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CSE Report: 100 साल में इस बार बदला है मौसम का मिजाज, हर रोज आ रही प्राकृतिक आपदाएं

भीषण गर्मी, मूसलाधार बारिश, चक्रवात और पहाड़ों पर लैंड स्लाइड... 2022 भारत के लिए लगातार कहर बनकर टूट रहा है. पिछले 9 महीने में शायद ऐसा कोई दिन हो जब देश के किसी हिस्से में कोई प्राकृतिक आपदा ना आई हो. यह जानकारी Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) की नई रिपोर्ट में सामने आई है. सीएसई की ताजा रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक देश में इस साल 1 जनवरी से 30 सितंबर तक 273 दिनों में से 242 दिनों में किसी न किसी तरह की प्राकृतिक घटनाएं दर्ज की गईं है. इनमें हीटवेव, शीत लहर, चक्रवात, बिजली, भारी वर्षा, बाढ़ और लैंड स्लाइड शामिल है. मध्य प्रदेश और हिमाचल सबसे ज्यादा प्रभावित रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक देश में साल के शुरू होने से सितंबर तक हर दूसरे दिन किसी न किसी प्राकृतिक आपदा से जुड़ी घटना की वजह से मध्य प्रदेश सबसे ज्यादा प्रभावित हुआ है. इन घटनाओं के कारण होने वाली मौतों की संख्या हिमाचल प्रदेश (359) में सबसे अधिक है. जबकि मध्य प्रदेश और असम में 301 मानव मृत्यु दर्ज़ हुई हैं. रिपोर्ट के अनुसार मध्य और उत्तर-पश्चिमी भारत में मौसम की घटनाओं के साथ सबसे अधिक ( 198 और 195 दिन) दर्ज किए गए है. अगर जानमाल के नुकसान की बात करें तो मध्य भारत 887 मौतों के साथ सूची में सबसे ऊपर है. इसके बाद पूर्व और उत्तर पूर्व भारत हैं जहां प्राकृतिक आपदाओं के कारण अबतक 783 मौतें हुई हैं. ये भी पढ़ेंः Twitter पर ब्लू टिक के लिए हर महीने देने होंगे 8 डॉलर, Elon Musk ने किया ऐलान पशु और फसलों का भी नुकसान देश में असम एक ऐसा राज्य है जहा सबसे अधिक घर टूटने और जानवरों की मौत के मामले दर्ज हुए हैं. इसके बाद दक्षिण भारत में कर्नाटक एक ऐसा राज्य है जिसे 82 दिनों तक मूसलाधार बारिश और बाढ़ के कारण भारी दिक्कतों का सामना करना पड़ा है. वहीं बात खेती की करें तो कही देर से तो कही ज़रुरत से ज़्यादा बारिश और सूखे जैसे हालातों के चलते फैसले बुरी तरह से प्रभावित हुई है. आकड़ों के मुताबिक देश में ज्यादातर हिस्सों में फसलें 50 फीसदी तक अपनी गुणवत्ता खो चुकी हैं. हालांकि प्राकृतिक हादसों में पहले स्थान पर रहने के बावजूद मध्य प्रदेश ने किसी भी फसल क्षेत्र के नुकसान आधिकारिक आकड़े दर्ज़ नहीं हुए है . CSE की पर्यावरण संसाधन इकाई के कार्यक्रम निदेशक किरण पांडे के अनुसार मध्य प्रदेश में किसी भी तरह के नुकसान के आकड़े न होने का मुख्य कारण "नुकसान और क्षति की रिपोर्टिंग में गैप के कारण हो सकता है".

India recorded extreme weather events nearly every day in first nine months in 2022: CSE report

The Centre for Science and Environment also said that 2,755 persons died during these disasters. India recorded extreme weather events on 242, or 88.6%, of the 273 days between January 1 and September 30 this year, a report by not-for-profit think tank Centre for Science and Environment said on Tuesday. The extreme weather events, as classified by the India Meteorological Department, include lightning and thunderstorm, heavy to very and extremely heavy rainfall, landslide and floods, cold waves, heat waves, cyclones, snowfall, dust and sandstorms and squalls, hailstorms and gales. Advertisement The “India 2022: An Assessment of Extreme Weather Events” report, in collaboration with Down To Earth magazine, found that these events have claimed 2,755 lives, destroyed 1.8 million hectares of crop area, damaged 4,16,667 houses and killed nearly 70,000 livestock. The researchers said that while the figure for extreme weather events was a realistic estimate, the loss and damage are undercounted. They said that media reports suggested widespread crop loss in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat during the monsoon season but the Centre’s report claimed that there have been no losses in the state. “The absence of a robust public database on extreme weather events in the country poses difficulties in the evaluation of disaster situations and their impacts,” the report said. It also showed that the highest number of human deaths were recorded in Himachal Pradesh at 359 although the most extreme weather events were reported from Madhya Pradesh which faced a disaster every second day. Madhya Pradesh and Assam reported 301 human fatalities each. Assam reported the highest number of damaged houses and animal deaths. Karnataka, which experienced extreme weather events on 82 days, accounted for over 50% of the crop area affected in the country. The report also said India recorded its seventh wettest January this year since 1901. “This March was also the warmest ever and the third driest in 121 years,” it added. “It was also the country’s third-warmest April, 11th warmest August and 8th warmest September since 1901.”

'Air pollution problem can't resolve through politics', says Kejriwal govt; asks people to WFH, share transport

The Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi on Wednesday (November 2, 2022) said that the air pollution problem cannot be resolved through "politics" and asked people of the capital to work from home (WFH) and share transport. At a press conference, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has come up with a plan, which will have to be implemented in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana too -- in Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Gurugram and Bahadurgarh. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of targeting farmers in Punjab for stubble burning because of their earlier protests against three contentious farm laws of the Centre. The BJP is blaming farmers for burning stubble because of their protests... They now want FIRs to be filed against them. They should stop abusing farmers, stop seeking revenge from them," he said. Farmers are forced to burn stubble in Punjab because the BJP-led Centre did not support the state government's plan to provide a cash incentive to them for not burning the crop residue, Rai added. Rai advised the people of the national capital to work from home and use shared transport to reduce vehicular emissions, which is a major contributor to air pollution in the capital. "The air pollution problem cannot be resolved through politics. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has come up with a plan, which will have to be implemented in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana too -- in Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Gurugram and Bahadurgarh. According to a study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), 69 per cent of the air pollution in Delhi comes from outside," he stated.

BJP targeting Punjab farmers for stubble burning because of their protests: Delhi minister Gopal Rai

According to a study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment CSE, 69 per cent of the air pollution in Delhi comes from outside, the minister said. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai accused the BJP on Wednesday of targeting farmers in Punjab for stubble burning because of their earlier protests against three contentious farm laws of the Centre. Rai also advised the people of Delhi to work from home and use shared transport to reduce vehicular emissions, a major contributor to air pollution in the capital. Farmers are forced to burn stubble in Punjab because the BJP-led Centre did not support the state government's plan to provide a cash incentive to them for not burning the crop residue, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said. ''The BJP is blaming farmers for burning stubble because of their protests.... They now want FIRs to be filed against them. They should stop abusing farmers, stop seeking revenge from them,'' Rai told a press conference here. ''The air pollution problem cannot be resolved through politics. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has come up with a plan, which will have to be implemented in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana too -- in Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Gurugram and Bahadurgarh. According to a study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), 69 per cent of the air pollution in Delhi comes from outside,'' the minister said. (This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

India saw an extreme weather event on almost 90 pc days in first 9 months this year: CSE report

India recorded an extreme weather event on almost 90 per cent of the days in the first nine months of this year, with Himachal Pradesh logging the highest number of human deaths, according to a new report. These disasters claimed 2,775 lives, affected 1.8 million hectares (ha) of crop area, destroyed over 4,16,667 houses and killed close to 70,000 livestock, stated the report, 'Extreme Weather Report 2022', released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). This estimation of loss and damage is probably an underestimate as data for each event is not collated, nor are the losses of public property or crop loss calculated, the green think tank said.

BJP must stop politicising air pollution, says Delhi environment minister

Gopal Rai alleged that the BJP was blaming farmers for air pollution because they protested against the farm laws introduced by the Centre in 2020. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party should not politicise the matter of air pollution in the National Capital. He made the statement a day after Delhi recorded its worst air pollution since December 26 last year. The city recorded a 24-hour average air quality of index of 424 at 4 pm on Tuesday, according to PTI. On December 26, the National Capital recorded an air quality index of 459. A reading of above 400 is considered to be in the “severe” category, and can affect healthy people and seriously impact those with existing illnesses. Rai said that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government should co-operate with farmers to end stubble burning, rather than abusing them. He alleged that the BJP was blaming farmers for air pollution because they protested against the farm laws introduced by the Centre in 2020. “They now want FIRs [first information reports] to be filed against them,” Rai said in a press conference. “They should stop abusing farmers, stop seeking revenge from them.” He added that farmers were forced to burn stubble in Punjab because the Centre did not support the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab in providing cash incentives to them for not burning crop residue. Rai also said that the Commission for Air Quality Management has come up with a plan, which will have to be implemented in Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Gurugram and Bahadurgarh. “According to a study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment, 69% of the air pollution in Delhi comes from outside,” the minister said. The study also found that 31% of Delhi’s pollution is generated through vehicles, and construction work in the city, he said. “We will need cooperation from the BJP governments in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to bring down the air pollution in Delhi,” Rai said.

Nearly 90% of Jan-Sept days saw extreme weather events in some part of India, says new report

According to Center for Science and Environment report, extreme weather events killed 2,755 humans & 70,000 livestock, affected 1.8 million hectares of crop area & destroyed over 416,667 houses. New Delhi: India suffered 241 extreme weather events in the first nine months of the year, translating to nearly one extreme weather event a day, according to a new report by the Center for Science and Environment, released Tuesday. The report was accompanied by the launch of an “atlas” on weather disasters. Analysing the occurrence of extreme weather events as defined by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the report found that “close to 90 per cent” of the days between 1 January and 30 September “had an extreme weather event breaking in one or more parts of the country”. These events have claimed 2,755 human lives, affected 1.8 million hectares (ha) of crop area, destroyed over 416,667 houses, and killed close to 70,000 livestock, according to the report, which added that these numbers are “probably an underestimate”. The report shared the IMD’s categorisation of extreme weather events, which included extreme heat waves, cyclones, snowfall, lightning and storms, cold waves and cold days, heavy rains, floods and landslides. Among casualties caused by extreme weather events, heavy rains, landslides and flooding were responsible for a majority of human deaths — 1,214 — followed by lightning and storms at 954. “While a realistic estimate can be made about the number of days the country recorded extreme weather events from IMD releases, major gaps remain when it comes to loss and damage assessment. The Disaster Management Division provides data as received by the states and this is mainly for the monsoon season. It does not include all extreme events as defined by IMD,” Rajit Sengupta, who has co-authored the report, told ThePrint. Sengupta added the digital “atlas”, with data about extreme weather events, would be updated every month. The report found that Madhya Pradesh experienced the highest number of days with extreme weather events (140), while Himachal Pradesh saw the highest number of human deaths from extreme weather events, at 359 deaths. Madhya Pradesh and Assam saw 301 human deaths each, the second-highest. Scientists have proven that climate change is causing an increased number of cyclones and heat waves, as well as changing patterns of precipitation in India. The CSE’s findings come at a time when low and middle-income countries across the world are demanding their high-income counterparts pay for the losses and damages arising from climate change — a topic that is likely to take centre stage at the COP27 climate summit, to be held in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh later this month.

India witnessed extreme weather in 88% of days in the last 9 months, says CSE report

India has recorded extreme weather events on 242 of the 273 days between January 1 and September 30, this year - more than 88 per cent of the days in nine months – the Centre for Science and Environment on Tuesday said in a new report that turns the spotlight back on India’s climate vulnerabilities ahead of a major UN climate summit. Compiling publicly available information, the CSE report said that 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.

India climate: 2,755 died, 1.8 m ha of cropland affected in 9 months

On the 241st day out of the 273 days between January 1 and September 30, 2022, India recorded extreme weather events. This indicates that throughout the course of these nine months, the country had an extreme weather event in one or more of its regions more than 88% of the time. Over 416,667 houses have been demolished, 2,755 people died, 1.8 million hectares of cropland were damaged, and nearly 70,000 animals perished as a result of these calamities. According to Rajit Sengupta, associate editor of Down To Earth and one of the writers of the report: “This estimation of loss and damage is probably an underestimate as data for each event – including losses of public property or crop loss — has not been collated or estimated.” This was found in a fresh analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down To Earth magazine, which was announced on Tuesday via an online event. The study offers a thorough summary of India’s experience with extreme weather across a significant portion of the year. The study also offers a thorough summary of India’s experience with extreme weather across a significant portion of the year. Madhya Pradesh, a state in Central India had the most days with extreme weather, with an occurrence occurring every other day, but Himachal Pradesh had the most fatalities, 359 in all. Each of the two states of Assam and Madhya Pradesh saw 301 fatalities. The greatest number of destroyed homes and animal fatalities were reported in Assam, a state in northeastern India. More than half of the country’s cropland was impacted by an extreme weather event that lasted 82 days in Karnataka, a state in the southwestern region of India, accounting for more than 50 per cent of the crop area affected in the country.

Extreme weather event seen on almost 90% days in first 9 months: CSE report

Himachal Pradesh logged the highest number of human deaths, according to a new report India recorded an extreme weather event on almost 90 per cent of the days in the first nine months of this year, with Himachal Pradesh logging the highest number of human deaths, according to a new report. These disasters claimed 2,775 lives, affected 1.8 million hectares (ha) of crop area, destroyed over 4,16,667 houses and killed close to 70,000 livestock, stated the report, 'Extreme Weather Report 2022', released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). This estimation of loss and damage is probably an underestimate as data for each event is not collated, nor are the losses of public property or crop loss calculated, the green think tank said. "India recorded extreme weather events on 241 of the 273 days from January 1 to September 30 this year. This means that close to 90 per cent of the first nine months of this year, India had an extreme weather event breaking in one or more parts of the country," the report read. At 140, Madhya Pradesh saw the highest number of days with extreme weather events and Himachal Pradesh logged the highest number of human deaths at 359. Madhya Pradesh and Assam saw 301 human deaths each. Delhi reported four days of extreme weather events with lightning and storms, and three human deaths due to them. The national capital also logged two days with heavy rain, 28 heatwave days and seven coldwave days. Assam reported the highest number of damaged houses and animal deaths. Karnataka, which experienced extreme weather events on 82 days during the first nine months, accounted for more than 50 per cent of the crop area affected in the country, the report said. Madhya Pradesh, according to official records, did not report any crop area damage. This could be due to gaps in loss and damage reporting. The central region reported the highest number of days with extreme weather events at 198, followed by the northwest at 195. In terms of human lives lost, the central region saw the highest number of deaths at 887, followed by the east and northeast region (783 deaths). In 2022, India recorded its seventh wettest January since 1901. This March was the warmest ever and the third driest in 121 years. It was also the country's third warmest April, eleventh warmest August and eighth warmest September since 1901. Eastern and northeastern India saw their warmest and driest July in 121 years. The region also recorded its second warmest August and fourth warmest September in 2022.

CSE releases report on extreme weather events in India

n just nine months in 2022, India witnessed some form of natural disaster almost every day, says CSE’s new report on extreme weather Damage count: 2,755 lives lost, 1.8 million hectare of crop area affected, over 400,000 houses destroyed, nearly 70,000 heads of livestock killed India 2022: An Assessment of Extreme Weather Events released by CSE and Down To Earth magazine today. Report shows how vulnerable India is – as it continues to witness “the new abnormal in a warming world” To download the new report, please visit: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change To download Down To Earth’s special edition on loss and damage, please visit: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/ Check out our special CoP27 coverage here: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/climate-change New Delhi, November 1, 2022: India recorded extreme weather events on 242 of the 273 days between January 1 and September 30, 2022. This means that more than 88 per cent of the time over these nine months, the country was witnessing an extreme weather event of some sort happening in one or more of its regions. This has emerged from a new assessment by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down To Earth magazine, released here today at an online launch event. The assessment provides a comprehensive overview of the state of extreme weather in India across a major part of the year. Along with this report, Down To Earth has also launched India’s Atlas on Weather Disasters, an online public interactive database on extreme weather events that would be updated every month. “What the country has witnessed so far in 2022 is the new abnormal in a warming world. There is a clear spike in frequency and intensity of extreme events that we are seeing,” said CSE director general Sunita Narain while releasing the report. “Our report provides season-wise, month-wise and region-wise analysis of extreme weather events and their associated loss and damage. It is an attempt to build an evidence base on the frequency and expanding geography of extreme weather events in India. This is extremely important as the data that is publicly available on this subject is fragmented and fails to provide the overall picture,” added Narain. What the report says A disaster almost every day: 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. Loss and damage under-estimated: 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. Says Rajit Sengupta, associate editor of Down To Earth and one of the writers of the report: “This estimation of loss and damage is probably an underestimate as data for each event – including losses of public property or crop loss — has not been collated or estimated.” 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. Karnataka, which experienced an extreme weather event on 82 days, accounted for more than 50 per cent of the crop area affected in the country. Madhya Pradesh, as per official records, did not report any crop area damage. Sengupta says this could be due to “gaps in loss and damage reporting”. The central and north-western regions reported the highest number of days with extreme weather events at 198 and 195, respectively. In terms of human lives lost, central India topped the list with 887 deaths, followed by the east and northeast (783 deaths). Warmest, wettest, driest: In 2022, India recorded its seventh wettest January since 1901. This March was also the warmest ever and the third driest in 121 years. It was also the country’s third warmest April, 11th warmest August and 8th warmest September since 1901. Eastern and northeastern India saw its warmest and driest July in 121 years. The region also recorded its second warmest August and fourth warmest September in 2022. In terms of the ‘nature’ of the event, all types of extreme weather have been seen in the past nine months – lightening and storms were spread over 30 states and claimed 773 lives. Every day of the three months of monsoon – from June to August – indicate heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rainfall in some parts of the country. This is why the flood devastation has not spared any region – in Assam, for instance, vast parts of the state were submerged leading to loss of lives, property and livelihoods. Heat waves claimed 45 lives, but what is not captured in the official data is the impact of the prolonged high temperatures on people’s well-being in north India – from farmers to construction workers — and how they coped with the intense and searing heat. The good news is that fatalities because of cyclones were few – only two lives were lost according to available data from cyclones that destroyed 95,066 hectare in the country. Said Narain: “This is because of the amazing work done by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on cyclone forecasting so that there is adequate warning to governments. It is also because state governments – particularly those in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal — have improved their systems of disaster management.” Definitions, sources and the assessment methodology The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines extreme weather events as those that are “rare at a particular place and time of year”. While India does not have an official definition, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its annual “Statement of Climate of India” reports, classifies lightning and thunderstorm, heavy to very and extremely heavy rainfall, landslide and floods, cold wave, heat wave, cyclones, snowfall, dust and sandstorms, squalls, hailstorms and gales as extreme weather events. The agency has defined each of these weather events under its website “Climate Hazards and Vulnerability Atlas of India”, launched in January 2022, and in its other publications. CSE’s India 2022: An Assessment of Extreme Weather Events report has sourced its data from two key Indian government sources – the IMD and the Disaster Management Division (DMD) of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. In addition, it has scanned media reports to track the events, particularly in the pre-monsoon period when official data is sketchy. The media reports have also provided further information on the extent of loss and damage. From IMD: The information on extreme weather events in the past 24 hours and forecasts and warnings are published by the IMD in its All India Weather Summary and Forecast bulletins and its daily press releases. On loss and damage due to extreme weather events, the IMD uses media reports and publishes the number of human deaths and livestock losses in its ‘Climate Summary for the Month’. From DMD: The department under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs issues ‘Situation report regarding flood/heavy rainfall in the country’ as and when the event occurs. From June 2022, the situation reports have provided the ‘Cumulative loss and damage data for the monsoon season’, which gives information on human deaths during this period because of drowning, lightning strikes, landslides etc, as well as data on damage to houses, crops and livestock. In the case of any discrepancy in the three sources – IMD, DMD and media reports — the source with the highest reported number has been considered. Also, as DMD does not provide data on crop area affected for the pre-monsoon period, CSE/DTE has sourced it from media reports (which is also used by IMD for compiling its loss and damage data). Gaps in data: Says Kiran Pandey, programme director of CSE’s Environmental Resources unit and one of the writers of the report: “While a realistic estimate can be made about the number of days the country recorded extreme weather events from the IMD releases, major gaps remain when it comes to loss and damage assessment. DMD provides data as received by the states and this is mainly for the monsoon season. It does not all include extreme events, as defined by the IMD.” CSE researchers say that the data itself is not comprehensive. For instance, media reports suggest widespread crop loss in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat during the monsoon season (June-September), but the Centre’s cumulative loss and damage report for the season claims that there have been no losses in these states. The absence of a robust public database on extreme weather events in the country poses difficulties in the evaluation of disaster situations and its impacts. Says Narain: “It is clear that now, given the intensity and frequency of these events the country no longer needs to count just the disasters; it needs credible numbers on the losses and damages.” She adds: “This is what is the watermark of climate change. It is not about a single event but about the increased frequency of the events – that what we saw as the one in 100 years extreme event has now been compressed to become one in five years or even less. Worse, it is now all coming together – each month is breaking a new record. This, in turn, is breaking the backs of the poorest who are worst impacted and are fast losing their capacities to cope with these repeated and frequent events.” Narain explains that this is the reason why the “extreme weather report card” prepared by CSE and Down To Earth is important to understand. She says: “The report speaks of the need to do much for managing these extreme events – we have to move beyond management of the disaster to reducing risks and improving resilience. This is why we need more than words to improve the systems for flood management – deliberately building drainage and water recharge systems on the one hand and investing in green spaces and forests so that these sponges of water can be revitalised for the coming storms.” She adds: “This also speaks of the need to demand reparations for the damage from the countries that have contributed to the emissions in the atmosphere and are responsible for this damage. The models that explain the impacts of climate change are clear that extreme weather events will increase in frequency and intensity. This is what we are seeing today. This report card is not good news. But it needs to be read so that we understand the revenge of nature that we are witnessing today and also understand that it will get worse tomorrow if we do not combat climate change at the scale that is needed.”–

Why air in Anand Vihar, Vivek Vihar is more polluted than Delhi avg

To be sure, Delhi’ s average AQI is yet to hit ‘severe’ level (AQI value between 401-500) this season. Delhi’s average AQI, according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s daily 4pm bulletin, was recorded at 392 (very poor).However, it plunged to 402 by 8.45pm on Monday. Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai said DPCC has identified ongoing construction work on the Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor, local dust and pollution from diesel buses plying from a bus terminus on the Uttar Pradesh side as the three key reasons for higher pollution at these locations. A look at CPCB data shows the primary pollutant at both these locations is PM 10, which generally comprises of the coarser dust particles. In the last seven days, while no average AQI for both the locations available on October 25, the average AQI on October 27 at Anand Vihar was 356 (very poor) and 287 (poor) at Vivek Vihar. For the next five days, both locations recorded ‘severe’ air, with the highest reading of 458 at Anand Vihar and 426 at Vivek Vihar, both on October 29. Anand Vihar is a transport hub, with a high concentration of vehicular emissions and road dust, and the Sahibabad industrial area and the Ghazipur landfill situated in close proximity. Vivek Vihar, located just a kilometre away, is sandwiched between the Jhilmil industrial area and the busy GT Road and Anand Vihar. “We know Anand Vihar has a pollution problem and it has consistently recorded higher than normal pollution levels as compared to the rest of Delhi over the last few years. If PM 10 is the lead pollutant, then that shows there is re-suspension of dust taking place and with high congestion and vehicular traffic, due to presence of a busy Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT),” said Professor Mukesh Khare, an air pollution expert from IIT Delhi. During a spot check on Sunday, HT found road dust to be particularly high near Anand Vihar ISBT and the railway station. Incidentally, the construction site for RRTS is also not far from the transport hub. Even though water was being sprinkled at the work site, there were no dust barriers or wind-breakers on either side, and the construction material was also not covered. While construction and demolition (C&D) activities are banned, according to Stage-III of the Graded Response Action Plan, which came into force from Saturday onwards, railway projects are exempted under this category. On Sunday, Rai said that the Delhi government plans to run a special drive in these two areas, and deploy 15 anti-smog guns. “The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has already installed seven water sprinklers and we will also engage the fire brigade to sprinkling water on roads to curb dust,” Rai said. He also requested the UP government to avoid using diesel buses and instead switch to CNG buses. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said consistent hight AQI levels at these locations were a clear indication that it was more a local problem. “With PM10 being the lead pollutant, it shows that this is a local dust problem and the AQI comes down each time it rains as the dust settles down. In the last few years, ever since Anand Vihar was identified as a pollution hot spot, unpaved roads and dust-resuspension was a problem and that will have to be addressed. For Vivek Vihar too, dust is a factor,” she said. The DPCC and CPCB in the winter of 2018 had jointly identified 13 pollution hot spots for the capital, which features both these locations. The annual PM2.5 concentration at all these sites was found to be hight Delhi’s average levels. Besides Anand Vihar and Vivek Vihar, the other 11 hot spots are Rohini, Dwarka, Okhla Phase-2, Punjabi Bagh, Wazirpur, Jahangirpuri, R.K Puram, Bawana, Mundka, Narela and Mayapuri.

Slow to get off the mark, authorities in Delhi are falling behind in pollution fight

Under stage-2 and stage-3 of GRAP, the plan calls for intensifying public transport services to take private vehicles off the roads. Even as the air quality edges closer to the ‘severe’ category in Delhi and measures under stage-3 or the ‘severe’ category of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) have been invoked, measures to control emissions from the transport sector, a large pollution source within the city, have not yet been implemented. Under stage-2 and stage-3 of GRAP, the plan calls for intensifying public transport services to take private vehicles off the roads. A measure to be implemented under stage-2 of the GRAP, which was invoked on October 19, was augmenting CNG or electric bus and Metro services “by procuring additional fleet and increasing the frequency of service”. Stage-2 also lists enhancing parking fees as a measure to discourage use of private vehicles. Stage-3 of GRAP, invoked on October 29, also mentions further intensification of public transport services and differential rates to encourage off-peak travel. It also suggests an additional action that State governments can consider — restrictions on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four wheelers. None of these transport-related measures are in place yet, 12 days after GRAP stage-2 and two days after stage-3 were invoked by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). Asked about intensifying Metro services, a statement issued by Anuj Dayal, Principal Executive Director, Corporate Communications, DMRC, said: “Delhi metro will run 37 additional train trips on weekdays across its network. This has been planned to intensify the use of public transport among passengers across Delhi-NCR. Usually, more than 4,000 trips are performed by Delhi metro trains every day.” Asked when the additional trains would begin to ply, an official said they would begin soon. A spokesperson for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) said that parking fees have not yet been enhanced by the MCD. “The committee which is to take a decision in this regard is yet to meet. Maybe in a day or two, they will come up with a decision,” the spokesperson said. MCD polls in the capital are scheduled for December. On intensifying public transport services, Transport Commissioner Ashish Kundra, said, “As of now, it is to augment public transport. We had issued a public notice about a week ago inviting transporters to register their buses with DTC. About 300-odd buses have already registered which we’ll ramp up. They are not plying yet. We’ll have to take a composite view on how many to hire based on last years’ experience, and at what rates to hire. It will also require the approval of the competent authority, which is the Cabinet in this case. For now, we are doing the groundwork.” Last year, the Transport Department had issued a notice for up to 1,000 additional buses, and the number that was in operation was around 500 to 700. Kundra added: “Restrictions on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles are for when it (AQI) reaches the ‘severe’ category. It is ‘very poor’ right now and the prediction for the next three days is also ‘very poor’. We have to look at various aspects in the sense of how to implement it. Implementation is also an issue. We’ll have to work out a strategy on how to do it, but as of now, that stage has not arrived.” A meeting will be held soon with DMRC and DTC on augmenting public transport services, Kundra said. ufran Beig, founder project director, SAFAR, said, “Out of local sources, transport emissions are the single largest source of PM 2.5, around 40% of annual average PM 2.5 levels, as per 2018 data from the SAFAR emissions inventory. So far, a lot of effort has been made to deal with dust. Control measures we are hearing of are for dust from construction activity, sprinkling of water. This will control PM 10, which is less dangerous compared to PM 2.5 When PM 2.5 concentration is in the ‘very poor’ or ‘severe’ category, which should target the more lethal pollutant based on its emission contribution… which is first the transport sector.” Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said transport-related measures are one of the “weakest points” while implementing GRAP in the city. “This shows how inadequate public transport systems, infrastructure for walking and cycling, and last-mile connectivity are in the city. Because of that infrastructure deficiency, they can’t enforce transport-related measures. We don’t have any measures to restrain use of personal vehicles. Without touching transport and vehicles, it will be tough to arrest the trend (of pollution),” she said.

Think tank to govt: Bring warning labels for processed food consumed by kids

The recommendations have been endorsed by 24 organisations and institutions, including the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). NEW DELHI: The Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi), a national think-tank on nutrition consisting of independent medical experts, paediatricians and nutritionists, has urged the government to bring warning labels on all ultra-processed foods (UPFs) consumed by children to check rising obesity and non-communicable diseases. Advertisement Ads by One of the critical recommendations of NAPi is that the warning labels should have 'symbols' or ‘high in’ or ‘excess of’ nutrient of concern warnings and should be made mandatory in the draft regulation of Labelling and Display and not the Health Star rating. Based on scientific evidence that increased consumption of UPFs is associated with high risks of non-communicable diseases, like diabetes, heart problems and cancer, the experts said marketing unhealthy foods and drinks targeting children should be immediately stopped through legislation. “Government should lead a comprehensive public campaign through health systems, on which foods are safe to eat and which are not,” the recommendations said. They have suggested that their recommendations should be included in the Food and Safety Standards (Labelling and Display) Amendments Regulations 2022 relating to Front of Pack Nutritional Labelling (FOPNL) and high fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS). The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is working towards FOPL and the NITI Aayog is considering policy measures in this regard, including introducing higher taxation and restriction on marketing of unhealthy foods to reduce the consumption of unhealthy foods, the joint statement added. The think-tank also suggested that once the notification on FOPL on unhealthy food/drink is finalised, a maximum of 12 to 18 months may be given to the food industry to comply with. The recommendations have been endorsed by 24 organisations and institutions, including the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) and Diabetes India. Highlighting that India is facing a public health crisis of rising obesity, diabetes, cancers, hypertension, cardiac diseases, renal disease and mental health, NAPi said it is estimated that nearly 5.8 million people die from NCDs every year out of total deaths of about nine million, contributing to about 60 percent of annual deaths. Citing an analysis, they said that high consumption of UPF increased death risk by 29 percent. “The consumption of unhealthy food and drink products is rapidly rising in India. These industrially processed packaged food products are usually high in sugar, salt, or saturated fats, which are detrimental to health,” the joint statement said. “11 Artificial sweeteners (particularly aspartame and acesulfame-K), commonly used in several food products, are linked to an increased cancer risk,” they added. FOPL is a simple, inexpensive, practical and effective tool to inform consumers about the public health implications of the food they purchase. Currently in use are nutrient warning labels, colour-coded traffic lights, Nutri-Score, Health Star Ratings (HSR), and Guidelines for Daily Allowance (GDA). Studies suggest that consumers spend as little as ten seconds in selecting food items; therefore, a label that would quickly and effectively lead to the ability of the consumer to identify unhealthy products would be the need of the hour, they added. Several countries in Latin America, such as Chile, Mexico, Uruguay, Brazil, Peru and Israel, have accepted the use of warning labels as FOPL, demonstrating a change in consumption and outcomes, NAPI said, adding that government should lead a comprehensive public campaign through health systems, on which foods are safe to eat and which are not. Snippets Nearly 5.8 million people die from Non Communicable Diseases every year out of total deaths of about nine million, contributing to about 60 percent of annual deaths. High consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) increased death risk by 29 per cent Include Front-of-Pack Warning Labels on such food products Introduce warning labels ‘in ‘symbols’ or as ‘high in’ or ‘excess of’ Marketing unhealthy foods and drinks targeting children should be immediately stopped through legislation Many countries have introduced Front of Pack Nutritional Labelling FOPL is a simple, inexpensive, practical and effective tool to inform consumers about public health implications of the food they buy Studies suggest consumers spend as little as ten seconds to select food items NCDs can be curtailed by reducing the consumption of unhealthy food products and drinks

The caste of wheels

The road hierarchy prioritises cars, followed by two-wheelers, and bicycles and pedestrians are pushed to the brink, literally A few summers ago, my brother met with an accident. He was thrown off the road by a speeding car while going to work. Though he got away with only a few bruises, it rattled us all quite a bit. Being a journalist, he would regularly cycle back home after the graveyard shift on a road that would turn into a highway by night with ominous-looking trucks zooming past. “I love cycling. This is something I have been doing since childhood, but the whole pleasure is taken away by the stress of reaching home safely. The lack of dedicated cycling tracks makes it scary to cycle on city roads,” he rues. The problem is the attitude of road users towards cyclists. They act as if they are doing cyclists a favour by letting them exist in the same space as their cars. We need a strong government policy to encourage people to cycle short distances,” says Sunita Narian, DG, Centre for Science and Environment. She herself got a taste of the apathy when she had to be hospitalised after being hit by a car while cycling on a Delhi road. A caste system of sorts seems to play out on the roads. The road hierarchy prioritises cars, followed by two-wheelers, and bicycles and pedestrians are pushed to the brink, literally.