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Opinion | In Search of Home: Unfolding Reality of Climate Change Displacement in India

Climate change has been increasingly recognised as a significant driver of forced migration, as it, directly and indirectly, affects the habitability of certain areas, making them uninhabitable or unsustainable for human populations. Millions of individuals, communities and societies, over the last decade, have been compelled to leave their homes in search of food, life security and alternative livelihoods. To India, the story is no different. The frequency and severity of extreme weather events in India became a topic of concern with the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) reporting that India experienced almost one extreme weather event per day. The Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA) reports that approximately 45 million people in India alone, shall be compelled to migrate by 2050 due to climate disasters, with a threefold increase in current figures. NOT MY PROBLEM WON’T WORK Climate change displacement is not an individual problem but a multifaceted issue that affects communities, regions and countries. It strains social and political systems, exacerbating existing inequalities and creating new challenges for governance and public services. The cross-cutting issue often leads to consequences in the long term which are usually ignored. Often people and authorities do not take it seriously because it doesn’t impact them directly. But the long-term consequences are usually overlooked. These include population health of communities/regions, rapid urbanisation associated slum growth, and stalled development. Furthermore, displaced people frequently require access to essential resources and services like food, water, housing, healthcare, and education. This increased demand may tax local and national resources and result in higher service costs, putting additional strain on already stressed finances. he overall economic impacts of climate change displacement can be significant as disruptions in agriculture, fishing and tourism can result in reduced economic growth, increased poverty, and inequality. When families relocate, they lose contact with the land. As a result, the interdependence, efficiency, and economics of associated livelihood activities such as animal husbandry, poultry, dairy, and so on suffer. Disruption of agricultural activity can also result in higher food costs and decreased availability of specific crops, which can have repercussions on a country’s broader economy, including implications on food security, employment, and commerce. According to data from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), 3,856,000 individuals were displaced by environmental catastrophes in India in 2020, 989 times more than the 3,900 people who were affected by conflicts. Women, without a doubt, are often disproportionately affected by climate change-induced displacement in India and other parts of the world. A report by Climate Action Network shows that women perform additional 12–14 hours of work as a result of climate displacement and migration. When men migrate or leave vulnerable areas due to climate-related events, women are often left behind to take care of both the household and the land. In addition, when women are displaced, it often disrupts social networks and support systems that women rely on for their health, well-being and even financial management.

Funds remain underutilised by regulators in one of the most polluted regions of India

A recent report says ten state pollution control boards in the polluted Indo-Gangetic plain have a financial surplus every year because of low spending. The surplus funds are invested in fixed deposits instead of strengthening the workforce and infrastructure. With government grants negligible, the boards rely heavily on consent fees charged from the industrial units and interest earned on FDs, which has hampered their ability to regulate effectively. Experts call for overall restructuring in the working of pollution regulators in India to improve their administrative, financial, and technical capacity. Ten state pollution control boards across the Indo-Gangetic Plain, which faces severe air pollution, have a surplus of funds each year, finds a recent report by the Centre for Policy Research (CPR). This is contrary to some past reports and a widespread perception that state pollution control boards have challenges related to finances and their management, which leads to ineffective delivery of services. The Delhi-based think tank, CPR, studied the financial health of state pollution boards using information collected under the Right to Information Act and interviews of regulatory staff of different states. The ten pollution control boards it reviewed were from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. According to the CPR report, a majority of the pollution control boards had surplus funds over the three financial years (from 2018 to 2021) that the report focussed on. It found that many of the boards did not spend the entire amount they collected and the surplus was invested in bank fixed deposits. The research team estimated the amount of money invested by each board by using the data on interest income accrued by each board in each year, which they received through their RTI responses. A standard interest rate for each financial year was used, based on which the approximate principal amount invested was calculated. The estimated investments, the study found, amounted to Rs. 29 billion, during the 2020-21 fiscal year. West Bengal topped the list with deposits of Rs. 7.7 billion, while Jharkhand had the lowest amount of investment at Rs. 235 million, as per the indicative estimates. Other states’ pollution control boards also invested surplus funds in bank fixed deposits during the 2020-21 fiscal year. Haryana invested an estimated Rs. 6.08 billion, Rajasthan invested Rs. 5.74 billion, Delhi invested Rs. 3.75 billion, Punjab invested Rs. 2.15 billion, Uttarakhand invested Rs. 1.73 billion, Chhattisgarh invested Rs. 1 billion, Bihar invested Rs. 630 million, and Uttar Pradesh invested Rs. 540 million, according to the study’s estimates. There have previously been reports that have suggested that lack of financial resources and inefficient financial management are among the major reasons of state pollution control boards being ineffective in improving air quality as well as failing on their other responsibilities of water and waste management. For instance, a 2020 study by the Centre for Chronic Disease Control cited financial constraints as one of the barriers to achieving the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The study notes that “inadequate funding is a major reason behind the insufficient staff and consequently the infrequent inspections and focus on matters of air pollution control“. The interviewees for the report also cited the lack of funding as a challenge to carry out their daily responsibilities and hire trained staff. Another report, from 2009, by the Centre for Science and Environment, a New Delhi-based think tank, recommended an increase and improvement in the financial resources of these boards. It noted that in some cases, financial constraints and budgetary restrictions were stated, by the interviewees, as a reason for staff shortages. “A multi-faceted approach is required to increase and improve the human and financial resources of the boards,” the report recommended. Low fund utilisation While interest from the bank fixed deposit investments helped the pollution regulatory boards maintain positive balance sheets, which means more assets that liabilities and hence a better value, there was low expenditure of the funds by the boards, shows the CPR report. The average fund utilisation rate across the ten boards was 48% during the three fiscal years from 2018-19 to 2020-21. The average fund utilisation rate was the highest in Punjab at 71%, while it is the lowest in Uttarakhand at 25% across the three study years. The report mentioned that fund utilisation in the national capital, which often experiences bad air pollution days, was at most 35%. The report points out that the low utilisation indicates a lack of financial expertise within these institutions to predict annual income and expenditure accurately and to create spending plans accordingly. While there is inefficient management of funds on one hand, on the other, the boards face staff shortages and inadequate infrastructure for pollution monitoring and lab testing. The report states that despite low spending, staff salaries and allowances comprised over half of the expenditure during these three fiscal years. The share of spending on new infrastructure, including lab testing facilities, was as low as 11% during these years despite the inadequate state of infrastructure in many states. The report then added that the spending on research, development, and studies, which otherwise help regulators to make positive interventions, comprised just 2% of their overall expenditure. Industry-dependent revenue model For pollution boards in the region, consent fees charged from industrial units along with interest earned on surplus fund investments, are the primary revenue sources, the CPR report mentioned. Earlier, pollution control boards had diverse revenue sources, such as water cess, but this revenue source was stopped after the launch of the Goods and Service Tax (GST) regime. Government grants to the boards are also negligible. According to the report, on average, 53% of the total income of the ten boards, during the three fiscal years studied, came from the consent fees charged to industries that were given permission to establish and operate their units in the state. Another 23% of their income during these years came from interest they earned from their investments of surplus funds in fixed deposits, savings accounts and advances. As per the report, these two components – consent fees and interest income – contributed significantly to the overall revenue of the boards, but have reduced their ability to regulate effectively. Explaining this further, Bhargav Krishna, the report’s co-author and CPR senior fellow, told Mongabay India that since the investment of surplus funds helps the boards earn almost one-fourth of their revenue each year, the boards do not want to forgo it by increasing the expenditure on workforce hiring and other required infrastructure like technical labs, etc., even though there is an urgent requirement. This, in turn, impacts regulations. Since the boards do not have sufficient technical ground staff, they have outsourced regulatory functions, such as mandatory periodical inspections of industrial plants and factories, to third-party auditors. But the boards have no internal mechanism to cross-check if these audits are accurate, reflect ground realities and whether or not industrial units are complying with the environmental standards, said Bhargav. He quoted a study done in Gujarat in 2013, which provided evidence that the functioning of third-party auditors, otherwise hired by factory owners, is a clear case of conflict of interest. Their reports are not always accurate and there is very little oversight of their work. According to him, the solution is simple: the government must give dedicated funds to regulators so that they do not remain dependent on their limited source of earnings. The funds should be sufficient for them to maintain their proper administrative and technical staff and regulatory infrastructure. “Our reports reveal that the grant in aid by state governments of these ten respective boards was a mere 4% during the three fiscal years we studied. Since it has limited income sources, it has become a tendency for regulatory bodies not to spend much on filling up vacant posts and improving their technical expertise,” he added. The CPR report also mentioned that according to respondents the team interviewed, the NGT’s order in 2019, allowing boards to impose environmental compensation, provided a much-needed replacement for revenue lost when the GST regime subsumed the water cess. But the proposed amendments to the Air Act and the Environment Protection Act in the Jan Vishwas Bill, currently pending before Indian Parliament, propose significant changes to the regulatory regime, with adjudicatory powers to be placed in the hands of a Central Government-appointed committee including the power to impose environmental compensation. It is unclear at this stage what this means for the current regulatory regime and the role of state pollution control boards, the report added.

5 star-rated appliances may only trim your energy costs

Searing temperatures and soaring electricity bills. That’s what you can expect in the summers, unless you are vacationing in cooler climes. For most people, the hefty power bills are a source of serious concern, especially if they are using air-conditioners (ACs). It’s no wonder then that demand for electrical appliances that consume less power is rising. And, shops that sell these appliances also understand this. ... climate and the electricity tariff there is also significantly higher, ... For instance, a study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has...

What’s in your food? Bournvita row sparks front-of-package labelling discourse

The product allegedly has an absurdly high sugar content, which remains hidden or missing in its advertising, packaging and labelling Bournvita has been part of many childhoods. The malted milk drink had crawled into our morning routine about 75 years ago. But today, the popular “Health drink” is facing the ire of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). The product allegedly has an absurdly high sugar content, which remains hidden or missing in its advertising, packaging and labelling. The issue first came to the attention of the apex child rights body when Revant Himatsingka, a social media influencer, flagged it on his Instagram account a month ago. Revant has since received a legal notice from Mondelez India — the company that owns Bournvita and was forced to take the video down. But for now, it seems to have sparked the front-of-package labelling debate. So what is front-of-package labelling? The World Health Organization (WHO) defines front-of-package labels as “nutrition labelling systems that are presented on the front of food packages in the principal field of vision; and present simple, often graphic information on the nutrient content or nutritional quality of products. To put it simply, it is a simple and effective way to inform the consumer so they can choose well. But today’s nutrition fat labelling is difficult to understand and often in one language. This allows companies to hide facts, says Amit Khurana, programme director of food safety and toxins at the New Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment. This change in labelling is critical since it specifically addresses foods with high quantities of salt, sugar and fat. Controlling the consumption of such items is vital in addressing the shift in the disease burden of India. In a Lok Sabha answer from December 2021, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare illustrated how the proportion of deaths due to non-communicable diseases (NCD) among all deaths rose from 37 per cent in 1990 to 61 per cent in 2016, indicating an “epidemiological transition with a shift in disease burden to NCDs.” In September 2022, the statutory body Food Standards and Safety Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a draft notification on front-of-package labelling that proposed the “Indian Nutrition Rating”. A health star-rating system was also proposed where the degree went from least to most healthy based on the ingredients used and the extent of processing. However, this seems like a cop-out as a star system will only help the consumer choose the least unhealthy option among a host of unhealthy options at best. This system has also been rejected by most other countries for being industry-friendly. Simpler alternatives like designating colours like green, amber and red to healthy, relatively healthy, and unhealthy foods is a more suitable solution to caution consumers effectively. 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.

जलवायु परिवर्तन के कारण भारत में नए वायरस आ रहे हैं सामने, संक्रामक रोगों का बढ़ा खतरा

भारत के कई हिस्सों में एच2एन3 , एडिनोवायरस और स्वाइन फ्लू सहित सांस संबंधी संक्रमणों में हालिया वृद्धि से चिंता बढ़ गई है। हालांकि वैज्ञानिकों ने कहा कि इस सब के लिए जलवायु परिवर्तन को जिम्मेदार ठहराना अभी जल्दबाजी होगी। लेकिन निश्चित रूप से एक हद तक इन बीमारियों के लिए यह जिम्मेवार दिखाई देता है। जलवायु परिवर्तन के कारण डेंगू, चिकनगुनिया और मलेरिया जैसी बीमारियों का फैलना बढ़ गया है। शोधकर्ता प्रभाकरन के मुताबिक लगातार बढ़ता तापमान वायरस जैसे रोगों के फैलने के पैटर्न पर असर डालता है और साथ ही कई तरीकों से रोग फैलाने वालों को भी प्रभावित करता है। प्रभाकरन, सेंटर फॉर एनवायरनमेंटल हेल्थ एट पब्लिक हेल्थ फाउंडेशन ऑफ इंडिया (पीएचएफआई) के निदेशक हैं। बदलती जलवायु परिस्थितियां वायरस और उनसे होने वाली बीमारियों को फैलाने की क्षमता के लिए भी अधिक अनुकूल हो जाती हैं। गर्म और नमी वाली स्थितियां दोनों रोगों के फैलने वाले मार्गों, रोग की आवृत्ति और रोग की गंभीरता को प्रभावित कर सकती हैं। अध्ययनकर्ताओं ने कहा जलवायु में परिवर्तन के कारण प्रजातियों के निवास स्थान में भी बदलाव आएगा, जिससे कुछ क्षेत्रों में नए रोग फैलाने वाले पैदा होंगे, या कुछ प्रजातियों को नए वायरस के लिए बहुत असरकारक बना दिया जाएगा, जिसमें लोगों में इनके फैलने की क्षमता तेज हो सकती है। उदाहरण के लिए, देश के शुष्क भागों में अत्यधिक वर्षा और बाढ़ के कारण उन बीमारियों का प्रकोप हो सकता है जो आमतौर पर नमी वाले इलाकों में होती हैं। यह हैजा और पेचिश जैसी जल जनित बीमारियों के साथ-साथ मलेरिया, डेंगू और चिकनगुनिया जैसी वेक्टर जनित बीमारियों को भी बढ़ाता है। उन्होंने कहा कि अत्यधिक चरम मौसम की घटनाएं जैसे लू या हीटवेव भी जानवरों के उच्च तनाव का कारण बन सकती हैं, जिससे वे बीमारी को फैलाने और जूनोटिक रोगों के प्रकोप को भी बढ़ा सकते हैं। यहां बताते चलें कि जूनोटिक रोग - जनवरों से लोगों में वायरसों का फैलना है। निपटने के लिए कौन से रास्ते अपनाए जा सकते हैं? शोधकर्ताओं ने कहा है कि अत्याधुनिक तकनीकों का उपयोग करके भविष्य के अलग-अलग परिदृश्यों की मॉडलिंग करना, जो भविष्य में होने वाली बीमारी के पैटर्न या हॉटस्पॉट का पता लगाने में मदद कर सकता है। इसमें उपयुक्त और समय पर कार्यवाही करने की योजना बनाने में निर्णयकर्ताओं की सहायता के लिए एक जरूरी उपयोगी उपकरण हो सकता है। शोधकर्ताओं ने कहा कि, वर्तमान में जंगली स्तनधारियों के बीच कम से कम 10,000 वायरस चुपचाप घूम रहे हैं। जलवायु परिवर्तन उन्हें लोगों में फैलाने के लिए उत्तेजित कर सकता है। यह शोध भारत, इंडोनेशिया, चीन और फिलीपींस जैसे देशों और कुछ अफ्रीकी क्षेत्रों के लिए विशेष रूप से महत्वपूर्ण है, जो पिछले कई दशकों में फ्लू, सार्स, एचआईवी, इबोला और कोविड-19 ​​सहित जानवरों से मनुष्यों में फैलने वाली घातक बीमारियों से जूझ रहे हैं। शोधकर्ता ने कहा कि, बढ़ता तापमान नए उभरते वायरस के खतरों को बढ़ा रहे हैं। ग्लोबल साउथ के हिस्से के रूप में भारत में बढ़ते तापमान के बाद कुछ वेक्टर जनित संक्रामक बीमारियों, उदाहरण के लिए, डेंगू में वृद्धि देखी जा सकती है। यह भी अनुमान लगाया गया है कि वे वायरस अब पहाड़ों जैसे नए स्थानों पर फैल रहे हैं। शोधकर्ताओं का मानना है कि बढ़ते तापमान के कारण बाढ़ भी बढ़ेगी, जिससे हेपेटाइटिस ए और नोरोवायरस जैसे जल जनित संकर्मक रोग हो सकते हैं, जो एक बहुत ही संक्रामक वायरस है जिनसे उल्टी और दस्त होते हैं। बढ़ते तापमान से वातावरण के शरणार्थियों की बढ़ती गतिविधि के कारण उभरते वायरसों के फैलने का भी पूर्वानुमान लगाया गया है। भारत में जलवायु परिवर्तन और बीमारी के खतरों को लेकर कई शोध पत्र हैं। हालांकि, मजबूत वैज्ञानिक अध्ययनों वाले अधिकांश साहित्य अभी भी ग्लोबल नार्थ से है। चक्रवर्ती ने कहा कि भारत में जलवायु परिवर्तन के कारण सांस से संबंधी बीमारी फैलाने वाले वायरस के मामलों में वृद्धि हो सकती है, लेकिन एक स्पष्ट कड़ी स्थापित करने के लिए और वैज्ञानिक शोधों की आवश्यकता है। उदाहरण के लिए, सर्दियों के महीनों के दौरान बर्ड फ्लू वायरस के पारंपरिक तरीके से निकलने को शीतकालीन प्रवासी बतख से जोड़ा जाता है। अब यह अनुमान लगाया गया है कि जलवायु परिवर्तन उनके व्यवहार और प्रवासी मार्गों दोनों को रोक रहा है, जिससे गर्म महीनों के दौरान भी यह देखा जा रहा है। कई सांस से संबंधित वायरस वन्यजीवों में पाए जाते हैं और जलवायु परिवर्तन उन जंगली जानवरों की पारिस्थितिकी और व्यवहार को बदलकर नए वायरस के बाहर निकलने पर असर डाल सकता है। चक्रवर्ती ने कहा, इसके अलावा, मानव व्यवहार और जनसांख्यिकीय परिवर्तन जैसे, एसी का बढ़ता उपयोग, फसल चक्र में बदलाव, बड़े पैमाने पर पलायन आदि से जलवायु परिवर्तन वायरस की महामारी विज्ञान को बदल सकता है। एक और परेशानी का विषय यह है कि जलवायु परिवर्तन तेजी से हो रहा है, जिसके कारण दुर्लभ बीमारियां नए इलाकों में फैल रही है और कुछ मौजूदा बीमारियों जैसे स्क्रब टाइफस और लेप्टोस्पायरोसिस के लिए नए हॉटस्पॉट बन रहे हैं। इस तरह की बीमारियों में हर साल बदलाव होने के भी आसार हैं, जिससे निपटने के उपाय और तैयारी कठिन हो जाती है क्योंकि इस तरह के परिणामों के लिए बुनियादी ढांचे और प्रशिक्षण की जरूरतें साल-दर-साल स्थायी और अस्थायी रूप से अत्यधिक परिवर्तनशील होने की आशंका है। अध्ययन में अनुमान लगाया गया है कि, आने वाले समय में जलवायु परिवर्तन से लोगों को संक्रमित करने वाले नए वायरस का खतरा काफी बढ़ जाएगा। यह अध्ययन नेचर नामक पत्रिका में प्रकाशित हुआ है।

What has brought about Delhi’s ‘cleaner’ air this year? Cloudy days, rainfall major factors

Meteorological factors such as cloudiness, rainfall and thunderstorms may have had a significant role in the relatively cleaner air that Delhi has experienced so far this year, according to experts. The three factors are likely to have had an impact on the air quality not just in Delhi, but across northwest India, said Gufran Beig, founder-project director, SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research). Said Beig: “This year, during this period (January to April), the number of cloudy days and rain was high. This could be one of the major reasons (for the cleaner air), in addition to mitigation measures. Three factors were notable – number of cloudy days, spells of rain, and frequency of thunderstorms. This (the weather) was unprecedented across northwest India this year.” The consistency of this trend would have to be monitored over the years to ascertain if there has been an improvement, he added. Cloudiness is also likely to have had an impact on the production of ozone, which is usually a lead pollutant around this time of the year and can decide the Air Quality Index (AQI), Beig pointed out. Ozone is a secondary pollutant that forms when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds react in the presence of sunlight. Cloudiness can result in low sunlight and lower production of ozone, he explained. While rainfall can wash particulate matter away, higher wind speed can cause particulate matter and ozone to drift away, Beig said. “There were no large-scale dust storms as well in March and April this year. Usually, there are two-three — sometimes even small ones — such storms in March and April,” he added. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said, “Long-term trends, 2016 onwards, show a declining trend in terms of annual average pollution levels. But season trends can still be highly variable because of meteorological conditions. The January to April phase has seen rainy days; so one thing that’s contributing to better air is the meteorological factor.” Roychowdhury further said that long-term action, and not just the measures taken during winters, have had a cumulative effect on the air quality. Pointing out a few such measures, including phasing out of older diesel and petrol vehicles, coal power plants shutting down, and legal industrial areas switching to natural gas use, she said, “But there still is a long way to go to meet the clean air standard.” In areas such as transport, waste burning and use of solid fuels, a lot more remains to be done, she added. Delhi has recorded above-normal rainfall in January, March and April this year. In April, rainfall was the highest since 2017, while in March, it was the highest since 2020. The Commission for Air Quality Management said in a communication issued Sunday that Delhi has seen the highest number of ‘good’ to ‘moderate’ AQI days this year when compared to the same period from 2016, excluding 2020 that saw a lockdown. The air quality index, which, at 216, was in the ‘poor’ category on Saturday improved to 86 in the ‘satisfactory’ category on Monday on account of around 14.8 mm of rainfall recorded at the Safdarjung weather station till 5.30 pm.

Delhi govt unveils 14-point plan to tackle summer air pollution

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday launched the Delhi government’s 14-point Summer Action Plan against air pollution and said the plan, in effect from now, comprises short-term, medium-term and long-term measures to tackle issues such as dust pollution, industrial pollution, open burning and solid waste management. He said as part of the plan, the government will deploy 84 mechanised road sweepers, 609 water sprinklers, 185 anti-smog guns, along with patrolling teams—both during the day and at night—to keep a tab on pollution sources. The chief minister also said the efforts of the Delhi government were resulting in the reduction of pollution levels by around 30% in 2022 compared to 2016. “In 2016, there were 26 days when the Air Quality Index (AQI) was in the ‘severe’ category, but in 2022 there were only six such days. The year 2016 also recorded 124 days in the ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ range, but last year, the figure came down to 72 days. Overall, there has been a 30% reduction in pollution during this period,” he said on Monday. Listing dust pollution as one of the main causes of pollution during the summer, Kejriwal said the action plan will involve the sprinkling of water across the city via mechanised sweepers, with smaller colony lanes under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to also be sprinkled with water one or two times every day. “Besides this, 225 teams will be constituted to patrol the city during the day and 159 such teams to patrol the streets of Delhi at night. They will be in charge of identifying violations and sources of pollution in the Capital,” he said, adding the government was already in the process of acquiring 70 more mechanised road sweepers and 250 water sprinklers. Further, to tackle dust pollution, the chief minister said construction sites larger than 500sqm have to register with the Delhi government—an exercise started last year, with 750 sites already registered. The 14-point action plan includes controlling dust pollution, stopping open burning (including landfill fires), industrial pollution, managing solid waste, utilising the real-time source apportionment study, increasing green cover, transplanting trees, developing city forests, urban farming, developing lakes and water bodies, developing parks, creating an e-waste eco park, using eco clubs in schools and colleges to create awareness and carrying out dialogues with neighbouring states over common issues. Kejriwal said the government will also be implementing a standard operating procedure (SOP) to prevent landfill fires. On the industrial pollution front, Kejriwal said 33 teams comprising officials of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) had been formed to keep a tab on industries not using clean fuel. He also said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, now in power in MCD too, was formulating a policy for improved solid waste management in Delhi. Kejriwal said the government had already begun utilising data from the real-time source apportionment study of Delhi, with mobile vans to be deployed across the Capital’s pollution hot spots for further data collection. Greening is another key part of the plan, with the government targeting the plantation of 5.2 million saplings this year. “We will also be creating seven city forests, which will include facilities such as cycle tracks and canopy walks. We will work with MCD and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to beautify parks. Around 3,500 parks, larger than 0.5 acres have already been identified for beautification, for which a deadline of December 2023 has been set.” Kejriwal added the government was reviving dried-up lakes across the city to help recharge the groundwater table. He also said the government is working on creating an e-waste eco park, for which a 20-acre site has been identified in Holambi Kalan. “We have also listed eco clubs in the plan, with 2,000 such clubs already existing in schools and colleges in Delhi. Environment-friendly activities are promoted there. Lastly, we will work with neighbouring states to curb air pollution,” he said. Pollution in sumer generally starts to peak in April and can continue till June, with dust and PM10 being the primary pollutants, until Delhi experiences pre-monsoon and monsoon showers. While pollution levels in winter are generally the highest in the Capital, owing to adverse weather conditions such as low temperatures and calm winds—both of which do not allow pollutants to disperse, summer pollution levels are not much better, with Delhi’s air deteriorating to the “poor” and “very poor” categories on certain days. This, despite meteorological conditions being much better in summer months. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data shows Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) reading in April 2022 was 255, 30 points higher than February 2022 when it was 225. In January 2022, the average AQI reading was 279. In May last year, the average AQI was 212 and in June, it was 190. Reacting to the government’s plan, Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Virendra Sachdeva on Monday asked the CM to put out a technical report in the public domain to justify the claim of reduction in pollution in Delhi between 2016 and 2022. “It is shocking to see the CM admitting that he will now cooperate with MCD as his party is in power, which clearly shows his government did not cooperate with the BJP-run MCD in last eight years.” Meanwhile, experts say while the plan has some promising approaches, excluding action on vehicles is a big miss. “On-road emissions from vehicles are among the key contributors to particulate and gaseous emissions. Addressing traffic intensity is needed in view of the frequent breaching of ozone standards during summer months. The plan also needed to be more cohesive to include construction and demolition waste from buildings and infrastructure as well as the household use of solid fuels,” Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science for Environment (CSE) said .

India To Build First Resettlement Colony For People Displaced By Coastal Erosion - Reports

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st May, 2023) The government of the Indian state of Odisha is planning to build the country's first resettlement colony for people affected by coastal erosion caused by the climate change, The Economic Times reported on Monday, citing state officials. "Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has approved 225 million rupees ($2.7 million) for the first stage of the colony's development in (the village of) Bagapatia, which will be a part of the state's initiative," a spokesperson of Patnaik's office was quoted by the newspaper as saying. The funding is intended for building houses, electricity connections, roads and other facilities for those who had lost their homes due to coastal erosion in the currently flooded village of Satabhaya, the report said. Coastal erosion occurs because of a displacement or loss of land due to rising sea levels, resulting in strong waves and coastal flooding. The erosion affects the communities that live along the coast and endangers biodiversity and flora and fauna in the areas under the risk of erosion. From 1990-2018, over a third of India's 4,290-mile coastline was damaged by erosion, with the state of West Bengal being the most affected, according to the Indian Centre for Science and Environment. Rising frequency of cyclones, anthropogenic activities such as construction of harbors, dams and beach mining are among the reasons for the erosion.

बिन पानी सब सून : चेरापूंजी से सबक लीजिए

भारत के मेघालय (Meghalya) राज्य में स्थित चेरापूंजी (Cherrapunji) विश्व में ऐसी जगह है, जहां दुनिया की सबसे अधिक औसत बारिश होने का रिकॉर्ड है। चेरापूंजी में बरसने के लिए बादलों को कभी भी इंतजार नहीं करना पड़ता। हर समय बादल उमड़े रहते हैं, और जब चाहे जब बरस पड़ते हैं। चेरापूंजी में मार्च-अक्टूबर तक लगभग 8 महीने तक भारी वष्रा होती है। लेकिन विडंबना है कि दुनिया में सबसे अधिक बारिश के बावजूद चेरापूंजी के बाशिंदे पानी की समस्या से जूझते हुए प्यासे रह जाते हैं। इसके पीछे जलवायु परिवर्तन तो है ही, वष्रा के जल का जमीन में संचित नहीं होना भी है। बड़े पैमाने पर जंगलों में अवैध कटान भी इसका एक बड़ा कारण बताया गया है। विशेषज्ञों का मानना है कि पेड़ों की जड़ों में पहुंचने वाला पानी भूजल को बेहतरी से रिचार्ज कर देता है। बढ़ती आबादी के सापेक्ष जमीन में वाटर का रिचार्ज रेट बहुत कम है। हाल यह है कि चेरापूंजी के लोगों को पेयजल के लिए कई किलोमीटर दूर पानी लेने जाना पड़ता है। भौगोलिक स्थिति ऐसी है कि भारी बारिश होने के बावजूद पठारी इलाकों से पानी नीचे बह जाता है। वाटर हार्वेस्टिंग करना भी कठिन है जबकि रूफ वाटर कलेक्शन भी कामयाब नहीं है। चेरापूंजी में ग्रेटर सोगरा जलापूर्ति योजना शुरू की गई। आस लगी थी कि झरने के स्रेतों से आने वाले पानी से लोगों की पेयजल की समस्या दूर हो जाएगी लेकिन जल स्रेत सूख जाने से आशाएं धूमिल हो गई। चेरापूंजी में खेती की जमीन भी नहीं है। युवा पलायन को विवश हैं। चेरापूंजी का मौसम देखने के लिए पर्यटक पहुंचते तो जरूर हैं, लेकिन पानी की समस्या के कारण वहां होटलों में पर्यटक ठहरते नहीं हैं। पर्यटन व्यवसायियों का दर्द है कि भारी वष्रा के बावजूद पेयजल की कमी से पर्यटन उद्योग और रोजी-रोटी के साधन गंभीर रूप से प्रभावित हो रहे हैं। हाल में सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरन्मेंट (सीएसई) द्वारा आयोजित 2023- पॉलिसी एंड प्रैक्टिस फोरम में केंद्रीय मंत्री हरदीप सिंह पुरी ने कहा कि भारत में जल संकट जल संसाधनों की कमी के कारण नहीं, बल्कि उनके कुप्रबंधन के कारण है। जलवायु में बदलाव जल संकट को और बढ़ा रहा है। जल को लेकर सीएसई की महानिदेशक सुनीता नारायण का अध्ययन है कि पानी को लेकर देश में अब अच्छी समझ पैदा हुई है। नये मानक और आदर्श भी विकसित किए गए हैं, लेकिन जो प्रयास किए जा रहे हैं, वे काफी नहीं हैं। स्वास्थ्य एवं कल्याण के लिए सुरक्षित पानी और स्वच्छता मानव की बुनियादी जरूरत है। वि स्तर पर जल को लेकर चिंता में संयुक्त राष्ट्र के टिकाऊ विकास लक्ष्यों की बात करें तो 2030 तक निर्धारित कुल 17 लक्ष्यों में छठा लक्ष्य जल और स्वच्छता है। भारत में पेयजल की समस्या दूर करने के लिए प्रधानमंत्री नरेन्द्र मोदी ने 15 अगस्त, 2019 को जल जीवन मिशन (जेजेएम) की शुरुआत की। इसका उद्देश्य 2024 तक हर घर जल आपूर्ति का लक्ष्य है। यह महिलाओं को पानी का भारी बोझ ढोने के सदियों पुराने कष्ट से मुक्त कराने का ठोस प्रयास है। जल शक्ति मंत्रालय की 2021-22 की वार्षिक रिपोर्ट के अनुसार 2019 में ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों के लगभग 15.93 करोड़ परिवारों में से 3.23 करोड़ (17 प्रतिशत) के पास ही नल जल कनेक्शन थे। योजना के मुताबिक, 2024 तक 83 प्रतिशत ग्रामीण परिवारों को नल जल आपूर्ति का लक्ष्य है। जल जीवन मिशन 2024 तक सभी ग्रामीण घरों में नल जल की आपूर्ति सुनिश्चित कर 6 साल पहले भारत के एसटीडी-6 लक्ष्य पा ले तो भारत विकासशील देशों के लिए आदर्श बन सकता है। बारिश के पानी को विभिन्न स्रेतों और तरीकों से सुरक्षित और संकलित करना वष्रा जल संचयन कहलाता है ताकि जरूरत पड़ने पर संचित वष्रा जल का उपयोग किया जा सके। भारत में आधुनिकीकरण के चलते गांव शहर में बदल रहे हैं, जनसंख्या बढ़ रही है। जल संचयन की सदियों पुरानी प्रवृत्तियां गुल हो गई हैं। भारत के प्राचीन जल संचयन पर दृष्टिपात करें तो भारत में करीब 200 साल पहले लाखों तालाब, कुएं, बावड़ियां, झरने, झील, पोखर आदि हुआ करते थे। भारतीय संस्कृति जल संसाधनों को पूजने वाली रही है। जल संचयन के सदियों से चले आ रहे पारंपरिक तरीकों से पेयजल और कृषि कायरे के लिए पानी का उपयोग किया जाता था। भूजल रिचार्ज हमारे इकोसिस्टम में था जो आज हमारी लापरवाहियों के कारण नदारद हो गया है, जबकि अन्य देश भारत के जल संसाधन सहेजने के पुराने तरीके अपना कर पेयजल की समस्या से निजात पा रहे हैं। सर्वाधिक वष्रा के लिए चेरापूंजी मशहूर है। इसके बावजूद इलाका पानी के लिए तरस रहा है। चेरापूंजी में पानी की दिक्कत को सुलझाने के तरीके समझ में नहीं आ रहे या आ भी रहे हैं, तो सफल नहीं हो रहे। बाकी इलाकों की समस्या सुलझाने की तो बस, कल्पना ही की जा सकती है। कमोबेश पानी की समस्या सभी जगह है। पानी सहेजने और बचाने के तरीकों का पालन नहीं किया जाएगा तो पानी के लिए तरसेंगे नहीं, तिल-तिल मर जाएंगे। पानी को सहेजना प्रत्येक भारतवासी का कर्त्तव्य है।

मौसम अपडेट: पहाड़ों पर भारी बारिश-बर्फबारी का अलर्ट जारी, उत्तर भारत में भी होगी बारिश

चिलचिलाती गर्मी के लिए जाना जाने वाले मई में बारिश और सर्दी का सितम देखा जा रहा है। इस बार पहली मई को आपने तीनों ऋतुओं के मौसम को एक साथ महसूस किया होगा। मौसम विभाग की माने तो अगले कुछ दिनों तक इसी तरह के मौसम के बने रहने के आसार हैं। वहीं पहाड़ी इलाकों में जहां गेहूं की फसल मई-जून में तैयार होती है उस पर इस बेमौसम बारिश और ओलावृष्टि ने कहर ढा दिया है। मौसम विभाग के मुताबिक मौसम संबंधी यह बदलाव पश्चिमी विक्षोभ तथा कुछ अन्य मौसम संबंधी गतिविधियों की देन है। वहीं आज पश्चिमी विक्षोभ चक्रवाती प्रसार के रूप में हरियाणा के मध्य स्तरों पर बना हुआ है। वहीं एक दूसरा पश्चिमी विक्षोभ चक्रवाती परिसंचरण के रूप में दक्षिण पाकिस्तान के मध्य स्तरों पर सक्रिय है। मौसम संबंधी उपरोक्त गतिविधियों को देखते हुए मौसम विभाग ने आज यानी दो मई को जम्मू और कश्मीर, लद्दाख, गिलगित, बाल्टिस्तान और मुजफ्फराबाद, हिमाचल प्रदेश और उत्तराखंड के अलग-अलग हिस्सों में भारी बारिश तथा ऊंचे इलाकों में बर्फबारी होने की आशंका जताई है। वहीं आज पंजाब, उप-हिमालयी पश्चिम बंगाल और सिक्किम, अरुणाचल प्रदेश, असम और मेघालय, के अलग-अलग इलाकों में मूसलाधार बारिश हो सकती है। आज तटीय आंध्र प्रदेश और यनम, तेलंगाना, रायलसीमा, दक्षिण आंतरिक कर्नाटक, तमिलनाडु, पुडुचेरी, कराईकल तथा केरल और माहे में बादलों के जमकर बरसने के आसार हैं। पश्चिमी विक्षोभ के प्रभाव से न केवल बारिश होगी बल्कि आज उत्तराखंड के अलग-अलग हिस्सों में 50 से 60 किमी प्रति घंटे की रफ्तार से चलने वाली तूफानी हवाओं के साथ ओलावृष्टि होने की आशंका है। आज पंजाब, हरियाणा, चंडीगढ़ और दिल्ली, हिमाचल प्रदेश और उत्तर प्रदेश में भी ओले गिरने की आशंका जताई गई है। मौसम विभाग के मुताबिक, आज तेलंगाना के कुछ हिस्सों, मराठवाड़ा तथा मध्य प्रदेश में भी ओलावृष्टि का प्रकोप दिख सकता है। वहीं आज पंजाब, हरियाणा, चंडीगढ़ और दिल्ली, पश्चिम उत्तर प्रदेश के अलग-अलग हिस्सों में बिजली गिरने, 40 से 50 किमी प्रति घंटे की दर से चलने वाली तेज हवाओं के साथ बौछारें पड़ने का अनुमान है। आज पूर्वी मध्य प्रदेश, हिमाचल प्रदेश, तेलंगाना और मराठवाड़ा के अलग-अलग हिस्सों में 30 से 40 किमी प्रति घंटे की गति से चलने वाली तूफानी हवाओं के साथ छींटे पड़ने तथा आकाशीय बिजली गिरने के आसार हैं। मौसम विभाग के अनुसार, आज विदर्भ, छत्तीसगढ़, तटीय आंध्र प्रदेश और यनम, रायलसीमा के अलग-अलग हिस्सों में बिजली गिरने तथा 40 से 50 किमी प्रति घंटे की रफ्तार से चलने वाली तूफानी हवाओं के साथ बारिश होने का पूर्वानुमान है। वहीं आज पश्चिम मध्य प्रदेश, पश्चिम बंगाल और सिक्किम, झारखंड, पूर्वी उत्तर प्रदेश, असम और मेघालय के अलग-अलग हिस्सों में 30 से 40 किमी प्रति घंटे की दर से चलने वाली तेज हवाओं के साथ वज्रपात होने तथा छींटे पड़ने की आशंका है। मौसम विभाग ने बताया कि आज बिहार, अरुणाचल प्रदेश, नागालैंड, मणिपुर, मिजोरम और त्रिपुरा, गुजरात, मध्य महाराष्ट्र, आंतरिक कर्नाटक, तमिलनाडु, पुडुचेरी और कराईकल, केरल और माहे और लक्षद्वीप के अलग-अलग हिस्सों में गरज के साथ बौछारें पड़ने तथा बिजली गिर सकती है। कहां रहा अधिकतम तापमान सामान्य से अधिक? कल, तिरुपत्तूर (तमिलनाडु) में अधिकतम तापमान 37.2 डिग्री सेल्सियस दर्ज किया गया। कहां रहा न्यूनतम तापमान सामान्य से कम? कल, गुना (पश्चिम मध्य प्रदेश) में न्यूनतम तापमान 16.0 डिग्री सेल्सियस दर्ज किया गया। कहां-कहां पड़े ओले? कल, एक मई को 8:30 से 5:30 के दौरान पूर्वी उत्तर प्रदेश, तटीय आंध्र प्रदेश और तमिलनाडु के अलग-अलग हिस्सों में ओलावृष्टि हुई। कल कहां हुई बारिश और कहां पड़ी गरज के साथ बौछारें? कल, एक मई को 8:30 से 5:30 के दौरान जम्मू और कश्मीर, लद्दाख, गिलगित, बाल्टिस्तान और मुजफ्फराबाद तथा उत्तराखंड के अधिकतर इलाकों, हिमाचल प्रदेश, हरियाणा, चंडीगढ़ और दिल्ली, तटीय आंध्र प्रदेश और यनम, तमिलनाडु, पुडुचेरी और कराईकल के कई इलाकों में जमकर बरसे बादल तथा गरज के साथ बौछारें पड़ी। वहीं कल, पंजाब, उत्तर प्रदेश, पश्चिम बंगाल में गंगा के तटीय इलाकों, ओडिशा, केरल और माहे, लक्षद्वीप के कुछ हिस्सों, राजस्थान, झारखंड, उप-हिमालयी पश्चिम बंगाल और सिक्किम, अरुणाचल प्रदेश, असम और मेघालय, नागालैंड, मणिपुर, मिजोरम और त्रिपुरा, मध्य प्रदेश, सौराष्ट्र और कच्छ, विदर्भ, तेलंगाना और रायलसीमा के अलग-अलग हिस्सों में बारिश हुए या गरज के साथ बौछारें पड़ी। कल कहां हुई भारी बारिश? कल, एक मई को 8:30 से 5:30 के दौरान तमिलनाडु के कुछ हिस्सों में भारी से बहुत भारी बारिश दर्ज की गई। कल कहां हुई आठ सेमी या उससे अधिक बारिश? कल, एक मई को 8:30 से 5:30 के दौरान तमिलनाडु के वालपराई में 8 सेमी, पलायमकोट्टई में 5 सेमी, तटीय आंध्र प्रदेश के काकीनाडा में 4 सेमी, तुनी और विशाखापत्तनम प्रत्येक जगह 2 सेमी केरल के पुनालुर में 5 सेमी, रायलसीमा के तिरुपति में 3 सेमी, जम्मू और कश्मीर के कटरा में 3 सेमी, दिल्ली के रिज में 2 सेमी, पूर्वी राजस्थान के अजमेर में 4 सेमी, पूर्वी उत्तर प्रदेश के सुल्तानपुर में 3 सेमी, प्रयागराज में 2 सेमी तथा पूर्वी मध्य प्रदेश के सतना में 2 सेमी बारिश दर्ज की गई। कहां चली आंधी? कल, एक मई को 8:30 से 5:30 के दौरान हरियाणा, चंडीगढ़ और दिल्ली, उत्तर प्रदेश, राजस्थान, मध्य प्रदेश, सौराष्ट्र और कच्छ, ओडिशा, मिजोरम, तेलंगाना, रायलसीमा, तटीय आंध्र प्रदेश और यनम, तमिलनाडु और केरल के अलग-अलग हिस्सों में आंधी चली। मौसम की इसी तरह की गतिविधि के आज भी जारी रहने के आशंका जताई गई है।

Cop28 boss slams rich nations “dismal” $100bn finance failure

The president of the Cop28 climate talks has blamed rich nations’ “dismal” failure to provide $100 billion a year in climate finance to developing countries for “holding up” progress in negotiations. The UAE’s climate envoy Sultan Al Jaber has requested donor countries to provide a definitive assessment on the overdue delivery of the commitment before the climate summit in Dubai at the end of November. “Expectations are very high. Trust is very low,” he told attendees of the Petersberg Climate Dialogues in Berlin. In 2009 wealthy nations committed to collectively mobilise $100bn a year by 2020 to help developing countries cut their emissions and adapt to climate impacts. Broken promise But they have so far failed to respect that pledge. In 2020 rich nations mobilised $83.3 billion of climate finance, according to data published last year by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). At the annual Petersberg Climate Dialogues in Berlin today, Al-Jaber contrasted rich countries’ failure to provide $100bn of climate finance with this year’s $100bn in military expenditure and pledges for the war in Ukraine and the $9,000bn that were mobilised to respond to Covid-19. Speaking before Al-Jaber, German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said that a meeting of rich countries in Berlin yesterday suggested they are “on a good track to finally make good on the promise” this year. A plan drawn up by Germany and Canada ahead of Cop26 in 2021 indicated that the pledge would be met this year, three years later than the original deadline. For Jule Könneke, a policy advisor at E3G, meeting the pledge is one of the keys to changing course at Cop28. “For donor countries, it is about proving to be a credible partner by delivering on commitments and ensuring that poorer countries have the means to meet climate and development goals,” she said. US biggest culprit The bulk of the climate finance gap can be attributed to just a handful of developed countries, according to analysis by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI). The United States shoulders the biggest responsibility providing only 5% of its “fair share” under a calculation done by the ODI that includes the size of its economy and historical emissions. The US should have provided $43bn but sent just $2bn, the ODI said, making it “overwhelmingly responsibile for the climate finance gap. Australia, Canada, Italy and Spain have also been singled out as laggards. Underlying several times the importance of "trust", Sultan Al Jaber said meeting this obligation is "vital" to the political credibility of the UN's climate process. Alpha Kaloga from the Africa Group of Negotiators told Climate Home the delay has been eroding trust. "Which credibility do developed countries have in requesting us for more climate action, while not providing the resources promised," he asked. "Sowing division" Sarah Colenbrander, climate programme leader at ODI, is critical of Al Jaber's statements. She told Climate Home that Al-Jaber should work with the biggest donors, like France, Germany and Japan, to raise ambition rather than sowing division. "There are also important questions to be asked about when newly wealthy countries should assume responsibility for providing climate finance," said Colebrander. "The Cop28 presidency is shirking such questions." Countries like the Cop28 host United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Singapore have per capita incomes that exceed those of some developed nations obliged to provide climate finance. Just a "symbol" Fourteen years after its inception, the $100 billion pledge may not even be enough for developing nations. Avantika Goswami from the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment told Climate Home it is "more of a symbol" at this point. "Meeting the pledge this year might assuage wealthy countries' guilt, but the needs have now escalated and so must the financial reparations", she added. Developing countries may need up to one trillion dollars every year for climate action, according to an estimate by the Cop27 and 26 hosts. That's ten times more than $100 billion. Developing and vulnerable countries also want to see more grants and lower interest rates on loans so that climate finance does not add to debt piles.

How catastrophe insurance policies can shield Indian companies against natural disaster losses

Natural disasters are a regular occurrence in India. In fact, India saw natural disasters almost every day in the first nine months of 2022, from heat and cold waves, cyclones and lightning to heavy rain, floods, and landslides. These disasters claimed 2,755 lives, affected 1.8 million hectares of crop area, destroyed 416,667 houses, and killed close to 70,000 livestock, according to a report by the Delhi-based non-profit organization, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and the Down to Earth magazine. In a country as large as India, disasters of all kinds will continue to happen with regularity. Recently, new environmental disasters such as the Joshimath land subsidence and cracks in Tehri homes have grabbed the headlines. Following this year of disasters, the country faces an important question – are properties in India adequately insured against these new and increasingly frequent natural catastrophes? The need for mandatory insurance for properties In India there is no regulation for mandatory insurance when one purchases a property, whether residential or commercial. Presently, less than 1% of residences are insured in India. It is high time that insurance regulators, along with the government, work towards mandatory insurance for properties, similar to the requirements for auto insurance. Policies should offer some custom regulations depending on the geography and calamity-related factors, like proximity to a fault line or the underlying soil and building characteristics, of the covered property. Additionally, loan protection insurance needs to be encouraged by banks and financial institutions at the time property loans are secured. These steps would help reduce the catastrophic losses seen following recent disasters. What steps are needed to accomplish this change? As a first step, insurance companies need to ensure the pricing of risks against natural calamities is improved through better use of available data. Additionally, insurers can partner with agencies and government bodies, like the National Center of Seismology , the National Disaster Management Authority, and the India Meteorological Department to access new and better sources of data to accurately reflect the evolving catastrophe risk landscape. This approach to data can not only help with better pricing natural catastrophe policies but also help ensure adequate reinsurance coverage. Risk management pools like the California Earthquake Authority, Queensland, Australia’s Household Resilience Program, and the Turkish Catastrophe Insurance Pool are great global examples of non-profit establishments that collect funds from insured firms with funding from government and private insurers, helping in managing risk up to a pre-decided limit. The Government of India should start working on the creation of such risk management pools to address the risks faced in regions of the country. Additionally, insurance companies can partner with delegated underwriters who specialize in pricing such risks. Looking to mature property insurance markets in other geographies can help in this regard. Insurers can further reduce their operational expenses by partnering with proven service providers who have subject matter expertise in both insurance and technology to identify and implement new and better ways to address these challenges. Risk reduction measures, such as retrofitting buildings, improving drainage systems, and investing in early warning systems, is also an area where insurers can provide guidance and perspective to property owners to help limit exposures and reduce event severity. In some cases, catastrophe insurance policies should be mandatory for businesses operating in defined areas or specific industries – like requiring businesses located in flood-prone areas to have flood insurance coverage. Compliance with regulations can help ensure that individuals and businesses are adequately protected against the risks associated with natural disasters in the location their insured properties are located. In conclusion, catastrophe insurance policies are essential in India due to the country’s vulnerability to natural disasters. These policies provide financial security for individuals and businesses, support disaster relief efforts, mitigate risks, and ensure compliance with regulations. The time is now for the India insurance market to expand availability and adoption of these policies.

Melting glaciers, a serious ecological concern in J&K, Ladakh

Rapid melting of glaciers in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh indicate how global warming coupled with unplanned development and pollution are taking toll on these ‘water towers’. Glaciers are an important part of our eco-system. These compressed masses of snow are the main source of water. Changes in these glaciers are bound to affect regional water availability and hydrological regimes. Retreating glaciers are putting an estimated 15 million people around the world at risk of destructive flooding events. The Himalayas comprising Hindu Kush, Kunlun Shan, Pamir and Tien Shan mountain ranges function as water towers of Asia. The glacier-fed rivers originating from the Himalaya mountain ranges comprise the largest river run-off from any single location in the globe. J&K and Ladakh house some of the largest glaciers in the Hindu Kush region. The Kolahoi Glacier is the main source of water for river Jhelum— considered to be the lifeline of Kashmir. Studies indicate that Kolahoi, the largest glacier of Kashmir valley’s Jhelum Basin, is retreating rapidly due to spurt rise in temperature triggered by global warming and extreme pollution. Thajiwas, Hoksar, Nehnar, Shishram, and glaciers around Harmukh are also retreating slowly. Glaciologists on the basis of studies state that during the last few years, glacier melting in Kashmir and Ladakh region has been highest as compared to the rest of the Himalaya and the Alps. Kolahoi Glacier has lost almost 23 percent of its area since 1962 and has fragmented into smaller parts. In the last over a decade, the average mass balance of the glacier has increased recently. Kolahai is losing mass at the rate of about 1.0 m water equivalent annually, which is significantly higher than the glaciers in the rest of the Himalayas. Experts fear that mass loss of glaciers is expected to exacerbate in future as a result of projected climate changes. Subsequently this will further diminish the stream flow of trans-boundary rivers emanating from the region. The problem is compounded by below-normal snowfall during last winter accompanied by high winter temperatures. Summer heat waves contributed significantly to high glacier melting. Experts blame unprecedented increase in temperature, deforestation, increasing human activities, constructions in eco-fragile zones and high levels of pollution caused by the emission of greenhouse gases by vehicles and cement plants for retreating of Kolhai Glacier. The glacier has developed several crevasses and cracks over the years. Prominent earth scientist, Prof Shakil Romshoo, who has been studying glaciers, cautions that given the projected climate change across the Kashmir Himalayan region, “glacier mass loss could enhance with serious implications for regional water availability. He states that this will also hit hydrological regimes and trans-boundary sharing of waters emanating from the region, particularly during the lean period, when glacier melt dominates the stream flow. Food, energy, and water security as well as the dependent livelihoods particularly downstream will be significantly impacted by the melting of glaciers. It is also projected that the glacier-melt contribution to stream flow in the Indus Basin will further diminish in the future. This will have an impact on the hydrograph, especially during summer and autumn seasons. Retreating of glaciers has created glacial lakes in various mountain ranges of J&K besides Ladakh making the Himalayan regions vulnerable to Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF). GLOF can be disastrous for downstream populations due to sudden outburst of a glacial lake dammed by loose moraine material. The glacial lake outbursts can be catastrophic – destroying downstream infrastructure, resulting in fatalities and affecting livelihoods of mountain communities. Besides glacier recession, the prevailing warming scenario over the Himalaya makes communities and infrastructure more vulnerable to cryosphere-related hazards that were previously not experienced in the past. These include GLOF, rock-ice avalanches, glacier detachments, permafrost degradation-induced rock failures and debris flows. In the northwestern Himalayan regions of J&K and Ladakh, Leh and Kargil districts are more exposed to GLOF risk with 180 proglacial lakes most of which are expanding in area. On the basis of extensive scientific studies, two proglacial lakes in the upstream of Vishaw in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district are susceptible to GLOFs that might affect Asthal village downstream. Gya village located some 74 km from Leh experienced moderate GLOFs in August 2016 affecting built-up and agriculture downstream. Another high-intensity GLOFs was experienced in Rumbak in Leh that destroyed three bridges and washed away several kilometers of roads in August 2021. Drang Drung is the largest glacier in Zanskar and one of the fast-receding glaciers in Himalaya since the ice front is emptying into the Proglacial Lake. The lake started forming after 2008, currently spreading over 17 hectares and is projected to expand to 39 hectares. Conducting studies on glaciers, Dr Irfan Rashid, senior assistant professor of Department of Geo-informatics, University of Kashmir (KU) states that while the number of proglacial lakes are high in Ladakh, downstream areas in Kashmir valley are more vulnerable owing to high population and greater area under infrastructure. “Sudden glacial lake outburst floods often destroy the downstream infrastructure, resulting in fatalities and affecting livelihoods of mountain communities.” While GLOFs may be triggered by a host of geomorphic and meteorological factors, studies suggest that earthquakes exacerbate cryosphere-related hazard cascade processes including glacial lake failures translating into GLOFs and rock-ice avalanches. This should set alarm bells ringing given the fact that there are around 5300 glacial lakes, thousands of ice-cliffs and permafrost on unstable steep slopes in the Indus Basin of which Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh regions are part of. On September 7, 2014, massive flow of water from higher reaches following heavy rainfall led to overflowing in Jhelum, Chenab, and Tawi basins causing devastating floods in J&K. In January 2015, an artificial lake was created due to landslides in the Phutkal area of Zanskar in Kargil. Experts had warned that delay in addressing the issue could cause "catastrophic flash floods" in downstream areas of Zanskar Valley. Two months later, a high-level team from the National Disaster Management Authority created a channel to drain accumulated water, but to no avail. On May 7, 2015, the artificial lake burst triggering flash floods washing away several bridges and caused extensive damage to houses. Three million Indians live in areas where GLOFs could happen at any time, the first global assessment of such areas has found globally, 90 million people across 30 countries live in 1089 basins containing glacial lakes. Of these, 15 million (16.6 percent) live within 50 km of a glacial lake. Majority of the globally exposed population amounting to 9.3 million (62 percent) are located in the region of High Mountain Asia (HMA). India, Pakistan, Peru and China accounted for more than 50 percent of the globally exposed population to GLOFs. According to Centre for Science and Environment and Down to Earth’s State of India’s Environment 2022, here has been a 40 percent increase in water spread area in India, China and Nepal, posing a huge threat to seven Indian states and Union Territories including Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. In Kedarnath area in Uttarakhand, an estimated 5700 people, mostly pilgrims, died on June 16, 2013, due to heavy rains, cloudburst, and outburst from Chorabari Lake. On February 7, 2021, a part of the Nanda Devi Glacier broke off at Joshimath in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, killing at least seven people and leaving around 150 missing and feared dead. The flash flood breached two hydropower projects near the Naina Devi National Park, about 300 kilometers north of Dehradun. To prevent disasters in J&K and Ladakh due to melting of glaciers and Glacial Lakes Outburst Flooding, Government must take measures to conserve the fragile environment to protect critical ecological systems including glaciers. It is imperative to monitor these glacial lakes by field and satellite-based studies and assess risk associated with the bursting of these dammed lakes. This way the people living downstream can be warned in time and necessary mitigation measures initiated to minimise damage in eventuality of outbursts. Hydropower and other river engineering structures downstream must be designed to withstand disastrous surges of water and debris associated with the bursting of the glacier lakes particularly in the Chenab valley which houses several hydropower projects. We can’t reverse the irreparable damage done to glaciers but prevent further degradation. We have to own and protect nature’s creations be it glaciers, rivers, water bodies and forests as our survival depends on these natural assets.

Reinvent tiger conservation

The year 2023 marks 50 years of Project Tiger, India’s flagship programme to protect its flagship species. In 2005, I chaired a tiger task force with fellow conservationists as its members to review what had gone wrong in the Sariska tiger sanctuary, which had lost all its tigers. Our report, “Joining the Dots”, put forward the agenda for tiger conservation. It was not well received in the close-knit “tiger” community, as it was seen to be more human-centric than conservationist. Much water has flowed under the bridge since we submitted the report to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Much has been done to follow up on its recommendations. The tiger census methodology has changed from tracking pugmarks to scientific estimation using camera traps; the National Tiger Conservation Authority and Wildlife Crime Bureau have been established with much enhanced budgets; new protocols for management and protection have been laid down; and relocation costs to villages have been enhanced. All these have borne results in terms of a stable and now increasing tiger population in the country. But still in this 50th year, we should recognise that there is a huge unfinished agenda that needs to be worked upon. India’s challenge now is twofold: One, to safeguard the tigers in the wild, and, two, to grow the tiger numbers beyond the carrying capacity of the designated reserves. This is why the agenda of co-existence — where conservation is reconciled with support for local communities — must be the future. There is some reason to cheer. The 2006 All India Tiger, Co-predator and Prey Estimation found that there were 1,411 tigers in the country. In 2010, the number increased to 1,706; by 2014 it was 2,226; in the fourth round in 2018, it was 2,967; and in 2023 it went up to 3,167. But there is a catch. In 2006, the tigers roamed some 93,000 square km; by 2018, this came down to 89,000 square km. This means there is now better protection inside the tiger reserves, but the habitat of the tiger is shrinking. The “zoo-fication” of the tiger is happening. Also, the 2018 estimate shows that some 1,923 tigers — 65 per cent — are found within the confines of the reserves; the rest roam outside in the contiguous forests, habitat to both wild animals and people. This is why I would reiterate that my position on co-existence — working with the people outside the core area of the tiger reserve to build alliances and to bring them benefits — which was much reviled by the conservation community, must find real takers. Till now, policy has ensured that the communities outside the reserve get nothing from protection. Over the years, with little investment and even less understanding of how to plant trees that survive cattle and goats, the lands outside the reserves stand denuded. People have no option but to send their cattle to protected areas for grazing. As the ruminants move into forests, the herbivores — deer and other animals — move out to farmers’ fields to forage and destroy. We must learn this reality if we want more land to safeguard more tigers. The answer is in, first and foremost, paying people quickly and generously for the crops destroyed or the cattle killed. Second, we need to ensure that there is huge and disproportionate development investment in the lands that adjoin a tiger reserve. People should benefit from living in the buffer of the reserve. They must want to secure the tiger in their own interests. Third, people must directly gain from conservation. They must be preferred in jobs to protect. They must be partners, owners, and indeed earners from tourism the tiger brings. We know today that wildlife tourism is growing; it is also high-end, exclusive and caters to all of us in the middle-classes who want to see animals in the wild. It must grow, but in ways that can benefit people who live in the tiger’s habitat. This is not happening. The fact is that conservation is still happening in ways that exacerbate the conflict between animals and local communities. Today, in many cases, tribals are relocated from the parks and there is a virtual takeover of the same area by luxury tourism. This only adds to alienation and conflict. In the 2005 Tiger Task Force report, we had asked for a 30 per cent cess to be imposed on hotels that were in the vicinity of the tiger reserves and had asked for this money to be ploughed back to the people and the park. We had also said that homestead tourism, owned and run by the local communities, should be incentivised, indeed pushed, so that the people are partners in protection. They have an equal stake in the tiger and its future. This is not happening, but it must. The new conservation agenda should not revolve around tiger versus tribal. It has to be about the tigers and the people. This is why in the next 50 years, we need an Indian ethic of conservation — we need to reinvent the practice of exclusion and fortification of the original and western-oriented tiger charter as the one which includes the interests of the people who coexist with the tiger. Only then can the tiger roam free, far and be bright.

Rains help bring a clean start to Delhi in 2023

New Delhi: Air quality during the first four months of 2023 was recorded as the second cleanest in the last eight years, only behind 2020 when the Covid-19 lockdown was in place in the country, according to pollution data for January to April shared by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Sunday. CAQM data showed that Delhi recorded 52 days in these four months when the Air Quality Index (AQI) was lower than 200 till April 30. In 2020, owing to the lockdown, Delhi recorded 68 such days. In comparison, Delhi had 27 such days last year, while the figure was just eight in 2016. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) classifies an AQI between 0-50 as “good”, between 51 and 100 as “satisfactory”, between 101 and 200 as “moderate”, between 201 and 300 as “poor”, between 301 and 400 as “very poor” and over 400 as “severe”. Therefore, an AQI lower than 200 is “moderate”, “satisfactory” or “good”. While no good air days were recorded so far this year, a majority of the 52 days with lower than 200 AQI comprised “moderate” air days, CAQM said. Though CPCB launched AQI in 2015, the data only began being collated in April 2015. Therefore, full-fledged comparative data is only available from 2016. CAQM said with the number of “satisfactory” and “moderate” days increasing, the number of “poor” to “severe” air days have subsequently reduced during this period and attributed this relatively clean start to the year to persistent ground-level efforts and policy initiatives, which it said was beginning to show results. However, it needs to be noted that meteorological factors also helped Delhi’s air quality this year. February was warmer than usual, with an average monthly maximum temperature of 27.7°C, making it Delhi’s warmest February since 2006 (29.7°C), and the month was also characterised by strong winds. Both high temperatures and strong winds allow pollutants to disperse more freely. In the past, low temperatures in February have often led to Delhi recording days where the AQI fell in the “severe” range. The second half of March, meanwhile, recorded three back-to-back western disturbances, bringing strong winds and rain that settle pollutants. April recorded multiple western disturbances as well with surplus rain and strong winds. “Persistent field-level efforts and targeted policy initiatives in the short, medium, and long term are expected to result in gradual but marked improvement in air quality. The number of “poor” to “severe” air quality days from January to April came down by 37.03% when compared to 2016 when it was 108 such days,” CAQM said in a statement. In 2016, there were eight days when the AQI was lower than 200, in 2017 there were 29 days, 32 in 2018, 44 in 2019, 68 in 2020, 31 in 2021, and 52 in 2023. The same improvement reflected in the daily average particulate matter 2.5 concentration between January and April, with Delhi recording an average PM 2.5 concentration of 109 micrograms per cubic metre, which is the second lowest in the last eight years, behind 2020, when it was just 94 micrograms per cubic metre. The figure was 158 micrograms per cubic metre in 2016, 124 in 2017, 126 in 2018, 123 in 2019, 132 in 2021, and 118 last year. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment said while there has been a gradual improvement in AQI over the last few years, the contribution of meteorological factors has also helped. “Helpful meteorological conditions also led to a much cleaner winter as well. We can attribute this improvement to both long-term interventions, aided by factors like strong winds and rain. If one considers the long-term annual trends in Delhi, then the overall pollution does appear to be reduced,” she said.

Could Panaji’s waste revolution be a blueprint for other Indian cities?

Goa’s capital Panaji is a zero-landfill city. This means that all kinds of waste generated in the city is segregated and recycled, leaving nothing to be sent to landfills – unthinkable given that towering mounds of garbage are a symbol of the waste management crisis that most Indian cities are grappling with. Key to Panaji’s success is its efficient recycling and sorting process. Apart from composting all wet waste, the city sorts and recycles solid waste into an impressive 28 “fractions”, or categories, an increase from the original 16 categories introduced in 2021. Among these fractions are different kinds of paper, hard and soft plastics, cloth, electronic waste, tetra packs and non-recyclables. Even coconut shells and ceramics are segregated. India generates 65 million metric tonnes of waste annually, according to a 2020 report by the Centre for Science and Environment. An estimated 94% of this waste is recyclable. Recycling helps cut planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions by reducing energy consumption. Diverting waste away from landfill also prevents air and water contamination. Is there a lesson for other Indian cities in Panaji’s approach? Panaji’s waste sorting centre Key to Panaji’s waste revolution is its Material Recovery Facility or Swachhta Kendra (cleanliness centre) set up in 2014. Located on a busy arterial road in the suburb of St Inez in the state capital, the material recovery facility is an inconspicuous building. But inside, there is a constant buzz of activity, day and night. Around 30 men and women – known as Safai Sathis, or cleanliness helpers – are hard at work, wearing aprons and gloves, cocooned from the wind and sun by the large shed that is their workplace. Conversation fills the air as workers tease each other about who will be the “Star Performer” of the day. Throughout the day, trucks of all sizes bring in garbage to the sorting centre. The Corporation of the City of Panaji employs sanitation workers who collect segregated wet and dry waste from all houses in the city precincts. Other workers gather garbage from public dustbins or litter from the streets. All this waste is collected at mini sorting stations or transported directly to the material recovery facility for segregation and recycling. This process is not peculiar to Panaji’s civic body, of course. Manual segregation of waste is the most common method of separating high and low value recyclables. At the material recovery facility, a mountain of waste piles up, its size ebbing and falling as it is put onto three moving conveyor belts for segregation. A row of Safai Sathis stand on both sides of the conveyor belts, quickly sorting different items into large bags. They divide the waste into recyclables and non-recyclables. Plastic and paper are further segregated into different fractions based on quality and colour. After sorting, bales of paper, plastic, tetra packs and cloth are made. Recyclable waste, including plastic, is sold to registered local vendors, generating revenue that is fed back into the facility. The remaining non-recyclable waste is sent to authorised cement factories as refuse-derived fuel, a controversial option because it involves burning the waste to generate energy. “The alternative to RFD [refuse-derived fuel] is dumping waste in landfill which is not ideal,” said Clinton Vaz, a waste management pioneer and environmental advocate based in South Goa. Vaz collects and recycles waste from over 45,000 homes and commercial establishments in the state through his firm VRecycle. His facility handles around five tonnes of solid waste every day. “If waste cannot be recycled, at least you can recover the energy out of it by incineration,” said Vaz. “When waste is burned, it reduces the demand for coal that is used to make cement. The ashes also get amalgamated into the cement so there’s no by-product.” At the Panaji material recovery facility, almost everything is recycled, except large sheets of glass and the occasional vintage television tube. Panaji has had an efficient system of segregation of garbage at source since door-to-door collection was introduced in 2003. Segregated wet and dry waste is collected from individual homes while large housing colonies are encouraged to establish waste sorting stations on their premises. Around 40% of the housing colonies in Panaji are currently a part of the project. An average of 14 tonnes of dry waste is collected daily from homes, commercial establishments and public bins. “Segregation is the key for recycling and scientific treatment of waste,” said Dylan Fernandes, executive manager of the Corporation of the City of Panaji. Changing lives For many workers, the material recovery facility has also provided a source of steady, much needed employment during the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Workers are paid a flat Rs 15,000 a month, higher than the average income for unskilled workers in Goa, which is less than Rs 10,000 a month at approximately Rs 300 a day.