CSE offers onlie training program on climate Change
CSE offers onlie training program on climate Change Please see details at https://packagingsouthasia.com/she-safety-health-and-environment/sustainability-health/cse-on-climate-change/
CSE offers onlie training program on climate Change Please see details at https://packagingsouthasia.com/she-safety-health-and-environment/sustainability-health/cse-on-climate-change/
While MCD is currently undertaking a biomining project to clear the landfill sites and 5.5 million tons legacy waste has been removed from the landfill sites, the three sites hold around 280 lakh tons of waste accumulated over the last four decades Even as the landfill sites of the Delhi are at the centre of the ongoing tussle between AAP and BJP, the Centre for Science and Environment on Thursday organized national symposium and released reports legacy waste management and dumpsite remediation chalking out ideal practices for flattening of the dumpsites across the country. The report titled ‘Legacy waste management and dumpsite remediation to support SBM2.0’ also compares the composition of legacy waste in different dumpsites across the country. Delhi’s landfills for instance have 72% fine fractions of soil/sand like material, 23% stones, 4% scrap polymeric and combustible material with 1% miscellaneous fraction. In comparison, the Mumbai landfill has just 45% fine fraction while Ahmedabad has 44% fine fractions. The combustible fraction and stone fractions are higher at the two landfills. “The fractions tell us where we went wrong in beginning. One of the largest fractions is stones which highlights the need to tackle C&D waste processing problem. Most important is fine fraction which is mineralized bio-degradable organic waste. Our ability to do away with this large fraction has to deal with removing wet waste from the stream completely,” Narain said. Delhi which sends almost half of its waste to landfill sites, has been ranked 23rd out 33 states and union territories with 10 states like Orissa, Rajasthan, Assam and Haryana having more percentage of waste being landfilled. Out of the total 11,120 tons of waste generated by the city, the corporation dumps 5100-5600 tonnes in the three landfill sites CSE director Sunita Narain, while releasing the report, said the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 is a game changer in terms of focus on segregation but there are some missing pieces. “We still have a tipping fee for taking garbage to landfill which creates incentive for people to bring large amounts of waste to landfill as payment is based on weight. If we could have landfill tax instead of tipping fee-creating the opposite to charge to bring waste to landfill,” she said. Narain added that kabadiwalas and recyclers need to be at the central in the master plan not situated far away in corner of the city. The toolkit also lists out model steps for carrying out remediation of dumpsites but Delhi’s example is cited in example which can lead to “systemic failure of remediation work.” “It is practically impossible to remediate a legacy waste dumpsite if the city keeps adding fresh waste to the site. Cases like Ghazipur, when a dumpsite receives more fresh waste every day than the quantity of legacy waste it treats, lead to systemic failure of the remediation work,” the report states. Atin Biswas, a waste management expert and program director of municipal solid waste sector in Centre for Science and Environment, said that it is also imperative to prevent fresh waste from reaching existing dumpsites to ensure the reclaimed lands are never lost again. “SBM 2.0 Mission mandate for every Indian city is to stop as much as 80 per cent of its waste from reaching a dumpsite by the end of 2026. Unless the underlying problem of culture of dumping fresh waste is removed, the biomining project will continue to face trouble. Even if you remove entire mountain of waste, they will be standing before a fresh waste mountain. Unless we remove food waste from this cycle which is 60% of net quantity no significant progress can be made,” he added. Richa Singh, deputy programme manager at CSE said: “It is important to note that legacy waste dumpsite remediation projects in India concern themselves not only with legacy waste dumpsites, but also with any unscientifically managed dumpsite that is relatively young.” Roopa Mishra, joint secretary, Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) said that every Central government program and policy was aimed towards a singular aim: “making Indian cities garbage-free”. “As part of this objective, the ministry has initiated a number of projects and schemes to encourage city administrations, one of which is a star rating and certification for garbage-free cities,” she added. While MCD is currently undertaking a biomining project to clear the landfill sites and 5.5 million tons legacy waste has been removed from the landfill sites, the three sites hold around 280 lakh tons of waste accumulated over the last four decades. Launched in 1984, the Ghazipur landfill is the biggest garbage dump in the city and it holds more than 140 lakh tons of waste. The Bhalswa and Okhla landfills were started in 1994. All three sites have exhausted their capacity but the garbage continues to be dumped due to lack of new site being allocated to MCD, officials have said. HT had recently highlighted that due to continued dumping of fresh waste and current pace Delhi’s biomining project may take up to 197 years to complete.
The term ‘legacy waste’ has received close attention in the wake of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) 2.0 which aims to make Indian cities “garbage-free”. The Mission mandates that cities in India should clear legacy waste sites, reclaim the land, and prevent more waste from reaching dumpsites – with 1,300 million tonne of legacy waste lying in more than 3,000 dumpsites in the country, it is an onerous, but doable, task,” said Sunita Narain, director general, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), here today. She was speaking at a national symposium organised by CSE on legacy waste management and dumpsite remediation. Participants at the symposium, who included waste management practitioners, regulators, government functionaries, scientists, experts and industry representatives, were also addressed by the symposium’s chief guest, Roopa Mishra, joint secretary, Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), among others. Legacy waste Explains Atin Biswas, programme director, solid waste management unit, CSE: “Although the term ‘legacy waste’ has not been defined in any official government document in India, it typically refers to old municipal solid waste in landfills or dumpsites. There is no set standard to define how old waste qualifies to be called legacy waste. Legacy waste is usually a mix of partially or completely decomposed biodegradable waste, plastic waste, textiles, metals, glass and other components.” Richa Singh, the unit’s deputy programme manager at CSE, pointed out: “It is important to note that legacy waste dumpsite remediation projects in India concern themselves not only with legacy waste dumpsites, but also with any unscientifically managed dumpsite that is relatively young. The agenda is to clear unscientifically designed and mismanaged dumpsites that might be causing or can cause long-term environmental and public health hazards. Majority of Indian landfills have completely run out of space having been overused and housing millions of tonnes of legacy waste which not only poses threat to the environment but also to human health, livelihoods and economy.” Action initiated Delivering her address at the symposium, Roopa Mishra stressed on the fact that every Central government programme and policy was primed towards a singular aim: “making Indian cities garbage-free”. As part of this objective, the ministry has initiated a number of projects and schemes to encourage city administrations, one of which is a star rating and certification for garbage-free cities. Earlier, CSE’s Richa Singh – in her presentation — outlined the government’s deliberate initiatives in legacy waste management: “The MoHUA has recognised the fact that unlined dumpsites are causing air and water pollution and creating long-term environmental and health hazards. The operational guidelines of SBM 2.0 make it mandatory for cities with a population of less than one million to clear legacy waste sites by March 31, 2023 and cities with a population of over one million to reclaim the lost land by March 31, 2024.” She added: “In addition, MoHUA has committed substantial financial devolution to support the cities to meet the cost of legacy dumpsite remediation. As much as Rs 1,41,600 crore has been committed in the Union budget to support the mandate under SBM 2.0 – this is the single largest investment in a flagship sanitation programme in independent India.” According to Singh, the cost for dumpsite remediation in India will add up to Rs 1,04,000 crore, as per estimates done by CSE. Says Biswas: “SBM 2.0 mandates every urban local body to prepare a City Solid Waste Action Plan (CSWAP) for seeking funding and a City Sanitation Action Plan (CSAP) to avail the grant for sustainable sanitation. There are clear benchmarks in the performance-linked financial devolution to ensure that every urban settlement achieves a certain milestone before it becomes eligible for the next tranche of money.” CSE researchers point out that the national mandate has created a huge momentum to deal with the legacy waste lying in dumpsites. Says Biswas: “It is also imperative to prevent fresh waste from reaching existing dumpsites to ensure the reclaimed lands are never lost again. The Mission mandate for every Indian city is to stop as much as 80 per cent of its waste from reaching a dumpsite by the end of 2026.” “Waste is a resource,” says Narain. “We should not ‘waste’ our waste, but reuse and recycle it. Even as cities in India start focusing on remediation of their legacy waste, it would be critical to ensure gainful application and final disposal of the extracted fractions received from the existing garbage mountains.” The way ahead The CSE toolkit on legacy waste management offers the following steps in the roadmap: Develop a sustainable solid waste management plan. It should be based on the principles of resource recovery and circular economy while ensuring that no fresh waste finds its way to the dumpsites. Ensure maximum utlisation of recovered fractions. Proper stabilisation and treatment of legacy waste is critical. Reuse the reclaimed land sustainably on the basis of a comprehensive policy and protocol. Develop standards for gainful use of recovered fractions, to guard against the presence of toxins and contaminants in them. Incentivise management of recovered materials. A sustainable business model needs to be developed for legacy waste businesses. Build capacity of urban departments and their officials. Ensure construction and sustainable operation of sanitary landfills.
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has laid down a roadmap for making Indian cities garbage free. The CSE said that a sustainable solid waste management plan should be developed. It should be based on the principles of resource recovery and circular economy while ensuring that no fresh waste finds its way to the dumpsites. “Ensure maximum utilization of recovered fractions. Proper stabilisation and treatment of legacy waste is critical. Reuse the reclaimed land sustainably on the basis of a comprehensive policy and protocol,” the center said. The center further said that the government should develop standards for gainful use of recovered fractions, to guard against the presence of toxins and contaminants in them. “A sustainable business model needs to be developed for legacy waste businesses. Build capacity of urban departments and their officials. Ensure construction and sustainable operation of sanitary landfills,” the environment body added. While speaking on the national symposium on legacy waste management and dumpsite remediation, Sunita Narain, director general, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said, “The Mission mandates that cities in India should clear legacy waste sites, reclaim the land, and prevent more waste from reaching dumpsites – with 1,300 million tonne of legacy waste lying in more than 3,000 dumpsites in the country, it is an onerous, but doable, task.” Atin Biswas, programme director, solid waste management unit, CSE: “Although the term ‘legacy waste’ has not been defined in any official government document in India, it typically refers to old municipal solid waste in landfills or dumpsites. There is no set standard to define how old waste qualifies to be called legacy waste. Legacy waste is usually a mix of partially or completely decomposed biodegradable waste, plastic waste, textiles, metals, glass and other components.” Richa Singh, the unit’s deputy programme manager at CSE, pointed out: “It is important to note that legacy waste dumpsite remediation projects in India concern themselves not only with legacy waste dumpsites, but also with any unscientifically managed dumpsite that is relatively young. The agenda is to clear unscientifically designed and mismanaged dumpsites that might be causing or can cause long-term environmental and public health hazards.” “Majority of Indian landfills have completely run out of space having been overused and housing millions of tonnes of legacy waste which not only poses threat to the environment but also to human health, livelihoods and economy,” Singh said.
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Thursday released a roadmap for legacy waste management in a bid to support India’s garbage-free cities agenda. The CSE’s seven-point roadmap includes developing a sustainable solid waste management plan, ensuring maximum utilisation of recovered fractions and reusing the reclaimed land sustainably on the basis of a comprehensive policy and protocol. The plan also includes developing standards for gainful use of recovered fractions, incentivising management of recovered materials, building capacity of urban departments and ensuring sustainable operation of sanitary landfills. “The term ‘legacy waste’ has received close attention in the wake of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) 2.0 and it mandates that cities in India should clear legacy waste sites, reclaim the land and prevent more waste from reaching dumpsites. “With 1,300 million tonnes of legacy waste lying in more than 3,000 dumpsites in the country, it is an onerous but doable task,” CSE director general Sunita Narain said. Speaking at an event organised by the CSE on Legacy Waste Management and Dumpsite Remediation, Joint Secretary of Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry Roopa Mishra said the ministry has initiated a number of projects and schemes to encourage city administrations to make Indian cities garbage-free. “Every central government programme and policy is primed towards a singular aim – making Indian cities garbage-free. We have also initiated a number of projects and schemes to encourage the city administrations,” Mishra said. Atin Biswas, programme director of solid waste management unit at CSE, said, “Although the term ‘legacy waste’ has not been defined in any official government document in India, it typically refers to old municipal solid waste in landfills or dumpsites.” He said there is “no set standard” to define how old waste qualifies to be called legacy waste, which is usually a mix of partially or completely decomposed biodegradable waste, plastic waste, textiles, metals, glass and other components. According to CSE estimates, the cost for dumpsite remediation in India will add up to Rs 1,04,000 crore. “The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has committed substantial financial devolution to support the cities to meet the cost of legacy dumpsite remediation. As much as Rs 1,41,600 crore has been committed in the Union budget to support the mandate under SBM 2.0,” CSE’s Richa Singh said. At the event, Mishra and Narain released three new CSE publications. Waste management practitioners, regulators, government functionaries, scientists, experts and industry representatives, among others, participated in the event.
A study by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has highlighted the issue of landfills and legacy waste in mega cities, including Delhi. The national capital, despite directions and court orders, continues to suffer from three major unscientific landfill sites. The analysis suggested a roadmap to make the country garbage-free with separate toolkits to manage biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste. Timesview Dumping trash on waste mountains is environmentally damaging. We end up creating toxic hotspots whichare especially hazardous for those living within a certain radius. India must move towards a more systematic method of collection at source on a war footing, which would allow for better processing and recycling of garbage. Hopefully, the allotted funds will be efficiently utilised to that end. It pointed out that over 1,300 million tonnes of legacy waste were currently dumped across more than 3,000 dumpsites across the country. However, it saw hope in the commitment of Rs 1,41,600 crore by the ministry of housing and urban affairs to clean them up, the single largest investment in a flagship sanitation programme in India. While mentioning several landfills across India, the study specifically named the infamous landfills of Delhi — Bhalswa, Ghazipur and Okhla — which often catch fire due to methane release or lead to accidents. It stated that the three landfills have collectively caused nearly Rs 450 crore in damage to the environment over the years, yet not much has been done. “In 2021, Central Pollution Control Board, upon receiving directions from NGT, inspected the three dumpsites and found that though waste stabilisation through bioremediation was being practised, only 5% of the waste was processed,” mentioned the study. The report also asserted that Delhi dumped and treated about 50% of its total waste. Showing how old the issue of legacy waste was, it pointed to an IIT-Bombay analysis that estimated that Delhi’s landfills were made of about 72% of fine fraction (soil, sand-like material), 23% stones and about 4% scrap, polymeric and combustible material. “The composition of legacy waste varies according to the region and age of a dumpsite. For example, the proportion in Hyderabad and Delhi is nearly 75%, which indicates that the dumpsites are old and organic waste has degraded over many years. The quantity of recyclables depends on the activities of the informal sector engaged in extracting recyclables,” stated the report, adding that NGT’s direction came in July 2019. Ghazipur, the oldest landfill in Delhi that started in 1984, has estimated methane emissions of 18 to 264 mg/m2/h, which is very high. Both Bhalswa and Okhla started in 1994. “With 1,300 million tonnes of legacy waste lying in more than 3,000 dumpsites in the country, it is an onerous but doable task,” said Sunita Narain, director general, CSE. CSE’s roadmap stated that legacy waste was stressed upon in Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0, which mandates that cities should clear legacy waste sites, reclaim land and prevent more waste from reaching dumpsites. It also mentioned developing a sustainable solid waste management plan, ensuring maximum utilisation of recovered fractions and reusing the reclaimed land sustainably.
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Thursday released a roadmap for legacy waste management in a bid to support India's garbage-free cities agenda. The CSE's seven-point roadmap includes developing a sustainable solid waste management plan, ensuring maximum utilisation of recovered fractions and reusing the reclaimed land sustainably on the basis of a comprehensive policy and protocol. The plan also includes developing standards for gainful use of recovered fractions, incentivising management of recovered materials, building capacity of urban departments and ensuring sustainable operation of sanitary landfills. ''The term 'legacy waste' has received close attention in the wake of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) 2.0 and it mandates that cities in India should clear legacy waste sites, reclaim the land and prevent more waste from reaching dumpsites. ''With 1,300 million tonnes of legacy waste lying in more than 3,000 dumpsites in the country, it is an onerous but doable task,'' CSE director general Sunita Narain said. Speaking at an event organised by the CSE on Legacy Waste Management and Dumpsite Remediation, Joint Secretary of Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry Roopa Mishra said the ministry has initiated a number of projects and schemes to encourage city administrations to make Indian cities garbage-free. ''Every central government programme and policy is primed towards a singular aim - making Indian cities garbage-free. We have also initiated a number of projects and schemes to encourage the city administrations,'' Mishra said. Atin Biswas, programme director of solid waste management unit at CSE, said, ''Although the term 'legacy waste' has not been defined in any official government document in India, it typically refers to old municipal solid waste in landfills or dumpsites.'' He said there is ''no set standard'' to define how old waste qualifies to be called legacy waste, which is usually a mix of partially or completely decomposed biodegradable waste, plastic waste, textiles, metals, glass and other components. According to CSE estimates, the cost for dumpsite remediation in India will add up to Rs 1,04,000 crore. ''The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has committed substantial financial devolution to support the cities to meet the cost of legacy dumpsite remediation. As much as Rs 1,41,600 crore has been committed in the Union budget to support the mandate under SBM 2.0,'' CSE's Richa Singh said. At the event, Mishra and Narain released three new CSE publications. Waste management practitioners, regulators, government functionaries, scientists, experts and industry representatives, among others, participated in the event.
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Thursday released a roadmap for legacy waste management in a bid to support India's garbage-free cities agenda. The CSE's seven-point roadmap includes developing a sustainable solid waste management plan, ensuring maximum utilisation of recovered fractions and reusing the reclaimed land sustainably on the basis of a comprehensive policy and protocol. The plan also includes developing standards for gainful use of recovered fractions, incentivising management of recovered materials, building capacity of urban departments and ensuring sustainable operation of sanitary landfills. "The term 'legacy waste' has received close attention in the wake of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) 2.0 and it mandates that cities in India should clear legacy waste sites, reclaim the land and prevent more waste from reaching dumpsites. "With 1,300 million tonnes of legacy waste lying in more than 3,000 dumpsites in the country, it is an onerous but doable task," CSE director general Sunita Narain said. Speaking at an event organised by the CSE on Legacy Waste Management and Dumpsite Remediation, Joint Secretary of Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry Roopa Mishra said the ministry has initiated a number of projects and schemes to encourage city administrations to make Indian cities garbage-free. "Every central government programme and policy is primed towards a singular aim - making Indian cities garbage-free. We have also initiated a number of projects and schemes to encourage the city administrations," Mishra said. Atin Biswas, programme director of solid waste management unit at CSE, said, "Although the term 'legacy waste' has not been defined in any official government document in India, it typically refers to old municipal solid waste in landfills or dumpsites." He said there is "no set standard" to define how old waste qualifies to be called legacy waste, which is usually a mix of partially or completely decomposed biodegradable waste, plastic waste, textiles, metals, glass and other components. According to CSE estimates, the cost for dumpsite remediation in India will add up to Rs 1,04,000 crore. "The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has committed substantial financial devolution to support the cities to meet the cost of legacy dumpsite remediation. As much as Rs 1,41,600 crore has been committed in the Union budget to support the mandate under SBM 2.0," CSE's Richa Singh said. At the event, Mishra and Narain released three new CSE publications. Waste management practitioners, regulators, government functionaries, scientists, experts and industry representatives, among others, participated in the event.
भारत के कचरा-मुक्त शहरों के एजेंडे के समर्थन के तहत सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (सीएसई) ने कचरा प्रबंधन के लिए एक रोडमैप जारी किया। सीएसई के सात-ङ्क्षबदु वाले रोडमैप में एक स्थायी ठोस अपशिष्ट प्रबंधन योजना विकसित करना, कचरे के अंशों का अधिकतम उपयोग सुनिश्चित करना और एक व्यापक नीति तथा प्रोटोकॉल के आधार पर पुन: प्राप्त भूमि का स्थायी रूप से फिर से उपयोग करना शामिल है। योजना में कचरे के प्राप्त अंशों के लाभकारी उपयोग के लिए विकासशील मानक, प्राप्त सामग्री के प्रबंधन को प्रोत्साहित करना, शहरी विभागों का क्षमता निर्माण और स्वास्थ्य के लिहाज से उचित लैंडफिल के स्थायी संचालन को सुनिश्चित करना शामिल है। सीएसई की महानिदेशक सुनीता नारायण ने कहा, च्च्स्वच्छ भारत मिशन (एसबीएम) 2.0 के मद्देनजर 'विरासत अपशिष्टÓ शब्द पर करीब से ध्यान दिया गया है और यह अनिवार्य है कि भारत के शहरों को विरासत अपशिष्ट स्थलों (पहले से बने लैंडफिल) को साफ करना चाहिए, भूमि को पुन: प्राप्त करना चाहिए और अधिक कचरे को लैंडफिल तक पहुंचने से रोकना चाहिए।ÓÓ उन्होंने कहा, देश में 3000 कचरे के मैदानों में 130 करोड़ टन कचरा पहले से मौजूद है, यह एक कठिन लेकिन किया जा सकने वाला काम है। सीएसई द्वारा लेगेसी वेस्ट मैनेजमेंट और डंपसाइट रेमेडिएशन पर आयोजित एक कार्यक्रम में आवास और शहरी मामलों के मंत्रालय की संयुक्त सचिव रूपा मिश्रा ने कहा कि मंत्रालय ने भारतीय शहरों को कचरा मुक्त बनाने के लिए शहर प्रशासन को प्रोत्साहित करने के वास्ते कई परियोजनाएं और योजनाएं शुरू की हैं। सीएसई के आकलन के मुताबिक भारत में लैंडफिल के पुनर्शोधन पर 1,04,000 करोड़ रुपये का खर्च आएगा।
देश के हर चमकते शहर के सिर पर पल रहे कचरे के पहाड़ के बोझ को उतारने की योजना बनाई गई है। देशभर के शहरों में 3,000 से ज्यादा डंपिंग ग्राउंड से 130 करोड़ टन कचरे को हमेशा के लिए साफ कर इस जमीन को शहर के लिए फिर से मुहैया कराया जाएगा। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) ने बृहस्पतिवार को देश को मुक्त भारत बनाने की रूपरेखा पेश की। सरकार ने इन डंपिंग ग्राउंडों को स्वच्छ व उपचारित करने के लिए 1,41,600 करोड़ रुपये आवंटित किए हैं। स्वतंत्र भारत में स्वच्छता कार्यक्रम के तहत यह सबसे बड़ा निवेश है। सीएसई ने शहरों को कचरा मुक्त करने के लिए तीन दस्तावेज पेश किए। इनमें स्वच्छ भारत मिशन 2.0 का समर्थन करने के लिए विरासती कचरा प्रबंधन, डंपसाइट उपचार टूलकिट और शहरों की ठोस कचरा कार्ययोजना पेश की गई है। विरासती कचरे पर सीएसई की महानिदेशक सुनीता नारायण ने कहा, यह शब्द (लैगेसी वेस्ट या विरासती कचरा) स्वच्छ भारत अभियान 2.0 के चलते चर्चा में आया है, जिसके मुताबिक यह तय किया गया है कि भारत के शहरों के सभी पुराने डंपिंग ग्रांउंड साफ होने चाहिए। इसके साथ ही डंपिंग ग्राउंड की जमीन उपयोगी बनाने और वहां फिर से कचरा जमा नहीं होने का प्रबंध करना होगा। उन्होंने कहा कि इस कचरे को खत्म करना और डंपिंग ग्राउंडों को साफ कर उपयोगी बनाना बेहद चुनौतीपूर्ण काम है। सीएसई की तरफ से योजना पेश करने के दौरान आवास व शहरी मामलों के मंत्रालय की संयुक्त सचिव रूपा मिश्रा ने बताया कि मंत्रालय ने कई परियोजनाएं व योजनाएं शुरू की हैं, जिनके तहत शहरी प्रशासन को इसके लिए प्रोत्साहित किया जा रहा है, ताकि वे देश को कचरा मुक्त बनाने की पहल में शामिल हों। वहीं, सीएसई के ठोस कचरा प्रबंधन कार्यक्रम के निदेशक अतिन बिस्वास ने कहा, विरासती कचरे की कोई आधिकारिक परिभाषा नहीं है, न इसका कोई पैमाना है, जिससे यह तय किया जाए कि कितना पुराना और किस तरह का कचरा विरासती कचरा माना जाए। मोटे तौर पर शहरों के ऐसे डंपिंग ग्राउंड विरासती कचरे की श्रेणी में आते हैं, जहां हर तरह का कचरा स्थायी तौर पर छोड़ दिया जाता है। कचरे से मुक्ति के मंत्र सीएसई ने विरासती कचरे से जुड़ी टूलकिट के तहत सात बिंदुओं के तहत एक स्थायी ठोस अपशिष्ट प्रबंधन योजना पेश की है। स्थायी ठोस अपशिष्ट प्रबंधन योजना विकसित करना कचरे का अधिकतम उपयोग व उपचार कचरा मुक्त जमीन को उपयोगी बनाना कचरे के लाभकारी उपयोग के लिए मानक तय करना कचरे से उपयोगी सामग्री के प्रबंधन को प्रोत्साहन देना शहरी विभागों व कार्मिकों में क्षमता निर्माण सैनिटरी लैंडफिल का निर्माण व संवहनीय संचालन
Over two years since Delhi's EV Policy was launched, the Capital is doing well to match demand and supply. However, as numbers increase, Delhi, and critically, all of NCR, must keep up. Here are the plans so far
In roughly a month, toxic air pollution will leave Delhi gasping again. But why have authorities failed to address this annual health emergency despite so much noise? And what needs to be done now? On Tuesday, many of us happily shared on social media photographs of Delhi’s clear and blue skyline. In roughly a month, the picture might dramatically change. ADVERTISING From mid-October, like in previous years, a blanket of smog is likely to leave millions in Delhi and the rest of North India coughing and gasping for breath. Respiratory units of hospitals will get crowded. Politics will peak. The courts will reprimand the Centre and states. If pollution levels go off the charts like they often do schools will be shut, construction activity will halt and the road space-rationing scheme called Odd-Even will roll out. During the one-month period, we will basically hold our breath till the skies clear again -- after a few deaths and several cases of lung damage. But everything will be forgotten in the din of crucial state elections that await us. Little surprise that International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies (September 7) often goes under our radar, despite Delhi frequently ranking as the most polluted city in the world, with a rising death toll and age-reducing health complications. The previous generation cherished winters with Gulzar’s “jaadon ki narm dhoop” waali warm poetry. We now identify more with Shahryar’s rather dark description of the human condition: “Seene me jalan, aankhon mein toofan sa kyun hai” Or we make memes showing inhaling the air in Delhi during winters is like smoking, say, 20 cigarettes a day. WHAT’S BEHIND IT? But exactly what causes this mayhem? Government authorities keep commissioning inquiries and investigations, which are never conclusive. Chasing that elusive single factor becomes an excuse for inaction, many would argue. However, here is what is apparent to the naked eye. Since the monsoon is over and there is hardly any wind speed, this deadly cocktail doesn’t get cleared up. It’s the time of year when weather changes. The smoke from farm fires, coal-fired power plants, garbage burning, Diwali fireworks, besides vehicular and industrial emissions, get trapped in the fog to cause smog. Since the monsoon is over and there is hardly any wind speed, this deadly cocktail doesn’t get cleared up. But farm fires, primarily in Punjab but also in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, have been blamed the most for the winter smog in Delhi and the rest of North India. During the Kharif season, paddy is sown on three million hectares of land in Punjab, resulting in roughly 20 million tonnes of paddy crop residue every year. Half of it is mixed in the soil or used as fuel. The rest is burnt, usually from October 15 to November 15, because burning is a fast and economical way for farmers to clear the fields for the sowing of the Rabi season wheat crop. The time taken is crucial because the sowing window is short. Till last winter, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal blamed Punjab for turning the national capital into "a gas chamber". This will not be possible now because his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has replaced the Congress in Punjab as the ruling party. So, are things looking up now? Far from it. HEARTBURN AGAIN This time, Punjab sought Rs 1,125 crore from the BJP-ruled Centre to provide a cash incentive for farmers not to burn crop stubble. Punjab and Delhi wanted to contribute Rs 375 on their parts. Reports say that the Centre has rejected the proposal. “The cash incentive per acre will have to be reduced from the proposed Rs 2,500 to Rs 1,000,” said an AAP source. And this means fewer farmers will be encouraged not to set their farms on fire. Union agriculture ministry sources said that the Centre is doing its part and Punjab must do the rest. "We have sanctioned Rs 275 crore for supplying over 32,000 subsidised machines to manage paddy straw. In the past four years, we have provided Rs 1,145 crore for 90,000 such subsidised machines," said a source. The geography of Delhi-NCR makes it especially vulnerable to farm fires. Paddy is not a traditional or appropriate crop in the region where it is currently being raised primarily as a cash crop. “But paddy stalk is an organic material which is of use, maybe not economical for the farmer. And it is here that government authorities must come in and procure the stalk, even at a loss, for human and animal health cannot be compromised,” environmentalist Manoj Misra told IndiaToday.in. The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) are buying crop stubble from farmers for power generation and biofuel creation, respectively. This clearly needs to be scaled up. “Farms will need both in-situ and ex-situ measures to add value to straw. Leverage this crisis to build strategic opportunities for green recovery,” Anumita Roy Chowdhury, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), told IndiaToday.in.
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Thursday released a roadmap for legacy waste management in a bid to support India's garbage-free cities agenda. The CSE's seven-point roadmap includes developing a sustainable solid waste management plan, ensuring maximum utilisation of recovered fractions and reusing the reclaimed land sustainably on the basis of a comprehensive policy and protocol. The plan also includes developing standards for gainful use of recovered fractions, incentivising management of recovered materials, building capacity of urban departments and ensuring sustainable operation of sanitary landfills. "The term 'legacy waste' has received close attention in the wake of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) 2.0 and it mandates that cities in India should clear legacy waste sites, reclaim the land and prevent more waste from reaching dumpsites. "With 1,300 million tonnes of legacy waste lying in more than 3,000 dumpsites in the country, it is an onerous but doable task," CSE director general Sunita Narain said. Speaking at an event organised by the CSE on Legacy Waste Management and Dumpsite Remediation, Joint Secretary of Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry Roopa Mishra said the ministry has initiated a number of projects and schemes to encourage city administrations to make Indian cities garbage-free. "Every central government programme and policy is primed towards a singular aim - making Indian cities garbage-free. We have also initiated a number of projects and schemes to encourage the city administrations," Mishra said. Atin Biswas, programme director of solid waste management unit at CSE, said, "Although the term 'legacy waste' has not been defined in any official government document in India, it typically refers to old municipal solid waste in landfills or dumpsites." He said there is "no set standard" to define how old waste qualifies to be called legacy waste, which is usually a mix of partially or completely decomposed biodegradable waste, plastic waste, textiles, metals, glass and other components. According to CSE estimates, the cost for dumpsite remediation in India will add up to Rs 1,04,000 crore. "The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has committed substantial financial devolution to support the cities to meet the cost of legacy dumpsite remediation. As much as Rs 1,41,600 crore has been committed in the Union budget to support the mandate under SBM 2.0," CSE's Richa Singh said. At the event, Mishra and Narain released three new CSE publications.
The Centre for Science and Environment roadmap includes developing a sustainable solid waste management plan, ensuring maximum utilisation of recovered fractions and reusing the reclaimed land sustainably The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Thursday (September 15) released a roadmap for legacy waste management in a bid to support India’s garbage-free cities agenda. The CSE’s seven-point roadmap includes developing a sustainable solid waste management plan, ensuring maximum utilisation of recovered fractions and reusing the reclaimed land sustainably on the basis of a comprehensive policy and protocol. The plan also includes developing standards for gainful use of recovered fractions, incentivising management of recovered materials, building capacity of urban departments and ensuring sustainable operation of sanitary landfills. The term ‘legacy waste’ has received close attention in the wake of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) 2.0 and it mandates that cities in India should clear legacy waste sites, reclaim the land and prevent more waste from reaching dumpsites. With 1,300 million tonnes of legacy waste lying in more than 3,000 dumpsites in the country, it is an onerous but doable task, CSE director general Sunita Narain said. Speaking at an event organised by the CSE on Legacy Waste Management and Dumpsite Remediation, Joint Secretary of Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry Roopa Mishra said the ministry has initiated a number of projects and schemes to encourage city administrations to make Indian cities garbage-free. Every central government programme and policy is primed towards a singular aim – making Indian cities garbage-free. We have also initiated a number of projects and schemes to encourage the city administrations, Ms. Mishra said. Atin Biswas, programme director of solid waste management unit at CSE, said, Although the term ‘legacy waste’ has not been defined in any official government document in India, it typically refers to old municipal solid waste in landfills or dumpsites. He said there is “no set standard” to define how old waste qualifies to be called legacy waste, which is usually a mix of partially or completely decomposed biodegradable waste, plastic waste, textiles, metals, glass and other components. According to CSE estimates, the cost for dumpsite remediation in India will add up to Rs 1,04,000 crore. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has committed substantial financial devolution to support the cities to meet the cost of legacy dumpsite remediation. As much as Rs 1,41,600 crore has been committed in the Union budget to support the mandate under SBM 2.0, CSE’s Richa Singh said. At the event, Mishra and Narain released three new CSE publications. Waste management practitioners, regulators, government functionaries, scientists, experts and industry representatives, among others, participated in the event.
सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड इनवायरमेंट की रिपोर्ट के बाद रतलाम के लिए खुश खबर आई है। नेशनल क्लीन एयर प्रोग्राम याने एनसीएपी के अंतर्गत जिन शहरों का चुनाव किया गया था, उनमे रतलाम भी शामिल था। रतलाम. स्वच्छ भारत अभियान के बाद साल 2019 में वायु की गुणवत्ता में सुधार के लिए नेशनल क्लीन एयर प्रोग्राम शुरू किया गया था। इस प्रोग्राम के अंतर्गत रतलाम सहित देश के 132 शहरों में हवा के स्तर को सुधारने का लक्ष्य रखा गया था। 3 साल पूरे होने के बाद रतलाम की आबोहवा में बड़ा सुधार सामने आया है। 82 शहरों को मिला फंड नेशनल क्लीन एयर प्रोग्राम के अंतर्गत जिन 132 शहरों को चुना गया था, उनमें से 82 शहरों को एनसीएपी के तहत फंडिंग की गई थी। वहीं 50 शहरों को 15वें वित्त आयोग ने फंड से दिया गया था। एनसीएपी के लिए साल 2021-22 तक करीब 6.5 हजार करोड़ रुपये जारी हुए और साल 2022-23 में इस प्रोग्राम के लिए करीब 2.3 हजार करोड़ रुपये जारी होंगे। लॉकडाउन का हवा की गुणवत्ता पर प्रभाव साल 2019 में 132 एनसीएपी शहरों में से केवल 51 में रियल टाइम मॉनिटरिंग स्टेशन थे, फिर साल 2021 में यह संख्या बढ़कर 63 हो गई। इसमे रतलाम को भी शामिल किया गया। इसके बाद साल 2022 में अब तक छह और एनसीएपी शहरों ने रीयल टाइम मॉनिटर स्थापित किए गए हैं, लेकिन केवल 43 एनसीएपी शहरों में साल 2019 से 2021 के बीच पीएम 2.5 डेटा मॉनीटर किया गया, हालांकि इस समय में कोरोना महामारी के चलते देशभर में लॉकडाउन रहा। इस वजह से ज्यादातर शहरों में साल 2021 में हवा के गुणवत्ता स्तर में सुधार आया था लेकिन साल 2021 में फिर से पीएम 2.5 डेटा में बढ़ोतरी देखी गई। क्या है पीएम 2.5 और पीएम 10 आप हवा में उड़ती हुई धूल को तो देख ही लेते होंगे। धूल गले, आंख और नाक में घुस जाए तो बहुत परेशानी होती है लेकिन वायु प्रदूषण के पीछे पीएम 2.5 और पीएम 10 का बड़ा हाथ होता है। पीएम का मतलब होता पार्टिकुलेट मैटर और 2.5 से लेकर 10 इस मैटर या कण का आकार होता है। पार्टिकुलेट मैटर 2.5 से लेकर 10 माइक्रोस्कोपिक डस्ट पार्टिकल होते हैं, यानी इतने छोटे पार्टिकल जिसको देखने के लिए माइक्रोस्कोप की जरूरत पड़ जाए। हालांकि, इनका हमारी बॉडी में घुसना घातक और बेहद नुकसानदेय होता है।
In roughly a month, toxic air pollution will leave Delhi gasping again. But why have authorities failed to address this annual health emergency despite so much noise? And what needs to be done now? On Tuesday, many of us happily shared on social media photographs of Delhi’s clear and blue skyline. In roughly a month, the picture might dramatically change. From mid-October, like in previous years, a blanket of smog is likely to leave millions in Delhi and the rest of North India coughing and gasping for breath. Respiratory units of hospitals will get crowded. Politics will peak. The courts will reprimand the Centre and states. If pollution levels go off the charts like they often do schools will be shut, construction activity will halt and the road space-rationing scheme called Odd-Even will roll out. During the one-month period, we will basically hold our breath till the skies clear again -- after a few deaths and several cases of lung damage. But everything will be forgotten in the din of crucial state elections that await us. Little surprise that International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies (September 7) often goes under our radar, despite Delhi frequently ranking as the most polluted city in the world, with a rising death toll and age-reducing health complications. The previous generation cherished winters with Gulzar’s “jaadon ki narm dhoop” waali warm poetry. We now identify more with Shahryar’s rather dark description of the human condition: “Seene me jalan, aankhon mein toofan sa kyun hai” Or we make memes showing inhaling the air in Delhi during winters is like smoking, say, 20 cigarettes a day. WHAT’S BEHIND IT? But exactly what causes this mayhem? Government authorities keep commissioning inquiries and investigations, which are never conclusive. Chasing that elusive single factor becomes an excuse for inaction, many would argue. However, here is what is apparent to the naked eye. Since the monsoon is over and there is hardly any wind speed, this deadly cocktail doesn’t get cleared up. It’s the time of year when weather changes. The smoke from farm fires, coal-fired power plants, garbage burning, Diwali fireworks, besides vehicular and industrial emissions, get trapped in the fog to cause smog. Since the monsoon is over and there is hardly any wind speed, this deadly cocktail doesn’t get cleared up. During the Kharif season, paddy is sown on three million hectares of land in Punjab, resulting in roughly 20 million tonnes of paddy crop residue every year. Half of it is mixed in the soil or used as fuel. The rest is burnt, usually from October 15 to November 15, because burning is a fast and economical way for farmers to clear the fields for the sowing of the Rabi season wheat crop. The time taken is crucial because the sowing window is short. Till last winter, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal blamed Punjab for turning the national capital into "a gas chamber". This will not be possible now because his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has replaced the Congress in Punjab as the ruling party. So, are things looking up now? Far from it. HEARTBURN AGAIN This time, Punjab sought Rs 1,125 crore from the BJP-ruled Centre to provide a cash incentive for farmers not to burn crop stubble. Punjab and Delhi wanted to contribute Rs 375 on their parts. Reports say that the Centre has rejected the proposal. “The cash incentive per acre will have to be reduced from the proposed Rs 2,500 to Rs 1,000,” said an AAP source. And this means fewer farmers will be encouraged not to set their farms on fire. Union agriculture ministry sources said that the Centre is doing its part and Punjab must do the rest. "We have sanctioned Rs 275 crore for supplying over 32,000 subsidised machines to manage paddy straw. In the past four years, we have provided Rs 1,145 crore for 90,000 such subsidised machines," said a source. The geography of Delhi-NCR makes it especially vulnerable to farm fires. Paddy is not a traditional or appropriate crop in the region where it is currently being raised primarily as a cash crop. “But paddy stalk is an organic material which is of use, maybe not economical for the farmer. And it is here that government authorities must come in and procure the stalk, even at a loss, for human and animal health cannot be compromised,” environmentalist Manoj Misra told IndiaToday.in. The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) are buying crop stubble from farmers for power generation and biofuel creation, respectively. This clearly needs to be scaled up. “Farms will need both in-situ and ex-situ measures to add value to straw. Leverage this crisis to build strategic opportunities for green recovery,” Anumita Roy Chowdhury, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), told IndiaToday.in. Water bodies with water capture a lot of air pollutants which then do not re-enter the atmosphere, unlike the pollutants sitting on the ground or tree tops which a normal sweeping or windy condition can push back into the atmosphere. “Herein lies the opportunity to restore our water bodies that will also address the problem of flooding during monsoon,” Misra said. DIWALI FIREWORKS Like in the last two years, the Delhi government has re-imposed a complete ban on the production, sale and use of firecrackers till January 1, including on Diwali which falls in this one-month duration. But enforcement remains an issue. Not only are firecrackers sold, mostly in Delhi’s peripheral areas, they are also burst with impunity on Diwali night. Also Read | Amid ban on crackers, Delhi traders ask for exemption on green firecrackers In 2021, Delhi recorded its worst post-Diwali air quality in five years. This year, the situation might not be too different, with groups of citizens again slamming environment activists and even the judges for the cracker ban, saying only Hindu festivals are targeted when there are no studies to suggest that a night of fireworks is responsible for Delhi’s winter pollution. “All must rise above all kinds of politics including religious and strict ban must be put on any kind of crackers anywhere within Delhi-NCR,” Misra said. TOO MANY PLANS So, are authorities not doing anything? They are, but they are mostly planning their plans. The Delhi government has asked its various departments to submit their air pollution-control ‘plans’ by September 15 so that a 15-point action ‘plan’ can be launched to implement a Graded Response Action ‘Plan’ (GRAP) of the Centre’s Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has written to his counterpart at the Centre, Bhupender Yadav, seeking time to discuss and prepare a joint action ‘plan’ to save the national capital from the dangers of winter air pollution. Initially prepared by the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority or EPCA (now dissolved), GRAP will trigger, from October 1, measures from increasing parking rates to halting construction activity. This will depend on the severity of air pollution levels. The Delhi government is again talking about the spraying of bio-decomposer in paddy fields to help decompose stubble and prevent farm fires. QUIET KILLERS It’s not that nothing has been done. Authorities have shut down many coal-fired power plants, banned old and polluting vehicles and moved to cleaner fuel technologies to a large extent. But quiet killers go under the radar. While much focus remains on farm fires and Diwali fireworks, dust from construction and demolition activities is a quiet killer. If you visit any area in Delhi, say Dwarka, Shalimar Bagh or Vikaspuri, you will see many lanes full of construction material, and structures being built or demolished. Halting these works when a public health emergency has been announced helps but why not regulate them round the year instead of going for desperate firefighting? Also, in industrial areas, many small- and medium-sized units are still using dirty fuel. “You need to incentivise industry by saying those using clean fuel can run. Municipal authorities also need to push more for waste segregation, recycling, reuse and composting. This will also help control waste burning,” said Roy Chowdhury. If you visit any area in Delhi, say Dwarka, Shalimar Bagh or Vikaspuri, you will see many lanes full of construction material, and structures being built or demolished. Likewise, Delhi Metro is fine, but the overall public transport sector hasn't been adequately scaled up. That's why we see the astounding traffic volume of private vehicles on roads. “In short, we need massive clean fuel transition across all sectors, mobility transition (public transport, walking and cycling) to reduce automobile dependence, and a big shift in waste management (segregated collection, reuse, etc.) to reduce waste burning and construction and demolition waste,” she said. It's also important to adopt the polluter pays principle to change behaviour. “We need to do creative and strategic thinking. Authorities must ramp up action and identify priority areas for Delhi as well as the National Capital Region (NCR) that includes Uttar Pradesh's Noida and Ghaziabad and Haryana's Gurugram and Faridabad.” This is because air pollution doesn't honour political boundaries. It must be admitted that Delhi has succeeded in bending the pollution curve. But even after all this Delhi has yet to cut pollution by yet another 60 per cent to meet the clean air standards. “Imagine how ambitious the action needs to be for such deep cuts. This is a lesson for other cities and regions as well,” she said. THE WAY FORWARD Misra said winter pollution is a severe health crisis that should have been tackled on a war footing. Anywhere else, the entire region would have been put under an endless state of health emergency till the issue was resolved in its entirety, he said. “The Centre and states Punjab, Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have failed in their duties. It’s sad that whatever little has been done, has been done only after the Supreme Court started hearing petitions from citizens. A welfare state has repeatedly failed in its Raj Dharma," he said. He said politics, politicians and their antics aimed at capturing votes while ignoring such a critical subject is distressing. “But I would first blame the Delhi-NCR citizenry, to the last person, for failing to demand a permanent. State authorities can install air purifiers (whatever pollution prevention they might bring) but not the ordinary people.” "If a national lockdown can be imposed to prevent the spread of Covid, then why not a health emergency announcement?” - Manoj Misra, Environmentalist Roy Chowdhury said we must go beyond the reactive emergency action during winter to more deep-rooted round-the-year action to fix the systems, infrastructure, compliance strategy, monitoring, fiscal strategy and institutional capacity in each sector to get the big solution. “Responsibility for action will have to be fixed at all levels and across all sectors.” And what if the situation does not improve anytime soon? “See, most vulnerable are children, ailing populace, the elderly and daily-wagers like rickshaw pullers. So, the school holidays must be rejigged to coincide with the most critical winter period (between Dussehra and Christmas) and a special pollution-prevention wage must be provided to daily wagers,” Misra said. According to Misra, a health emergency must be imposed directing all to stay indoors within the entire Delhi-NCR, once farm fires start in areas surrounding Delhi-NCR. "If a national lockdown can be imposed to prevent the spread of Covid, then why not a health emergency announcement?” Because, no political or economic correctness can justify a lack of emergency measures, combined with a holistic long-term approach that cuts the governmental red tape, to tackle such a crisis.