• Urban Lab

Anand Vihar smog tower: Just 17 pc reduction in PM2.5 pollution in 100-metre radius

The 82-feet-high smog tower at Anand Vihar reduced PM2.5 concentration by up to 17 per cent in a radius of 100 metres in the 2021-22 winter season, according to Central Pollution Control Board data. Replying to an RTI query filed by social activist Amit Gupta, the CPCB said the smog tower reduced PM10 pollution levels by up to 27 per cent at a distance of 100 metres during the period. Avikal Somvanshi, senior programme manager, Urban Lab, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), termed the results “insignificant”, saying it seems the giant air purifier did not lead to any improvement in air quality beyond 200 metres. The CPCB data showed the smog tower reduced PM2.5 levels at a distance of 100 metres by 13 per cent in December last year, 7 per cent in March this year and 17 per cent in April. The data pertaining to the decrease in PM2.5 levels at 100 metres for November, January and February was not available. In a radius of 50 metres, the PM2.5 concentration dropped by 39 per cent in November, 24 per cent in December, 22 per cent in January, 10 per cent in March and 23 per cent in April. The data for February and May was not available. PM2.5 are fine particles that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter and can travel deep into the respiratory tract, reaching the lungs and entering the bloodstream. Inaugurated in September last year, the smog tower brought the PM10 levels (at 100 metres) down by 27 per cent in December, 16 per cent in March, 23 per cent in April and 15 per cent in May. The CPCB could not share data for November, January and February. At a distance of 50 metres, the PM10 concentration reduced by 50 per cent in November, 41 per cent in December, 26 per cent in January, 21 per cent in March, 32 per cent in April and 13 per cent in May. “During winter, the monthly average of (PM10) at Anand Vihar is usually above 200 micrograms per cubic metre. The CPCB standard is 60 micrograms per cubic metre and the WHO standard is 15 micrograms per cubic metre. So, at least 70 per cent reduction is needed to meet the CPCB standard and over 90 per cent to meet the WHO norms,” Somvanshi said. In 2019, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre to construct a smog tower at Anand Vihar and the Delhi government to install another at Connaught Place. Tata Projects Limited built the two smog towers. IIT-Bombay and IIT-Delhi have been tasked with analysing their data. The Anand Vihar smog tower was constructed at a cost of 13.59 crore. The smog tower has 40 fans and 5,000 filters developed by experts at University of Minnesota which also helped design a 100-metre-high smog tower in Xian, China. It is based on a downdraft airflow model. Its 40 huge fans suck air from the top of a special type of canopy structure and release clean air below. The smog tower will be used experimentally for two years. Based on the results, the government will take a call on replicating the project in other parts of the city.

• Urban Lab

Smog tower in Anand Vihar brought pollution down by only 17%: Report

The 82-feet tall tower reduced PM2.5 pollutants by 13% in December 2021, 7% in March, and 17% in April The smog tower at Anand Vihar, inaugurated in September 2021 by the Delhi government, to clear the air in a radius of 200 metres could only bring down the PM2.5 level by 17 per cent, that too in the 100-metre radius, a report by the Times of India (TOI) stated. The tower reduced PM2.5 pollutants by 13 per cent in December 2021, 7 per cent in March, and 17 per cent in April. The data for November, January and February for the 100-metre radius was not provided by the authorities, the report added. In the 50-metre radius, the tower was more effective. In November 2021, it reduced the pollutant level by 39 per cent, in December 2021 by 22-24 per cent, in January by 22 per cent, in March by 10 per cent and in April by 23 per cent. The tower was installed at a cost of Rs 13.6 crore with an additional cost of Rs 10.3 lakh per month. In 2022, the per-month cost is likely to go up to Rs 12.6 lakh per month. Experts stated that the funds spent were not worth the result. "It’s not good at all. If within 100 metres of the tower, just 17 per cent of the PM2.5 particles are reduced in March and 13 per cent in December, this shows underperformance," Avikal Somvanshi, senior programme manager (Urban Lab), Centre for Science and Environment told TOI. The towers were constructed after the Supreme Court ordered the state government to do that in 2019. In the initial two years, the towers are to be monitored. If their efficiency is established, more such towers will be erected in the capital city. "Delhi government has collected green cess of approximately Rs 100 crore till now and it could be used to put up more such towers, especially at the pollution hotspots in the city," Amit Gupta, the RTI activist who found out the data told TOI.

• Industrial Pollution

Delhi anti-pollution drive good but could have been better — experts say how

With bad air days back in Delhi, the government already has plans in action. Recently, the Delhi government launched a 15-point action to curb air pollution. These are being implemented alongside the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), that would be executed across the National Capital Region (NCR) as well. There are 24 measures under Stage 1 of GRAP. But the question is — will these multi-pointer measures indeed help in mitigating air pollution levels with the festive season kicking in? CNBCTV-18.com spoke with some environment experts to weigh in on the effectiveness of the revised action plan laid out by the Delhi government. While one called for an annual plan for long-term behavioural changes, another rued that there was no implementational thought process behind it. The lack of benchmark of the exact timeframe and quantity of pollution reduction was also pointed out. 'Lack of synergy’ Parth Kumar, Programme Manager at Industrial Pollution Unit at Delhi's Centre for Science and Environment, emphasised the need for synergy between Delhi and its neighbouring states when it comes to stubble burning and vehicular movement. "There's a lack of synergy among neighbouring states. The Delhi government, NCR state governments and the commission of air quality need to be on the same page as stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is the major cause of pollution in Delhi. Use of bio-decomposer is good but..' "We first have to study how much land there is for stubble burning and how much land will be covered by this bio-decomposer" to estimate how effective the bio-decomposer will be against air pollution, said Aditya Sharma, a research engineer. Meanwhile, environment consultant Birendra Rajan said a bio-decomposer is a good initiative but it should be sufficiently mobile and time-efficient as farmers have very little time for burning the agricultural waste before going for the next plantation cycle. Bio-decomposers are microbial solutions which, their manufacturers claim, can turn stubble into manure in 15-20 days and prevent farm fires. According to news agency PTI, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) said the results of the trials of bio-decomposers conducted in the state last year are not "very encouraging." However, the Delhi government hailed the Pusa bio-decomposer as a cost-effective solution to the problem of stubble burning. Ensure less vehicles on roads' Experts said the primary focus should be the road dust as it can re-suspend into the air, forming layers in the environment. Therefore, both Parth Kumar and Birendra Rajan said the focus should be on reducing vehicular loads on the roads. Rajan said roads in heavy traffic areas must be cleaned twice a day. "Road dust pollution is a major source," he said, emphasising that pollution is not only due to petrol and diesel vehicles. Meanwhile, the Delhi government said it will deploy 80 road sweeping and 521 water sprinkling machines to curb pollution emerging from roads. It added that alternative routes will be suggested to divert traffic from roads with heavy traffic. Free transportation was another suggestion given by an expert. "Why can't they make public transportation free and subsidise it during this period...Traffic is a major source of pollution. We could have staggered timings. There are no proper feeder services to metros. Public transport should strengthen as much," Kumar said. Meanwhile, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has encouraged offices to start unified commutes for employees to reduce traffic on road. Illegal construction Authorities will ensure dust control at construction sites, but what about the illegal construction work, asked experts. "How will they monitor dust from illegal construction sites," Kumar wondered, pointing at the discrepancies in the usage of anti-smog guns. 'Monitoring is good, but micro-monitoring will be better' Kumar said, "We need to have micro-level monitoring systems... every small region should have air quality monitoring stations... they (authorities) can also go for smart monitors." The Delhi government has already proposed a real-time source apportionment system which will help identify the sources of air pollution in real-time. On this, Kumar said, "The question is where these monitors are placed? They need to have a more dense network of monitoring stations." Annual plan needed for behavioural changes Kumar argued that an annual plan should also be there to inculcate behavioural changes among people. He said air pollution is there throughout the year and only the meteorology changes with time, because of which "we are able to feel it more." He said every plan should be an annual plan. "Plans like GRAP can come for certain months, but there are plans of afforestation, green war room... If these plans are not run throughout the year, we won't see anything happening on the ground within a month," he said. He added that people's behaviour "will only change if there's a continuous permanent thing in place." The green war room will comprise nine experts who will analyse data and prepare a future course of action. 'Benchmarking is important' Rajdeep Pandey said targeted planning is important when asked what should have been included in the Delhi government's action plan. "In this action plan, no benchmark has been set" as to how much pollution must be reduced and in what timeframe. 'Focus on renewable energy lacking' Shining the torch on "indirect emission," Pandey batted for the use of renewable energy to produce electricity. "Bio-mass will cause emission, but that emission will be comparatively less than the coal. That will help, but if we promote renewable energy, it will bring much better results," he said. Besides this, Kumar pointed to some "illegal industries," where coal is still used for generating electricity. However, the government has claimed that "Delhi is a modern state which does not have any coal-run thermal power plant." Create awareness Birendra Rajan said awareness must be created among Delhiites to ensure that these measures are followed. "They must be told that turning off the engine at red lights is also important to curb air pollution," he said. As per the government, as many as 3,500 ‘paryavaran mitras’ will raise awareness about environmental protection and urge people to become ‘paryavaran mitras’ by giving a missed call on 8448441758. All eyes are now set on the effectiveness and implementation of the government's action plan, with air quality in parts of Delhi already in the ‘poor’ category, and expected to worsen in the days ahead.

• Solid Waste Management and Circular Economy

The ban on single-use plastics in India has been a failure for three months

The ban on single-use plastics in India has been a failure for three months Straws and cutlery made from banned plastic were found in Mumbai and Delhi. Several experts have criticized the ban, saying it is weak and should include big companies, which produce more plastic, and more plastic items. Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru: Three months after bans on specific single-use plastic goods were enacted in India to combat plastic waste, a report discovered that items were still widely available in Delhi and Mumbai. While retailers lamented the lack of alternatives to these plastic items, experts contend that the prohibition unfairly punishes the most disadvantaged while giving international firms free rein. India is the world’s fifth-largest producer of plastic garbage. In his Independence Day address in 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the populace to eliminate India of single-use plastic. India has outlawed single-use plastic products including plastic straws that are widely strewn yet have no practical purpose as of July 1, 2022. The restriction is intended to reduce plastic pollution since single-use plastic is bad for both land and marine ecosystems. Little had changed on the ground as of October 1—three months after the ban went into place. In markets, restaurants, and other public spaces in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, IndiaSpend discovered several goods made of prohibited plastic being sold. Vendors asserted that there have been neither sanctions taken against users of these items nor warnings to discontinue using them and that these products are still readily accessible at wholesale prices. The ban has drawn criticism for covering too little of the entire amount of plastic garbage when it was first enacted. Experts also point out that India hasn’t even completely outlawed single-use plastic. They contend that the prohibition unfairly targets the smallest sector of the plastics business, which is also the one that requires the most assistance in making the switch away from single-use plastic. According to experts, India needs to hold the major actors responsible for their proportion of plastic pollution. IndiaSpend a media company contacted the Central Pollution Control Board and the Union Environment Ministry with inquiries on the ban’s inadequate conceptualization and implementation as well as with issues expressed by suppliers, manufacturers, and industry professionals. According to a study conducted by scientists from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and other institutions between 1950, when large-scale production started, and 2015, the globe created around 8.3 billion metric tonnes of plastic. 80 per cent of this—6.3 billion metric tonnes—is made up of plastic garbage. Just 9% of this plastic garbage has been recycled, on average. Most plastic garbage has been dumped in landfills or the world’s seas and other bodies of water. There is widespread consensus that the plastic pollution issue must be addressed, and India was the driving force behind a resolution addressing single-use plastic pollution at the 2019 Fourth United Nations Environment Assembly. In August 2021, India announced the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, and the ban was implemented a year later. From July 1, 2022, India will outlaw the following single-use plastic products: stirrers, straws, trays, wrapping or packing film around sweet boxes, invitation cards, cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron, and plastic sticks for balloons, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, and polystyrene (thermocol) for decoration. It will also outlaw plastic plates, cups, and glasses. Carry bags thinner than 75 microns are currently prohibited, and bags up to 120 microns will follow suit as of December 31, 2022. Plastic sachets that are used to store, package, or sell gutkha, tobacco, or pan masala are also totally prohibited. Plastic was produced in millions of tons Information reported by 35 states and Union territories indicates that India produced close to 3.5 million tonnes of plastic in 2020–21. After Tamil Nadu (12%) and Punjab (12%), Maharashtra makes up 13% of this. At 1.56 million tonnes per year, India’s recycling capability is just half as large as the entire amount of plastic produced. To fulfil their Extended Producer Responsibility, brands must recycle about 800,000 tonnes annually (EPR). The now-banned single-use plastic makes up a very small portion of the overall amount of plastic produced—between 2 and 3 per cent, to be exact. Therefore, even if the ban had been successful, it would have had little effect on the production of plastic garbage. But the truth is that the prohibition hasn’t even performed halfway well. A review of complaints made by residents against single-use plastic on the CPCB’s smartphone application “SUP-CPCB” reveals that several southern Indian cities received relatively few complaints. Delhi received the most complaints, 605, of which only 378 have been resolved as of September 27, 2022. There were 168 complaints in Ghaziabad. The majority of complaints (138) in Pune were cutlery, and 46 of those were resolved. In addition, Vadodara received 133 complaints in total, just 43 of which were answered, including 67 concerns regarding plastic cutlery. Based on information from the app dashboard, some Indian towns like Lucknow (106), Hisar (64), and Bijapur (63) had not responded to even one complaint sent through the app. On September 21, IndiaSpend complained via this app about a plastic straw in Mumbai, and the complaint is still displayed as “pending.”

• Urban Lab

Pollution in Delhi: 100 मीटर के दायरे में महज 17 पर्सेंट प्रदूषण कम कर पाया स्मॉग टावर

प्रदूषण कम करने के लिए आनंद विहार में लगाए गए 82 फीट ऊंचे स्मॉग टावर से 100 मीटर के दायरे में पीएम 2.5 के स्तर में महज 17 प्रतिशत की कमी आई। सीपीसीबी (सेंट्रल पल्यूशन कंट्रोल बोर्ड) के अनुसार 2021-22 के दौरान सर्दियों में यह कमी दर्ज की गई। पर्यावरण एक्टिविस्ट अमित गुप्ता की आरटीआई पर सीपीसीबी ने जवाब दिया है। सीएसई (सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट) के सीनियर प्रोग्राम मैनेजर अविकल सोमवंशी के अनुसार स्मॉग टावर अधिक प्रभावी नहीं है। इतना बड़ा प्यूरिफायर 200 मीटर के दायरे में भी बहुत अधिक सुधार नहीं कर पा रहा है। सीपीसीबी के डेटा के अनुसार स्मॉग टावर की वजह से पिछले साल दिसंबर में इसके 100 मीटर दायरे में पीएम 10 का स्तर 13 प्रतिशत कम हुआ। इस साल मार्च में इसकी मात्रा 7 प्रतिशत कम रही। अप्रैल में यह स्तर 17 प्रतिशत तक कम हुआ। पीएम 2.5 के स्तर में नवंबर 2021, जनवरी और फरवरी 2022 में कितनी कमी आई, इसका डेटा उपलब्ध नहीं है। आरटीआई के अनुसार नवंबर 2021 में 50 मीटर के दायरे में पीएम 2.5 के स्तर में 39 प्रतिशत, दिसंबर में 24 प्रतिशत, जनवरी 2022 में 22 प्रतिशत, मार्च में 10 प्रतिशत और अप्रैल में 23 प्रतिशत की कमी आई। फरवरी और मई का डेटा उपलब्ध नहीं हैं। पिछले साल सितंबर में स्मॉग टावर लगाया गया था। 2019 में सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने केंद्र को आनंद विहार में स्मॉग टावर लगाने और दिल्ली सरकार को कनॉट प्लेस में स्मॉग टावर लगाने को कहा था। ट्रायल बेस पर लगे इन स्मॉग टावर के नतीजे पर यह तय होना है कि राजधानी में स्मॉग टावर से प्रदूषण कम किया जा सकता है या नहीं। आनंद विहार के स्मॉग टावर में 13.59 करोड़ रुपये की लागत आई है।

• Urban Lab

Smog tower in Anand Vihar brought pollution down by only 17%: Report

The smog tower at Anand Vihar, inaugurated in September 2021 by the Delhi government, to clear the air in a radius of 200 metres could only bring down the PM2.5 level by 17 per cent, that too in the 100-metre radius, a report by the Times of India (TOI) stated. The tower reduced PM2.5 pollutants by 13 per cent in December 2021, 7 per cent in March, and 17 per cent in April. The data for November, January and February for the 100-metre radius was not provided by the authorities, the report added. In the 50-metre radius, the tower was more effective. In November 2021, it reduced the pollutant level by 39 per cent, in December 2021 by 22-24 per cent, in January by 22 per cent, in March by 10 per cent and in April by 23 per cent. The tower was installed at a cost of Rs 13.6 crore with an additional cost of Rs 10.3 lakh per month. In 2022, the per-month cost is likely to go up to Rs 12.6 lakh per month. Experts stated that the funds spent were not worth the result. “It’s not good at all. If within 100 metres of the tower, just 17 per cent of the PM2.5 particles are reduced in March and 13 per cent in December, this shows underperformance,” Avikal Somvanshi, senior programme manager (Urban Lab), Centre for Science and Environment told TOI. The towers were constructed after the Supreme Court ordered the state government to do that in 2019. In the initial two years, the towers are to be monitored. If their efficiency is established, more such towers will be erected in the capital city. “Delhi government has collected green cess of approximately Rs 100 crore till now and it could be used to put up more such towers, especially at the pollution hotspots in the city,” Amit Gupta, the RTI activist who found out the data told TOI.

• Urban Lab

Smog tower in Anand Vihar lowered air pollution by solely 17%: Report

The tower at Anand Vihar was inaugurated in September 2021 by Delhi A Occasions of India (TOI) report stated that the federal government can convey down the extent of PM2.5 to 17 per cent solely to scrub the air inside a radius of 200 metres, that too inside 100 metres. The tower lowered PM2.5 pollution by 13 % in December 2021, 7 % in March and 17 % in April. The report stated the information for November, January and February for the 100-metre radius was not offered by the authorities. Inside a radius of fifty meters, the tower was more practical. It lowered pollutant ranges by 39 per cent in November 2021, 22-24 per cent in December 2021, 22 per cent in January, 10 per cent in March and 23 per cent in April. The tower was put in at a price of Rs 13.6 crore with a further value of Rs 10.3 lakh per thirty days. In 2022, the fee per thirty days is more likely to go as much as Rs 12.6 lakh per thirty days. Specialists stated that the cash spent was not definitely worth the consequence. “It’s not good in any respect. If inside 100 meters of the tower, solely 17 per cent of PM2.5 particles are lowered in March and 13 per cent in December, it exhibits poor efficiency,” says Avikal Somvanshi. , Senior Program Supervisor (City Lab), Science Middle and setting Instructed TOI. The towers have been constructed after Supreme court docket Ordered the state authorities to take action in 2019. The towers are to be monitored for the primary two years. If their effectivity is established, extra such towers shall be put in within the capital. ,Delhi The federal government has collected inexperienced cess of round Rs 100 crore thus far and it may be used to put in extra such towers, particularly in pollution-prone areas within the metropolis,” stated RTI activist Amit Gupta, who traced the information. , instructed TOI.

• Urban Lab

Smog tower in Anand Vihar brought pollution down by only 17%: Report

The smog tower at Anand Vihar, inaugurated in September 2021 by the Delhi government, to clear the air in a radius of 200 metres could only bring down the PM2.5 level by 17 per cent, that too in the 100-metre radius, a report by the Times of India (TOI) stated. The tower reduced PM2.5 pollutants by 13 per cent in December 2021, 7 per cent in March, and 17 per cent in April. The data for November, January and February for the 100-metre radius was not provided by the authorities, the report added. In the 50-metre radius, the tower was more effective. In November 2021, it reduced the pollutant level by 39 per cent, in December 2021 by 22-24 per cent, in January by 22 per cent, in March by 10 per cent and in April by 23 per cent. The tower was installed at a cost of Rs 13.6 crore with an additional cost of Rs 10.3 lakh per month. In 2022, the per-month cost is likely to go up to Rs 12.6 lakh per month. Experts stated that the funds spent were not worth the result. “It’s not good at all. If within 100 metres of the tower, just 17 per cent of the PM2.5 particles are reduced in March and 13 per cent in December, this shows underperformance,” Avikal Somvanshi, senior programme manager (Urban Lab), Centre for Science and Environment told TOI. The towers were constructed after the Supreme Court ordered the state government to do that in 2019. In the initial two years, the towers are to be monitored. If their efficiency is established, more such towers will be erected in the capital city. “Delhi government has collected green cess of approximately Rs 100 crore till now and it could be used to put up more such towers, especially at the pollution hotspots in the city,” Amit Gupta, the RTI activist who found out the data told TOI.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Rai launches Green War Room to monitor, combat air pollution 24X7

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Monday launched an advanced ‘Green War Room’ here to monitor air pollution and ensure effective implementation of the winter action plan to curb it. The war room will work from the seventh floor of the Delhi Secretariat where a 12-member team comprising environment scientists and other officials will be deployed, the minister said while addressing a press conference here. He said environment scientist Dr BMS Reddy will be in-charge of the war room while environment engineer NK Joshi has been appointed as assistant in-charge. “We have launched an advanced ‘Green War Room’ from today and it will work round the clock. “It will monitor air pollution levels 24X7 and ensure that all necessary measures are taken to curb pollution in accordance with the amended GRAP. The war room will also analyse pollution data of the city,” Rai said. Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a set of anti-air pollution measures followed in the capital and its vicinity according to the severity of the situation. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had on Friday announced a 15-point winter action plan to combat pollution in the city. Under the plan, the GRAP has been enforced in Delhi from October 1. Rai said the war room will also be linked with Green Delhi App through which residents can send their complaints regarding pollution, such as garbage burning, to the war room. Necessary instructions to concerned departments will then be issued to address the issue, he said. The minister said the app has received 54,156 complaints so far. “Out of 54,156 complaints, nearly 90 per cent have been addressed. Maximum 32,573 complaints were related to MCD followed by PWD which had 9,118 complaints and 3,333 complaints were related to DDA,” Rai said. The minister cited a report from Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and said despite the increase in population, Delhi government’s efforts to curb pollution have achieved success as in the past 10 years, PM10 levels fell by 40 per cent and PM2.5 by 31 per cent. “In 2012, the PM10 levels of Delhi were averaged out at 368. In 2021, through the succinct efforts of CM Arvind Kejriwal and his government, the PM10 levels have fallen to 221. PM2.5 was at 164 in 2012 while in 2021 it was 113. PM10 has fallen by 40 per cent in the last 10 years while PM2.5 has been reduced by 31 per cent in the last decade,” Rai said citing the CSE report. The minister said from October 6, an anti-dust campaign will be launched in Delhi to check dust pollution especially at construction sites. He urged people to report every single instance of dust pollution or garbage burning on the Green Delhi App. (PTI)

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Air We Breathe | Why does Delhi's AQI take a turn for the worse in October?

From recording one of its cleanest spells of the year in September, Delhi’s air quality takes a turn for the worse in October, with the air quality index (AQI) quickly touching the ‘very poor’ or even the ‘severe’ category by the end of the month. While several external factors come into play as soon as the calendar switches over to October 1, a majority of these commence when the monsoon starts to withdraw from the region, putting in place conditions that are favourable for stubble burning. At the same time, north-westerly winds that transport these emissions generated from stubble burning to Delhi and a transition period where wind speeds drop considerably, along with a steady dip in temperature are factors working in tandem, gradually pushing Delhi’s AQI to the ‘poor’ category and beyond. If the average AQI between any two consecutive months was compared, the sharpest swing in average AQI occurs between September and October each year. This year too, Delhi is already beginning to see the same, with the impact of the withdrawal of the monsoon already pushing Delhi’s AQI to the higher end of the ‘moderate’ category, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data shows. The withdrawal of the southwest monsoon from Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir was officially declared by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on September 29, with the moisture-laden winds quickly switching to dry north-westerly winds, of which dust and PM 10 is a key component. Delhi recorded its cleanest spell of the year between September 23 and 25, recording an average 24-hour AQI of 57 (satisfactory) on September 23, an AQI of 54 (satisfactory) on September 24 and this year’s lowest AQI of 52 (satisfactory) on September 25. However, the AQI is currently over three times that number, with it hovering around 190 (moderate), which is on the edge of the ‘poor’ category. Monsoon withdrawal puts in place a ‘transition’ phase While background emissions largely remain the same in September and the start of October, a key factor which changes is the transition of easterly winds that bring moisture — to dry north-westerly winds. However, this transition does not happen automatically, with a week-long or even a 10-day period, where a change in wind direction is simultaneously met with a period where local winds become extremely calm. This means pollutants being generated in the city are not able to disperse easily, creating a chamber for local emissions to gradually start to accumulate. “Easterly winds are largely responsible for bringing rain, while north-westerly winds are dry, and the transition signifies the start of the winter season. Since these winds blow from northwest India, the impact of snowfall in the higher reaches is reflected through it and the plains start to see a drop in temperature too. During the withdrawal period, the transition phase, which the NCR region is currently seeing, sees local pollutants start to accumulate as wind speed is calm,” explains RK Jenamani, a scientist at IMD. It is only towards the second half of October that wind speeds start to pick up pace, with the monsoon withdrawal process coming to an end. While this is good to disperse local pollutants and the emissions accumulating over Delhi, it also means long-range transport of emissions, most notably stubble-related emissions, starts reaching the capital. Stubble emissions can be as high as half of all local emissions While farmers in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh can start burning paddy stubble from September 15 onwards, a majority commence it at the start of October, with it gathering pace from October 15 onwards. This leads to an intense one-month period between October 15 and November 15, where the daily fire count can reach upwards of 5,000 fires. As per data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (Safar), stubble emissions on average contributed to 14.6% of Delhi’s overall PM 2.5 concentration last winter, with the daily contribution peaking at 48% on November 7. The highest contribution of stubble burning to PM2.5 in Delhi for a single day was 46% in the year 2020, 43% in 2019 and as high as 58% in 2018, Safar data shows. Gufran Beig, founder, project-director at Safar says while the impact of stubble burning on Delhi at present is negligible, owing to the ‘transition’ phase, however, wind speeds will pick up pace, with stubble burning expected to contribute in some form to Delhi’s AQI from mid-October. “Long-range transport of stubble emissions may start from October 10 onwards and the fire count is now starting to gather pace. When the fire count is fairly high and the intensity of fires is strong, these emissions can travel a fairly long distance and end up reaching Delhi, as long as the upper-level winds are strong. Even winds of 10-15 km/hr can bring the impact of paddy burning to Delhi,” says Beig. Satellite data shows stubble emissions can travel all the way across the Indo-Gangetic Plains. However, the pollutants start to disperse after a few hundred kilometres and generally lose their potency after crossing Delhi-NCR. The longer the distance they travel, the lesser the impact and emissions. With Delhi-NCR's vicinity to Punjab and Haryana, it is often impacted the most by these emissions. Mercury begins to drop with meteorological conditions becoming adverse Delhi’s pleasant weather is quick to give way to a chilly period, where nights become cool, and the daytime temperature also drops to around 32 degrees. By end of October, the night-time temperatures dip below the 20-degree mark. The lower the temperature, the ‘mixing height’ — an invisible boundary layer which traps pollutants — comes closer to the surface. The lower the mixing height, the less space there is for pollutants to disperse freely, which also gives Delhi a ‘haze’ during this period. Low temperatures also slow down the dispersion process and can give periods where wind speed is almost ‘calm’, without any movement of local pollutants taking place. Dipankar Saha, former head of CPCB’s air laboratory, says October stubble emissions can start reaching Delhi in October, with local conditions, particularly calm winds and low temperature not only trapping local pollutants over the capital, but they also allow for stubble emissions to accumulate. “October is the period when we first start to see haze appear. This peaks in early October and Diwali and its date is also a key factor around it. As meteorological conditions become adverse and there are no strong winds to disperse pollutants, any form of emissions — be it local or through stubble burning, gets trapped in Delhi’s air,” he says. An early Diwali may lead to a highly polluted October-end This year, Diwali will be celebrated on October 24, a good 10 days earlier than last year’s November 4, and 20 days earlier than 2020's date of November 14. Despite a ban on firecrackers, Delhi flouts it on a large scale, with firecracker emissions getting trapped in Delhi’s air for a day or two. Last year, Delhi’s AQI on Diwali day was 382 (very poor), with it touching 462 (severe) the day after, on November 5 — Delhi's worst for the day-after Diwali, since 2016, when it was 445. The last time Diwali was celebrated in October was in 2019. However, even then, the AQI was recorded in the ‘very poor’ category. Delhi’s AQI rose from a reading of 337 (very poor) on Diwali day, which was October 27, to a reading of 368 (very poor) the next day. Similarly, in 2017, when Diwali was celebrated on October 19, the AQI rose from 319 (very poor) on Diwali day to 403 (severe) the day after. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) says while meteorological conditions are relatively better in October, as compared to November, firecracker emissions can still lead to the AQI rising by over 100 points. “This year, we will have to see how effective the ban on firecrackers is and the role an early Diwali plays in the overall pollution contribution for the winter period. The Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) is being implemented two weeks earlier than normal this year and is also being based on a forecasting system as compared to previous years, where action was taken after the AQI touched a particular level. This may also prove to be beneficial and if it appears that the AQI is expected to deteriorate considerably around Diwali, then preventive measures under Grap can be implemented in advance,” she says.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

दिल्ली में हवा की गुणवत्ता बिगड़ी, लेकिन अगले कुछ दिनों में बारिश से राहत मिलने की संभावना

शहर में हवा की गुणवत्ता बुधवार को बिगड़ गई और 211 के समग्र वायु गुणवत्ता सूचकांक (एक्यूआई) के साथ 'खराब' श्रेणी में थी। 102 दिनों में यह पहली बार था कि प्रदूषण इस स्तर तक गिर गया। विशेषज्ञों ने कहा कि सुबह की शांत हवाओं के कारण प्रदूषकों का जमाव हुआ। हालांकि, चूंकि गुरुवार से दिल्ली और आसपास के इलाकों में नियमित बारिश की गतिविधि की उम्मीद है, इसलिए हवा की गुणवत्ता में 'मध्यम' श्रेणी में सुधार होने की संभावना है। पिछली बार दिल्ली में 230 के एक्यूआई के साथ 25 जून को 'खराब' वायु दिवस दर्ज किया गया था। मंगलवार को एक्यूआई 'मध्यम' श्रेणी में 150 था। बुधवार को, आनंद विहार शाम 6 बजे 365 की रीडिंग के साथ 'बहुत खराब' श्रेणी में भी गिर गया। भारत मौसम विज्ञान विभाग के पर्यावरण और अनुसंधान केंद्र के प्रमुख वीके सोनी ने कहा, "बुधवार सुबह 10 बजे के आसपास हवाएं शांत होने के कारण प्रदूषकों का फैलाव प्रभावित हुआ। हालांकि, पूर्वानुमान मॉडल से पता चलता है कि AQI के 'खराब' श्रेणी में रहने की संभावना नहीं है। हालांकि दिल्ली के कुछ इलाकों में बुधवार को बारिश हुई, लेकिन गुरुवार से बारिश की गतिविधियां तेज होने का अनुमान है और इससे हवा को साफ करने में मदद मिलेगी। केंद्रीय पृथ्वी विज्ञान मंत्रालय के पूर्वानुमान मॉडल दिल्ली के लिए वायु गुणवत्ता प्रारंभिक चेतावनी प्रणाली के अनुसार, गुरुवार को दिल्ली में समग्र वायु गुणवत्ता 'मध्यम' से 'खराब' श्रेणी में रहने की संभावना है। हवा की गुणवत्ता में सुधार होने की संभावना है लेकिन शुक्रवार और शनिवार को यह 'मध्यम' श्रेणी में रहेगी। हालांकि पराली जलाने की घटनाएं धीरे-धीरे बढ़ रही हैं, लेकिन विशेषज्ञों का कहना है कि दिल्ली के वायु प्रदूषण में उनकी हिस्सेदारी फिलहाल नगण्य है। भारतीय कृषि अनुसंधान संस्थान, पूसा के आंकड़े, जो वायु गुणवत्ता प्रबंधन आयोग द्वारा अधिसूचित मानक प्रोटोकॉल का पालन करते हैं, ने दिखाया कि बुधवार को पंजाब में 130, हरियाणा में 24, उत्तर प्रदेश में कोई भी नहीं और दिल्ली में दो में धान के अवशेष जलने की घटनाएं दर्ज की गईं। 15 सितंबर से 5 अक्टूबर तक संचयी पराली जलाने की संख्या पंजाब में 545, हरियाणा में 48, यूपी में 80 और दिल्ली में दो है। सिस्टम ऑफ एयर क्वालिटी एंड वेदर फोरकास्टिंग एंड रिसर्च (SAFAR) के संस्थापक परियोजना निदेशक गुफरान बेग ने कहा, "दिल्ली की वायु गुणवत्ता मौसम संबंधी कारकों के कारण बिगड़ी है, जो ठहराव का कारण बनी और प्रदूषकों के फैलाव की प्रक्रिया में बाधा उत्पन्न हुई। हालांकि पराली जलाने का दिल्ली की हवा पर फिलहाल कोई असर नहीं पड़ा है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट की कार्यकारी निदेशक (अनुसंधान और वकालत) अनुमिता रॉयचौधरी ने कहा, "दिल्ली में 24 घंटे के औसत PM2.5 का स्तर बढ़ना शुरू हो गया है। यह सर्दी की शुरुआत का संकेत है। हम अब उच्च प्रदूषण के दिन देखेंगे क्योंकि सर्दियों के दौरान मौसम विज्ञान बदलना शुरू हो जाएगा। यह पूर्व-खाली कार्रवाई करने का समय है।"

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Delhi: Air quality deteriorates, but rain over next few days likely to bring respite

The air quality in the city deteriorated on Wednesday and was in the ‘poor’ category with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 211. It was for the first time in 102 days that the pollution fell to this level. Experts said the calm winds in the morning caused accumulation of pollutants. However, since regular rain activity is expected in Delhi and adjoining areas from Thursday, the air quality is likely to improve to the ‘moderate’ category. gfx The last time Delhi recorded a ‘poor’ air day was June 25 with an AQI of 230. The AQI on Tuesday was 150 in the ‘moderate’ category. On Wednesday, Anand Vihar even deteriorated to the ‘very poor’ category with a reading of 365 at 6pm. VK Soni, head, environment and research centre, India Meteorological Department, said, “As the winds were calm around 10am on Wednesday, the dispersion of pollutants was affected. However, the forecasting model shows that AQI is unlikely to remain in the ‘poor’ category. Though some areas of Delhi received rain on Wednesday, rain activity is predicted to intensify from Thursday and this will help clean the air.” According to Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, the forecasting model of the Union ministry of earth sciences, the overall air quality over Delhi is likely to remain in the ‘moderate’ to the lower end of ‘poor’ category on Thursday. Air quality is likely to improve but remain in the ‘moderate’ category on Friday and Saturday. Though stubble burning incidents are gradually rising, experts said their share in Delhi’s air pollution is currently negligible. Data at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, which follows the standard protocol notified by the Commission for Air Quality Management, showed that 130 paddy remnant burning events were recorded on Wednesday in Punjab, 24 in Haryana, none in Uttar Pradesh and two in Delhi. The cumulative stubble burning counts from September 15 to October 5 are 545 in Punjab, 48 in Haryana, 80 in UP and two in Delhi. Gufran Beig, founder project director, System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), said, “Delhi’s air quality deteriorated due to meteorological factors that caused stagnation and hampered the process of dispersion of pollutants. However, there is presently no impact of stubble burning on Delhi’s air.” Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (research and advocacy), Centre for Science and Environment, added, “The 24-hour average PM2.5 levels have started to rise in Delhi. It is indicative of the start of the winter trend. We will see high pollution days now as the meteorology begins to change during winter. It is time to take pre-emptive action.”

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Halve farm fire count and Delhi will see no severe air day this Oct, Nov: Safar

Gufran Beig, founder director at Safar, said in the first ”business as usual” scenario -- if the number of fire incidents is similar to last year‘s count of 80,000 with the events peaking towards mid-November -- then Delhi is expected to see around five to six ”severe” air days. The national capital would not see a single ”severe” air day -- when the air quality index (AQI) reading climbs above 400 -- in October or November this year, provided the stubble fire incidents are halved to what they were last year, when around 80,000 fire incidents were reported, forecasts by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (Safar) said.

• Director General Office

Ripe for a green economy

Forests are home, say women of Kodalpali, Sinduria and neighbouring villages in Odisha’s Nayagarh; they can build the economy of the future Why do you patrol the forest near your village every day for the past 30 years? Why does it matter so much? - I ask a group of women, who look at me with amazement for posing the question. I am in Kodalpali, a village in Nayagarh district of Odisha, and can see dense, verdant forests for miles. The village is remote and would be classified as poor on economic criteria. It has rudimentary toilets, no piped water supply and the only school has been closed because of a bizarre policy of "rationisation", which means that its less than 25 students now have to trek over 3 kilometres to the next village for education. But in this village, and the neighbouring ones, women have been zealously protecting their forests for the past three decades. Every day, without fail, a group of four women takes the responsibility to walk and to ensure that nobody fells trees. They fight with intruders; they confiscate their axes and bicycles. They tell me, without batting an eyelid, that they demand a fine before returning the confiscated goods. The wealth of the forests, as far as the eye can see, tells you that their protection is indeed working. In this tribal district, there are as many as 217 villages protecting an almost contiguous forest block of 60,000 ha. In 60 of these villages, it is primarily women who form the forest protection committees and take turns to patrol. Over the years, with the help of Vasundhara — an amazing and committed non-profit working on tribal rights — they have formed a federation of village protection committees at the block and district levels. Here the executives — mostly women — meet every month to sort out inter-village conflicts and other issues. The octogenarian Shashi Pradhan, or Shashi mausi, as she is known, is the original tree-patrolling party. She tells me that the forests are key to their survival, plain and simple. They provide for all their needs — from firewood to building material to tubers and medicinal plants. Her younger colleague, Kuntala Nayak, jumps in to say that even during the two horrendous years of COVID-19, they did not need any outside help, and nobody in the village fell ill. "It is our source of life and so we protect it," they say. Their forest usage rules apply to all — fuelwood is to be collected only on Sundays; green trees are not to be felled; no grazing during the monsoon; and collection of minor forest produce, like bamboo, kendu (or tendu leaves used in beedi manufacture), is to be done only by the village households, not by outsiders. This grand experiment has now entered a new phase. In November 2021, after years of struggle, 24 villages were granted community forest rights. This is a provision of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, under which villages can get the right to patches of government forests that they were traditionally using, for exclusive use of resources and protection. As per the data of the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs, community rights have been granted over some 4.5 million ha of forestland, which would be an impressive 8 per cent of land under the forest cover in government control, except for one crucial catch. The ministry counts in this all community rights, including rights granted to use of waterbodies or minor forest produce and not only forestland rights. In the current case, the title is for management of forestland, and has been granted jointly to two villages — Kodalpali and Sinduria. The title letter demarcates roughly 300 hectares for management. The villages now have the right to collect, process, use and sell minor forest produce. This also includes the right to value addition, storage and transportation of products within and outside village boundaries. This is a clear game changer. It would mean that these villages can now move to the next stage of protection, where the green wealth could form the basis of green jobs and a green economy. The villages now need a plan for the management of this tree-diverse area so that they can profit not just from timber, but also from all the other richness that the forest wealth provides. Experience shows that trees survive when village communities are involved — or given control, as in Kodalpali's case — in forest management. Only then can we move towards a wood-based economy. In our climate-risked times, this is where the real opportunity is. We know that the world has to increase green cover, which will add to the sequestration of carbon dioxide. Nature-based solutions are the new buzzword. But as the women of Kodalpali, Sinduria and the neighbouring villages say, the forests are their home and they can build the economy of the future — not just for themselves but for the world. DTE

• Director General Office

15th Edition of Mindmine Summit 2022 – “Post Pandemic: Repurposing India” Envisions India’s Era of Growth in Post Pandemic World Order

The Mindmine Summit 2022 was a huge success with lots of insightful conversations by opinion makers and key stakeholders. Mindmine Summit, a signature annual flagship event of the Hero Enterprise which fosters intellectual debates, encourages innovative ideas and builds thought leadership on issues that are crucial to the Indian economy and Indians as a whole is back in the physical mode after the COVID-19 pandemic and was held on September 13 and 14, 2022 at Hyatt Regency in New Delhi. With the theme of 2022 "Post Pandemic: Repurposing India”, this two-day think fest witnessed national and international minds converge and brought together a diverse panel of policymakers, business leaders, thinkers, economists, analysts and other stakeholders to consider the future of the remarkable growth story of India. Among the speakers present were Nirmala Sitharaman, Nitin Gadkari, Anand Sharma, Dr Preetha Reddy, Ambassador Naor Gilon, Gopal Srinivasan, TV Narendran, Sunita Narain, Zahira Sughra, PK Jena, Shishir Priyadarshi, Amitabh Kant, Prof C Raja Mohan, Vivek Wadhwa, Sandip Patel, Vishal Bali, Gul Panag, Pranav Bhanage, High Commissioner Alex Ellis, Ambassador Dr Ahmad Abdulrahman AlBanna, Manish Sharma, Pradeep Mehta, Ranu Vohra, Jaspal Bindra, Ritesh Agarwal, Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Kanwaljit Singh, Kamal Gianchandani, Kabir Bedi, Manoj Muntashir, Rumy Jafry, Komal Nahta, and Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri. Dr Pramath Raj Sinha, Shaheen Mistri, and Sudarshan Suchi. On the launch of the 15th edition of the Mindmine Summit, Hero Enterprises Chairman, Sunil Kant Munjal said, “a good deal of thought was given while selecting this year’s theme; we realised how much the ground beneath us had shifted over the last couple of years, and why we needed to remodel our perceptions and adjust our expectations as citizens, organisations and as a nation. This year’s summit is thus titled- Post Pandemic: Repurposing India!” Truly the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us to rethink our priorities and path in life. It is a time for introspection and redefining ourselves as individuals, families, organisations, and also nations. The event featured a plethora of meaningful conversations, interactive panel discussions, one-on-one exchanges and deliberations on issues across a wide spectrum of topics in line with the country’s current state of affairs. Also, there were discussions on what India might expect amidst the shifting sands of geopolitics, Black Swan events, climate change, new-age skills, cultural shifts, rural transformation and Aatmanirbhar manufacturing. The event also explored the impact of near-shoring and commodity shortages on the global supply chain and examined the innovation ecosystem being created by start-ups that could help India transition into a new era. MMS 2022 Theme Design Speaking at the Mindmine Summit, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asserts that the government will do everything for the industries to come and invest in India. She even highlighted the fact that a lot of companies are eyeing to move their manufacturing operations from China to India as they find policies are more attractive in India. She also quoted that, there are a lot of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) inflows in India which is owing to the fact that countries and industries abroad consider India as the right place for investment. She further stated that India is emerging as a global digital superpower by leapfrogging into a digital age. There are digital transformations in almost every sector and the government is making every effort to further push it through various incentives and schemes. Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India highlighted that the key drivers of India’s growth in the coming decade would be water, power, transport and communication. He further added that there should be a strong focus on agriculture, rural and tribal areas. He assured that the government is making efforts to foster infrastructure and reduce the logistics cost from 14% to 8% by 2024 by way of developing 27 green express highways which are in the pipeline. Talking about India’s defence, General Manoj Pandey, Chief of Army Staff, shares insights on the prime focus areas which are preparing the Indian army to be future ready, maintaining a high degree of operational preparedness, technology-driven transformations in the Indian army and ramping up efforts to bolster military capabilities, among others. The Mindmine Summit 2022 was a huge success with lots of insightful conversations by opinion makers and key stakeholders.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Delhi govt launches 24x7 Advanced Green War Room to monitor pollution

The Delhi government launched an Advanced Green War Room that will be operational 24x7. The purpose of the Advanced Green War Room is to implement the Winter Action Plan to monitor pollution. The Delhi government launched an ‘Advanced Green War Room’ for 24x7 monitoring and robust implementation of the Winter Action Plan. A 12-member team of scientists and engineers will look after the Green War Room. During the launch, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai claimed that in the last ten years, Particulate Matter (PM) 10 levels fell by 40%, and PM 2.5 by 31% despite an increasing population. Environmental Scientist Dr BMS Reddy has been appointed in charge of the war room, and Environmental Engineer NK Joshi as the Assistant In charge. Scientist Dr Nandita Moitra will handle the monitoring desk. The remaining nine members will assist them and work on the complaints received from the Green Delhi App and ensure implementation of the same in sync with other departments. The Green Delhi App registers complaints related to pollution from the residents of Delhi. Arvind Kejriwal had announced on September 30 the Winter Action Plan under which the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was to be enforced in Delhi from October 1. The environment department has been monitoring the air quality and stubble situation in and around Delhi. “Last year, at the peak of pollution, the Centre for Science and Environment analysed the sources of pollution in Delhi. As per the report, internal sources, those within Delhi, amounted to 31% of pollution,” said Gopal Rai. “External sources, those within surrounding states contributed 69% of it. This is the reason why the Advanced Green War Room has been asked to remain alert,” Gopal Rai added. In 2012, the PM 10 levels of Delhi were averaged out at 368. In 2021, the PM 10 levels have fallen to 221. PM 2.5 was at 164 in 2012. In 2021, 113. PM 10 has fallen by 40% in the last ten years. While PM 2.5 has been reduced by 31% in the last decade. He stated, “When pollution was rising in Delhi, we identified 13 hotspots. As per the report on those hotspots, tallied between 2018-2021, in Jahangirpuri PM 10 levels have fallen by 20%, in Narela 8%, Ashok Vihar 22%, Mundka 32%, Rohini 26%, Wazirpur 24%,