Centre for Science and Environment masthead Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Donate

Cse In News

Cse In News

Biporjoy Cyclone: Gujarat cut its budget for natural calamities by 71%

Gujarat’s budget for natural calamities was cut by 71% in 2022-2023 as the state prepared for Cyclone Biporjoy. According to India’s Environment in Figures 2023 (SoE in Figures 2023) report, the budget for natural disasters in 2022-2023 decreased in 20 states and one union territory, including Gujarat. The report highlights that Gujarat, which is expected to be hit by severe Cyclone Biparjoy, reduced its natural calamity spending by 71% in 2022-2023 compared to 2021-2022. According to a report published in Down To Earth, Gujarat ranks second, after Tamil Nadu, for reducing expenditures related to natural disasters by 100% in 2022-2023. These two states are among 20 states or union territories that have cut their natural disaster spending for the years 2022–2023. In 2022-2023, Gujarat allocated Rs 7,689.7 billion to deal with natural disasters, a decrease from Rs 2,633 crore in 2021-2022. This is the second time in six years that Gujarat has reduced its budget for natural disasters, with a similar reduction of just over 34% seen during 2017–18 and 2018–19. The budgets to deal with natural disasters experienced a constant increase during the years 2019-2020 and 2020-21. The analysis further reveals that the budget cut to deal with natural disasters between 2021-22 and 2022-23 was the largest (71%), compared to the previous drop of 34% between 2017-18 and 2018-19.

Why make buses electric when no one uses them? Delhi’s EV roadmap is hotly contested

Civil engineering professors, climate researchers and transport specialists pushed for behavioural changes and not just structural changes at an event that laid out Delhi's EV roadmap. The Delhi government is gearing up to roll out its new EV plan for the city. But civil engineering professors, climate researchers and transport specialists don’t see the point in fancy buses and marketing strategies that urge the public to switch to electric vehicles. They want the government to focus on the bigger picture and the logic behind citizen’s choices, instead of magic bullets. The Aam Aadmi Party-led government has presented a tall order—its Motor Aggregate Scheme calls for phasing out all commercial two-wheeler, three-wheeler and four-wheeler vehicles in favour of electric fleets by April 2030. While transport specialists welcome the initiative and the move toward a low carbon emission city, they want the government to focus on growing integrated public transport systems, diminishing bus ridership numbers and understanding the impact of big development projects on pollution levels—rather than solely focusing on commercial players. “When we talk about growing public transport systems, we have to look at the service level of these buses. Do I have a bus stop within 200 metres of where I live? Am I getting a bus every five minutes, and what is the core access across the city? That transition we should look forward to,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at the Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi. Shift the focus area These points were raised at a panel discussion organised by the Delhi Transport Department on the occasion of World Environment Day on 5 June. The panel, moderated by Aarti Khosla, director of Climate Trends, discussed the roadmap to making the city the EV capital of the country. The event garnered a small audience of just over 20 people at India International Centre. The session began with a presentation by N Mohan, CEO of the Delhi EV Cell, which outlined the achievements made so far and the targets yet to be fulfilled. He stated that since August 2020, Delhi has registered over 1,20,000 EVs, with e-2Ws and e-3Ws accounting for over 90 per cent of the registered vehicles. And in December 2022, EVs accounted for almost 17 per cent of Delhi’s new vehicle sales, “the highest ever in India.” Mohan added that the Motor Vehicle Aggregate Scheme will be applicable to cab aggregators, delivery service providers, and e-commerce entities that have a minimum of 25 motor vehicles associated with them. Moreover, the existing petrol, CNG, and diesel-propelled vehicles on-boarded by the aggregator will be liable for penalty. They are allowed to operate two-wheeler taxis, but only if they are electric. Roychowdhury, who has spent years tracking the pollution curve in Delhi, emphasised that the growing problem is that while travel demand is steadily increasing, bus ridership has considerably fallen. The focus area should be developing bus connectivity to metro stations and accessibility across the city. She fears that if these systems are not developed well, the growing 30 million people residing in the city will depend on two-wheelers and three-wheelers to take them around, which will “decimate” the city. Fancy buses, multi-tier flyovers, and signal-free corridors are not viable solutions if the public transport sphere is not developed. The capital will not be able to take on more grand development plans since “23 per cent of its geographical area is under road network, and another 10 per cent has been committed for parking. That’s one-third of Delhi given away for vehicles,” Roychowdhury said. This stands in stark contrast to the comments made by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on the same day as the discussion. In his address at the Paryavaran Sammelan organised at Thyagaraj Stadium, he stated that all developmental activities in the last eight years have increased and “not caused pollution levels to rise”.

क्यों बढ़ रहा है भारत में जीएम फसलों का विरोध

पिछले हफ्ते भारत में अनुवांशिक अनुवांशिक रूप से संशोधित फसलों (GM crops) पर विवाद फिर से भड़का। जून 2023 के पहले सप्ताह में जेनेटिक इंजीनियरिंग मूल्यांकन समिति (GEAC) की 17 मई 2023 की बैठक के मिनिट्स सार्वजनिक पटल पर रखे गए। मिनिट्स से यह स्पष्ट हो गया कि गुजरात, महाराष्ट्र और तेलंगाना ने GEAC के उस निर्देश को खारिज कर दिया, जो उन्हें परीक्षण करके जीएम कपास के बीजों की एक नई किस्म का परीक्षण करने के लिए कह रहे थे। केवल हरियाणा, जो चौथा राज्य था जिसे इस तरह का परीक्षण करने के लिए कहा गया था, सहमत हो गया। संयोग से, GEAC केंद्रीय पर्यावरण, वन और जलवायु परिवर्तन मंत्रालय के तहत आने वाली GM फसलों पर भारत सरकार की शीर्ष नीति- निर्माता और निर्णय लेने वाली संस्था है। और GEAC द्वारा परीक्षण के लिए अनुशंसित जीएम कपास के बीज की नई किस्म हैदराबाद स्थित कंपनी बायोसीड रिसर्च इंडिया द्वारा विकसित की गई थी, जो प्रमुख कॉर्पोरेट समूह, DCM समूह का एक प्रभाग है। इससे पहले, 26 जनवरी 2023 को, तमिलनाडु के 20 जिलों में 90 पंचायतों ने अपने खेतों और थालियों तक जीएम फसलों की पहुंच को खारिज करते हुए एक प्रस्ताव पारित किया था। 1 फरवरी 2023 को, उन्होंने तमिलनाडु के मुख्यमंत्री एमके स्टालिन को एक पत्र लिखा, जिसमें उन्होंने केंद्रीय पर्यावरण मंत्री भूपेंद्र यादव के समक्ष हाल में स्वीकृत जीएम सरसों के परीक्षण और इसके व्यावसायीकरण को रोकने की बात उठाने का आग्रह किया। पर तमिलनाडु की पंचायतें अकेली नहीं थीं। पूरे देश में हाल में स्वीकृत जीएम सरसों के खिलाफ समान रूप से व्यापक विरोध देखा गया। GEAC ने 26 अक्टूबर 2022 को जीएम सरसों को व्यावसायिक उपयोग के लिए मंजूरी दे दी थी। यह दो दशकों के अंतराल में मंजूरी पाने वाली देश की पहली अनुवांशिक रूप से संशोधित (GM) फसल है। यह भारत में मंजूरी पाने वाली वाली पहली खाद्य GM फसल भी है। इससे पहले, भारत ने केवल गैर-खाद्य GM फसल-कपास को मंजूरी दी थी, अर्थात, 2002 में भारत में वाणिज्यिक उत्पादन के लिए बीटी कॉटन को मंजूरी दी थी। इसी बीच GEAC ने बीटी बैंगन को भी मंजूरी दे दी थी, लेकिन देशव्यापी विरोध के कारण तत्कालीन पर्यावरण मंत्री द्वारा मंजूरी वापस ले ली गई। उन्होंने कारण के बतौर विभाजित वैज्ञानिक साक्ष्य और विशेषज्ञों के बीच आम सहमति के अभाव का हवाला दिया। जीएम सरसों के अलावा, GEAC ने केले को आयरन और विटामिन ए फॉर्टिफाइड बनाने के लिए GM केले के परीक्षण को भी अनुमति दी है, और GM आलू को भी ताकि वह एक वायरल रोग, पोटेटो ब्लाइट (potato blight) के प्रति प्रतिरोधी बन सके। GEAC ने टाटा की सहायक कंपनी रैलिस इंडिया और बीज बहुराष्ट्रीय मोनसेंटो को GM मक्का के परीक्षण और कोट्टायम स्थित रबर रिसर्च इंस्टीट्यूट को GM रबर के 15 साल के परीक्षण के अलावा रबड़ बोर्ड को असम में परीक्षण की अनुमति भी दी थी। आश्चर्यजनक रूप से, भाजपा के नेतृत्व वाली मध्य प्रदेश सरकार फरवरी 2023 में मोनसेंटो के GM मक्का परीक्षणों के विरोध में सबसे आगे आई, और केरल सरकार ने जनवरी 2023 में GM रबर का जमकर विरोध किया। इसके अलावा, रिपोर्टों से संकेत मिल रहे हैं कि केंद्र ने GM बीजों की 13 किस्मों के परीक्षण को भी मंजूरी दे दी है। GM फसलों पर वैज्ञानिकों की राय भी बंटी हुई है। कॉर्पोरेट घराने सक्रिय रूप से उनके लिए पैरवी कर रहे हैं, जबकि किसान संगठन और कार्यकर्ता GM बीजों की खेती, बिक्री और खपत, यहां तक कि इन बीजों के परीक्षण की अनुमति देने का विरोध कर रहे हैं। आइए हम जीएम फसलों के पक्ष और विपक्ष में अपनी राय संक्षेप में पेश करें । जीएम फसलों के पक्ष में राय जो लोग जीएम फसलों के पक्ष में हैं, उनका तर्क है कि पौधों के जीन्स (genes) को उपयुक्त रूप से संशोधित किया जा सकता है ताकि कीटों, बीमारियों और खरपतवारों को रोकने के लिए इस्तेमाल की जाने वाली शाकनाशियों (herbicides) के प्रतिरोध को बढ़ाया जा सके और उनका दावा है कि इससे उपज बढ़ेगी और उत्पादकता भी, और इस प्रकार किसानों की आय बढ़ेगी। उनका दावा है कि प्रतिरोधक क्षमता बढ़ने से रासायनिक कीटनाशकों का इस्तेमाल कम होगा और इस तरह यह पर्यावरण के अनुकूल भी होगा। उनके अनुसार, इससे खाद्य उत्पादन में वृद्धि होगी, जिससे देश की खाद्य सुरक्षा भी बढ़ेगी। कुछ वैज्ञानिक सूक्ष्म पोषक तत्वों (micronutrients) और विटामिन की मात्रा को बढ़ाने के लिए अनुवांशिक संशोधन (genetic modification) के माध्यम से खाद्य फसलों को फॉर्टिफाई करने के पक्ष में तर्क देते हैं। भारत जैसे देश में, जहां कई हिस्सों में बारहमासी सूखा पड़ता है या जलभराव रहता है, जिसके चलते लवणता प्रमुख समस्या है, कुछ लोगों का मानना है कि बीज में अनुवांशिक संशोधन सूखे और लवणता के प्रति अधिक सहनशीलता ला सकता है। उनके समर्थकों के अनुसार, जीएम फसलों की शेल्फ लाइफ बढ़ सकती है और उत्पादन के बाद की बर्बादी कम हो सकती हैं। चलिये देखें विरोधी क्या तर्क दे रहे हैं। विरोधियों की राय जीएम फसलों के विरोधी पर्यावरण, स्वास्थ्य और व्यावसायिक आधार पर उनका विरोध कर रहे हैं। पर्यावरण के दृष्टिकोण से, जीएम फसलों के आलोचकों का कहना है कि ये फसलें भारत की समृद्ध जैव विविध संपदा को नष्ट कर देंगी और लाखों किस्मों की फसलों की जगह ले लेगी ‘मोनोक्रॉपिंग’। इसके अतिरिक्त, उन्हें यह भी डर है कि इन फसलों से संशोधित जींस साधारण पौधों में आ सकते हैं और फिर बेकाबू राक्षसी किस्म के खतरनाक खरपतवार पैदा कर सकते हैं, जो सामान्य खाद्य फसलों को नष्ट कर देंगे। सामाजिक-आर्थिक दृष्टिकोण से, किसान संगठन भी स्वाभाविक रूप से इन जीएम फसलों का विरोध करते हैं क्योंकि उन्हें अपने बीजों पर नियंत्रण खो देने का डर है। फिर बीजों का कारोबार बड़े कॉर्पोरेट घरानों द्वारा ले लिया जाएगा तो वे उन्हें सामान्य बीजों की तुलना में अत्यधिक कीमतों पर बेचेंगे, जो किसान नहीं खरीद पाएंगे। एक किलो साधारण कपास के बीज की कीमत 30-70 रुपये है जबकि 1 किलो बीटी कपास के बीज की कीमत 740 रुपये है। चूंकि जीएम बीजों की लागत बहुत अधिक होगी, छोटे किसान उनका उपयोग नहीं कर सकेंगे और केवल धनी किसान ही उनसे लाभान्वित होंगे। कई अध्ययनों ने स्पष्ट रूप से स्थापित किया है कि कपास किसानों की कई आत्महत्याएं बीटी कपास की खेती की वजह से हुई थीं, जिसने उन्हें कर्जदार बना दिया था। जीएम बीजों के नुकसान के बारे में मिलेअब तक के व्यावहारिक सबूत क्या है? 1999 के एक अध्ययन से पता चला कि बी.टी. मकई ने बैक्टीरिया बैसिलस थुरिंगिएन्सिस (Bacillus thuringiensis or Bt) द्वारा उत्पन्न एक टॉक्सिन पैदा किया, जो कई प्रकार के तितली लार्वा को नुकसान पहुंचाता है । इससे पता चलता है कि वे गैर-लक्षित कीड़ों और अन्य जीव-रूपों को भी नुकसान पहुंचा सकते हैं, जिनमें वे जानवर और यहां तक कि मानव भी शामिल होंगे जो टॉक्सिन के संपर्क में आते हैं। जीएम सोयाबीन और कपास जो शाकनाशियों (herbicides) के उपयोग को कम करने वाले माने जाते हैं, वास्तव में खरपतवारों को बढ़ाते हैं और इस प्रकार शाकनाशियों के उपयोग में वृद्धि करते हैं। उच्च आय वाले जैविक खेती करने वाले किसान रासायनिक उर्वरकों और कीटनाशकों के उपयोग के बिना उच्च लागत पर निर्यात फसलों (export crops) की खेती करते हैं। आयात करने वाले देशों में कठोर परीक्षण विधियां होती हैं और यदि जीएम फसलें अनिवार्य रूप से गैर-जीएम फसलों के साथ मिल गईं तो उन उत्पादों के निर्यात को रद्द कर दिया जाएगा। माना जाता है कि कीटों और रोगों के लिए अधिक प्रतिरोध वाली जीएम फसलें केवल कुछ विशिष्ट प्रकार के कीटों और रोगों को लक्षित करती हैं। इस प्रक्रिया में वे नई किस्मों के कीटों और रोगों के उद्भव का कारण बनेंगी जो ज़्यादा तेज़ी से फैलेंगे और खतरनाक होंगे। जीएम फसलों से जुड़े कई जोखिम हैं, जो विभिन्न फसलों और क्षेत्रों के लिए अलग-अलग हो सकते हैं। साथ ही जोखिम और लाभ के बीच का संतुलन समय-समय पर और एक देश से दूसरे देश में भिन्न भी हो सकता है। अब तक का अंतरराष्ट्रीय अनुभव जबकि संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका, कनाडा, ब्राजील और अर्जेंटीना जीएम फसलों की खेती की अनुमति देते हैं, यूरोप में जीएम फसलों पर प्रतिरोध तीव्र है। जबकि यूरोपीय संघ अलग-अलग देशों को जीएम फसलों की खेती की अनुमति देने पर निर्णय की स्वतंत्रता देता है, उसने सामान्य रूप से जीएम फसलों के खिलाफ सख्त नियमों को अपनाया है। फ़्रांस, जर्मनी, ऑस्ट्रिया, हंगरी और ग्रीस ने अपने राष्ट्रों के अंदर कई जीएम फसलों पर प्रतिबंध लगा दिया है और स्विट्जरलैंड ने 2005 से सभी जीएम फसलों पर रोक लगा दी है। चीन ने हाल तक जीएम फसलों की खेती की अनुमति नहीं दी थी, जब तक कि उसने नियमों में ढील नहीं दी और अपने मकई के खेतों के 1% से कम में जीएम मकई की अनुमति दी। चीन ने पशु चारे के रूप में उपयोग के लिए जीएम सोयाबीन के आयात की भी अनुमति दी है। भारत की तरह चीन भी जीएम फसलों पर अपनी नीति बदल रहा है। रूस ने जीएम फसलों पर व्यावसायिक प्रतिबंध लगा दिया है लेकिन उनसे संबंधित शोध की अनुमति दी है। छोटे देशों में, कई ने जीएम फसलों पर पूर्ण प्रतिबंध लगा दिया है। अफ्रीका में, अल्जीरिया और मेडागास्कर ने जीएमओ पर प्रतिबंध लगा दिया है, और एशिया में, तुर्की, किर्गिस्तान, भूटान और सऊदी अरब ने ऐसा किया है। अंत में, अमेरिका में, बेलीज, इक्वाडोर, पेरू और वेनेजुएला सभी ने जीएमओ पर प्रतिबंध लगा दिया है। जीएम फसलों के संभावित स्वास्थ्य प्रभाव WHO ने घोषित किया है कि जीएम फसलों का सेवन करना हानिकारक नहीं है। लेकिन संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका के खाद्य एवं औषधि प्रशासन (FDA) और यूरोपीय खाद्य सुरक्षा प्राधिकरण (EFSA) केवल कंपनियों द्वारा प्रदान किए गए आंकड़ों के आधार पर जीएम फसलों की सुरक्षा का मूल्यांकन करते हैं। इसके अलावा, वे केवल उनकी एलर्जी, विषाक्तता और पोषण संबंधी दावों के लिए उनका मूल्यांकन करते हैं, लेकिन वे मानव, पशु और अन्य पौधों के जींस पर संशोधित जीन के प्रभाव का मूल्यांकन करने के लिए दीर्घकालिक अध्ययन नहीं करते हैं, जहां कारण संबंध स्थापित करना काफी मुश्किल होता है। संक्षेप में, अभी तक किसी भी बड़े स्वास्थ्य खतरे को चिन्हित नहीं किया गया है, चाहे वह मानव स्वास्थ्य संबंधी हो या पशु स्वास्थ्य संबंधी, लेकिन इसने अनुवांशिक संशोधन (genetic modification) के बारे में भय को समाप्त नहीं किया है। सार्स वायरस परिवार में एक वायरस के उत्परिवर्तन (mutation) के कारण महामारी ने इन आशंकाओं को और गहरा कर दिया है। भारत में, सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) और डॉ. वंदना शिवा की नवदान्य जीएम फसलों के विरोध में सबसे आगे हैं, CSE मुख्य रूप से पर्यावरण के दृष्टिकोण से और नवदान्य जैव विविधता सुरक्षित रखने के आधार को लेकर उनका विरोध करते हैं। कई एनजीओज़ भी जीएम फसलों का विरोध कर रहे थे जब तक मोदी ने विदेशी मुद्रा विनियमन अधिनियम (FCRA) को लागू करके उनके फंडिंग को पूरी तरह बंद नहीं कर दिया। प्रतिरोध का एक महत्वपूर्ण मुद्दा यह है कि जीएम सरसों को मंजूरी दिए जाने के बाद 111 डॉक्टरों ने प्रधानमंत्री को एक ज्ञापन पर हस्ताक्षर करके दिया जिसमें जीएम फसलों और परीक्षण क्षेत्रों से फसलों को उखाड़ने पर प्रतिबंध लगाने की मांग की गई थी। ज्ञापन पर हस्ताक्षर करने वालों में से एक, डॉ. रूपल एम दलाल ने प्रतिष्ठित जर्नल डाउन टू अर्थ (Down to Earth) को बताया कि हस्ताक्षरकर्ता "GM सरसों DMH-11 और इसके दो पैतृक नस्लें जो हर्बिसाइड ग्लूफ़ोसिनेट अमोनियम के प्रति सहिष्णु हैं, पौधों के खतरनाक 'पर्यावरणीय निसार' (‘environmental release’) के बारे में गंभीर रूप से चिंतित हैं।" "जीएम सरसों के मामले में, एक स्पष्ट रूप से असमर्थनीय दावा किया जा रहा है, जिसमें सुप्रीम कोर्ट में दी गई दलील भी शामिल है, कि शाकनाशी ग्लूफ़ोसिनेट का उपयोग केवल बीज उत्पादन के लिए किया जाएगा और किसानों को कानून द्वारा खरपतवार नियंत्रण के लिए उसका छिड़काव करने से रोका जाएगा। हालांकि, अवैध HT (Herbicide Tolerant) कपास और जहरीले हर्बिसाइड ग्लाइफोसेट का छिड़काव एक दशक से अधिक समय तक अनियंत्रित रहा, और सरकारें इसे रोक पाने में सक्षम नहीं थीं।“ एक लेख में जीन कैंपेन की नेता डॉ. सुमन सहाय भी लिखती हैं….. जीएमओ पर जीन कैंपेन की 2004 की जनहित याचिका, उसके बाद 2005 में रोड्रिग्ज द्वारा एक और याचिका की वजह से जीएम फसलों के मामले में अनुशंसा देने हेतु सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने एक तकनीकी विशेषज्ञ समिति (TEC) की नियुक्ति की। सरकार ने कहा है कि TEC की सभी सिफारिशों का पालन किया गया है। स्पष्ट रूप से ऐसा नहीं किया गया है, जैसा कि हम जीएम सरसों के मामले में देखते हैं, जिसमें HT विशेषता होती है। एचटी तकनीक पर, TEC ने सुझाव दिया "स्वास्थ्य, पर्यावरण और सामाजिक आर्थिक प्रश्नों पर चिंताओं के मद्देनज़र, शाकनाशी सहिष्णु (HT) फसलों के क्षेत्र परीक्षणों पर रोक लगाने की सिफारिश करता है ... जब तक कि विशेषज्ञों और हितधारकों की एक स्वतंत्र समिति ने एचटी प्रौद्योगिकी के संभावित प्रभाव और भारतीय संदर्भ में इसकी उपयुक्तता की जांच और मूल्यांकन नहीं कर लिया है। नौकरशाही विश्वासघात जबकि राजनीतिक नेतृत्व धीरे-धीरे जीएम फसलों के लिए अपने पहले के प्रतिरोध को खत्म कर रहा है, नौकरशाह जीएम फसलों की अनुमति देने के लिए जोर-शोर से आगे बढ़ रहे हैं- जाहिरा तौर पर संसाधन संपन्न कॉर्पोरेट लॉबी के इशारे पर। ज़रा GEAC के नैतिक मानकों पर ही विचार करें। कुछ किसान संगठनों ने इसकी शिकायत की कि गुजरात के कुछ हिस्सों में जीएम फसलों की अवैध खेती हो रही है। अब तक कोई कार्रवाई नहीं हुई। जब किसानों ने इसे एक बड़ा मुद्दा बनाया, तो GEAC ने पहली बार में ही ऐसी कोई शिकायत प्राप्त होने से इनकार किया। किसान अब इसकी सीबीआई जांच की मांग कर रहे हैं। दूसरे, जब सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने जीएम सरसों को मंजूरी के खिलाफ याचिका पर सुनवाई पूरी नहीं की, तब पहले ही GEAC ने GM सरसों के बीज के परीक्षण की अनुमति कैसे दे दी? यह भारतीय कृषि अनुसंधान परिषद (ICAR) के रेपसीड सरसों अनुसंधान के निदेशक श्री पीके राय, जिन्होंने पहले इस तरह के परीक्षणों को अस्वीकार कर दिया था, ने स्वयं बताया। उन्होंने खुलासा किया कि 3 नवंबर 2022 को सुप्रीम कोर्ट की सुनवाई शुरू होने से पहले ही जीएम सरसों के बीज छह स्थानों पर लगाए जा चुके थे। सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने मुकदमे को रोक दिया, लेकिन सुप्रीम कोर्ट के अंतिम फैसला देने से पहले ही इसकी पर्यावरणीय रिलीज को मंजूरी दे दी गई। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) ने कई परीक्षण किए थे और भारत में बाजार में बिकने वाले पैकेज्ड फूड में जीएम अनाज की मौजूदगी का खुलासा किया था। इस रहस्योद्घाटन के बावजूद, भारतीय खाद्य सुरक्षा और मानक प्राधिकरण (FSSAI) जिसे भारत में खाद्य सुरक्षा को लागू करने की जिम्मेदारी सौंपी गई है, ने चुप्पी साधे रखी। जून 2021 में, यूरोपीय अधिकारियों ने यूरोपीय संघ को चावल निर्यात की कुछ खेपों में से 500 टन जीएम चावल को जब्त कर लिया और उन्हें वापस भेज दिया। भारत सरकार ने एक स्टैंड लिया कि जीएम चावल भारत में नहीं उगाया जाता है, लेकिन यह जांच करने के लिए कुछ नहीं किया कि जीएम चावल भारतीय निर्यात खेप के हिस्से के रूप में आखिर कैसे पाया गया? इसके लिए अब तक किसी को सजा नहीं हुई है। तो क्या जीएम चावल भारत में अवैध रूप से उगाए जा रहे हैं? इस सवाल का जवाब अब तक नहीं दिया गया। भारतीय अधिकारियों के इस तरह के नैतिक दुःसाहस को देखते हुए हम समझ सकते हैं कि भारतीय लोगों की सुरक्षा ‘भगवान भरोसे’ ही है! (लेखक स्‍वतंत्र टिप्‍पणीकार हैं। विचार व्‍यक्तिगत हैं।)

Particulate pollution exceeds standards in many cities of Rajasthan, CSE analysis

Pollution hotspots within Jaipur: Mansarovar is a hotspot for PM10 and ground-level ozone pollution in the city. PM2.5 pollution is worst in Police Commissionerate,while NO2 is prevalent in Adarsh Nagar. Police Commissionerate also reported the most CO exceedances this summer. Pollution hotspots within Jodhpur: Jhalamand is a hotspot for PM10 in Jodhpur, while Collectorate is for PM2.5, NO2 and CO pollutions. Samrat Ashok Udhyan reported the most ground-level ozone exceedances this summer. Pollution hotspots within Kota: Dhanmandi is the hotspot for PM10 and NO2 in Kota. Shrinath Puram is where PM2.5 is most prevalent, while Nayapura has reported the most ground-level ozone and CO exceedances this summer. The way forward What is Particulate Matter? Particles are defined by their diameter for air quality regulatory purposes. Those with a diameter of 10 microns or less (PM10) are inhalable into the lungs and can induce adverse health effects. Fine particulate matter is defined as particles that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM2.5). PM2.5 is more likely to travel into and deposit on the surface of the deeper parts of the lung, while PM10 is more likely to deposit on the surfaces of the larger airways of the upper region of the lung, causing health problems. Non-Attainment Cities Non-attainment cities are those that have fallen short of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for over five years. P Srinivasan I vasu@changingtomorrow.in Many cities of Rajasthan exceed the standards for particulate pollution that is PM10 and PM2.5. Jodhpur is the most polluted among the five non-attainment cities, with three-year average for PM2.5 of 71 microgramme per cubic metre (µg/m3) and for PM10 of 153 µg/m3. Kota is the second most polluted with a three-year average for PM2.5 of 55 µg/m3 and for PM10 of 105 µg/m3. Jaipur is a close third with a three-year average for PM2.5 of 52 µg/m3 and for PM10 of 114 µg/m3. Cities of Rajasthan are experiencing rising particulate pollution and also witnessing a multi-pollutant crisis with levels of several gaseous pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone beginning to rise. This increases public health risk in the state. This has emerged from a new analysis carried out by New Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment’s (CSE) Urban Lab. The analysis stated that Udaipur and Alwar also exceed the standard — their three-year average for PM2.5 stands at 50 µg/m3 and 42 µg/m3, respectively. PM2.5 reduction targets vary between 4 per cent and 43 per cent for these non-attainment cities Reduction targets for PM10 are much higher, ranging between 30 and 61 per cent. “Air quality is worsening not only in non-attainment cities but also in smaller cities and towns of Rajasthan despite the clean air action underway. Time-bound improvement in air quality requires state-wide action to improve systems and infrastructure in all the key sectors of pollution including industry, vehicles and transport, clean energy, management of waste streams, construction and greening. Allocate resources equitably for the priority measures in key sectors with a strong compliance framework to meet the clean air targets,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE.

No official agenda for tech mediations over climate change yet on the table

A week into the Bonn climate talks which is scheduled to close on Thursday, there is as yet no official agenda on the table for the technical negotiations. At the heart of this logjam is the issue of funding for the mitigation of the climate crisis. In line with the Paris Agreement’s principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities, developing countries have sought an agenda on finance for scaling up mitigation action. But developed countries led by the US and the EU have opposed the agenda stating that existing mechanisms address the issue of finance; the former has added that it is open to a discussion when the flow of finance is not limited to developed countries paying developing countries but also includes funding from emerging economies and the private sector. The impasse, which could jeopardise the agenda at the COP28 climate conference to be held in Dubai in November and urgent action on the climate crisis, stems from a deep lack of trust because developed countries are not willing to recognise their historical responsibility . During the opening plenary of the subsidiary bodies held at Bonn on Monday evening, the Like Minded Developing Countries (LMDC) grouping of which India is also a member stated that they seek the inclusion of an agenda item on urgently scaling up finance to support implementation of mitigation action during this decade in developing countries. “We are conscious of the need to scale up ambition. It’s now an imperative. But, it has to be in line with equity and common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities. In the hunger for action, the discussion can’t solely be on scaling up ambition especially in the background of failed promises on finance. We need discussion on how mitigation action can be achieved. We need to correct the course of financial support,” Bolivia’s representative said on behalf of LMDC on Monday. China backed this and said there should be a negotiation track on finance. “This agenda item is very important to us because we have been asking that finance be taken up as an agenda for many years but it was not allowed in the SBs (subsidiary bodies). Finance is important to put NDCs (nationally determined contributions) in action. We are eager to fulfil our commitment on mitigation and that is why the issue is important. Finance has always been a dialogue but there has been no serious negotiation on it. We need a negotiation track for finance,” said a negotiator from China. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) established three governing bodies: COP (or the Conference of Parties), which is the apex decision making body, the CMP (the signatories of the Kyoto agreement), and the CMA (the signatories of the Paris agreement). It also established two subsidiary bodies, one on scientific and technological advice (SBSTA) and another on implementation (SBI) to assist the parties. Cuba on behalf of G77+China also explained that there will be more suspicion if the finance agenda was restricted. The EU objected to the agenda by LMDC and stated that though the discussion on finance was very important to them, the Paris Agreement has provisions which states support will be provided and there are several discussions on finance that are ongoing under different heads. The US said they do not support Bolivia’s proposal because there are many other opportunities to discuss the issue and a new agenda is not needed. They also said the new agenda item does not derive from the COP mandate and that there is nothing that limits donors to developed countries . In 2009, at COP15 in Copenhagen, developed countries committed to a goal of raising $100 billion a year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries. They specified that the finance would come from a wide variety of sources, public and private, bilateral, and multilateral, including alternative ones. The climate finance goal was formalised at COP16 in Cancun but has still not been delivered on. “It is estimated that $4 trillion per year needs to be invested in renewable energy up until 2030 to be able to reach the goal of net zero emissions by 2050. An investment of at least $4-6 trillion per year will be needed for a global transformation to a low-carbon economy,” Bhupender Yadav, union environment minister had said last month at an HT summit on G20, while highlighting that developed countries who agreed to mobilise $100 billion funds for mitigation efforts in developing countries couldn’t yet fulfil the promise. Experts and observers of the climate talks in Bonn said the issue is a question of equity and needs to be addressed for the talks to move forward. “Wealthy nations persistently focus on pressuring emerging economies to bear the cost of global climate action. In doing so, they conveniently overlook their own historical responsibility. These wealthy nations have repeatedly failed to meet their equitable obligation in providing climate finance, opting instead to transfer this burden onto developing nations. It’s high time for these countries to cease passing the buck, and instead pay their long overdue climate debts,” said Harjeet Singh, Head of Global Political Strategy, Climate Action Network International. The Government of India has rightly continued its efforts to corner the developed world on its inaction on pre-2020 commitments, particularly finance. The Mitigation Work Programme (MWP) crafted at Sharm-al-Sheikh aims at urgently scaling mitigation ambition and implementation. How is the developing world supposed to do so in absence of any support on the means of implementation from the developed world? The developed world needs to understand that it is infeasible to deliver on the MWP in absence of means of implementation,” said Vaibhav Chaturvedi, Fellow, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). “There is a complete deadlock in the process right now because developed countries are not willing to put more money on the table to enable mitigation ambition in developing countries. The proposal by LMDC asking for ambition on financial support is extremely crucial, someone needed to say it,” said Avantika Goswami, climate change lead at Centre for Science and Environment.

Le bref : Mukesh Ambani nommé au comité consultatif de la COP 28 de

Mukesh Ambani dirige le groupe indien Reliance dont une des activités principales est le raffinage de pétrole. La raffinerie du groupe située à Jamnagar est une des plus grandes au monde. Le groupe Reliance a aussi commencé à investir dans l'hydrogène vert et les énergies renouvelables. Mukesh Ambani est le premier milliardaire indien d'après le magazine Forbes. Mukesh Ambani a été nommé comme conseiller du président de la COP28, le sultan Al Jaber. Ce dernier est aussi en charge de la compagnie pétrolière d’Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company ce qui a suscité de vives polémiques depuis sa nomination à la présidence de la COP 28 qui se tiendra à Dubai fin 2023. La seule autre Indienne du groupe est l'écologiste Sunita Narain, dont le profil est diamétralement opposé. Selon des personnes au fait du processus de nomination, les conseillers sont choisis avec l'approbation des gouvernements respectifs. Il est arrivé que des industriels soient nommés par d'anciens présidents de la COP dans leur équipe de conseillers, mais rarement dans le secteur des combustibles fossiles. Bien que le mandat et le rôle de ces conseillers n'aient pas été clairement définis, des sources ont indiqué que l'objectif était de conseiller et d'informer le président de la COP sur les questions et les priorités de la COP. Une victoire du lobby de pétrole Selon The Economic Times, l’entrée d'Ambani dans le comité consultatif est considérée comme un triomphe du lobbying exercé par le secteur pétrolier, qui a pour position que toute solution au changement climatique doit être consultative et doit impliquer l'industrie des combustibles fossiles, même s’ils sont les plus gros émetteurs de gaz à effet de serre. Les environnementalistes sont eux beaucoup plus sceptiques sur le bien fondé d'une telle participation. Le quotidien indique aussi que cela donne une représentation à l'Asie du sud dans le comité de la COP 28.

Frequent And Prolonged: Cyclones In The Arabian Sea Show A Trend

Incidence of cyclones like Biparjoy have become very common in the Arabian Sea. Experts explain the trend behind these severe, frequent and prolonged cyclones. Originating in the Arabian Sea, Cyclone Biparjoy is expected to make a landfall in the Saurashtra-Kutch coast on June 15 and in southwest Rajasthan on June 16. India’s Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre has warned that the cyclone could result in storm surges of two to three metres, the destruction of thatched homes, flooding, widespread damage to plantations, orchards, and standing crops, as well as the disruption of railways, power lines in Gujarat's northern and western coastal districts. Biparjoy, which formed into a cyclonic storm on June 6 and will finally make a landfall on June 15, is one of the longest lasting cyclones to have impacted in the recent past. However, this is not the first time that a prolonged intense cyclone has developed in the Arabian Sea. According to a research by Centre for Climate Change Research (CCCR), Pune, “The frequency, duration, and intensity of cyclones in the Arabian Sea have increased significantly, while there is a slight decrease in frequency in the Bay of Bengal.” BOOM spoke to experts to know the reason behind this change in trend. Why have the instances of cyclones increased in the Arabian Sea? According to the research, there is a 52% increase in the number of cyclones in the Arabian Sea, while very severe cyclones have increased by 150%. Speaking to BOOM, Trishant Dev from Centre of Science and Environment, said that traditionally, the Arabian Sea has comparatively been less prone to intense cyclones compared to the Bay of Bengal. “One of the reasons is the less warm sea surface temperatures and higher air pressure over the sea compared to the Bay of Bengal,” he said. However, in the recent past the Arabian Sea has witnessed some of the most severe and prolonged cyclones. “Cyclone Tauktae, originating in the Arabian Sea was categorised as an extremely severe cyclone back in 2021, one of the strongest in over a century. Before this, Vayu in 2019 and Nisarga in 2020 were classified as severe or very severe,” he said. Dev attributed it to the increasing temperatures of the Arabian Sea, which may be related to increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere and the resulting global warming. “High sea surface temperatures are known to trigger severe cyclones. Moreover, higher temperature also means a higher energy available to help intensify the cyclone in a short duration,” he said. But how does the warming of sea surface temperatures lead to the intensifying of cyclones? Akshay Deoras, a UK-based research scientist, told BOOM that as tropical cyclones derive energy from the influx of heat and moisture from the upper layers of a sea, “higher sea surface temperature would increase the intensification of a pre-existing low-pressure system in the sea into a tropical cyclone if other conditions are favourable”. Does global warming also affect the duration of cyclones? The CCCR research notes that there has been an 80% increase in the total duration of cyclones in the Arabian Sea, during the last four decades. The duration of very severe cyclones has also increased by 260%. Deoras said that a tropical cyclone keeps growing if it gets more heat and moisture. The current scenario due to global warming is also very conducive for cyclones. However, he notes, that the duration of the tropical cyclones also depends on multiple factors, such as low-pressure area, and small variations in vertical wind speed, apart from the increase in the sea surface temperatures. Deoras said, “There is some evidence that global warming prolongs the duration of cyclones, in certain regions of the world such as the continental US, but it hasn't been linked to anthropogenic climate change with a high confidence.” According to Dev, global warming does contribute to the longer-lasting cyclones. Explaining the phenomenon, he said, “Warmer ocean waters provide the necessary energy for cyclones to form and intensify, while increased moisture content in the atmosphere supports their development and sustenance.” Can we attribute the prolonged cyclones to the weak monsoon? Dev explained that this is scientifically possible. Monsoon circulations can affect the track and intensity of a cyclone, and this is also true vice versa. “A weaker monsoon favours the formation of severe cyclones, among other factors, such as favourable temperature conditions,” he said. This year the monsoon season is expected to have a delayed onset as well as reduced rainfall, since it is an El Nino year. El Nino and its counterpart La Nina are ocean-borne phenomena which affect the incidence of heatwaves and rainfall worldwide. Alluding to the prolonging of the Cyclone Biparjoy, Dev said, “As far as Biporjoy is concerned, a weak monsoon may have enabled an extremely severe cyclone and not the other way round. However, going forward, the monsoon winds will likely be under the influence of the cyclone.” Tropical cyclones over the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea are capable of modulating the monsoon's onset and progression. Citing the example of Cyclone Biparjoy, Deoras said, “The cyclone helped in the onset of the monsoon over Kerala and also caused its further progression up to the south coast of Maharashtra.” However, the cyclone can also weaken the onset of monsoon if it's very strong enough to pull away the moisture from the monsoon circulation and also disrupt the wind pattern.

A low-carbon economy will only succeed if it is equitable

In global production and consumption chains political economy of ethics and environmental sustainability must remain pivotal The UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2022 posits clearly that as growing climate change impacts are experienced across the globe, the message that greenhouse gas emissions must fall is unambiguous. The link between global net zero carbon emissions and addressing climate change is evident and it is also certain that the link itself must be even-handed, objective and ambitious. To achieve global net zero goals and garner the public support required for this, it is imperative in the long-term to view emissions within the larger context of global consumption and production patterns. Consumption and production patterns vary greatly based on the cultural, social, and economic factors. But both consumption and production ethics also vary due to beliefs, values and traditions. Some of these differences are marked by a complex interplay of factors: Social norms, customs and traditions that shape attitudes towards consumption and production. Certain cultures may place a higher value on saving and frugality, while others prioritise spending and indulgence Environmental factors including the availability of resources and the impact of environmental degradation on different cultures. Consumers from areas that experience frequent natural disasters may understand and thus prioritise sustainability and resource conservation more Existing economic systems: Countries with capitalist economies tend to prioritise consumerism and production for profit, while economies based on communal values are likely to prioritise shared value over profit Political ideologies: Societies that emphasise individualism may prioritise personal consumption and production, while societies that emphasise collectivism may prioritise more communal goods and services Regional and religious beliefs can also shape attitudes towards consumption and production. For example, some religions may promote asceticism and simplicity, while others may prioritise wealth and luxury In the formerly established trade flows and global economic chains, it is charged that dominant economic powers exploit smaller, less developed economies — often by extracting raw materials at low prices and exporting finished products back at higher prices. This may lead to the undermining of local economies and often leads to social and environmental degradation. To avoid this, local producers need to have access to fair markets and fair prices so that they can invest in alternative, environmentally friendly production methods. Across developed markets, the average individual consumer is often more aware of the impacts of their choice on the environment as well as the producer and is thus willing to pay premiums often associated with sustainably produced goods. In contrast, in former colonies and developing countries, often with limited access and large populations, consumer awareness and media attention on both offshore environmental issues and ethical concerns is often lower, while cost remains the primary factor driving consumption. It is often also asserted that developed countries (former colonisers) are in the process of trying to shift the burden of ethical production, in this century, to the developing countries (former colonies). In this, voluntary standards and certification schemes often get dismissed for being used as non-tariff trade barriers. These trade barriers put developing countries at income risk and more vulnerable to market access problems. While it is true that stringent measures impose market access restrictions and cause limitations on competitiveness, this is much more widely felt by the developing countries due to: Lack of infrastructure and monitoring facilities Limited technology choices Inadequate access to environment-friendly raw materials Information asymmetry Presence of small-scale exporters and Emergence of environmental standards in sectors of export interest to developing countries Small and medium sized enterprises (SME) thus become especially vulnerable. In global production and consumption chains political economy of ethics and environmental sustainability must remain pivotal. Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production — talks about ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns globally. Unsustainable patterns of consumption and production are root causes of the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. These crises, and related environmental degradation, threaten human well-being and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. These patterns will remain central to sustain the lives and livelihoods of current and future generations. As this paradigm gradually shifts, a (re)-framing of standards needs to better facilitate dialogue and include developing nations in how sustainability and thus net-zero emissions, are to be achieved. Much of the developing world in Asia, Africa and Latin America — the Global South — is where production (agriculture, forestry and manufacturing) is still largely focussed, and the largest markets are coming into prominence. Developed nations may also need to provide support and resources to help in a just transition to more sustainable production and consumption patterns. This transition would support the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities, recognised in the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held at Rio de Janeiro. The answer is NOT to weaken environmental standards, but to enable exporters to meet them as a process of continuous improvement. WTO agreements now have the scope to ensure that environmental measures do not unduly restrict exports. Examples like the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) Agreement which deals with food safety and animal and plant health and the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement which deals with product standards and labelling are important examples in shaping this discussion. In our own context, India has over the last decade started making positive progress in achieving the SDG 12. The country has taken several steps to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns. With the implementation of schemes and initiatives, including the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, the Clean Ganga Mission, and the National Solar Mission, the focus has been to reduce waste and promote green technology. The government has also introduced policies to encourage renewable energy, eco-friendly transportation, and efficient water management. Furthermore, India has increased its share of renewable energy in its energy mix and has taken significant steps to reduce its carbon footprint. India’s progress in achieving SDG 12 is commendable but there is still significant work to be done on the household and individual consumer awareness and how some of this intersects with price volatility and access. India’s recent State of India’s Environment report by Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment and Down To Earth highlights how unsustainable consumption patterns have led to environmental degradation and social inequality, particularly in rural areas. For instance, monoculture farming practices have resulted in soil depletion and erosion, whereas rampant deforestation has contributed to the loss of biodiversity and wildlife habitats. Therefore, it is essential to promote agroforestry and other sustainable production methods that preserve soil health, reduce water use, and increase biodiversity. India is at the helm of the regional balance of trade; this position is crucial and can create pathways which emulate and ensure sustainable production and consumption. Encouraging sustainable practices, raising awareness about the impacts of our choices, and creating fair trade networks can help mitigate the adverse effects of unsustainable consumption patterns and promote regional balance of trade. Taking such measures can lay the foundation for a more sustainable and equitable future for all in bolster the movement against climate change and biodiversity loss. Neha Simlai is the head of Social Policy Researcg Foundation India, a think tank based in Delhi, working on a range of critical themes to bridge academic research and public policy. Views expressed are the author’s own and don’t necessarily reflect those of Down To Earth. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/governance/a-low-carbon-economy-will-only-succeed-if-it-is-equitable-89984

Summer PM10 dips in a year, but few days enter safe zone

Delhi Pollution NEW DELHI: Delhi saw a reduction in PM10 levels this summer as compared to 2022 and 2021, but the concentrations were higher than the national ambient air quality standards on most days, shows data of Central Pollution Control Board. The city saw just 10 days from March 1 to May 31 when PM10 levels met the 24-hour average national ambient air quality standards of 100 micrograms per cubic metre. Track the pollution level in your city The average PM10 level in March this year was 170.9 micrograms per cubic metre as opposed to 231.4 micrograms per cubic metre in March 2022 and 248.6 micrograms per cubic metre in March 2021. The PM10 level in April reduced from 291.1 micrograms per cubic metre in 2022 to 196 micrograms per cubic metre this year. Similarly, PM10 concentration in May 2023 was 184.6 micrograms per cubic metre as opposed to 246.5 micrograms per cubic metre in May 2022. According to CPCB’s data, Anand Vihar, Mundka, Jahangirpuri, Wazirpur and Shadipur were among the locations which recorded high levels of PM10 this summer. The data shows that between March 1 and May 31, Delhi did not meet WHO’s daily safe limit of 45 micrograms per cubic metre. Experts said the air quality met prescribed national ambient air quality standards on some days due to meteorological factors like rain, which helped in settling down the pollutants. Aarti Khosla, director, Climate Trends, said, “It is good to see some air quality gains as a result of the mitigation efforts under the National Clean Air Programme, but the pollution levels continue to remain much higher than even the CPCB’s safe limits, which are already lenient as compared to the WHO limits. This is despite the meteorological factors like low boundary layer not being at play during summers. We also did not see any dust storms impacting Delhi.” She added that while the mechanical sweepers and water sprinklers were at work, it would be essential to strengthen sector-specific mitigation measures in key areas like transport, construction and industries to be able to cut pollution at source. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said, “Summer season generally witnesses major dust events and overall dust levels remain elevated due to suspension of loose and dry crustal soil and resuspension of road dust. Source apportionment studies in Delhi show higher impact of dust on PM10 levels that are coarser particles. But this year, unusual and consistent rainfall during May could have had a wash out effect to reduce the dust load in the air.”

Fire at Ghazipur landfill, season’s first

A blaze erupted in the Ghazipur landfill on Monday and 14 fire tenders on the job managed to douse the flames late at night, the MCD said. The fire in the east Delhi site is the first such blaze of the season at a landfill in Delhi. The blaze was spotted in a portion facing Khora Colony in Ghaziabad, MCD officials said. “A call for fire at the landfill was received around 1.30pm. The incident was reported from gate no. 3 of the landfill and a total of 14 fire tenders were rushed to the spot along with a robotic machine to control and douse the blaze,” an official of the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) said. A huge cloud of smoke has enveloped the neighbouring areas. MCD officials said the fire, a small one when it started, grew because of strong winds in the afternoon and spread over a large area. “The MCD quickly responded to the situation and fire tenders from DFS, 13-14 excavators and four to five bulldozers working at the landfill site were pressed into action immediately. By evening, 60-70% of the fire had been doused. The fire was not allowed to spread. In 10-12 places, small flames were visible till evening and these will be controlled by tonight,” the MCD said in its statement. “The flames have been caused due to the methane generation at the site and (because of) high temperature. We controlled the blaze by putting inert materials. The MCD staff, concessionaire, Delhi Disaster Management Authority and DFS are making all effort,” an MCD official said. In April 2022, after a major fire in the same landfill, Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai announced a nine-point action plan to prevent landfill fires, including construction of a peripheral road around the dumpsites to facilitate the movement of vehicles, patrolling teams and fire tenders. The minister had stated that the government planned to adopt technology similar to what is used in Mumbai and collect flammable gases produced in the landfills. However, according to government officials, the plan was dropped due to differences in weather conditions between Delhi and Mumbai. This year, in a 14-point summer action plan released on May 1, the Delhi government stated that a joint team of over 14 departments would ensure that incidents of fire, including landfill fires, are controlled. However, when asked about the action taken so far, officials in the Delhi government didn’t respond despite several attempts on Monday. One of the biggest and oldest landfills of Delhi, Ghazipur witnessed a major blaze and smaller fire incidents last year. In total, five major fires were reported in three landfills. According to the experts, the chance of a fire increases, especially if temperature rises days after light rain. As the water seeps into the garbage, it leads to reactions, thus causing the emission of harmful gases. “In a landfill, heat can build up under several conditions causing spontaneous fires and it's tough to control them, especially aftereffects. The solution is in the remediation of legacy waste. If a landfill is left smouldering for a long time, the toxic emissions increase, which has a far more adverse effect on the health of local people,” said Anumita Roychowdhury of the Centre for Science and Environment.

Ghazipur Landfill Catches Fire Due To Heat, Here Are 5 Things To Know

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) believes that Ghazipur landfill caught fire due to the methane generation at site and high temperature afternoon, a massive fire broke out at the Ghazipur dumpsite (commonly known as landfill), one of the three garbage mountains in Delhi. As quoted by news agency ANI, according to the press release by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the fire broke out at around 1:30-1:45 PM in the afternoon and soon began to spread due to strong winds. “MCD quickly responded to the situation and 8-10 fire tenders from the Delhi Fire Department and 13-14 excavators and 4-5 bulldozers working at the landfill site were pressed into action to control the fire,” added the release. he MCD believes that the cause of the fire was the generation of methane gas coupled with high temperature in the national capital Delhi. However, it was controlled using inert material. Spread across 72 acres of land, Ghazipur, the oldest dumpsite in Delhi, was commissioned in 1984 and crossed the permissible height of 20m in 2002. It has been overflowing since then and stands at around 40 meters, as per the MCD. As per the data received from the MCD, 140 lakh tonnes of legacy waste has been dumped on the Ghazipur site as of July 2019. 5 Reasons Why Landfills Catch Fire: In an interview with NDTV, Ashok Kumar Jaiswal, Divisional Officer, Delhi Fire Services said, “It is summer time and decomposition of organic waste amid heat often leads to chemical reactions and generation of gases like carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide. Frankly, during the summer season, landfills catch fire automatically. Yesterday, we managed to douse the fire with the help of 13 fire tenders.” Ghazipur landfill is technically a dumpsite, a mere piece of land where waste is being dumped recklessly. Dr. Richa Singh, Deputy Programme Manager, MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) team, Centre for Science and Environment explains, “While sanitary landfills are scientific structures or containment systems which are engineered and constructed in a way to isolate waste from the surrounding environment, dumpsites are mere pieces of land without any mechanism for pollution control.” Dr Singh adds that sanitary landfills have barriers of high-density polyethylene and mechanisms to collect and treat leachate (contaminated liquid generated when water percolates through waste), alongwith the ability to collect landfill gas, which primarily consists of methane and treat that as well. “Living around dump sites comes with health challenges as people in close vicinity are exposed to gases like the colourless and odorless Methane, trace gases like H2S (Hydrogen Sulfide), as well as high levels of Particulate Matter and Ammonia,” says Dr. Singh. These gases are carcinogenic in nature. Long-term exposure to these gases can result in respiratory disorders, and at times it can lead to cancer as well. On dumpsites, while biodegradable or wet waste decomposes over time, the anaerobic decomposition (breakdown of organic waste in the absence of oxygen) of organic waste generates methane gas, which is flammable and generates heat. That’s the reason why dumpsites in Delhi, especially in summer, often catch fire. If not fire, then these are always smoldering in patches. To prevent such fire outbreaks, Dr Singh recommends an interim solution (till the remediation of all the legacy waste is done) which includes, A gas collection and treatment system for landfill gases. Moreover, landfilling of biodegradable and combustible waste should not be done in the first place to prevent the leachate and landfill gas issue.

Particulate pollution increasing in Rajasthan’s cities

Context As per the analysis by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the Particulate matter pollution is increasing in the cities of Rajasthan, which faces a multi-pollutant crisis with the levels of several gaseous pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and Ozone. Key findings of the study: The air quality is worsening in both big and small cities and towns despite the clean air action being taken in the State. This has highlighted the systemic pollution which persists in the region because of inadequate infrastructure for pollution control across all sectors. In cities like Jaipur, Kota and Udaipur, where the average 2022 levels had crossed the pre-pandemic levels. As per the report, Jodhpur is the most polluted and Kota is the second among the ‘five non-attainment cities’ in the State. Non-attainment cities are those which have fallen short of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for five years. Ground-level ozone, requires monitoring to assess its build-up in local situations across the landscape. The report also laid emphasis on the formulation of plans for massive clean energy transition in industry, transport, power plants and households. What is Particulate matter (PM)? Particulate matter, or PM, is the term for particles found in the air, including dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets. Particles can be suspended in the air for long periods of time. Some particles are large or dark enough to be seen as soot or smoke. Others are so small that individually they can only be detected with an electron microscope. Many manmade and natural sources emit PM directly or emit other pollutants that react in the atmosphere to form PM.

Our population question

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 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 a much greater environmental footprint than India does. 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 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 people have a smaller footprint because they are 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 amount 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 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 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 a 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 liveable. It is time we discussed this seriously and urgently.

Particulate pollution increasing in Rajasthan’s cities, says CSE report

Systemic pollution persists in the region because of inadequate infrastructure for pollution control across all sectors, analysis by Centre for Science and Environment finds Particulate pollution has been increasing in the cities of Rajasthan, which faces a multi-pollutant crisis with the levels of several gaseous pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and ozone beginning to rise. This has increased public health risk in the State, an analysis report of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has said. The air quality is worsening in both big and small cities and towns despite the clean air action being taken in the State. The continuing elevated pollution levels among city stations highlight the systemic pollution which persists in the region because of inadequate infrastructure for pollution control across all sectors, according to the report. CSE executive director (research and advocacy) Anumita Roychowdhury said while releasing the report in New Delhi on Friday that particulate pollution was on the rise in Jaipur, Kota and Udaipur, where the average 2022 levels had crossed the pre-pandemic levels. Several cities exceed the standards for this category of pollution, while Jodhpur is the most polluted and Kota is the second among the five non-attainment cities in the State. Non-attainment cities are those which have fallen short of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for five years. Ms. Roychowdhury said the ground-level ozone, emerging as a challenge in non-attainment cities, needed more robust monitoring to assess risk. Ground-level ozone, which is highly toxic and can harm even during short duration exposure, requires monitoring to assess its build-up in local situations across the landscape. On several days in a year, ground-level ozone has started to exceed the eight-hour average standard in all the non-attainment cities, with Jaipur being the most affected. A range of gases, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide and other elements emitted from vehicles and industries react with each other in the air under the influence of sunlight to form ozone, the report said. The analysis has assessed long-term trends as well as seasonal variations in particulate and gaseous pollution in the State. Nitrogen dioxide pollution, closely linked with traffic flow, is on the rise in Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur, as its level was 24% to 51% higher than was recorded in 2019. The report stated that the nitrogen dioxide level had breached the annual standard in Jaipur in 2022, while Alwar and Kota had shown a stable trend. “This pollutant requires early and preventive action, as growing motorisation can skew the curve,” Ms. Roychowdhury said. She suggested a State-wide action to improve systems and infrastructure in all the key sectors of pollution, including industry, vehicles and transport, clean energy, management of waste streams, construction and greening. The report also laid emphasis on the formulation of plans for massive clean energy transition in industry, transport, power plants and households. It said State-wide action should be initiated to scale up electrification of vehicles and promote public transport, walking and cycling, in addition to developing a circular economy.

Rajasthan’s towns witness alarming increase in air pollution: CSE Study

In a recent analysis by the Center for Science and Environment (CSE), air pollution is increasing in the cities of Rajasthan. The analysis reveals a multi-pollutant crisis with rising levels of nitrogen dioxide and ozone, among other gaseous pollutants. This deterioration in air quality is not limited to non-target cities but also affects smaller cities and towns in Rajasthan. Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director, CSE said that “Despite the clean air programme, air quality is deteriorating not only in non-target cities but also in smaller cities and towns of Rajasthan. Time-bound improvement in air quality requires statewide action to improve systems and infrastructure in all major sectors of pollution, including industry, vehicles and transportation, clean energy, waste management, construction and greening. Allocate resources equitably for accelerated measures in key areas with a strong compliance framework to meet the clean air targets.” Avikal Somvanshi, senior program manager at CSE, says expanding air quality monitoring will help better assess this growing risk. The persistently high pollution levels in the city’s stations highlight systemic pollution caused by weak pollution control infrastructure. Meeting clean air standards requires strong and consistent action throughout the year. The CSE suggests that expanding air quality monitoring can provide better insights into the growing risk of pollution. Analysis of data from air quality monitoring stations in Rajasthan reveals high levels of pollution, indicating a systemic pollution problem due to inadequate pollution control infrastructure. It emphasizes the need for strong, consistent action throughout the year to meet clean air standards. The analysis is based on data collected from January 1, 2019, to May 31, 2023, at air quality monitoring stations in Rajasthan. Efforts have been made to expand the monitoring network in the state. As of the first half of 2023, there are a total of 99 operational monitoring stations in 33 cities including Alwar, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota and Udaipur. The analysis shows that Jodhpur is the most polluted city in terms of particulate matter with an average PM2.5 level of 71 µg/m3 and a PM10 level of 153 µg/m3. Kota ranks as the second most polluted city, with PM2.5 averaging 55 µg/m3 and PM10 averaging 105 µg/m3. Jaipur ranks third with a PM2.5 level of 52 µg/m3 and a PM10 level of 114 µg/m3. Udaipur and Alwar are also affected by pollution. The analysis reveals that particulate pollution has increased in Jaipur, Kota and Udaipur, with average levels in 2022 exceeding pre-pandemic levels. PM2.5 and PM10 levels have worsened in these cities compared to 2019. Alwar has shown minimal changes in PM2.5 and PM10 levels in the last four years, while Jodhpur has seen improvements with a 17% decrease in PM2.5 and PM10. 9% in PM10 since 2019. In terms of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur experienced increasing levels in 2022 compared to 2019. Although NO2 levels in these cities are currently below National Ambient Air Quality Standards, the pollution levels are rising. The number of vehicles on the roads can make the situation even worse. Alwar and Kota have shown stable trends in NO2 pollution. The analysis also indicates that smaller cities and towns in Rajasthan are experiencing higher levels of particulate matter and NO2 pollution. Recent air quality monitoring in 24 cities and small towns suggests that some of them may have even higher seasonal pollution levels than non-target cities.

Rajasthan Cities Face Rising Particulate Pollution, Says CSE Analysis

Cities of Rajasthan are experiencing rising particulate pollution and also witnessing a multi-pollutant problem with levels of several gaseous pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone beginning to rise. This increases public health risk in the state. This has emerged from a new analysis carried out by New Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment’s (CSE) Urban Lab.