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Cse In News

Restore by use: Regenerative agriculture can help save water; here is how

hy in News? Farmers in Madhya Pradesh who follow regenerative farming methods find that they reduce the need for frequent irrigation, which conserves water and energy. What is Regenerative Agriculture? Background: The Green Revolution of the 1960s pulled India from the brink of starvation, but the revolution also made India the world’s biggest extractor of groundwater. According to the UN’s World Water Development Report, 2022, India extracts 251 cubic km or more than a quarter of the world’s groundwater withdrawal each year; 90 % of this water is used for agriculture. Currently, there is severe and widespread deficiency of organic carbon and micronutrients in Indian soils. If agriculture is to continue to feed the country’s undernourished population — 224.5 million, according to the UN’s State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, 2022 — and drive its economy, it needs to work in harmony with nature, not against it. Farmers, activists and agricultural research organisations across the world are thus developing methods of chemical-less farming which uses natural inputs and cultivation practices such as crop rotation and diversification, which fall under the wider umbrella of regenerative agriculture. About Regenerative Agriculture: Regenerative agriculture is a holistic farming system that focuses on soil health, food quality, biodiversity improvement, water quality and air quality through methods such as reducing the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, reducing tillage, integrating livestock and using cover crops. It adheres to the following principles: Minimize soil distribution through conservation tillage Diversify crops to replenish nutrients and disrupt pest and disease lifecycles Retain soil cover using cover crops Integrate livestock, which adds manure to the soil and serves as a source of carbon sinks. What are the Advantages of Regenerative Agriculture? Improves Soil Health: It goes a step ahead of sustainable agriculture and aspires not only to maintain the resources like soil and water but also to improve them. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, healthy soil helps in better water storage, transmission, filtering and reduces agricultural run-off. Water conservation: Healthy soil helps in improving water-use efficiency by better water storage, transmission, filtering and reduces agricultural run-off. Studies have established that 1% increase in soil organic matter per 0.4 hectare increases water storage potential by more than 75,000 litres. Energy Conservation: Regenerative Agriculture practices conserve energy used by irrigation aids such as pumps. What are Indian Efforts to Promote Regenerative Agriculture? The National Project on Organic Farming: The National Project on Organic Farming is the country’s longest experiment on the practice, ongoing since 2004 and conducted by ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming System Research, Meerut. Systematic Rice Intensification: A method in which seeds are spaced at wider distances and organic manure is applied to improve yields. Zero-Budget Natural Farming: It is also known as Subhash Palekar Natural Farming and emphasises on preparing and using inputs made from crop residue, cow dung and urine, fruits, among other things. Samaj Pragati Sahyog: It is a grassroots organisation that promotes natural methods to control agricultural pests such as composting and recycling of crop residues, use of farm yard manure, cattle urine and application of tank silt, has also made efforts to this end. It has conducted field trials with 1,000 farmers on more than 2,000 ha of land in four districts of Madhya Pradesh and one district of Maharashtra in 2016-18, to measure the water saved. UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ) Prelims Q. How is permaculture farming different from conventional chemical farming? (2021) Permaculture farming discourages monocultural practices but in conventional chemical farming, monoculture practices are predominant. Conventional chemical farming can cause an increase in soil salinity but the occurrence of such phenomenon is not observed in permaculture farming. Conventional chemical farming is easily possible in semi-arid regions but permaculture farming is not so easily possible in such regions. Practice of mulching is very important in permaculture farming but not necessarily so in conventional chemical farming. Select the correct answer using the code given below. (a) 1 and 3 (b) 1, 2 and 4 (c) 4 only (d) 2 and 3 Ans: (b) Exp: Permaculture is an attempt to best use land so that generations in the future can continue to make use of the land in productive manners, allowing for personal subsistence. Permaculture relies on three ethics: care for the earth, care for people and fair share. It draws from several disciplines including organic farming, agroforestry, integrated farming, sustainable development, and applied ecology. Chemical farming is defined as the practice where chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and fertilizers are used in agriculture to control pests and disease or control and promote growth. Permaculture is a totally integrated design system that is modelled on nature. Permaculture farming promotes multi cropping and integrated farming systems, whereas chemical farming is more suitable for monoculture cropping due to use of crop specific inputs like irrigation, chemical fertiliser and harvesting methods. Hence, 1 is correct. Chemical farming makes the soil less fertile over time due to use of chemical fertilizers, which can lead to serious problems like soil salinisation. But such problems do not occur in permaculture farming as it relies on organic fertilizers. Hence, 2 is correct. The concept of permaculture involves well-designed systems that do not produce waste and tries to copy well-designed systems. Permaculture tries to take into account local conditions like arid climate, which helps in developing a suitable system to ensure sustainable production. In case of chemical farming, intense use of chemical fertilizers and irrigation make the soil less fertile over time, thus restricting its practice in semi-arid regions. Thus, conventional chemical farming is not suitable for semi-arid regions. Hence, 3 is not correct. Mulching is a long-established horticultural practice that involves spreading a layer of material on the ground around plants to protect their roots from heat, cold, or drought or to keep the fruit clean.The material used for covering is called ‘mulch’. Mulching is usually practiced while cultivating commercially important crops, fruit trees, vegetables, flowers, nursery saplings, etc. Mulching is an important component of permaculture farming for promoting maximum efficiency. Whereas, conventional chemical farming does not consider it as essential. Hence, 4 is correct. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. Mains Q. How far is Integrated Farming System (IFS) helpful in sustaining agricultural production? (2019) Q. What is Integrated Farming System? How is it helpful to small and marginal farmers in India? (2022) Source: DTE

Year In Review: Green Law Dilutions In Year Of Record Extreme Events

The government made multiple attempts to whittle down provisions of environmental regulations in India, in a year marked with extreme weather events Mumbai: In a year of record-breaking extreme climate events, the government continued to amend key environmental laws and provisions as part of its push for 'ease of doing business'--actions that contradict India's stand on the global stage that it will move away from "business-as-usual". The dilutions include amendments to penal provisions in umbrella environmental laws, office memorandums and notifications which are executive orders passed to exempt certain projects from environmental impact assessment, as well as a push for infrastructure projects in eco-sensitive areas. These developments took place against the backdrop of major events. The second part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)'s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6)--the first after 2013--was released in February and April 2022. The report was a grim warning of the impact of climate change; it also presented a pathway to reduce emissions and adapt to the changing weather. In November, countries across the world met for the 27th Conference of Parties in Egypt, where they adopted the Sharm el-Sheikh implementation plan on climate action. In December, countries met for the first time after 2020 for the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Montreal, Canada to discuss halting biodiversity loss. In December 2022, India took over the presidency of the G20, an intergovernmental platform comprising 19 countries and the European Union, that works to address issues like climate change, the global economy and financial stability. As the year comes to a close, we take stock of environmental developments in India over the past 12 months. We reached out to the environment ministry for their comments on December 19, and will update the story when we receive a response. Record-breaking local extreme events This year, the country recorded extreme weather events on 241 out of 273 days (at the rate of close to one every day) between January 1 and September 30, according to a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report released in November 2022. These included unusually heavy rainfall, landslides, floods, thunderstorms, cold waves, heat waves, cyclones, sandstorms, squalls, hailstorms and gales. Some of the record-breaking events include the seventh wettest January, the warmest ever March, and third-warmest April since 1901. The report also found that these events claimed 2,755 lives, destroyed over 1.8 million hectares of crop area, damaged 416,667 houses and killed 70,000 livestock. The report warned that these figures could be underestimated. In 2021, India suffered an income loss of $159 billion--5.4% of its gross domestic product--due to extreme heat conditions, as IndiaSpend report published in October 2022. And this can only get worse. According to NASA's temperature analysis, climate change is causing the earth to warm up at a rate of roughly 0.15 to 0.20°C per decade. The impact of global temperature rise will continue to worsen, cautioned the IPCC report published in February 2022. India on the global stage: LIFE, updated NDCs and the net-zero pathway In keeping with the bold climate pledges from 2021, in August 2022 India released its updated Nationally Determined Contributions, or Climate Pledges, under the Paris Agreement. According to the updated NDC, India now stands committed to reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030 from 2005 levels, and achieving about 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources, also by 2030. The updated NDCs also include the role of healthy and sustainable lifestyle--dubbed LIFE (Lifestyle for Environment)--as a key to combating climate change. Ahead of COP27 in October 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with United Nations Chief Antonio Gueterres launched the LIFE mission, which was heavily promoted at COP27 to position India as going beyond policy-making to advocate for individual- and community-level change to help the global fight against climate change. LIFE's three-pronged strategy includes nudging individuals to practice simple yet effective environment-friendly actions in their daily lives (demand), such as using public transport and choosing sustainable products like cloth bags over plastic; enabling industries and markets to respond swiftly to the reducing demand (supply) for environmentally unsustainable products like disposable/single-use products and packaging; and influencing government and industrial policy to support both sustainable consumption and production (policy). At COP27 in Egypt India, in common with the 57 other nations attending, released its long term strategy for net-zero emissions (to become carbon neutral and thereby prevent further global heating), also known as LT-LEDS. India's approach is based on four key considerations that inform its climate policy landscape, namely its low historic contribution toward global warming, significant future energy needs of the country, national circumstances as it pertains to committing to low-emission growth strategies, and the need to build climate resilience. The over 100-page document specifies that it will focus on the following seven sectoral priorities including transition in electricity systems, transport and buildings, removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, financial and economic aspects of net zero targets, among others, to meet India's decarbonisation goals. Experts pointed out that the significance of LT-LEDS, or the LIFE movement, is that it underscores India's commitment to depart from the "business as usual" approach. But this is contradicted by the dilutions in domestic environmental laws that are meant to benefit business at the cost of the environment. Dilutions in environmental law In the year now ending, the environment ministry continued its push to dilute existing environmental laws. In June and July 2022, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) proposed amendments (here, here and here) aiming to dilute the penal provisions (which includes imprisonment of offenders) embedded in three key environmental laws--the Environment Protection Act, 1986; the Air (prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1981; and the Water (prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1974. "Overall, environmental laws in India protect the fundamental rights of communities," said Leo Saldanha, a Bengaluru-based policy analyst working with Environment Support Group, an NGO that works on issues of social and environmental justice in India. "Dilutions in environmental norms or notifications have been happening since the mid 2000s, but in the last few years we have been witnessing that the parent laws, which are foundations to these notifications, are being diluted." The proposed changes include a proposal to remove the provision of imprisonment as a penalty for non-compliance under some sections of these Acts. For example, non-compliance under the Environment Act will currently attract fines (of up to Rs 1 lakh) or imprisonment (up to five years), or both. However, the latest amendment proposes to restrict penalties to fines alone. Similarly, under the Water Act, the amendment seeks to replace the punishment for violations with financial penalties, rather than prosecution in a court of law. Experts note that doing away with imprisonment could affect the implementation of these Acts and encourage a pollute-and-compensate attitude. "The idea behind (dilution of penal provisions) is you can cause damage and get away without criminal punishment," noted Saldanha. Earlier in April, in a set of proposed notifications, the environment ministry sought to do away with mandatory environmental impact assessments (EIAs) before the expansion of airport terminal buildings, exempt "strategic" highway projects from the purview of EIA, and increase the threshold limit for thermal power plants. On April 11, the ministry issued guidelines, through an office memorandum, for exempting mining projects from mandatory Environmental Clearance in instances where the proponent seeks to increase production capacity by up to 50% of the existing threshold limit without increasing the original lease area. "This year saw many amendments that sought concessions to companies, exemption to clearance process, dilution in public hearing, etc. All of the changes, big and small, reduce the scrutiny of the public from the project," said Krithika Dinesh, an independent environmental lawyer and researcher. "These changes also shift the focus of environmental laws for the purpose for which it was created, which is to protect the environment to become more of an efficient clearance office" The larger problem is that many of these key laws are amended through office memorandums, which are subordinate laws approved and changed by Ministry officials, and not amendments. Saldhana points out that amendments to existing laws need to be tabled in Parliament. The ministry, under pressure from investors and politically vested interests, has bypassed this and routinely takes environmental decisions via notifications and office memorandums. He added, "they always result in irreversible adverse impact on fundamental rights of impacted communities. They are also unconstitutional, and the Parliament and Judiciary have to step in and stem the environment ministry's consistent anti-constitutional behavior". In December 2021, the ministry sought to weaken institutional oversight over access to and use of India's bioresources under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. This undermines resource-dependent people's traditional rights over biodiversity, and could be misused by corporations, IndiaSpend reported in January 2022. Again in January 2022, through an office memorandum, the ministry said it will introduce a star rating system based on efficiency and timelines of states in granting environment clearances, which weakens environmental safeguards, IndiaSpend reported in January 2022. Apart from dilutions, the government has also sought to divert ecologically sensitive areas for infrastructure projects. This includes the proposed diversion of the Great Nicobar island for a mega project involving the construction of a trans-shipment port, an international airport, a power plant and a township spread over more than 166 square km of land--an area that currently includes 130 square km of primary forest. The project will witness the felling of nearly 850,000 trees and the reclamation of 300 hectares of land from the ocean. This will impact the nesting habitats of giant leatherback turtles and the Nicobar megapode, a flightless bird endemic to the Nicobar islands, according to the May 2022 expert appraisal committee report. All these changes to the environmental acts will end up weakening the environment, thereby accelerating climate change and weather impact. This is in direct contradiction to what India has been promising the world that it will do.

A LOOK BACK TO THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN INDIA

More than 88% of the days between January 1 and September 30 this year saw extreme weather events in India, according to a new report released on Tuesday by the Centre for Science and Environment. The report brings attention back to India’s climate vulnerabilities ahead of a significant UN climate summit.The report, “Extreme Weather Report 2022,” published by the Centre for Science and Environment indicated that these catastrophes resulted in 2,775 fatalities, affected 1.8 million hectares (ha) of cropland, demolished approximately 4,16,667 homes, and resulted in the deaths of close to 70,000 cattle (CSE). The green think tank stated that because data for each occurrence is not compiled and agricultural losses and damages to public property are not tallied, this estimate of loss and damage is likely an underestimation.In addition to extreme heat waves, cyclones, snowfall, lightning, storms, cold waves and cold days, torrential rains, floods, and landslides were also classified as extreme weather phenomena by the IMD in the study.To fill up the gaps in the official data, the researchers compiled information from two important Indian government agencies: the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Disaster Management Division of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. They also used media reports. The highest number of days with extreme weather was reported in central and north-western India, with 198 and 195 days, respectively. Central India ranked first in terms of the number of fatalities with 887, then the East and North East of India (783 deaths).

Year-ender | 10 biggest environmental moments of 2022

From the iconic cheetah’s return to India to the Russia-Ukraine war sparking a global energy crisis, 2022 has been a mixed bag for the environment. In 2022, the world continued to face two existential crises—a rapidly warming planet and declining biodiversity—while simultaneously dealing with the impacts and effects of a global pandemic. While some major strides were taken towards protecting wildlife, ecosystems and the planet at large, there were also some setbacks and heartbreaks. Here’s a look at this year's defining moments. environment-wise: 1. COP15 ends with ‘Paris Moment’ for nature: In a landmark deal, nations from around the world agreed to protect a third of the planet for nature by 2030. The goal is to safeguard biodiversity, with 23 targets being set up to protect vital ecosystems such as rainforests and wetlands, and the rights of indigenous peoples. UN secretary general Antonio Guterres hailed the deal, saying, “We are finally starting to forge a peace pact with nature.” Canada’s minister for the environment and climate change Steven Guilbeault added, “It is truly a moment that will mark history as Paris did for climate.” 2. Russia-Ukraine war sparks global energy crisis: Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. It prompted global condemnation. European countries announced sanctions on imports of oil and coal from Russia, the world’s largest exporter of fossil fuels. Global supply chains, already strained due to the pandemic, were deeply impacted. All fuels were affected. As per the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) World Energy Outlook 2022, prices for spot purchases of natural gas reached levels never seen before, regularly exceeding the equivalent of USD 250 for a barrel of oil. Coal prices also hit record levels, while oil rose well above USD 100 per barrel in mid-2022 before falling back down. There are also concerns on how this may affect countries’ net-zero targets. 3. Cheetahs return to India: India’s ambitious plan to reintroduce cheetahs to the subcontinent kicked off in September this year. Eight individuals were released in Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after they became extinct in the country some seven decades ago. The animals had been translocated from Namibia. Though conservationists remain sceptical about their ability to thrive in an ecosystem that has undergone change in the interim period, the cheetahs are so far acclimatising to their new surroundings. 4. Global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels hit a record high: To prevent an irreversible climate crisis, global temperature rise needs to be below 1.5°C by the end of the century and countries need to meet their net-zero goals. Global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and cement, however, increased by 1.0% in 2022 - a new record high of 36.6bn tonnes of CO2 - as per new estimates. As per the 2022 Global Carbon Budget report, the increase in fossil emissions in 2022 has been primarily driven by an uptick in oil emissions as global travel continues to recover from pandemic levels. Coal and gas emissions grew more slowly, though both had record emissions too. 5. Ecuador became the first country to grant legal rights to wild animals: Estrellita, a monkey, was taken away from the forest illegally, kept as a pet and then taken to a zoo, where she died later. A case was filed to recognise her rights, claiming that her removal from her natural habitat violated her dignity. In a landmark judgement, Ecuador’s court recognised her rights as an individual wild animal. “Wild species and their individuals have the right not to be hunted, fished, captured, collected, extracted, kept, retained, trafficked, traded or exchanged,” the court also noted. 6. India witnesses a year of extremes: India had 241 days of extreme weather events in 2022, according to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment. Painting a grim picture, it stated that the country has seen a disaster nearly every day in the first nine months — from heat and cold waves, cyclones, lightning to heavy rain, floods and landslides. These disasters claimed 2,755 lives, affected 1.8 million hectares of crop area, destroyed over 416,667 houses and killed close to 70,000 livestock. 7. USA’s Inflation Reduction Act of 2022: Being one of the world’s biggest polluters, the US’s commitment to the Paris Agreement has always been vital. This year saw the country set off on a solid path towards reaching its climate goals with a landmark law. The Inflation Reduction Act offers more than $350 billion in historic investments, including funding home energy rebates, climate-smart agriculture, onshore clean energy manufacturing, and bolstering coastal areas and habitats impacted by the climate crisis. It will ensure that the US meets more than 40% of its commitments under the Paris Agreement. 8. Electoral defeat of Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro : As per Brazil’s national space research agency INPE, deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon reached 1,454 sq km in September, a 48% increase over last year. It added that deforestation through the first nine months of 2022 amounted to 8,590 sq km, the highest such tally on record since the deforestation alert system was established in 2007. For environmentalists, the electoral defeat of Jair Bolsonaro this year was arguably the world’s best environmental news of 2022. His government accounts for the most Amazon destruction in the last 34 years - a 59.5% increase in deforestation over a presidential term. 9. Tuvalu will be the first country to replicate itself in the metaverse: Tuvalu is actively threatened by rising sea levels brought on by climate change. Up to 40% of its capital is underwater at high tide currently and the entire Pacific nation is estimated to be underwater by the end of the century. This year, its foreign minister Simon Kofe announced the country’s plan to become the first digitised nation in the metaverse. In a video message, he said, “Our land, our ocean, our culture, are the most precious assets of our people. And to keep them safe from harm, no matter what happens in the physical world, we'll move them to the cloud. Islands like this one won't survive rapid temperature increases, rising sea levels, and droughts. So we'll recreate them virtually. Piece by piece we’ll preserve our country, provide solace to our people and remind our children and our grandchildren what our home once was". 10. The UN takes a big step towards ending plastic pollution: At the 2022 United Nations Environment Assembly, it was unanimously agreed that a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution was the need of the hour, and our planet. It calls for the development of a robust treaty that will hold nations, businesses and society at large accountable for eliminating plastic pollution from the environment. The year also saw India ban single-use plastic to tackle plastic pollution and reduce its impact on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Critics, however, claim lack of awareness and low on-ground implementation had taken the sting out of the ban.

Increase use of scrap in production: Minister Kulaste to steel makers.. Read more at: https://www.constructionworld.in/steel-news/increase-use-of-scrap-in-production--minister-kulaste-to-steel-makers/38260

Union Minister Faggan Singh Kulaste has instructed the domestic steel sector to expand the use of scrap in their manufacturing, emphasising the importance of carbon emissions. India consumes 30 MT scrap per year to create steel, with 26 MT generated domestically and the remainder imported. India's t.. Carbon emissions are a source of concern. The steel industry must enhance its utilisation of scrap in steel manufacturing. He stated this during the CII Steel Summit 2022. The steel industry must also employ cutting-edge technologies to reduce carbon emissions, according to the Minister of State for..

हरियाली का रास्ता

पहला, जहां पर्यावरणीय कार्रवाई ने प्राकृतिक संसाधन प्रबंधन के लिए विकास रणनीति को तय करने में भूमिका निभाई. पर्यावरणीय पहल सुनीता नारायण डायरेक्टर-जनरल, सीएसई, नई दिल्ली पर्यावरण आंदोलन ने आजाद भारत के 75 वर्षों में नीतियों को आकार देने और विकास के तौर-तरीकों को परिभाषित करने में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाई है. इस आंदोलन क... https://www.aajtak.in/india-today-hindi/special-issue/story/the-green-road-to-progress-1602640-2022-12-26

From the Editor-in-Chief

In a tribute to India's 75th year of independence, India Today has chosen on its 47th anniversary to do a special issue to celebrate this immense journey with a retrospective gallery of the events and the personalities who have made this country what it is today 'The best’ is a difficult concept to master. If you ask a parent, “Which of your children is the best?”, it really can have no answer. But a striving for excellence is what defines us—each of us tries to be the best we can become and then better that. In a nation’s journey, this continual quest to create a better tomorrow becomes its primary life-force. And this process cannot unfold without us reviewing the best of the past, which has shaped our present. India, as an independent nation, has turned 75 this year. As a tribute to this milestone, India Today has chosen on its 47th anniversary to do a special issue to celebrate this immense journey with a retrospective gallery of the events and the personalities who have made this country what it is today. How does one capture the entire life of a nation in the rearview mirror? How can you accumulate all the infinite moments of accomplishments that over a billion people have marked and then choose between them? In a real sense, it’s impossible to quantify greatness. What we have taken recourse to, therefore, is only an approximation. But one underpinned by a certain logic: whatever events, moments or projects we zeroed in on, they have touched the lives of many. This is easy to understand, say, with a Bhakra Nangal Dam, or the high-yielding variety of seeds that ushered in the Green Revolution, freeing the country from endemic want and giving us self-sufficiency in food. Or with the Mid-Day Meal Scheme that benefitted millions of children, or a famous battle victory like the Kargil war that ensured intrusions by the Pakistan army on the LoC were rebuffed. But this criterion can be applied even if a ‘best moment’ arises within the mysterious ambit of an individual’s psychology. A Dilip Kumar, for instance, cut so deep into himself in his search for an inner Devdas that it famously affected his real life. But what he gave us was a truly collective moment. Meena Kumari’s ethereal loneliness belongs to us, as does Shammi Kapoor’s infectious joy. With this governing principle in mind, we sought to analyse India’s passage through the decades within 34 broad categories. Many of them have to do with the State or the evolution of our polity in the most general terms. Thus, political movements make the cut, as do economic policies and landmarks in infrastructure or breakthrough initiatives in health and welfare. Since India as a nation-state is defined by its adherence to the Constitution, one of the most progressive documents of its kind in the world, we have similarly found our judicial history to be an indispensable part of it—landmark judgments that extended freedoms for everybody thus feature on these pages. So do the decisive battles India has fought, securing our freedom on another front, and the diplomatic successes we have achieved in peacetime, extending our esteem in the world. Outside of the affairs of the State, though, there are domains vital to our existence. Breakthroughs and innovations in science and its applications affect us all; environmental initiatives address some of the most universal aspects of life; and architecture, especially when seen through the lens of sustainability, creates the physical world we inhabit. From the general to the more specific, think of business persons and how their genius and worldview impact us. J.R.D. Tata, for instance, cannot be understood without doffing our hats at the creative ways he has given to society with the institutions—and even a city—that he has built. The glorious attainments of the world of sport, again, spring from the level of the individual athlete or player to create a sense of collective joy. From Milkha Singh in 1960 to Kapil’s Devils in 1983 to Neeraj Chopra in 2020, they have all crafted truly national moments. In the arts and culture world, we had to make a difficult categorial omission—especially with cinema and television. How do we talk of the best films without, inevitably, invoking a Ray or an Adoor? How do we account for the vastness of regional cinema or television, with the millions of subjective opinions it evokes? Here, we decided to restrict our choice to Hindi cinema purely because it is the one that is the most travelled one on the map and the one that most Indians enjoy. Then we further subdivided it into its constituent parts—thus, we have separate lists for the best films, directors, actors, actresses, songs and film albums. Similarly, with TV, universality is the criterion. But the richness of the vast non-Hindi parts of the Indian universe filters through in other realms. In literature, for instance, we scan not only Indian writing in English and the best novels in Hindi but also take a substantial look at regional literature. Art is its own language, of course. The masters of the canvas are duly represented. As are the best plays, regardless of language, and the finest of the classical dancers and musicians who have ennobled our cultural lives. Selections are bound to be subjective, and we did not wish for our opinions to cloud the act of choosing. Therefore, to select the best, we invited the best. We enlisted domain experts in each category who could adjudicate on their fields with unquestionable authority. Thus, we have eminences like Raghunath Mashelkar, Rajmohan Gandhi, Ashok Gulati, Gita Piramal, T.C.A. Raghavan and Lt Gen. Deependra Singh Hooda gracing these pages. Sunita Narain, India’s foremost name in environmental studies, crafts savants Laila Tyabji and Jaya Jaitly, sociologist Amita Baviskar, architect Habeeb Khan, writers Jerry Pinto and Alok Rai, anthropologist G.N. Devy, art curator Giles Tillotson, dance historian Ashish Mohan Khokar, legal scholar Gautam Bhatia, TV producer Amit Khanna, and illustrious names from the world of cinema and writing associated with it—like Varun Grover, Nasreen Munni Kabir, Khalid Mohamed, Rajeev Masand—and many others bring their unique insights into this edition. “Impossible” is a word that kept recurring as a motif in their introductory passages as they set about to make a shortlist of the “best” and the inevitable omissions assailed them. But what each of these 34 experts has given us, and you, the reader, is collectively nothing short of an almanac of our nation. A few others curate the best of Indian experiences, whether in travel, food or hospitality.

Regenerative Farming

In News Recently, the experience of farmers in Madhya Pradesh who follow regenerative farming methods finds the reduced need for frequent irrigation which conserves water and energy. What is Regenerative Agriculture? Regenerative agriculture is a way of farming that focuses on soil health. When soil is healthy, it produces more food and nutrition, stores more carbon and increases biodiversity. It includes the use of natural inputs, minimum-till, mulching, multi-cropping and sowing of diverse and native varieties. Natural inputs help improve soil structure and its organic carbon content. Planting water-guzzling and water-efficient crops together or in alternating cycles reduces the frequency and intensity of irrigation. They conserve energy used by irrigation aids such as pumps. In India, the Union government is promoting regenerative agriculture with an aim to reduce the application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and to lower input costs. Why is regenerative agriculture needed? Soil degradation: Agriculture today, including the use of heavy machinery, fertilizers and pesticides to maximize food production, is contributing to soil degradation and loss. Within 50 years, there may not be enough soil left to feed the world, according to the regenerative farming organization Regeneration International. Climate Change: Intensive farming also churns up CO2 naturally stored in soil and releases it into the atmosphere. This contributes to the global warming that is driving climate change. Agriculture accounts for over a third of greenhouse gas emissions globally, according to the United Nations (UN). Extreme events: Damaged soil and eroded land can make environments more vulnerable to extreme weather events like flooding, which are increasing in frequency and intensity as the Earth warms. Potential Benefits of Regenerative Agriculture Multiple benefits: Regenerative farming can improve: Crop yields Volume of crops produced Health of soil Soil’s ability to retain water Reducing soil erosion. Feeding people: Improved yields will help feed the world as the global population grows. Environmental benefits: Regenerative farming can also reduce emissions from agriculture and turn the croplands and pastures, which cover up to 40% of Earth’s ice-free land area, into carbon sinks. These are environments that naturally absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. Related Terms Rice intensification: It is a method in which seeds are spaced at wider distances and organic manure is applied to improve yields. Zero-budget natural farming: Also, known as Subhash Palekar Natural Farming, emphasizes on preparing and using inputs made from crop residue, cow dung and urine, fruits, among other things. The studies show irrigation frequency and energy consumption in natural farming decreases over time. Major Challenges associated with Agriculture Groundwater: The Green Revolution of the 1960s pulled India from the brink of starvation, transformed the country’s ability to feed itself and turned it into a big food exporter. But the revolution also made India the world’s biggest extractor of groundwater. According to the UN’s World Water Development Report, 2022, the country extracts 251 cubic km or more than a quarter of the world’s groundwater withdrawal each year. 90 per cent of this water is used for agriculture. No gain in production: A study by the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, shows that over 39 million hectares (ha) of area in the country under wheat, rice and maize have not shown improvement in the past decade. Degrading soil health: A 2022 report by Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), State of Bio Fertilizers and Organic Fertilizers in India, shows the severe and widespread deficiency of organic carbon and micronutrients in Indian soils. Lack of scientific study: Civil society organizations and farmers do not have the capacity to conduct long-term studies. Way forward/ Suggestions Sustainable farming: according to the UN’s State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, 2022 if agriculture is to continue to feed the country’s undernourished population of 224.5 million then it needs to work in harmony with nature, not against it. Chemical-less farming: Farmers, activists and agricultural research organizations across the world are developing methods of chemical-less farming which uses natural inputs and cultivation practices such as crop rotation and diversification which fall under the wider umbrella of regenerative agriculture. Soil Health: According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, healthy soil helps in better water storage, transmission, filtering and reduces agricultural run-off. Studies have established that one per cent increase in soil organic matter (an indicator of soil health) per 0.4 ha increases water storage potential by more than 75,000 liters. Global practice: This practice is used in Latin America, the United States, Canada, Africa, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Application in India: States like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Gujarat have introduced schemes to promote it. Research: concerted research is required to understand the role of regenerative agriculture in saving water. The scientific findings will further help inform policy measures and future initiatives. The National Project on Organic Farming is the country’s longest experiment on the practice, ongoing since 2004 and conducted by ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming System Research to promote organic farming. Source: DTE

Regenerative agriculture: A step towards water conservation

GS Paper 3 Syllabus: Agriculture and Conservation Source: DTE Direction: The article tries to establish the relationship between regenerative agriculture, soil health and conservation. Context: Farmers, activists and agricultural research organisations across the world are developing methods of regenerative agriculture, going a step ahead of sustainable agriculture, not only to maintain the resources like soil and water but also to improve them. Background: The Green Revolution in the 1960s saved India from starvation and transformed it into not only a self-sufficient but also a major food exporter country. But the revolution also made India the world’s biggest extractor of groundwater. According to the UN’s World Water Development Report, 2022, the country extracts 251 cubic km or more than a quarter of the world’s groundwater each year and 90% of this is used for agriculture. Agriculture must operate in unison with nature, not against it, if it is to continue feeding the country’s undernourished population and driving the economy. In India, the Union and state governments (UK, HP, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Gujarat) are promoting regenerative agriculture with an aim to reduce application of chemical fertilisers and pesticides and to lower input costs. The regenerative agriculture: About: It is a system of farming principles and practices that seeks to rehabilitate and enhance the entire ecosystem of the farm by placing a heavy premium on soil health with attention also paid to water management, fertiliser use, etc. It is a method of farming, under which emphasis is placed on looking holistically at the agro-ecosystem, improving the resources it uses, rather than destroying or depleting them. Key techniques include: Benefits: Links between regenerative agriculture, soil health and water saving – Maintaining soil health: Chemical-less farming and cultivation practices such as crop rotation and diversification help improve soil structure and its organic carbon content. Water conservation: Healthy soil helps in improving water-use efficiency by better water storage, transmission, filtering and reduces agricultural run-off. Efforts in India to promote regenerative agriculture: The National Project on Organic Farming. Systematic rice intensification, a method in which seeds are spaced at wider distances and organic manure is applied to improve yields. Zero-budget natural farming, now known as Subhash Palekar Natural Farming, emphasises on preparing and using inputs made from crop residue, cow dung and urine, fruits, among other things. Challenges: There are no structured studies available on the water-saving potential of regenerative agriculture. Way ahead: As civil society organisations and farmers do not have the capacity to conduct long-term studies, scientific bodies are best equipped to do such trials and calculations. Such research will go a long way in promoting regenerative agriculture.

Yearender 2022: Major natural disasters that struck India in 2022

Anatural disaster is a natural event that causes great damage to property or loss of human life. While India was already battling with the Covid-19 pandemic this year, climate change-induced natural disasters like floods, and cyclones have also been making lives miserable for people in India. Some of them have even been life-threatening. ndia recorded an extreme weather event on almost 90 per cent of the days in the first nine months this year, according to a report of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). This means that "India has seen close to a disaster every day in the nine months of this year – from heat and cold waves, cyclones and lightning to heavy rains, floods and landslides," the report, `Extreme Weather Report 2022`, stated. These disasters have claimed 2,755 lives, affected 1.8 million hectare of crop area, destroyed over 416,667 houses and killed close to 70,000 livestock. With an event every second day, Madhya Pradesh saw the highest number of days with extreme weather events, but Himachal Pradesh saw the highest number of human fatalities -- 359 deaths. Madhya Pradesh and Assam witnessed 301 human deaths each. Assam reported the highest number of damaged houses and animal deaths. Here`s a look at the natural disasters that took place this year in India. Amarnath floods Security officials at Amarnath cave area. Pic/Pallav Paliwal In one of the deadliest monsoon-related incidents this year, at least 16 people lost their lives and several were injured in a cloudburst near the Amarnath cave in Jammu and Kashmir on July 8, 2022.

Trams complete 150 years in Calcutta, Money Anniversary; Emphasis should be placed on environment-friendly transport systems

In Calcutta the tram 150 years of service has been completed. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Calcutta Tramways, Calcutta Tram Association there is Switchon Foundation Organized an important conference on the theme “Recognizing Sustainable Mobility and Coexistence with Nature” in association with it. The primary objective of organizing this conference was to increase public awareness of the value and benefits of sustainable transportation by promoting trams over other green and sustainable modes of transportation including bicycles, solar powered vehicles and electric cars. The conference started with the inaugural address by MD, WBTC Ranjanveer Singh Kapur, IAS. Debashish Kumar, MMIC, Kolkata Municipal Corporation and former minister and MP Mohammad Saleem, who were the guests of honour, then delivered their speeches. Dr. Anumita Roy Chowdhury, Executive Director, Researcher and Advocate, Center for Science and Environment, New Delhi delivered the keynote address on the occasion. Demands to revive transport networks such as trams Revival of existing networks like trams is also important, said Shri Mahadev Shi, General Secretary of CTUA. Decarbonising transport and bringing back the wonderful tramways of yesteryear must be a top priority.” CTUA President Shri Debashish Bhattacharya said, “Although Kolkata has a rich tram infrastructure, it is surprising why the city avoids utilizing its potential services. This seminar seeks answers. Dr Arup Halder, senior pulmonologist at The Woodlands Hospital, said, “India ranks first in global asthma deaths and second in COPD deaths.” Emphasis on developing transport systems with zero emission modes Dr. Anumita Roy Chowdhury, Executive Director, Researcher and Advocate, Center for Science and Environment said that to be able to meet clean air targets and achieve a low carbon development path, integrated public transport based on zero emission mode will change this. Trams are not only known for their heritage and iconic value, they also constitute an emission-free public transport system, says Kendra Vinay Jaju, MD, SwitchOn Foundation. Hence there is a need to integrate modern tram systems and sustainable transport methods into the mobility system.” Also read this Kolkata’s tram line network is the city’s greatest asset. Kolkata’s tram line network is one of the city’s biggest assets in fighting air pollution,” said Mr. Ritvik Dutta, Managing Trustee, Founder, Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment. Bicycle Mayor of Kolkata (BYCS) Satanjib Gupta said that around 80 percent of Kolkata’s citizens depend on public transport, walking and cycling. But in reality, the city’s transport infrastructure is still car-centric.” Dr. Bhargava Maitra, Ph.D. (IIT Bombay) Professor, Civil Engineering, IIT Kharagpur, said, “Enhancing service along with network expansion to make tram an effective demand management tool and promote sustainability “Battery-powered trams can revolutionize sustainable green mobility services within cities,” says alternative energy expert Somendra Mohan Ghosh.

F’iT Nutrition promotes wellness with healthy food choices

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be quite straightforward. Eat well, exercise regularly, and sleep enough. Despite the importance of eating 'right,’ the diet of an average Indian does not contain enough protein, micronutrients, and whole grains, according to the report published by the Centre for Science and Environment and Down to Earth magazine, State of India’s Environment 2022: In Figures. In fact, India has witnessed a dramatic rise in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among its adult population driven by the consumption of low nutrient-rich, ultra-processed foods. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise in income levels, Indians have become more focused on personal wellness. We have witnessed the market for nutrition products, such as protein bars and powders, sports drinks, and other products, proliferate over the past several years and expect this trend to continue. Many people are now focused on exercising effectively and consuming the proper nutrition under the direction of experts and dieticians. One platform that seriously takes health and wellness is F’iT Nutrition. This top-notch food brand breaks the barriers and creates something new for health aficionados. Recently, F’iT Nutrition, a nutrition company focused on offering India healthy snacks, launched its Nutrition Bars, Premium Energy Bars, and Flavored Nut Butters. Founded in 2020 by an alumnus of IIT Bombay and Kellogg School of Management, USA, F’iT Nutrition aims to give everyday people, like you and me, a range of nutritiously-packed snacks. Supported by a strong community, the company has scaled rapidly through partnerships with significant health and wellness marketplaces and offline retail stores. Currently, F’iT Nutrition offers more than 10 products, serving a wide variety of consumer preferences. When developing these power-packed snacks, F’iT Nutrition was meticulous about each ingredients that go in the bar and where these ingredients are sourced from. Each snack contains ingredients like berries, nuts, and seeds, which aim to help protect against immune diseases and health issues. With an emphasis on providing the right amount of protein, F’iT’s Nutrition Bars are filled with whey protein to ensure optimal body performance. Not to mention that the variety of snacks are also delicious. “The vision of the team at F’iT Nutrition is to make healthy and protein-packed food convenient without risking quality and taste. The team at F’iT Nutrition is obsessed with quality and has come up with many innovative products that promote healthy eating habits,” the co-founder of F’iT Nutrition, Piyush Gupta, said. “We are here to support those who want to adopt a healthy lifestyle in today’s unpredictable world,” conveyed Kunal Khandelwal, the platform's co-founder. By exercising regularly and eating the right balance of foods, people have witnessed increased training results, quick healing times, maintenance of healthy body weight and physique, consistency in their performance report, and much more. Diet and nutrition are essential for maintaining good health, and F’iT Nutrition is one of those prevailing brands for healthy living that are engraving their names in the nutrition domain.

West Bengal’s bio-shield unlikely to stop air pollution, feel experts

Experts have raised questions over the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB)’s decision to plant trees to create a bio-shield along the western fringe to stop air pollutants from entering the state. The project may cost several crores of rupees and it will take several years to yield desired results. The West Bengal Biodiversity Board has been entrusted to execute the project. West Bengal also claims that pollution from neighbouring states is responsible for close to half of the state’s pollution load. West Bengal’s environment minister, Manas Bhunia, recently said that air pollution in southern districts of the state was increasing due to transboundary pollution from the neighbouring Jharkhand and Bihar. Addressing a press conference, he had said the state was planning to plant "tall trees" along the border to prevent the incoming pollution. Even as the detailed project report is yet to be finalised, the project may cover around 800 km across districts like Purulia, Birbhum, Paschim Bardhaman and Jhargram. “WBPCB has come up with a unique plan of putting up a bio-shield, a massive plantation, along the borders of our state to prevent the incoming air pollutants. We have already cleared the proposal that may take a few years to give dividends as the trees will take some time to attain maturity,” Bhunia told The Plurals. “We expect to curb the inflow of transboundary air pollution in Bengal, which is about 50 per cent of our overall load from the adjoining states through the bio-shield,” said PCB chairman Kalyan Rudra. Experts sceptic Experts are, however, sceptical about the proposal. Transboundary movement of pollution can be curbed only with a regional clean action strategy to cut emissions from a large number of pollution sources spread across the region. Green walling with plantations can only filter dust to some extent and that too if it is hugely extensive,” said Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi. "The transboundary pollution travels around 500 meter or more above the land and hence any bio-shield at the border will be ineffective to stop the inflow of transboundary air pollution. Rather than having a bio-shield, perhaps West Bengal requires a treaty and coordinated programme with adjoining states and places like Bangladesh to minimise the impact," said professor S.N. Triphathi, an air pollution expert from IIT Kanpur. Asked whether there is any instance in the country or even globally where there has been an attempt to curb transboundary pollution through green walling, professor Tripathi said, “At least, I am not aware." “I do not know the details of this proposal but our research findings show that transboundary air pollutants, especially most toxic PM2.5, normally moves at least 500 metre above the surface especially during winter and hence is unlikely to be arrested by bio-shield,” said Abhijit Chatterjee, an air pollution scientist associated with the Bose Institute. Gufran Beig, an air pollution expert and director of System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) network set up by the government of India, said the green wall is not likely to have any effective role in countering the flow of transboundary pollution. “Transboundary pollution flows in between 500 metres and 2 km beyond the boundary of inversion layer with local pollutants based on the season and climatic condition; and hence bio-shield or green wall has no direct relation in countering any pollution flowing within Bengal from beyond its border,” Beig told The Plurals. However, both Beig and Chatterjee accepted that massive plantations may play a limited role in arresting the pollutants while part of which get landed once mixed with local pollutants; or to address locally generated pollutants. Costly project According to organisations with expertise in mega tree plantation, such an exercise will cost several crores of rupees. “Even if we consider trees to be planted at a distance of two metres from each other, we are looking at planting 400,000 trees for an area of 800 km in one row and the total cost of the project was likely to be Rs 12 crore considering the mortality and maintenance of planted trees over the period. If multiple rows of plants are erected; the cost will increase manifold,” said wildlife expert Biswajit Roy Choudhury, who heads a non-profit that has planted millions of trees in West Bengal and elsewhere in India. “We are not against tree plantation. But we would like to know based on what scientific evidence, the WBPCB has taken such a costly decision. If it is so useful, why are regions like Delhi and the National Capital Region, which are so much affected by transboundary pollution, not doing the same? We feel that it will lead to nothing but a waste of money,” said an environmentalist associated with the environment platform Sabuj Mancha. “We do not have any evidence (that such an initiative will succeed); you may say we are building up the evidence,” said a senior WBPCB official.

कोलकाता में ट्राम ने पूरे किए 150 साल, मनी एनिवर्सरी; इको फ्रेंडली ट्रांसपोर्ट सिस्टम पर जोर

कोलकाता में ट्राम सेवा ने 150 साल पूरे कर लिये हैं. कोलकाता ट्रामवे की 150वीं वर्षगांठ को मनाने के लिए, कलकत्ता ट्राम एसोसिएशन ने स्विचऑन फाउंडेशन के सहयोग से “सतत गतिशीलता को पहचानना और प्रकृति के साथ सह-अस्तित्व” विषय पर एक महत्वपूर्ण सम्मेलन का आयोजन किया. इस सम्मेलन को आयोजित करने का प्राथमिक उद्देश्य साइकिल, सौर ऊर्जा से चलने वाले वाहनों और इलेक्ट्रिक कारों सहित परिवहन के अन्य हरित और टिकाऊ साधनों के साथ-साथ ट्राम को बढ़ावा देकर स्थायी परिवहन के मूल्य और लाभों के बारे में जनता के बीच जागरूकता बढ़ाना था. सम्मेलन की शुरुआत एमडी, डब्ल्यूबीटीसी रंजनवीर सिंह कपूर, आईएएस के उद्घाटन भाषण से हुई. इसके बाद सम्मानित अतिथि के रूप में उपस्थित देबाशीष कुमार, एमएमआईसी, कोलकाता नगर निगम और मोहम्मद सलीम, पूर्व मंत्री और सांसद अपने भाषण दिए. इस कार्यक्रम में मुख्य भाषण डॉ अनुमिता रॉय चौधरी, कार्यकारी निदेशक, शोधकर्ता और अधिवक्ता, सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट, नई दिल्ली द्वारा दिया गया. ट्राम जैसी परिवहन नेटवर्क को पुनर्जीवित करने की मांग सीटीयूए के महासचिव श्री महादेब शि ने कहा, ट्राम जैसे मौजूदा नेटवर्क को पुनर्जीवित करना भी महत्वपूर्ण है. परिवहन को डीकार्बोनाइज़ करना और पहले के शानदार ट्रामवे को वापस लाना सर्वोच्च प्राथमिकता होनी चाहिए.” सीटीयूए अध्यक्ष श्री देबाशीष भट्टाचार्य ने कहा, ” हालांकि कोलकाता में एक संपन्न ट्राम बुनियादी ढांचा है, फिर भी आश्चर्य होता है कि शहर अपनी संभावित सेवाओं का उपयोग करने से क्यों बचता है। यह सेमिनार एक उत्तर की तलाश में है.” वुडलैंड्स अस्पताल के एक वरिष्ठ पल्मोनोलॉजिस्ट डॉ. अरूप हलदर ने कहा, भारत विश्व स्तर पर अस्थमा से होने वाली मौतों के मामले में पहले स्थान पर है और सीओपीडी से होने वाली मौतों के मामले में दूसरे स्थान पर है.” शून्य उत्सर्जन मोड वाले परिवहन व्यवस्था विकसित करने पर जोर डॉ अनुमिता रॉय चौधरी, कार्यकारी निदेशक, शोधकर्ता और अधिवक्ता, सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट ने कहा कि स्वच्छ वायु लक्ष्य को पूरा करने और कम कार्बन विकास पथ को प्राप्त करने में सक्षम होने के लिए, शून्य उत्सर्जन मोड पर आधारित एकीकृत जन परिवहन उस परिवर्तन के केंद्र में होना चाहिए. विनय जाजू, एमडी, स्विचऑन फाउंडेशन ने कहा, ट्राम न केवल अपनी विरासत और प्रतिष्ठित मूल्य के लिए जानी जाती हैं, बल्कि वे एक उत्सर्जन-मुक्त सार्वजनिक परिवहन प्रणाली का भी गठन करती हैं. इसलिए आधुनिक ट्राम प्रणालियों और परिवहन के स्थायी साधनों को गतिशीलता प्रणाली में एकीकृत करने की आवश्यकता है.” कोलकाता में ट्राम लाइन नेटवर्क शहर की है सबसे बड़ी संपत्ति लीगल इनिशिएटिव फॉर फॉरेस्ट एंड एनवायरनमेंट के संस्थापक, मैनेजर ट्रस्टी, श्री रितविक दत्ता ने कहा, कोलकाता में ट्राम लाइन नेटवर्क वायु प्रदूषण से जूझ रहे शहर के लिए सबसे बड़ी संपत्ति है.” कोलकाता के बाइसाइकिल मेयर (बीवाईसीएस) सतनजीब गुप्ता ने कहा, कोलकाता में लगभग 80 प्रतिशत नागरिक सार्वजनिक परिवहन, पैदल चलने और साइकिल चलाने पर निर्भर हैं। लेकिन हकीकत में, शहर का परिवहन बुनियादी ढांचा अभी भी कार केंद्रित है.” डॉ. भार्गब मैत्रा, पीएच.डी. (आईआईटी बॉम्बे) प्रोफेसर, सिविल इंजीनियरिंग, आईआईटी खड़गपुर, ने कहा, “ट्राम को प्रभावी मांग प्रबंधन उपकरण बनाने और स्थिरता को बढ़ावा देने के लिए नेटवर्क के विस्तार के साथ-साथ सेवा को बढ़ावा देने की आवश्यकता है.” सोमेंद्र मोहन घोष, वैकल्पिक ऊर्जा विशेषज्ञ ने कहा, “बैटरी से चलने वाले ट्राम शहरों के भीतर स्थायी हरित गतिशीलता सेवा में क्रांति ला सकते हैं.”

Govt wants steel makers to increase use of scrap metal

The steel ministry has also asked the stakeholders of the sector to develop a time-bound action plan to lower emissions in the steel industry. Union Minister Faggan Singh Kulaste on Thursday directed the domestic steel industry to increase use of scrap in their production, underscoring that carbon emission is a serious concern. India uses 30 million tonne (MT) scrap annually to manufacture steel, out of which 26 MT is generated domestically and remaining through imports. Currently, India's overall steel production stands at around 120 MT. "Carbon emissions are a concern.... the steel sector must increase use of scrap in their steel production," he said at CII Steel Summit 2022 here. The industry must also adopt new-age technologies to lower their carbon emissions, the Minister of State for Steel said. However, he did not speak on the quantum of scrap which steel makers must include in their production. According to a ministry document, the iron and steel industry globally accounts for around 8 per cent of total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions on an annual basis, whereas in India, it contributes 12 per cent to the total CO2 emissions. The steel ministry has also asked the stakeholders of the sector to develop a time-bound action plan to lower emissions in the steel industry. "100 per cent scrap using electric arc furnace / induction furnace ( EAF /IF) emit 0.4 to 0.8 tonne of CO2 per tonne of crude steel," Parth Kumar, of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said. On an average, 2.5 tonne of CO2 is emitted on manufacturing of every one tonne of crude steel, he said.