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Cse In News

CSE Report Hints At The Bottlenecks In India’s Bio-CNG Production Read more at: https://www.saurenergy.com/solar-energy-news/cse-report-hints-at-the-bottlenecks-in-indias-bio-cng-production

Science and Environment (CSE), a New Delhi-based think tank, hinted towards several bottlenecks which are throttling the growth of bio-CNG (a biofuel) in India. The latest study showed that there are problems in the assured takeaway of the bio-CNG produced by the producers, almost no procurement of the biogas fertilizer, produced during the production of bio-CNG in the factories, unregulated biomass supply chain, financing bio-CNG initiatives at a higher cost, inefficient source segregation of feedstock, low in-house manufacturing of plant equipment and lack of single-window clearance for such projects. Bio-CNG, called Compressed Bio Gas (CBG), is produced by removing the impurities in biogas like carbon dioxide. Bio-CNG is used directly in CNG vehicles and as a cooking gas in the city gas distribution networks. Moreover, its bio-fertilizer, produced as waste, is also used as an excellent organic source of fertilizers. The report said bio-CNG is one of the best renewable energy sources to decarbonize the gas ecosystem. “Compressed biogas (CBG), which can be integrated into the existing gas infrastructure, provides the easiest route to decarbonizing natural gas applications. The use of biomethane reduces the total cost of ownership of the energy system as the infrastructure for distribution and usage is already in place. Additionally, anaerobic digestion produces not only biogas, but also digestate that can be utilized as a renewable biofertilizer locally, either directly or after upgrading. The CO2 that needs to be separated from the biogas to obtain biomethane can also be valued as a co-product,” the report said. The study recommended that expanding city gas distribution with their linkage with the CBG could offer significant benefits like a reliable market for the sector. In addition, the CSE report claimed that the government should develop a policy where a fertilizer company can purchase these bio-CNG fertilizers at a fixed price.

Estimating the potential of community forest rights: What makes implementation challenging

Given the complexity of land and forest settlement in India and the poor quality of land records and maps available, generating an estimate is not an easy task Even after 16 years, implementation provisions under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, have been far from satisfactory. One of the many reasons for non-implementation is a lack of clarity about where and how much forest land might be eligible for Community Forest Resource Rights (CFRR) claims. Consequently, there is no “target” that state governments must reach and against which their performance can be measured in terms of recognising CFRR. To address this gap, researchers from the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) have estimated the potential area that could be marked for granting of CFRR and locations of villages with this potential in four states: Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Maharashtra. Given the complexity of land and forest settlement in India and the poor quality of land records and maps available, generating an estimate of how much land could come under CFRR and where is not an easy task. A crude estimate can be made from village land use data provided in the census’ village amenities tables. This pertains to the forest area within a village’s revenue boundary. But an estimate based on data from census tables is likely to be significantly lower than the actual area where communities traditionally exercised community rights, especially in central India. This is because the process of forest “settlement” (notification and demarcation) followed in these states resulted in large tracts of forests being demarcated as Reserve Forest (RF) and being kept outside the revenue settlement, thereby not being part of any revenue village and therefore not showing up in the census tables. These large RF patches have many settlements inside them, and of course have many more abutting or adjacent to them. Field data shows that residents of these villages (inside and adjacent to the forest area) were using these forests and exercising customary rights over them. The researchers, therefore, estimated the CFRR potential area in two parts. All villages having more than 10 hectares (ha) of forest area within their revenue boundaries as per Census 2011 were identified and they formed one part of the estimate. The second part began by identifying those villages that are in or adjacent to RF patches that are outside village revenue boundaries. Then, using a thumb-rule that the customary boundaries of these villages should extend at least 2 km into the forest, the team identified and estimated the area in such a buffer to forest-adjacent villages using GIS. This 2-km figure is a very approximate thumb-rule, based on field observations about the areas that are likely to be under customary use and management. The total CFRR potential is the sum of the areas in both parts. Based on the analysis, the team estimated that in each of the four states, CFRRs should be recognised in around 11,000 to 19,000 villages; additionally, it should cover more than 50,000 sq km each in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, and more than 20,000 sq km in Jharkhand. Across these four states, some 60,000 villages could potentially claim CFRR under FRA over an area of at least 1,83,000 sq km. This amounts to 70-90 per cent of the recorded forest area in these states. This will potentially benefit the livelihoods of a total of around 62.6 million people, including some 23.6 million belonging to Scheduled Tribes and 6.6 million belonging to Scheduled Castes (as per Census 2011). When compared with the actual CFRR area recognised, it is clear that while Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra have made some progress, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand are lagging far behind. The ATREE team has also developed a WebGIS portal to make the maps of these CFRR potential areas publicly available. The WebGIS displays state, district, tehsil and village boundaries for the four states. For comparison, it also presents, where possible, information on “CFRR potential realised” which villages have received CFRR, of what kind, and over how much area. Some features of WebGIS include indication of potentially claimed and unclaimed forest areas, village search function, display of basic census population and land use data of a village, the ability to use Google or Bing satellite imagery as base map and an area measurement tool. Shruti Mokashi is a post-doctoral research associate and Sharachchandra Lele is a distinguished fellow at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Bengaluru. Views expressed are the author’s own and don’t necessarily reflect those of Down To Earth This first appeared in State of India’s Environment, an annual publication by the Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment

Our broken system of environmental clearance

Ranking is an instrument to reward the best performers — but more importantly, it signals the best way to do things. So, when the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) says that it will rank the state environmental impact assessment authorities based on the speed at which environmental approvals are given, it basically implies that all it cares about is the "clearance" of projects, not the quality of the assessment or the ability to ensure that the environmental impacts of development projects are mitigated. ou could argue that time taken is not an indicator of the level of scrutiny — and that MoEFCC's notice is designed only to hold the assessment committees accountable and to ensure that projects are not unnecessarily delayed. But it is not that simple. The fact is this "ranking" is the final nail in the already built coffin of environmental assessments. Over the past decade or so, government after government has systematically decimated the process of decision-making that would allow for assessment or scrutiny. It is a sham and a farce, and in my view this direction by the ministry — set up to purportedly safeguard environmental interests — has only made its contempt for its self-built process apparent. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) started way back in 1994, when development projects were few and the process remained uncontested. The rot took hold from the early 2000s when "building" projects were included in this system of scrutiny. There is no question that construction, especially large-scale housing, infrastructure or commercial projects, have a massive environmental footprint. They add to water usage, wastewater generation, traffic, and to solid waste. The problem was the system was never upgraded to handle the huge volume of "building" projects. This led to delays and high transaction costs — corruption, in other words. So in 2006, MoEFCC decentralised, and outsourced the work to states. It replicated the central system at the state level, setting up the state environmental impact assessment authorities. A maze of categories — projects falling into A, B, BI and B2 — were created, with overlaps and a good measure of discretion thrown in. All in all, the quality of scrutiny has not improved and development projects are not more environmentally compliant. EIA has become a convoluted exercise, designed for futility. Why do I say this? Just consider how fundamentally flawed the process is today. The project proponent is expected to pay consultants to do the EIA, which is based on the terms of reference (ToR) approved by the Central or state environmental impact assessment authority. Category A projects come to the Centre and B go to the state, where the state authority then decides if it is B1 (projects requiring detailed assessments) or B2 (that do not require detailed assessments). The committee can approve the ToR, ask for more information or reject it. After this, the EIA is done, which, in turn, requires the involvement of at least 12 functional area experts and management and monitoring plans. The draft EIA is in English and its summary in the regional language, which is then put out for public consultation. A detailed process is in place for holding the public hearing, which would be crucial for "listening" to local objections. Then all this goes to the appraisal committee, which has to scrutinise the draft, ask for more information, and accept it with conditions or reject it. In actual fact, projects are rarely "rejected". In our analysis of projects between July 2015 and August 2020, of the 3,100 projects submitted, only 3 per cent were not recommended. Even these would come back with more information. In this way, proponents are asked — and more so in controversial projects — many times to come back with more data and more clarifications. Finally, the committees "clear" the project, and in most cases, to protect themselves they do so with a fistful of conditions that will never really be monitored. The faceless committees are not held responsible for the project post clearance; their "job" ends with this clearance. So, you really cannot hold them responsible for the quality of the decision taken. The monitoring is then left to the understaffed regional offices of MoEFCC — state pollution control boards are not empowered to monitor impacts as this clearance is done under the Environmental Protection Act and not under the laws governing air or water. In all this, there is duplication, lack of scrutiny and no real intent to ensure that projects are implemented keeping in mind environmental interests. So, when we defend this broken system of "clearances" it only adds fuel to the fire of the extremely false narrative of environment versus development. In reality, environmental interests have already been given a bypass and development has become mindless, without any regard for what can be done to mitigate and manage harm. (Writer is Director General of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and the Editor of Down To Earth magazine. She is an environmentalist who pushes for changes in policies, practices and mindsets;

Gurgaon: Why your plush new home is in a heat trap

First half of April and the temperature is already hitting 40 degrees. It's that time of the year when weather becomes the inevitable conversation starter. Summers have been getting hotter, but the urban heat island effect is making saunas out of our cities, which in turn is turning our modern apartments into hot boxes, especially if the neighbourhood is all concrete. That's how most of the city's new sectors, along the Southern Peripheral Road and Dwarka Expressway, have been shaping up, an explosion of concrete that's lavish and ritzy but in a landscape that's largely tawny and soaked in dust. The Aravalis skirt the SPR sectors, its scrubby, green coat visible almost from everywhere. But it can't offset the local heat island effect. For that, the city needs trees along its roads, large parks or other buffers like waterbodies to break the concrete chain. "The urban heat island effect must not be mistaken as a tropical climate issue - it is a very urban issue that is linked with the way we plan and design our cities. The reason is rampant construction, concretisation and shrinking of green spaces and water bodies in cities - this is leading to a trapping of heat," Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (research and advocacy) at the Centre for Science and Environment, told TOI. Other than helping to keep temperatures from rising, green spaces also help improve air quality and public health. Green spaces also filter rain and act as heat sinks. While there are some big parks in Gurgaon, none has come up in the new sectors so far. The 2014 Urban and Regional Development Plans Formulation and Implementation guidelines suggest a norm of 10-12 square metres of open space per person. This means a 25-35% allocation of a city's area is to be earmarked as recreational and open spaces, in addition to environmentally sensitive areas. So why, then, is this vital aspect of city design being ignored? Originally, when the new sectors were coming up in 2013, urban development authority HSVP had a plan to acquire 1,924 acres of land for development of open spaces, according to the Gurgaon-Manesar Master Plan 2031. However, these plans never came to fruition, leaving the new sectors bereft of parks, except those developed privately within some of the plush condominiums. Since 2020, when the Covid pandemic changed the dynamics of life and work, the population has been growing quickly in the new sectors. People who had invested in flats here began moving in, which bumped up pressure on realtors to deliver more housing units hit by various delays. Around 70,000 housing units have been sold in the new sectors and thousands more are at advanced stages of completion. "Currently, it feels much warmer living inside the house (on the 15th floor) though the weather outside is still bearable. In summer, the tiled floors emanate heat. I don't feel the difference in the evenings because all the concrete around radiates heat. So, ACs are on virtually through the day," said Shibashish Rudra, a resident of Sector 81. A notice for acquisition of 1,294 acres across 13 villages, mainly in sectors 76-95 and sectors 99-102A, was issued by the previous government in 2013. But HSVP failed to award compensation for the acquisition within the stipulated three years, nullifying the acquisition process that would cost the authority around Rs 8,000 crore, an amount the cash-starved department is in no position to pay. Later, when the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) took over these areas, it too had a similar plan to develop parks but ran into trouble with funds. "There was a plan, but we do not have enough funds to buy land in the new sectors now," said Subhash Yadav, additional CEO, GMDA. Badshapur MLA Rakesh Daultabad wrote to chief minister Manohar lal Khattar last year to develop two parks in the new sectors. "It is requested that two town parks may kindly be announced to be developed by GMDA in newly developed sectors in an area of 50 acres each i.e. one town park for sectors from 82 to 95 and the other town park for sectors 96 to 115. The land and funds for these parks/green spaces may kindly be provided by HSVP under EDC/IDC components. The town parks may be announced and named as Azadi ka Amrit Town Parks," Daultabad suggested in his letter. Gurgaon has six large parks, which are all located in the developed areas of the city - Tau Devi Lal Park (Sector 22, 30 acres), Palam Vihar Janam Divas Park (18 acres), Leisure Valley Park, (35 acres); Tau Devi Lal Botanical Garden (Sector 52A, 63 acres), Netaji Subhash Park (Sector 14, 20 acres) and Aravali Biodiversity Park (350 acres, Nathupur). Experts have pointed out time and time again that cities need to have climate resilient buildings. Anjal Prakash, one of the lead authors of the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, says, "Waterbodies and open green spaces act as carbon sinks, which means they help reduce temperature. In our cities, we find that gradually, open spaces are reducing in the greed for development. If we measure temperature in a city, we will find that areas which are closer to the green spaces have lower temperature compared to areas which have concrete structures." He said the IPCC report ha underlined the need for 'blue and green' infrastructure in urban areas - 'blue' refers to water bodies like rivers, canals, ponds, wetlands, floodplains and water treatment facilities, and 'green' to trees, lawns, hedgerows, parks, fields and forests. "In Gurgaon, buildings are designed as if we are living in Manhattan. We have a completely different climatic condition here. It's tropical and thus the buildings have to be climate efficient. Yes, the concept of green buildings is something we have been seeing, but it costs a lot to make one. What we are doing in Gurgaon is just copy-pasting the western concept without taking into consideration that we will end up using more air conditioners to cool the glass buildings," Prakash said. Experts also stressed on investing in and promoting nature-based solutions like green roofs, artificial water shed infrastructures (lakes and ponds), increase in tree cover, etc. that can mitigate the harsher impacts of urban heat islands. Abinash Mohanty, sector head, climate change and sustainability at IPE Global, said lack of planning with a sustainable vision is the weakest link in our urban matrix. "There is no denying that megalopolises like Delhi-NCR are grappling with real and imminent environmental and climate problems. Inadequate green space planning will have serious repercussions on urban quality of life. Investing and promoting nature-based solutions like green roofs, artificial water shed infrastructure (lakes and ponds) and increasing the tree cover can mitigate the harsher impacts of urban heat islands," he said. RWA and real estate developers have developed green areas within compounds, but those are limited in size and don't provide the same larger community access as a public park does. "We have created two ponds in the green belts near our society, which are getting water from the STP. We have created a rainwater harvesting system and also developed 16% of the total area into a green cover," said Praveen Mallik, RWA president, SARE Homes.

Breaking the mould

Delhi government’s vision to clear the three dumpsites of the city by the end of 2024 can be materialised seamlessly by focusing on innovative complements to bioremediation and involving waste pickers, currently working in inhumane conditions, for source segregation of waste Atop Okhla landfill site, as MCD’s garbage trucks unload the filthy waste, throngs of waste-pickers on the ground and a kettle of kites from the sky would pounce, almost simultaneously, on the dumped thrash. They both understand the utility of that waste in feeding themselves and their families. The tragedy is not that many of the older rag pickers have been sustaining their families through one of the most dangerous and despicable ways possible, for decades, but that they draw a blank when asked what keeps them clung to this profession! For the younger ones — as young as 8-year-old — it is a natural process of being wired into what is “meant for them”. The real rebels could be found among teens, though many of them have now submitted to the idea that there is no better workplace for them that could yield as much for their labour — a sum which they put at Rs 600-700 a day. In this article, we shall draw a picture of what the life on landfills and in surrounding areas looks like, how viciously the life and livelihood of those living, feeding and working on landfills are intertwined with the massive structures. Besides assessing the viability and current status of Delhi government’s claim to flatten the three landfill sites in Delhi by 2024, we shall retrospect what it would mean for a generation of ragpickers. The life on landfills Shashank Kalra visits landfills across the country, treating them as pilgrimage sites — something which allows time for retrospection and self-transformation. That is exactly what landfills of Delhi do, but only for those who pay occasional visits. For those going there daily to pick waste and make some money, it has been a workplace, a risky and life-degrading adventure that unfolds on a daily basis in a place equivalent to hell, if something by that name exists! At Bhalswa, Moidul, Akhtar, Zahid, Mushtaq, Zamil — all in their teens, all non-matriculate, and all soaked in filth and dust — share an innocent camaraderie. Zamil, the youngest in the group (13 years old), is the only one whose studies are continuing. Akhtar, considered to be the most educated and sensible, is curious to learn good things, and believes in ideals, but has his fate tied to the landfill. Despite the life of adversity they live, their conversations are all fun and loaded with natural wit. Zahid, the most rowdy and hilarious, when asked why not some other hygienic work, gave a direct reply, “give us one, we’ll do”, firmly knowing that it was not coming. While all others prefer to work from morning to evening, Zahid would choose to work the night shift, tying a torch on his head to traverse the risky terrain. They all work under the unstated guardianship of a proudly humorous man in his late thirties who would spell numerous pseudonyms to hide his real name. Eight-year-old Sudhir, talking in his innocent, soft tone without lifting his head up, would continue separating useful metals from his magnet-collected thrash, hoping to find a pair of gloves some day on the dumpsite that would keep him safe from blades. Sudhir’s parents are working on the other side of the landfill, and he has no idea where his native village is! Working beside him, two siblings, Sachin (15) and Sanjana (12), have one answer to each question — an impeccable laughter. Also Read - Boomeranged! Buddhan Shah, after being tricked by an auto dealer in his native village near Sasaram, Bihar, tried his luck at several works in different mega cities. Now, he is at Bhalswa dumpsite, which provides a “guaranteed” livelihood. Still, he wants to escape it in the first chance he gets. Buddhan takes care that no one from his village should know what work he does. He also has a strong vow to keep — he will never let his children be exposed to such kind of work, no matter what it takes. At Bhalswa, majority of the ragpickers — mostly Muslims — are from West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. At Okhla, they mostly hail from West Bengal and Assam, with a minuscule portion coming from Bihar. While acknowledging the problem of hygiene, most of them see rag picking as a work where there is enough freedom and “decent” money. However, 22-year-old Sohail (name changed on request), doesn’t like to work here. Unlike others, he can’t “eat in a stingy air where even breathing is a task in itself.” He, along with his about-to-turn-18 friend, will move back to Tamil Nadu once the “rage against north Indian migrants cools down”. Buddhan Shah, who worked at Ghazipur dumpsite for some time before coming to Bhalswa, said “the condition there is worse than here (Bhalswa) because of the dumping of flesh from the adjoining fish and frozen meat market.” There are thousands of ragpickers working, without any safety gears, parallelly to the companies that are awarded tenders to cut and flatten the landfills. The question is: shouldn’t the government have a plan to channelise their labour in a more fruitful way, while keeping them away from the life-threatening structures? Averse to environment and economy The dumpsites are a persistent source of emission of greenhouse gases. More threateningly, these are constant sources of methane, a gas which is 84 times more potent than the carbon dioxide. Dumpsites also pollute the groundwater in a significant manner. Owing to vertical pressure of the waste load, a filthy and toxic black liquid keeps flowing from the bottom portions of the dumpsites. The liquid — known as leachate — if not treated properly could lead to high levels of chemical oxygen demand (COD) & Iron (Fe), apart from other toxic pollutants, in the groundwater. Dumpsites are also a source of economic loss. As per a study conducted by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and IIT-Delhi, the three landfills in Delhi inflict an economic damage of around Rs 450 crore — Rs 156 crore at Bhalswa, Rs 151 crore at Okhla and Rs 142.5 crore at Ghazipur. Cumulatively, of course, the damages caused by the dumpsites have been much beyond what could be measured in monetary terms. Tall claims vs reality Delhi’s Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot, while presenting this year’s budget, reaffirmed that the “government targets the removal of all three mountains of garbage in Delhi in just two years. Okhla landfill (is) to be removed by December 2023, Bhalswa landfill by March 2024, and Ghazipur landfill by December 2024.” He further added that “Rs 850 crore loan will be given to the MCD for removal of mountains of garbage.” However, in a review meeting involving Kejriwal and civic officials last week, it was noted that the target of processing 10,000 tonnes of waste per day at Okhla dumpsite was not on track. The CM sternly asked the officials to come up with a plan in 15 days. Meanwhile, The Hindu has quoted a senior civic official saying that MCD is unlikely to clear the Okhla Sanitary Landfill by the end of this year. Delhi generates around 11,300 tonnes of waste each day, out of which only 8,170 tonnes is processed at WTE and other facilities. In addition to the waste generated on a daily basis, Okhla, Bhalswa and Ghazipur dumpsites hold 42 lakh tonnes, 71 lakh tonnes and 78 lakh tonnes of legacy waste, respectively. Just like the processing of daily MSW, the treatment of legacy waste, too, is proceeding at a sluggish pace. As per DPCC’s annual report for 2021-22, the Timarpur Okhla Waste management Company Ltd. had a waste processing capacity of 1,950 TPD (tonnes per day) and generated 23 MW of energy. East Delhi Waste Processing Company Ltd. in Ghazipur had the waste processing capacity of 1,300 TPD and generated 12 MW of electricity. The corresponding figures for Delhi MSW Solutions Ltd. on Narela-Bawana Road were 1,300 TPD and 24 MW. The cumulative waste-processing capacity of the three WTE plants was 4,550 TPD. In addition, the fourth WTE plant was inaugurated in October last year at Tehkhand — with a waste processing capacity of 2,000 TPD, generating 25 MW of electricity. Proposals are underway to build more WTE plants and engineered Sanitary Landfills, and to expand the capacity of the existing WTE plants. Experts, however, emphasise on more efficient alternatives/complements to tackle the dumpsite menace. Innovation as the key Conventionally, there have been two main scientific routes to reclaim land from the landfills — capping of the legacy waste, and the combination of biomining and bioremediation. Capping refers to closing of the garbage material using soil and other components. Biomining refers to extraction of useful metals and other solid components through decomposition of biodegradable waste under the action of microorganisms, air and sunlight. Bioremediation refers to decomposition, excavation and segregation of legacy waste to single out refuse-derived fuel (RDF) — a category of solid waste with high calorific value, which can act as fuel for a variety of purposes. Inert and recyclable wastes are also separated in the process. In July 2019, the National Green Tribunal adjudicated that capping of legacy waste may lead to grave environmental and health consequences in the Indian context, thus leaving biomining and bioremediation as the most preferable methods of dumpsite remediation. Source segregation of waste To fulfil Delhi government’s objective of removing “all three mountains of garbage in just two years”, the focus has primarily been on bioremediation of legacy waste. Richa Singh, a domain expert at CSE, pointed out that “about 50 per cent of the total waste generated in the country is disposed of in the dumpsites without any treatment. It is practically impossible to remediate the legacy waste dumpsites if the city keeps adding new waste daily.” This is indeed a major lacuna. The Bhalswa dumpsite is bi-compartmentalised in two segments. While the work of bioremediation of legacy waste is proceeding with an “impressive” pace on the larger segment, MCD trucks keep dumping new waste on the adjacent, relatively smaller segment. Ragpickers working there for decades are convinced that by the time the larger segment is dealt with, the smaller one will acquire a humongous size. Richa Singh proposes a seemingly simple and meaningful solution to break this vicious cycle. She highlights the imperative of source segregation of waste, saying that “this is non-negotiable and the success of any waste treatment technology depends on the quality of feedstock (waste)”. Notably, the composition of waste at a dumpsite affects the efficiency and viability of the bioremediation process at the site. Strictly cautioning against the occupational hazards that waste pickers may face while working on dumpsites, Singh suggests that “the informal sector (waste pickers) can be employed in door-to-door collection of waste from the households and sorting and segregation of the dry fraction of municipal waste. There are various models in the country such as SWaCH in Pune where the waste pickers’ cooperative is responsible for collecting and segregating the waste from the households. The cooperative is completely owned by its waste picker members. An agreement between Pune Municipal Corporation and SWaCH was formulated for decentralised waste management in Pune. Today, around 3,700 waste pickers are a part of SWaCH, covering over 9.5 lakh properties and diverting huge quantities of waste from reaching the landfills. Similar models can be adopted in other cities as well.” Biogas plants — a potential gamechanger Furthermore, in a recent letter written to the Delhi government, the Indian Biogas Association (IBA) proposed that “biogas plants can be set up under the PPP model and the government can invite interested entrepreneurs to set up biogas plants at landfill sites.” The Delhi government should respond proactively to this precious suggestion. As per IBA, setting up of a biogas plant at each entry point of landfills will not only reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, but also make savings of Rs 750 crore by cost-effectively using the resources and generating biogas and organic fertilizer. Experts have been emphasising on this strategy for quite a long time. Richa Singh believes that “50 to 60 per cent of the MSW generated in the country is wet biodegradable waste; converting that into bio-compressed natural gas (CNG) can be a game-changer.” The success story of Indore bears testimony to her conviction. Singh illustrates: “Indore in Madhya Pradesh has installed a bio-CNG plant and produces 17,000 kilograms of CNG every day by treating 550 tonnes of biodegradable/wet waste. Reportedly, they are earning more than Rs 50 crore from bio-CNG and carbon credits as revenue.” The government has to turn its focus towards innovation and technology to fulfil its commitment of clearing the dumpsites. It is a fact that the pace of bioremediation and biomining has been “sluggish”. At the same time, an ever-increasing quantum of new waste is being dumped at the landfills — leaving us with a circle without ends. Even if through extraordinary efforts, and at a huge financial cost, the government manages to reclaim large swathes of land through conventional practices, one is curious to ask, why not achieve the same outcomes innovatively, at lower expenses! Bhanpur Khanti: Notoriety to fame Six years back, when the train passengers passing through Madhya Pradesh would pinch their nose shut, it would infamously mean that Bhopal station was about to arrive. The foul smell would come from the 37-acre Bhanpur Khanti dumpsite. But today, there are no traces of that pungent identifier because, through efficient micro-planning and some back-breaking endeavour, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation managed to eliminate the dumpsite from the map of the city! The almost five-decade old dumpsite had 7.5 lakh tonnes of legacy waste while the city still generated 800 tonnes of waste on a daily basis. Firm in its resolve, in 2018, the BMC planned the minutest details to rid the city of this notoriety. It used a hybrid method of dumpsite remediation — garbage from 21 acres of land would undergo biomining and the rest 16 acres would be bio capped. The capped portion was topped with a geo-membrane and a grass layer. A proper gas collection system was put in place along with a leachate treatment plant with a capacity of 50 kilolitre per day (KLD). The waste segregated after biomining at the 21-acre land was diverted to recycling plants (recyclable waste), waste-to-energy plants (RDF) and construction sites (inert waste). In three years, the 21-acre land was reclaimed and generated Rs 380 crore in revenue for the municipal body, which is much higher than the cost incurred on remediation — 42 crores. The remaining 16 acre of land has been converted into a green park. What the BMC did after the completion of the remediation process is even more inspiring. A mechanism for four-way source segregation — wet, dry, sanitary and domestic hazardous — of waste was institutionalised, and a sanitary landfill at the outskirts of Adampur was engineered. Today, Bhopal is counted among the cleanest cities of India with a robust waste disposal mechanism. Bhopal is, however, just one example.

कृषि में भी लैंगिक असमानता; कमाई में महिलाएं पुरुषों से पीछे

लैंगिक असमानता की जो खाई कृषि में भी महिलाओं का पीछा नहीं छोड़ रही है। कहीं न कहीं यह कृषि में महिलाओं की घटती भागीदारी के लिए भी जिम्मेवार है। आँकड़े दर्शाते हैं कि कृषि में जिस काम का पुरुषों को एक रुपया मिलता है, वहीं उसकी तुलना में महिलाओं को केवल 82 पैसे ही मिल रहे हैं। मतलब दोनों की मजदूरी में करीब 18.4 फीसदी का अंतर है। यह जानकारी संयुक्त राष्ट्र के खाद्य एवं कृषि संगठन (एफएओ) द्वारा जारी नई रिपोर्ट ‘द स्टेटस ऑफ वीमेन इन एग्रीफूड सिस्टम्स’ में सामने आई है। रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक, जहाँ 2005 में 33 फीसदी महिलाएं अपनी आजीविका के लिए कृषि पर निर्भर थीं, वहीं 2019 में यह आँकड़ा 9 फीसदी की गिरावट के साथ 24 फीसदी पर पहुँच गया है। लैंगिक असमानता की यह दूरी सिर्फ यहाँ तक ही सीमित नहीं है, कृषि उत्पादकता के मामले में भी इनके बीच की खाई काफी गहरी है। पता चला है कि पुरुष और महिला किसानों के बीच कृषि उत्पादकता में करीब 24 फीसदी का अंतर है। इसी तरह पुरुषों और महिलाओं के बीच खाद्य असुरक्षा की खाई 2019 में 1.7 फीसदी से 2021 में 4.3 फीसदी तक बढ़ गई है। ऐसे में खाद्य एवं कृषि संगठन ने अपनी इस रिपोर्ट में इस बात पर जोर दिया है कि यदि असमानता की इस खाई को भरने पर ध्यान दिया जाए, तो न केवल महिलाओं को इससे फायदा होगा साथ ही सारे समाज को इसका फायदा पहुँचेगा। देखा जाए तो इस अंतर के लिए कहीं न कहीं हमारी सामाजिक व्यवस्था और भेदभावपूर्ण मानदंड ही जिम्मेवार है, जहाँ महिलाओं को पुरुषों से कमतर आँका जाता है। आज भी दुनिया के कई हिस्सों में महिलाओं को घर से बाहर काम करना हीन समझा जाता है। (‘डाउन टू अर्थ’ से साभार)

Antibiotic use in animals, humans can trigger AMR in each other: study establishes links

Reciprocity of antimicrobial consumption and resistance between animals and humans emphasises the need for integrated strategies to stop transmission across various One Health domains A recent study has found there are bidirectional associations between antibiotic consumption and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) rates in humans and animals. Antibiotic use by humans can lead to AMR in animals and antibiotics in animals can cause AMR in humans. While antimicrobial consumption in animals was significantly associated with AMR in human pathogens (listed under critical priority by the World Health Organization), AMR in humans was associated considerably with animal AMR rates, noted the study published in The Lancet Planetary Health on April 4, 2023. Read more: Antimicrobial resistance: How factory farming is destroying our planet AMR is the ability of bacteria and other microbes to resist the drugs used to inhibit or kill them. Antibiotics are used in food-animals to promote growth and prevent diseases. This overuse and misuse can lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can then be transmitted to humans. Critical priority human pathogens include carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii, carbapenem-resistant E. coli, third-generation cephalosporin-resistant E. coli, carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae, cephalosporin resistant K. pneumoniae and carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa. The study has been carried out by researchers from various universities as well as experts across the globe. Carbapenem-resistant acinetobacter baumanii, third-generation cephalosporins-resistant escherichia coli, and oxacillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (all antibiotic-bacterium specific pairs) were found to have significant associations with animal antibiotic consumption. These bacteria are known to cause severe infections in humans such as pneumonia, bloodstream infections, meningitis, urinary tract infections, gastroenteritis, bacteremia, etc. This is one of the first studies that has identified the global two-way animal–human associations. In addition, significant associations were also noted between animal antimicrobial consumption and AMR in food-producing animals and between human antimicrobial consumption and AMR, specifically in critical-priority and high-priority pathogens. In view of antibiotic consumption in humans, higher consumption is found to be associated with greater resistance in carbapenem-resistant acinetobacter baumanii, carbapenem-resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa, third-generation cephalosporins-resistant escherichia coli, third generation cephalosporins-resistant klebsiella pneumoniae, oxacillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant enterococcus faecium. Read more: Unregulated use of antibiotics a threat to public health, say experts Third generation cephalosporins and vancomycin belong to the highest priority critically important antimicrobials category; carbapenems belong to critically important antimicrobials category and oxacillin belongs to highly important antimicrobials category, as classified by WHO. Antibiotic consumption in animals was positively associated with rates of third-generation cephalosporins-resistant E. coli, oxacillin-resistant S. aureus and carbapenem-resistant A. baumanii. Overall, for the critical human pathogens, the study found that carbapenem and third-generation cephalosporin consumption in humans and antibiotic consumption in food-producing animals were linked to an increase in AMR. These were also positively associated with resistance in food-producing animals. The study adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that antibiotic use in animals may be contributing to the rise of AMR in humans. The reciprocity of antimicrobial consumption and resistance between animals and humans emphasises the need for integrated strategies to stop transmission across various One Health domains. Adopting better preventative measures, such as biosecurity, vaccination and waste management, may fall into this category. A 2021 report by the Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment showed how critically important antibiotics are misused and overused in the Indian food-animal production sector. In the dairy sector, 21 critically important antimicrobials from six classes, 14 critically important antimicrobials from four classes in the poultry sector, and three critically important antimicrobials in the aquaculture sector were found to be in use. Read more: Clear and present danger: Lancet study highlights AMR time bomb in India, world In the dairy sector, third, fourth, and fifth-generation Cephalosporins and several other critically important antimicrobials were used. These findings can now be viewed in light of the associations established in the study to understand how the use of cephalosporins in animals poses a risk of resistance in human population. Efforts to establish similar food-animal and human associations were also attempted in another report titled Antimicrobial consumption and resistance in bacteria from humans and animals. It focuses on six antimicrobials classes: Third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, polymyxins, aminopenicillins, macrolides and tetracyclines, five out of which are critically important antimicrobials. In the report, associations between food-producing animals and humans were observed between the consumption of an antimicrobial class and bacterial resistance to the antimicrobials in this class in the same population. For example, in the case of food-producing animals, a statistically significant positive association was observed for one or more years between the prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing E. coli and AmpC beta-lactamase-producing E. coli and consumption of third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins. In addition, resistance in bacteria in humans was associated with antimicrobial consumption in animals as well as resistance in bacteria from food-producing animals which, in turn, was related to antimicrobial consumption in animals. For example, a statistically significant positive association was observed for one or more years between resistance to third-generation cephalosporins through a univariate analysis in invasive E. coli isolates from humans and the consumption of third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins, both in humans and in food-producing animals. Globally, antibiotic sales are increasing with rising food demand, making antimicrobial resistance a serious concern in countries where antibiotics can be purchased without a prescription, such as low- and middle-income countries. Some 93,309 tones of antibiotics were sold for use in food-producing animals worldwide in 2017, with that figure expected to rise to 104,079 tones by 2030, according to the study. The associations presented in the study demonstrate a strong understanding of the importance of conserving antibiotics because, whether used in animals or humans, they will undoubtedly pose a risk to other counterparts and make disease treatment difficult for both. In addition, the study has also identified determinants of AMR in humans and food-producing animals and established a positive association of antimicrobial resistance with indicators such as socioeconomic and demographic indicators, environmental indicators, health-related indicators and antibiotic policy and regulation in humans and animals. Their specific indicators that establish positive association are presented in the table below.

How Electric Three-Wheelers Are Crucial To Delhi's Smart City Mission

Electric three-wheelers have emerged as a crucial component of Delhi's Smart City Mission as they offer a cleaner, more efficient, and affordable mode of transportation. The government launched the Smart City Mission in 2015 to promote sustainable and inclusive development of cities across the country. One of the key objectives of the mission is to improve the quality of life for citizens, reduce pollution levels, and enhance mobility. In this context, electric three-wheelers (e3Ws) have emerged as a crucial component of Delhi's Smart City Mission, as they offer a cleaner and more efficient mode of transportation. Advertisement: 0:11 Close PlayerUnibots.in After the launch of the Delhi electric vehicle policy in August 2020, e3Ws emerged as the highest-selling electric vehicle in the capital. A total of 5,534 new e3Ws have been registered from August 2020 to February 2021 to make the switch towards clean modes of transportation even smoother. The growth of the e3Ws surged to 34 per cent in FY 2021 and 46 per cent in FY 2022 as compared to just 20 per cent in the financial year 2020. India witnessed 345,200 registrations of e3Ws from April 2022 to February 2023, i.e., 124 per cent higher than the previous year. And, being the second-largest EV market with 1,25,347 vehicles on road, Delhi’s contribution to green mobility has been quite remarkable. In recent years, the Delhi Government is running ‘Switch Delhi’ campaign, which is focused on generating awareness of the benefits of e3Ws along with the benefits offered under the Delhi EV policy for those who want to make a switch from internal combustion engine (ICE) powered vehicles to electric mobility. In the second week of the campaign, many users, environmentalists, celebrities and industry leaders come forward to express their support for the campaign. According to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the transportation sector is the second-largest contributor to global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions after power generation. In India, the transportation sector is responsible for nearly 12 per cent of the country's CO2 emissions. Furthermore, the increasing number of vehicles on the road has resulted in severe air pollution in many Indian cities, including Delhi, which has some of the highest levels of air pollution in the world. To address these challenges, the Delhi government has launched several initiatives to promote electric mobility, including the deployment of e3Ws. These vehicles are widely used in Delhi for short-distance transportation, such as last-mile connectivity and intra-city travel. E3Ws are also popular among small and medium-sized businesses for their low operating costs, sustainability and high efficiency. According to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), there are over 100,000 registered e3Ws in Delhi as of 2021, making it the largest market for such vehicles in India. The report also highlights the environmental benefits of electric three-wheelers. For instance, an e3W emits zero tailpipe emissions and is estimated to reduce carbon emissions by up to 1.5 tonnes per year compared to a conventional gasoline-powered three-wheeler. Moreover, e3Ws are more energy-efficient than their conventional counterparts, which translates into lower operating costs for drivers. According to a study by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), electric three-wheelers in Delhi consume nearly 60 per cent less energy than conventional gasoline-powered three-wheelers. The study estimates that switching to electric three-wheelers could result in a cumulative net savings of up to $1.3 billion for drivers by 2030. This estimate is based on various factors such as the lower operating costs of electric vehicles compared to traditional petrol/diesel vehicles, the availability of government incentives and subsidies, and the projected increase in the adoption of electric vehicles in India. According to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), switching to electric vehicles could save India up to $60 billion in diesel and petrol costs by 2030. The study includes all types of electric vehicles, including electric three-wheelers. However, it is important to note that this is just an estimate and the actual savings may vary depending on various factors such as the cost of electricity, battery technology improvements, and other market factors. The Delhi government has also launched several initiatives to promote the adoption of e3Ws. For instance, it has introduced subsidies and incentives for the purchase of electric three-wheelers and established charging infrastructure across the city. The government has also partnered with private companies to launch electric three-wheeler taxi services, which offer a cleaner and more affordable mode of transportation for citizens. In a nutshell, e3Ws have emerged as a crucial component of Delhi's Smart City Mission, as they offer a cleaner, more efficient, and affordable mode of transportation. The widespread adoption of electric three-wheelers in Delhi has the potential to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, and enhance the quality of life for citizens. Therefore, it is crucial that the Delhi government continues to promote and incentivize the adoption of electric three-wheelers as part of its efforts to create a sustainable and inclusive city.

Winter 2022-23 saw highest pollution levels in Maharashtra and Gujarat in four years: CSE analysis

Centre for Science and Environment’s Urban Lab’s Air Quality Tracker Initiative reports alarming rise in PM2.5 levels in western Indian states According to a new analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the winter of 2022-23 in the western Indian states of Maharashtra and Gujarat was the most polluted in the last four years. The CSE’s Urban Lab carried out the analysis from October 1, 2022, to February 28, 2023, using real-time data from 58 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) spread across 17 cities in the two states. Winter pollution in the region typically sets in during late November and early December, when cooler and calmer conditions trap local pollution. The analysis found that winter pollution has been rising in Maharashtra on a yearly basis and stood at 66 µg/m³ this winter, a 13% increase compared to the mean of the previous three winter seasons. Gujarat was the more polluted of the two states, with a winter average of 73 µg/m³, a 6% increase compared to the mean of the previous three winters. Most polluted locations in the region were located in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. The report calls for immediate action to control pollution from key sources across the region.

कोयले का इस्तेमाल बंद करने की गति बहुत धीमी, तीन डिग्री सेल्सियस की ओर बढ़ रही है दुनिया

दुनिया भर में कोयले से बिजली पैदा करने में जिस रफ्तार से कमी आने की सोची गई थी, वैसा नहीं हो रहा है। पेरिस समझौते का अधिकतम दो डिग्री तापमान का लक्ष्य विफल होता दिख रहा है और दुनिया 2.5 से तीन डिग्री तापमान में वृद्धि की ओर बढ़ रही है। एक नए अध्ययन में यह बात कही गई है कि बढ़ते तापमान से बचा जा सकता है। यह अध्ययन चाल्मर्स यूनिवर्सिटी ऑफ टेक्नोलॉजी और स्वीडन की लुंड यूनिवर्सिटी के शोधकर्ताओं ने किया है।

This summer, Delhi to join hands with neighbours to fight bad air

NEW DELHI: Delhi government hopes to tackle pollution in the summer with a 16-point plan. The plan will focus on initiating dialogues with the neighbouring states on joint action that will tackle dust pollution, which is one of the major sources of summer pollution, and industrial pollution. Developing ponds and parks are also envisaged. Environment minister Gopal Rai, who chaired a meeting with 30 government departments on Wednesday, directed the officials to submit their section's detailed plan to the environment department by April 20. Based on the suggestions received from the various departments, the government will announce a summer action plan to contain pollution. Track the pollution level in your city Rai said, "Immediate and long-term action programmes, which will be part of the summer action plan, will be put into effect to control Delhi's pollution. Specific tasks have been assigned to different departments to prepare an overall action plan." The plan will have as its various elements dust pollution, industrial pollution, noise pollution, water pollution, solid waste management, tree plantation, tree transplantation policy, real-time apportionment study, open burning and development of city forest, real time apportionment study, urban farming, development of ponds, development of park, e-waste eco park, eco club activity and dialogue with neighbouring states. The minister said, "It has been seen in Delhi that the surrounding states also play a key role in the rise in pollution. Dialogues will be started with the neighbouring states to formulate a joint action plan to control pollution." Rai has appointed a nodal agency to coordinate with the other departments. For real time source apportionment study, Rai said work was being done in collaboration with IIT-Kanpur to determine the sources of pollution in the city. "India's first e-waste eco park is being built on zero-waste policy," he added. Responding to Wednesday's developments, Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment, said, "This action plan is incomplete without measures for vehicular pollution. Motor vehicles are among the highest contributors to pollution in the city, emitting significant particulate and gaseous pollutants. It is necessary to reduce traffic intensity and on-road emissions." Roychowdhury said one of the key summer problems was the exceeding of ozone standards. Experts explained that ground-level ozone was produced by the complex interaction between nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are emitted by vehicles, power plants, factories and other combustion sources. They undergo cyclic reactions in the presence of sunlight to generate ground-level ozone.

Rajasthan's beekeepers in the honey trap of high costs and low prices

The apiarists of Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan are as busy as a bee itself. Sadly, they are not getting a fair price for the hard work they put in. Over the years, production cost has soared, but honey prices have not increased proportionately, putting around 1,500 beekeepers in the district in a tight spot. accommodation of labourers and transport, the production cost of one kg of honey comes to Rs 125. In contrast, companies buy the produce for Rs 60-70 per kg, which is at least Rs 10 less than the procurement price provided almost two decades ago! The struggle does not end with this wide disparity in input and procurement costs. The drop in honey production also stings beekeepers. "Twenty-five years ago, one colony produced 50 to 60 kg of honey in the mustard growing season (October to March). With the increased use of pesticides and fertilisers, this has come down to 15 kg," said Punjab-based Jaspreet Singh, who supplies bee colonies to apiarists in Hanumangarh. "Bees do not visit flowers of crops sprayed with pesticides, else they will die. This has affected pollination. There is also a new concern that genetically modified plants might have an adverse effect on pollinators," he added. Honey trap Among the many issues, the addition of artificial colours and sugars to honey is a major cause of concern for beekeepers. "The authorities are hand in glove with procuring companies. It keeps changing norms, which encourages companies to sell adulterated honey instead of buying pure produce from us. Some parameters were unnecessarily diluted, without any explanation,' Prakash Singh Badal, a resident of Nohar in Hanumangarh and president of the northern Rajasthan unit of the Rashtriya Beekeepers Sangharsh Samiti, told 101Reporters. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations has defined honey as a natural sweet substance produced by bees from the pollination of plants or by separating living parts of plants or by insects sucking on living plants. The bee collects, transforms, dehydrates and stores it, ripens and matures it in the hive. For the greed of money, several companies play with the health of unsuspecting consumers by selling honey mixed with maize and rice syrup. An investigation carried out by Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in 2020 found that 10 out of the 13 major brands sold honey containing sugar syrup. "In 1994, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India had set the standard for pollen count and plant element in honey at 50,000 per gram, but it was changed to 25,000 per gram in 2018. A year later, it was diluted to 5,000 per gram. The government also did away with the quality control test for honey," Badal explained. At the same time, pollen count is not considered a measure of the quality of honey globally. Consequently, determining adulteration by checking the pollen count has been a matter of controversy. This is exacerbated by the fact that pollen count varies in different types of honey. For example, it can be different in mustard, litchi, or honey obtained from a single flower or different flowers.

This winter most polluted for Maharashtra and Gujarat in last 4 years: CSE report

Context: The last winter (2022-23) turned out to be the most polluted one for Maharashtra and Gujarat in the previous four years, revealed a new analysis by the Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). More on the News: The average winter pollution level in the cities of Maharashtra rose by 13 per cent compared to the mean of the previous three winter seasons. Winter pollution has been rising in Maharashtra on a yearly basis and stood at 66 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) this winter, the study found. Winter pollution has been on a decline in Gujarat since 2019, but it spiked up this winter. In absolute terms, Gujarat was the more polluted of the two states, with a winter average of 73 µg/m3. Gujarat registered an increase of 6 per cent compared to the mean of the previous three winters. The regional influence of pollution is sharply evident in the synchronised spread of winter pollution across the cities. Analysis: In these states, winter pollution typically sets in during late November and early December, when the cooler and calmer conditions trap local pollution. In the western regions experience temperature inversion, which occurs when the surface temperature in the surrounding regions is lower than the air temperature. As a result, pollutants get trapped closer to the ground, leading to a significant rise in PM 2.5 levels. Overall, winter amplifies the effects of various sources of pollution, including industrial emissions, vehicular exhaust, and agricultural burning, leading to a significant rise in PM 2.5 levels. The geographical phenomena, including temperature inversion and the direction of the wind, play a crucial role in exacerbating the pollution levels during winter in various regions of India.

Maharashtra and Gujarat faced the highest winter air pollution levels, says CSE

For the western Indian states of Maharashtra and Gujarat, the winter of 2022-23 had been the most polluted in the last four years – says a new analysis by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) of the region’s winter air quality (PM2.5) trends. The analysis, done for the period October 1, 2022 to February 28, 2023, has been carried out by CSE’s Urban Lab. In these states, winter pollution typically sets in during late November and early December, when the cooler and calmer conditions trap local pollution. “The fact that the big cities as well as smaller towns have experienced the rise in winter PM2.5 levels points to the rapid spread of the air pollution problem in this region. This is evident in both the seasonal average and the peaks,” says Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research an advocacy, CSE. “While local pollution is increasing in these rapidly motorising and developing cities, the regional influence is further aggravating the challenge. This is overpowering the advantage of natural ventilation of the coastal climate. This demands immediate roadmap to control pollution from the key sources across the region,” she added. “While in absolute terms Gujarat has a higher pollution level, it is rising faster in Maharashtra. Most polluted locations in the region are located in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Vapi and Surat are among the most polluted locations in Gujarat. Nagpur registered the highest increase in pollution with a 105 per cent rise compared to the previous winter,” says Avikal Somvanshi, senior programme manager, Urban Lab, CSE. This analysis is part of the third edition of Urban Lab’s Air Quality Tracker Initiative which was started in the winter of 2020-21. This analysis is based on the real time data available from the current working air quality monitoring stations in these two states. A huge volume of data points have been cleaned and data gaps have been addressed, based on USEPA methods, for this analysis. Winter here is defined as the period between October 1, 2022 and February 28, 2023. Winter average is based on the mean of daily averages where continuous data is available since 2019. India’s e-commerce logistics space to exceed 10 billion parcels by FY28 According to a report by Redseer Strategy Consultants, India’s e-commerce logistics market would surpass 10 billion parcels by FY28 as it grows in Tier 2 plus cities, new categories, and direct-to-consumer (D2C) companies. In FY23, e-commerce logistics’ total shipments (forward and reverse) increased to 4 billion. (excluding hyperlocal shipments). In this pie, the shares of in-house logistics and third parties were about equal. According to the Redseer research, “Over the course of the year, the industry witnessed intensifying competitive trends from smaller incumbents with yields also being challenged.” The whole e-commerce logistics opportunity is expected to increase at a minimum CAGR of 20% to comfortably reach 10 billion parcels by FY28 on the back of continuous e-commerce development, according to the report. Despite this, the market is still a compelling long-term investment. D2C has become a rapidly expanding area of e-commerce. According to Redseer, D2C companies will have a 35% increase in overall GMV (gross merchandise value) over the next several years, with brand.com contributing significantly to this rise. By CY27, D2C brands are anticipated to produce a combined US$ 33 billion in GMV over all channels. According to Redseer, logistics providers with pertinent and tailored offerings for direct-to-consumer (D2C) firms are well-positioned to gain market share in this rapidly expanding industry. In the future, they are anticipated to have a greater yield profile.