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Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Deteriorating air quality becoming a matter of concern for Maharashtra: Study

Even though most cities in the state recorded a drop in pollution levels during the early months of 2020 when a strict lockdown was enforced, a rising trend in annual Particulate Matter 2.5 levels has been recorded since then. Despite geographical advantages and favourable meteorology, air pollution is rapidly becoming a matter of concern in Maharashtra, a new analysis of regional air pollution levels by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a New Delhi-based research and advocacy organisation, has found. Even though most cities in the state recorded a drop in pollution levels during the early months of 2020 when a strict lockdown was enforced, a rising trend in annual Particulate Matter 2.5 levels has been recorded since then. Daily Air Quality Index (AQI) analysis based on the 10 oldest stations in Mumbai showed a 20 per cent drop in the number of good AQI days between 2019 and 2021 even as days with poor or very poor AQI have doubled. AQI is a mean of pollutants such as particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions as a single value. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and greater the health concern. The study analysed 40 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) in Maharashtra — one each in Aurangabad, Kalyan, Nagpur, Nashik and Solapur, two in Chandrapur, four in Navi Mumbai, eight in Pune, and 21 in Mumbai. In December 2021, the stations in south Mumbai recorded significantly higher PM2.5 levels compared to the rest of the city. Mazgaon with a monthly average of 134 ug/m3 was the most polluted area, followed by Navy Nagar in Colaba (124 ug/m3), Kurla (101 ug/m3), Vile Parle West (101 ug/m3) and Worli (97 ug/m3). Khindipada at the edge of Sanjay Gandhi National Park in the western suburbs, with a monthly average of 54 ug/m3, was the least polluted area in the city. According to the 2009 National Ambient Air Quality Standards, the annual safety limit of PM2.5 is 40 micrograms/cubic metre. Made up of hundreds of chemicals, PM 2.5 pollutants are emitted into the air by construction sites, unpaved roads, fields, smokestacks, fires, power plants, factories and automobiles. Winter pollution sets during late December and early January when cooler and calmer conditions trap the local pollution, which is high. Starting mid-November last year, Mumbai has been recording poor to very poor AQI, nearing 300. “Even though winter pollution levels in the western region are not as high (as that seen in the Indo-Gangetic Plains) due to its proximity to the sea and improved ventilation, the levels have been seen to be increasing despite the geographical advantages and favourable meteorology,” read the analysis. The study has also highlighted gaps in the data from monitoring stations. For instance, in Mumbai, CSE found that Kurla station had only 55 per cent data while Malad West came up with 68 per cent. Kalyan and Aurangabad were data-deficient as well, with 66 per cent and 43 per cent data availability, respectively. Only one out of eight stations of Pune meet the minimum requirement – the city’s stations have a data availability of less than 75 per cent.

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Tale of Mumbai's rising trend of air pollution

Every winter, smog-filled days and nights across entire north India are a common thing and by contrast, the western region looks much cleaner. However, a new analysis of regional air pollution levels by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has shown that proximity to the sea has not helped in containing the increasing air pollution in the financial capital, Mumbai. Even though winter pollution levels in the western region are not as high as that seen in the Indo-Gangetic Plains due to its proximity to the sea and improved ventilation, the levels have been seen to be increasing despite the geographical advantages and favourable meteorology, the CSE analysis said. In other words, increasing air pollution is not restricted to winters but is now an yearlong problem in Mumbai too. "The number of bad-air days in Mumbai have doubled between 2019 and 2021, while good days are down by 20 per cent. This underscores the urgency of scaling up action across all sectors to prevent further worsening and to arrest the trend in this region," executive director, research and advocacy, CSE, Anumita Roychowdhury said. This new analysis, released on Wednesday, of real time pollution data is part of CSE's air quality tracker initiative and also has an assessment of annual and seasonal trends in PM2.5 concentration for the period January 1, 2019, to January 9, 2022. This analysis is based on the real time data available from the current working air quality monitoring stations. Review of data availability from the automated monitoring stations in the region under the continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) programme of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) shows major data gaps. When it comes to data availability calculated as number of days with adequate PM2.5 data for computation of a valid 24-hour average, among Mumbai stations, Kurla in east-central Mumbai had only 55 per cent data while Malady (West) in north Mumbai came up with 68 per cent. "It is not clear why these stations have such poor data availability despite minimal problems of electricity and internet connectivity in the region," said CSE's programme manager, Urban Data Analytics Lab, Avikal Somvanshi. Like other cities in Maharashtra and Gujarat, studied as part of the same analysis by CSE, Mumbai too has indicated a rising trend in annual PM2.5 levels after an initial drop during 2020 (when there were lockdowns) with a rebound and a rising trend visible in 2021. The CSE analysis to indicate that the number of bad-air quality days are increasing in Mumbai is supported with Air Quality Index (AQI) data. Daily AQI analysis based on 10 oldest stations shows a 20 per cent drop in the number of good AQI days in the city between 2019 and 2021 -- while days with poor or very poor AQI have doubled. South Mumbai has the worst air within the city during winter: In December 2021, the stations in south Mumbai reported significantly higher PM2.5 levels compared to the rest of the city. Mazgaon with a monthly average of 134 micrograms per cubic metres was the most polluted neighborhood of the city, followed by Navy Nagar, Colaba (124 micrograms per metre cube), Kurla (101 micrograms per metre cube), Vile Parle-West (101 micrograms per metre cube) and Worli (97 micrograms per metre cube). Khindipada, in north Mumbai, which is at the edge of Sanjay Gandhi National Park in the suburbs with a monthly average of 54 micrograms per metre cube was the least polluted neighborhood. Bandra and Malad (West) reported low numbers, but the values are not considered valid due to a significantly large amount of missing data from these two stations, the CSE analysis showed.

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Majority of Cities in Maharashtra & Gujarat Show Increase in Yearly PM2.5 Levels After Brief Dip in 2020: CSE

Most cities in Maharashtra and Gujarat showcased a rising trend in annual PM2.5 levels with a drop-through in 2020 (during lockdowns) followed by a rebound and an increasing trend visible in 2021, an analysis by the Centre for Science & Environment (CSE) said on Wednesday. Stating that air pollution is rapidly becoming a matter of concern in the two western states, the new analysis of regional air pollution levels said cities in Gujarat are more polluted than those in Maharashtra. The analysis covered 56 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) spread across 15 cities in the two states. Gujarat's Vatva and Ankleshwar have the most polluted air in the region, with the 2021 average of PM2.5 at 67 micrograms per metre cube. This is followed by Vapi and Ahmedabad, with 2021 annual averages at 54 and 53 micrograms per metre cube, respectively. Chandrapur, an industrial city in Maharashtra, has recorded levels marginally above the annual standard at 43 micrograms per metre cube. Other stations have met the yearly standard though they showed a rising trend in 2021 after the dip in 2020. Despite low annual levels, cities in Maharashtra experienced a high number of days with 'poor' and 'very poor' AQI compared to Gujarat. With 102 days of poor and very poor AQI, Ankleshwar in Gujarat had the unhealthiest days in the region, followed by Kalyan (84 days), Vatva (75 days), and Navi Mumbai (54 days). Vapi had 48 days of poor and very poor AQI—but its data is missing for 138 days (mainly for the winter months). Despite meeting the annual standard, Mumbai registered 42 days of poor and very poor AQI compared to Gujarat. During high weekly pollution episodes in winter, levels can be more than double the annual concentration in several cities. During the worst weekly pollution episodes in winter, the PM2.5 concentrations can increase significantly higher than the yearly PM2.5 average—about two times higher in several cities. "This analysis of real-time air quality data for the period 2019-2021 shows that the downward dip in the pollution that was induced by the lockdown phases of the pandemic in 2020 is changing. Pollution levels are threatening to bounce back. In many cases, the levels are even higher than in 2019. This underscores the urgency of scaling up the action across all sectors to prevent further worsening and to arrest the trend in this region," said Anumita Roy Chowdhury, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, CSE. However, this data challenges data gaps and quality despite automation. A review of data available from the automated monitoring stations in the region under the CAAQMS programme of CPCB shows significant data gaps. Data availability calculated as the number of days with adequate PM2.5 data for computation of a valid 24-hour average has been low in five of the 12 cities in the region, the CSE analysis showed.

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Air pollution becoming matter of concern in Maharashtra, Gujarat: CSE

The analysis covered 56 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) spread across 15 cities Air pollution is rapidly becoming a matter of concern in the western states of Maharashtra and Gujarat as well despite their geographical advantages and favourable meteorology, according to a new analysis of regional air pollution levels by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). "The number of bad-air days in Mumbai have doubled between 2019 and 2021, while good days are down by 20 per cent. This underscores the urgency of scaling up action across all sectors to prevent further worsening and to arrest the trend in this region," said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE. The analysis covered 56 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) spread across 15 cities in two states: Maharashtra -- one station each in Aurangabad, Kalyan, Nagpur, Nashik and Solapur, two in Chandrapur, four in Navi Mumbai, eight in Pune, and 21 stations in Mumbai; and Gujarat -- one station each in Ankleshwar, Nandesari, Vapi and Vatva, four in Gandhinagar, and eight stations in Ahmedabad. Avikal Somvanshi, programme manager, Urban Data Analytics Lab, CSE, pointed out that even though there are multiple real time monitors in a few cities of these states, many of them could not be considered for long-term analysis due to data gaps and lack of quality data. Moreover, in several cases, the real time monitors have been set up recently and therefore, long-term data is not available. The researchers found that nearly all cities in the region show a drop in annual average PM2.5 levels in 2020 -- the year with the maximum number of lockdown phases. But there has been a rebound and a rising trend is visible in 2021. Gujarat's cities are more polluted than those in Maharashtra. Vatva and Ankleshwar have the most polluted air in the region with the 2021 average of PM2.5 at 67 microgram per cubic metre. This is followed by Vapi and Ahmedabad with 2021 annual averages at 54 microgram per cubic metre and 53 microgram per cubic metre, respectively. In Maharashtra, Chandrapur, an industrial city, has recorded levels marginally above the annual standard at 43 microgram per cubic metre. Other stations have met the annual standard though all of them are showing a rising trend in 2021 after the dip in 2020. With 102 days of poor and very poor AQI, Ankleshwar in Gujarat has the unhealthiest days in the region, followed by Kalyan with 84 days, Vatva (75 days), and Navi Mumbai (54 days). Vapi has 48 days of poor and very poor AQI -- but its data is missing for 138 days (mainly for the winter months). Mumbai has registered 42 days of poor and very poor AQI despite meeting the annual standard. Bad-air days begin to build up in the cities of the western states during the end of December and persist till the end of January. Cities in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region show a more pronounced impact of winter pollution compared to cities of other regions. Industrial towns have bad-air days across the year, but there is some clustering during winter, the CSE said.

Water Programme

यमुना प्रदूषण : गंभीर होता जा रहा मसला

हाल ही में यमुना की बदहाली और जहरीली झाग की खबरों के बावजूद हमारा विचलित न होना इस बात का परिचायक है कि हम कितने असंवेदनशील होते जा रहे हैं। आज यमुना इतनी अधिक प्रदूषित हो चुकी होती है कि दिल्ली, मथुरा और आगरा में इसे दुख की नदी कहा जाने लगा है। केंद्रीय प्रदूषण नियंत्रण बोर्ड के अनुसार यमुना नदी के प्रदूषण ने नदी को किसी भी उपयोग के लिए अनुपयुक्त बना दिया है। यमुना बेसिन में तेजी से बढ़ते शहरीकरण, औद्योगीकरण और कृषि विकास के साथ-साथ यमुना भी उतनी ही अधिक प्रदूषित होती जा रही है। केंद्रीय प्रदूषण नियंत्रण बोर्ड के अनुसार सोनीपत, पानीपत, दिल्ली, फरीदाबाद, मथुरा और आगरा में स्थित 359 औद्योगिक इकाइयों द्वारा भारी मात्रा में यमुना में अपशिष्ट बहाया जाता है। अपशिष्ट पदार्थों की डंपिंग, फूल, मूर्तियों का विर्सजन, कपड़े धोना, मवेशियों के स्नान जैसे उत्सर्जन स्रोत प्रदूषण के स्तर को बढ़ा रहे हैं। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट के अनुसार यमुना नदी का लगभग 75 से 80 प्रतिशत प्रदूषण कच्चे सीवेज, औद्योगिक अपवाह और नदी में फेंके गए कचरे का परिणाम है। इसमें प्रति दिन 3 बिलियन लीटर से अधिक कचरा प्रवाहित हो रहा है। एक अनुमान के अनुसार केवल दिल्ली में ही लगभग चार लाख से ज्यादा लोग यमुना नदी के किनारे बनी झुग्गियों में रहते हैं, जिसका सीवेज सीधे तौर पर यमुना में गिरता है। कभी दिल्ली, मथुरा और आगरा की जीवन रेखा मानी जाने वाली यमुना नदी आज भारत की प्रदूषित नदियों में प्रमुख नदी है। केंद्रीय प्रदूषण बोर्ड, केंद्रीय जल आयोग, दिल्ली प्रदूषण नियंत्रण समिति, राज्य प्रदूषण नियंत्रण बोर्ड आदि द्वारा नियमित रूप से यमुना की निगरानी करने के बावजूद यमुना नदी में अमोनिया सांद्रता का स्तर 6 गुना से अधिक बढ़ गया था। पर्यावरणविद् भीम रावत का मानना है कि औद्योगिक इकाइयों से जहरीले पदार्थों का उत्सर्जन तो साल भर होता है, लेकिन यमुना के प्रवाह के बाधित हो जाने के कारण हर साल अक्टूबर से जनवरी के बीच यमुना में अमोनिया की मात्रा खतरनाक स्तर तक बढ़ जाती है। यमुना में डिटज्रेट सहित औद्योगिक प्रदूषकों के निर्वहन के कारण अमोनिया के स्तर में वृद्धि और उच्च फॉस्फेट सामग्री के कारण खतरनाक झाग पैदा होता है। उल्लेखनीय है कि अमोनिया का स्वीकार्य स्तर 0.5 मिलीग्राम प्रति लीटर होना चाहिए जो पिछले दिनों बढ़कर तीन मिलीग्राम प्रति लीटर तक पहुंच गई थी। एक मिलीग्राम प्रति लीटर से अधिक होने पर जल में ऑक्सीजन की मात्रा कम होने से यह पानी मछलियों के लिए विषैला हो जाता है। महत्त्वपूर्ण बात यह है विभिन्न शहरों में स्थापित उपलब्ध जल उपचार सुविधाएं इतनी सक्षम नहीं हैं कि पानी के कीटनाशकों को पूरी तरह से समाप्त कर सके। वाटर वर्क्‍स प्रयोगशालाएं भी पानी में निहित प्रदूषकों का पता लगाने में सक्षम नहीं है। दिल्ली, मथुरा और आगरा में लोग अज्ञात मात्रा में जहरीले कीटनाशक अवशेषों का सेवन करते हैं। अमोनिया के स्तर वाले पानी का लंबे समय तक प्रयोग करने से एलर्जी, कैंसर और पेट की बीमारियां होने लगती हैं। यमुना एक्शन प्लान के अंतर्गत अरबों रुपये व्यय होने के बावजूद यमुना की स्थिति में परिवर्तन नहीं होना स्पष्ट करता है कि इस दिशा में कड़े कदम उठाए जाने की तत्काल आवश्यकता है। इसके लिए हानिकारक कचरे को नदी में फेंकने को गैर-कानूनी घोषित करना होगा। सीवेज का पानी बिना अनुपचारित किए हुए सीधे नदियों में प्रवाहित न हो, इसके लिए पंचायतों, नगर पालिकाओं एवं नगर निगमों को जिम्मेदार बनाना होगा जो अपशिष्ट जल के उचित प्रबंधन एवं उपचार के लिए प्रौद्योगिकियों को ही बढ़ावा न दें, बल्कि ड्रेनेज जल प्रबंधन एवं उपचार भी करें। इसके लिए वित्त पोषण की व्यवस्था के लिए सरकार के साथ-साथ उद्योगों को भी जिम्मेदार बनाया जाना चाहिए। सीवेज प्रौद्योगिकी को सरल एवं सस्ता बनाने के लिए अनुसंधान एवं शोध को प्रोत्साहन दिए जाने की आवश्यकता है, जिससे न सिर्फ इसमें प्रयुक्त तकनीकी को भी अपग्रेड किया जा सके, बल्कि नये सीवेज उपचार संयंत्रों की लागत को कम करके इनकी संख्या में भी वृद्धि की जा सके। शहर की स्वच्छता की रैंकिंग के मानकों में नदी की स्वच्छता के मानक को भी शामिल किया जाना चाहिए। नेशनल ग्रीन टिब्यूनल के कानूनी अधिकारों को और अधिक मजबूत बनाने की आवश्यकता है। लोगों का नदियों के साथ भावनात्मक रिश्ता होता है। मनुष्य के जन्म से लेकर मृत्यु तक सभी संस्कार नदियों के साथ ही जुड़े हुए हैं। इसलिए यह समस्या किसी एक सरकार या राज्य की नहीं है, बल्कि सभी सरकारों को मिलकर जनता की सहभागिता के साथ जन आंदोलन प्रारंभ करना होगा। युवाओं को इससे जोड़ने के लिए वैज्ञानिक दृष्टि एवं आस्था, दोनों का समावेश करना होगा। महिलाओं को सामाजिक जागरूकता का हिस्सा बनाना होगा। शिक्षा के पाठ्यक्रम में शामिल करके आने वाली पीढ़ी को नदियों के प्रति संवेदनशील बनाने की पहल करनी होगी। इस दिशा में अटल इरादे, प्रशासनिक नेकनीयती और सामाजिक जागरूकता से ही इस समस्या को सुलझाया जा सकता है।

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Mumbai: Air pollution on rise not only in winter but whole year, claims study

In other words, increasing air pollution is not restricted to winters but is now an yearlong problem in Mumbai too. Every winter, smog-filled days and nights across entire north India are a common thing and by contrast, the western region looks much cleaner. However, a new analysis of regional air pollution levels by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has shown that proximity to the sea has not helped in containing the increasing air pollution in the financial capital, Mumbai. Even though winter pollution levels in the western region are not as high as that seen in the Indo-Gangetic Plains due to its proximity to the sea and improved ventilation, the levels have been seen to be increasing despite the geographical advantages and favourable meteorology, the CSE analysis said. In other words, increasing air pollution is not restricted to winters but is now an yearlong problem in Mumbai too. "The number of bad-air days in Mumbai have doubled between 2019 and 2021, while good days are down by 20 per cent. This underscores the urgency of scaling up action across all sectors to prevent further worsening and to arrest the trend in this region," executive director, research and advocacy, CSE, Anumita Roychowdhury said. This new analysis, released on Wednesday, of real time pollution data is part of CSE's air quality tracker initiative and also has an assessment of annual and seasonal trends in PM2.5 concentration for the period January 1, 2019, to January 9, 2022. This analysis is based on the real time data available from the current working air quality monitoring stations. Review of data availability from the automated monitoring stations in the region under the continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) programme of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) shows major data gaps. When it comes to data availability calculated as number of days with adequate PM2.5 data for computation of a valid 24-hour average, among Mumbai stations, Kurla in east-central Mumbai had only 55 per cent data while Malady (West) in north Mumbai came up with 68 per cent. "It is not clear why these stations have such poor data availability despite minimal problems of electricity and internet connectivity in the region," said CSE's programme manager, Urban Data Analytics Lab, Avikal Somvanshi. Like other cities in Maharashtra and Gujarat, studied as part of the same analysis by CSE, Mumbai too has indicated a rising trend in annual PM2.5 levels after an initial drop during 2020 (when there were lockdowns) with a rebound and a rising trend visible in 2021. The CSE analysis to indicate that the number of bad-air quality days are increasing in Mumbai is supported with Air Quality Index (AQI) data. Daily AQI analysis based on 10 oldest stations shows a 20 per cent drop in the number of good AQI days in the city between 2019 and 2021 -- while days with poor or very poor AQI have doubled. South Mumbai has the worst air within the city during winter: In December 2021, the stations in south Mumbai reported significantly higher PM2.5 levels compared to the rest of the city. Mazgaon with a monthly average of 134 micrograms per cubic metres was the most polluted neighborhood of the city, followed by Navy Nagar, Colaba (124 micrograms per metre cube), Kurla (101 micrograms per metre cube), Vile Parle-West (101 micrograms per metre cube) and Worli (97 micrograms per metre cube). Khindipada, in north Mumbai, which is at the edge of Sanjay Gandhi National Park in the suburbs with a monthly average of 54 micrograms per metre cube was the least polluted neighborhood. Bandra and Malad (West) reported low numbers, but the values are not considered valid due to a significantly large amount of missing data from these two stations, the CSE analysis showed.

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अपना रौद्र रूप दिखाने लगी है प्रकृति, शांति से रहने की जरूरत

सुनीता नारायण। महामारी के दौर के बीच मैं क्या आकांक्षा कर सकती हूं? अगर हम धरती के साथ उसी बेवफूकी से पेश आते रहे तो इस साल भी कुछ नया नहीं होने वाला। हमारी अनिश्चित दुनिया में अब केवल एक चीज निश्चित है- वह यह कि प्रकृति अब अपना रौद्र रूप दिखाने लगी है और हमसे कह रही है कि बस, अब बहुत हो चुका। पिछले दो साल हम सबके लिए समझ से परे रहे हैं। साल 2020 में एक दिन हमें पता चलता है कि महज किसी वायरस ने आकर हमारी दुनिया को रोक दिया है। हमने तब अविश्वसनीय चीजें कीं। हमने हर चीज बंद कर दी, खुद को घरों में कैद कर लिया, लोगों से मिलना-जुलना छोड़ दिया, मास्क को अपने कपड़ों का जरूरी हिस्सा बना लिया और आनलाइन काम करना शुरू कर दिया। इससे हमारी दुनिया लगभग जाम सी हो गई। पिछले दो साल हम सबके लिए नरक जैसे बीते हैं, जिसमें हमने मौते देखीं ओर ऐसी चीजें भी जो हम सबकी जिंदगी में पहले कभी नहीं हुईं। जो कुछ भी हुआ, वह सारी दुनिया में, अमीर और गरीब, सबके साथ हुआ। उसके बाद हमें लगा कि वह दुःस्वपन बीत गया और रौशनी करीब है। हमने उम्मीदें और प्रार्थनाएं की कि वैक्सीन हमें बचा लेगी। ठीक एक साल पहले, आधुनिक मेडिसिन के चमत्कार के तौर पर कोविड-19 की वैक्सीन दुनिया में आई थी। हमने मान लिया था कि सबसे बुरा समय गुजर चुका है। उस समय अकेला सवाल यही था कि क्या यह वैक्सीन पूरी दुनिया में सबको मिल पाएगी। यह भी कहा गया कि सभी को वैक्सीन लगाने की जरूरत है भी या नहीं, हालांकि इसका यह मतलब नहीं था कि वह सबको नहीं मिलेगी। अगर सबको वैक्सीन न मिलती तो कोरोना के नए वैरिएंट के उभरने का खतरा भी था। महामारी से जंग में वायरस और इसके वैरिएंटस की वैक्सिनेशन के साथ रेस थी। कहा गया कि ‘जब तक सब सुरक्षित नहीं होंगे, तब तक कोई भी सुरक्षित नहीं है’। यह स्लोगन हमें फिर से आश्वासन दिलाता था कि हम जीत की ओर बढ़ रहे हैं। हमने जी-7 में दुनिया के नेताओं से इसके बारे में तफसील से सुना। जब हम नए साल में आने को तैयार थे और उम्मीद कर रहे थे कि सामान्य दिन वापस आ जाएंगे, कोरोना के नए वेरिएंट- ओमिक्रान ने दुनिया को झटका दिया। अगर 2020 नोवेल कोरोना वायरस का और 2021 इसके डेल्टा वेरिएंट का साल था तो 2022 में ओमिक्रोन हमें डराने जा रहा है। हमें नहीं पता कि यह कितना खतरनाक होगा। हम बस इतना जानते हैं कि इसके उत्परिवर्तन करने की दर काफी ज्यादा है और इसका संक्रमण बहुत तेज है। यह उस प्रतिरोधक क्षमता को नष्ट कर डालता है, जो हमने वैक्सीन से हासिल की है। यानी कि अब इकलौता विकल्प बचता है- बूस्टर देने का। उन सारे लोगों को बूस्टर देने का, जो वैक्सीन की पहली दोनों डोज ले चुके हैं ताकि वे ओमिक्रान के संक्रमण से कम प्रभावित हों। विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन, जो हाल- फिलहाल तक अमीर देशों से कह रहा था कि वे कोरोना वायरस को रोकने के लिए अपने यहां सभी को बूस्टर डोज देने की बजाय गरीब देशों को वैक्सीन उपलब्ध कराएं, अब चिल्ला-चिल्लाकर बूस्टर, बूस्टर, बूस्टर कर रहा है। हम वाकई थक चुके हैं। हमें डर है कि कहीं 2022, पिछले साल के जैसा ही न साबित हो, जिसका हमने सब कुछ सामान्य रहने की उम्मीद में स्वागत किया था, लेकिन जिसमें हमें महामारी की पहले से ज्यादा भयंकर लहर का सामना करना पड़ा। महामारी अभी खत्म नहीं हुई है और न ही इस तरह के प्रयासों से खत्म होगी। हमारी नई पीढ़ी इसकी जकड़ में है। हम इसका सबसे बुरा असर बच्चों पर देख रहे हैं। बच्चों की यह वह पीढ़ी होगी, जो इस बीमारी से डरकर जिएगी, भले ही उसमें आंतरिक लचीलापन हो या उसकी सामाजिक पृष्ठभूमि अलग-अलग हो। मेरा मानना है कि हम भले ही आमतौर पर इस पर चर्चा नहीं करते, लेकिन बच्चे इस वायरस से सबसे ज्यादा प्रभावित हुए हैं। जो अमूल्य समय उन्हें स्कूल में दोस्तों के साथ होने, चीजों को सीखने और जिंदगी का बेहिसाब आनंद लेने में बिताना चाहिए था, उसे उन्होंने गंवाया है। यह कहने का कोई मतलब नहीं है कि उन्हें आनलाइन शिक्षा मिल रही है, क्योंकि हम जानते हैं कि गरीब के लिए यह शिक्षा कितनी उपलब्ध है। यह कहना भी काफी नहीं है कि घर में रहने से उन्हें परिवार के साथ ज्यादा समय बिताने का मौका मिल रहा है, क्योंकि उनके मानसिक स्वास्थ्य, विकास और सामान्य जीवन के लिए उनका बाहर निकलना भी उतना ही जरूरी है। फिर, कोरोना वायरस ही अकेला नहीं है। आज के दौर में यह अकेली समस्या नहीं है। पिछले साल एवियन इंफ्लुएंजा ने चिड़ियों और मुर्गियों पर घातक हमला किया, अफ्रीकी स्वाइन इंफ्लुएंजा ने पूरी दुनिया में सुअरों की आबादी पर प्रहार किया। इसके साथ ही चमगादड़ों से निपाह और मच्छरों से जीका वायरस का संक्रमण भी घातक हुआ। क्या इन जूनोटिक यानी पशुओं से फैलने वाले वायरस में से कोई कोरोना वायरस जितना मारक या घातक हा सकता है ? हम यह नहीं जानते। इतनी सारी अनिश्चितताओं के बीच दरअसल हम यह मानने से इंकार कर रहे हैं कि हम प्रकृति के साथ शांति से नहीं रह रहे हैं। जबकि कोविड-19 के खिलाफ जंग में हम यही याद रखने की जरूरत सबसे ज्यादा है। हम जानते हैं कि जूनोटिक वायरस वाली बीमारियों के बढ़ने की वजह प्रकृति के साथ हमारे बिगड़ते संबंध हैं और उन्हें हम केवल तभी सुधार सकते हैं, जब हम अपनी खाद्य-प्रणाली को एक बार फिर से ठीक करें। हालांकि इसे ठीक करने की बजाय हम केवल त्वरित उपायों से काम चलाना चाहते हैं। हमें पता है कि जब तक सबको वैक्सीन नहीं मिल जाती, तब तक हम भी खतरे की जद में हैं। इसके बावजूद हमें नहीं पता कि हमें मिलकर कैसे काम करना है। हमने पिछले दो सालों में यह भी सीखा है कि वायरस को नियंत्रित करने में देशों की कामयाबी उनकी समाजव्यापी सार्वजनिक स्वास्थ्य-प्रणालियों में उनके द्वारा किए गए निवेशों में निहित है। यह भी कि इसे सर्वसुलभ और प्राथमिक स्तर पर सबके लिए उपलब्ध करने के लिए लोगों की जरूरत है। नए वैरिएंट के बढ़ते खतरे के दौर में भी हमें इन बुनियादी बातों पर ध्यान केंद्रित करना होगा।

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Air pollution now a yearlong problem in Mumbai, new analysis shows

According to new research by CSE, accessibility to the coast has not aided in the control of air pollution in Mumbai. Haze mornings and nights are prevalent in India during this time of the year, while the western regions appear to be considerably clearer. However, according to a new research of area levels of air pollution conducted by the CSE (Centre for Science and Environment), accessibility to the coast has not aided in the control of rising air pollution in Mumbai, India's metropolitan city. Considering the geological privileges and suitable meteorological, cold weather pollution levels in the western part of the country are not as significant as those in the northern parts due to its proximity to the water and greater airflow, the levels have been shown to be growing, according to the CSE analysis. In other words, increasing air pollution is not restricted to winters but is now a yearlong problem in Mumbai too. "The number of bad-air days in Mumbai have doubled between 2019 and 2021, while good days are down by 20 per cent. This underscores the urgency of scaling up action across all sectors to prevent further worsening and to arrest the trend in this region," executive director, research and advocacy, CSE, Anumita Roychowdhury said. This new analysis, released on Wednesday, of real time pollution data is part of CSE`s air quality tracker initiative and also has an assessment of annual and seasonal trends in PM2.5 concentration for the period January 1, 2019, to January 9, 2022. This analysis is based on the real time data available from the current working air quality monitoring stations. Review of data availability from the automated monitoring stations in the region under the continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) programme of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) shows major data gaps. When it comes to data availability calculated as number of days with adequate PM2.5 data for computation of a valid 24-hour average, among Mumbai stations, Kurla in east-central Mumbai had only 55 per cent data while Malady (West) in north Mumbai came up with 68 per cent. "It is not clear why these stations have such poor data availability despite minimal problems of electricity and internet connectivity in the region," said CSE`s programme manager, Urban Data Analytics Lab, Avikal Somvanshi. Like other cities in Maharashtra and Gujarat, studied as part of the same analysis by CSE, Mumbai too has indicated a rising trend in annual PM2.5 levels after an initial drop during 2020 (when there were lockdowns) with a rebound and a rising trend visible in 2021. The CSE analysis to indicate that the numbers of bad-air quality days are increasing in Mumbai is supported with Air Quality Index (AQI) data. Daily AQI analysis based on 10 oldest stations shows a 20 per cent drop in the number of good AQI days in the city between 2019 and 2021 -- while days with poor or very poor AQI have doubled. South Mumbai has the worst air within the city during winter: In December 2021, the stations in south Mumbai reported significantly higher PM2.5 levels compared to the rest of the city. Mazgaon with a monthly average of 134 micrograms per cubic metres was the most polluted neighborhood of the city, followed by Navy Nagar, Colaba (124 micrograms per metre cube), Kurla (101 micrograms per metre cube), Vile Parle-West (101 micrograms per metre cube) and Worli (97 micrograms per metre cube). Khindipada, in north Mumbai, which is at the edge of Sanjay Gandhi National Park in the suburbs with a monthly average of 54 micrograms per metre cube was the least polluted neighborhood. Bandra and Malad (West) reported low numbers, but the values are not considered valid due to a significantly large amount of missing data from these two stations, the CSE analysis showed.

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Air pollution rises in Maha, Guj after brief lull due to lockdowns: CSE

Most cities in Maharashtra and Gujarat indicated a rising trend in annual PM2.5 levels with a drop through 2020 (during lockdowns) followed by a rebound and a rising trend visible in 2021, an analysis by the Centre for Science & Environment (CSE) said on Wednesday. Stating that the air pollution is rapidly becoming a matter of concern in the two western states, the new analysis of regional air pollution levels said cities in Gujarat are more polluted than those in Maharashtra. The analysis covered 56 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) spread across 15 cities in the two states. MS Education Academy Gujarat’s Vatva and Ankleshwar have the most polluted air in the region with the 2021 average of PM2.5 at 67 microgram per metre cube. This is followed by Vapi and Ahmedabad with 2021 annual averages at 54 and 53 microgram per metre cube, respectively. In Maharashtra, Chandrapur, an industrial city, has recorded levels marginally above the annual standard at 43 microgram per metre cube. Other stations have met the annual standard though all of them showed a rising trend in 2021 after the dip in 2020. Despite low annual levels, cities in Maharashtra experienced a high number of days with ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ AQI compared to Gujarat. With 102 days of poor and very poor AQI, Ankleshwar in Gujarat had the unhealthiest days in the region, followed by Kalyan (84 days), Vatva (75 days), and Navi Mumbai (54 days). Vapi had 48 days of poor and very poor AQI — but its data is missing for 138 days (mainly for the winter months). Mumbai registered 42 days of poor and very poor AQI despite meeting the annual standard. Levels during high weekly pollution episodes in winter can be more than double the annual concentration in several cities. During the worst weekly pollution episodes in winter, the PM2.5 concentrations can increase significantly higher than the annual PM2.5 average — about two times higher in several cities. “This analysis of real-time air quality data for the period 2019-2021 shows that the downward dip in pollution that was induced by the lockdown phases of the pandemic in 2020 is changing. Pollution levels are threatening to bounce back. In many cases, the levels are even higher than in 2019. This underscores the urgency of scaling up action across all sectors to prevent further worsening and to arrest the trend in this region,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, CSE. However, this data has a challenge of data gaps and quality despite automation. Review of data availability from the automated monitoring stations in the region under the CAAQMS programme of CPCB shows major data gaps. Data availability calculated as the number of days with adequate PM2.5 data for computation of a valid 24-hour average has been low in five of the 12 cities in the region, the CSE analysis showed.

Down To Earth

Shark And Ray Research In India Has Low Relevance To Their Conservation

There is no denying it: biodiversity is deteriorating at an alarming rate on our little blue planet. Humans rely on biodiversity for our very survival - our society depends on a myriad of ecosystem services such as the provision of food, fuel and clean water, nutrient cycling, pollination services and climate regulation. But, unsurprisingly, it’s human actions that are the primary cause of these huge declines worldwide, particularly in the ocean where overfishing is driving the greatest biodiversity loss. While conservation research has significantly increased in recent decades, this doesn’t mean these efforts necessarily translate to policy and practice. This is has been especially documented in the Global South; despite having some of the most biodiverse areas and largest human populations, research in these regions seldom meets the needs of conservation practice. One example is India, which is one of the world’s 17 mega-biodiverse countries, yet the Indo-Burma hotspot has lost 95% of its vegetation area, according to the Centre for Science and Environment's (CSE) report entitled ‘State of India's Environment in Figures 2021.’ The country supports various ecosystems, including coastal and marine ecosystems that are made up of mangroves, coral reefs, estuaries, seagrass, mudflats and lagoons, which occupy 7,516 sq. km, a continental shelf area of area 468,000 sq. km and an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 2.02 million sq. km. Low angle view of bird swimming in sea against clear sky,Gorakhpur,Uttar Pradesh,India " I hope that our paper can shape the way chondrichthyan research is conducted in India (and other ... [+] getty These ecosystems are home to numerous marine species, including sharks, rays, and chimaeras (collectively called Chondrichthyans) which play critical ecological roles, are an important food source, and provide direct economic benefits (i.e. through the fisheries and tourism industries which employ about 16 million fishers). Bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, India has a high diversity of chondrichthyans in its waters (at least 155 species yet the number of sharks and rays reported in India has been shrinking; unfortunately, this is not surprising to scientists, as Chondrichthyans are one of the most threatened groups in the world with over a third of all known species currently threatened with extinction. India also hosts one of the largest chondrichthyan fisheries globally, and has few policies and regulations making it one of the highest priority countries for the conservation of sharks and rays. The policies that currently exist include the protection of 10 species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act (WLPA) in 2001, and the prohibition of shark fin exports in 2015. “[However,] these policies may not be entirely driven by scientific information; for instance, most of the 10 species protected under the WLPA are very rarely caught in fisheries, and a few of these species do not actually occur in Indian waters,” explain the authors of a new scientific paper that looks at the relevance and applicability of Chondrichthyan research in India to their conservation. The researchers, led by scientist and PhD student Trisha Gupta of the University of Oxford, conducted a scoping review of scientific and grey literature across national and international databases and found a total of 482 revelant publications. It was found that the number of publications exponentially increased with time, yet less than 10% of studies addressing socio-economic and management themes in the country, with most of the literature dominated by short-term fisheries studies, biological records and observations. “I think this is one of the main issues for shark and ray conservation in India. Across all conservation issues globally, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the human aspects are as important as the ecological aspects, and social science research is now being mainstreamed into conservation science. This is the case for marine conservation in India as well,” explained Gupta. “Alongside understanding the ecology and biology of sharks and rays, we need to understand the human behaviours that are driving their fisheries. It’s also equally important to understand the impacts of any conservation measures on local communities, and develop solutions that are beneficial to both people and nature. Socio-economic research is critical for this, and is unfortunately lacking in India.” An analysis of the publications also revealed research here was biased towards specific states (particularly Tamil Nadu and Kerala) and towards charismatic species (like the whale shark, Rhincodon typus) which the authors fear is leading to under-representation of potentially important regions and taxa. “This is definitely a relatively easier issue to address. We need to start focusing research efforts towards the regions and taxa that are under-represented, which are mentioned in the paper,” said Gupta. “A good place to start with is students – there are so many enthusiastic students across the country who study lesser-known species for their dissertations or other projects, but this work never ends up being published or available anywhere. Supporting such student research is a great way to get more literature out on under-represented taxa and regions, as well as develop local capacity.” The multidimensionality and complexity of biodiversity - and its decline - means there is no single measure that can comprehensively solve what is happening. However, Gupta and the other researchers hope that by identifying a number of critical gaps in chondrichthyan knowledge in India, they can start to make local conservation initiatives more effective. “For instance, an adapted productivity-sensitivity analysis was conducted in Indonesia to identify at-risk shark and ray species; priority sites for conservation were also identified. Similar assessments would be highly valuable in India,” the authors clarify. “Few studies in India have looked at the spatial ecology of chondrichthyans, with very few attempting to identify and characterise their critical habitats. Knowledge of habitat use and aggregation sites can aid in the formulation of nuanced, area-based conservation measures and [...] fisher knowledge (i.e. Local Ecological Knowledge and Traditional Ecological Knowledge) can [and has been] be a crucial source of information in resource and data-limited situations.” The researchers also go on to explain there need for a deeper understanding of the human dimensions of chondrichthyan fisheries to guide holistic management, as they form complex social ecological systems with important contributions to livelihoods and food security. Manta The multidimensionality and complexity of biodiversity - and its decline - means there is no single ... [+] getty Perhaps India – as a party to the international Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) – will take this advice as they work towards the ‘30 × 30’ global target that aims to protect and conserve 30% of the world’s terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems. Currently, there are 25 marine protected areas in peninsular India and 107 marine protected areas in the country’s islands (making up approximately 27% of India’s geographical area according to the Sixth National Report). However, only 5% of coastal and marine areas are designated protected areas. If implemented properly, by signing the 30 × 30 target India can not only help shift conservation into a new paradigm where local protection initiatives involve all stakeholders – including civil society, concerned citizens, businesses, scientists and local communities - but conserve her unique coastal and marine biodiversity.

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Tale of Mumbai’s rising trend of air pollution

However, a new analysis of regional air pollution levels by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has shown that proximity to the sea has not helped in containing the increasing air pollution in the financial capital, Mumbai. Every winter, smog-filled days and nights across entire north India are a common thing and by contrast, the western region looks much cleaner. However, a new analysis of regional air pollution levels by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has shown that proximity to the sea has not helped in containing the increasing air pollution in the financial capital, Mumbai. Even though winter pollution levels in the western region are not as high as that seen in the Indo-Gangetic Plains due to its proximity to the sea and improved ventilation, the levels have been seen to be increasing despite the geographical advantages and favourable meteorology, the CSE analysis said.

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Tale of Mumbai's rising trend of air pollution

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Most Cities in #Maharashtra and #Gujarat Indicated a Rising Trend in Annual PM2.5 Levels ... - Latest Tweet by IANS India

The latest Tweet by IANS India states, 'Most cities in #Maharashtra and #Gujarat indicated a rising trend in annual PM2.5 levels with a drop through 2020 followed by a rebound and a rising trend visible in 2021, an analysis by the Centre for Science & Environment said.#AirPollution'

Down To Earth

COVID-19 has cost sub-Saharan Africa 13.5 million jobs in working hour losses: ILO

The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed practically 5 million staff and their households in sub-Saharan Africa into excessive poverty because of working hour losses equal to 13.5 million full-time jobs, the Worldwide Labour Group (ILO) has mentioned in its flagship report. The employment-to-population ratio (EPR) in sub-Saharan Africa has declined by two share factors as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, the ILO has famous. The report outlined the ratio as “the proportion of a rustic’s working age inhabitants that’s employed. A excessive ratio implies that a big proportion of a rustic’s inhabitants is employed, whereas a low ratio implies that a big share of the inhabitants is just not concerned instantly in market-related actions, as a result of they’re both unemployed or (extra probably) out of the labour pressure altogether.” It has downgraded its 2022 labour market restoration forecast in its flagship report, World Employment and Social Outlook Developments 2022. The organisation has projected a seamless main deficit within the variety of working hours in comparison with the pre-pandemic period. The EPR ratio is projected to stay effectively beneath its pre-crisis degree by way of 2023, which is alarming given the long-term tendencies in sub-Saharan Africa earlier than the pandemic, the report warned. Girls accounted for the lion’s share of web job losses within the area, partly due to their over-representation amongst casual staff, the report mentioned. Casual staff had been closely affected by lockdowns and office and border closures. Different weak teams in sub-Saharan Africa embody migrant staff and cross-border merchants, each of whom have been closely affected by border closures. Even when employment recovered to pre-crisis ranges, employment development in Africa, particularly first rate work, would stay restricted, the report mentioned. This was as a result of employment development in sub-Saharan Africa largely consisted of subsistence agriculture and self-employment, usually within the casual sector. The ILO report additionally warned that the unemployment price in North Africa is anticipated to begin declining in 2022 however will stay above its pre-crisis degree of 11.1 per cent in 2023. The unemployment price, which elevated to 12.8 per cent in 2020, remained usually steady in 2021. In North Africa, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in substantial losses in working hours in 2020 and a web decline in employment of over 2.1 million. Youth, aged 15-24 years accounted for practically a 3rd of web job losses within the area. Along with job and revenue losses and the danger of deteriorating rights at work, the pandemic has disrupted schooling and coaching. The COVID-19 pandemic has hit African nations exhausting — fall in commerce disrupted provide chains, remittances shrunk and tourism got here to a halt. A crisis-induced jobs hole of practically 17 million is estimated for Africa in 2020, which incorporates jobs misplaced in 2020 mixed with forgone job development on account of the disaster, in keeping with the report World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2021. The pandemic reversed a few of the progress made in reducing poverty in Africa by driving up the share of staff residing in excessive poverty. We’re a voice to you; you’ve gotten been a help to us. Collectively we construct journalism that’s impartial, credible and fearless. You may additional assist us by making a donation. This can imply so much for our means to carry you information, views and evaluation from the bottom in order that we are able to make change collectively.

Down To Earth

Over 45% of India’s forests will change into ‘local weather hotspots’ by 2030

Almost half of India’s forest and tree cowl (315,667 sq. kilometres, or 45 per cent) can emerge as ‘local weather hotspots’ — areas anticipated to be affected by local weather change — the Forest Survey of India (FSI) warned in its newest evaluation. By 2030, 315,667 sq. kilometres (sq km) or 45 per cent of India’s forest and tree cowl are set to emerge as ‘local weather hotspots’. Local weather hotspot is an space anticipated to be adversely impacted by local weather change, the Forest Survey of India (FSI) mentioned in its newest evaluation on forests for 2021 launched January 13, 2022. By 2050, 448,367 sq km or 64 per cent of India’s forest and tree cowl is prone to face the ‘excessive severity’ of local weather change, the report titled State of India’s Forests Report, 2021 (SoFR, 2021), mentioned. Excessive severity implies that India’s inexperienced cowl is anticipated to see an increase in temperature between the vary of 1.5 and a pair of.1 levels Celsius. Local weather change hotspots can even see a change in rainfall patterns with a rise or lower of 20-26 per cent, the SoFR, 2021, mentioned. These projections are primarily based on the collaborative research between FSI and the BITS, Pilani (Goa Campus) to map local weather hotspots within the forest areas of the nation. The research made use of the pc model-based projections of temperature and rainfall in three ‘time horizons’ — 2030, 2050 and 2085. Over 55 per cent of India’s tropical dry deciduous forests, the highest most dominant kind of forests, will likely be severely affected by local weather change. Of 313,617 sq km, 172,719 sq km will likely be extremely susceptible to local weather change. These forests happen within the area with very low rainfall of 100-150 centimetres, with 5 to 6 dry months. Thus, 84 per cent of Chhattisgarh’s forest space is most definitely to change into a local weather hotspot. In Madhya Pradesh, 65 per cent of the world below forests will likely be susceptible to local weather change impacts. Tropical moist deciduous forests and tropical semi-evergreen forests, the second and third most outstanding kind of forests too are extremely susceptible. Some 47 per cent and 40 per cent of the tropical moist deciduous forests and tropical semi-evergreen forests respectively will likely be affected by local weather change. Your entire space below the highest three dominating forest varieties protecting a complete of 520,280 sq km will fall below local weather change hotspots from 2050 onwards. Therefore, forests in massive elements of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, the northern a part of Odisha and western a part of Jharkhand will likely be impacted by antagonistic impacts of local weather change from 2050 onwards, the biennial forests report mentioned.

Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Air pollution rises in Maha, Guj after brief lull due to lockdowns: CSE

The analysis covered 56 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) spread across 15 cities in the two states. Most cities in Maharashtra and Gujarat indicated a rising trend in annual PM2.5 levels with a drop through 2020 (during lockdowns) followed by a rebound and a rising trend visible in 2021, an analysis by the Centre for Science & Environment (CSE) said on Wednesday. Stating that the air pollution is rapidly becoming a matter of concern in the two western states, the new analysis of regional air pollution levels said cities in Gujarat are more polluted than those in Maharashtra. The analysis covered 56 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) spread across 15 cities in the two states. Gujarat’s Vatva and Ankleshwar have the most polluted air in the region with the 2021 average of PM2.5 at 67 microgram per metre cube. This is followed by Vapi and Ahmedabad with 2021 annual averages at 54 and 53 microgram per metre cube, respectively. In Maharashtra, Chandrapur, an industrial city, has recorded levels marginally above the annual standard at 43 microgram per metre cube. Other stations have met the annual standard though all of them showed a rising trend in 2021 after the dip in 2020. Despite low annual levels, cities in Maharashtra experienced a high number of days with ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ AQI compared to Gujarat. With 102 days of poor and very poor AQI, Ankleshwar in Gujarat had the unhealthiest days in the region, followed by Kalyan (84 days), Vatva (75 days), and Navi Mumbai (54 days). Vapi had 48 days of poor and very poor AQI — but its data is missing for 138 days (mainly for the winter months). Mumbai registered 42 days of poor and very poor AQI despite meeting the annual standard. Levels during high weekly pollution episodes in winter can be more than double the annual concentration in several cities. During the worst weekly pollution episodes in winter, the PM2.5 concentrations can increase significantly higher than the annual PM2.5 average — about two times higher in several cities. “This analysis of real-time air quality data for the period 2019-2021 shows that the downward dip in pollution that was induced by the lockdown phases of the pandemic in 2020 is changing. Pollution levels are threatening to bounce back. In many cases, the levels are even higher than in 2019. This underscores the urgency of scaling up action across all sectors to prevent further worsening and to arrest the trend in this region,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, CSE. However, this data has a challenge of data gaps and quality despite automation. Review of data availability from the automated monitoring stations in the region under the CAAQMS programme of CPCB shows major data gaps. Data availability calculated as the number of days with adequate PM2.5 data for computation of a valid 24-hour average has been low in five of the 12 cities in the region, the CSE analysis showed.