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Warm February, Foggy May: How Delhi-NCR Weather Reflects Dangers of Climate Change

Delhi-NCR witnessed a weather roller coaster in May, which is normally the hottest month of the year in India’s capital. At the start of the month, an untimely rare climate phenomenon occurred as a thick layer of fog enveloped certain areas of the city, a characteristic usually observed during winter. The temperature plunged to 15.8°C on May 4, marking the coldest May morning in the capital in 41 years. The lowest temperature ever recorded in May was 15.1°C on May 2, 1969. The often dry month of May also recorded 111 mm rainfall, which was a remarkable 262% above the normal average of 30.7 mm for the month, according to the data supplied by the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) for Delhi’s Safdarjung weather observatory, which provides a marker for the national capital. A total of 11 wet days was recorded in the month gone by, which was much higher than the average 2.7 number of rainy days in the capital. “Typically, Delhi-NCR and parts of North India experience rainfall during the winter months, but this did not occur this time, possibly due to a shift in the weather pattern,” explained Dr. Uday Pratap Shahi, Associate Professor at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology (SVPUAT), Meerut, attributing the weather swing to series of western disturbances. These weather anomalies in May are not exclusive to this region of India. A more detailed analysis of meteorological data reveals that we are witnessing what experts refer to as a climate change phenomenon. Glaciers are melting at a pace unseen in recorded human history besides sea levels are rising. Countries are experiencing more numbers of droughts, extreme heat waves, floods, storms and hurricanes, torrential unseasonal rainfalls among other extreme weather events hurting livelihoods and infrastructure as well as health, food, energy and water security. India witnessed its hottest February since 1901 this year, with maximum temperatures touching 29.54 degrees Celsius (monthly national average). The five warmest Februaries in India have all been in the last 14 years, according to a Hindustan Times report, indicating the impact of the climate crisis. March was equally challenging, as large portions of the country encountered hailstorms and heavy unseasonal rain, resulting in significant damage to standing crops in various regions. The standing wheat crop was worst impacted, along with other Rabi crops (winter sown), including potato and mustard. The mangoes, which started flowering during the time, also bore the brunt of the adverse weather conditions. Even during April, according to IMD, the actual rainfall in Delhi was 23% above normal than the long period average for the month. “There has been an observed change in the timing of weather in recent years. This time around there were fewer colder days in December and January, and the temperature remained low only for a few days in February,” Dr Shahi said. He further explained the phenomenon, stating, “Even within the seasons, the duration of specific weather patterns shows significant fluctuations. The even distribution of rainfall, heat, or cold during their respective seasons is undergoing rapid changes, with increased intensity disrupting their regular seasonal frequency.” Using the example of rainfall, he illustrated that there can be occurrences of exceptionally heavy precipitation on certain days, alongside stretches of consecutive rainless days. Nevertheless, when calculating the overall rainfall at the end of the season, it falls within the expected range for that particular season. Dr. Shahi concluded, “So, as the season comes to a close, we observe a normal volume of rain with a reduced number of rainy days.” Heavy precipitation also leads to flooding and crop damage besides loss of soil fertility. The recurring urban floods in cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and other metros have been attributed to unprecedented heavy rainfall. According to experts, climate change has been linked to various extreme events in India, including the increase in heat waves, intensified cyclones, and reduction in diurnal temperature fluctuations, all of which have negative effects on human health. India experienced extreme weather events on 314 out of 365 days in 2022, according to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down to Earth. These events resulted in unfortunate loss of 3,026 lives, impacted 1.96 million hectares of crop area and destroyed 423,249 houses. In the first 59 days of this year, the country experienced extreme weather events on 28 days, according to the CSE’s weather disaster database. These events claimed eight lives and affected 0.39 million hectares (ha) of crop area. “There are reports of increased incidence, intensity, and length of heat waves in India due to climate change. Even a spatio-temporal (space and time) shift in the heat wave influenced region is seen from the eastern part of Gangetic plain towards north-west, central, and south-central regions of India,” explains Tirthankar Banerjee, assistant professor at the Institute of Environment & Sustainable Development at Banaras Hindu University (BHU). According to the United Nations, the world is currently experiencing a faster rate of warming than any other recorded period in history. This sustained increase in temperatures is causing alterations in weather patterns and disrupting the longstanding balance of nature. Fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and gas, play a predominant role in global climate change, responsible for more than 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90% of all carbon dioxide emissions. “Alongside the unprecedented pace of industrialisation, cutting of forests and changes in lifestyle are also influencing weather patterns,” said Shahi. “In the past, air-conditioners were unheard of in villages, but that is no longer the case.” These climatic changes are taking place at such a rapid pace that even scientists did not foresee what would come next. “Climate science is a highly uncertain subject as a number of variables regulate the climate of a region. The science behind the interactions between these variables and how they collectively influence the overall climate is extremely complex,” explained Banerjee. Illustrating this complexity, he stated, “To classify it as climate change rather than climate variability, a sufficiently large dataset of required duration (say 30 years) is necessary." However, with the gradual progress in scientific knowledge in climate change science and continuous improvements in sensing technology, especially in satellite-based measurements and climate models, scientists are developing a better understanding of the complex climatic interactions. “As researchers gain access to improved climate datasets, encompassing both observations and modelling studies, it has become apparent how the climate is changing over a region,” Banerjee said. The government and scientific community are actively working to mitigate and alleviate the impact of climate change. The government is actively promoting crop diversification as a means to reduce the risk of complete crop failure. Furthermore, climate-smart crops such as millets are being promoted to combat environmental stress and ensure the resilience of agroecosystems. A new and improved variety of wheat is currently being developed as the crop is one of the worst affected by climate change. “The months of February and March are critical for wheat cultivation as the size of the grains depends on temperature and moisture. Higher than normal temperatures shrink the size of wheat, impacting both the quantity and quality of the produce,” explains Shahi whose areas of specialisation include soil fertility, micronutrient, and soil pollution. Despite the significant increases in climate action at both the multilateral and individual country levels, experts believe there might be something that is being overlooked.

Lack of clear-cut policies slow down solar rooftop projects say experts

Discoms feeling uncomfortable with increasing solar footprint, policies governing solar energy sector being unclear, and slow uptake of rooftop solar power systems -- these are some of the issues holding back the growth of solar energy in the country. In a webinar organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Wednesday to better understand net metering for consumers in India, which is considered crucial for increasing private investments in solar energy, experts discussed the various problems affecting the sector and the way forward. Explaining the concept of net metering while moderating the online discussion, Maitreyi Karthik, deputy programme manager of renewable energy at CSE, said it applies to consumers who have a grid connection with enough rooftop space and load available at a particular location. One of the participants, bureaucrat Manu Srivastava pointed out that power consumers are currently facing a number of problems that has slowed down the growth of solar energy sector in India. "The biggest reason is the resistance shown by discoms. And the way to overcome this is moving away from net metering, which gives all the advantage to the consumers to net billing, which also takes into consideration the interests of discoms. In net billing, the rates are flexible and decided by discoms," said Srivastava, principal secretary, technical education, skill development and employment department of Madhya Pradesh government. Jay C Shiv, programme director, renewable energy, CSE, said: "Installation of more than 53 gigawatt (GW) of ground-mounted solar PV has been achieved against the target of 60 GW; however, the progress for solar rooftop projects is only 9 GW against the target of 40 GW." A parliamentary panel, in a report in March, attributed low installation of solar rooftop and wind energy projects as key reasons for the shortfall in achieving India's renewable energy capacity target by 2022. However, renewable energy capacity of 120.90 GW has been installed in the country as of December 31, 2022 which is about 69 per cent of the overall target, the Standing Committee on Energy said in its report. Meanwhile, Tirupur-based solar energy company Mangla Smart Energy Solutions CEO Vimal Kumar, another participant, said the government should look beyond capital subsidy. "I think there should be a stronger, technically sound policy for the entire country," he opined. Kumar also felt that the intentions should be well thought out when framing billing mechanisms. "For instance, in Tamil Nadu there is something called network charges, which is 1.48 paise for a unit generated. This is very high and this charge is also calculated on the expected units – which are mostly more than the actual ones shown on the inverter," Kumar said. He also flagged the lengthy and time-consuming process for approvals of larger capacity rooftop solar setups. Sunit Mathur, general manager of Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited, agreed that solar energy sector lacks a level playing field. Despite it being clean, green, and sustainable, the solar sector does not have clear-cut policies to support its growth, he added. Besides, Srivastava also chimed in saying that constant changes in policies confuse the consumers. "To give an example, in the net metering, initially the consumers were allowed 1 MW. This came down to 10 KW, which was nothing. Now, the 2020 amendment of the Electricity (Rights of Consumer) Rules, minimum is set at 500 KW, with states given the right to decide what is best for them. This can be very confusing to people," he added. Kumar summed up the webinar stating that before going for energy sustainability, the country needs to work on a sustainable policy first. "And the government should do what it can to encourage people, as the return on investment in this sector can be achieved only in 10 to 12 years. For instance, there is a lot of talk on giving some kind of special privileges to people who have signed up for both electric vehicles and solar photovoltaics in Tamil Nadu. This can be a game changer here," the solar energy firm owner said.

India's sweltering heat waves cause unbearable suffering

Blistering heat has taken a toll on people's lives in large parts of India as temperatures went as high as 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in recent weeks. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a heat wave alert for some states across the South Asian nation this month. The agency warned that sizzling temperatures will continue until rains bring some relief. The southwest monsoon was slightly delayed this year and is expected to hit in the first week of June, causing temperatures to stay high longer than usual, it said. "Yes, the temperatures in some places have crossed the threshold limit in parts of the county," D S Pai, a scientist at the IMD, told DW. Who are the most affected? The searing heat forced many people to seek refuge indoors. But the poor and daily-wage laborers employed in outdoor work such as in the construction sector have been the worst-hit. They usually have no choice but to continue toiling in the sweltering heat to make ends meet and also lack access to cooling solutions like fans and air conditioners. "A large proportion of our population is highly vulnerable to heat waves due to the possession of fewer household amenities as well as lower rates of literacy and access to water and sanitation," Sunita Narain, director of the Center for Science and Environment in Delhi, told DW. The extreme weather conditions can also cause health issues and even deaths. In April, 13 people died from heatstroke and over 12 others suffered from heat-related illnesses in the western state of Maharashtra after attending a public event organized by the state government. A 2021 study by the country's top meteorologists found that heat waves have claimed more than 17,000 lives in 50 years in India. How is climate change impacting the heat? The main summer months — from April to June — are always hot in most parts of India. But temperatures have become more intense in the past decade. South Asia as a whole is considered among the most vulnerable to climate change in the world. A study published earlier this month by World Weather Attribution, an academic group that examines the source of extreme heat, found that heat waves in the region were made at least 30 times more likely by climate change. Scientists say temperatures are at least 2 degrees C (3.6 degrees F) hotter in South Asia than in pre-industrial times because of climate change. What happens if current trends continue? If current warming trends continue, temperatures will rise so high that the human body's ability to maintain a stable internal temperature and expel excess heat through sweating could be significantly compromised, said experts like Krishna AchutaRao, a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology's center for atmospheric sciences in New Delhi. This will lead to heat stress, heat exhaustion and even life-threatening conditions like heatstroke, they added. "This heat wave has been deadly and studies have shown that climate change exacerbated it not only in terms of temperature but also in terms of the increased humidity — with the heat index 2 degrees Celsius warmer than without climate change," AchutaRao pointed out. He warned that India would face more frequent and intense heat waves in future, affecting everything from jobs and power production to water and food supply. Abinash Mohanty, sector head of climate change and sustainability at IPE-Global, an international development organization, said the latest heat wave in India was a "classic example" of how climate change is negatively affecting the lives and livelihoods of people. "India is going to lose 34 million jobs by 2030 only because of heat waves. Agricultural productivity is going to reduce. It will make a dent in food security, the supply cold chain and the economic sector," he underlined. "The time has come to strengthen local climate action across heat stress districts and cities" with strong government policies, Mohanty said. "The heat action (HAP) plans are a good start, but they need to be backed by policy and financial support to make India heat- wave-ready," he added.

India’s sweltering heatwaves cause unbearable suffering

Experts call for urgent action to prepare vulnerable communities and protect them from the heat’s disastrous impacts. Blistering heat has taken a toll on people’s lives in large parts of India as temperatures went as high as 45 degrees Celsius in recent weeks. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a heat wave alert for some states across the nation in May. The agency warned that sizzling temperatures will continue until rains bring some relief. The southwest monsoon was slightly delayed this year and is expected to hit in the first week of June, causing temperatures to stay high longer than usual, it said. “Yes, the temperatures in some places have crossed the threshold limit in parts of the county,” D S Pai, a scientist at IMD, told DW. Who are the most affected? The searing heat forced many people to seek refuge indoors. But the poor and daily-wage labourers employed in outdoor work such as in the construction sector have been the worst-hit. They usually have no choice but to continue toiling in the sweltering heat to make ends meet and also lack access to cooling solutions like fans and air conditioners. “A large proportion of our population is highly vulnerable to heat waves due to the possession of fewer household amenities as well as lower rates of literacy and access to water and sanitation,” Sunita Narain, director of the Centre for Science and Environment in Delhi, told DW. The extreme weather conditions can also cause health issues and even deaths. In April, 13 people died from heatstroke and over 12 others suffered from heat-related illnesses in Maharashtra after attending a public event organised by the state government. A 2021 study by the country’s top meteorologists found that heat waves have claimed more than 17,000 lives in 50 years in India. How is climate change impacting the heat? The main summer months—from April to June—are always hot in most parts of India. But temperatures have become more intense in the past decade. South Asia as a whole is considered among the most vulnerable to climate change in the world. A study published earlier in May by World Weather Attribution, an academic group that examines the source of extreme heat, found that heat waves in the region were made at least 30 times more likely by climate change. Scientists say temperatures are at least 2°C hotter in South Asia than in pre-industrial times because of climate change. What happens if current trends continue? If current warming trends continue, temperatures will rise so high that the human body’s ability to maintain a stable internal temperature and expel excess heat through sweating could be significantly compromised, said experts like Krishna AchutaRao, a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology’s Centre for Atmospheric Sciences in New Delhi. This will lead to heat stress, heat exhaustion and even life-threatening conditions like heatstroke, they added. “This heat wave has been deadly and studies have shown that climate change exacerbated it not only in terms of temperature but also in terms of the increased humidity — with the heat index 2°C warmer than without climate change,” AchutaRao pointed out. He warned that India would face more frequent and intense heat waves in the future, affecting everything from jobs and power production to water and food supply. Abinash Mohanty, sector head of climate change and sustainability at IPE-Global, an international development organisation, said the latest heat wave in India was a “classic example” of how climate change is negatively affecting the lives and livelihoods of people. “India is going to lose 34 million jobs by 2030 only because of heat waves. Agricultural productivity is going to reduce. It will make a dent in food security, the supply cold chain and the economic sector,” he underlined. “The time has come to strengthen local climate action across heat stress districts and cities” with strong government policies, Mohanty said. “The heat action (HAP) plans are a good start, but they need to be backed by policy and financial support to make India heat- wave-ready,” he added. What can India do to cope with extreme heat? Scientists worldwide also say drastic measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are necessary to control the fast-rising global temperatures. India is currently the third-highest emitter of planet-warming gases. But its per capita carbon footprint is far lower compared to Western industrialised nations. According to the World Bank, India emits on average about two tons of CO2 per person every year, compared to around seven tons per person in the European Union and 15 in the United States. Earth’s surface temperature is currently on track to rise 2.7°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100. Such an increase is expected to push over 2 billion people worldwide well outside the climate comfort zone, researchers warned in a Nature Sustainability report published last week. As many as 600 million of these people will be in India, they said. Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, said India needed to gather sufficient data to identify the most vulnerable regions and put in place effective policies to deal with the problem. “India needs a long-term vision where we have policies that help us in managing our work hours, public infrastructure, schools, hospitals, workplaces, houses, transportation, and agriculture to cope with the future heat waves.”

What CSE expects from Global Plastic Treaty negotiations — the issues & politics

Inger Andersen, executive-director of UNEP, addressing the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee during its second session in Paris, France. Photo: @andersen_inger / Twitter Plastic is a non-renewable product and is just another form of fossil fuel, equally responsible for environmental pollution and climate crisis. Every aspect of its life cycle — from extraction to final disposal — has the potential to fuel climate change. For decades, plastic pollution has been misunderstood and underestimated to be a waste mismanagement issue — a problem to be solved through technological interventions. The petroleum and petrochemicals industry argues that it is not a part of this problem, and most of our national legislations have been taken in by this argument. As a result, all our efforts have been directed towards the downstream end of the plastic life cycle. Governments have mobilised funds to ‘manage plastic waste’, while the production has kept on increasing exponentially. We have produced more plastics in the last 10 years than in the last century! The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution is in the process of developing “an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment”. After its first session, the Secretariat of Governing Bodies and Stakeholders had invited written submissions from major groups and stakeholders. Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), being one of the accredited NGOs with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), had made a written submission that was acknowledged by the INC Secretariat and uploaded on the UNEP portal for public information. CSE’S SUBMISSION TO INC SECRETARIAT CSE’s submission focused on the objectives and the core obligations, control measures and voluntary approaches. The submission mentioned the following points: The objective of the instrument (International legally binding instrument, informally known as the Global Plastic Treaty or GPT) should clearly define its scope to end plastic pollution, and plan to reduce (over a period of ‘X’ years) production and consumption of plastics and chemicals used in plastics, especially by businesses It is important to identify and stop the production of non-recyclable (terminologies used in the UNEA options paper are problematic / unnecessary / avoidable) plastics like carry (carrier) bags and multi-layered packaging material Certain priority sectors like packaging have been using an unsustainable quantum of plastics (typically single-use) — they should be regulated and have to be incorporated in the National Action Plans (NAP) and the national reporting system under implementation measures Under core obligations, transparency with respect to production, consumption and import / export of plastic and plastic waste has to be created and nurtured at a global level Control measures have to be focused on differentiating between recycling and disposal (waste-to-energy and co-incineration) technologies. Many countries have expressed that compostable and biodegradable plastics are the solutions to the plastic crisis. However, it should be brought to the knowledge of the member states that bioplastics come with their own set of challenges and do little to tackle the plastic problem at source As the second session of INC is underway, CSE lists out its expectations from the final document: DEMANDS FOR STRONG GLOBAL PLASTIC TREATY (GPT) GPT to end plastic pollution including in the marine environment covers the entire life cycle of plastic, and rightly so. The entire life cycle (upstream, midstream and downstream) of plastic encompasses: Upstream: Extraction of raw materials like crude oil and gas; Refining the crude oil in petrochemical companies; Polymer / plastic industry involved in plastic production Midstream: Businesses using plastics for profits, their distribution channels, including retailers and street vendors Downstream: Waste management with respect to plastic for instance, segregation, collection, storage; Mechanical recycling of plastic; End of life disposal of plastic waste, such as co-processing and waste-to-energy We list some major issues the treaty negotiations should focus on and also raise flags about the politics we should be aware of at all points of time. Upstream What kind of plastic gets manufactured / produced What chemicals are used for production Oil & gas majors and their economic interest in increased production of polymers Plastic-producing majors and their economic interest in unsustainable production of polymers Midstream Plastic products should be designed for reuse and recyclability. This would mean phasing out all the non-recyclable plastics The narrative of “problematic / unnecessary / avoidable” plastics — terminologies used in the options for elements paper by UNEP — should be replaced with “non-recyclable”. This is because the terminologies used by UNEP may be interpreted differently by different stakeholders Disposal (incineration) and mechanical recycling are used interchangeably by the petroleum, petrochemical and the plastic industry. There should be a clear definition of what we mean by recycling and an exclusion of ‘end of life disposal’ technologies like co-processing / co-incineration and waste to energy from the word recycling Opacity in chemicals used by the polymer industry. The same Low density polyethylene that is used to make milk packets is also used to make our shampoo bottles and our multilayered packaging material. The plastic / polymer material remains the same, but exhibits a variety of physical and chemical properties such as flexibility, form, colour, among others. The variation in the properties is a result of the chemicals that are added to the base polymer. Of the 10,000 chemicals that are used by businesses, most of the chemicals are not known. At least 2,500 of the known chemicals are scientifically proven to have adverse health impacts Downstream Reuse and recycling are the technological solutions. Reuse makes more sense as per the waste management hierarchy. However, products are not designed to be recyclable as businesses do not have liability for the plastic they introduce in the market Stay away from compostable and biodegradable plastics. Bureau of Indian Standards in April 2023 issued a statement that warned about any claims of biodegradable plastics made by companies being false, it further said research on biodegradable plastics is ongoing not only in India but across the globe Recycling may not be the ultimate solution to the plastic crisis. For instance as per a Greenpeace report-the USA recycles 5 per cent of its plastic waste. As per a CSE report, India recycles 13 per cent of its plastic waste. It is known that most of the plastic waste generated in the Global North is incinerated and not recycled, and yet claimed to be recycled The so-called recycling symbol on all plastic products (even on non-recyclable plastics). The recycling symbol on every plastic product has nothing to do with recycling The narrative that the plastic crisis is strictly a “waste management problem” needs to change. The problem of plastics is much more complicated. It is a concoction of unsustainable production issues, human health issues, environmental issues and much more We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/waste/plastic-free-planet-what-cse-expects-from-global-plastic-treaty-negotiations-the-issues-politics-89625

Mukesh Ambani Joins COP28 Advisory Committee to Address Climate Crisis

Renowned Indian business tycoon Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and CEO of Reliance Industries, has been appointed to the Advisory Committee to the President of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Alongside esteemed global leaders, Ambani will play a crucial role in shaping the agenda and providing guidance in addressing the urgent climate crisis. This article highlights the significance of his appointment and the upcoming COP28 conference in Dubai. COP28 and the UNFCCC The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the highest decision-making body of the UNFCCC, established to combat the escalating threat of climate change. COP28 is set to take place in Dubai Expo City from November 30 to December 12, 2023. The host country for this edition is the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Ambani’s Appointment to COP28 Advisory Committee Mukesh Ambani’s selection to serve on the Advisory Committee to the President of COP28 is a significant milestone. As the only Indian representative alongside Sunita Narain, Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment, Ambani’s expertise will contribute to the committee’s efforts to address climate change challenges. Global Leaders on the COP28 Advisory Council The COP28 Advisory Council comprises esteemed global leaders from diverse backgrounds, including Larry Fink (Chairman and CEO of BlackRock), Olafur Grimsson (Chairman of the Arctic Circle), Laurent Fabius (President of COP21/Paris Agreement, Former Prime Minister of France), Francesco La Camera (Director General of IRENA), and Bob Dudley (Chair of OGCI, Former CEO of BP). COP28 UAE Advisory Committee The COP28 UAE Advisory Committee consists of 31 members representing policy, business, energy, finance, civil society, youth, and humanitarian action. With 65 percent of its members hailing from the Global South, the committee ensures diverse perspectives and expertise from across six continents.

Impact of vehicle scrapping policy on the growing EV market. Factors to keep in mind

India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and is home to over 1.4 billion people. Now, even overtaking the population in China. With this and an expanding middle class and rising incomes, there has been a significant increase in the number of vehicles on the country’s roads. However, this growth has come at a cost, with India ranking among the most polluted countries in the world. According to a report published by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in 2020, India has the largest number of old vehicles in the world, with an estimated 37 million vehicles that are more than 15 years old. This number is expected to increase to over 50 million by 2025 if no action is taken. In order to curb this, the Indian government has introduced a Vehicle Scrapping Policy that aims to phase out old and polluting vehicles from the roads. This policy was announced in March 2021, with an aim to phase out old and polluting vehicles and incentivize the purchase of new vehicles, including electric ones. According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, there were over 51 lakh commercial vehicles, 34 lakh private cars, and 17 lakh two-wheelers in India that are over 15 years old and are likely to be scrapped under the policy. Infact, recently the Union Budget for 2023-2024 has also laid special emphasis on the vehicle scrapping policy. Why vehicle scrapping is essential for a country like India Vehicle emissions are a significant contributor to air pollution in India, and old vehicles in particular emit high levels of pollutants that can have serious health impacts. The vehicle scrapping policy aims to reduce pollution levels and improve air quality by phasing out these old vehicles and replacing them with newer, more efficient, and cleaner ones. The policy also aims to improve road safety by mandating fitness tests for vehicles that are more than 15-20 years old. This is because old vehicles are more prone to breakdowns and accidents due to worn-out parts and outdated technology. In addition to this, the scrapping policy is expected to stimulate demand for new vehicles, including electric ones, which will create new jobs and encourage economic growth. The government has announced several incentives to encourage the scrapping of old vehicles and the purchase of new ones, which will further boost the automotive industry and related sectors. While this policy has implications for the entire automotive industry, it has particular significance for the growing EV market. These efforts help promote sustainable and environmentally friendly modes of transportation, and reduce India’s dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Having said that, it is important to dig deeper and understand how the vehicle scrapping policy can have both positive and negative impacts on the EV market. Vehicle Scapping Policy Effect on the EV Market – A Closer Look With time, more and more people are realising their choices have a major impact on the climate and transportation ecosystem. As a result of that and the government’s efforts, we are likely to witness – 1. Increased Demand for EVs As the vehicle scrapping policy incentivizes the purchase of new vehicles, including EVs, it is likely to drive demand for EVs. This will be particularly true for consumers who are looking to replace their old vehicles with new ones. Incentives such as lower taxes, reduced registration fees, and attractive financing options for EVs can encourage more consumers to make the switch to electric. 2. Lower Demand for Used Vehicles The vehicle scrapping policy will likely lead to a decrease in the demand for used vehicles. This is because many of the vehicles that will be scrapped under the policy are older models, which are often resold as used vehicles. With fewer used vehicles available in the market, consumers may be more inclined to buy new vehicles, including EVs. 3. Increased Availability of Scrap Material The vehicle scrapping policy will lead to the availability of more scrap materials such as batteries, motors, and other EV components. This could drive down the cost of producing EVs as manufacturers can source components at a lower cost. 4. Creation of a Secondhand EV Market As more older vehicles are scrapped, there is a possibility that a secondhand EV market may emerge. This could provide an affordable option for consumers who may not be able to afford a new EV. However, it is important to note that the availability of secondhand EVs will depend on how quickly the market for new EVs grows. Driving Towards a Greener Future: Obstacles to be overcomed 1. Charging Infrastructure Sufficient charging infrastructure is necessary to meet the demand for EVs. The government should incentivize the installation of more charging stations in both urban and rural areas. 2. Affordability & Quality EVs are pretty new and currently more expensive than traditional vehicles. Both government and manufacturers need to gain confidence of the public in general that EVs are a good option to opt for. While the government should continue to provide incentives to make EVs more affordable for consumers, manufacturers should prioritize safety, performance, and reliability when producing EVs. 3. Recycling and Disposal Proper systems should be in place for the recycling and disposal of EV components to minimize the impact of EVs on the environment and ensure the industry’s sustainability. Although the policy is a great nitative and has received support from various stakeholders, including the government, the automotive industry, and international organizations; an effective implementation, public awareness, and collaboration between stakeholders will be critical to ensure that it remains successful.

Explained: How a deficient monsoon will impact interest rates

Explained: How a deficient monsoon will impact interest rates India had already suffered economic loss due to extreme weather conditions last year because of which food prices remain elevated forcing the RBI to hike the policy rate by 250 basis points between May 2022 and February 2023. Explained: How a deficient monsoon will impact interest rates India had already suffered economic loss due to extreme weather conditions last year because of which food prices remain elevated forcing the RBI to hike the policy rate by 250 basis points between May 2022 and February 2023. Explained: How a deficient monsoon will impact interest rates India had already suffered economic loss due to extreme weather conditions last year because of which food prices remain elevated forcing the RBI to hike the policy rate by 250 basis points between May 2022 and February 2023.

Odisha’s PVTGs, and challenges to overcome malnutrition

Malnutrition is one of the leading causes of death among children under five years of age in India. The country’s rural areas, where poverty is widespread, are most affected. However, Odisha’s Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) are reversing this trend. A focus on nutrition has led to better health outcomes for children in remote areas. According to a report by Down to Earth, a science and environment magazine, the state government’s interventions have helped reduce malnutrition in the PVTGs. In one village, the prevalence of underweight children dropped from 60% to 13% in four years. The government’s efforts included providing fortified food and supplements, creating awareness about the importance of hygiene and nutrition, and training local health workers to diagnose and treat malnourished children. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/governance/particularly-vulnerable-tribes-how-a-focus-on-nutrition-tipped-the-health-scale-for-children-in-remote-odisha-88749 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) India’s Union Budget 2023-24, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has allocated significant funds towards developing Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in the country including in Odisha. The state is home to 13 out of the 75 PVTGs in India, scattered across remote and inaccessible areas. These marginalized communities face significant challenges due to factors such as land alienation, displacement, and lack of access to basic amenities and services, including education and healthcare. The state has been at the forefront of efforts to promote their development. Keonjhar District According to a recent report by the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), the Keonjhar district has some of the poorest child health indicators in Odisha. The report found that the district had a high prevalence of stunting (low height for age) and wasting (low weight for height) among children under five years of age. The report also found that the district had a high infant mortality rate, with 42 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. This recommends that future programmes should address these challenges to ensure sustainability and effectiveness. One of the main reasons for the poor child health indicators in Keonjhar is the lack of access to basic amenities and services. The district has a large tribal population, many of whom live in remote and inaccessible areas, making it difficult to provide them with basic amenities such as healthcare, clean drinking water, and sanitation. The lack of adequate infrastructure and resources in the district has also contributed to poor child health outcomes. In Odisha, the state government has launched several initiatives to provide basic amenities to PVTGs and improve their living conditions. One such initiative is the “PVTG Empowerment and Livelihoods Improvement Programme”. The program aims to improve the livelihoods of PVTGs by providing them with financial assistance and training in agriculture and other income-generating activities. Furthermore, provide basic amenities such as healthcare, education, and sanitation to PVTGs living in remote and inaccessible areas. In addition, the “Maa Tarini Livelihood Mission,” aims to provide livelihood support to PVTGs and other marginalized communities. The mission provides financial assistance and training to individuals and groups engaged in income-generating activities such as handicrafts, agriculture, and animal husbandry. One of the key initiatives for providing amenities to PVTGs is the Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana, which was launched by the Indian government in 2014. The scheme aims to provide basic amenities such as education, health care, drinking water, and sanitation to PVTGs living in remote and inaccessible areas. The scheme also provides financial assistance to these communities for livelihood development, capacity building, and infrastructure development.

Mukesh Ambani joins global business leaders in COP28 Advisory Committee

Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries, has been appointed as the member of Advisory Committee to the President of the 28th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Mukesh Ambani joined other important global leaders on the COP28 Advisory Council such as Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock, Olafur Grimsson, Chairman of Arctic Circle (Former President of Iceland), Laurent Fabius, President of COP21 / Paris Agreement, Former Prime Minister of France, Francesco La Camera, Director General, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Bob Dudley, Chair of the Oil & Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI), former CEO of BP. Mukesh Ambani is the only Indian, other than Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment, on the Advisory Committee to the President of COP28. The COP28 UAE Advisory Committee brings together the climate expertise of thought leaders from countries across six continents. Representing policy, industry, energy, finance, civil society, youth, and humanitarian action, the 31 members of the Committee, of which 65 per cent are from the Global South, will provide guidance and counsel to the COP Presidency in the run up to COP28 and beyond. The UNFCCC Secretariat announced in January 2023 appointed Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change, as COP 28 President-Designate. UAE has been chosen to host the 28th session of the Conference of Parties (COP 28) to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) from November 30, 2023 to December 12, 2023. It will be held at Dubai Expo City.

COP28: मुकेश अंबानी सीओपी28 के अध्यक्ष की सलाहकार समिति के सदस्य नियुक्त, इन नेताओं की लिस्ट में हुए शामिल

रिलायंस इंडस्ट्रीज के अध्यक्ष और प्रबंध निदेशक मुकेश अंबानी को जलवायु परिवर्तन पर संयुक्त राष्ट्र फ्रेमवर्क कन्वेंशन (यूएनएफसीसीसी) के लिए कॉन्फ्रेंस ऑफ पार्टीज के 28 वें सत्र (सीओपी 28) के अध्यक्ष की सलाहकार समिति का सदस्य नियुक्त किया गया है। सीओपी 28 के अध्यक्ष की सलाहकार समिति में सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट की महानिदेशक सुनीता नारायण के अलावा मुकेश अंबानी एकमात्र भारतीय हैं। रिलायंस प्रमुख अंबानी सीओपी 28 सलाहकार परिषद में शामिल होकर ब्लैकरॉक के अध्यक्ष और सीईओ लैरी फिंक, आर्कटिक सर्कल के अध्यक्ष ओलाफर ग्रिमसन (आइसलैंड के पूर्व राष्ट्रपति), सीओपी 21/पेरिस समझौते के अध्यक्ष लॉरेंट फैबियस, फ्रांस के पूर्व प्रधान मंत्री और अंतर्राष्ट्रीय नवीकरणीय ऊर्जा एजेंसी (आईआरईएनए) के महानिदेशक फ्रांसेस्को ला कैमरा और तेल और गैस जलवायु पहल (ओजीसीआई) के अध्यक्ष, बीपी के पूर्व सीईओ बॉब डुडले जैसे वैश्विक नेताओं की सूची में शामिल हो गए हैं।

Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani joins advisory committee of global climate change panel COP28

Besides Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment, Ambani is the only Indian who has been appointed on the Advisory Committee to the President of COP28. Billionaire Mukesh Ambani has been appointed as the member of Advisory Committee to the President of the 28th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), news agency IANS reported. Ambani, the Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries joined the likes of other important global leaders on the COP28 Advisory Council such as Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock, Olafur Grimsson, Chairman of Arctic Circle (Former President of Iceland), Laurent Fabius, President of COP21 / Paris Agreement, Former Prime Minister of France, Francesco La Camera, Director General, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Bob Dudley, Chair of the Oil & Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI), former CEO of BP. Besides Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment, Ambani is the only Indian who has been appointed on the Advisory Committee to the President of COP28. The COP28 UAE Advisory Committee brings together climate experts from six continents. The 31 members of the Committee, who represent policy, industry, energy, finance, civil society, youth, and humanitarian and 65 percent of whom are from the Global South, will provide guidance and counsel to the COP Presidency in the run-up to COP28 and beyond. In January 2023, the UNFCCC Secretariat announced Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change, as the COP 28 President-Designate. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been chosen to host the 28th Conference of Parties (COP 28) to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) from November 30 to December 12, 2023. It will take place at Dubai Expo City.

Opinion: Tackling Doom Loops Of Climate Change For Sustainable Development

As environment Day is approaching on 5th June, It provides an appropriate time for reflection on climate change, exerting multifaceted adverse impacts on the economic, social, and cultural spheres of our lives. Recent extreme weather events such as severe draughts followed by catastrophic floods in Pakistan, the worst recorded drought in Europe in five centuries, ferocious cyclones such as the Bomb cyclones in the USA, the cycle Freddy in the Southern Indian Ocean region, and the typhoon Hinnamnor in South Korea and Japan are all related to the adverse effects of climate change. According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) estimates, India recorded extreme weather events on more than eighty-eight percent of days in the first nine months of 2022. The changing weather patterns, including increased fluctuations in Monsoons, producing long dry periods and short spells of heavy rains, can be linked to climate change. The geographical location, long coastline, a large share of the population dependent on agriculture, and dependence on monsoons for most of its rainfall, among other factors, make India highly susceptible to the adverse effects of climate change and global warming. The Overseas Development Institute (ODI) estimates that India might have already lost about 3 percent of its gross-domestic-product (GDP) at current levels of global warming and risks losing up to ten percent of its GDP in the extreme case of a temperature increase by 3oC over pre-industrial levels. The urgency of climate corrective actions is further warranted by the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) synthesis report pointing that the temperature increase due to global warming has already reached 1.1oC and is approaching 1.5oC faster than predicted. Tackling climate change becomes more daunting due to the presence of doom loops- self-reinforcing vicious loops- among the causes and consequences of climate change, implying that climate change, if left unaddressed, can self-perpetuate itself at higher levels with higher adverse impacts.

Mukesh Ambani joins Advisory Committee of global climate change panel COP28

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani has been appointed as a member of the Advisory Committee to the President of the 28th Session of the Conference of the Parties ( COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), according to an IANS report. Ambani joins other prominent global leaders on the COP28 Advisory Council, including Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock, and Olafur Grimsson, Chairman of the Arctic Circle and Former President of Iceland. Apart from Sunita Narain, Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment, on the COP28 Advisory Committee, Ambani is the only Indian representative on the international climate change forum, the report added. The COP28 UAE Advisory Committee aims to harness the climate knowledge of influential figures from various countries across six continents. Comprising 31 members representing policy, industry, energy, finance, civil society, youth, and humanitarian action, with 65 percent hailing from the Global South, the Committee will provide guidance and counsel to the COP Presidency in the lead-up to COP28 and beyond In January 2023, the UNFCCC Secretariat appointed Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, the UAE's Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy for Climate Change, as the President-Designate for COP28. The UAE has been selected as the host for the 28th session of the Conference of Parties (COP 28) to the UNFCCC, scheduled to take place from November 30 to December 12, 2023, at Dubai Expo City. Ambani's inclusion in the COP28 Advisory Committee reinforces India's commitment to addressing climate change and its active participation in global climate negotiations. As a key figure in the business and energy sectors, the Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries will bring insights and contribute to shaping international climate policies and actions to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Delhi’s Karol Bagh stretch no longer a pedestrian haven, chaos is back

Karol Bagh’s Ajmal Khan Road is synonymous with readymade garment shops, and is packed with shoppers at all times of the day. In 2016, the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA) proposed that Karol Bagh be made pedestrian-friendly, and as part of the project, the erstwhile North Delhi Municipal Corporation or North MCD suggested that Ajmal Khan road be treated along the lines of an open-air mall, and in April 2019 declared the entire 1.7km stretch a motorised vehicle free zone. ... of an open-air mall, and in April 2019 declared the entire 1.7km stretch a ... Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Ajmal Khan Road in May 2019...

दिल्ली का करोल बाग इलाका अब पैदल चलने वालों के लिए सुरक्षित ठिकाना नहीं, अराजकता वापस आ गई है | ताजा खबर दिल्ली

करोल बाग का अजमल खान रोड रेडीमेड कपड़ों की दुकानों का पर्याय है, और दिन के हर समय खरीदारों से भरा रहता है। 2016 में, केंद्रीय आवास और शहरी मामलों के मंत्रालय (एमओएचयूए) ने प्रस्तावित किया कि करोल बाग को पैदल यात्रियों के अनुकूल बनाया जाए, और परियोजना के हिस्से के रूप में, तत्कालीन उत्तरी दिल्ली नगर निगम या उत्तरी एमसीडी ने सुझाव दिया कि अजमल खान सड़क को लाइनों के साथ व्यवहार किया जाए। एक ओपन-एयर मॉल का, और अप्रैल 2019 में पूरे 1.7 किमी के हिस्से को मोटर चालित वाहन मुक्त क्षेत्र घोषित किया। वाहनों पर अंकुश ने चमत्कार किया – मई 2019 में सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) द्वारा अजमल खान रोड पर किए गए एक स्थानीय अध्ययन में पास के आर्य समाज रोड की तुलना में PM2.5 एकाग्रता में 27% की कमी देखी गई। इसी तरह, अजमल खान रोड पर आसपास की सड़कों की तुलना में शोर का स्तर भी कम पाया गया। जल्द ही, नॉर्थ एमसीडी ने अजमल खान रोड को राजधानी में आंतरिक सड़कों को पैदल चलने के लिए नागरिक निकाय के प्रयासों में एक दुर्लभ सफलता के रूप में घोषित करना शुरू कर दिया। 2023 तक कटौती, और वाहन प्रतिबंध लगभग गायब हो गए हैं। सड़क के दोनों सिरों पर पोस्टर हैं जो स्पष्ट रूप से बताते हैं कि सड़क वाहनों के लिए प्रतिबंधित है, जिसमें उज्ज्वल, बोल्ड अक्षरों में “नो एंट्री, नो पार्किंग” लिखा हुआ है, लेकिन स्थानीय निवासी, व्यापारी और दुकानदार अपने वाहनों में सड़क पर प्रवेश करते हैं, और वहां बेधड़क पार्क करते हैं। फुटपाथों पर दुकानों और फेरीवालों द्वारा कब्जा कर लिया गया है, और थोड़ी सी जगह बची है जहां आमतौर पर दोपहिया वाहन खड़े किए जाते हैं। पैदल चलने वालों के पास चलने के लिए कहीं नहीं है, लेकिन सड़क पर ही, जहां उन्हें आमतौर पर कारों को चकमा देना पड़ता है – चलती और खड़ी दोनों – यहां तक ​​​​कि दोपहिया वाहन पहले से ही भीड़भाड़ वाले स्थान पर लापरवाही से चलते हैं। पैदल चलने की पहल का अंतिम अवशेष – सड़क के किनारे लगाए गए प्लांटर्स – को डस्टबिन और स्पिटल पेल में बदल दिया गया है, जबकि कारों को पार्क करने के लिए जगह बनाने के लिए पैदल मार्गों पर बेंचों को मोटे तौर पर अलग कर दिया गया है। बाजार के एक व्यापारी देविंदर कोहली ने कहा कि परियोजना का विफल होना तय है। “आदतों को बदलना बहुत मुश्किल है। सुरक्षा के मुद्दों के कारण लोग महंगा सामान पैदल और फिर ऑफ-स्ट्रीट पार्किंग साइट पर नहीं ले जाना चाहते हैं। कोई भुगतान नहीं करना चाहता ₹100 पास की सड़कों पर पार्क करने के लिए। उन्हें इसे (पैदल यात्रीकरण परियोजना) एक अच्छी तरह से स्थापित बाजार के बजाय एक नए बाजार में आजमाना चाहिए था, ”उन्होंने कहा। पैदल यात्री करोल बाग का विचार कम से कम 2010 का है, जब यूनिफाइड ट्रैफिक एंड ट्रांसपोर्टेशन इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर (प्लानिंग एंड इंजीनियरिंग) सेंटर या UTTIPEC, जो कि DDA की इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर प्लानिंग शाखा है, ने MCD द्वारा पूरे वाणिज्यिक केंद्र बनाने के प्रस्ताव को मंजूरी दी थी। वाहन-मुक्त, ऑफ-स्ट्रीट पार्किंग के साथ। हालाँकि, बाजार संघों के कड़े प्रतिरोध के बाद योजना को अंततः वापस ले लिया गया। बाद में, जून 2016 में, MoHUA ने करोल बाग को एक मॉडल डिकॉन्गेस्टिंग प्रोजेक्ट के लिए चिन्हित किया। इस परियोजना के हिस्से के रूप में, एमसीडी ने अजमल खान रोड पर पैदल चलना शुरू किया – ऑन-स्ट्रीट पार्किंग का अनुबंध रद्द कर दिया गया था, और वाहनों के यातायात को रोकने के लिए सभी चौराहों पर बोलार्ड लगाए गए थे। खिंचाव की सौंदर्य गुणवत्ता को बढ़ाने के लिए सड़क पर गमलों में पौधे लगाए गए थे, दुकानदारों की सुविधा के लिए रणनीतिक स्थानों पर सड़क के फर्नीचर और बेंच प्रदान किए गए थे, और कूड़ेदान नियमित अंतराल पर स्थापित किए गए थे। इलेक्ट्रिक शटल – हवाई अड्डे के समान – भी दुकानदारों के लिए सड़क की लंबाई को पार करने और उन्हें ऑफ-स्ट्रीट पार्किंग स्थानों पर ले जाने के लिए पेश किए गए थे। आज, इनमें से अधिकांश हस्तक्षेप जीर्ण-शीर्ण अवस्था में हैं। 9 और 19 मई को स्पॉट चेक के दौरान, एचटी ने पाया कि वैलेट पार्किंग सेवा, जो दुकानदारों के वाहनों को ऑफ-स्ट्रीट साइटों पर पार्क करेगी, को बंद कर दिया गया है। बिजली के शटल अब केवल दुकानदारों को पास के करोल बाग मेट्रो स्टेशन तक ले जाते हैं। इस बीच, प्लांटर्स कचरे से भरे हुए हैं, जबकि कूड़ेदान खुद गायब हो गए हैं। व्यापार मंडल करोल बाग के प्रमुख मुरली मणि ने परियोजना की विफलता के लिए पूरी तरह से एमसीडी को जिम्मेदार ठहराया। “उन्होंने (नागरिक निकाय) मांग की कि एमसीडी का भुगतान किया जाए ₹ऑफ-स्ट्रीट पार्किंग के लिए प्रति माह 4.4 लाख, जो हमारे मूल समझौते का हिस्सा नहीं था। पास के शास्त्री पार्क में एक प्रस्तावित बहुमंजिला पार्किंग संरचना कानूनी पचड़ों में फंस गई है। इसके बाद व्यापारियों ने अपनी कारों को अपनी दुकानों के बाहर पार्क करना शुरू कर दिया। बेंचों, फुटपाथों और अन्य सड़क के फर्नीचर को अब तत्काल मरम्मत की आवश्यकता है। एमसीडी को भी रेलिंग लगाना शुरू कर देना चाहिए क्योंकि इनमें से कई बेंचों को वाहनों ने नुकसान पहुंचाया है। सभी प्रगति वापस लुढ़क गई है, ”उन्होंने कहा। दुकानदारों ने भी परियोजना की विफलता का रोना रोया। मयूर विहार निवासी 42 वर्षीय रीना गुप्ता, जो अक्सर बाजार आती हैं, ने कहा कि पैदल चलने की पहल के दौरान सड़क अधिक सुरक्षित महसूस हुई। “जब आपके पीछे कोई वाहन नहीं चल रहा हो तो कोई भी अधिक लापरवाह तरीके से चल सकता है। शहर से चेन स्नेचिंग की कई घटनाएं सामने आ रही हैं, ऐसे में भी सावधान रहने की जरूरत है। इससे पहले, बाजार बहुत अधिक नियंत्रित स्थान था,” उसने कहा। एमसीडी के एक प्रवक्ता ने कहा कि पैदल मार्ग पर उल्लंघनों को निगम द्वारा देखा जाएगा। “हम इन उल्लंघनों को रोकने के लिए एक और मजबूत प्रणाली बनाने की कोशिश करेंगे। हम यह भी जांच करेंगे कि पार्किंग प्रबंधन के संदर्भ में स्थानीय व्यापारी संघों के साथ क्या व्यवस्था की जा सकती है, और क्या लाजपत नगर की तरह राजस्व बंटवारे के आधार पर कुछ किया जा सकता है, ”प्रवक्ता ने कहा। एचटी ने दिल्ली ट्रैफिक पुलिस से संपर्क किया, लेकिन अधिकारियों ने पदयात्रा परियोजना के उल्लंघन पर टिप्पणी करने से इनकार कर दिया। सड़क सुरक्षा विशेषज्ञ सारिका पांडा भट्ट ने कहा कि पैदल यात्रीकरण परियोजनाओं में शहरों की जीवनक्षमता और स्थिरता में काफी सुधार करने की क्षमता है, इसलिए अजमल खान रोड परियोजना की विफलता के कारणों का मूल्यांकन करना महत्वपूर्ण है। “अजमल खान रोड का प्रारंभिक पैदल यात्रीकरण एक सकारात्मक कदम था, क्योंकि इसका उद्देश्य पैदल चलने वालों के लिए एक सुरक्षित और अधिक जीवंत स्थान बनाना था… पैदल चलने वाले क्षेत्र में वाहनों की वापसी और कार पार्किंग के लिए सड़क की चौड़ाई का उपयोग संबंधित है। यह पैदल चलने वालों को प्राथमिकता देने और परिवहन के स्थायी तरीकों को बढ़ावा देने के लिए निरंतर प्रतिबद्धता की कमी को दर्शाता है। यह सुनिश्चित करना महत्वपूर्ण है कि एक बार पैदल चलने की पहल लागू हो जाने के बाद, उन्हें लगातार लागू किया जाता है और इस तरह की पुनरावृत्ति को रोकने के लिए निगरानी की जाती है,” उसने कहा।