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आवासीय बदलाव से बदल रहा बाघों का व्यवहार? इंसानों को बना रहे शिकार, SOE 2026 रिपोर्ट में बड़ा खुलासा

क्या भारत में बाघ अब जीवन निर्वाह के लिए इंसानों का अधिक शिकार कर रहे हैं? सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) और पत्रिका डाउन टू अर्थ द्वारा जारी 2026 की ‘स्टेट ऑफ इंडियाज़ एनवायरनमेंट (SOE 2026)’ रिपोर्ट में उपलब्ध अध्ययनों और रिपोर्ट्स का विश्लेषण कर यह निष्कर्ष निकाला गया है कि बाघों के व्यवहार में बदलाव स्पष्ट रूप से दिख रहा है। डाउन टू अर्थ के वरिष्ठ संवाददाता हिमांशु नितनवरे, जिन्होंने इस रिपोर्ट के लिए विश्लेषण किया है, कहते हैं: “बड़ा बिल्ली प्रजाति का यह जीव अब अपनी धारियां बदल रहा है। पारिस्थितिक तंत्र में बदलाव, आवास का क्षरण, मानवीय हस्तक्षेप और असंतुलित संरक्षण नीतियां भारत के बाघों के व्यवहार में सूक्ष्म और स्पष्ट परिवर्तन ला रही हैं।”

ndia’s air pollution monitoring network failed to keep pace with the scale and complexity of the country’s pollution crisis

India’s air pollution monitoring network failed to keep pace with the scale and complexity of the country’s pollution crisis, leaving nearly 85 per cent of the population outside the measurable range of real-time air quality data, according to the State of India’s Environment 2026 report released recently by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The report highlighted that in a country of 1.4 billion people, where emissions and exposure levels vary widely across regions, only about 200 million people live within a 10-km radius of a continuous air quality monitoring station. “Only 15 per cent of India’s population lives within 10 km of a continuous monitor. The remaining 1.2 billion people breathe outside any measurable range,” said Sharanjeet Kaur, deputy programme manager at CSE’s Urban Lab. Experts from the Climate Think Tank noted that India currently operates two major air quality monitoring systems. The National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP), launched in 1984–85, relies on manual stations that measure pollution levels twice a week and provide longterm averages for limited pollutants. In contrast, Continuous Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) generate real-time, hourly data across multiple pollutants. At present, the country has 562 real-time monitors spread across 294 cities and 966 manual stations in 419 cities and towns. However, the report pointed out that these numbers mask stark regional disparities. “Entire districts, industrial belts and fast-growing peri-urban centres remain outside the monitoring grid,” Kaur said. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (research and advocacy) at CSE, said the monitoring gap reflects deeper inequities in environmental governance. “Cities with multiple monitors can demonstrate progress, claim clean air funding and frame action plans. But hundreds of smaller towns, many facing comparable or even higher pollution, have no real-time data at all,” she said. Among states and union Territories, Chandigarh has complete population coverage within a 10- km radius of real-time monitors, followed closely by Delhi, where only 3.5 per cent of residents fall outside measurable limits. Puducherry ranks third, with nearly half its area covered. Large states show significant gaps despite having sizeable networks. In Maharashtra, monitoring stations are largely concentrated around Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur, leaving vast regions unrepresented. Coverage remains particularly poor in northern and eastern states. Only 13 per cent of Bihar’s population and 9 per cent of Uttar Pradesh’s residents live within 10 km of a monitor, while West Bengal covers just 19 per cent of its population. Several densely populated districts, including Hooghly and Murshidabad, lack a single real-time monitoring station. In the northeast, only Assam has multiple stations, while most other states operate one or two monitors each. Overall, more than 64 per cent of India’s 742 districts have no continuous air quality monitoring, the report states. “This means India’s daily AQI updates and policy assessments are based on data from a small, urbanised slice of the country. For the rest, pollution is a lived reality, but not a recorded one,” Roychowdhury added. The report recommended moving beyond a uniform monitoring approach toward a hybrid system combining regulatory-grade monitors, validated low-cost sensors and satellite-based datasets to improve spatial coverage. It also calls for prioritising monitoring in high-exposure zones such as schools and hospitals, dynamically relocating stations as cities expand, and creating a unified national portal

Air Pollution Killing 16 Times More Indians Than COVID-19: Expert Warning

Breathing toxic air is now 16 times more lethal than the COVID-19 pandemic in India, leading pediatrician Dr. Sanjeev Bagai revealed today during the Anil Agarwal Dialogue (AAD) 2026. Speaking at the event organized by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Bagai highlighted a staggering public health crisis, noting that while COVID-19 claimed approximately 600,000 lives in India over four years, annual deaths linked to air pollution have far surpassed those figures, reaching between 2 to 3 million per year nationwide. The Health Toll: A Generation at Risk The data presented today underscores a silent emergency that impacts every demographic, with children and long-term residents of urban centers like Delhi facing the highest risks. According to Dr. Bagai, living in Delhi for 30 years can reduce an individual’s life expectancy by nearly 11 years. Medical evidence cited from the Lung Foundation of India indicates that 30% of children in the national capital already suffer from irreversible lung damage. The implications extend beyond respiratory issues, with experts linking prolonged exposure to PM2.5 to increased risks of heart disease, stroke, and weakened immunity. Air Pollution Economic Impact vs. Health Budget The economic interpretation of the crisis is equally grim. India’s current health budget stands at just over ₹1 lakh crore, yet the country loses approximately ₹24 lakh crore annually—about 8% of the GDP—due to lost productivity caused by pollution-related illnesses. Dr. Bagai characterized the situation as a “global neglect,” noting that air pollution deaths remain significantly underreported despite being 24 times more costly to the economy than the total national health outlay. What This Means for Residents Health: Residents are advised to monitor AQI levels daily; exposure to “Severe” levels for even a few days can trigger sudden cardiac events and acute respiratory distress. Vulnerable Groups: Children and the elderly are at the highest risk for permanent physiological damage. Policy: Experts at AAD 2026 called for a shift from reactive measures like GRAP to long-term, region-specific mitigation strategies similar to those used in Beijing. What Happens Next The CSE’s “State of India’s Environment Report 2026” warns that monitoring remains the “Achilles’ heel” of India’s fight against toxic air. With the national health emergency deepening, pressure is mounting on official bodies like the CAQM and CPCB to move beyond temporary bans and address industrial and vehicular emissions at the source.

Solar dreams fade as PM-KUSUM stalls

A report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a Delhi-based NGO, indicates that despite 0.20 lakh sanctioned off-grid solar pumps being installed by farmers and farmer groups in the state, there has been zero progress under this component as of December 2025. Similarly, of the 7.79 lakh existing pumps slated for solarisation, only 0.69 lakh have been covered so far, highlighting the slow pace of implementation. Experts point out that solarisation of existing pumps, known as Component C of the scheme, has faced several hurdles in Karnataka, although some progress has been observed over the past year. “Tenders under the scheme have been invited and development has begun. However, land availability remains a hurdle. While the official stand is that land availability is not an issue, the situation on the ground regarding the availability of government land is different. Private land for the scheme is not feasible due to high costs,” said Ramesh Shivanna, president of the Karnataka Renewable Energy Systems Manufacturers Association (KRESMA). Launched by the Union government in 2019, the PM-KUSUM scheme aims to promote distributed solar energy in rural areas, reduce the subsidy burden on power distribution companies, and improve rural energy security. The initiative is also expected to enhance farmers’ incomes by enabling them to sell surplus power while supporting climate and water sustainability goals.

Judiciary is Sadly Stepping Back When it Comes to the Environment, Says Former SC Judge

Citing recent court cases, including the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) green lighting of the Great Nicobar projects, in which the judiciary has given orders that have put India’s environment and ecology in danger, former judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Deepak Gupta said that the judiciary is “stepping back” when it comes to the environment. Gupta was addressing journalists at the release of the report titled ‘State of India’s Environment 2026’, at the Anil Agarwal Environment Training Institute (AAETI) in Nimli, Rajasthan, on Wednesday, February 25. NGT experiment ‘not very successful’ Gupta, who has given several important judgments pertaining to the environment including the famous Him Parvesh judgment of 2012 which invoked the polluter pays principle (which, in a first, ordered a company that established a cement and thermal power plant in Himachal Pradesh to pay a huge amount of Rs 100 crore as environmental compensation to affected villagers), said that the judiciary has a very important role to play in the protection of the environment. A problem is that most judges are not qualified to hear environmental matters though they pass orders on it, said Gupta, who headed the green bench in Himachal Pradesh for three years. There were a lot of cases, however, and this was how the National Green Tribunal was born, he said. The NGT, which is the apex green court of India, was formed in 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act of 2010, for “effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources”. “By and large we can all agree that the experiment [the NGT] has not been very successful. It wasn’t because the experiment was wrong, but it is the men who have failed the experiment,” Gupta said. The role of the court is to develop jurisprudence. Unfortunately, what has now happened is that the court is more involved in deciding disputes. Instead it should be more involved in policies to ensure that the policies are constitutional, he said. “Judges have to be people who also care for the environment,” he said and added, “It’s not that if you’re a green judge, you don’t let anything be done; we also want progress but it has to be sustainable development”. “Putting it simply, if something cannot be reversed, or cannot be compensated, it is not sustainable development. A bad environment can never be good economics… it may be good business but it is not good economics. That is where courts must step in.” Procedure outranks the environment The Supreme Court and even the high courts used to be more active and took a proactive role in protecting the environment, he added. “Unfortunately that is not true anymore. We now have certain phrases which the court uses to justify environmental degradation…Procedure has become more important than the environment. Has the procedure been followed? Yes it has. But that is not where the court’s role finishes. The procedure may have followed but if the end result is an environmental disaster, the court is required to step in. The NGT’s recent order pertaining to the proposed projects on the Great Nicobar island is one example, Gupta said. And deciding to conduct compensatory afforestation in Haryana has become a joke, he commented. “Another is the Vantara case,” Gupta said. “To me it seems like a stage-managed case. It seems like the Vantara people got the writ petition filed… it seems to me. I may be wrong.” He pointed out that contrary to procedure, the Supreme Court took up the Vantara case immediately, asked for a report in a matter of a week, and then said that everything was “hunky dory”. “The gentleman who runs Vantara may have the best intentions in mind…But just because he is a rich kid does not mean that he should have every species in the world in his [zoo]. The court should have taken action immediately.” The Wire has previously reported on how numerous investigative news pieces have alleged, since 2024, that Vantara’s demand for non-native species of wildlife may have spurred illegal wildlife trade worldwide. However, Vantara, in a statement to The Wire, said that the allegations were “baseless” and “misleading”.

Courts now justify environment degradation: former Supreme Court judge

Former Supreme Court judge Justice Deepak Gupta on Wednesday said that courts now justify environmental degradation and attacked the judiciary over different decisions, ranging from a clean chit to Vantara to allowing the Great Nicobar project. “The Supreme Court and the High Courts were very active. They took a pro-active role in protecting the environment. Unfortunately, that is not true anymore,” he said at the Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2026, organised by the Centre for Science and Environment, in Nimli of Rajasthan. “Now, there are certain phrases which the court uses to justify environmental degradation. Procedure has become more important than the environment,” he said, adding that courts mostly check only if procedure is followed. “I’m sorry, that is not where the court’s role finishes. The procedure may have been followed, but if the end result is an environmental disaster, the court is required to step in,” he added. Two examples “I want to give two (examples). The Nicobar case is one in which the NGT (said) procedure was followed. The procedure may be followed. I have read a court order that you cut trees in the Andamans, for palm oil plantations, which is the most damaging for the ecology. And the compensatory trees will be planted in Haryana and Rajasthan. What nonsense are we talking? Compensatory afforestation has become a joke,” the former Supreme Court judge said. Justice Gupta said that the second example is the Vantara case. “I can’t understand how the Supreme Court went (about the case). To me, it seems like a stage-managed case. It seems that the Vantara people got the writ petition filed. The Supreme Court says that if a Chief Minister makes some remarks which are unpalatable, then go to the High Court. But in Vantara, the Supreme Court appointed a commission and the commission gave a report in one week and they said everything is hunky dory,” he said. The former Supreme Court judge also said that the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), which was set up by the Supreme Court, earlier consisted of forest officials, bureaucrats, experts, and lawyers, among others, but now has only government officials.

Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2026: Courts giving more importance to procedure over environmental damage, says ex-SC judge

In environmental matters, courts are giving more importance to procedure rather than the environmental degradation likely to be caused and they have also become deferential to the government, said former Supreme Court judge Justice Deepak Gupta on Wednesday. In his keynote address at the annual Anil Agarwal Dialogue at Neemli, Alwar, held by the Centre for Science and Environment, he also criticised recent court orders in cases related to the Great Nicobar project, Vantara, and one pertaining to ex-post facto clearances. Referring to the recent judgment of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Justice Gupta said that the court’s role does not end at just looking at procedures followed. “The procedure may have been followed but if the end result is an environmental disaster, then the court is required to step in… if an environmental damage cannot be reversed or compensated, it is not sustainable development,” he said. “By and large we can all agree that the NGT experiment has not been successful. But not because the experiment was wrong, it is the men (running it) who have failed the system,” he said.

National Law University Odisha To Host LL.M. Conclave 2026 In Hybrid Mode On March 8

The National Law University Odisha (NLUO) was established in the year 2009 under The National Law University Orissa Act, 2008 (Act 4 of 2008) passed by the Odisha State Legislature and commenced its academic activities in the academic year 2009-10. Within a short span of time, NLUO has made its mark as a university engaged in imparting socially relevant education. NLUO is ideally placed to learn from other law schools both in terms of their strengths and drawbacks. Drawing from these experiences, it has embarked upon a well-structured course of action to achieve levels of excellence. Students at NLUO are trained by a group of experienced, dynamic, young and most significantly committed teachers. The curriculum development and framing process offers academic flexibility and promotes an environment which allows exchange of intellectual thought process. The amicable environment hones not just the students' intelligence, but also their emotional quotient. The level of academic rigour has ensured that our most of our alumni excel in their profession. Beyond academics, NLUO promotes leadership skills and the wholesome life experience of our students by encouraging them to take part in various co-curricular and extra-curricular activities like literary, debating, cultural, entrepreneurial and recreational activities. About Competitive Examinations Guidance Committee (CEGC) The CEGC is a student-run committee that aims to nurture and culture an atmosphere for competitive exams in NLUO. With a large amount of law graduates being inclined to write competitive examinations, we aim to help and guide these aspirants so that they can achieve their future goals. To be a pioneering force in guiding and preparing students to achieve success in competitive examinations thereby enabling them to become leaders and change-makers in their chosen fields. The Competitive Examinations Guidance Committee of the National Law University Odisha (CEGC) is dedicated to providing guidance and support to students aspiring for various competitive examinations within India and abroad with special emphasis on careers pertaining to law. Our mission is to nurture a culture of excellence, continuous learning, and holistic development, equipping students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to excel in their chosen careers. LL.M. Conclave 2026 The LL.M. Conclave 2026, organized by the Competitive Examinations Guidance Committee at National Law University Odisha, is a student-oriented event aimed at guiding law students interested in pursuing an LL.M. in India or abroad. The conclave will be held in a hybrid format, allowing both offline and online participation. The event will feature speakers from different legal fields who will share their experiences about LL.M. studies, career choices, and application processes. It aims to help students understand the opportunities and challenges involved in pursuing postgraduate legal education. The conclave is intended to provide practical guidance and help students make more informed decisions about their academic and professional future. Rules And Details Of The Conclave Event Details:• Event Date: March 8, 2026• Event Timings: 11:00 AM onwards• Mode: Hybrid (Offline for NLUO participants & Online for non-NLUO participants)• Venue: Seminar Hall, National Law University Odisha• Online Platform: Google Meet (for non-NLUO participants) Speakers The LL.M. Conclave 2026 will feature speakers from diverse professional backgrounds including litigation, corporate practice, academia, and policy research. The speakers will share their experiences regarding LL.M. studies, career paths, and opportunities after postgraduate legal education. Speakers include: • Dr. Tanwi Shams - Assistant Professor of Law, NLUO, LL.M., Intellectual Property & Technology Law, National University of Singapore (2016) · Ms. Sanskruti Samal - Advocate, Supreme Court of India, LL.M., Commercial Law, University of Cambridge (2023) · Ms. Shinjini Mitra- Fellow, NLSIU, LL.M., Competition Law, King's College London (2023) · Mr. Kushagra Goyal- Senior Research Associate, Centre for Science and Environment, LL.M., Global Environment & Climate Change Law, The University of Edinburgh (2024) · Ms. Archita Mohapatra- Senior Associate, Trilegal, LL.M., Labour Law & Employment Relations, Tilburg University (2023) · Ms. Sneha Rath- Former Trainee, Private Client Practice, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, LL.M. (Financial Laws and Regulations), London School of Economics Eligibility:• Open for all.

अब इंसानों से नहीं डर रहे बाघ, लैंटाना झाड़ियों ने बदला शिकार का खेल; CSE रिपोर्ट में बड़ा खुलासा

देश के राष्ट्रीय पशु बाघ के व्यवहार में चिंताजनक बदलाव आ रहा है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की "स्टेट ऑफ इंडियाज एनवायरनमेंट 2026" रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि इकोसिस्टम के खराब होने और इंसानी दखल के कारण बाघ अब इंसानों और जानवरों को तेजी से निशाना बना रहे हैं। यह रिपोर्ट बुधवार को नीमली में "अनिल अग्रवाल डायलॉग 2026" के दौरान जारी की गई। इंसानों पर शिकार के बढ़ते मामले रिपोर्ट के आंकड़े चिंताजनक हैं। जनवरी से जून 2025 के बीच, भारत में बाघों के हमलों में 43 लोगों की मौत हुई। एक्सपर्ट इसे "चिंताजनक" मानते हैं क्योंकि बाघ आमतौर पर इंसानों पर तभी हमला करते हैं जब उन्हें मजबूर किया जाता है (बुढ़ापे या चोट के कारण)। लेकिन अब, बाघों में इंसानों का डर खत्म हो रहा है।

सीएसई और डाउन टू अर्थ ने जारी की 2026 ‘स्टेट ऑफ इंडियाज़ एनवायरनमेंट’ रिपोर्ट, जलवायु संकट को बताया ‘नो रिटर्न पॉइंट’ के करीब

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) और उसकी प्रमुख पत्रिका डाउन टू अर्थ ने वर्ष 2026 की ‘स्टेट ऑफ इंडियाज़ एनवायरनमेंट (SOE)’ रिपोर्ट जारी की। इस अवसर पर आयोजित अनिल अग्रवाल डायलॉग 2026 में देशभर के 70 पत्रकारों और 20 से अधिक विषय विशेषज्ञों ने हिस्सा लिया और भारत के सामने खड़े पर्यावरणीय संकटों पर गहन चर्चा की। CSE की महानिदेशक सुनीता नारायण ने कहा, “जलवायु संकट अब उस बिंदु पर पहुंच रहा है, जहां से वापसी मुश्किल है। पिछले तीन वर्षों के औसत को देखें तो दुनिया पहली बार 1.5 डिग्री सेल्सियस तापमान वृद्धि की सीमा पार कर चुकी है। यह संकेत है कि हम सुरक्षित सीमा को तोड़ रहे हैं।”

अनिल अग्रवाल डायलॉग 2026 में बेगूसराय के युवा पत्रकार प्रेम कुमार को मिला राष्ट्रीय मंच

राजस्थान के अलवर जिले के निमली में सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (CSE) द्वारा आयोजित प्रतिष्ठित अनिल अग्रवाल डायलॉग 2026 में बेगूसराय के युवा पत्रकार प्रेम कुमार को विशेष रूप से आमंत्रित किया गया है। यह चार दिवसीय कार्यक्रम 24 फरवरी से 28 फरवरी 2026 तक आयोजित होगा, जिसमें देशभर से 100 से अधिक चुनिंदा पत्रकार भाग लेंगे। बेगूसराय के लाल का राष्ट्रीय मंच पर डंका मंझौल निवासी प्रेम कुमार ने पत्रकारिता की पढ़ाई पटना विश्वविद्यालय के प्रतिष्ठित दरभंगा हाउस परिसर से की है। शिक्षा पूर्ण करने के बाद उन्होंने पत्रकारिता के क्षेत्र में सशक्त पहचान बनाई। वर्तमान में वे डीडी न्यूज़ और पीटीआई जैसी देश की अग्रणी और विश्वसनीय मीडिया संस्थाओं के लिए कार्यरत हैं। राजधानी से लेकर बिहार तक उनकी रिपोर्टिंग ने अपनी अलग छाप छोड़ी है। पर्यावरण और सामाजिक मुद्दों पर गहरी समझ व निरंतर मेहनत के बल पर उन्हें इस राष्ट्रीय संवाद में स्थान मिला है। क्या है अनिल अग्रवाल डायलॉग CSE भारत की अग्रणी पर्यावरण शोध एवं वकालत संस्था है। अनिल अग्रवाल डायलॉग, CSE के संस्थापक स्वर्गीय अनिल अग्रवाल की स्मृति में आयोजित किया जाता है। इस मंच पर पर्यावरण, जलवायु परिवर्तन, टिकाऊ विकास और प्राकृतिक संसाधनों से जुड़े अहम विषयों पर पत्रकारों, विशेषज्ञों और नीति-निर्माताओं के बीच गहन विमर्श होता है। बेगूसराय के छोटे से कस्बे मंझौल से निकलकर राष्ट्रीय स्तर के इस प्रतिष्ठित आयोजन में आमंत्रण मिलना अपने आप में बड़ी उपलब्धि है। प्रेम कुमार की सफलता से क्षेत्र में हर्ष का माहौल है। स्थानीय पत्रकारों, बुद्धिजीवियों और युवाओं ने उन्हें बधाई देते हुए कहा कि वे बेगूसराय का गौरव बढ़ा रहे हैं। यह उपलब्धि उन युवाओं के लिए प्रेरणा है, जो छोटे शहरों और कस्बों से निकलकर राष्ट्रीय पटल पर अपनी पहचान बनाना चाहते हैं।

India’s Winter Is Rewriting Its Script: The Vanishing Chill of February and a Climate in Flux

As the winter season officially draws to a close on February 28, data reveals an unprecedented anomaly: for the first time in five years, the month of February has passed without a single cold wave or cold day being recorded anywhere in the country. According to a detailed analysis by Down To Earth (DTE), this February has been a “silent” month on the weather front, a dramatic departure from recent trends where February often delivered the season’s final, fierce punch of cold .

Supreme Court Directs Centre to Identify Coal Units for Delhi-NCR Phase-Out

Coal and Air Pollution A recent Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) study revealed that thermal power plants in the region are responsible for emitting 16 times more air pollution than stubble burning. According to a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report published in November 2023, the air pollution in Delhi-NCR is being worsened by intransigence of thermal power plants, most of which are not complying with emission control norms. "Delhi and NCR cannot meet the clean air benchmark and protect public health if the continuous sources of pollution like thermal power plants remain high emitters. These plants have not been able to meet the standards and are at varying stages of progress simply because the target dates for compliance are shifting continually,” Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, CSE, stated in the news release published by CSE. The Supreme Court on February 23 directed the ministries of environment and petroleum & natural gas to submit a joint proposal to identify and shift all coal-based industries out of the Delhi-National Capital Region, including identification of viable alternative fuel sources, according to The Economic Times. The governments of Delhi's neighbouring states, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan, were asked by a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant to publish public notices soliciting feedback and objections from interested parties, including coal-based industries, regarding the proposed phase-out. Such notices will be regarded as having been issued in accordance with the court's authority, it stated. The bench order stated that the proposal should first identify industries and determine what alternative fuel sources can be provided from them. According to an interim arrangement, Haryana, Delhi and other authorities concerned will examine the feasibility, logistics, location and operational modalities of such industries pending a final decision, the court said, while noting a proposal from the Commission for Air Quality Management that no new coal-based thermal power plant will be allowed within 300 km of the national capital. The court further directed the NCT of Delhi to file a detailed 'action taken' plan to operationalise those measures. The court is expected to examine the issue of vehicular air pollution on March 12. In January, the top court had directed the commission to convene a meeting of experts to identify major causes of the worsening air quality in the capital. In addition, the apex court had asked the commission to prepare a report on the causes of pollution based on the deliberations at the meeting. Air Quality Levels Remain Poor The matter pertains to Delhi’s ongoing air pollution crisis, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recording poor average of past 24 hours air quality levels at 239 on February 24 at 4 pm, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. The deteriorating air quality comes despite recent forecasts from the India Meteorological Department that predicted generally clear skies and rising daytime temperatures, which can sometimes help disperse airborne pollutants. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), evening and night-times mist acts to trap emissions close to the surface. IMD also predicted surface winds of 15–25 kilometres per hour on February 25 and 26 but experts cautioned that these speeds are likely insufficient to clear the stagnating pollution quickly. The daily maximum temperature in Delhi is expected to hover between 29 and 31 degrees Celsius, while minimums range from 12.4 to 13.6 degrees Celsius over the next week. Coal and Air Pollution A recent Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) study revealed that thermal power plants in the region are responsible for emitting 16 times more air pollution than stubble burning. According to a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report published in November 2023, the air pollution in Delhi-NCR is being worsened by intransigence of thermal power plants, most of which are not complying with emission control norms. "Delhi and NCR cannot meet the clean air benchmark and protect public health if the continuous sources of pollution like thermal power plants remain high emitters. These plants have not been able to meet the standards and are at varying stages of progress simply because the target dates for compliance are shifting continually,” Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, CSE, stated in the news release published by CSE.

Gurgaon to enforce two-stage checks of demolition waste before construction and occupancy

Delhi-NCR is being pushed into a system where every kilogram of construction and demolition (C&D) waste must be traceable. From April 1, anyone undertaking construction, renovation or demolition on plots of 200 sq metres or more in Gurgaon will be required to show exactly where their waste went, according to the new directions issued by Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). Demolition waste — in the biggest shift — will have to be accounted for twice, once before construction begins and once again before a building is allowed to be occupied. The long-running practice of off-loading debris onto roadsides, vacant plots or forest edges will no longer slip through the cracks. Builders and homeowners will have to declare, at the plan-approval stage, how much debris they expect to generate. A Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) official said, "If demolition is part of their project, they will be required to take the waste to an authorised C&D collection or processing facility and produce a formal receipt. This receipt will become a core document not only for starting construction but also for obtaining completion and occupation certificates. A structure may be finished, but unless this paperwork is in order, it cannot legally be occupied." These requirements place significant responsibility on govt agencies as well. To make compliance realistic, CAQM directed Gurgaon's civic and planning bodies to ensure there is at least one authorised C&D waste collection point within every 5km by 5km grid of the city. This means MCG and other development authorities must identify locations, notify them and put in place the infrastructure needed for regular collection, storage and processing. The presence of a designated drop-off facility in every grid effectively removes the excuses that historically justified dumping waste in open spaces. The directions also reshape the role of municipal bodies. They will now be responsible for ensuring that debris is transported and disposed of in an environmentally sound manner. This involves verifying transport routes, preventing trucks from diverting loads to unauthorised spots and making sure that waste actually reaches the notified facilities. "Construction and demolition dust is a year-round source of particulate pollution in cities like Gurgaon, but enforcement has been weak because responsibility is fragmented," executive director at Centre for Science and Environment Anumita Roychowdhury said, adding, "Linking waste disposal to building approvals and completion certificates is important because it creates a clear compliance trail and makes local authorities accountable, not just builders." To strengthen oversight across the NCR, the directions call for a digital tracking system built jointly by the govts of Haryana and Delhi. This system will feature geo-tagged waste-collection points and GPS-tracked vehicles carrying debris. Every trip will leave a digital trail, from the plot it originated on to the facility where it was dropped. Missing waste, route deviations or unexplained gaps in the chain can then be flagged in real time, making it difficult for anyone to dispose of debris stealthily. For a city where construction debris for years accumulated along highways, drains and the Aravali foothills, the responsibility to close these loopholes now falls squarely on civic systems. Regulation and enforcement will largely rest with HSPCB, which will be expected to monitor whether waste-collection points and processing facilities are functional, whether they are meeting environmental norms for dust suppression and run-off control and whether they are receiving and processing debris as per the rules. "We will also have the authority to act against illegal dumping, including issuing notices and imposing environmental compensation. In addition, C&D processing plants will fall under our inspection regime, requiring them to comply with air and water pollution standards," the HSPCB official said.

30 Communicators Attend Five-Day Virtual Workshop on the Linkages Between Business and Climate Change in India

Simrin Sirur of Mongabay carried on this theme on the last day of the workshop, explaining green credit rules and how a journalist could investigate them, and how greenwashing could be exposed. That was followed by a detailed presentation by Parth Kumar of the New Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment on the actual challenges being faced by steel, cement, chemicals and thermal power sectors in controlling their GHG emissions. As the impacts of climate change are increasingly felt across India, with climate-related natural disasters costing the economy an estimated US$12 billion in 2025, and an increasing number of studies highlighting key industries such as agriculture are incredibly vulnerable to climate shocks, it is clear that ‘business as usual’ no longer applies for the country’s private sector. Internews’ Earth Journalism Network’s (EJN) Business and Climate Media Initiative (BCMI) project introduced 30 communicators from across India to the interfaces between business and climate during the five-day virtual workshop held from December 8 to 12, 2025. “We have received repeated requests from communicators covering environment-related issues for support to improve their understanding of how businesses and industries are influencing climate change and are being impacted by it,” said Joydeep Gupta, EJN’s India Program Lead. “Experts took the conversation beyond numbers to the responsibilities industries have to keep their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in check, the extent to which they are carrying out these responsibilities and the world of new businesses profiting from the transition to a cleaner economy,” he said. The sessions—that lasted two hours a day—were opened by Vaibhav Chaturvedi from the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), a think tank based in New Delhi. He outlined the current state of greenhouse emissions in India, with a focus on emissions from specific industry sectors such as power generation, transportation, steel, cement and chemicals. He also spoke about the impacts of climate change on India’s gross domestic product, as the country struggles to cope with more frequent and severe droughts, floods, storms, landslides and rising seas. Neha Malhotra from the consultancy firm Nangia Anderson described in detail the mandatory climate commitments of businesses and industries in India, and the kinds of responses that are being seen. This led on to issues around the governance of India’s environment, social and governance (ESG) policy and the impending Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting framework of the Securities and Exchange Board of India. There were frank discussions on the extent to which these mandates were being followed and by whom, as well as how the media could track the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of industries too small to fall under the mandatory requirements framework. The energy transition is not just a matter of compliance for industries—it is also a huge business opportunity, especially in renewable energy, clean transportation and associated businesses. A recent CEEW study highlighted how the green transition could attract US$4.1 trillion investment by 2047 and create 48 million jobs. With this in mind, on the second day of the workshop, Jaideep Saraswat of the New Delhi-based think tank Vasudha Foundation spoke about the prospects of renewable energy and clean mobility businesses, and also about the challenges facing them, including access to finance and raw materials. This was followed by Sanjay Vashisht, head of Climate Action Network South Asia, who presented on the challenge of finding and mining the rare earths necessary for solar panels, wind turbines and batteries. One of the big problems in the move to a greener private sector is finance. This problem has only worsened with the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris climate agreement, which has meant the US government has stopped paying what it had promised to various climate funds and to developing countries. This has also led to some large investors turning away from energy and mobility transition projects. Ravi Shankar Prasad, India’s former chief negotiator at global climate talks and now with CEEW, explained the history of these negotiations on the third day of the workshop. This led to an hour-long discussion among participants—moderated by EJN’s Gupta—on financing for mitigation, the lack of financing for adaptation to climate change impacts and how this can be highlighted through media reports. Carbon markets are emerging as the most promising solution to the lack of finance. While these markets are already proliferating in India, very few journalists even know what carbon markets are, let alone how to track the integrity of individual market transactions. Saurabh Trivedi of the Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis bridged this gap on the fourth day of the workshop, with a detailed primer on what carbon markets are, the kinds of markets being followed in India, their history, whether they are mandatory or voluntary and the new markets being planned. He also explained the working of green bonds, debt-for-nature-swaps and other fixed income debt instruments in place in India. Almost all of this was new to most workshop participants, and requests to explain various facets of the presentation in more detail went on for over an hour. Simrin Sirur of Mongabay carried on this theme on the last day of the workshop, explaining green credit rules and how a journalist could investigate them, and how greenwashing could be exposed. That was followed by a detailed presentation by Parth Kumar of the New Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment on the actual challenges being faced by steel, cement, chemicals and thermal power sectors in controlling their GHG emissions. And with micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) making up a huge part of India’s private sector—with 33% of India’s GDP generated by these companies—Kumar then explained the specific problems being faced by MSMEs in controlling their emissions, especially the lack of financing and knowhow. The extent to which his message resonated among workshop participants was seen later, when many journalists submitted story ideas about the problems and prospects of GHG emission control by MSMEs.

द‍िल्‍ली-एनसीआर से लाखों लोग जाएंगे बाहर? सीजेआई सूर्यकांत के सामने आया 300 क‍िलोमीटर वाला कौन सा प्रस्‍ताव...

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट की एक रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, NCR में हजारों की संख्या में ऐसी इकाइयां हैं जो अभी भी कोयले या अवैध ईंधन का उपयोग कर रही हैं. यदि सुप्रीम कोर्ट के प्रस्ताव के तहत 300 किलोमीटर के दायरे से इन उद्योगों को हटाया या बदला जाता है, तो इससे न केवल बड़े पैमाने पर विस्थापन होगा, बल्कि लाखों कामगारों की आजीविका और स्थानीय सप्लाई चेन पर भी गहरा असर पड़ेगा. सीजेआई सूर्यकांत के सामने ऐसा प्रस्‍ताव पेश क‍िया गया है, जो अगर लागू हो गया तो द‍िल्‍ली-एनसीआर से हजारों फैक्‍टर‍ियां 300 क‍िलोमीटर दूर भेज दी जाएंगी. अगर ऐसा हुआ तो उनमें काम कर रहे 6 से 7 लाख लोगों पर भी असर होगा. दिल्ली-एनसीआर में प्रदूषण के जानलेवा स्तर से निपटने के लिए अब एक बेहद सख्त और बड़ा कदम उठाने की तैयारी शुरू हो गई है. सुप्रीम कोर्ट में सोमवार को एक ऐसा प्रस्ताव पेश किया गया, जो अगर लागू हुआ तो कोयले से चलने वाली सारी फैक्‍टर‍ियां द‍िल्‍ली-एनसीआर से बाहर कर दी जाएंगी. इतना ही नहीं, 300 क‍िलोमीटर के दायरे में कोई थर्मल पावर प्‍लांट नहीं होगा. अगर ऐसा हुआ तो इनमें काम कर रहे लाखों लोगों को वहां जाना होगा. सीजेआई सूर्यकांत की पीठ ने इस प्रस्ताव पर केंद्र सरकार के मंत्रालयों से जवाब मांगा है, जिससे साफ संकेत मिल रहे हैं कि प्रदूषण फैलाने वाली फैक्ट्रियों के दिन अब लदने वाले हैं. 300 किलोमीटर का दायरा और थर्मल पावर प्लांट पर रोक एयर क्‍वाल‍िटी मैनेजमेंट कमीशन की ओर से सुझाए गए उपायों पर सुनवाई करते हुए सीजेआई सूर्यकांत की अध्यक्षता वाली पीठ ने कई कड़े निर्देश दिए हैंः कोर्ट ने पर्यावरण मंत्रालय, पेट्रोलियम मंत्रालय और विद्युत मंत्रालय से उस सुझाव पर जवाब मांगा है, जिसमें कहा गया है कि दिल्ली के 300 किलोमीटर के दायरे में अब कोई भी नया कोयला आधारित थर्मल पावर प्लांट नहीं लगाया जाना चाहिए. उत्तर प्रदेश, हरियाणा और राजस्थान सरकार को निर्देश दिया गया है कि वे सार्वजनिक नोटिस जारी कर कोयला आधारित उद्योगों से उनके सुझाव और आपत्तियां मांगें. इन राज्यों को एक एक्‍शन टेकन प्‍लान भी जमा करना होगा. कोयले की जगह कौन सा विकल्प? अदालत ने केवल फैक्ट्रियों को हटाने की ही बात नहीं की है, बल्कि उनके भविष्य पर भी विचार करने को कहा है. सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने मंत्रालयों से एक ज्‍वाइंट प्रपोजल मांगा है. एनसीआर के उन उद्योगों की पहचान करना जो पूरी तरह कोयले पर निर्भर हैं. यह तय करना कि इन उद्योगों को कोयले के विकल्प के रूप में कौन सा अल्‍टरनेट‍िव फ्यूल दिया जा सकता है. धूल और वाहनों पर भी चलेगा हंटर कोयले के अलावा, सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने निर्माण कार्यों से उड़ने वाली धूल और वाहनों से होने वाले प्रदूषण पर भी सख्त रुख अपनाया है. 12 मार्च को होने वाली अगली सुनवाई में अदालत वाहनों से होने वाले वायु प्रदूषण के मुद्दे की विस्तार से जांच करेगी.कोर्ट ने दिल्ली सरकार को निर्देश दिया है कि वह CAQM द्वारा सुझाए गए दीर्घकालिक समाधानों को लागू करने के लिए एक ठोस एक्शन प्लान पेश करे. सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने सभी पक्षों को अपनी रिपोर्ट और प्रस्ताव जमा करने के लिए 12 मार्च तक का समय दिया है. यदि यह प्रस्ताव मंजूर हो जाता है, तो दिल्ली से 300 किलोमीटर दूर तक के औद्योगिक इलाके पूरी तरह बदल जाएंगे और कोयले का धुआं छोड़ने वाली फैक्ट्रियों को अपना बोरिया-बिस्तर समेटना होगा. क‍ितनी फैक्‍टर‍ियां और क‍ितने कामगार विभिन्न औद्योगिक रिपोर्टों और आर्थिक सर्वेक्षणों के अनुसार, दिल्ली में लगभग 25,000 से 30,000 ऐसी फैक्ट्रियां हैं जो इंडस्‍ट्र‍ियल इलाकों में चल रही हैं. जबक‍ि अनधिकृत क्षेत्रों में यह संख्या लाखों में हो सकती है. अकेले दिल्ली-NCR के कोयला आधारित और प्रदूषणकारी उद्योगों में करीब 5 से 7 लाख श्रमिक प्रत्यक्ष रूप से जुड़े हैं. सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट की एक रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, NCR में हजारों की संख्या में ऐसी इकाइयां हैं जो अभी भी कोयले या अवैध ईंधन का उपयोग कर रही हैं. यदि सुप्रीम कोर्ट के प्रस्ताव के तहत 300 किलोमीटर के दायरे से इन उद्योगों को हटाया या बदला जाता है, तो इससे न केवल बड़े पैमाने पर विस्थापन होगा, बल्कि लाखों कामगारों की आजीविका और स्थानीय सप्लाई चेन पर भी गहरा असर पड़ेगा.