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Urban Lab

North India most-polluted location in 2022 summers: CSE – Times of India

North India emerged as the most-polluted area in the place in summers this yr with Delhi-NCR remaining the hotspot, in accordance to a new examination by the Centre for Science and Setting (CSE). The eco-friendly believe-tank claimed the regular PM2.5 concentration in north India in summers stood at 71 microgram per cubic metre. It was 69 microgram per cubic metre in east India, 54 microgram for each cubic metre in west India, and 46 microgram per cubic metre in central India, it explained. Northeast India (35 microgram per cubic metre) and South India (31 microgram per cubic metre) were being cleaner in comparison to other locations, it said. In north India, Delhi-NCR was uncovered to be the most-polluted sub-region, with Bhiwadi reporting the optimum typical PM2.5 focus of 134 microgram for each cubic metre. Manesar noted average PM2.5 focus of 119 microgram for every cubic metre, Ghaziabad (101 microgram for each cubic metre), Delhi (97 microgram for every cubic metre), Gurugram (94 microgram for every cubic metre) and Noida (80 microgram per cubic metre), it said. PM2.5 summer season regular of Delhi-NCR region is practically 3 periods the average of the metropolitan areas in southern India. The CSE utilised granular serious-time info from the Central Pollution Handle Board’s portal — Central Management Space for Air Excellent Management for the investigation. The data is captured from 356 official stations beneath the Steady Ambient Air Good quality Monitoring Technique (CAAQMS) unfold throughout 174 metropolitan areas in 26 states and Union territories

Urban Lab

North India most-polluted region in 2022 summers: CSE – Times of India

North India emerged as the most-polluted region in the country in summers this year with Delhi-NCR being the hotspot, according to a new analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The green think-tank said the average PM2.5 concentration in north India in summers stood at 71 microgram per cubic metre. It was 69 microgram per cubic metre in east India, 54 microgram per cubic metre in west India, and 46 microgram per cubic metre in central India, it said. Northeast India (35 microgram per cubic metre) and South India (31 microgram per cubic metre) were cleaner compared to other regions, it said. In north India, Delhi-NCR was found to be the most-polluted sub-region, with Bhiwadi reporting the highest average PM2.5 concentration of 134 microgram per cubic metre. Manesar reported average PM2.5 concentration of 119 microgram per cubic metre, Ghaziabad (101 microgram per cubic metre), Delhi (97 microgram per cubic metre), Gurugram (94 microgram per cubic metre) and Noida (80 microgram per cubic metre), it said. PM2.5 summer average of Delhi-NCR region is almost three times the average of the cities in southern India. The CSE used granular real-time data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s portal — Central Control Room for Air Quality Management for the analysis. The data is captured from 356 official stations under the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) spread across 174 cities in 26 states and Union territories.

Urban Lab

North India most-polluted region in 2022 summers: CSE

North India emerged as the most-polluted region in the country in summers this year with Delhi-NCR being the hotspot, according to a new analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The green think-tank said the average PM2.5 concentration in north India in summers stood at 71 microgram per cubic metre. t was 69 microgram per cubic metre in east India, 54 microgram per cubic metre in west India, and 46 microgram per cubic metre in central India, it said. Northeast India (35 microgram per cubic metre) and South India (31 microgram per cubic metre) were cleaner compared to other regions, it said. In north India, Delhi-NCR was found to be the most-polluted sub-region, with Bhiwadi reporting the highest average PM2.5 concentration of 134 microgram per cubic metre. Manesar reported average PM2.5 concentration of 119 microgram per cubic metre, Ghaziabad (101 microgram per cubic metre), Delhi (97 microgram per cubic metre), Gurugram (94 microgram per cubic metre) and Noida (80 microgram per cubic metre), it said. PM2.5 summer average of Delhi-NCR region is almost three times the average of the cities in southern India. The CSE used granular real-time data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s portal—Central Control Room for Air Quality Management for the analysis. The data is captured from 356 official stations under the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) spread across 174 cities in 26 states and Union territories. PTI

Urban Lab

North India is most polluted, Delhi-NCR area a hotspot: Research

North India is most polluted with the Delhi-NCR area being a hotspot based on new information. A nationwide evaluation by the Centre for Science and Atmosphere (CSE) has put forth that the Particulate Matter2.5 common within the northern capital area is sort of 3 times the typical of cities in southern India. Whereas air pollution this summer time has been larger than air pollution final summer time; the very best each day peak of air pollution has been recorded in cities of Bihar. It’s also attention-grabbing to notice that it’s not the mega cities that are most polluted however smaller cities have change into air pollution hotspots. Bhiwandi in Rajasthan tops the record. The excessive stage of summer time air pollution is the results of a mixture of air pollution from autos, business, energy crops, waste burning, and mud sources and wind-blown mud, aggravated by warmth and arid circumstances. For the examine, information from March 1 to Might 31 has been thought-about. Apart from the truth that Delhi-NCR is essentially the most polluted, different main findings are that each day peak air pollution was the very best in east India, with cities of Bihar recording the very best ranges: Summer time each day peak PM2.5 ranges for east India stood at 168 µg/m³, the very best amongst all of the areas. North India with 142 µg/m³ summer time peak was the second worst. West India (106 µg/m³), central India (89 µg/m³), cortheast India (81 µg/m³) and south India (65 µg/m³) additionally recorded summer time peak in extra of 60 µg/m. Inside north India, Delhi NCR was discovered to be most polluted sub-region. The cities of Bihar recorded very excessive summer time PM2.5 averages, with Bihar Sharif reporting the very best summer time peak of 285 µg/m³. Katihar (245 µg/m³) and Patna (200 µg/m³) additionally recorded peak stage in extra of 200 µg/m³. Rohtak recorded the very best peak air pollution in north India with a 258 µg/m³ each day peak. One other key discovering is that north India has recorded a staggering 23 per cent improve in seasonal PM2.5 stage in comparison with the earlier summer time. Inside north India, NCR was the worst performing sub-region with 25.8 per cent improve in seasonal PM2.5 stage. Central India registered improve of 15.6 per cent whereas west India (4.2 per cent) and east India (1.8 per cent) registered improve below 5 per cent. South India confirmed no change within the seasonal common however noticed a decline of twenty-two per cent in seasonal peak. Northeast India registered drop in each seasonal common (-12.8 per cent) and seasonal peak (-18.3 per cent). East India was the one area which registered a rise in its seasonal peak in comparison with final summer time. In south India, eight cities present an growing development. Kozhikode noticed a bounce of 76 per cent in summer time common and 17 per cent improve in peak. Kochi has essentially the most divergent development with 55 per cent improve in the summertime common however its peak improve by 145 per cent. Different cities with growing development within the area are Madikeri, Bengaluru, Puducherry, Amravati, Chikkaballapur, and Thiruvananthapuram. “This evaluation identifies the distinctive patterns of air pollution throughout all areas and places a highlight on numerous cities and cities that don’t get coverage consideration. Summer time particulate air pollution spikes as a consequence of arid circumstances, excessive summer time warmth and temperature, and extra airborne mud particles that journey lengthy distances compounding the issue from native sources,” stated Anumita Roychowdhury, govt director, analysis and advocacy, CSE.

Urban Lab

North India most-polluted region in 2022 summers: CSE

Urban Lab

North India most polluted region in summer 2022: CSE – Times of India – India Times English News

North India emerged as the most polluted region in the country this summer, with Delhi-NCR being the hotspot, according to a new analysis. Science and Environment Center ,CSE, The green think-tank said that the average PM2.5 concentration in northern India in summer was 71 micrograms per cubic metre. It was 69 micrograms per cubic meter in East India, 54 micrograms per cubic meter in West India and 46 micrograms per cubic meter in Central India. Northeast India (35 micrograms per cubic metre) and South India (31 micrograms per cubic metre) were cleaner than other regions, it said. In northern India, Delhi-NCR was found to be the most polluted sub-region, with Bhiwadi recording the highest average PM2.5 concentration of 134 micrograms per cubic metre. Manesar reported an average PM2.5 concentration of 119 micrograms per cubic metre, Ghaziabad (101 micrograms per cubic metre), Delhi (97 micrograms per cubic metre). Gurugram (94 micrograms per cubic metre) and Noida (80 micrograms per cubic metre), it said. The PM2.5 summer average of the Delhi-NCR region is almost three times that of the cities in southern India. The CSE used real-time data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s portal – Central Control Room for Air Quality Management – for analysis. The data has been captured from 356 official stations under the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) spread over 174 cities in 26 states and union territories.

Urban Lab

North India most-polluted region in 2022 summers: CSE – Times of India

Urban Lab

North India most polluted region in summer 2022: CSE : The Tribune IndiaNews JANI

According to a new analysis by the Center for Science and Environment (CSE), north India has emerged as the most polluted region in the country this summer with the Delhi-NCR hotspot. The green think-tank said the average PM2.5 concentration in northern India during summer was 71 micrograms per cubic metre. It was 69 micrograms per cubic meter in eastern India, 54 micrograms per cubic meter in western India and 46 micrograms per cubic meter in central India, it said. Northeast India (35 micrograms per cubic meter) and south India (31 micrograms per cubic meter) were cleaner than other regions, it said. In North India, Delhi-NCR was found to be the most polluted sub-region, with Bhiwadi having the highest average PM2.5 concentration of 134 micrograms per cubic metre. The average PM2.5 concentration in Manesa is 119 micrograms per cubic meter, Ghaziabad (101 micrograms per cubic meter), Delhi (97 micrograms per cubic meter), Gurugram (94 micrograms per cubic meter) and Noida (80 micrograms per cubic meter). The Delhi-NCR region’s summer average PM2.5 is almost three times the average for South Indian cities. CSE used granular real-time data from Central Control Room for Air Quality Management – Central Pollution Control Board’s portal for analysis. Data were collected from 356 official stations under the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) spread over 174 cities in 26 states and union territories. PTI

Urban Lab

North India’s most polluted region in summer 2022: CSE: The Tribune IndiaNews WAALI

Northern India has emerged as the country’s most polluted region during the summers this year, with Delhi-NCR being the hotspot, according to a new analysis by the Center for Science and Environment (CSE). The green think tank said the average summer PM2.5 concentration in north India is 71 micrograms per cubic metre. It was 69 micrograms per cubic meter in East India, 54 micrograms per cubic meter in West India and 46 micrograms per cubic meter in Central India, it said. - Advertisement - Northeast India (35 micrograms per cubic meter) and southern India (31 micrograms per cubic meter) are cleaner compared to other regions, it said. In northern India, Delhi-NCR was identified as the most polluted sub-region, with Bhiwadi reporting the highest average PM2.5 concentration of 134 micrograms per cubic metre. - Advertisement - Manesar reported an average PM2.5 concentration of 119 micrograms per cubic metre, Ghaziabad (101 micrograms per cubic metre), Delhi (97 micrograms per cubic metre), Gurugram (94 micrograms per cubic metre) and Noida (80 micrograms per cubic metre). it said. The PM2.5 summer average of the Delhi-NCR region is almost three times the average of cities in southern India. The CSE used real-time, granular data from the Central Pollution Control Board portal – Central Control Room for Air Quality Management – for the analysis. Data is collected from 356 official stations as part of the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) spread across 174 cities in 26 states and union territories.

Urban Lab

Delhi-NCR emerges as the most polluted city in north India; North India the most polluted region in the country

North India emerged as the most-polluted region in the country in summers this year with Delhi-NCR being the hotspot, according to a new analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). North India emerged as the most-polluted region in the country in summers this year with Delhi-NCR being the hotspot, according to a new analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The green think-tank said the average PM2.5 concentration in north India in summers stood at 71 microgram per cubic metre. It was 69 microgram per cubic metre in east India, 54 microgram per cubic metre in west India, and 46 microgram per cubic metre in central India, it said. Northeast India (35 microgram per cubic metre) and South India (31 microgram per cubic metre) were cleaner compared to other regions, it said. In north India, Delhi-NCR was found to be the most-polluted sub-region, with Bhiwadi reporting the highest average PM2.5 concentration of 134 microgram per cubic metre. Manesar reported an average PM2.5 concentration of 119 microgram per cubic metre, Ghaziabad (101 microgram per cubic metre), Delhi (97 microgram per cubic metre), Gurugram (94 microgram per cubic metre) and Noida (80 microgram per cubic metre), it said. PM2.5 summer average of Delhi-NCR region is almost three times the average of the cities in southern India. The CSE used granular real-time data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s portal — Central Control Room for Air Quality Management for the analysis.

Urban Lab

Inhabitable homes!

The habitability of housing, rather than just its availability, will be an important factor in the future, given the trends in climate change The summer of 2022 has been the second-hottest since 2010, according to Delhi-based think tank, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The winter, monsoon and post-monsoon are also warming up. The mere availability of housing is no longer sufficient in such a scenario. It should also be 'habitable'. Regular heatwaves in previous years have led to abnormal and uncomfortably high daytime night-time temperatures, especially in cities. This happens due to the inability of an urban area to cool down after sunset as it gets flooded with heat exhaust from thousands of air conditioners. The stress of climate change is even worse in the case of housing which is congested. No access to ventilation in the house adds up to the adversity. The same housing space is used for different functions and is shared between multiple members. The unavailability of cooling options and material quality of the housing unit (for example asbestos roofs) further make the occupants more vulnerable. This also directly affects the productivity and health of the household members. Improvising housing conditions also becomes difficult due to the limited availability of capital and resources. The occupants of such housing are usually the urban poor. Chandni Singh, senior researcher at Indian Institute for Human Settlements and a lead author at Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, had told the BBC this summer: "Poor people have fewer resources to cool down as well as fewer options to stay inside, away from the heat." The scope of the human right to adequate housing is guaranteed by Article 11.1 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. It was elaborated by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in its General Comment 4 on 'The right to adequate housing.' The Committee established that in order for housing to be adequate, it must, at a minimum, include seven core elements. These are legal security of tenure, availability of services, affordability, habitability, accessibility, location and cultural adequacy. The case of Delhi Some 32.2 per cent of Delhi's population (including both rural and urban) stays in single-room dwellings, according to the Delhi Statistical Handbook 2013. They are followed by 29.6 per cent of those staying in homes with two rooms. The case of Delhi Some 32.2 per cent of Delhi's population (including both rural and urban) stays in single-room dwellings, according to the Delhi Statistical Handbook 2013. They are followed by 29.6 per cent of those staying in homes with two rooms. Since 1990, Delhi has witnessed an urban restructuring through forced eviction and peripheral resettlement of homes and families. After the Emergency, these past few decades have seen the largest rise in such forced evictions. Ayona Dutta, then a senior lecturer in the School of Geography, University of Leeds, had noted in 2013: "With the law on their side, politicians, middle-classes, business investors, and multinational corporations have been largely successful in removing the urban poor from the 'legal' city." Narela and Bawana have turned into holding areas for Delhi's 'illegal' residents who were approved for legal housing as long as they left the city. Eligible' squatters in Delhi used to receive a 25 square metre plot of land with a freehold title in the 1970s and 1980s. They now receive only a 12.5 square metre allotment with a 10-year lease that they cannot sell or pass on to their descendants. Families have got a parcel of land measuring 12 or 18 square metres on lease in resettlement colonies like Sawda Ghewra, Madanpur Khadar and Prayog Vihar, among other places. The size of the plot remains independent of the size of the household. This further increases the congestion. Sudha, a resident of Madanpur Khadar, lives in a single-room house with her two children and husband. She is a domestic worker and her husband works as a loading and unloading worker. They shifted into their current house in 1999, after the demolition of their basti (slum) in Yamuna Pushta. They were allocated a plot of size 12 square metres over which they incrementally built their house. Currently, the house has one room with a toilet built outside. Inside the room, there is a family's double bed, a kitchen slab in one corner and a washing machine tightly fitted between the two. The house has two openings. One is a door and the other is a small opening above it. Sudha is particular about her cooking timings in the afternoon as cooking traps heat in the house which finds no way to escape. She mentioned how cooking during peak afternoon increased the temperature of the room, after which sitting in it was extremely uncomfortable. Hence, deciding hours for cooking and adjusting timings for her work is crucial. During her regular work days, she prefers to cook lunch and breakfast at the same time in the morning before leaving for work. The same room is used by the members in different capacities at different times: For sleeping, watching TV (tucked on one of the four walls), cooking, studying and others. Building houses with independent kitchens and multiple rooms is not possible in these resettlement plots provided by the state. Also, the state doesn't provide any financial incentives to people for building their houses. Incrementally building the housing unit seems to be the only way of moving forward, according to Raghav, a resident of Sawda Ghewra. "When we first came here, there was nothing. The government's bus just left us here on the outskirts. No transport, no water. There was only electricity. We first built the house with bamboo and tarpaulin, later with asbestos and now it is pucca, as you can see," he said. Currently, many households have successfully built two to three floors in Sawda with an increase in income over time. But incremental development of housing takes time, which leaves the population to adjust to the limited space and services. Securing land titles and basic structure becomes more important for the citizens than emphasising the habitability of the space. DTE

Sustainable Food Systems

Science in daily life: क्या होता हैं जंक फ़ूड और कैसे रहता है महीनों तक फ़ूड सेफ?

जंक फ़ूड वो प्रोसेस्ड फ़ूड होता है जिसमें पोषक तत्वों की कमी होती है तथा फैट, शुगर, कार्बोहाइड्रेट और साल्ट की मात्रा अधिक होती हैI जंक फ़ूड को महीनों तक संरक्षित रखने के लिए प्रिजरवेटिव का इस्तेमाल होता हैI आइये जानें क्या होते हैं जंक फ़ूड? कैसे होता है इनका महीनों तक संरक्षण? और कैसे पहुंचाते हैं शरीर को नुकसान? Science in daily life: आज भागदौड़ की जिन्दगी में लोगों के पास समय की कमी ने जंक फ़ूड के इस्तेमाल को बढ़ा दिया हैI बच्चों से लेकर युवा और वृद्ध भी इस पैक्ड फ़ूड की ओर आकर्षित हो रहे हैं, जिससे दिनोंदिन इसकी मांग बढ़ रही हैI लेकिन क्या आप जानते हैं इन पैक्ड फास्टफूड या जंक फ़ूड को महीनों तक फ्रेश और सुरक्षित रखने के लिए इसमें कौन से कैमिकल और प्रिजरवेटिव इस्तेमाल होते हैं? और ये हमारे शरीर को कितना ज्यादा नुकसान पहुंचता है? आइये जानें जंक फ़ूड के बारे में कुछ महत्वपूर्ण बातें क्या होता है जंक फ़ूड ? भारतीय चिकित्सा अनुसंधान परिषद (ICMR) के अनुसार, जंक फूड प्रोसेस्ड फ़ूड है जिसमें पोषक तत्वों की कमी तथा नमक, चीनी और फैट की मात्रा अधिक होती है। जंक फूड हाई कैलोरी वाले खाद्य पदार्थ होते हैं, जिनको लंबे समय तक सुरक्षित रखने के लिए प्रिजरवेटिव का इस्तेमाल किया जाता हैI इन खाद्य पदार्थों की मांग बढ़ाने के लिए आकर्षक पैकेजिंग और स्वादिष्ट बनाने के लिए विभिन्न रसायनों का इस्तेमाल किया जाता हैI इनमें व्यावसायिक उत्पाद जिनमें नमकीन स्नैक फूड, गम, कैंडी, शक्कर युक्त मिठाइयां, तला हुआ भोजन और मीठे कार्बोनेटेड पेय शामिल हैं, जो बहुत ही कम या बिना पौष्टिक होते हैं, इनमें ज्यादा नमक, शुगर और वसा होती है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट ने एक अध्ययन में बताया है कि, भारत में बिकने वाले ज्यादातर पैकेज्ड फूड और फास्ट फूड में नमक, शुगर और वसा की बहुत अधिक मात्रा होती है। अध्ययन में कहा गया है कि खाद्य सुरक्षा और मानक प्राधिकरण (FSSAI) द्वारा निर्धारित मानकों की तुलना में इन जंक फ़ूड में साल्ट, शुगर, कार्बोहाइड्रेट और फैट बहुत अधिक मात्रा में पाया गया है। जंक फ़ूड के ज्यादा इस्तेमाल से शरीर में अतिरिक्त वसा, कार्बोहाइड्रेट और शुगर की मात्रा बढ़ जाती है जिससे मोटापा और हृदय सम्बन्धित रोगों का खतरा भी बढ़ जाता है। परिणामस्वरूप बीपी, ओबेसिटी जैसे रोगों के कारण हार्ट अटैक की समस्या भी युवाओं में बढ़ती हैI अध्य्यन में ऐसा भी सामने आया है कि, जंक फूड के अधिक सेवन से मस्तिष्क उसी तरह प्रभावित होता है जैसे नशे की दवाओं का सेवन करने से होता है। कैसे लम्बे समय तक संरक्षित रहते हैं ये फ़ूड ? देश में व्यस्त लाइफ के साथ पैक्ड फ़ूड की डिमांड भी लगातार बढती जा रही है, क्या आप जानते हैं कि, होटल, रेस्टोरेंट और दुकानों में मिलने वाला ये पैक्ड फ़ूड सेहत के लिए कितना हानिकारक है? इन पैक्ड फ़ूड को महीनों तक संरक्षित रखने के लिए विभिन्न तरह के प्रिजरवेटिव का प्रयोग किया जाता है जो हमारे शरीर में पहुँच के स्वास्थ्य को नकारात्मक रूप से प्रभावित करते हैंI प्रिजरवेटिव, खाद्य पदार्थों में, रासायनिक परिवर्तनों, जैसे ऑक्सीकरण या फंगस से खाने को खराब होने से बचाने के लिए, तथा खाने को फ्रेश बनाए रखने के लिए उपयोग किए जाने वाले कई कैमिकल होते हैंI जैसे एंटीमाइकोटिक्स फलों के रस, पनीर, ब्रेड जैसे उत्पादों में फंगस के विकास को रोकते हैं और सूखे फल आदि में सोडियम और कैल्शियम प्रोपियोनेट और सॉर्बिक एसिड का प्रयोग होता है। एंटीऑक्सिडेंट (जैसे, ब्यूटाइलेटेड हाइड्रॉक्सीटोल्यूइन, या बीएचटी) विभिन्न प्रकार के फैट और तेल युक्त खाद्य पदार्थों में ऑक्सीकरण द्वारा उत्पादित बासीपन को रोकने के लिए प्रयोग किये जाते हैं। सोडियम नाइट्रेट का प्रयोग मांस को सड़ने से बचाने के लिए और खाने में बैक्टीरिया के विकास को रोकने के लिए किया जाता हैI वहीँ बेक्ड फ़ूड के संरक्षण के लिए एंटीस्टालिंग एजेंट (जैसे, ग्लाइसेरिल मोनोस्टियरेट) का इस्तेमाल किया जाता है। माना जाता है कि ये पदार्थ स्टार्च से पानी की कमी को रोककर काम करते हैं।

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

North India is most polluted, Delhi-NCR region a hotspot: Study

Daily peak pollution highest in Bihar cities North India is most polluted with the Delhi-NCR region being a hotspot according to new data. A national assessment by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has put forth that the Particulate Matter2.5 average in the northern capital region is almost three times the average of cities in southern India. While pollution this summer has been higher than pollution last summer; the highest daily peak of pollution has been recorded in cities of Bihar. It is also interesting to note that it is not the mega cities which are most polluted but smaller cities have become pollution hotspots. Bhiwandi in Rajasthan tops the list. The high level of summer pollution is the result of a combination of pollution from vehicles, industry, power plants, waste burning, and dust sources and wind-blown dust, aggravated by heat and arid conditions. For the study, data from March 1 to May 31 has been considered. Besides the fact that Delhi-NCR is the most polluted, other major findings are that daily peak pollution was the highest in east India, with cities of Bihar recording the highest levels: Summer daily peak PM2.5 levels for east India stood at 168 µg/m³, the highest among all the regions. North India with 142 µg/m³ summer peak was the second worst. West India (106 µg/m³), central India (89 µg/m³), cortheast India (81 µg/m³) and south India (65 µg/m³) also recorded summer peak in excess of 60 µg/m. Within north India, Delhi NCR was found to be most polluted sub-region. The cities of Bihar recorded very high summer PM2.5 averages, with Bihar Sharif reporting the highest summer peak of 285 µg/m³. Katihar (245 µg/m³) and Patna (200 µg/m³) also recorded peak level in excess of 200 µg/m³. Rohtak recorded the highest peak pollution in north India with a 258 µg/m³ daily peak. Another key finding is that north India has recorded a staggering 23 per cent increase in seasonal PM2.5 level compared to the previous summer. Within north India, NCR was the worst performing sub-region with 25.8 per cent increase in seasonal PM2.5 level. Central India registered increase of 15.6 per cent while west India (4.2 per cent) and east India (1.8 per cent) registered increase under five per cent. South India showed no change in the seasonal average but saw a decline of 22 per cent in seasonal peak. Northeast India registered drop in both seasonal average (-12.8 per cent) and seasonal peak (-18.3 per cent). East India was the only region which registered an increase in its seasonal peak compared to last summer. In south India, eight cities show an increasing trend. Kozhikode saw a jump of 76 per cent in summer average and 17 per cent increase in peak. Kochi has the most divergent trend with 55 per cent increase in the summer average but its peak increase by 145 per cent. Other cities with increasing trend in the region are Madikeri, Bengaluru, Puducherry, Amravati, Chikkaballapur, and Thiruvananthapuram. “This analysis identifies the unique patterns of pollution across all regions and puts a spotlight on a large number of towns and cities that do not get policy attention. Summer particulate pollution spikes due to arid conditions, high summer heat and temperature, and more airborne dust particles that travel long distances compounding the problem from local sources,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE.

Urban Lab

Delhi hotspot of pollution, finds report

NEW DELHI: Battered by heatwaves and high Particulate Matter (PM) concentration, Delhi-NCR emerged as a major pollution hotspot in North India this summer, a time of the year, which usually does not see high pollution levels, said a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report on Wednesday which was based on a nationwide assessment of summer pollution. Summer this year was not only unusually hot but also uncharacteristically high on particulate pollution, especially in North India. High PM 2.5 levels were observed not just in megacities but in smaller towns and cities as well, said the report. According to the report, North India was the most polluted with Delhi -NCR being the hotspot. Within the NCR, Bhiwadi in Rajasthan reported the highest PM 2.5 average of 134 µg/m³. This was followed by Manesar (119 µg/m³), Ghaziabad (101 µg/m³), Delhi (97 µg/m³), Gurugram (94 µg/m³) and Noida (80 µg/m³), the report states. “The PM2.5 average of NCR region is almost three times the average of the cities in southern India,” it said. The findings have emerged from the analysis of summer air quality undertaken as part of the air quality tracker initiative of the Urban Lab at CSE. However, daily peak pollution levels were found to be the highest in east India 168ug/m3, with cities of Bihar recording the highest levels. North India with 142 µg/m³ summer peak was the second worst in the country. Avikal Somvanshi, senior programme manager at the Urban Lab, said that average pollution this summer is higher than the previous summer. North India has recorded a staggering 23% increase in seasonal PM2.5 levels compared to the previous summer based on an average of cities that have valid daily PM2.5 concentration data of both summers (1 March to 31 May). “Within the region, NCR was the worst performing sub-region with 25.8% increase in seasonal PM2.5 level. Central India registered increase of 15.6% while West India (4.2%) and East India (1.8%) registered increase under 5%,” it said. High summer pollution is a result of a combination of pollution from vehicles, industry, power plants, waste burning, and dust sources and wind-blown dust, aggravated by heat and arid conditions. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of CSE, said, “Due to heat conditions and growing desertification, summer months usually see high dust impacts. The dust is also a carrier of toxic substances from combustion sources including vehicles, industry, power plants etc. This requires significant tightening of action to control emissions from each pollution source as well as massive efforts to combat desertification, improve soil stabilisation, green-walling through afforestation, and reduce the heat island effect in cities,” she said.

Down To Earth

Remembering Anil Agarwal : The visionary environmentalist who predicted our future

A tribute to one of the pioneers who looked into the future and predicted the environmental mess we find ourselves in today. Also extracts from three remarkable obituaries published in 2002 When Anil passed away in the year 2002, he left behind a void which has been difficult to fill. But he also left behind a vision, and he injected in all of us that same incredible passion and drive which he was known for. ADVERTISING Today, as we receive yet another applause for all that he and CSE have stood for and continue standing for, we cannot but feel proud that we were led by someone like him in our formative years. Anil Agarwal, the founder-director of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), was a man unmatched for the sheer fire in his belly, and for his commitment. Anil had graduated as an engineer from one of India's leading engineering colleges in 1970 but gave up a promising technical career to become a science journalist. In 1974, as a science correspondent in New Delhi with Hindustan Times, one of the country's leading dailies, Anil discovered India's most evocative environmental movement -- Chipko. His story was the first reportage on a people's movement to protect the environment, in India or probably anywhere else in the developing world. In 1980, he founded CSE, one of India's first environmental NGOs to analyse and study the relationship between environment and development and also to create public consciousness about the need for sustainable development. In 1982, the Centre -- under his guidance -- published the pioneering Citizens' Report on the State of India's Environment, which provided the first-of-its-kind overview of the level of environmental degradation in the country and its impact on the people of India. The publication of the second Citizens' Report in 1985 caught the eye of the then Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, who asked Anil to address his Councilof Ministers, a rare invitation for an Indian writer. In 1992, Anil launched Down To Earth, the fortnightly newsmagazine on science, environment and development. Five years later, in 1997, came his exhaustive study on traditional water harvesting systems of India -- Dying Wisdom - which went on to become one of most acclaimed and respected works on the subject. For Anil, life began and ended with work. When you think back, it is truly amazing how much he managed to do in the years as he battled cancer. I remember when we first found out that he had a rare and possibly fatal lymphoma, which had spread to his brain, his spine and his eyes, his only response was, "Is there a possible treatment?" He took the horrendous chemotherapy so calmly that being with him, you would think it was a simple stomach pain. Knowledge was his biggest passion and he never assumed that he had learnt all there was to know. This, to me, is his most endearing message. Till the end he listened to people, travelled and read, as if he was a cub reporter. It is because of this, his intellectual legacy is enormously rich. In the 1980s the fledgling environmental movement got its basis as he established the need for poor countries to be concerned about the environment. Environment for the poor was not a luxury but a matter of survival, he wrote. He conceptualised the alternative economic paradigm of the poor, arguing that the rural poor lived within what he called, "the biomass-based subsistence economy". That is, they lived on the environment as all their basic survival needs, from food to firewood, was collected and used. He mocked our economists who measured welfare in terms of the Gross National Product and demanded instead that poverty should be measured in terms of Gross Natural Product and indicators like the number of hours it takes women to collect water or firewood, should be used to calculate the improvements in our economy. Today, all this is common knowledge. But for someone who has journeyed with him, I know how difficult each step was. In the late 1980s we wrote a book, Towards Green Villages, which outlined how rural regeneration was more to do with decentralisation and devolution of power than with planting trees or smokeless stoves (which were in fashion then). Again, this is well accepted today. But as our correspondence over this publication will reveal, many people disagreed with us, and violently. Every period of his life was a new chapter of discovery. Our book, forced us to fight the most powerful research institutions of the industrialised world. The campaign on air pollution made us take on the powerful automobile industry. But Anil never ever let us, even for one moment, feel that we were less powerful. This is because his faith in democracy was total. As long as we were absolutely sure about our facts, we could challenge the world. "If we have good knowledge and we have social capital -- friends and experts willing to cooperate with us -- we can work Indian democracy," was what he said again and again to us. For Anil, democracy was not a "good idea" to paraphrase Mahatma Gandhi in the current context of Indian politics, it was his way of life. It is because of this belief that Anil was able to find the balance in the challenge: markets were important as much as participatory democracy at the village level. Anil was honoured with the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan, two of the nation's highest civilian awards, by the Government of India. Anil chaired the Environment Liaison Centre — the world's largest network of environmental NGOs based in Nairobi (Kenya). In 1987, the United Nations Environment Programme elected him to its Global 500 Honour Roll. Anil spent considerable travelling to various parts of rural India to document community-based environmental regeneration efforts in villages. His reportage and writings helped Indian policy-makers understand the importance of involving people in environmental conservation and natural resource management. Anil also had a deep interest in the management of pollution, especially air pollution, and the threat that environmental change poses to public health. At the global level, he argued for equitable arrangements in dealing with the global warming problem. "Forensic rigour combined with passion" was how a leading journalist from the UK described CSE's work. This was Anil's key quality and what he has left behind for us to emulate. His last many years went in building up two campaigns — to push for community involvement in water management and to clean up Delhi's air. My last memory of him — barely minutes before he died — was Anil correcting me about something I was saying to a journalist on the phone about the report of the Mashelkar Committee on the auto fuel policy. I will miss his guidance. His presence. But I know he will remain with us to keep us on our toes. To keep the fire burning. For readers of Down To Earth we have a particular promise. It was Anil's dream to start a science and environment newsmagazine. He wrote in its inaugural issue: "Down To Earth is not the product of a desire to capture a share of the information market. It is the product of a need that we feel within us, a desire to fill a critical information gap." He worked very hard to bring to you his knowledge and his passion. We will try and keep up the same. We are all clear we can never replace Anil. But we will do our best to be his foot soldiers. Down To Earth will continue to be Anil's strident voice of reason. Today and forever. LOOKING BACK: 2002 ( Extracts from some of the obituaries published in 2002) Tony Juniper in The Guardian Anil Agarwal, who has died aged 54 of cancer, was one of the world's most important environmentalists, campaigning from a developing country — India — at a when many of the international debates around sustainable development were dominated by the west. He established one of his country's most dynamic non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and broadened its campaigning to embrace development and social justice questions. A pioneer who recognised the futility of trading off the needs of people and the environment against each other, he realised that both had to be protected simultaneously. In this respect, he was one of the first campaigners to talk about what became known as sustainable development. In some respects, that shift in thinking mirrored Agarwal's personal journey. In 1986, he had advised Rajiv Gandhi's council of ministers that it should prioritise rural environmental issues because it was forest and soil degradation that affected the lives of poor Indians. He was to later regret giving this steer to the policymakers, as the effects of western-style development became increasingly apparent in the soaring pollution levels that caused misery to millions of India's city-dwellers. During the preparatory meetings leading to the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Agarwal emerged as one of the leading NGO advocates for a fairer world order. Critical of western governments, their giant corporations and the economic philosophy they stood for, he helped shape a new movement that today regards fundamental changes to capitalism and the economic relations between countries as a prerequisite for environmental security. He sought to convince India and other developing countries that following the western development model would prove costly and dangerous. He believed that one of the greatest dangers facing India was its failure to learn from the mistakes of the West. David Dickson in NATURE There can't be many science journalists who, having described the government of their country as a “persistent pest” in need of a “truly deadly pesticide”, have been praised at their death by both the president and prime minister of that country as a national hero. But Anil Agarwal, whose death on 2 January at the age of 54 ended a long fight against cancer, was no ordinary science journalist. A passionate and articulate campaigner for environmental justice, embracing issues ranging from water quality in rural India to the need for global controls on carbon emissions to limit climate change, Agarwal won respect from friends and enemies alike. Agarwal spearheaded the creation of a new form of activism. It was based on a commitment to sound scientific knowledge, combined with the idea that worries about the natural environment, and its destruction by the by-products of modern technologies, is not just a luxury of the industrialized world, but a major concern to the poor of developing countries too. This idea is commonplace today, and forms the cornerstone of the World Summit on Sustainable Development. Amita Baviskar in Frontline Agarwal's skill in mounting sustained and hard-hitting environmental campaigns is best exemplified in his work against vehicular pollution. The CSE's 1996 study report titled Slow Murder showed Agarwal at his best, brilliantly dissecting the problem, assigning responsibility and not hesitating to name names. The CSE pointed out how petroleum refineries, automobile manufacturers and regulatory authorities, as well as skewed transport priorities, have variously contributed to the poisoning of air in metropolitan India. Its analysis was followed by a concerted media campaign which precipitated a series of events that finally led to the Supreme Court's orders regarding the phasing out and conversion of polluting vehicles in Delhi. The masterly use of evidence in the study embarrassed several corporate firms into cleaning up their act, at least on the surface. While air quality has improved in the national capital thanks in part to Agarwal's initiative, the controversy over whether compressed natural gas (CNG) is the best alternative fuel rages on after the demise of its leading votary. Agarwal will also be remembered for his compelling intervention in the international debate on climate change. He called the negotiation a case of 'environmental colonialism' that refused to recognise the huge disparity between the North and the South in the consumption of resources, and which nations bore primary responsibility for global warming. The politics of production and consumption, both global and local, was a key theme in Agarwal's work. By identifying unexplored environmental problems and addressing them cogently, he set the agenda for all environmental NGOs involved in research and awareness-building. His opus, and that of the CSE, has inspired and informed an entire generation of environmentalists.

Down To Earth

Dr Tara Bedi calls for ending child labour by 2025

Penukonda (Sathya Sai): Development Economist of UN Projects Dr Tara Bedi stated that the all world leaders agreed to build a greener, fairer, better world by 2030 and India will play a crucial role in achieving it. Talking to The Hans India as part of her visit to 'Young India' project in Penukonda, Bedi said India has slipped three spots from last year's 117 to rank 120 on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted as part of 2030 agenda by 192 United Nations member states. With the latest rankings, India is now behind all south Asian nations except Pakistan, which stands at 129. The south Asian countries ahead of India are Bhutan ranked 75, Sri Lanka 87, Nepal 96 and Bangladesh 109. According to the Centre for Science and Environment's State of India's Environment Report 2022, she said that India's rank dropped primarily because of major challenges in 11 SDGs including zero hunger, good health and wellbeing, gender equality and sustainable cities and communities. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They recognise that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests. It also includes, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace, justice and strong institutions and lastly strengthening global partnerships for the goals. If we promote job creation with expanded access to banking and financial services, we can make sure that everybody gets the benefits of entrepreneurship and innovation, she added. Governments, she felt should take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of worst forms of child labour by 2025 end in all its forms.