity. Colombia and Kenya have proposed a Global Expert Review on Debt, Nature, and Climate to “assess the impact of debt on the capacity of low- and medium-income countries to preserve nature, adapt to climate change, and decarbonize their economies.” The EU issued a call to action on “Paris Aligned Carbon Markets,” with the goal of covering at least 60% of global emissions with carbon pricing mechanisms (up from 4% presently) and devoting a share of the income to climate finance. It has been suggested that the long-delayed US $100 billion climate funding objective will be met this year. Narain & Avantika responses According to Narain, every climate change disaster causes the Global South countries to become more indebted as they borrow to survive and rebuild, and that this year, countries must discuss structural issues that underpin the world’s vast inequities, which ensure that countries in the Global South cannot afford the cost of adaptation or mitigation. “And we need to find the money and we need to do this fast.” According to Goswami, the Paris Summit demonstrated that the developing world’s aspirations appear to be falling on deaf ears. “Peddling false solutions, offering piecemeal and inadequate debt relief efforts, and shifting the onus to the private sector was the plan that developed countries offered in Paris.” Few results emerged Rich countries were hesitant to meet the Global South’s primary demands for debt relief and increased climate money. The two-day meeting, which attempted to accelerate reform initiatives aimed at releasing the trillions of funds needed to combat climate change, did, however, provide a feeling of increased momentum. Despite some progress, the Paris meeting finished on Friday without addressing the underlying issues blocking developing countries from investing in development and climate measures, particularly their crushing debt levels.

Paris Finance Summit fails to deliver transformational solutions, initiates crucial dialogue: CSE

The Summit for a New Global Financing Pact, held in Paris, France, concluded without producing transformative solutions, but it did succeed in kickstarting an important conversation about the financial crises related to climate change and development. This summit, spearheaded by President Emmanuel Macron of France, brought together leaders from both developing and European nations to address the pressing issues faced by poor and vulnerable countries dealing with a combination of interconnected crises. According to Sunita Narain, director general of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the summit failed to generate groundbreaking solutions but managed to ignite momentum in addressing the climate and development financing crisis. Narain emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "Today, the most vulnerable countries, which also need funding for climate mitigation, have a crushingly high debt burden. We can no longer talk about small changes or short-changing the poor. We need answers, and we need them fast." Avantika Goswami, the climate change program manager at CSE, attended the summit in person and shared her insights. Goswami acknowledged that the summit's duration of just a day and a half was not sufficient to solve the complex problems faced by the Global South. However, she highlighted the significance of the summit, which shed light on the magnitude of the crises, the clear demands from developing nations, and the proposed courses of action advocated by developed nations.Leaders from the Global South who attended the summit expressed their countries' predicaments and expectations. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed drew attention to African countries' unprecedented funding constraints, with public and private debt reaching alarming levels, commodity inflation skyrocketing, and daily meals becoming a major concern for many Africans. Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley rallied for fair treatment, emphasizing that developing nations are sinking under the weight of debt and deserve similar support to that provided to countries in the aftermath of World War I and World War II. The demands of Global South governments revolve around financial system reforms and include increased concessional and grant financing, debt reduction, and debt cancellations for least-developed countries. The Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP) were also discussed, with the recognition that each country's circumstances, the needs of workers and communities, and development goals should be considered to address poverty and unemployment effectively. At the summit, several announcements were made, but not all received unanimous agreement. The Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) were a central topic of discussion for financial system reforms, with calls for expanded resources to address transboundary challenges and climate issues. The World Bank introduced disaster clauses for debt deals, allowing debt payments to be suspended in the event of extreme weather events. Additionally, the World Bank unveiled a Private Sector Investment Lab focused on renewable energy and energy infrastructure. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced the fulfillment of its commitment to allocate US $100 billion in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) for vulnerable nations. The recycling of SDRs from central banks of rich nations to poor countries or MDBs for concessional finance expansion was proposed. A Euro 2.5 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership deal was announced for Senegal, aiming to increase the share of renewable energy in the country's electricity mix to 40% by 2030. Calls were made for polluter taxes, including a tax on shipping emissions, and support grew for a financial transactions tax. Colombia and Kenya proposed a Global Expert Review on Debt, Nature, and Climate to assess the impact of debt on countries' capacity to address climate change and preserve nature. The EU called for increased coverage of global emissions with carbon pricing mechanisms and the allocation of a proportion of revenues to climate finance. Furthermore, it was suggested that the long-delayed goal of US $100 billion in climate finance would be achieved this year. However, Narain emphasized the need for structural discussions to address the inequities that prevent countries in the Global South from affording the costs of adaptation and mitigation. Goswami summed up the outcomes of the Paris Summit, expressing disappointment in the lack of response from developed countries to the demands of the developing world. She criticized the offering of false solutions, inadequate debt relief efforts, and attempts to shift responsibility onto the private sector. The Paris Summit may not have yielded immediate transformational solutions, but it undeniably sparked a crucial conversation that must not be lost. The financial crises faced by the Global South require swift action, collaboration, and a genuine commitment from developed nations to address the pressing challenges of climate change and development financing.

Paris Finance Summit fails to push transformational solutions, but starts vital conversation: CSE

“Today, the most vulnerable countries, which also need funding for climate mitigation, have a crushingly high debt burden. We can no longer talk about small changes, or about short-changing the poor. We need answers and we need them fast,” said Sunita Narain, director general, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) here today. She was commenting on the recently concluded Summit for a New Global Financing Pact, held in Paris, France. “The summit did not precipitate any transformational solutions, but it started a conversation on the climate and development financing crisis, and this momentum cannot be lost,” Narain added. The first of its kind Paris Summit was spearheaded by President Emmanuel Macron of France, and was attended by many leaders from the developing world and Europe. It aimed at addressing the lack of money flowing to poor and vulnerable countries as they battle “a cocktail of interconnected crises” — as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia put it: poverty, debt and inflation triggered due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and increasing climate impacts. Says Avantika Goswami, programme manager, climate change, CSE, who also attended the Summit proceedings in person: “Countries of the Global South are in a debt crisis and are facing pressure to decarbonise their economies — without adequate climate finance flowing in. The Summit was never expected to solve these problems in a day and a half, but it has started a crucial conversation. It shone a spotlight on the scale of these crises, the clear demands from countries of the Global South, and the pathways of action that the Global North is choosing to advocate for.” Avantika underlines the scale of the problem by quoting world leaders who attended the Summit. Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia said: “African countries are facing an unprecedented funding squeeze. Public and private debt has reached new heights. Inflation in almost all commodities has risen sharply, and today daily meals are the biggest issue for many Africans.” Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados gave a rallying call: “The developing world is sinking from debt. The UK took a hundred years to repay its debt for World War I; Germany had all the benefits of being able to have its debt service capped at 3 to 5 per cent of its GDP in order to rebuild after World War II. We are people too, we are countries too, and we deserve a similar treatment.” What are Global South governments asking for Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) have been at the center of the discussion on financial systems reform. According to Indian finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, MDBs are “being asked by non-borrowing shareholders to also address transboundary challenges, along with their core development mandate”. Says Goswami: “This will increase the pressure on MDBs’ resources. Developed countries want to squeeze more out of existing MDB resources, whilst simultaneously adding on climate as a part of the Banks’ mandate. Developed countries are resistant to paying more money from their budgets and also risking more influence from large economies such as India and China if their paid-in share rises.” Countries of Global South are asking for more concessional and grant financing and a reduction in debt levels in developing countries, including debt cancellations for least developed countries. Deals such as Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP) must consider each country’s circumstances, the needs of workers and communities, and development goals to address poverty and unemployment, as pointed out by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. They must be flexible to accept that some fossil fuel generation might need to remain in existence to serve the country’s basic energy needs. And they must offer adequate financing. In the case of South Africa, for instance, the financing of US $8.5 billion that has been offered is far below the country’s estimated need of US $98 billion. Kenya has called for a global financing mechanism that is not hostage to national or shareholder interests, while Brazil has asked why it must trade in dollars and not in its own currency. What was announced at the Summit MDBs: A contentious MDB Vision Statement document did not get full consensus at the Summit. Separately, it was announced that an additional lending capacity of US $200 billion would be unlocked for emerging economies. The World Bank announced disaster clauses for debt deals that would suspend debt payment in the case of extreme weather events. The Bank also unveiled a Private Sector Investment Lab to “develop and rapidly scale solutions that address the barriers that are preventing the private sector from investing – at scale – in emerging markets and developing countries, with a specific focus on renewable energy and energy infrastructure”. Special Drawing Rights (SDRs): IMF announced that US $100 billion in SDRs for vulnerable nations has been met. The ‘recycling’ of SDRs from rich countries whose central banks do not need the cushioning, to poor countries who need them or MDBs who can channel them, has been proposed as a means to expand the amount of concessional finance available for developing countries. A new JETP: A new Euro 2.5 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership deal was announced for Senegal with a consortium of developed countries — the goal is to increase the share of renewable energy in installed capacity to 40 per cent of Senegal’s electricity mix by 2030. Polluter taxes: Many groups called for a tax on shipping emissions. More traction is expected on this issue at the International Maritime Organisation meeting in July. Support is also growing for a financial transactions tax. Debt: Colombia and Kenya have proposed a Global Expert Review on Debt, Nature and Climate to “assess the impact of debt on low- and medium-income countries capacity to preserve nature, adapt to climate change and decarbonise their economies”. Carbon markets: The EU unveiled a call to action on ‘Paris Aligned Carbon Markets’ with the goal of covering at least 60 per cent of global emissions with carbon pricing mechanisms (compared to 4 per cent today) and allocating a proportion of the revenues to climate finance. Climate finance goal: It was suggested that the long overdue US $100 billion climate finance goal will be delivered this year. Says Narain: “Every climate change disaster takes the Global South countries to greater indebtedness as they borrow to survive and rebuild. This year, we need to discuss structural issues that underpin the vast inequities in the world, which make it certain that countries in the Global South cannot afford the price of adaptation or mitigation. And we need to find the money and we need to do this fast.” Goswami sums it up: “What was evident from the Paris Summit is that the demands from the developing world seem to be falling on deaf ears. Peddling false solutions, offering piecemeal and inadequate debt relief efforts, and shifting the onus to the private sector was the plan that developed countries offered in Paris.”

अपशिष्ट जल और फीकल स्लज प्रबंधन एक्सपर्ट नेकिया नगर का सर

सोमवार को अपशिष्ट जल एवं फीकल स्लज प्रबंधन के एक्सपर्ट हर्षयादव नगर पालिका पहुंचे। इस दौरान उन्होंनेएफएसटीपी, डूडा कालोनी,टायलेट आदि स्थानों पर... सोमवार को अपशिष्ट जल एवं फीकल स्लज प्रबंधन के एक्सपर्ट हर्षयादव नगर पालिका पहुंचे। इस दौरान उन्होंनेएफएसटीपी, डूडा कालोनी,टायलेट आदि स्थानों पर निरीक्षण किया। दिल्ली की संस्था सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंडएं एनवायरनमेंट सेप्रबंधन एक्सपर्ट हर्षयादव नगर पालिका पहुंचे। उन्होंनेकोताना रोड पर अमृत योजना के अंतर्गत निर्मित फीकल स्लज ट्रीटमेंट प्लांट का निरीक्षण किया। अपशिष्ट जल, दिल्ली सहारनपुर रोड स्थित काशीराम कॉलोनी, सेफ्टी टैंक,टायलेट आदि स्थानों पर निरीक्षण किया। शहर सेसेफ़्टीक टैंक से मल उठानेवालेप्राइवेट संग्रहक व्यक्तियों सेसेभी विचार साझा किए। सभी को पालिका मेंअपना रजिस्ट्रेशन करानेके लिए निर्देशत किया। उन्होंनेएफएसटीपी कंपनी द्वारा किए गए कार्यको गुणव गु त्तापूर्णनहीं होनेपर नाराजगी जताई। उन्होंनेइसकी रिपोर्ट शासन को अवगत करानेकी बात कही। निरीक्षण के दौरान शहर मेंसफाई व्यवस्था को भी सुचारू करनेके सख्त निर्देश दिए। इस दौरान पालिका अध्यक्ष बबीता तोमर सेमुलाकात कर सफाई प्रबंधन मेंसहयोग करनेकी अपील की। अध्यक्ष नेकहा कि सफाई प्रबंधन को प्राथमिकता पर रखकर काम किया जायेगा, जिससेआमजन को लाभ पहुंचाया जा सके। इस दौरान अनुज कौशिक अधिशासी अधिकारी, लोकेश कुमार अर्बन विशेषज्ञ, राजेंद्र जोशी सहायक अभियंता, सुशील शर्मासफाई एवं खाद्य निरीक्षक आदि मौजूद रहे।

जानिए कैसे बनता है पेठा और क्या है इसका ताजमहल से कनेक्शन

आगरा में बने पेठे को इसके मूल स्थान को प्रमाणित करने के लिए भौगोलिक संकेत (जीआई) टैग दिया गया है। जिससे पेठे की पहचान न सिर्फ आगरा से हमेशा जुड़ी रहेगी बल्कि इसे बनाने वालों को उचित दाम भी मिलेगा। पेठा तो आप सभी ने खाया होगा, लेकिन ये बनता कैसे है, और क्यों है आगरा का ही पेठा मशहूर आज हम आपको न सिर्फ बताएँगे बल्कि बनते हुए भी दिखाएँगे। और हाँ, ये भी बताएँगे कि पेठे का आख़िर ताज़महल से कनेक्शन क्या है? आज बाज़ार में कई तरह के पेठा आपको दिख जाएँगे जो अलग अलग आकार और रंग में हैं। इनमें पान गिलोरी, गुझिया पेठा, लाल पेठा, शाही अंगूर और गुलाब लड्डू पेठा तो अब ख़ास मिठाई में जगह बना चुके हैं। लेकिन एक दिन में ही इसकी कई वैरायटी नहीं आई, समय के साथ पेठा की बढ़ती माँग को देखते हुए दूसरी मिठाइयों की तरह ही इसके कारीगरों ने पेठा में भी कई प्रयोग किए। जिसके बाद आज 15 तरह से ज़्यादा पेठा बनने लगे हैं। पान गिलोरी को गुलकंद और कई मसालों से तैयार किया जाता है। इसकी कीमत 200 से 300 रुपये किलोग्राम है। लेकिन ये एक दो दिन से ज़्यादा नहीं रखा जा सकता है। 1958 के बाद जब पेठा में पिस्ता, काजू, बादाम का इस्तेमाल शुरू हुआ तो इसके आकार और रंग में भी बदलाव शुरू हुआ। साल 2000 में सैंडविच पेठा जैसे ही बनना शुरू हुआ, इसके कारीगरों ने पान गिलोरी भी तैयार कर दिया। हू ब हू पान की तरह दिखने वाला ये हरा हरा पेठा शादी या पार्टियों में तो खूब पसंद किया जाने लगा। बस फिर क्या था इसके बाद पेठा की कई वैरायटी तैयार होने लगी। इनमें मुख्य हैं, सादा पेठा, अंगूरी पेठा, केसर पेठा, लाल पेठा, केसर अंगूरी पेठा, कोकोनट पेठा, चेरी खस पेठा, चेरी मैंगो पेठा, चेरी केवड़ा पेठा, चेरी केसर, कंचा पेठा, रसभरी पेठा, संतरा पेठा , चॉकलेट पेठा, गुझिया पेठा और गुलाब लड्डू पेठा मुख्य हैं। अब तो शुगर फ्री पेठा भी है। आगरा में बने पेठे को इसके मूल स्थान को प्रमाणित करने के लिए भौगोलिक संकेत (जीआई) टैग दिया गया है। जिससे पेठे की पहचान न सिर्फ आगरा से हमेशा जुड़ी रहेगी बल्कि इसे बनाने वालों को उचित दाम भी मिलेगा। एक रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक आगरा में 1,500 से ज़्यादा पेठा इकाइयां हैं, जहाँ हर रोज 700 से 800 टन पेठा तैयार होता हैं। आम तौर पर मिठाइयां खोया, छेना, मावा या बेसन से ही तैयार होती हैं लेकिन आज हम जिस पेठा मिठाई की बात कर रहे हैं वो एक फल से तैयार किया जाता है। जी हाँ, वो हैं कुम्हड़ा। वहीँ कुम्हड़ा जिसे कहीं कहीं कच्चा पेठा भी कहते हैं। पेठा के बढ़ते कारोबार की वजह से करीब 150 दिन में तैयार होने वाली कुम्हड़े की फसल किसानों में काफी लोकप्रिय हो रही है। देश के कुछ राज्यों में इसे खबहा भी कहा जाता है। इसकी खेती उन्नाव, बरेली, इटावा, कानपुर देहात समेत कई जिलों में होती है। पूर्वी उत्तर प्रदेश में इसे भतुआ कोहड़ा, भूरा कद्दू, कुष्मान या कुष्मांड फल के नाम से भी जाना जाता है। ख़ास बात ये है कि कद्दू की इस प्रजाति की मार्केटिंग में किसानों को किसी तरह की परेशानी से नहीं जूझना पड़ता है, क्योंकि ज़्यादातर पेठा मिठाई के कारोबारी इस की तैयार फ़सल को खेतों से ही खरीद लेते हैं। पेठा बनाने में इस्तेमाल कुम्हड़ा की मांग आगरा, कानपुर और बरेली की मंडियों में बहुत ज़्यादा है। पेठा बनने की शुरुआत कब और कहाँ से हुई इससे जुड़ी अलग-अलग कहानियाँ हैं। ज़्यादातर रिपोर्ट और इतिहास के जानकर हालाँकि इसे शाहजहां से जोड़कर देखते हैं। कहते हैं इस मिठाई के बनने की शुरुआत शाहजहाँ की रसोई से उस समय हुई जब उन्होंने एक ऐसी मिठाई बनाने को कहा जिसका रंग ताजमहल की तरह शुद्ध और सफ़ेद हो। बस फिर क्या था, जुट गए सभी खानसामे ऐसी मिठाई बनाने में, और कड़ी मशक्कत के बाद तैयार हुआ सफ़ेद पेठा। आगरा के बुजुर्ग़ तो एक और किस्सा सुनाते हैं। वे बताते हैं की मुमताज़ महल खुद कभी कभी इसे बनाकर शाहजहाँ को खिलाती थीं। एक कहानी ये भी है कि 1631 और 1648 के बीच जब आगरा में ताज़ महल बन रहा था तब उसके मज़दूरों को हाड़तोड़ मेहनत के बाद हर रोज़ कुछ मीठा देने के लिए एक ऐसी मिठाई तैयार की गई जो सस्ती और आसान हो। चलिए कहानी के बाद अब आपको बताते हैं आख़िर आगरा का ये मशहूर पेठा बनता कैसे है? "इसे बनाने के लिए सबसे पहले ठीक से हम कुम्हड़े को धोते हैं जिससे बाहरी गंदगी बिल्कुल साफ़ हो सके। इसके बाद पेठा बनाने के लिए इसके फल को चार टुकड़ों में काटकर बीच का हिस्सा निकाल दिया जाता है। बाकि बचे हिस्से को नुकीले औजार से गोंदा जाता है, "पेठा मिठाई के कारीगर रवींद्र सिंह ने गाँव कनेक्शन को बताया। वे बताते हैं कि इसे बनाने में कच्चे पेठा का सिर्फ 40 प्रतिशत हिस्सा की इस्तेमाल में लिया जाता है, बाकी 60 फीसदी बेकार हो जाता है। पेठा बनाने के लिए इस फल को चार टुकड़ों में काटकर बीच का हिस्सा निकाल दिया जाता है। बाकि बचे हिस्से को नुकीले औजार से गोंदा जाता है। पेठा मिठाई बनाने में कच्चे पेठा का सिर्फ 40 प्रतिशत हिस्सा की इस्तेमाल में लिया जाता है, बाकी 60 प्रतिशत बेकार हो जाता है। 100 किलो पेठा मिठाई बनाने में 150 से 200 किलो कच्चे पेठा की जरूरत पड़ती है । इसके बाद साँचों की मदद से अलग- अलग तरह के आकार दिए जाते हैं। फि‍र बारी आती है चूने के पानी में करीब एक घंटे तक रखने की। ऐसा इसलिए लिए किया जाता है ताकि पेठा उबलने के बाद भी कड़ा रहे। "चूने के पानी से निकालने के बाद इसे उबाला जाता है। उबलते पानी में थोड़ी फिटकरी डाल देते हैं, ताकि चूना पूरी तरह साफ़ हो जाए, अच्छी तरह पानी से धोने के बाद फिर चीनी की चाशनी में घोलकर उबालते हैं। सूखा पेठा बनाने के लिए इसे सुखा लिया जाता है और गीला बनाने के लिए चाशनी को रहने दिया जाता है।" रवींद्र सिंह समझाते हुए कहते हैं। अच्छी तरह पानी से धोने के बाद चीनी की चाशनी में घोलकर फिर से उबाल लिया जाता है। सूखा पेठा बनाने के लिए इसे सुखा लिया जाता है और गीला बनाने के लिए चाशनी को रहने दिया जाता है। सादा पेठा बनाने में करीब 20 से 25 रुपये प्रति किलोग्राम की लागत आती है। पेठा भले आगरा का मशहूर हो, अब ये आसपास के दूसरे शहरों में भी बनने लगा है। इसकी बड़ी वजह है ताजमहल को प्रदूषण से बचाने की कवायद। कोयला बंद करने से करीब 85 प्रतिशत पेठा इकाइयां बंद हो गई या पास के दूसरे शहरों में चली गईं। पेठे से निकलने वाला कचरा भी बड़ी समस्या है। अक्सर ये शिकायत आती रही है कि इसके कचरे को सार्वजनिक जगहों पर फेंक दिया जाता है, जिससे हैजा, मलेरिया, डेंगू और डायरिया जैसी बीमारियों के फैलने का ख़तरा बढ़ जाता है। जिसे देखते हुए आगरा प्रशासन को कड़े कदम उठाने पड़े। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (सीएसई) की एक रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक आगरा का नूरी दरवाजा जहाँ 2013 से पहले 500 से अधिक पेठा बनाने की इकाइयां थीं वो आधे से अधिक बंद हो चुकी हैं। सीएसई के मुताबिक, वर्तमान में यहां करीब 70 इकाइयां ही बचीं हैं। राष्ट्रीय खाद्य प्रौद्योगिकी उद्यमिता और प्रबंधन संस्थान की एक रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक संगठित क्षेत्र की तुलना में असंगठित क्षेत्र में 10 गुना अधिक पेठा इकाइयाँ हैं।

Only 5% of India’s coal power plants meet sulphur dioxide emission norms: CSE

The Union environment ministry had specified the sulphur dioxide emission norms for coal-based power plants in December 2015 Even after multiple extensions, only 5 per cent of India’s coal-fired power plants have installed flue gas de-sulfurisation (FGD) systems, which are air pollution control devices for sulphur dioxide emissions, a new analysis has said. The analysis by environmental think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) is based on the updated FGD status released by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the technical arm of the Ministry of Power, in April. The Union environment ministry had specified the emission norms for coal-based power plants in December 2015. However, these have been diluted for various parameters, and deadlines have been repeatedly extended. According to the CSE analysis, the 5 per cent of plants that have so far installed FGDs for controlling sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions include 9,280 MW that have been reported to have commissioned FGDs and another 1,430 MW that claim to be SO2 compliant. The lack of information about on-ground inspections by regulatory bodies raises doubts about the accuracy of these claims, Anubha Aggarwal, programme officer, industrial pollution unit, CSE said. The installation of FGD systems takes around two years followed by temporary shutdowns for necessary arrangements. The CSE researchers estimated the likelihood of power plants meeting emission norms based on their compliance stage and the remaining time until the deadline. The analysis revealed that 43 per cent of capacity within a 10 km radius of Delhi-NCR or cities with a population of 1 million or more (Category A), 11 per cent of capacity within a 10 km radius of critically polluted areas (Category B), and 1 per cent of the remaining capacity (Category C) are unlikely to meet the norms by the latest deadlines of 2024, 2025, and 2026, respectively. ADVERTISEMENT CONTINUE READING BELOW However, the report noted a slight improvement compared to the previous assessment, attributing it to deadline extensions and increased clarity regarding capacity that was previously unreported by the CEA. The researchers found only 0.81 GW of newly commissioned capacity complying with norms, approximately 13 GW likely to comply due to deadline extensions, around 23 GW capacity exploring FGD feasibility, and approximately 2.47 GW identified for decommissioning.

Installation of flue gas desulphurisation slowly progressing: CSE

The installation of flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) systems, which are crucial air pollution control devices for reducing sulphur dioxide emissions, is progressing at a sluggish pace among coal-fired power plants in India, according to a recent analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), an environmental think tank. Despite multiple deadline extensions, only 5 percent of coal-based power plants have implemented these eco-friendly technologies. The CSE analysis is based on the updated FGD status report released by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the technical arm of the Ministry of Power, in April. In December 2015, the Union environment ministry set emission norms for coal-based power plants. However, these norms have been diluted for various parameters, and deadlines have been repeatedly extended. Initially, thermal power plants were required to install FGD units by 2017. The deadline was later revised with varying timelines for different regions, culminating in 2022. Last year, it was further extended to 2025. According to the CSE analysis, the 5 percent of plants that have implemented FGDs to control sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions include 9,280 MW of commissioned FGD capacity and an additional 1,430 MW claiming to be SO2 compliant. The lack of information on on-ground inspections by regulatory bodies raises doubts about the accuracy of these claims, stated Anubha Aggarwal, programme officer at CSE's industrial pollution unit. The installation of FGD systems typically takes around two years, followed by temporary shutdowns for necessary adjustments. The CSE researchers assessed the likelihood of power plants meeting emission norms based on their compliance stage and the remaining time until the deadline. The analysis revealed that 43 percent of capacity within a 10 km radius of Delhi-NCR or cities with a population of 1 million or more (Category A), 11 percent of capacity within a 10 km radius of critically polluted areas (Category B), and 1 percent of the remaining capacity (Category C) are unlikely to meet the norms by the latest deadlines of 2024, 2025, and 2026, respectively. However, the report noted a slight improvement compared to the previous assessment, attributing it to deadline extensions and increased clarity regarding capacity that was previously unreported by the CEA. The researchers found that only 0.81 GW of newly commissioned capacity is compliant with norms, approximately 13 GW is likely to comply due to deadline extensions, around 23 GW is exploring FGD feasibility, and approximately 2.47 GW has been identified for decommissioning. The CSE report also criticized the lackadaisical approach of power generation companies and highlighted the National Electricity Plan's justifications for delays, such as dependence on the external market for FGD components, the novelty of the technology in the Indian market, and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The report emphasized the importance of compliance and highlighted that power plant emissions can contribute to air pollution beyond their immediate surroundings. According to the latest order, power plants failing to comply with sulphur emission norms by the end of 2027 will be forcibly retired. Plants located near populous regions and the capital, New Delhi, will face penalties for operation starting from the end of 2024, while utilities in less-polluted areas will be penalized after the end of 2026, as stated in the order.

Shillong: CSE-MNRE organise National Seminar on Promotion of Clean Energy Access in Northeast India

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and the Association of Renewable Energy Agencies of States (AREAS), under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) organsied a one-day national seminar on the Promotion of Clean Energy Access in Northeast India. The seminar was held on Friday at the Courtyard by Marriott, Jail Road, Police Bazar, Shillong, Meghalaya. The main aim to organise the National Seminar on Promotion of Clean Energy Access in Northeast India was to address the urgent need for developing climate-resilient programs in the northeastern states, with renewable energy (RE) playing a crucial role. The Seminar is being hosted by MNREDA. With 8 percent of India’s total land area, the northeast region possesses a remarkable renewable energy potential of 129 GW, as reported by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Currently, the utilization of RE resources in the region stands at less than 4 percent, highlighting the vast untapped potential. Moreover, the per capita energy consumption in the northeast is the lowest in the country, with figures amounting to one-third of the national average (488 kWh in 2021). This energy poverty resembles the situation in some African countries and necessitates immediate action towards developing climate-resilient programs that incorporate renewable energy. The seminar aimed to shed light on the various technologies, policies, and challenges involved in transitioning the northeastern states towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. Participants will explore the existing energy mix in the states and emphasize the importance of shifting towards a decentralized and distributed RE deployment. The focus will be on biogas, compressed biogas, and hybrid mini-grids as key components of this transition. By harnessing advanced technologies such as bioenergy, solar, wind, small hydro, and others, the region can address its energy poverty and provide access to clean energy to its communities. This approach not only contributes to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions but also enhances the region’s energy supply, generates income for rural communities, and improves the overall resilience of local societies. The seminar saw active participation from various stakeholders from government agencies, research organizations, academia, industry, and civil society to come together and explore collaborative approaches to accelerate the adoption of clean energy solutions in the northeast. It will serve as a platform for sharing knowledge, experiences, and best practices in renewable energy deployment. About Centre for Science and Environment (CSE): The Centre for Science and Environment is a leading public interest research and advocacy organization based in India. CSE aims to promote sustainable development, equitable access to resources, and environmental protection through policy research, capacity building, and public awareness. About Association of Renewable Energy Agencies of States (AREAS): The Association of Renewable Energy Agencies of States is a national-level organization established under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in India. AREAS supports state-level agencies in the promotion, development, and implementation of renewable energy projects and policies. About Meghalaya Non-Conventional and Rural Energy Development Agency (MNREDA): Meghalaya Non-Conventional and Rural Energy Development Agency was set-up on September 1987. The aims and objective of the Agency is to formulate and implement demonstration, experimental, promotional and extension projects and programmes related to New and Renewables Energy.

India’s population question

India is expected to overtake China to become the world’s most populous country sometime in July, it is said. We don’t have a firm month, because our census—the count of population—is more than a decade old. So, we can only estimate the expected overshoot date—sometime in mid-2023, we will match China’s 1.45 billion people and then surpass it. The question I get asked often is, what does this mean for the environment? There is no doubt that more people will need more resources to survive. But it cannot be argued that population growth is an indicator of the resultant environmental degradation. It is not as linear. The simple counter argument is that countries like the US with 336 million people or Australia with 26 million people have much greater environmental footprints than that of India. Earth Overshoot Day—a group that calculates the bioresources used by countries—estimates that if everyone lived like an American, we would need five Earths; as an Australian, we would need 4.5 Earths and as an Indian, we would need 0.8 of an Earth. These countries with smaller populations have emitted huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, adding to our common jeopardy. So, population per se is not the determinant of environmental problems; it is their consumption pattern that leads to environmental degradation. We know that the environmental damage caused by wealthier countries is extensive—they overexploit land, water, forests and other resources, but externalise the source. Their consumption of fossil fuels is driving global warming. But their local air appears “clean” because they have the money to invest in improved technology. These wealthier countries have wilderness areas, and so, you may argue that their natural habitat is protected. But no. Because their use of the natural habitat is extensive, it results in the overuse of forests and degradation of land in other places. The poor, on the other hand, have intensive use of their local environment. In their villages they depend on forests that are already lopped, land that is grazed and waterbodies that are polluted. But even with this visible destruction, their combined impact on the environment is less than that of the smaller but richer populations. That said, it is also a fact that the Indian population has a smaller footprint because it is poor. It is poverty that makes us frugal. So, it can be argued that as we get richer, we may also wish for the global middle-class lifestyle (the American way), which has now become the benchmark of economic wealth and modernity. And even if we do not reach the obscene levels of consumption as the other middle class, our sheer numbers will add up to leave the same environmental impact. We already see that with waste generation—as we get richer, the quantum of waste increases; its composition changes; and garbage takes over our streets. We also see this with air pollution in our cities—the richer we get, the more we drive in individual vehicles; and even as we clean up each vehicle with better emission controls and fuel quality, the absolute growth in numbers means more pollution. So, we must focus on three points: How do we keep a check on the population growth? And how do we use this population dividend? There is no doubt that every human being is a wonderful creature and an asset. So, the third point is, how do we make sure that as our population grows, we do not end up being in the self-destructive mode as the rest of the world? The answer to the first is relatively clear: India is already seeing a decline in its total fertility rate, which has dropped below the replacement level (2.1). The latest National Family Health Survey reveals that Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya and Uttar Pradesh are the only outliers, with fertility levels above two children per woman (also the country average). It is well known that fertility declines only when girls are educated, women are empowered and they have health and economic security. Fertility is not about population control but about women’s right over reproductive decisions. It is an indicator of progress. We are seeing this happen. We need to stay on track. Then, of course, is the issue of the population dividend—this is also where education kicks in. We need to do much more to get this right. And finally, the environment question. Ensuring this will be much more difficult because the aspirational idea of global middle class is not so easy to deconstruct and take apart. The lifestyle of the global consuming class is about market forces and the economics that drives wealth creation. But this is really where the rubber meets the road—we want a planet that is livable. It is time we discussed this seriously and urgently. (Writer is Director General of CSE and editor of Down To Earth, an environmentalist who pushes for changes in policies, practices and mindsets; Courtesy: Down To Earth)

Coal Sector Dragging its Feet on Emission Norms, Only 5% Thermal Power Capacity in Compliance: CSE Report

Seven years after emission norms were introduced, only 5 percent of the total coal-based power capacity has managed to comply with them, shows a new report. The comprehensive analysis, led by New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), shows how India’s coal sector continues to drag its feet in meeting SO2 emission norms even as the world inches closer to 1.5 degrees warming. According to the report, only 17 percent of the total thermal power capacity is still at the initial stages of compliance. The majority, which is complying with norms, is owned by private power generating companies and not government-run units, the report shows. In December 2015, the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) first notified emission norms for coal-based power plants with 2017 as an initial deadline. But a blanket extension of five years was given to all and has been revised twice since. Seven years after emission norms were introduced, only 5 percent of the total coal-based power capacity has managed to comply with them, shows a new report. The comprehensive analysis, led by New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), shows how India’s coal sector continues to drag its feet in meeting SO2 emission norms even as the world inches closer to 1.5 degrees warming. According to the report, only 17 percent of the total thermal power capacity is still at the initial stages of compliance. The majority, which is complying with norms, is owned by private power generating companies and not government-run units, the report shows. In December 2015, the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) first notified emission norms for coal-based power plants with 2017 as an initial deadline. But a blanket extension of five years was given to all and has been revised twice since.