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NEMC yaingia mkataba kukusanya taka ngumu

Dar es Salaam. Baraza la Taifa la Usimamizi na Uhifadhi wa Mazingira (NEMC), limesaini wa ushirikiano na Kituo cha Sayansi na Mazingira (CSE), utakaosaidia baraza hilo kuboresha ukusanyaji wa taka ngumu katika maeneo mbalimbali hasa majiji. Mkataba huo umesainiwa leo Jumatatu, Januari 23, 2023 kati ya Mkurugenzi mkuu wa NEMC, Dk Samuel Gwamaka na Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa CSE chenye makazi yake nchini India. Hafla hiyo ilikwenda sambamba na mjadala wa siku tatu wa kujadili masuala ya taka ngumu. Katika maelezo yake, Dk Gwamaka amesema taka ngumu bado changamoto sio Tanzania pekee bali katika mataifa mbalimbali, ndio maana shughuli hiyo imehudhuriwa na wawakilishi wa mataifa ya Rwanda, Msumbiji, Ethiopia, Ghana, Zambia Kenya, Uganda na Eswatin. Amesema CSE wamekwenda mbali zaidi hasa katika teknolojia ya ukusanyaji wa taka ngumu, akisema kupitia mkataba watapata uzoefu wa kukabiliana na changamoto hiyo na namna ya kutengeneza mifumo ya kutenganisha taka hizo baada ya kukusanywa hadi kusafirishwa. "NEMC na CSE tunakusudia kujengeana uwezo na uzoefu ikiwa ni pamoja na kufanya tafiti zinazohusiana na miji yetu katika ukusanya wa taka, pia kubadilisha uzoefu ikiwa ni pamoja wataalamu wetu kubadilisha mafunzo au kutembea nchi nyingine kujionea. "Pia kujaribu kuzipa nguvu miji au halmashauri za wilaya ili zisimamie uwezo wa kupata teknolojia na uzoefu kisha kupata tafiti za pamoja za kupunguza taka ngumu kwenda katika madampo ili miji iendelee kuwa safi," amesema Dk Gwamaka. Kwa mujibu wa Dk Gwamaka, mkataba huo ni miaka mitatu, lakini kuna uwezekano wa kuurefusha zaidi ili kuzipa nguvu mamlaka za Serikali za mitaa katika kukabiliana na ukusanyaji wa taka kwa kutumia teknolojia ya kisasa. Kwa upande wake, Mkurugenzi mtendaji wa CSE, Anumita Chowdhury amesema ushirikiano huo ni muhimu kufahamu na kuzingatia changamoto za kimazingira zinazoambatana na mabadiliko ya mipango na uchafuzi hali ya hewa. "Leo India na Tanzania tunajaribu kutafuta suluhisho la changamoto zetu kwa kufahamu nini kinahitajika katika kudhibiti uchafuzi wa mazingira usiokua na gharama kubwa ambapo tutaweza kufanikisha kwa uwezo wetu. "Mkataba huu umejikita katika kusaidiana na kujifunza kutoka pande zote mbili kwenye usimamizi wa taka ngumu huku tukifahamu kwamba miji yetu inakua kwa haraka," amesema Chowdhury. Amesema taka ni rasirimali ambazo zinahitaji kurejeshwa tena na kuchangia maendeleo, akisema kupitia ushirikiano huo pande zote mbili namna nyumba itakavyopunguza matumizi ya plastiki na taka kukusanywa na kufanywa bidhaa. "Kama tulivyoona India ambapo taka zutumika kutengeneza biogas, hivyo tunaweza pia kutumia njia kama hii Tanzania ili kuondoa madampo," amesema.

NEMC,TAASISI YA MAZINGIRA KUTOKA NCHINI INDIA WASAINI MKATABA WA MIAKA MITATU KUKABILIANA NA TAKA NGUMU , KUFANYA TAFITI

MKURUGENZI wa Baraza la Taifa la Hifadhi na Usimamizi wa Mazingira (NEMC) Dkt. Samuel Gwamaka amesema NEMC pamoja na Center for Science and Environment( CSE) wamekusudia kujengeana uwezo na uzoefu pamoja na kufanya tafiti zinazohusiana na miji yetu katika ukusanyaji taka ngumu Dk.Gwamaka ameyasema hayo leo Januari 23,2023 jijini Dar es Salaam wakati wa NEMC wakisaini ) mkataba wa miaka mitatu wa ushirikiano na taasisi inayojishughulisha na masuala ya kisayansi na kimazingira kutoka nchini India ya Center for Science and Environment ambapo ushirikiano huo utasaidia kufanya maboresho katika ukusanyaji wa taka ngumu. Amefafanua pamoja na mambo mengine nia ya mkataba huo uwe wa miaka mitatu kuanzia sasa lakini kutakuwa na uwezekano kuupeleka mbele zaidi kwa lengo la kuzipa nguvu Mamlaka za Serikali za Mitaa hasa katika majiji, miji pamoja na Wilaya ,ndio maana wakurugenzi wameshirikishwa katika kushuhudia itiwaji saini wa mkataba huo. "Wameshiriki kwenye mkutano huu muhimu kwa ajili ya kuwapa nafasi ya kubadilishana mawazo na uzoefu na hapo baadae tuwe na mifumo ya kisasa kuhakikisha taka ngumu zinazozalishwa ziwezwe kutengwa na zisionekane kwenye madampona zile zinazooza ziweze kuwa mbolea,"amesema. Akieleza zaidi mbele ya waandishi wa habari Dk.Gwamaka amesema taka ngumu imekuwa changamoto katika miji mingi barani Afrika sio Tanzania peke yake na kwamba wamekuwa walishirikiana na nchi nyingine kuangalia namna ya kumaliza changamoto ya uwepo wa taka ngumu Amezitaja baadhi ya nchi ambazo wamekuwa wakibadilishana uzoefu ni Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Ghana , Zambia ambao na wao wametuma wawakilishai wao hapa nchini Tanzaoa kwa lengo la kujadiliana kwa kina. Dk.Gwamaka ameeleza pia madampo imekuwa mojawapo ya sehemu ambayo ni changamoto na ni gharama katika kuyaendesha katika uksanyaji wa taka ngumu na matokeo yake miji yetu mingi imekuwa ni michafu."Hivyo kupitia taasisi hii ya India kwani wenzetu wamekwenda mbali katika teknolojia hivyo kusaidia kutengeneza mifumo rafiki kwaajili ya kutenga taka ngumu zisiweze kuleta madhara kwenye mazingira." Kwa upande wake Mwakilishi kutoka Ofisi ya Rais Tawala za Mikoa za Mitaa (TAMISEMI) Hawa Mwechaga amesema wanasimamia halmashauri 184 ambako huko kote kuna taka ngumu , hivyo kila halmashauri wana idara zinazoratibu uzalishaji wa taka ngumu hivyo wanashirikiana na NEMC kuona ni namna gani wanaenda kuboresha Majiji na miundombinu mbalimbali. Wakati huo huo Mkurugenzi mtendaji wa CSE, Anumita Chowdhury ametumia nafasi hiyo kueleza kwamba ushirikiano huo ni muhimu kufahamu na kuzingatia changamoto za kimazingira zinazoambatana na mabadiliko ya mipango na uchafuzi hali ya hewa. "India na Tanzania tunajaribu kutafuta suluhisho la changamoto zetu kwa kufahamu nini kinahitajika katika kudhibiti uchafuzi wa mazingira usiokua na gharama kubwa ambapo tutaweza kufanikisha kwa uwezo wetu.Mkataba huu umejikita katika kusaidiana na kujifunza kutoka pande zote mbili kwenye usimamizi wa taka ngumu." Chowdhury amesema taka ni rasirimali ambazo zinahitaji kurejeshwa tena na kuchangia maendeleo huku akisisitiza kupitia ushirikiano huo pande zote mbili namna nyumba itakavyopunguza matumizi ya plastiki na taka kukusanywa na kufanywa bidhaa.

MCD is hard at work but Delhi’s looming landfills unlikely to go by G20 summit

MCD aims to flatten Okhla and Bhalswa landfills by Dec 2023, and Ghazipur by March 2024. G20 has led to calls to finish Okhla work by Sept. Experts say even 5 years not enough. New Delhi: If you pinch your nose shut, Delhi’s three landfill sites — in Ghazipur, Okhla, and Bhalswa — almost look like undulating hills. Hopes are now high that these eyesores will soon meet their end. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) began work last year to flatten the landfills, and with the G20 Summit coming up, there are calls for it to get the job done by September for Okhla. Experts, however, believe that none of the proposed deadlines are realistic. The MCD deadlines for the three sites are December 2023 for the landfills in Okhla (46 acres) and Bhalswa (36 acres), and March 2024 for Ghazipur (70 acres). The landfills exceeded their capacity in 2010, 2003 and 2002 respectively. All three comprise lakhs of tons of “legacy waste”, or garbage that has been piled up for years, but they continue to be receptacles of new trash too. With the G20 around the corner, officials from the Lieutenant Governor’s secretariat have said that the authorities have been asked to complete the work at the Okhla landfill before the events commence. Delhi BJP working president Virender Sachdeva even claimed in December last year that the municipal corporation had declared that the Okhla landfill site would be cleared before the G20 summit. The Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0 has also issued a separate deadline for all legacy dumpsites to be remediated by 2026. However, experts at the non-profit research organisation Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) told ThePrint that none of these deadlines will be met until a complete ban on the fresh dumping of garbage is enacted and the current capacity of garbage being processed is increased. It will take over five years to reach the MCD’s goal, they said. Mountains that just keep growing An official from MCD’s Department of Environment Management Services (DEMS), told ThePrint that on 3 November 2022, the municipal body awarded tenders to three companies to process 30 lakh metric tons (1 metric ton = 1000 kg) legacy waste at each of the three landfill sites. When this target is met, the contract will be renewed for additional 15 lakh MTs. GreenTech Environ Management, the company in charge of the Okhla site, began work on 7 November. Alfa Therm Limited was awarded the tender for Bhalswa, and Sudhakara Infratech for Ghazipur. Legacy waste is solid waste that has been in landfills for decades as opposed to municipal solid waste (MSW), which is the fresh waste generated every day in a city. A section of the MSW, that is not processed, goes to landfills and eventually becomes legacy waste. According to the data provided by DEMS, Delhi generates approximately 11,000 metric tons per day (TPD) of MSW. Officials did not confirm how much of this becomes legacy waste. “The garbage continues to be dumped in landfills because of the low capacity in the city to process the massive amount of garbage generated. But steps are being taken, especially trommeling, which is targeting the legacy waste,” said a DEMS official. He added that out of about a total of 203 lakh MTs of legacy garbage dumped in the three landfills as on September 2022, just about 33.5 per cent (68 lakh metric tonnes) has been processed so far by the companies. But these figures do not account for the fresh dumping of garbage in the last few months. The initial deadlines, MCD spokesperson Amit Kumar told ThePrint, have been decided by MCD after a volumetric assessment (through drone survey) in September last year to understand how much of it can be cleared. “Accordingly, we have made the work map based on how much can be handled every day,” he said. Processing of legacy waste Around 16,000 TPD of legacy waste is being tromelled by the three companies. Tromelling refers to the process of sieving the waste through trommel machines and segregating it into three categories — inert waste (not chemically nor biologically reactive and does not decompose or does so very slowly), construction and demolition (C&D) like concrete, building debris and rubble, and segregated combustible fraction (SCF). The inert waste is given to Central Public Works Department (CPWD) officials and municipal engineers, C&D waste is bought by construction companies/private players, and SCF is reused, recycled and turned into fuel by cement industries or thermal industries, according to DEMS. Dealing with fresh trash Clearing the landfills also means making sure that the maximum amount of fresh waste is processed so that it doesn’t add to the garbage mountains. This is where waste-to-energy plants (WTE) come in. WTEs use waste as a fuel for generating power like other power stations use coal, oil or natural gas. Whatever waste cannot be used in any industry, has a high calorific value (heat value) and is uncontaminated, is sent to these plants There are currently four operational WTEs but their operational capacity still can’t keep up with the amount of garbage generated, leading to the excess being dumped in landfills.

MCD is hard at work but Delhi’s looming landfills unlikely to go by G20 summit

MCD aims to flatten Okhla and Bhalswa landfills by Dec 2023, and Ghazipur by March 2024. G20 has led to calls to finish Okhla work by Sept. Experts say even 5 years not enough. New Delhi: If you pinch your nose shut, Delhi’s three landfill sites — in Ghazipur, Okhla, and Bhalswa — almost look like undulating hills. Hopes are now high that these eyesores will soon meet their end. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) began work last year to flatten the landfills, and with the G20 Summit coming up, there are calls for it to get the job done by September for Okhla. Experts, however, believe that none of the proposed deadlines are realistic. he MCD deadlines for the three sites are December 2023 for the landfills in Okhla (46 acres) and Bhalswa (36 acres), and March 2024 for Ghazipur (70 acres). The landfills exceeded their capacity in 2010, 2003 and 2002 respectively. All three comprise lakhs of tons of “legacy waste”, or garbage that has been piled up for years, but they continue to be receptacles of new trash too. With the G20 around the corner, officials from the Lieutenant Governor’s secretariat have said that the authorities have been asked to complete the work at the Okhla landfill before the events commence. Delhi BJP working president Virender Sachdeva even claimed in December last year that the municipal corporation had declared that the Okhla landfill site would be cleared before the G20 summit. The Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0 has also issued a separate deadline for all legacy dumpsites to be remediated by 2026. However, experts at the non-profit research organisation Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) told ThePrint that none of these deadlines will be met until a complete ban on the fresh dumping of garbage is enacted and the current capacity of garbage being processed is increased. It will take over five years to reach the MCD’s goal, they said.

Delhi proposes “community solar rooftops” to encourage renewable growth

The state’s last solar policy in 2016 targetted achieving 1,000 Megawatt of rooftop solar by 2020. However, till now, it has been able to achieve only around 230 MW from the rooftop sector. -In its latest draft Solar Policy 2022, the Delhi government has proposed the concept of community solar rooftops for individual consumers who do not have the option or space to setup solar panels. -Experts cite a lack of attractive incentives for domestic rooftop solar projects and competition from the existing free grid electricity scheme for the poor uptake of solar rooftop systems by consumers. By Manish Kumar The National Capital of Delhi’s last Solar Policy in 2016 had announced a target of around 1,000 Megawatt (MW) of installed capacity of solar energy from solar rooftop setups, by the end of 2020. However, according to the government, so far, it has achieved a capacity of 230 MW of rooftop solar – that’s less than 25% of the target that was supposed to be met three years ago. This is despite incentives offered to consumers and industries as well as the decision to make solar rooftops mandatory for all government buildings with more than 500 square meters of roof space. Even as the 2016 Policy’s 1,000 MW target is yet to be achieved, the Delhi government has now brought out a new draft Solar Policy 2022 which proposes to increase its growth of solar rooftops. The draft policy now targets an installed capacity of solar rooftops to 750 MW and adding 5,250 MW of utility-scale solar projects from outside Delhi – making it a total of 6,000 MW installed solar capacity – in the next three years (by 2025-26). The policy says that while currently nine percent of Delhi’s total annual electricity demand is met through rooftop and utility scale solar, it plans to increase the share of solar energy in annual electricity, to 25 percent by the end of 2025. The policy aims, by the end of 2025, to have higher solar installed capacity than thermal. The government has also introduced the concept of community solar rooftops where people who, either do not have rooftops, have smaller rooftops or live in apartments and complexes, can come together to install solar panels at one site and share the benefits based on their shared investments. This would be possible through group net-metering or virtual metering. The government claims, in the policy, that it is aiding domestic consumers to avoid the large upfront cost of setting up rooftop solar by offering a Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) Model. In this model, a solar developer bears the upfront cost for installing the system at the consumer’s premises and charges a fixed fee. The policy proposes a “hybrid” version of the RESCO model where it combines the net-metering agreements between the consumers and the discoms with the power purchase agreements between the discoms and solar developers. In the policy, the Delhi government also claims it is enabling generation-based incentives for commercial and industrial consumers up to 500 MW of first deployment, in addition to the support offered to domestic consumers. It also introduces the facility of free assessment of rooftops by prospective consumers and the creation of a solar card report/solar score that talks about the potential of solar rooftops on that site. Can we expect scaling up of rooftop solar? Experts working in the sector said that some new elements in the 2022 draft policy are likely to give an impetus to the sector. Binit Das, Deputy Programme Manager (Renewable Energy) at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) told Mongabay-India that the main hurdles that solar rooftop in cities such as Delhi faces are the higher upfront cost for domestic consumers, delayed disbursement of rooftop solar subsidies and the loss of revenues of discoms with the rise of solar consumers in the city. He said that in the national capital, the commercial and industrial players with higher power demands adopted solar power more to reduce their power bills. “The new policy, however, offers some new solutions like ‘hybrid RESCO model’ where the solar developers (RESCO) install solar rooftops on consumers’ rooftop and come into contact with the discoms. Here the developer will sell the power to the discoms via PPA rather than the consumer directly, unlike the wait it is in the conventional RESCO model. Consumers will pay discoms and receive net metering benefits on their bill. The discoms meanwhile will take a decision on the selection of the developer and choose the tariff too. This will help the discoms as well as consumers,” he told Mongabay-India. He also said that the policy’s proposal of generation-based incentives to residential consumers is more effective and cost saving for the government compared to a one-time subsidy. Compared to the previous policy of 2016, where the generation-based incentive was Rs. 2 per unit of solar energy produced, the latest draft policy has increased it to Rs. 3 per unit of solar energy produced for solar rooftops, with a maximum power of 3kW. Generation based incentives are given to solar consumers based on the generation of solar energy. “Installation of solar plants and generating are different things. In many cases due to low maintenance, many solar plants do not produce solar energy but if they get incentives for each unit of generation, this can encourage many to maintain and maximise generation and increase the overall production of solar energy in the state,” Das added. In addition to the incentives, the policy also talks about waiving taxes and duties for solar generation. Other experts said that the concept of “community solar” is somewhat new to Delhi and most of the Indian states and fits well in highly populated urban areas like the national capital where there are higher energy demands. According to data, Delhi has a higher per capita electricity demand than the national average. Ashwani Ashok, Head of Clean Energy at the Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED) told Mongabay-India the concept of community solar rooftops can cater to the needs of several interested solar consumers who could not opt for solar rooftop systems so far due to the dearth of private open spaces. These consumers include people living in apartments, multi-storeyed buildings or in places with small size roofs or obstructed roofs among others. Ashok said that if executed well, this policy could give an impetus to the overall growth of rooftop solar in Delhi. Ashok however talked about challenges in the new draft policy. “The growth of solar in Delhi always faced competition with free grid electricity up to 100 units/month for domestic consumers. Such consumers (those using grid electricity) barely took the option of bearing the higher upfront cost of solar rooftops. This policy does not offer very attractive capital incentives proposed by the state. Also, the generation-based incentives are meagre for smaller households and limited for five years only, though the plant would produce electricity for 25 years. Many would not even qualify for getting these incentives. If we want to boost RTS in Delhi, we expect more incentives on capital cost as this is what the majority of the consumers look for,” he said. He also said that despite being on paper even in the 2016 policy, the RESCO model failed to attract many domestic consumers as the developers found such models financially not viable for smaller units. The model remained confined to the industrial sector and social sector clean energy projects like PM-KUSUM, a solar-irrigation project of the federal Indian government. With limited space, unsuitable for large-scale solar projects, Delhi is focussing on solar rooftops to meet its solar energy demand. The draft policy 2022 notes that the majority of the proposed solar generation (5250 MW) would be done through projects outside the state. This means solar energy generated through solar plants could be imported from other states, just as how the state had been importing electricity from other states for several years. Energy transition of Delhi In recent research on energy transition in Delhi, the researchers from the LUT University, Finland, found that under the best policy scenario of 100 percent transition by 2050, Delhi would be deriving most of its power from solar and that would come mostly from the prosumers (those who produce and consume energy), besides the imports from other neighbouring renewable-rich states like Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. Manish Ram, one of the co-authors of the study, told Mongabay-India that owing to the dearth of space in Delhi, large utility-scale solar projects cannot be built there and hence, there is potential for the rise of solar rooftop and its consumers. According to the government’s 2016 Policy, the capital, with more than 300 days of sunny days, has a total potential of 2,500 MW of rooftop solar. This includes the highest 49 percent potential in domestic buildings, 26 percent in government offices, and 25 percent in commercial and industrial units. “The best available option under such circumstances in Delhi is to use the rooftop available in residential and commercial buildings where you can utilise the potential. Delhi still imports electricity largely from other states and in the future also it is likely to remain a net importer of energy. It can also invest in power plants in Rajasthan, Haryana, and other nearby areas and can have PPAs with them to increase its clean energy mix basket. The cost of clean power production is likely to be lower in renewable-rich states like Rajasthan. Delhi can benefit from power evacuation from such areas,” Ram told Mongabay-India.

कड़ी मेहनत से काम पर लगी है MCD, लेकिन G20 समिट से पहले कूड़े के पहाड़ों का साफ होना संभव नहीं दिखता

एमसीडी का लक्ष्य ओखला और भलस्वा स्थित लैंडफिल साइट्स को दिसंबर 2023 तक और गाजीपुर वाले लैंडफिल साइट को मार्च 2024 तक समतल कर देने का है. जी-20 सम्मलेन के चलते ओखला वाले काम को सितंबर 2032 तक खत्म करने की मांग की का रही है, मगर विशेषज्ञों का कहना है कि इसके लिए तो 5 साल भी पर्याप्त नहीं हैं. नई दिल्ली: अगर आप अपनी नाक बंद कर लें, तो दिल्ली के तीन लैंडफिल साइट (कूड़ा जमा करने वाले स्थान) – गाजीपुर, ओखला और भलस्वा – कुछ-कुछ लहरदार पहाड़ियों की तरह ही दिखते हैं. पर अब इस बात की उम्मीदें काफी हद तक बढ़ गईं हैं कि इन आंखों में चुभने वाले कूड़े के पहाड़ों का जल्द ही अंत हो जायेगा. दिल्ली नगर निगम (म्युनिसिपल कोर्पोरशन ऑफ़ दिल्ली-एमसीडी) ने इन लैंडफिल साइट्स को समतल करने के लिए पिछले साल ही काम शुरू कर दिया था, और जी- 20 शिखर सम्मेलन के चलते ओखला वाले काम को सितंबर 2023 तक पूरा किये जाने की मांग की जा रही है. हालांकि, विशेषज्ञों का मानना है कि प्रस्तावित समय सीमा में से कोई भी वास्तविक नहीं है. इन तीनों लैंडफिल साइटों को समतल करने के लिए एमसीडी द्वारा निर्धारित अंतिम समय सीमा ओखला (46 एकड़) और भलस्वा (36 एकड़) के मामले में दिसंबर 2023, और गाजीपुर (70 एकड़) के लिए मार्च 2024 है. ये लैंडफिल क्रमशः 2010, 2003 और 2002 में अपनी क्षमता से परे चले गए थे. इन तीनों में लाखों टन का ‘लीगेसी वेस्ट या पुराना कचरा’ जमा है, लेकिन फिर भी वे नया कचरा इकठ्ठा करने की जगह भी बने हुए हैं. जी- 20 शिखर सम्मलेन के नजदीक आने के साथ ही दिल्ली के उप-राज्यपाल (लेफ्टिनेंट गवर्नर) के सचिवालय के अधिकारियों का कहना है कि सम्बंधित प्राधिकरणों को इस समारोह के शुरू होने से पहले ही ओखला लैंडफिल साईट वाले काम को पूरा करने के लिए कहा गया है. दिल्ली भाजपा के कार्यकारी अध्यक्ष वीरेंद्र सचदेवा ने तो पिछले साल दिसंबर में यहां तक दावा किया था कि नगर निगम ने घोषणा कर रखी है कि जी-20 शिखर सम्मेलन से पहले ओखला लैंडफिल साइट को साफ कर दिया जाएगा. उधर, स्वच्छ भारत मिशन (शहरी) 2.0 ने साल 2026 तक सभी लेगेसी डंपसाइटों (पहले से भारी मात्रा में कूड़ा जमा किये गए स्थानों) को दुरुस्त करने के लिए एक अलग समय सीमा भी जारी की हुई है. हालांकि, गैर-लाभकारी शोध संगठन ‘सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई)’ के विशेषज्ञों ने दिप्रिंट को बताया कि इनमें से किसी भी समय सीमा को तब तक पूरा नहीं किया जा सकता, जब तक कि नए सिरे से कचरे को वहां जमा (डंप) किये जाने पर पूर्ण प्रतिबंध लागू नहीं किया जाता है और साथ ही कचरे को संसाधित करने की वर्तमान क्षमता में वृद्धि नहीं की जाती है. उन्होंने कहा कि एमसीडी को अपने लक्ष्य तक पहुंचने में पांच साल लगेंगे. कूड़े के पहाड़ जो बस बढ़ते ही रहते हैं एमसीडी के पर्यावरण प्रबंधन सेवा विभाग (डिपार्टमेंट ऑफ़ एनवायरनमेंट मैनेजमेंट सर्विस- डीईएमएस) के एक अधिकारी ने दिप्रिंट को बताया कि नगर निकाय ने 3 नवंबर 2022 को, इन तीनों लैंडफिल साइट्स में से प्रत्येक से 30 लाख मीट्रिक टन (1 मीट्रिक टन = 1000 किलोग्राम) पुराने कचरे को संसाधित करने के लिए तीन कंपनियों को उनकी निविदा के आधार पर अनुबंध प्रदान किये थे. जब यह लक्ष्य पूरा हो जाएगा तो अतिरिक्त 15 लाख मीट्रिक टन के लिए भी यही अनुबंध फिर से नए तरह से लागू कर दिया जाएगा.

Global Micronutrient Fertilizer Market - SIZE, SHARE, COVID-19 IMPACT & FORECASTS UP TO 2028

The Global Micronutrient Fertilizer Market is projected to register a CAGR of 7.65%. Key Highlights. Largest Segment by Type - Zinc : Zn is the most applied micronutrient fertilizer due to the increasing Zn deficiencies in soils of major growing regions. New York, Jan. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Micronutrient Fertilizer Market - SIZE, SHARE, COVID-19 IMPACT & FORECASTS UP TO 2028" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06381436/?utm_source=GNW The application of Zn is proven to give higher yields. Fastest growing segment by Type - Iron : The alkaline soils with high pH are deficient in iron micronutrients. The degrading health and quality of agricultural soils are declining the availability of iron. Largest Segment by Crop Type - Field Crops : Field crops are widely cultivated worldwide and are a staple food in many parts of the world. They account for a maximum share by area in most agricultural countries. Largest segment by Country - India : Micronutrient fertilizers are being used increasingly as Indian soils are deficient in boron (47%), iron (37%), and zinc (39%), as per the Center for Science and Environment. Micronutrient Fertilizer Market Trends Zinc is the largest segment by Product. Micronutrients play an important role in many plant metabolic activities, such as cell wall formation, pollen formation, germination, chlorophyll production, nitrogen fixation, and the synthesis of the essential parts of proteins. The global micronutrient fertilizer market is anticipated to register a CAGR of 3.0% during the forecast period. Zinc accounted for a share of 38.3% of the global micronutrient fertilizer market in 2021. Of the total share held by zinc fertilizers, conventional zinc fertilizers accounted for about 65.7%, and specialty zinc fertilizers accounted for about 34.3%. Specialty zinc fertilizers have the advantage of uniform distribution and fast acting on crops compared to conventional fertilizers. The Asia-Pacific region dominated the global market, accounting for 31.6% of the market share in 2021. The distribution network of micronutrient fertilizers is well-established in the major Asia-Pacific countries, further boosting the market for various micronutrient fertilizer products in the region. The increasing demand for food grains, coupled with decreasing nutrients in the soil, is one of the major factors driving the growth of the market in the region. Recent studies have indicated that zinc deficiency is China’s most widespread micronutrient deficiency. More than 50% of the arable soils are low in zinc, thereby limiting agricultural growth and improvement in human nutrition. Widespread micronutrient deficiencies across the world are becoming a rising concern for plant health, coupled with increasing encouragement from various government agencies and other organizations to increase the use of micronutrients to enhance plant and soil health. These factors are driving the market growth. Asia-Pacific is the largest segment by Region. The global micronutrient fertilizer market grew at a stable rate during the study period, with a value of USD 3.61 billion in 2021 and an overall consumption volume of 1.5 million metric ton. Asia-Pacific occupied the largest market share of 38.8% in 2021, followed by Europe and North America. In Asia-Pacific, countries such as India and China are the major micronutrient fertilizer markets, accounting for 36.0% and 17.0% of the market share in 2021. The increase in micronutrient deficiency in Chinese crops resulted in 73.6% of micronutrient fertilizer consumption in 2021 in China. The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) of China added zinc, at a rate of 15-30 kg ZnSO4/ha, to its national fertilizer recommendation, which was recently extended for summer crops like rice and corn. France is the third-largest market for micronutrient fertilizer in Europe after Russia, with an estimated market value of USD 121.9 million in 2022. The increasing area under cultivation of horticulture crops, which increased from 1.2 million hectares in 2017 to 1.3 million hectares in 2021, is further expected to increase in the following years. Apart from Asia, zinc and iron deficiency in the soil is quite widespread in Sub-Saharan Africa and the northwest of South America. The overall advantages of micronutrient fertilizers are being widely accepted and recognized currently. The global export value for zinc in 2021 amounted to USD 1.6 million, with the Netherlands as the top exporter of the micronutrients, with a value of USD 275.6 thousand. The global micronutrient fertilizer market is growing because of the widespread micronutrient deficiencies around the world, with iron and zinc deficiencies becoming a rising concern for plant health, and also due to the increasing encouragement from various government agencies to increase the use of micronutrients. Micronutrient Fertilizer Market Competitive Analysis The Global Micronutrient Fertilizer Market is fairly consolidated, with the top five companies occupying 102.95%. The major players in this market are Coromandel International Limited, K+S AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, Koch Industries Inc., The Mosaic Company and Yara International (sorted alphabetically).

UP officials to study TN sanitation model

Lucknow: Fifteen officers from UP are on a three-day exposure visit to Tamil Nadu to adopt the best practices being followed for citywide inclusive sanitation. The group of IAS and PCS officers will visit Thuraiyur and Kodappu in Tiruchirappalli to learn how an affordable circular septic tank can be developed to handle the waste generated by the urban poor. Officers from Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Varanasi and Ayodhya have gone for the visit to handle the sanitation problems affecting slums and congested colonies. Heads of the ULBs and Jal Nigam engineers will visit RMS colony in Anna Nagar in Thanjavur. Of total 84 households in the colony only 16 ones have toilets. The remaining 68 depend on community toilet. The containment unit of the community toilet in the colony was desludged every two days due to the fast-filling rate. To reduce the frequency of desludging, a primary settling tank was set up while converting the existing septic tank into an anaerobic baffle reactor integrated with filter chambers. The frequency of desludging has improved to once in three years. Director of the urban local bodies Neha Sharma said the Centre for Science and Environment, an NGO, will take the group through the low cost models implemented in Tamil Nadu. CSE Senior programme manager, who works with UP government, Subrata Chakraborty said the three-day tour will end on January 20.

स्वच्छ हवा के लिए भारत का संकल्पस्वच्छ हवा के लिए भारत का संकल्प

Air Pollution: अनुमिता रॉय चौधरी, कार्यकारी निदेशक, रिसर्च एंड एडवोकेसी, सीएसई ने वायु प्रदूषण संकट से निपटने के लिए भारत के लिए क्‍लीन एयर रेजोल्यूशन शेयर किए

Development At Cost Of Human Lives? Revisiting Adivasi Resistance In Mali Parbat, Niyamgiri Hills

Throughout history, the sacred geography of Adivasis has been taken away by organised discord and state machinery. And the ongoing land conflict in Mali Parbat is an extended string of what followed in the fights to save the Niyamgiri Hills. The locals of Mali Parbat --- predominantly Adivasis, Dalits and Bahujans --- have had one unified demand for the past two decades, “We shall die, but not allow Mali Parbat to be mined”. Located in the Pottangi tehsil in the Koraput district, Mali Parbat sits on mines of bauxite rocks, a source of ‘profit and development’ for big corporates. Hence, the surrounding forested lands, rich with vegetation and a source of 36 perennial rivers, have been eyed by the Aditya Birla Group-owned Hindalco since the early 2000s. In 2003, the mining giant received its mining lease from the Odisha State Government to carry out bauxite mining over 268.11 hectares of land, which is almost equivalent to 375 football fields, with a capacity of 6 lakhs tonnes of bauxite per annum. The industry also received its first Environment Clearance Agreement (ECA) in 2006 which lapsed in 2011. However, since then chains of events --- illegal mining, protests, court cases, violence, and criminal charges --- have gripped the villages and lives of locals struggling to save their native and sacred holy land. Odisha holds over half of India’s bauxite reserve and 95 per cent of it lies in its southeast region in what the mines department calls the Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt (EGMB) --- a reason why vast swathes of forests have been cleared for mining in Koraput, Rayagada and Kalahandi resulting in large-scale displacement and migration of Adivasi and Dalit communities from this region. In 2006, a report by the nonprofit Centre for Science and Environment found that Odisha had cleared more forests than any other Indian state for mining, with half a million displaced, predominantly Adivasis. Throughout history, the sacred geography of Adivasis has been taken away by organised discord and state machinery. And the ongoing land conflict in Mali Parbat is an extended string of what followed in the fights to save the Niyamgiri Hills. The state’s failure to recognise the rights and interests of tribal minorities protected under the Fifth Schedule is a reflection of the politics of sacred geography or more precisely politics of rights. The sacred land of Mali Parbat Atop the Mali Parbat is the abode of Pakuli Devi, the supreme ancestor of Adivasis, Dalits and Bahujans. “Right at the centre of the proposed mining area is a huge cave, Patripakhan, that can almost house around 2,500 people at a time. Inside it, there is a massive stone mound which is worshipped as Pakuli Devi, the deity of the locals of Mali Parbat,” Sharanya Nayak, an activist based in Odisha tells Outlook. Every summer (April), holy rituals along with religious festivals are held around Patripakhan by the locals which include Paraja, Kondh, Gadaba and Mali communities With the mining into effect, the symbol of their religion and faith will be completely wiped away. “Mali Parbat is sacred to us. Our deities reside there. It is literally impossible for us to think, live and work without our Mali Parbat,” often says Bijay Khillo, Dalit leader and President of Maliparbat Surakhya Samiti (MPSS). From 2012 to 2014 Hindalco carried out illegal mining and tried to build an access road from Kankadamba village, in the foothills of Mali Parbat to the cave. Locals saw this as a major threat to losing their sacred place as if the mining giant wanted to begin by uprooting the soul of their faith.

अरबपतियों की संख्या बढ़ना अच्छा है पर गरीबों की आर्थिक सेहत कब सुधरेगी?

विश्व के कई अन्य देशों के साथ भारत में भी बढ़ती आर्थिक असमानता बेहद चिंताजनक है क्योंकि बढ़ती विषमता का दुष्प्रभाव देश के विकास और समाज पर दिखाई देता है और इससे कई तरह की सामाजिक और राजनीतिक विसंगतियां भी पैदा होती हैं। दुनियाभर में अमीरी और गरीबी के बीच खाई निरन्तर बढ़ती जा रही है, जो कोरोना काल के बीच और तेजी से बढ़ी है। इसी बढ़ती खाई को लेकर पूरी दुनिया में एक नई बहस छिड़ी है। गरीबी उन्मूलन के लिए कार्यरत संस्था ऑक्सफैम इंटरनेशनल की वर्ल्ड इकोनॉमिक फोरम की बैठक से ठीक पहले आई रिपोर्ट ‘सर्वाइवल ऑफ द रिचेस्ट: द इंडिया स्टोरी’ में इसे लेकर कई चौंका देने वाले खुलासे किए गए हैं। इस रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक भारत के 21 सबसे अमीर अरबपतियों के पास इस समय देश के 70 करोड़ लोगों से भी ज्यादा धन-दौलत है और वर्ष 2021 में भारत की कुल संपत्ति में से 62 फीसदी हिस्से पर देश के केवल 5 प्रतिशत लोगों का ही कब्जा था जबकि भारत की निचले तबके की बहुत बड़ी आबादी का देश की केवल तीन फीसदी सम्पत्ति पर ही कब्जा रहा। इस रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक भारत में 2020 में अरबपतियों की संख्या 102 थी, जो 2022 में 166 पर पहुंच गई पिछले साल नवम्बर तक भारतीय अरबपतियों की सम्पत्ति में 121 फीसदी तक बढ़ोतरी देखी गई। एक ओर जहां आम आदमी कोरोना महामारी के दौर में पेट भरने का जुगाड़ करने के लिए संसाधन जुटाने को तरसता रहा, नौकरी संबंधी समस्याओं का सामना करता रहा, वहीं उस दौर में भी भारत के अरबपतियों की दौलत में प्रतिदिन 3608 करोड़ रुपये प्रतिदिन बढ़े। ऑक्सफैम की इस रिपोर्ट में पिछले दस वर्षों में देश में पैदा हुई सम्पत्ति के गैर-बराबर बंटवारे के मुद्दे को भी उठाते हुए कहा गया है कि 2012 से 2021 के बीच भारत में जितनी भी संपत्ति अस्तित्व में आई, उसका 40 प्रतिशत हिस्सा देश के सबसे अमीर एक फीसदी लोगों के हाथ में गया जबकि 50 फीसदी जनता के हाथ में केवल तीन फीसदी सम्पत्ति ही आई। रिपोर्ट के अनुसार भारत के 100 सबसे अमीर लोगों की सम्पत्ति 54.12 लाख करोड़ रुपये के पार जा चुकी है, जिससे 18 महीनों तक देश का पूरा बजट चलाया जा सकता है। यही कारण है कि सरकार को सलाह दी जाती रही है कि यदि भारतीय अरबपतियों की कुल सम्पत्ति पर महज दो फीसदी टैक्स ही लगा दिया जाए तो उसी से आगामी तीन वर्षों तक कुपोषण के शिकार बच्चों की सभी जरूरतों को बहुत आसानी से पूरा किया जा सकता है। 1980 के दशक की शुरुआत में एक फीसदी धनाढ़यों का देश की कुल आय के छह फीसदी हिस्से पर ही कब्जा था लेकिन बीते वर्षों में यह लगातार बढ़ता गया है और तेजी से बढ़ी आर्थिक असमानता के कारण स्थिति बिगड़ती गई है। वैसे तो पिछले कुछ वर्षों से लगातार यह तथ्य सामने आ रहे हैं कि देश की आधी सम्पत्ति देश के चंद अमीरों की तिजोरियों में बंद है और अमीर-गरीब के बीच खाई निरन्तर गहरी हो गई है लेकिन बढ़ती आर्थिक असमानता को लेकर स्थिति अब और भी बदतर होती जा रही है और यह केवल भारत की ही नहीं बल्कि पूरी दुनिया की समस्या है। कटु सत्य यही है कि महामारी के दौर में तो अमीर जहां और ज्यादा अमीर हुए, वहीं गरीबों तथा मध्यम वर्ग का हाल और बुरा हुआ है तथा आर्थिक विषमता चिंताजनक स्थिति तक बढ़ गई है। ऑक्सफैम की रिपोर्ट में पहले भी कहा जा चुका है कि अमीर लोग महामारी के समय में आरामदायक जिंदगी का आनंद ले रहे थे जबकि स्वास्थ्य कर्मचारी, दुकानों में काम करने वाले और विक्रेता जरूरी भुगतान करने में असमर्थ थे और इस परिस्थिति से निकलने में वर्षों लग सकते हैं। ऑक्सफैम के मुख्य कार्यकारी अधिकारी अमिताभ बेहर के मुताबिक रिपोर्ट से स्पष्ट है कि अन्यायपूर्ण आर्थिक व्यवस्था से किस तरह सबसे बड़े आर्थिक संकट के दौरान सबसे धनी लोगों ने बहुत अधिक सम्पत्ति अर्जित की जबकि करोड़ों लोग बेहद मुश्किल से गुजर-बसर कर रहे हैं। ऑक्सफैम की पिछले साल की रिपोर्ट में भी कहा गया था कि यदि कोरोना के कुबेरों से वसूली होती तो देश में आर्थिक असमानता को लेकर स्थिति इतनी खराब नहीं होती। इससे पूर्व ‘रिफ्यूजी इंटरनेशनल’ की एक रिपोर्ट में भी खुलासा हुआ था कि कोरोना महामारी ने दुनियाभर में 16 करोड़ से भी ज्यादा ऐसे लोगों के रहने का ठिकाना छीन लिया, जो भुखमरी, बेरोजगारी तथा आतंकवाद के कारण अपने घर या देश छोड़कर दूसरी जगहों पर बस गए थे। रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक कोरोना महामारी सामाजिक असमानताओं को और उभार रही है। संयुक्त राष्ट्र और डेनवर विश्वविद्यालय के एक अध्ययन में भी कहा जा चुका है कि महामारी के दीर्घकालिक परिणामों के चलते वर्ष 2030 तक 20.7 करोड़ और लोग बेहद गरीबी की ओर जा सकते हैं और यदि ऐसा हुआ तो दुनियाभर में बेहद गरीब लोगों की संख्या एक अरब को पार कर जाएगी। विश्व खाद्य कार्यक्रम के एक आकलन के अनुसार दुनियाभर में 82 करोड़ से भी ज्यादा लोग हर रात भूखे सोते हैं और बहुत जल्द 13 करोड़ और लोग भुखमरी तक पहुंच सकते हैं। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) की ‘स्टेट ऑफ इंडियाज एनवायरनमेंट इन फिगर्स 2020’ रिपोर्ट में कहा गया था कि कोरोना से वैश्विक गरीबी दर में 22 वर्षों में पहली बार बढ़ोतरी होगी और भारत की गरीब आबादी में 1.2 करोड़ लोग और जुड़ जाएंगे, जो दुनिया में सर्वाधिक हैं। विश्व के कई अन्य देशों के साथ भारत में भी बढ़ती आर्थिक असमानता बेहद चिंताजनक है क्योंकि बढ़ती विषमता का दुष्प्रभाव देश के विकास और समाज पर दिखाई देता है और इससे कई तरह की सामाजिक और राजनीतिक विसंगतियां भी पैदा होती हैं। करीब दो वर्ष पहले भी यह तथ्य सामने आया था कि भारत के केवल एक फीसदी सर्वाधिक अमीर लोगों के पास ही देश की कम आय वाली 70 फीसदी आबादी की तुलना में चार गुना से ज्यादा और देश के अरबपतियों के पास देश के कुल बजट से भी ज्यादा सम्पत्ति है। विश्व आर्थिक पत्रिका ‘फोर्ब्स’ की अरबपतियों की सूची में सौ से भी ज्यादा भारतीय हैं जबकि तीन दशक पहले तक इस सूची में एक भी भारतीय नाम नहीं होता था। हालांकि देश में अरबपतियों की संख्या बढ़ना हर भारतीय के लिए गर्व की बात होनी चाहिए लेकिन गर्व भी तभी हो सकता है, जब इसी अनुपात में गरीबों की आर्थिक सेहत में भी सुधार हो। ऑक्सफैम की हालिया रिपोर्ट में मांग की गई है कि धनी लोगों पर उच्च सम्पत्ति कर लगाते हुए श्रमिकों के लिए मजबूत संरक्षण का प्रबंध किया जाए। दरअसल बड़े औद्योगिक घरानों पर टैक्स लगाकर सार्वजनिक सेवाओं के लिए आवश्यक संसाधन जुटाए जा सकते हैं। कुछ विशेषज्ञों का मत है कि देश के शीर्ष धनकुबेरों पर महज डेढ़ फीसदी सम्पत्ति कर लगाकर ही देश के कई करोड़ लोगों की गरीबी दूर की जा सकती है लेकिन किसी भी सरकार के लिए यह कार्य इतना सहज नहीं है। दरअसल यह जगजाहिर है कि बहुत से राजनीतिक फैसलों पर भी इन धन कुबेरों का ही नियंत्रण होता है। आर्थिक विषमता आर्थिक विकास दर की राह में बहुत बड़ी बाधा बनती है। दरअसल जब आम आदमी की जेब में पैसा होगा, उसकी क्रय शक्ति बढ़ेगी, आर्थिक विकास दर भी तभी बढ़ेगी। यदि ग्रामीण आबादी के अलावा निम्न वर्ग की आय नहीं बढ़ती तो मांग में तो कमी आएगी ही, इससे विकास दर भी प्रभावित होगी। -योगेश कुमार गोयल

प्रदूषण से लड़ने में चीन से क्या सबक ले सकता है भारत?

Air Pollution In India: कभी अपने वायु प्रदूषण संकट के लिए बदनाम रहे #China ने इस समस्या पर अपनी पकड़ बना ली है. सीएसई से अनुमिता रॉय चौधरी बता रही हैं कि वायु प्रदूषण से लड़ने में भारत चीन से क्या सबक ले सकता है.

Can green politics take centrestage in India?

A review of Constitutions across the globe reveals that countries whose constitutions enshrine an environmental commitment show a resilient approach towards fighting the climate crisis. India has been witnessing extreme weather events -- changes in rainfall patterns, erratic heat waves and other climate-induced crises causing large-scale destruction and losses -- in the past few years across the country. There were, in fact, extreme weather events on 314 out of the 365 days in 2022, according to the Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down to Earth (DTE) Data Centre. This, according to DTE, means that at least one extreme weather event was reported in some part of the country on each of these days. Has the increased frequencies and severity of weather events including floods, droughts, coupled with changed agricultural productivity, led to a sincere response from our political parties? Not really. This despite a recent scholarly work underlining that climate change can have an effect on political outcomes. Higher the rise in temperatures higher the turnout, the study found. So, can we argue that climate crisis affects the electoral behaviour of political parties and politicians? Despite the study, there is no clear evidence of this claim holding true for developing countries. Climate crisis in public discourse Green politics is yet to see the light of day in India. The politicisation of environmental problems is yet to take off. A keen review of the manifestos of the political parties does show that they have had mentions of the climate crisis. Our two major political parties, the BJP and Congress, mentioned climate crisis for the first time in their manifesto ahead of the 2019 General Election. A review of the manifestos of the regional parties also reveals an awareness about the concerns of climate crisis. Political parties like the DMK, Trinamool Congress, and NCP have given space for environmental issues in their manifestos. But the mere presence of climate concerns in the political manifestos does not translate into policy formulation and implementation. A report reveals that most of the MPs were not present during the discussion on air pollution in the house. This shows that most elected representatives are merely paying lip service to climate crisis. The vital issue remains at the margin for both the elected and electors at a time when polarisation and identity politics hold sway. Lack of political accountability One major reason for the ignorance of climate issues in elections is the citizens' inability to make it an electoral issue. It does not sway elections. The work of Prof Katharina Ó Cathaoir at the University of Copenhagen is illuminating in this regard. She argued for the need for solidarity among citizens with respect to the right to health if the State had to recognise it. Public discourse sadly is not dominated by the loss of life due to climate change. In a response to a question on the loss of lives and property to climate change, the Minister of State, Environment, forest and climate change, Ashwini Choubey replied in Rajya Sabha that there is no quantifiable attribution of empirical evidence in this regard. However, a study by the highly respected Lancet journal stated that nearly seven lakh deaths in India are linked to abnormal temperatures every year. Our failure to make climate crisis an electoral issue also stems possibly from our constitution being more vocal on the issue. A constitutional entrenchment of environmental rights will possibly play a part in protecting the environment and also create political accountability. The presence of environmental constitutionalism also creates a space for democratic commitment towards addressing the climate crisis. A review of Constitutions across the globe reveals that countries whose constitutions enshrine an environmental commitment show a resilient approach towards fighting the climate crisis. The constitution of South Africa guarantees that everyone has the right to an unharmed or protected environment. Similarly in Australia and Canada, a constitutionally recognised commitment to climate change measures has had an impact on electoral politics. As reported in CNN, climate change was the defining issue of the recently concluded Australian election. The constitutionally mandated provisions of environmental protection are not only limited to these rich countries but also finds a place in the constitution of Bhutan and Kenya, both relatively poor countries. The constitution of Bhutan enacted in 2008 requires the government to ensure that 60% or more of the country remains forested in perpetuity. Similarly, the constitution of Kenya requires a minimum forest cover of 10%. Such citizen-centric approaches give hope to communities seeking to tackle the looming climate crisis. Role of communities Back in India, in a village -- Surpura -- 16 km away from Jodhpur city, the Bishnoi community is invoking the indigenous method of saving trees and conserving water. Their methods are rooted in the century-old practices that their forbears have followed. The message of environmental protection is engrained in these communities from birth, says Dinesh Bishnoi, who works at the village panchayat. These communities use every forum from state institutions to non-state institutions to resist the degradation of the environment. Historian Ramachandra Guha in his book Unquiet Woods has narrated the resistance peasants put up against both the colonial and post-colonial state, showing that the idea of environmental protection is rooted in Indian civilisation and that nothing has changed even after independence in the behaviour of the State. Hope then stems from communities such as those in some villages who are using painting to propagate messages emphasising the need for conservation of water, the importance of nature and so forth. A social activist working in Pisangan in Ajmer, Rajasthan uses short films, ads on cleanliness, and climate change to educate communities about the climate crisis. These community-centric approaches by citizens is a reminder of what the State can and needs to do to address the looming crisis of climate change.

Asia-Pacific Micronutrient Fertilizer Market - SIZE, SHARE, COVID-19 IMPACT & FORECASTS UP TO 2028

The Asia-Pacific Micronutrient Fertilizer Market is projected to register a CAGR of 7.40%. Key Highlights. Largest Segment by Type - Zinc : Zn is the most applied micronutrient fertilizer because of increasing Zn deficiencies in soils of major growing regions and application of Zn is proven to give higher yields. New York, Jan. 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Asia-Pacific Micronutrient Fertilizer Market - SIZE, SHARE, COVID-19 IMPACT & FORECASTS UP TO 2028" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06381448/?utm_source=GNW Fastest growing segment by Type - Iron : The alkaline soils with high pH are deficient for Iron micronutrient. Moreover, the degrading health and quality of the agrcultural soils are drcreasingthe Iron availbility. Largest Segment by Crop Type - Field Crops : Field crops are most widely grown in the region, as most of them are considered as the staple food and can feed exploding population in large populous countries in the region. Largest segment by Country - India : The adaption of micronutrient fertilizers have increased as the Indian soils are deficit in boron (47%), iron (37%), and zinc (39%),The Centre for Science and Environment. APAC Micronutrient Fertilizer Market Trends Zinc is the largest segment by Product. Zinc is the most-consumed micronutrient in the Asia-Pacific region, with a share of 43.8% and a volume consumption of 275.1 thousand metric tons in 2021. This value is estimated to increase owing to zinc’s importance in the growth and development of plants. The application of zinc is proven to give higher crop yields. Manganese is the second-most consumed micronutrient after zinc, and it accounted for 18.9% of the total micronutrient consumption in 2021. This was due to its vitality in the important physiological processes of plants, like chlorophyll formation, photosynthesis, and seed germination. Iron is the third-most consumed micronutrient fertilizer in the region, accounting for 17.2% of the market among all micronutrients. Iron plays an important role in a plant’s growth and development as it is a component of many enzymes and acts as a catalyst in chlorophyll formation. Copper accounted for 8.8% of total micronutrient consumption in the region in 2021. It is an important micronutrient that is needed in small quantities. It acts as a catalyst in many important plant reactions during the process of growth and plays a key role in protein formation. In the micronutrient fertilizer segment, specialty fertilizers occupy a larger share with 58.0%, valued at USD 838.9 million, followed by conventional type with 42.0%, valued at USD 608.3 million. Moreover, foliar spraying is commonly followed for specialty fertilizers as it can quickly correct the deficiencies in the symptomatic areas. Hence, owing to factors like the need for higher yield and productivity and the growing knowledge among the farmers about their importance in crop cultivation, the market for micronutrients in the region is anticipated to grow during the forecast period. India is the largest segment by Country. Countries such as India and China are the major market for micronutrients in the Asia-Pacific micronutrient fertilizer market, accounting for 36% and 17% of the market in 2021. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) reported that Indian soil is more deficient in boron (47%), iron (37%), and zinc (39%) and less deficient in copper and manganese, which makes it the largest market in the region. Recently, the Chinese government recognized the seriousness of the overuse of fertilizers and has put forward the decision to reduce the amount of fertilizers through "the Action Plan for the Zero Increase of Fertilizer Use"regulation, which led to a decrease in the usage of fertilizers, including micronutrient fertilizers, in the country and resulted in a 16.9% decline in micronutrient consumption during the study period. Empirical studies have shown that boron deficiency is widespread in many countries, including Korea, Malaysia, and Taiwan. It is more common in volcanic, acidic, and calcareous soils and highly affects crops such as peanuts, soybean, papaya, and citrus. The Food and Fertilizer Technology Centre for Asian and Pacific Region observed that the foliar mode of micronutrient application, such as 0.5% iron sulfate, manganese sulfate, 0.1% of copper sulfate, of the minimum recommended dosages are found to decrease the respective symptoms of deficiency on the crops. Hence, in order to ensure food security, the demand for micronutrient fertilizers is expected to grow at a higher rate in the region during the forecast period. APAC Micronutrient Fertilizer Market Competitive Analysis The Asia-Pacific Micronutrient Fertilizer Market is moderately consolidated, with the top five companies occupying 64.50%. The major players in this market are Chambal Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd, Coromandel International Ltd., Israel Chemicals Ltd (SF), Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) and YARA International ltd (sorted alphabetically).

NCGG imparting training to 22 state bureaucrats

Twenty-two senior civil servants of Arunachal Pradesh, undergoing training at National Center for Good Governance (NCGG) here and as part of National Good Governance Week celebrations, would leave for New Delhi for exposure and field experiences in various union ministries and departments. They were given one-week (Jan 9 to 16) classroom training at NCGG as desired by its director general Bharat Lal, according to an official release. They would get opportunities to interact with renowned speakers, including Centre for Science and Environment Director General Sunita Narain, NITI advisor Aayog Yugal Kishore Joshi, Dr. Balram Bhargava of AIIMS. They would be taken for exposure trip and hands on experience to various line departments and ministries as part of practical field experience. They would visit Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, country’s first zero energy building, India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management, Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, New Delhi Municipal Council, Pradhan Mantri Sangrahalaya or Museum of Indian Prime Ministers, among others. They would also be acclimatized with various recent developmental topics, including benefits on recent development goals, overview of national research policies, health governance in India and rejuvenation of priorities among others. (DIPRO)

दुनिया में बढ़ती अमीरी-गरीबी की खाई

दुनियाभर में अमीरी और गरीबी के बीच खाई निरन्तर बढ़ती जा रही है। कोरोना काल में इसमें ज्यादा इजाफा देखा गया। इसी बढ़ती खाई को लेकर पूरी दुनिया में नई बहस छिड़ी है। गरीबी उन्मूलन के लिए कार्यरत संस्था ऑक्सफैम इंटरनेशनल की वर्ल्ड इकोनॉमिक फोरम की बैठक से ठीक पहले आई रिपोर्ट ‘सर्वाइवल ऑफ द रिचेस्ट: द इंडिया स्टोरी’ में इसे लेकर कई चौंका देने वाले खुलासे किए गए हैं। इस रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक भारत के 21 सबसे अमीर अरबपतियों के पास इस समय देश के 70 करोड़ लोगों से भी ज्यादा दौलत है और वर्ष 2021 में भारत की कुल संपत्ति में से 62 फीसदी हिस्से पर देश के केवल 5 प्रतिशत लोगों का ही कब्जा था जबकि भारत की निचले तबके की बहुत बड़ी आबादी का देश की केवल तीन फीसदी सम्पत्ति पर ही कब्जा रहा। इस रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक भारत में 2020 में अरबपतियों की संख्या 102 थी, जो 2022 में 166 पर पहुंच गई पिछले साल नवम्बर तक भारतीय अरबपतियों की सम्पत्ति में 121 फीसदी तक बढ़ोतरी देखी गई। कोरोना महामारी के दौर में भारत के अरबपतियों की दौलत में प्रतिदिन 3608 करोड़ रुपये बढ़े। ऑक्सफैम की इस रिपोर्ट के अनुसार भारत के 100 सबसे अमीर लोगों की सम्पत्ति 54.12 लाख करोड़ रुपये के पार जा चुकी है, जिससे 18 महीनों तक देश का पूरा बजट चलाया जा सकता है। संस्था ने सरकार को सलाह दी है कि यदि भारतीय अरबपतियों की कुल सम्पत्ति पर महज दो फीसदी टैक्स लगा दिया जाए तो उसी से आगामी तीन वर्षों तक कुपोषण के शिकार बच्चों की सभी जरूरतों को बहुत आसानी से पूरा किया जा सकता है। ऑक्सफैम की एक रिपोर्ट में पहले भी कहा जा चुका है कि अमीर लोग महामारी के समय में आरामदायक जिंदगी का आनंद ले रहे थे जबकि स्वास्थ्य कर्मचारी, दुकानों में काम करने वाले और विक्रेता जरूरी भुगतान करने में असमर्थ थे।ऑक्सफैम के मुख्य कार्यकारी अधिकारी अमिताभ बेहर के मुताबिक रिपोर्ट से स्पष्ट है कि अन्यायपूर्ण आर्थिक व्यवस्था से किस तरह सबसे बड़े आर्थिक संकट के दौरान सबसे धनी लोगों ने बहुत अधिक सम्पत्ति अर्जित की जबकि करोड़ों लोग बेहद मुश्किल से गुजर-बसर कर रहे हैं। ऑक्सफैम की पिछले साल की रिपोर्ट में भी कहा गया था कि यदि कोरोना के कुबेरों से वसूली होती तो देश में आर्थिक असमानता को लेकर स्थिति इतनी खराब नहीं होती। इससे पूर्व ‘रिफ्यूजी इंटरनेशनल’ की एक रिपोर्ट में भी खुलासा हुआ था कि कोरोना महामारी ने दुनियाभर में 16 करोड़ से भी ज्यादा ऐसे लोगों के रहने का ठिकाना छीन लिया, जो भुखमरी, बेरोजगारी तथा आतंकवाद के कारण अपने घर या देश छोड़कर दूसरी जगहों पर बस गए थे। रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक कोरोना महामारी सामाजिक असमानताओं को और उभार रही है। संयुक्त राष्ट्र और डेनवर विश्वविद्यालय के एक अध्ययन में भी कहा जा चुका है कि महामारी के दीर्घकालिक परिणामों के चलते वर्ष 2030 तक 20.7 करोड़ और लोग बेहद गरीबी की ओर जा सकते हैं और यदि ऐसा हुआ तो दुनियाभर में बेहद गरीब लोगों की संख्या एक अरब को पार कर जाएगी। विश्व खाद्य कार्यक्रम के एक आकलन के अनुसार दुनियाभर में 82 करोड़ से भी ज्यादा लोग हर रात भूखे सोते हैं और बहुत जल्द 13 करोड़ और लोग भुखमरी तक पहुंच सकते हैं। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) की ‘स्टेट ऑफ इंडियाज एनवायरनमेंट इन फिगर्स 2020’ रिपोर्ट में कहा गया था कि कोरोना से वैश्विक गरीबी दर में 22 वर्षों में पहली बार बढ़ोतरी होगी और भारत की गरीब आबादी में 1.2 करोड़ लोग और जुड़ जाएंगे। विश्व के कई अन्य देशों के साथ भारत में भी बढ़ती आर्थिक असमानता बेहद चिंताजनक है क्योंकि बढ़ती विषमता का दुष्प्रभाव देश के विकास और समाज पर दिखाई देता है और इससे कई तरह की सामाजिक और राजनीतिक विसंगतियां भी पैदा होती हैं। करीब दो वर्ष पहले भी यह तथ्य सामने आया था कि भारत के केवल एक फीसदी सर्वाधिक अमीर लोगों के पास ही देश की कम आय वाली 70 फीसदी आबादी की तुलना में चार गुना से ज्यादा और देश के अरबपतियों के पास देश के कुल बजट से भी ज्यादा सम्पत्ति है। विश्व आर्थिक पत्रिका ‘फोर्ब्स’ की अरबपतियों की सूची में सौ से भी ज्यादा भारतीय हैं जबकि तीन दशक पहले तक इस सूची में एक भी भारतीय नाम नहीं होता था। हालांकि देश में अरबपतियों की संख्या बढ़ना हर भारतीय के लिए गर्व की बात होनी चाहिए लेकिन गर्व भी तभी हो सकता है, जब इसी अनुपात में गरीबों की आर्थिक सेहत में भी सुधार हो। ऑक्सफैम की हालिया रिपोर्ट में मांग की गई है कि धनी लोगों पर उच्च सम्पत्ति कर लगाते हुए श्रमिकों के लिए मजबूत संरक्षण का प्रबंध किया जाए। दरअसल बड़े औद्योगिक घरानों पर टैक्स लगाकर सार्वजनिक सेवाओं के लिए आवश्यक संसाधन जुटाए जा सकते हैं। कुछ विशेषज्ञों का मत है कि देश के शीर्ष धनकुबेरों पर महज डेढ़ फीसदी सम्पत्ति कर लगाकर ही देश के कई करोड़ लोगों की गरीबी दूर की जा सकती है लेकिन किसी भी सरकार के लिए यह कार्य इतना सहज नहीं है। दरअसल यह जगजाहिर है कि बहुत से राजनीतिक फैसलों पर भी इन धन कुबेरों का ही नियंत्रण होता है। आर्थिक विषमता आर्थिक विकास दर की राह में बहुत बड़ी बाधा बनती है। दरअसल जब आम आदमी की जेब में पैसा होगा, उसकी क्रय शक्ति बढ़ेगी, आर्थिक विकास दर भी तभी बढ़ेगी। यदि ग्रामीण आबादी के अलावा निम्न वर्ग की आय नहीं बढ़ती तो मांग में तो कमी आएगी ही, इससे विकास दर भी प्रभावित होगी।