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दिल्‍ली को कितना नुकसान पहुंचा रहे कूड़े के पहाड़? विशेषज्ञों से जानें

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट में वायु प्रदूषण विशेषज्ञ विवेक चट्टोपाध्‍याय बताते हैं कि भलस्‍वा लैंडफिल साइट पर काफी ज्‍यादा मात्रा में कूड़ा जल रहा है. इस दौरान धुआं काफी जहरीला होता है. उसमें पार्टिकुलेट मैटर तो होगा ही. इसमें प्‍लास्टिक जलाने से पैदा होने वाले विषाक्‍त तत्‍व भी नई दिल्‍ली. राजधानी दिल्‍ली तीन ओर से तीन कूड़े के पहाड़ों से घिरी हुई है. इनमें भलस्‍वा लैंडफिल साइट, ओखला और गाजीपुर कूड़े का पहाड़ शामिल हैं. ये तीनों कूड़े के पहाड़ दिल्‍ली के तीन अलग-अलग नगर निगमों के अंतर्गत आते हैं. हाल ही में भलस्‍वा लैंडफिल साइट में आग लगने से एक बार फिर कूड़े के पहाड़ों की ओर सभी का ध्‍यान गया है लेकिन छह दिन से लगातार जल रहे इस ढेर की आग अभी तक नहीं बुझाई जा सकी है. इसमें से जानलेवा धुआं और जहरीली गैसें लगातार निकल रही हैं जो न केवल आसपास के इलाके में बल्कि पूरी दिल्‍ली की हवा को दूषित कर रही हैं. स्‍वास्‍थ्‍य और पर्यावरण से जुड़े विशेषज्ञों की मानें तो ये कूड़े के पहाड़ दिल्‍ली के वातावरण और हवा को जहरीली बनाने के साथ ही लोगों के स्‍वास्‍थ्‍य को भारी नुकसान पहुंचा रहे हैं. दिल्‍ली के तीन इलाकों में बने इन कूड़े के पहाड़नुमा ढेर में हर साल ही आग लगने की सूचनाएं मिलती हैं. दिल्‍ली की गंदगी को समेटे इन ढेरों में लगातार मीथेन गैस बनती है इस वजह से भी यहां आग लगने की घटनाएं होती हैं. दिल्‍ली में सामान्‍य जगहों पर भी आग लगाने में पाबंदी है लेकिन कई सौ एकड़ में फैले इन पहाड़ों में जब तब आग लगती है और जहरीली गैसें वायुमंडल में तैरने लगती हैं. खास बात है कि दिल्‍ली में सॉलिड वेस्‍ट मैनेजमेंट के नियमों के बावजूद ये कूड़े के ढेर बढ़ते जा रहे हैं. विज्ञापन सर्दी में पराली, गर्मी में कूड़े के ढेर… सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट में वायु प्रदूषण विशेषज्ञ विवेक चट्टोपाध्‍याय बताते हैं कि भलस्‍वा लैंडफिल साइट पर काफी ज्‍यादा मात्रा में कूड़ा जल रहा है. इस दौरान धुआं काफी जहरीला होता है. उसमें पार्टिकुलेट मैटर तो होगा ही. इसमें प्‍लास्टिक जलाने से पैदा होने वाले विषाक्‍त तत्‍व भी होते हैं. इससे आसपास का इलाका तो जहरीला हो ही रहा है, वहीं हवा का रुख जिस तरफ है ये धुआं उधर पर जाकर इकठ्ठा हो रहा है और सांस के माध्‍यम से लोगों के शरीर में जा रहा है. सर्दी में प्रदूषण के लिए पंजाब आदि राज्‍यों को लेकर कहा जाता है लेकिन यह दिल्‍ली का खुद का मुद्दा है, जिसका समाधान होना काफी जरूरी है. स्‍वास्‍थ्‍य पर ये पड़ रहा है प्रभाव . विवेक कहते हैं कि कूड़े के ढेर में आग लगी है तब तो ये और भी ज्‍यादा खतरनाक हो रहे हैं, वहीं अगर आग नहीं भी लगी है तो भी ये दिल्ली के लोगों के स्‍वास्‍थ्‍य को नुकसान ही पहुंचा रहे हैं. कूड़े के ढेर का दो तरह से स्‍वास्थ्‍य पर असर पड़ता है. एक दीर्घकालीन और एक अल्‍पकालीन यानि थोड़े से समय में ही प्रभाव दिखाई देने लगता है. . कूड़े के ढेर का शॉर्ट टर्म यानि अल्‍पकालीन प्रभाव ये हैं कि लोगों को सांस लेने में तकलीफ होती है. दम घुटता है. जिन लोगों को दमा या अस्‍थमा आदि की शिकायत होती है, उनको काफी परेशानी हो सकती है. फेफड़ों को नुकसान हो सकता है. . कूड़े के ढेर से निकलने वाला धुआं और गैसें कार्बन डाई ऑक्‍साइड, डाईऑक्‍सीन, फ्यूरॉन, कार्बन मोनो ऑक्‍साइड आदि बहुत जहरीली होती हैं जो कैंसर आदि बीमारियों की जन्‍मदाता होती हैं. लंबे समय तक इनके संपर्क में रहने वाले लोगों में कैंसर की बीमारी ज्‍यादा देखी जा सकती है. . सामान्‍य जन-जीवन प्रभावित रहता है. . कूड़े को जलाने से टॉक्सिक रसायन सहित कार्बन कण, बेंजीन, पारा, वैनेडियम आदि विषैले तत्‍व निकलते हैं. . ये विषैली गैसें दिल की बीमारी से जूझ रहे लोगों के लिए भी नुकसानदायक हैं. . कूड़े के ढेर से लगातार गंदा पानी और तरल पदार्थ रिसते रहने से भूगर्भीय जल प्रदूषित हो जाता है. जिसकी वजह से आसपास के इलाके में भूगर्भीय जल भी संक्रमित और बीमारियों का वाहक हो जाता है. ऐसी जगहों पर रह पाना मुश्किल हो जाता है. . कूड़े से निकलने वाली गैसों से वायुमंडल प्रदूषित होता है. इससे लोगों को सांस लेने के लिए स्‍वच्‍छ हवा नहीं मिल पाती. . कूड़े के ढेर के आसपास की जमीनों में भी जहरीले तत्‍व पहुंच जाते हैं, जिसकी वजह से उन खेतों या क्षेत्रों में उगाई जाने वाली फसलें भी जहरीली या विषैली हो जाती हैं और खाने योग्‍य नहीं रहतीं.

It’s not just the soaring heat: With 23 ‘poor’ days, this April also more polluted than last

Gurgaon: The air quality in the city has been worse this month compared to April last year due to a combination of meteorological factors such as higher temperatures and less rainfall and anthropogenic factors such as resumed economic activities and increased vehicular movement. During April last year, the country was under a lockdown at the peak of the second Covid-19 wave, which kept the anthropogenic factors at bay. As a result, the air quality index (AQI) never dipped to ‘very poor’, with the city recording 19 ‘moderate’ and 10 ‘poor’ air days in April 2021. The average AQI was 173.44. However, this April, the city saw three ‘moderate’, 23 ‘poor’ and three ‘very poor’ air days. The average AQI is 243.03. According to the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), less rain and heatwaves have impacted the AQI this April. “We have witnessed more ‘poor’ days this April than last April as the region has witnessed less rain, higher temperatures and more vehicular movement. All these factors have definitely increased the pollutants in the atmosphere,” said S Narayana, member secretary, HSPCB, Gurgaon. According to air quality experts, garbage burning, the use of diesel generator (DG) sets, vehicular emissions, road dust and dust from construction sites are the dominant polluting factors in summer. Experts said that the air quality is likely to deteriorate further in the coming days as the power supply has been erratic, making people depend on DG sets more. Haryana has been facing a power shortage because of a crunch in coal availability at power plants. “Yes, we cannot deny that the use of DG sets will impact the AQI of the city,” said Kuldeep Singh, regional officer, HSPCB, Gurgaon, adding that currently, dust is impacting the AQI majorly. The contribution of road dust to particulate matter in the atmosphere has been high this month due to the lack of rain. “In summer, the dust pollution increases by 33%. Also, heatwaves this month have increased small fires across the region, contributing to air pollution. Meanwhile, dry conditions and low humidity increased overall pollutants in the atmosphere,” Anumita Roychowdhury, the executive director of research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said. The frequent use of DG sets will further increase pollution levels, she added.

Bhalswa landfill fire: Environment Minister directs DPCC to impose Rs 50 lakh fine on North MCD

The environment department has also issued directions to the North MCD to provide permanent water tanker stations at the landfill site to deal with insufficient water supply, and increase the number of field workers, according to Rai. Environment Minister Gopal Rai has directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to impose a fine of Rs 50 lakh on the North Delhi Municipal Corporation for the fire that broke out at the Bhalswa landfill recently. The environment department has also issued directions to the North MCD to provide permanent water tanker stations at the landfill site to deal with insufficient water supply, and increase the number of field workers, according to Rai. The North MCD has also been directed to construct peripheral roads for easy transportation at the landfill site, stated a communication from the Environment Minister’s office. Last week, Rai held a meeting with representatives from various organisations, institutions and departments including The Energy and Resources Institute, Centre for Science and Environment, IIT Delhi, DPCC, and the MCDs to determine a way to deal with methane emissions from landfill sites. There have been four instances of fires at landfills so far this summer — three at Ghazipur and one at Bhalswa. Last month, the Environment Minister directed the DPCC to impose a fine of Rs 50 lakh on the East MCD for the fire that broke out at the Ghazipur landfill. Rai said that according to the report submitted by the DPCC on the Bhalswa landfill fire, “constant discharge of methane gas from these landfill sites, rising temperatures in Delhi, and a dry atmosphere are among the main reasons behind the regular fires in landfill sites”. A four-member team comprising representatives from the East and North MCDs and the DPCC will visit Mumbai on May 2 to collect information on a “gas sucking” mechanism that was used there, the communication said.

Delhi sizzles, to weather duststorms next

At 43.5 degrees Celsius, the national capital on Thursday saw the second warmest April day in the past 52 years and the warmest day of the month since 2010. Severe heatwaves gripped the entire city, while at least one area sizzled at 46 degrees Celsius, the warmest in the country along with Hissar in Haryana.While heatwaves may continue till Saturday, duststorms on Friday, Sunday and Wednesday, as predicted by India Meteorological Department (IMD), are likely to worsen Delhi’s air quality over the next few days. The air quality index (AQI) was 295 on Thursday, in the higher end of the “poor” category, compared with 285 on Wednesday. The maximum temperature of 43.5 degrees Celsius at Delhi’s base station, Safdarjung, was five notches above the season’s average as against 41.5 degrees on Wednesday. On April 18, 2010, Safdarjung recorded 43.7 degrees Celsius, which was the highest for April since 1969. According to IMD, the Commonwealth Games Village Sports Complex recorded a maximum temperature of 46 degrees Celsius, followed by Mungeshpur at 45.8, Najafgarh at 45.4, Pitampura at 45.2 and the Ridge at 45.1 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature was, however, a notch below the season’s average at 23 degrees Celsius as against 22.2 degrees a day earlier. According to IMD, the maximum temperature is likely to hover around 44 degrees Celsius on Friday. “The heatwaves will continue despite strong gusty winds. Sunday may see some respite from heatwaves, but the mercury will soar again from Monday,” said an official. Meanwhile, System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) predicted “very poor” AQI for the next three days. According to experts, dust becomes a major source of pollution during summer because high temperature makes the soil dry. According to a 2018 source apportionment study by The Energy and Resources Institute and Automotive Research Association of India, dust — soil, road and construction — contributes 25% of PM10 and 17% of PM2.5 in Delhi’s air pollution during the winter. However, during summers, the contribution is 42% in PM10 and 38% in PM2.5, it stated. A study conducted by SAFAR said that despite the lockdown, the daily average PM10 level increased from 65ug/m3 on May 22, 2021 to 684ug/m3 overnight due to large-scale dust transport. “Unlike previous summers, dust-raising winds have not travelled to Delhi this season so far,” said R K Jenamani, a senior scientist at IMD. Gufran Beig, founder project director of SAFAR, said, “Delhi is experiencing double knock, the forthcoming impact of duststorm, which largely increases PM10 and dumpyard fires that largely contribute in PM2.5 ” Anumita Roychowdhury of Centre for Science and Environment said tackling this pollution would require extensive urban greening, protection of forests, and soil stabilisation along with greening to create a green barrier against wind-blown dust.

3 landfills have cost Delhi ₹450 cr in environmental damages: Study

Experts considered factors such as the leachate generated over time and the legacy waste accumulated at the landfills and the violations of solid waste management rules to calculate the damage to the environment. Delhi’s three landfill sites – Bhalswa, Okhla and Ghazipur -- have cost more than ₹450 crores in environmental degradation to the national capital so far and with no noticeable progress being made to reduce the millions of tonnes of waste at these dumping sites, according to a study by a team of experts that was submitted to the National Green Tribunal in January last year. The study conducted by experts from National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and IIT-Delhi assessed the damage due to Bhalswa was worth ₹155.9 crore, Okhla caused ecological damaged to the tune of ₹151.1 crore and Ghazipur has led to an environmental damage of ₹142.5 crore. The experts considered factors such as the leachate generated over time and the legacy waste accumulated at the landfills and the violations of solid waste management rules to calculate the damage to the environment. The Bhalswa landfill site was commissioned in 1994 and has accumulated 8 million tonnes of legacy waste, with the site exhausting its capacity in 2006. The Okhla site was commissioned in 1994 and holds 6 million tonnes of legacy waste, with the site exhausting its capacity in 2010. The Ghazipur site is Delhi’s oldest and was commissioned in 1984, and has already accumulate 14 million tonnes of legacy waste. In 2019, following an order by the National Green Tribunal (NGT order), the three municipal corporations started carrying out bio-mining and bio-remediation. However, with fresh dumping still continuing, the pace of clearing inert legacy waste has remained slow. “High level of chemical oxygen demand (COD) & Iron (Fe) reported in groundwater at all three sites, which may be due to leachate from the dumpsite. Chlorides, total dissolved solids (TDS), total soluble solids (TSS) and turbidity was reported in surface water body (Bhalswa lake) located within a radius of 0-1 km from Bhalswa site, which may be due to leachate from the dumpsite,” the committee had said in its groundwater and water analysis. Leachate was found to be reaching as far as 3 to 5 kilometres away from Ghazipur, with high COD values reported at Sanjay Lake too, the report said. COD is an indicative measure of the amount of oxygen that can be consumed by reactions in a measured solution. The most common application of COD is to quantify the amount of oxidizable pollutants found in surface water (lakes and rivers) or wastewater. “Even a small amount of landfill leachate and highly concentrated heavy metals can pollute a large volume of surface as well as groundwater, making it unfit for consumption. These leachates and heavy metals can ultimately enter food chain and in the long run, can affect natural and human resources,” the study said. Air carrying pollutants all around These landfill sites are also a big source of air pollution, with contaminants from these sites travelling to as long as 5 kilometres away, aided by strong winds. Even when the landfill is not burning, these landfill sites are a constant source of greenhouses gases such as carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and sulphur, toxic chemicals, furans, dioxins and unburnt hydrocarbons, and most importantly, methane, which is said to be 84 times as potent as carbon dioxide, in absorbing the sun’s rays. People near these landfills breathe some of the worst air in the city, experts have said. While the NGT-formed expert committee was unable to find a direct correlation between air pollution within a 5-km radius of the dumpsite and the activities occurring there, these landfill fires are often seen to have an impact in terms of air quality at the nearest ambient air quality monitoring stations. Following Tuesday’s landfill fire breaking out at Bhalswa, the hourly PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentration spiked to nearly 9-10 times the national safe limits in the early hours of Wednesday at the Jahangirpuri air quality monitoring station, the nearest station to the site and located less than 5kms away from the landfill. Nearest ambient air quality monitoring stations to these landfill sites also feature among the list of 13 pollution hotspots in Delhi, official data shows. Jahangirpuri station is closest to Bhalswa, Anand Vihar station is near Ghazipur, the Okhla Phase-II station is located near Okhla landfill site -- and all three locations feature in the list of pollution hot spots drawn by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said even when these landfills are not on fire, they release pollutants into the ai. “The data from these ambient air quality monitoring stations is evident and it underlines the fact that waste management is an important step towards tacking air pollution,” she said. Richa Singh, programme officer, Waste Management Programme, CSE said that calling the three sites ‘landfills’ would be inaccurate, as they are without any proper leachate management system or a gas sucking system, and added that the three are “dump sites” that were built without adequate planning and are now constantly damaging the environment. “These major fire incidents are being captured, but these landfill sites are burning almost throughout the year with minor fires or smoke breaking out from one corner or the other and this process of mixed waste catching fire releases dioxins and furans which are carcinogenic in nature, along with polyaromatic hydrocarbons which are also carcinogenic. There are long-term health impacts including breathing problems for those regularly breathing such air near the landfill sites,” she said. Dipankar Saha, former head of the air laboratory at CPCB said landfill sites have been found to be much warmer since they release large number of greenhouse gases, including CO2 and methane. “There is a lot of activity occurring at a landfill site naturally, including the release of dioxins and furans, but the release of greenhouse gases means their impact is not limited to the neighbourhood or the city, but they are a nationwide problem,” he said, and added that long-term planning is required to phase out these dump sites.

Heatwave in India leaves millions struggling to cope

Millions of Indians are experiencing a brutal heatwave that is throwing lives and livelihoods out of gear — and there is no relief in sight. "Temperatures are rising rapidly in the country, and rising much earlier than usual," Prime Minister Narendra Modi told state chief ministers on Wednesday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a gradual rise in maximum temperatures by 2-4C over most parts of north-western and central India this week, with "no large change thereafter". While heatwaves are common in India, especially in May and June, summer began early this year with high temperatures from March itself - average maximum temperatures in the month were the highest in 122 years. Heatwaves also began setting in during the month. The Centre for Science and Environment, a think-tank, says that early heatwaves this year have affected around 15 states, including the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, known for its pleasant temperatures. This week, the mercury in the capital, Delhi, is expected to cross 44C. Naresh Kumar, a senior scientist at IMD, attributes the current heatwave to local atmospheric factors. The major one was weak western disturbances - storms originating in the Mediterranean region - which meant little pre-monsoon rainfall in north-western and central India. Anticyclones - an area of high atmospheric pressure where the air sinks - also led to hot, dry weather over parts of western India in March. The effects are visible. Farmers say the unexpected temperature spikes have affected their wheat harvest, a development that could potentially have global consequences given supply disruptions due to the Ukraine war. The heat has also triggered an increase in power demand, leading to outages in many states and fears of a coal shortage. Modi also flagged the increased risk of fires due to rising temperatures. Summers have always been gruelling in many parts of India - especially in the northern and central regions. Even before air-conditioners and water coolers started selling in the millions, people had devised their own ways of coping with the heat - from keeping water cool in earthen jugs to rubbing raw mangoes on their bodies to ward off heat strokes. But many experts say India is now recording more intense, frequent heatwaves that are also longer in duration. Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, agrees that several atmospheric factors have led to the current heatwave. But adding to all that, he says, is global warming. "That's the root cause for the increase in heatwaves," he says, adding that more research is needed to link climate change to other, less extreme weather fluctuations. D Sivananda Pai, director of the Institute for Climate Change Studies, points to other challenges too, apart from climate change - such as increasing population and the resultant strain on resources. This, in turn, leads to factors that worsen the situation, such as deforestation and increasing use of transport. "When you have more concrete roads and buildings, heat is trapped inside without being able to rise to the surface. This warms the air further," Pai says. And the cost of such extreme weather events is disproportionately borne by the poor. "Poor people have fewer resources to cool down as well as fewer options to stay inside, away from the heat," says Dr Chandni Singh, senior researcher at Indian Institute for Human Settlements and a lead author at Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). While more attention is paid to mortality due to heatwaves, Ms Singh says policymakers should also focus on how extreme weather affects the quality of people's lives. "Heatwaves can have serious health consequences. If temperatures are high even at night, the body doesn't get a chance to recuperate, increasing the possibility of illnesses and higher medical bills," she says. A "long-term vision", Koll says, is essential when planning for the future. "There are places in India where the temperature itself may not be that high, but when combined with high humidity, life can be very difficult," he says, referring to the need to take into account the wet-bulb temperature - a scientific measure of when heat and humidity combine. He also emphasises on paying attention to areas away from the spotlight. "Many children in rural areas attend schools in sheds with tin roofs, which would be unbearable in the heat," he says. Since 2015, both the federal and state governments have issued a number of measures to mitigate the effects of heatwaves, such as banning working outside during the hottest hours and issuing timely advisories. But these can only be completely effective if accompanied by big-picture changes such as an overhaul of labour laws and greening cities, Singh says. "Our buildings are made in such a way that they trap heat instead of ensuring ventilation. There is so much innovation internationally that we can learn from," she says. "We are doing some things right but it's time to up our game because we have to live with the heat." — BBC

India experiencing highest temperatures in 122 years

Millions of Indians are experiencing a brutal heatwave that is throwing lives and livelihoods out of gear – and there is no relief in sight. “Temperatures are rising rapidly in the country, and rising much earlier than usual,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi told state chief ministers on Wednesday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a gradual rise in maximum temperatures by 2-4C over most parts of north-western and central India this week, with “no large change thereafter”. While heatwaves are common in India, especially in May and June, summer began early this year with high temperatures from March itself – average maximum temperatures in the month were the highest in 122 years. Heatwaves also began setting in during the month. The Centre for Science and Environment, a think-tank, says that early heatwaves this year have affected around 15 states, including the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, known for its pleasant temperatures. This week, the mercury in the capital, Delhi, is expected to cross 44C. Naresh Kumar, a senior scientist at IMD, attributes the current heatwave to local atmospheric factors. The major one was weak western disturbances – storms originating in the Mediterranean region – which meant little pre-monsoon rainfall in north-western and central India. Anticyclones – an area of high atmospheric pressure where the air sinks – also led to hot, dry weather over parts of western India in March. The effects are visible. Farmers say the unexpected temperature spikes have affected their wheat harvest, a development that could potentially have global consequences given supply disruptions due to the Ukraine war. The heat has also triggered an increase in power demand, leading to outages in many states and fears of a coal shortage. Modi also flagged the increased risk of fires due to rising temperatures. Summers have always been gruelling in many parts of India – especially in the northern and central regions. Even before air-conditioners and water coolers started selling in the millions, people had devised their own ways of coping with the heat – from keeping water cool in earthen jugs to rubbing raw mangoes on their bodies to ward off heat strokes. But many experts say India is now recording more intense, frequent heatwaves that are also longer in duration. Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, agrees that several atmospheric factors have led to the current heatwave. But adding to all that, he says, is global warming. “That’s the root cause for the increase in heatwaves,” he says, adding that more research is needed to link climate change to other, less extreme weather fluctuations. (BBC)

अपशिष्ट प्रबंधन से ही प्रदूषण मुक्त होंगी देश की नदियां

जब तक हम अपना अपशिष्ट प्रबंधन तंत्र ठीक नहीं कर लेते, नदियों को प्रदूषण मुक्त नहीं किया जा सकता। जरूरी है कि शहरों का सीवेज प्रबंधन समुचित हो और उद्योग प्रदूषण न फैलाएं। जलवायु संकट के इस दौर में हमें यह चुनौती पहचाननी ही होगी। वर्षा की अनियमितता के कारण पानी की कमी बढ़ती जाएगी। हमें इस तनाव का प्रबंधन करना ही होगा। जलाशयों में वर्षा जल का संचय तो करना ही होगा, यह भी सुनिश्चित करना होगा कि जल की एक बूंद भी प्रदूषित न हो। सतत विकास की हरित अवधारणा की पैरोकार, सीएसई की महानिदेशक जब तक हम अपना अपशिष्ट प्रबंधन तंत्र ठीक नहीं कर लेते, नदियों को प्रदूषण मुक्त नहीं किया जा सकता। भारत कई सालों से इसी कोशिश में लगा है कि हमारी नदियां प्रदूषित नहीं हों, लेेकिन सफलता नहीं मिल रही। जरूरी है कि शहरों का सीवेज प्रबंधन समुचित हो और उद्योग प्रदूषण न फैलाएं। जलवायु संकट के इस दौर में हमें यह चुनौती पहचाननी ही होगी। वर्षा की अनियमितता के कारण पानी की कमी बढ़ती जाएगी। हमें इस तनाव का प्रबंधन करना ही होगा। जलाशयों में वर्षा जल का संचय तो करना ही होगा, यह भी सुनिश्चित करना होगा कि जल की एक बूंद भी प्रदूषित न हो। राष्ट्रीय स्वच्छ गंगा मिशन के तहत पाया गया कि नदियों में प्रदूषण से जंग तब तक नहीं जीती जा सकती, जब तक कि प्रत्येक भारतीय के पास शौचालय न हो, मानव मल-मूत्र विसर्जन से जुड़ा तंत्र न हो, ताकि यह प्रदूषण और खराब स्वास्थ्य का स्रोत न बने। असल एजेंडा केवल शौचालय बनाना नहीं, बल्कि ऐसा स्वच्छता तंत्र बनाना है, जो सभी के लिए उपलब्ध हो। विकास स्थाई रूप से हो, इसके लिए जरूरी है यह सबके लिए कम खर्च में उपलब्ध और समावेशी हो। हमारी असल चुनौती यही है, जो हमें अलग व प्रभावी ढंग से काम करने का अवसर देती है। अभी तक शहरी स्वच्छता थोड़ी महंगी रही है, लेकिन अलग-अलग शहरों में मल-मूत्र अपशिष्ट की स्थिति भयावह है। इसका सही निस्तारण नहीं हो रहा। इसकी एक वजह यह है कि हम अक्सर शौचालय को स्वच्छता से जोड़ देते हैं। दरअसल, शौचालय से ही मल-मूत्र को पाइप से जुड़े नाले से बाहर कर दिया जाता है लेकिन यह पाइप सीवेज ट्रीटमेंट प्लांट(एसटीपी) से जुड़ा होना जरूरी है, जो हो सकता है नहीं भी जुड़ा हो। यानी घरेलू अपशिष्ट का सुरक्षित निस्तारण नहीं हो पाता। यह अक्सर बिना किसी शोधन प्रक्रिया के पास की नदी में छोड़ दिया जाता है। यह मैला पानी ही बढ़ते प्रदूषण का कारण है। इस कारण बीमारियां भी बढ़ती हैं। बजाय महंगे भूमिगत सीवर नेटवर्क बनने का इंतजार करने के एक और रास्ता है, जिसे मल-मूत्र के निस्तारण का विकल्प माना जा सकता है। आज भारत के बहुत से मकान सैप्टिक टैंक से जुड़े हैं। अगर इन सेप्टिक टैंकों का निर्माण अच्छी तरह करवाया गया है, तो यह कीचड़ जमा कर पानी को एक गड्ढे में छोड़ देता है। जमा मल को आगे निस्तारण के लिए भेजा जा सकता है। यह व्यवस्था तभी कारगर है जबकि सेप्टिक टैंक खास तौर पर इसी के अनुरूप तैयार किया गया हो। सही तरह से निस्तारित मल को ट्रीटमेंट पॉइंट पर ले जाया जाता है, ताकि इसे पुन: इस्तेमाल के लिए सुरक्षित बनाया जा सके। मानव मल-मूत्र का रूपान्तरण कर इसे उर्वरक की तरह उपयोग कर नाइट्रोजन साइकल में बदल सकते हैं। यह ऑर्गेनिक खाद के तौर पर खेतों में काम में लिया जा सकता है या इसे ट्रीट करने के बाद अन्य ऑर्गेनिक अपशिष्ट जैसे रसोई से निकलने वाले कचरे के साथ मिलाकर बायोगैस या ईंधन बनाने के काम में लिया जा सकता है। हम प्राचीन रोम और टोक्यो के उदाहरण से सीख सकते हैं। रोम में बड़े-बड़े जलसेतु बनाए जाते थे, जिनके जरिये निवास स्थलों तक पानी लाया जाता था। विशेषज्ञ रोम के इस जलापूर्ति तंत्र की सराहना करते आए हैं, लेकिन यही रोम का पर्यावरण कुप्रबंधन साबित हुआ। यही वहां की प्रमुख नदी टाइबर के प्रदूषण का कारण बना। घरों का अपशिष्ट बह कर नदी में मिलने के कारण अब लोगों को दूर से चल कर पानी लाना पड़ता था। इसके विपरीत जापान के पारम्परिक समाज ने अपने मल-मूत्र को नदियों में नहीं बहने दिया। इसके लिए उन्होंने इसे खाद में बदला और खेतों में उपयोग किया। जल एवं सभ्यता साथ-साथ चलते हैं। इसलिए पानी की कमी का कारण मात्र वर्षा कम होना ही नहीं है। जल संरक्षण और उसके भंडार को साझा करने में समाज की विफलता भी एक कारण है। कुल मिलाकर, कहा जा सकता है कि हम तब तक अपनी नदियों का स्थाई प्रबंधन नहीं कर सकते, जब तक कि अपशिष्ट प्रबंधन को ठीक नहीं कर लेते। शुद्ध जल की उपलब्धता न केवल जल के विवेकपूर्ण प्रबंधन पर, बल्कि अपशिष्ट के समुचित प्रबंधन पर भी निर्भर है।

Heat wave in India leaves millions struggling to cope

India's weather department has issued a severe heatwave warning as temperatures soar, throwing millions of lives and livelihoods out of gear. "Temperatures are rising rapidly in the country, and rising much earlier than usual," Prime Minister Narendra Modi told state chief ministers on Wednesday. India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a gradual rise in maximum temperatures by 2- 4C over most parts of north-western and central India this week, with "no large change thereafter". While heatwaves are common in India, especially in May and June, summer began early this year with high temperatures from March itself - average maximum temperatures in the month were the highest in 122 years. Heatwaves also began setting in during the month. The Centre for Science and Environment, a think-tank, said that early heatwaves this year have affected around 15 states, including the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, known for its pleasant temperatures. This week, the mercury in the capital, Delhi, is expected to cross 44C. Naresh Kumar, a senior scientist at IMD, attributed the current heatwave to local atmospheric factors. The major one was weak western disturbances - storms originating in the Mediterranean region - which meant little pre-monsoon rainfall in north-western and central India. Anticyclones - an area of high atmospheric pressure where the air sinks - also led to hot, dry weather over parts of western India in March. The effects are visible. Farmers say the unexpected temperature spikes have affected their wheat harvest, a development that could potentially have global consequences given supply disruptions due to the Ukraine war. The heat has also triggered an increase in power demand, leading to outages in many states and fears of a coal shortage. Modi also flagged the increased risk of fires due to rising temperatures. Summers have always been gruelling in many parts of India - especially in the northern and central regions. Even before air-conditioners and water coolers started selling in the millions, people devised their own ways of coping with the heat - from keeping water cool in earthen jugs to rubbing raw mangoes on their bodies to ward off heat strokes. But many experts say India is now recording more intense, frequent heatwaves that are also longer in duration. Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, agreeed that several atmospheric factors have led to the current heatwave. But adding to all that, he said, is global warming. "That's the root cause for the increase in heatwaves," he said, adding that more research is needed to link climate change to other, less extreme weather fluctuations. D Sivananda Pai, director of the Institute for Climate Change Studies, pointed to other challenges too, apart from climate change - such as increasing population and the resultant strain on resources. This, in turn, lead to factors that worsen the situation, such as deforestation and increasing use of transport. "When you have more concrete roads and buildings, heat is trapped inside without being able to rise to the surface. This warms the air further," Pai said. And the cost of such extreme weather events is disproportionately borne by the poor. "Poor people have fewer resources to cool down as well as fewer options to stay inside, away from the heat," said Dr Chandni Singh, senior researcher at Indian Institute for Human Settlements and a lead author at Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). While more attention is paid to mortality due to heatwaves, Singh said policymakers should also focus on how extreme weather affects the quality of people's lives. "Heatwaves can have serious health consequences. If temperatures are high even at night, the body doesn't get a chance to recuperate, increasing the possibility of illnesses and higher medical bills," she said. A "long-term vision", Koll said, is essential when planning for the future. "There are places in India where the temperature itself may not be that high, but when combined with high humidity, life can be very difficult," he said, referring to the need to take into account the wet-bulb temperature - a scientific measure of when heat and humidity combine. He also emphasised on paying attention to areas away from the spotlight. "Many children in rural areas attend schools in sheds with tin roofs, which would be unbearable in the heat," he said. Since 2015, both the federal and state governments have issued a number of measures to mitigate the effects of heatwaves, such as banning working outside during the hottest hours and issuing timely advisories. But these can only be completely effective if accompanied by big-picture changes such as an overhaul of labour laws and greening cities, Singh said. "Our buildings are made in such a way that they trap heat instead of ensuring ventilation. There is so much innovation internationally that we can learn from," she said. "We are doing some things right but it's time to up our game - because we have to live with the heat."

Scorching 48C temperatures to hit India in 122-year high amid deadly heatwave

Indians are dealing with a potentially deadly heatwave, with temperatures set to hit 48C, following on from a searing March which was the hottest in 122 years India is experiencing an unseasonably early and brutal heatwave with temperatures expected to hit 48C in the next few days. It comes after the country recorded its hottest March in 122 years and rainfall levels plummeted to around a quarter of its usual levels. The northwest and central part of India has been the worst hit by the potentially deadly weather. Heatwaves have claimed the lives of more than 17,000 people in India since 1971. Temperatures are forecast to reach 48C along the border of India and Pakistan in the coming days, meteorologists warn, under a record-breaking "heat dome" for April. According to forecasters, there is little relief to come with the scorching temperatures not predicted to fall any time soon. Many residents have described horrendous conditions, including taps running dry, regular power cuts because of huge demand on air conditioners, fires destroying land and crops dying. Vulnerable people have been told to stay inside to avoid exposure. "Temperatures are rising rapidly in the country, and rising much earlier than usual," Prime Minister Narendra Modi told state chief ministers on Wednesday. Heatwaves are common in India, but normally start in May and June. With the unusually high temperatures in March and April, it is feared the summer months could be much worse than usual. Experts say heatwaves in the country have become more intense, longer and more frequent in recent years. Jacobabab in Pakistan is predicted to reach 50C by the end of the week, which would be 11C hotter than the April average. India’s capital, New Delhi, could reach 44C, around 6C hotter than normal for the time of year. The Centre for Science and Environment, a think-tank, has said that this year's early heatwaves have affected around 15 states, among them the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, which is known for its cooler temperatures. The effect on agriculture - including failing wheat crops - could have worrying consequences on global food supplies, which have already been hit by the war in Ukraine. According to a BBC report, Naresh Kumar, a senior scientist at IMD, attributes the current heatwave to local atmospheric factors. He said the major one was weak western disturbances - storms originating in the Mediterranean region - which meant little pre-monsoon rainfall in north-western and central India.

India has seen months of extreme heat and this week it will only get hotter

Life-threatening heat waves arrived in India a month earlier than normal, shattering temperature records, with highs reaching over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) -- and it will only get hotter. The worst of the heat wave is expected late this week into this weekend with high temperatures approaching 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit (5-8 degrees Celsius) above normal across northern and northwestern India as well as parts of Pakistan. Over one billion people will be subjected to excessive heat -- 10% of the world's population, according to Scott Duncan, an extreme climate expert. This region, including New Delhi, could endure temperatures in the mid to upper 40s Celsius -- which means temperatures over 110 and up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit are possible. And, unfortunately, this heat wont sleep. Little to no relief will come during the overnight hours as minimum temperatures will not dip below 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 Celsius) in many areas. Prolonged periods of warm nights can prove deadly as they limit the body's ability to recover from daytime heat. This presents a major problem for India's population as a large portion lives without air conditioning, creating a life-threatening situation, particularly for the elderly. A man carries a fan during a heat wave in Kolkata, India. Barmer, a city in India, already recorded a high temperature of 45.1 degrees Celsius -- a whopping 113 degrees Fahrenheit -- on Tuesday. On the same day, a station in Pakistan tied the record for the highest maximum temperature in the Northern Hemisphere at 116.6 degrees Fahrenheit (47 Celsius), according to Maximiliano Herrera, an expert on climate extremes. Extremely sweltering March breaks 122-year-old temperature record Leading up to the current extreme swell, temperatures were steadily above average for March and April. The average maximum temperature for India as a whole recorded in March 2022 was the highest recorded in the past 122 years, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This year's March high-temperature average was 91.58 degrees Fahrenheit (33.10 Celsius), just barely edging out the previous record from 2010 of 91.56 degrees Fahrenheit (33.09 Celsius). Since March 11, heat waves have affected 15 of the Indian states and Union territories, according to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), adding that "Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have suffered the most among the states, with 25 heat waves and severe heat wave days each during this period." The pressure pattern associated with La Niña conditions, which are currently presiding over the Pacific, has persisted longer than expected. This, along with warm waves coming from the Arctic, has caused heat waves to form, according to Raghu Murtugudde, a climate scientist at the University of Maryland. The current impact of La Niña on the spring and summer seasons in India is completely unexpected, Murtugudde added. April and May, known as pre-monsoon season, are typically the hottest months of the year when the region bakes endlessly. This heat would continue to build into the summer months were it not for the cloud cover and rain provided by the monsoon season. The relief, though welcome, comes slowly. The Monsoon season, which brings India much-needed precipitation and cooler temperatures, generally starts in early June over the southern part of the country. However, it takes upward of an entire month to bring relief to places in northern India, which are currently seeing the worst of the heat wave. On the bright side, the models show that the monsoon seasonal rainfall is likely to be 99% of what it normally is, according to the IMD. Monsoons are vital to the region because they provide much of the annual rainfall for India, aid irrigation for agriculture, and provide relief from the intense heat waves during the pre-monsoon season. India's heat waves will only get worse As with many other extreme weather events, heat waves will become increasingly more severe as a result of climate change. "The future of heat waves is looking worse even with significant mitigation of climate change, and much worse without mitigation," said Elfatih Eltahir, a professor of hydrology and climate at MIT. India is among the countries expected to be worst affected by the impacts of the climate crisis, according to the UN's climate change authority, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Changes in India's monsoon rainfall could bring serious consequences to more than a billion people Changes in India's monsoon rainfall could bring serious consequences to more than a billion people The latest state of the science report from the IPCC in August 2021, noted with "high confidence" that hot extremes have increased in South Asia, and that those climbing extreme temperatures are attributable to human-caused climate change. "More intense heat waves of longer durations and occurring at a higher frequency are projected over India," it stated. Without any change, a possible humanitarian crisis could be underway across India as large parts of the country could potentially become too hot to be

India’s early heatwave sign of climate change, could be more dangerous to health, say experts

Intense heatwaves like the ones in March and April are unusual but they could become more frequent due to climate change unless net emissions are reduced, experts say. The current heatwave gripping the country — which is likely to continue unabated for the next four to five days — could prove to be more dangerous to health because of how early it has struck, experts say. Further, the early heatwave in India could also be a sign of climate change. On Wednesday, temperatures crossed 44 degrees Celsius in many parts of Rajasthan and a ‘yellow alert’ was issued for Delhi, which is expected to see the mercury reach the 44- to 46-degree mark Thursday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also said the heatwave would continue to sweep through Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Gujarat. This, just after the country experienced the hottest March in over a century. Heatwaves this intense in March and April are unusual, meteorological experts say, but that could change. Early and severe heatwaves could occur as frequently as once every four years due to climate change, according to an analysis (still under data review) by Mariam Zachariah and Friederike Otto of the Grantham Institute, Imperial College London. VDO.AI ‘Heatwave has been made hotter by climate change’ Linking the ongoing heatwave with the effects of climate change, the Grantham Institute scientists say that hot spells of the kind India is seeing today are likely to become more common. “Before human activities increased global temperatures, we would have seen the heat that hit India earlier this month around once in 50 years. But now it is a much more common event — we can expect such high temperatures about once in every four years. And until net emissions are halted, it will continue to become even more common,” Zachariah said in a statement. Otto, who leads the World Weather Attribution group, added: “India’s current heatwave has been made hotter by climate change that is the result of human activities like burning coal and other fossil fuels.” According to Otto, this is a universal issue. “Until net greenhouse gas emissions end, heatwaves in India and elsewhere will continue to become hotter and more dangerous,” she said. IMD data shows that the number of heatwave days in India has increased from 413 in the decade 1981-1990, to 575 between 2001 and 2010, and 600 in 2010-20. An analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment shows Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have experienced the greatest number of heatwave days from 11 March to 24 April — at 25 each. Himachal Pradesh recorded 21 and Gujarat recorded 19, while Delhi recorded 15. Why are early heatwaves dangerous? Studies from the aftermath of a severe 2003 heatwave in Europe found that early heatwaves were deadlier because of a lack of state preparedness, and resulted in “marked short-term increases in mortality. “The same logic applies to India too. Heatwaves of this intensity are not normally known to hit so early, in the month of March. As it is, states don’t have an effective mechanism to monitor heat-related illnesses, and when it happens so suddenly, they are left with less time to adapt,” Dr Dileep Mavalankar, Director, Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar (IIPHG), told ThePrint. The Indian government is working with 23 heatwave-prone states and 130 cities to develop Heat Action Plans (HAPs), after Ahmedabad’s success in reducing heat-related mortality in 2013. However, the initial findings of a study funded by the National Disaster Management Authority evaluating HAPs across India found that a lack of “focussed, hot-spot based interventions” marred their implementation. The study is likely to come out later this year, a media fact sheet prepared by the Natural Resources Defense Council earlier this month revealed. “Our heat action plans must ensure adaptation measures like public cooling areas, ensuring uninterrupted electricity, access to safe drinking water, and changing the work hours of labourers [particularly the] most vulnerable ones at the bottom of the pyramid, especially during extreme heat days,” Dr Abhiyant Tiwari, Assistant Professor & Programme Manager, Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management, said in a statement.

Feel The Heat! Brutal Heatwave In India Leaves Millions Struggling To Cope https://thelogicalindian.com/environment/heatwave-in-india-high-temperature-35244

This year, summer began early with high temperatures from March itself - the average maximum temperatures for the month being the highest in the past 122 years. he India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a heatwave warning for numerous states in India so early, increasing concerns among public health experts. The country has already recorded its hottest March and is now setting high temperatures in some parts of northern India that are expected to touch 46 degrees celsius. The increasing temperature in the National Capital is also set to move around 44-45 degrees celsius, quickly approaching the record temperature for the month of April. Heatwaves Drive Indians Crazy Heatwaves are relatively common in India during summers, especially during the months of May and June. This year, summer began early with high temperatures from March itself - the average maximum temperatures for the month being the highest in the past 122 years. Heatwaves also kickstarted setting in during the month as well, reported news outlet BBC. The Centre for Science and Environment, a think tank, claimed that the early heatwaves had affected approximately 15 states this year, which also includes the northern state of Himachal Pradesh. This current week has seen the mercury levels in Delhi go up drastically and is expected to cross 44 degrees celsius. Burning Times! Senior IMD scientist, Naresh Kumar, has attributed this ongoing heatwave in parts of India to the local atmospheric factors. The main one was weak western disturbances, storms that originated in the Mediterranean region and resulted in shorter pre-monsoon rainfall in central and north-western India. Furthermore, another factor for the mercury spike in the country is reportedly due to Anticyclones, a part of the high atmospheric pressure where the air sinks - which also led to hot, dry weather over parts of western India in March.

India has seen months of extreme heat and this week it will only get hotter

Life-threatening heat waves arrived in India a month earlier than normal, shattering temperature records, with highs reaching over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) -- and it will only get hotter. The worst of the heat wave is expected late this week into this weekend with high temperatures approaching 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit (5-8 degrees Celsius) above normal across northern and northwestern India as well as parts of Pakistan. Over one billion people will be subjected to excessive heat -- 10% of the world's population, according to Scott Duncan, an extreme climate expert. This region, including New Delhi, could endure temperatures in the mid to upper 40s Celsius -- which means temperatures over 110 and up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit are possible. And, unfortunately, this heat wont sleep. Extreme nighttime temperatures can be deadly Little to no relief will come during the overnight hours as minimum temperatures will not dip below 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 Celsius) in many areas. Prolonged periods of warm nights can prove deadly as they limit the body's ability to recover from daytime heat. This presents a major problem for India's population as a large portion lives without air conditioning, creating a life-threatening situation, particularly for the elderly. Barmer, a city in India, already recorded a high temperature of 45.1 degrees Celsius -- a whopping 113 degrees Fahrenheit -- on Tuesday. On the same day, a station in Pakistan tied the record for the highest maximum temperature in the Northern Hemisphere at 116.6 degrees Fahrenheit (47 Celsius), according to Maximiliano Herrera, an expert on climate extremes. Extremely sweltering March breaks 122-year-old temperature record Leading up to the current extreme swell, temperatures were steadily above average for March and April. The average maximum temperature for India as a whole recorded in March 2022 was the highest recorded in the past 122 years, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This year's March high-temperature average was 91.58 degrees Fahrenheit (33.10 Celsius), just barely edging out the previous record from 2010 of 91.56 degrees Fahrenheit (33.09 Celsius). Since March 11, heat waves have affected 15 of the Indian states and Union territories, according to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), adding that "Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have suffered the most among the states, with 25 heat waves and severe heat wave days each during this period." The pressure pattern associated with La Niña conditions, which are currently presiding over the Pacific, has persisted longer than expected. This, along with warm waves coming from the Arctic, has caused heat waves to form, according to Raghu Murtugudde, a climate scientist at the University of Maryland. The current impact of La Niña on the spring and summer seasons in India is completely unexpected, Murtugudde added. April and May, known as pre-monsoon season, are typically the hottest months of the year when the region bakes endlessly. This heat would continue to build into the summer months were it not for the cloud cover and rain provided by the monsoon season. The relief, though welcome, comes slowly. The Monsoon season, which brings India much-needed precipitation and cooler temperatures, generally starts in early June over the southern part of the country. However, it takes upward of an entire month to bring relief to places in northern India, which are currently seeing the worst of the heat wave. On the bright side, the models show that the monsoon seasonal rainfall is likely to be 99% of what it normally is, according to the IMD. Monsoons are vital to the region because they provide much of the annual rainfall for India, aid irrigation for agriculture, and provide relief from the intense heat waves during the pre-monsoon season. India's heat waves will only get worse As with many other extreme weather events, heat waves will become increasingly more severe as a result of climate change. "The future of heat waves is looking worse even with significant mitigation of climate change, and much worse without mitigation," said Elfatih Eltahir, a professor of hydrology and climate at MIT. India is among the countries expected to be worst affected by the impacts of the climate crisis, according to the UN's climate change authority, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The latest state of the science report from the IPCC in August 2021, noted with "high confidence" that hot extremes have increased in South Asia, and that those climbing extreme temperatures are attributable to human-caused climate change. "More intense heat waves of longer durations and occurring at a higher frequency are projected over India," it stated. Without any change, a possible humanitarian crisis could be underway across India as large parts of the country could potentially become too hot to be habitable.

Climate Change Knocks At The Door of Jammu and Kashmir

Climate Change is real and knocking at the door of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir as now government too has officially acknowledged that even electricity outage is due to changes in weather patterns during the month of March, 2022. Significantly, Jammu and Kashmir is among the five top states/UT of India which is witnessing heat waves and the situation in these regions is worsening with every passing day. The early heat waves of 2022 that began on March 11 have impacted 15 Indian states and Union territories as of April 24, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This data was analyzed by Down To Earth. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, March 2022 was the hottest March in India's 122 year old recorded weather history. Similarly, April is turning out to be the hottest April in the last 50 years. Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have suffered the most among the states, with 25 heatwave and severe heatwave days each during this period. Himachal Pradesh recorded 21 heatwaves, Gujarat 19, and Jammu and Kashmir 16. According to data shared by the Centre for Science and Environment after Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, the mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh has been the most affected by heatwaves this year - with 21 heatwave and severe heatwave days. One anomalous point in the IMD's data is that the weather agency has officially declared only one heatwave day for Odisha, even though temperatures higher than 40 degrees Celsius was recorded across the state on April 24. A heatwave happens when the temperature of a place crosses 40-degree Celsius in the plains, 37-degree Celsius in coastal areas, and 30-degree Celsius in the hills. The weather agency declares a heatwave when a place registers a temperature that is 4.5 to 6.4-degree Celsius more than the normal temperature for the region on that day. If the temperature is over 6.4-degree Celsius more than normal, the IMD declares a 'severe' heatwave. According to CSE, the unlikely impact of the current heatwaves would occur in the Himalayan regions of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand which are not used to heatwaves and are not well adapted to the extreme temperatures. "One major impact in these regions would be on the accelerated melting of glaciers due to extreme temperatures which are the main source of water for the people living there", the report said. As J&K is witnessing an unprecedented increase in temperature during the last two years, environmentalists have blamed changing climate for the same. In the first week of April this year, the temperature of Srinagar and Jammu was also the same. "It is a matter of concern as the temperature is increasing in the areas which usually witness pleasant weather in April," said Dr Vivak M. Arya, a scientist working in the field of climate change and natural resource management at Agriculture University, Jammu. He said that the heatwave is largely due to human-induced activities. "Events of the heatwave are going to increase in the coming years," Dr Arya said, adding, "Climate change has a part to play in making this heatwave hotter and more likely the spell in coming years will increase." According to CSE report agricultural yields were badly impacted due to the heatwave. "The wheat crop in the current rabi season in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh has been impacted by heatwaves. Many farmers have reported losses between 20 and 60 percent in these states", the report said. This happened because the heat waves were early this year and the temperatures affected the wheat plants during their growth stage, leading to shriveled grains which fetch lower prices in the market, resulting in losses. "To reduce agricultural losses due to heatwaves, heat-tolerant varieties of wheat need to be developed. Similarly, heat-resistant varieties of other rabi crops also need to be developed", the report said. Meanwhile, scientists have identified 100 pressing research questions on climate change and water resources in the Upper Indus Basin (UIB), which they say must be answered to protect the communities living in the region. The UIB is located in the mountainous Hindu-Kush Karakoram Himalaya (HKH) region, of which Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh is a part, and which feeds the river systems that supply the world’s largest network of irrigated agriculture. Hundreds of millions of people across Pakistan, India, China, and Afghanistan depend on these water resources and so adapting to climate change is essential, the researchers, including those from the University of Kashmir in Srinagar, noted. The study, published in the journal Earth’s Future, employed a ‘horizon scanning’ technique to identify 100 essential questions required for successful adaptation to ongoing and future climate change in the UIB. The aim of the study is to identify knowledge gaps and opportunities in social and natural sciences to help inform climate plans, water management, and development policy, the researchers said. The Top 100 research questions identified in the study would inform policymaking for developing strategies and action plans to combat climate change and hydrological extremes in UIB, of which Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh is a part,” said Professor Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, who participated in the study. “The study demonstrates a collaborative role for stakeholders within and outside the UIB to develop climate change adaption plans, and policies which will secure and protect the UIB communities that live there,” said Romshoo, who is the Vice-Chancellor of Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) in Awantipora, Jammu and Kashmir. The authors noted that one of the main priorities of the study was to emphasise the importance of identifying knowledge gaps in both the natural and social sciences, as research efforts to identify the impacts of climate change on the latter have for a long time often been neglected in favour of the former. In an official statement, Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited said that early arrival of summer in rest of the country lead to highest ever power demand and reduced thermal power generation coupled with sub-optimal generation of hydro power due to reduced discharge because of less rains has resulted in deficient power availability leading to unscheduled and prolonged power cuts. While sharing details about current capacity, it said that hydro generation currently is around 50% of the installed capacity and load supplied by KPDCL is in the range of 900-1100 MWs against the peak demand of 1600MW. Senior officer of KPDCL informed that the hydro generation is expected to improve once discharge increases to optimal level in coming weeks subject to sufficient rainfall. It further added that reduced thermal generation has affected J&K UT’s power allocation /imports.

Sweltering in heat wave, India braces for higher temperatures

Over one billion people will be subjected to excessive heat Life-threatening heat waves arrived in India a month earlier than normal, shattering temperature records with highs reaching over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) — and it will only get hotter. The worst of the heat wave is expected late this week into this weekend with high temperatures approaching 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit (5-8 degrees Celsius) above normal across northern and northwestern India as well as parts of Pakistan. Over one billion people will be subjected to excessive heat — 10% of the world’s population, according to Scott Duncan, an extreme climate expert. This region, including New Delhi, could endure temperatures in the mid to upper 40s Celsius — which means temperatures over 110 and up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit are possible. And unfortunately, this heat wont sleep. Extreme nighttime temperatures can be deadly Little to no relief will come during the overnight hours as minimum temperatures will not dip below 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 Celsius) in many areas. Prolonged periods of warm nights can prove deadly as they limit the body’s ability to recover from daytime heat. This presents a major problem for India’s population as a large portion lives without air conditioning, creating a life-threatening situation, particularly for the elderly. Bahmer, a city in India, already recorded a high temperature of 45.1 degrees Celsius — a whopping 113 degrees Fahrenheit — on Tuesday. On the same day, a station in Pakistan tied the record for the highest maximum temperature in the Northern Hemisphere at 116.6 degrees Fahrenheit (47 Celsius), according to Maximiliano Herrera, an expert on climate extremes. Extremely sweltering March breaks 122-year-old temperature record Leading up to the current extreme swell, temperatures were steadily above average for March and April. The average maximum temperature for India as a whole recorded in March 2022 was the highest recorded in the past 122 years, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This year’s March high-temperature average was 91.58 degrees Fahrenheit (33.10 Celsius), just barely edging out the previous record from 2010 of 91.56 degrees Fahrenheit (33.09 Celsius). Since March 11, heat waves have affected 15 of the Indian states and Union territories, according to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), adding that “Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have suffered the most among the states, with 25 heat waves and severe heat wave days each during this period.” The pressure pattern associated with La Niña conditions, which are currently presiding over the Pacific, has persisted longer than expected. This, along with warm waves coming from the Arctic, has caused heat waves to form, according to Raghu Murtugudde, a climate scientist at the University of Maryland. The current impact of La Niña on the spring and summer seasons in India is completely unexpected, Murtugudde added. April and May, known as pre-monsoon season, are typically the hottest months of the year when the region bakes endlessly. This heat would continue to build into the summer months were it not for the cloud cover and rain provided by the monsoon season. The relief, though welcome, comes slowly. The Monsoon season, which brings India much-needed precipitation and cooler temperatures, generally starts in early June over the southern part of the country. However, it takes upward of an entire month to bring relief to places in northern India, which are currently seeing the worst of the heat wave. On the bright side, the models show that the monsoon seasonal rainfall is likely to be 99% of what it normally is, according to the IMD. Monsoons are vital to the region because they provide much of the annual rainfall for India, aid irrigation for agriculture, and provide relief from the intense heat waves during the pre-monsoon season. India’s heat waves will only get worse As with many other extreme weather events, heat waves will become increasingly more severe as a result of climate change. “The future of heat waves is looking worse even with significant mitigation of climate change, and much worse without mitigation,” said Elfatih Eltahir, a professor of hydrology and climate at MIT. India is among the countries expected to be worst affected by the impacts of the climate crisis, according to the UN’s climate change authority, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The latest state of the science report from the IPCC in August 2021, noted with “high confidence” that hot extremes have increased in South Asia, and that those climbing extreme temperatures are attributable to human-caused climate change. “More intense heat waves of longer durations and occurring at a higher frequency are projected over India,” it stated. Without any change, a possible humanitarian crisis could be underway across India as large parts of the country could potentially become too hot to be habitable.