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Delhi plans mesh of sensors to monitor pollution air hot spots

Pollution is one of the biggest problems dogging Delhi, and the city experiences a public health emergency every winter with the air quality deteriorating to hazardous levels The national capital’s 40 real-time ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) account for a network that roughly covers every 37 sq km of Delhi’s 1,484 sq km area, if these stations were spread out at equal distance from each other across the city. While this network is considerably denser than the four stations functional each in Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Noida and Faridabad, and the two stations in Greater Noida, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) is now considering deploying multiple low-cost sensors to enhance the coverage further. The idea is to install these sensors at the neighbourhood level to create a spatial grid alerting the anti-pollution body of changes in air quality levels in different parts of the same area, to enable local interventions in places where spikes are reported, DPCC officials aware of the matter said. If approved, the plan is start by using these sensors in Delhi’s 13 pollution hot spots, where urgent corrective action in needed, they added. “These sensors function in a similar way to an automatic real-time stations present in Delhi, but they will also be able to identify local sources of pollution, which otherwise cannot be detected by a real-time station as it covers a substantially larger area. Depending on which sensor is showing high-levels of pollution, we can take corrective action, for example acting on dust in its vicinity or any kind of garbage burning,” said a senior DPCC official who asked not to be named. Pollution is one of the biggest problems dogging the national capital, and the city experiences a public health emergency every winter with the air quality deteriorating to hazardous levels. Between November and December last year, for example, the city witnessed 17 “severe” days, and even “very poor” and “poor” days on the Air Quality Index (AQI) rating scale are considered periods of respite. To be sure, this problem is not restricted to winter. Delhi’s average PM2.5 level in 2021 was 87 micrograms per cubic metre, 17 times higher than safety levels prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2018, DPCC identified 13 pollution hot spots, which have a substantially higher annual PM 2.5 concentration than the city’s mean average. These are Jahangirpuri, Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Wazirpur, Punjabi Bagh, Dwarka Sector 8, Rohini Sector 16, RK Puram, Bawana, Mundka, Narela, Okhla Phase II and Vivek Vihar. Initially, it is these areas that DPCC wants to target with the network of low-cost sensors. While an automatic monitoring station costs around ₹1-1.5 crore, a low-cost sensor costs only ₹50,000, if it is to measure both PM 2.5 and PM 10 particulate matter. For each additional sensor to measure gases such as SO2, O3 and NOx, the cost goes up by ₹25,000 per filter. In Delhi, the 40 real-time stations have been installed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and DPCC, each measuring PM 10, PM 2.5, SO2, NOx, NH3, CO, O3 and benzene. The low-cost sensors are relatively less accurate but experts said that the data can be used very effectively for analysis and intervention. Ronak Sutaria, founder, Respirer Living Sciences, who specialises in gathering local-level data from low-cost sensors, says while a real-time station influences area of 3-5 sq km, low-cost sensors could cover a radius of 1 sq km easily, creating both a spatial and temporal grid that can be analysed by DPCC. “If we have to assume each pollution hot spot in Delhi is spread over an area of 5 sq km, five such low-cost sensors can be installed covering a kilometre each and you can then identify in which grid the pollution levels are higher. The denser the grid, the more accurate the readings will be,” he says, stating while costing nearly 30-40 times lesser than an ambient air quality station, these low-cost sensors still have an accuracy that is only around 10-15% apart from a real-time station. “If the real-time station is showing “severe” air, then these sensors will show”severe” air too, and the actual concentration may be 10-20 micrograms apart, but it will still give a good idea of the concentration levels in the area,” he added, pointing out that local data also gives a better idea of spike of bad air spikes during different times of the day. Professor SN Tripathi from IIT Kanpur, who is part of a committee formed by CPCB to look at ways to utilise both low-cost sensors and ambient air quality monitoring stations together, says Delhi could benefit with a low-cost network in addition to the existing stations. “While the existing network of 40 stations in Delhi is good enough for policy-level decisions, low-cost sensors will be able to give an idea of certain locations at the neighbourhood-level which have a higher concentration level. Based on this, you could strategically act on the sources of pollution around that sensor,” he said, adding that Beijing is uses a network of over 3,000 low-cost sensors. Anumita Roychowdhury says the approach to use low-cost sensors to tackle hots pot pollution can help coordinate ground-level action better. “Only once we know the source, can we act on it. Ground-level action such as high readings from burning of waste or dust can be easily captured,” she said.

New rules on fly ash disposal a ‘positive step’, but experts say health, ecology risks remain

Fly ash is the residue of coal combustion, which, if disposed of improperly, is hazardous. New govt rules include a system of environmental compensation based on polluter-pays principle. New Delhi: Thermal power plants and lignite plants that do not utilise 100 per cent of the fly ash they generate in an “eco-friendly” way will now face penalties, under a new set of rules notified by the Narendra Modi government. Fly ash is the residue of coal combustion, which, if disposed of improperly, is hazardous for health and the environment due to the concentrated presence of heavy metals. The notification from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change intends to “bring out a comprehensive framework for ash utilisation including a system of environmental compensation based on polluter-pays principle”. This is a first in the country. Thermal power plants must utilise 100 per cent of their yearly fly ash output within a three-year cycle to avoid penalties, the 31 December notification says, adding that “at no point” should utilisation fall below 80 per cent. The plants that fail to have 100 per cent utilisation levels within this period will be forced to pay the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) Rs 1,000 per tonne of unutilised ash. VDO.AI The notification acknowledges “legacy ash”, or the build-up of fly ash by thermal power plants over decades, saying that this must be utilised over a period of 10 years from the time the notification is applicable, from 1 April 2022 onwards. Legacy ash must be dealt with “over and above” the yearly ash output by power plants, the notification says. India has over 200 coal power plants that generate an enormous amount of fly ash. According to the Central Electricity Authority, India’s coal plants generated 232.56 million tonnes of fly ash in 2020-2021. Although 93 per cent of it was utilised, millions of tonnes accumulated over the years lie unused. A study by think tank Centre for Science and Environment in March 2021 found that over half of India’s power plants failed to fully utilise their fly ash and fell behind previous government targets. The new notification will replace the 1999 notification that had originally set up rules for fly ash utilisation. It will also supersede the various amendments to the 1999 notification made in 2003, 2009 and 2016, which have all sought to manage the generation of fly ash. ‘Eco-friendly’ utilisation The latest notification is largely similar to the draft that had been released for public comments in April 2021. Dumping fly ash on land needs to be prevented, and it should be dealt with in an “eco-friendly” manner, the new notification says. It lists “the only” ways in which the fly ash can be utilised, which include the manufacturing of bricks, tiles, cement, construction of roads, and export to other countries. It also allows for the “filling of low-lying areas”, filling of empty mines, and “agriculture in a controlled manner based on soil testing”. The notification adds that the compensation money collected by the CPCB for ash that hasn’t been utilised will be used “towards the safe disposal of the unutilised ash” as well as research on ash-based products. What experts say According to experts, the introduction of a penalty for non-compliance and acknowledgement of legacy ash is a step in the right direction, but there are other facets that the notification doesn’t adequately address. “The notification calls the filling of low-lying areas an eco-friendly method of utilising fly ash, but more often than not, this is a euphemism for irresponsibly dumping ash. Dumping ash in low-lying areas can lead to severe ecological consequences,” said Sehr Raheja, a researcher with Manthan Adhyayan Kendra, a civil society organisation that wrote to the government in April last year, when comments on the draft notification had been invited. A report co-authored by Manthan found that there were eight major fly ash breaches between 2019 and 2021, leading to destruction and contamination. While the notification says that all yearly and legacy ash must be utilised, it also makes a provision for ash stored in dykes and ponds — structures built for large amounts of ash disposal — saying that as long as such storage is “stabilised” or reclaimed by growing plantations, coal power plants certified with the CPCB can be excluded from the 10-year deadline. “We also worry that this will create a loophole for coal power plants not to utilise their legacy ash,” Raheja added. Think tank Centre for Policy Research (CPR) had also submitted comments in April last year, saying a 10-year deadline to comply with 100 per cent utilisation of legacy ash “eases the legal burden of compliance but allows for illegal dumps of overloaded ash dykes to continue” despite risks of accidents and contamination. The CPR also said the draft notification didn’t address the issue of fly ash generation, which is the underlying cause for build-up and environmental damage. It also urged the government to recognise that fly ash is a public health hazard. “It is critical to take policy measures to link fly ash utilisation with steps being taken by the government to prevent diseases and deaths and provide health services. The environmental regulation that emerges from this approach of ‘fly ash as a health risk’ has the potential to identify remedies to address legacy impact and prevent future legal breaches,” CPR wrote in its comments. However, the final notification does not incorporate this point.

Corona पर बड़ी लापरवाही: एक तरफ बढ़ते केस, दूसरी तरफ बेपरवाह जनता

नेशनल डेस्क: कोरोना महामारी की दूसरी लहर थमने के बाद शायद अब जनता दो साल बीता भयावह दौर नहीं देखना और न ही इसकी कल्पना करना चाहती है। जनता वैसे ही जीना चाहती है जैसे दो साल पहले महामारी से पहले जिया करती थी। इसमें भी कोई दोराय नहीं है कि नए साल ने पूरे विश्व में इस बार कोरोना के नए वेरिएंट ओमीक्रॉन के साथ दस्तक दी है और यह पूरे विश्व में तेजी से फैल रहा है। जबकि अब जनता बेरपवाह होकर जीना चाहती है, सड़कों पर मास्क लगा कर चलना छोड़ दिया है, दो गज की दूरी भूल गई है। जो लॉकडाउन झेला उसे दोबारा नहीं देखना चाहती है। समाजिक तौर पर इसकी वजह यह है कि भारत ही नहीं पूरे विश्व में लोगों के गुजरे हुए दो साल एक भयानक सपने की तरह गुजरे हैं। साल 2020 में जब कोरोना महामारी ने जब लोगों की दुनिया की रफ्तार को जाम कर दिया तो उन्हें अपनी जिंदगी किसी राजा के शाही फरमान के मुताबिक जीने को मजबूर होना पड़ा। वजह लाजमी थी कोरोना से निपटने के लिए दवाओं का पता नहीं था वैक्सीन थी नहीं ऐसे में लोगों ने अपनी जान बचाने के लिए वह सब किया जो उन्हें कभी पसंद नहीं था। खौफ से सरकारी फरमानों के मुताबिक लोगों ने घरों से बाहर निकलना बंद कर दिया। दो गज दूरी के चक्कर में एक दूसरे से मिलना ही बंद कर दिया। मास्क को अपने रोजमर्रा के कपड़ों का हिस्सा बनाया। ऑफिस छोड़ घरों से ऑनलाइन काम करना शुरु कर दिया। बच्चों के शिक्षण संस्थान बंद हो गए ऑनलाइन शिक्षा के चक्कर में विश्व के करोड़ों गरीब छात्र पढ़ाई से महरूम हो गए। भारत में सड़कों पर प्रवासी मजदूरों की भीड़ शहरों से गांव पलायन करने लगी। क्या अब वह भयावह दौर गुजर चुका है यह एक ऐसा भयावह मंजर था जिसे अमीर से अमीर और गरीब से गरीब व्यक्ति को झेलना पड़ा। करीब एक साल पहले जब कोरोना रोधी वैक्सीन उपलब्ध हुई तो दुनिया भर के देशों को लग रहा था कि अब हम कोरोना महामारी की चपेट से बाहर आ जाएंगे। कुछ हद तक भारत सहित कई देश इस बात को लेकर आश्वस्त होने लगे कि सब ठीक हो जाएगा। महामारी की भारत में दूसरी लहर धीमी पड़ने पर हमने भी मान लिया था कि अब वह भयावह दौर गुजर चुका है और हम अब वापिस मुड़ कर नहीं देखने वाले हैं। ऐसी हकीकत की कल्पना दोबारा कोई भी नहीं करना चाहेगा जब गंगा में शव लावारिस हो गए और कब्रिस्तान शवों को दफनाने के लिए कम पड़ने लगे थे। श्मशान में शवों की कतारें लगी थी और अस्थियों से भरी बोरियों के भी ढेर जमा हो गए थे। कारोना की रफ्तार थमने के बाद यह भी दावा किया जाता है कि 2022 के अंत तक लोगों को कोरोना से निजात मिल जाएगी। यह दावा वैक्सीनेशन पर आधारित है, ये माना जा रहा है कि विश्व में 70 फीसदी लोगों के टीकाकरण के बाद स्थिति काबू में आ जाएगी। जब तक सब सुरक्षित नहीं होंगे, तब तक कोई भी सुरक्षित नहीं सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) की महानिदेशक सुनीता नारायण अपने एक लेख में कहती है कि महामारी से जंग में वायरस और इसके वेरिएट्स की वैक्सीनेशन 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। वह लिखती है कि जब हम नए साल में आने को तैयार थे और उम्मीद कर रहे थे कि सामान्य दिन वापस आ जाएंगे, कोरोना के नए वेरिएंट- ओमीक्रान ने दुनिया को झटका दिया। अगर 2020 नोवेल कोरोना वायरस का और 2021 इसके डेल्टा वेरिएंट का साल था तो 2022 में ओमीक्रान हमें डराने जा रहा है। अब इकलौता विकल्प बूस्टर देने का सुनीता नारायण ने उल्लेख किया है कि 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 ओमीक्रान 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।

CSE finds early signs of rising air pollution in MP, Chhattisgarh

The CSE analysis of air quality status in cities of MP and Chhattisgarh is an assessment of annual and seasonal trends in PM2.5 concentration for the period January 1, 2019 to December 12, 2021 It is not only the northern part of India that is in the grip of severe winter pollution but several cities in other regions -- including in the central Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh -- are experiencing a worsening of winter pollution, finds a latest analysis from Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The analysis shows that air pollution during winter is a problem in all the cities in these two states, with Gwalior and Singrauli having the worst air quality -- as bad as the winter air quality of cities in the National Capital Region and Uttar Pradesh. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution is also high in these cities, with Indore recording the highest for the region. Singrauli, a small town in eastern Madhya Pradesh, but designated as a critically polluted area by the Central Pollution Control Board, has the most polluted air in the region with a 2021 average of 81 micrograms per metre cube. It is followed by Gwalior and Katni that have 2021 averages of 56 micrograms per metre cube and 54 micrograms per metre cube, respectively. The 2021 average has bypassed the 2020 average in all the major cities -- Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Ujjain -- and it does not meet the annual standard as well. "Satna has the lowest 2021 average value, but the quality of data from the city's only station is suspect. Bilaspur, Bhilai and Maihar do not have adequate data for computation of annual values," a release from the CSE said on Monday. "Even though real time air quality data is extremely limited in this region, whatever real time data is emerging from only 17 cities of these two big states indicate a growing crisis and vulnerability to winter smog. This demands early and stronger multi-sector action at a regional scale to meet the clean air targets," said executive director, research and advocacy, CSE, Anumita Roychowdhury. "Gaps in air quality data and lack of quality control of data makes it difficult to construct reliable air quality trends and do proper risk assessment," said Avikal Somvanshi, programme manager, Urban Lab, CSE. "The worsening of air quality in the region has not drawn adequate public attention. In winter, air quality of cities such as Singrauli, Gwalior, Jabalpur and Katni could get nearly three times worse than their annual average levels." The CSE analysis of air quality status in cities of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh is an assessment of annual and seasonal trends in PM2.5 concentration for the period January 1, 2019 to December 12, 2021. This analysis is based on real time data available from the current working air quality monitoring stations in central India. The analysis covers 18 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) spread across 17 cities in the two states -- two stations in Gwalior and one station each at Bhopal, Damoh, Dewas, Indore, Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Mandideep, Pithampur, Ratlam, Sagar, Satna, Singrauli, Ujjain, Bhilai and Bilaspur. Air quality monitoring is still very limited in the central region. Cities in MP have data available for over two years; but real time monitors in Chhattisgarh became operational only in the latter half of 2021, which limits the possibility of assessing long term trends. Therefore, the data is indicative of the current status of air quality and seasonal variations in particulate pollution in medium and smaller cities in the region, the CSE release said.

CSE Finds First Signs of Rising Air Pollution in MP, Chhattisgarh

Not only is northern India gripped by heavy winter pollution, but several cities in other regions, including the central Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, are experiencing worsening winter pollution. analysis from the Center for Science and the Environment (CSE). Analysis shows that winter air pollution is a problem for all cities in these two states, with Gwalior and Singrawi having the worst air quality – as bad as winter air quality in cities in the National Capital Region and Uttar Pradesh. These cities also have high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution, with the highest in the region in Indore. Singrauli, a small town in the east of Madhya Pradesh, which has been designated as a Critically Polluted Area by the Central Pollution Control Board, has the most polluted air in the region, with an average of 81 micrograms per cubic meter in 2021. It is followed by Gwalior and Katney, who averaged 56 micrograms per cubic meter and 54 micrograms per cubic meter in 2021, respectively. The 2021 average surpassed the 2020 average for all major cities – Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Ujjain – and it also falls short of the annual standard. “Satna has the lowest average in 2021, but the quality of the data from the city’s only station is suspicious. Bilaspur, Bhilai and Mayhar do not have adequate data to calculate annual values, ”the CSE said in a statement on Monday. “While real-time air quality data for the region is extremely limited, any real-time data coming from just 17 cities in these two large states indicates a growing crisis and vulnerability to winter smog. regionally to achieve clean air targets, ”said Anumita Roychowdhuri, executive director of research and advocacy at CSE. “Gaps in air quality data and lack of quality control make it difficult to build reliable air quality trends and conduct proper risk assessments,” said Avikal Somvanshi, Program Manager, Urban Lab, CSE. “The deteriorating air quality in the region has not received enough public attention. In winter, the air quality in cities such as Singrawi, Gwalior, Jabalpur and Katni can be almost three times worse than their average levels. ” The CSE analysis of the air quality status in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh is an estimate of the annual and seasonal trends in PM2.5 concentrations from 1 January 2019 to 12 December 2021. This analysis is based on real-time data available from operational air quality monitoring stations in central India. The analysis covers 18 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (CAAQMS) stations located in 17 cities in two states – two stations in Gwalior and one station each in Bhopal, Damokh, Dewas, Indore, Jabalpur, Katni, Mayhar, Mandidipa, Pithampur and others. Ratlam , Sagar, Satna, Singrawi, Ujjain, Bhilai and Bilaspur. Air quality monitoring in the central region is still very limited. For cities, the MP has data for more than two years; but real-time monitors in Chhattisgarh only started working in the second half of 2021, limiting the ability to assess long-term trends. Thus, the data indicate the current state of air quality and seasonal fluctuations in particulate matter pollution in medium and small cities in the region, the CSE said.

CSE finds early signs of rising air pollution in MP, Chhattisgarh – New Delhi News

The evaluation reveals that air air pollution throughout winter is an issue in all of the cities in these two states, with Gwalior and Singrauli having the worst air high quality — as unhealthy because the winter air high quality of cities within the National Capital Region and Uttar Pradesh. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air pollution can be excessive in these cities, with Indore recording the very best for the area. Join Our Telegram Group Get Free Free Fire Redeem Codes Daily Singrauli, a small city in japanese Madhya Pradesh, however designated as a critically polluted space by the Central Pollution Control Board, has probably the most polluted air within the area with a 2021 common of 81 micrograms per metre dice. It is adopted by Gwalior and Katni which have 2021 averages of 56 micrograms per metre dice and 54 micrograms per metre dice, respectively. The 2021 common has bypassed the 2020 common in all the key cities — Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Ujjain — and it doesn’t meet the annual customary as nicely. “Satna has the lowest 2021 average value, but the quality of data from the city’s only station is suspect. Bilaspur, Bhilai and Maihar do not have adequate data for computation of annual values,” a launch from the CSE stated on Monday. “Even though real time air quality data is extremely limited in this region, whatever real time data is emerging from only 17 cities of these two big states indicate a growing crisis and vulnerability to winter smog. This demands early and stronger multi-sector action at a regional scale to meet the clean air targets,” stated government director, analysis and advocacy, CSE, Anumita Roychowdhury. “Gaps in air quality data and lack of quality control of data makes it difficult to construct reliable air quality trends and do proper risk assessment,” stated Avikal Somvanshi, programme supervisor, Urban Lab, CSE. “The worsening of air quality in the region has not drawn adequate public attention. In winter, air quality of cities such as Singrauli, Gwalior, Jabalpur and Katni could get nearly three times worse than their annual average levels.” The CSE evaluation of air high quality standing in cities of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh is an evaluation of annual and seasonal tendencies in PM2.5 focus for the interval January 1, 2019 to December 12, 2021. This evaluation is predicated on actual time information accessible from the present working air high quality monitoring stations in central India. The evaluation covers 18 steady ambient air high quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) unfold throughout 17 cities within the two states — two stations in Gwalior and one station every at Bhopal, Damoh, Dewas, Indore, Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Mandideep, Pithampur, Ratlam, Sagar, Satna, Singrauli, Ujjain, Bhilai and Bilaspur. Air high quality monitoring remains to be very restricted within the central area. Cities in MP have information accessible for over two years; however actual time screens in Chhattisgarh grew to become operational solely within the latter half of 2021, which limits the potential for assessing long run tendencies. Therefore, the information is indicative of the present standing of air high quality and differences due to the season in particulate air pollution in medium and smaller cities within the area, the CSE launch stated.

L'India e il difficile addio al carbone. Morire di smog o di povertà?

CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU - Nelle settimane in cui il premier indiano Narendra Modi preparava l'annuncio per Cop26 sull'obiettivo zero emissioni non prima del 2070, gli Stati del Nord dell'India erano tormentati dai blackout. Mentre Greta Thunberg affilava le accuse al "bla bla" di governi e industrie, e i ministri dell'Ambiente indagavano sulle possibilità di un accordo evanescente sui gas inquinanti, Delhi fronteggiava un serio incremento nella sospensione della fornitura di energia alla rete elettrica. Per chi vive in India, i blackout sono un fastidio familiare. Nei casi più fortunati, l'autorità locale li comunica in anticipo. E ci si può preparare. Alcune piccole ditte bloccano la produzione: il carburante per gli alimentatori autogeni costa troppo. Le industrie più grandi macinano altro inquinamento con generatori rumorosi e puzzolenti, accrescendo i costi di produzione. Anche perché, quando il carbone scarseggia, i prezzi schizzano in alto. Inoltre, quest'autunno il governo ha fatto male i conti: pensando che ci sarebbe stato un altro lockdown e che la produzione non sarebbe ripresa così celermente, non ha stoccato abbastanza riserve. In più, violenti acquazzoni hanno allagato molte miniere, inceppando i trasporti. Non c'era carbone per tutti. Elettricità vuol dire produzione, cioè sviluppo. Ma elettricità in India vuol dire, al 64%, carbone, cioè inquinamento. Prima d'infilarci nei tunnel oscuri delle nuove miniere che devastano le giungle e le popolazioni del Chhattisgarh, o che causano faide tra le mafie del Jharkhand, e prima di conoscere le lotte di pescatori e contadini contrari alla costruzione di nuove centrali sul litorale del Tamil Nadu, bisogna volgere lo sguardo alle centinaia di migliaia di indiani che muoiono soffocati da una gigantesca nuvola grigio-giallognola che opprime tutta la pianura del Gange da autunno a primavera, quando finalmente i salvifici monsoni spazzano via unto e polvere, portando acqua che sempre più spesso causa micidiali alluvioni. Delle 30 città più inquinate al mondo, 22 sono in India, Paese dove il 18% delle morti sono riconducibili all'inquinamento (circa 1,7 milioni nel 2019, dati Lancet). Nelle metropoli del Nord si vive 10 anni di meno a causa dell'inquinamento. Si è arrivati al punto, dice Anumita Roy Chowdhury, direttrice del Centro per le scienze ambientali, che "i nostri figli stanno crescendo con polmoni più piccoli del normale. Un bimbo indiano su tre ha i polmoni danneggiati e un numero molto alto di ragazzi ha emorragie polmonari da smog". Perché si consentono tali livelli di polveri sottili? Perché ogni mese l'economia indiana deve generare mezzo milione di posti di lavoro per una popolazione di 1,4 miliardi di persone, di cui metà ha meno di 25 anni. I morti da inquinamento sono morti di sviluppo. La scelta è tra morire asfissiati o morire di disoccupazione. Non è solo colpa delle centrali. D'inverno, l'aria fredda schiaccia i gas inquinanti verso il basso, comprese le nuvole di fumo generate dagli agricoltori negli Stati del Punjab e dell'Haryana che bruciano le stoppie per garantire i raccolti della prossima stagione. Ci si mette pure la sacra festa delle luci di Diwali, con quel messaggio di speranza nella ricerca di una fiamma che rischiari le tenebre. La contraddizione è che i fuochi accesi per celebrare quest'occasione gioiosa contribuiscono a nutrire quel mostro gassoso che aleggia su metropoli e campagne, notte e giorno, senza pausa e con poche possibilità di fuga. L'inquinamento è il profumo intossicante dello sviluppo. La terza potenza industriale in Asia, scatenata verso la crescita della produzione industriale e azzoppata dai blackout, è popolata da chi soffre economicamente per la carenza d'energia e muore asfissiato dalle emissioni: ogni anno le centrali a carbone vomitano 1,1 giga tonnellate di CO2 nell'aria, il 2,5% delle emissioni del mondo. L'India soffoca nella sua stessa crescita: negli ultimi mesi il consumo di energia è aumentato del 17% in rapporto al 2019, e il costo del carbone sul mercato internazionale è cresciuto del 40%. L'India è anche al secondo posto per importazioni di carbone nel mondo, nonostante sia quarta per riserve di carbone globali. Ma sia estrarre nuovo carbone sia importarlo costa. Chi paga? Il consumatore, con bollette più alte. Quindi il rischio è l'inflazione. Il ministro dell'Energia R.K. Singh lo ha detto chiaro e tondo: "Dobbiamo prepararci al peggio nei prossimi sei mesi". È un peggioramento critico, come avverte Zohra Chatterji, ex amministratrice delegata dell'ente statale del carbone, Coal India, che fornisce l'80% di questa materia al Paese: "La scarsità di carbone colpisce tutti i settori manufatturieri: cemento, acciaio ed edilizia". Quindi bisogna scavare, perché puntare sulle rinnovabili, dice il governo Modi, è una strategia per il medio e lungo termine. E qui l'esigenza è urgente. La richiesta di energia è troppa. La fame di carbone dell'India non è né un segreto né una novità. Già all'inizio dell'anno, ben prima di Glasgow, il ministro del Carbone, Pralhad Joshi, lo confermava: "In India, per diversi decenni, 'energià continuerà a voler dire 'carbone'". Estrarre carbone vuol dire enormi interessi e affari, quindi anche crimine. Nel 2013 emerse in modo innegabile il problema della mafia del carbone quando a un matrimonio venne ucciso con sette colpi di pistola Suresh King, "Il re del carbone", commerciante, politico e boss con 14 capi d'imputazione. Gestiva un cartello che controllava sindacati e trasporti, in un mare di corruzione. E carbone vuol dire morti in miniera. Tra 2016 e 2019 in India 238 minatori sono morti in diversi incidenti, 24 volte più dell'Australia e 16 più degli Usa per milione di tonnellate estratte. Estrazione di carbone vuol dire anche espropriare le popolazioni autoctone degli Adivasi, benché la Costituzione renda obbligatorio il loro consenso prima di devastarne le foreste. La battaglia, cruenta, si combatte da decenni. Lo ha scoperto sulla propria pelle Soni Sori, leader Adivasi ora impegnata per i diritti umani e candidata nel partito anticorruzione Aap di Chhattisgarh, stato che è la seconda riserva di carbone nel Paese dove però il 40% della popolazione langue sotto la soglia della povertà. Nel 2011, Sori fu incarcerata con l'accusa di fiancheggiamento a un movimento armato maoista. Torturata e seviziata, fu assolta da quasi tutte le accuse. Per nulla intimorita, oggi è una delle voci più note della resistenza agli espropri del governo tra le popolazioni Adivasi. Il governo ci sta imbrogliando, scacciandoci dalla nostra terra. Hanno provato picchiandoci, accusandoci di essere ribelli Naxal, bruciando le nostre case, ma non sono riusciti a liberarsi di noi", dichiara. "Preferiamo morire piuttosto che farci rubare la nostra acqua, la nostra foresta, la nostra terra". Se al Nord si resiste ai nuovi scavi, al Sud ci si oppone alla costruzione di nuove centrali. Modi ha promesso che ne verranno inaugurate 55 nei prossimi anni, di cui 40 nel Tamil Nadu, stato che dipende dal carbone per il 53% dell'energia e dove da decenni le popolazioni locali di pescatori e di agricoltori si oppongono nelle strade e nei Tribunali alla devastazione dell'ecosistema generata dalle centrali. Dalle parti di Uppur, cittadina affacciata sullo Sri Lanka, sta per ripartire il progetto di una centrale da 1,6 GW, per far fronte alla crescente richiesta di energia nel secondo stato più industrializzato dell'India. A marzo, il Tribunale nazionale verde negò il permesso ambientale. Ma il nuovo governatore del Tamil Nadu ha imposto il completamento della centrale per convenienza economica. Questa deriva verso l'aumento del carbone, mentre il mondo combatte i cambiamenti climatici, non deve necessariamente finire sempre così. Nella zona di Cheyyur, a un'ora e un quarto da Chennai, capitale del Tamil Nadu, da anni si minaccia di costruire un ecomostro che dovrebbe produrre 4mila MW con il carbone, costruendo un porto che distruggerebbe spiagge e coste. Grazie alla battaglia di pescatori e agricoltori, il progetto per ora resta bloccato perché l'ecosistema dell'estuario e l'habitat naturale di una zona chiamata "la Terra tra le due acque" (tra mare e laguna) sarebbero devastati da piogge acide e mercurio, col rischio di inquinare le falde acquifere. Anche nello sfortunato Chhattisgarh, travagliato dalle perforazioni per le miniere a danno degli Adivasi, c'è una storia a lieto fine. Il governatore dello Stato, coperto al 44% da foreste, ha investito nel programma "Solo transizione" che comprende più di 200 villaggi, stanziando fondi pubblici per l'acquisto di prodotti della foresta raccolti dagli aborigeni. Così, 1,7 milioni di famiglie Adivasi hanno ora un mercato garantito per cera, bacche, resina, gomma e bambù raccolti nella foresta. Pare che l'anno scorso ci sia stata la miglior raccolta di frutti di tamarindo del decennio. Qui si dice che è molto meglio il beige del tamarindo che il nero del carbone.

Bad air: Taking cue from Delhi, public transport in NCR cities must shift to CNG

New Delhi: The constant smell of soot and the irritation in his eyes and throat are the only memories that Dheeraj Sahu (aged 58) has from his initial years of travelling to office in Delhi. It was the time when Delhi only had diesel buses for public transport, most of which were old and highly polluting. But things changed rapidly after the Supreme Court in a landmark judgment in 1998 ordered a complete transition to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for all buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws in Delhi. “I used to travel for at least three hours every day to and from office in those blue-line buses. I remember in the summers after wiping my face, my white handkerchief would turn grey at the end of the day. Times have changed since then, now we have the metro and all buses and taxis in Delhi run on CNG. So, the direct impact of pollution while being on city roads has certainly reduced,” said Sahu. More than two decades later, Delhi now has become the largest consumer of CNG in India among all states and Union Territories. Data from the ministry of new and renewable energy showed that in the past four-and-a-half years, Delhi consumed 4,434 thousand metric tonnes (TMT) of CNG which is 1.4 times more than Gujarat’s consumption of 3094, which is the second-largest market for CNG in terms of sales. But, even after Delhi’s complete transition to CNG, the city continues to be one of the most polluted cities in the country. And the experience which Sahu had in those rickety diesel-run blue-line buses can still be seen in some pockets of the city. A case in point is the Anand Vihar area which is at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh (UP) border. It houses the Anand Vihar ISBT on the Delhi side and the Kaushambi ISBT on the UP side. Data shows that pollution in this part of the city always remains 1-2 notches above the average for the city. Senior officials from the environment ministry said it is mainly because UP primarily operates diesel buses for its inter-state transports toxic emissions from which contribute to the unfavourable ambient air quality in the area. It is here that experts have time and again demanded that neighbouring states such as Uttar Pradesh and Haryana or at least the National Capital Region (NCR) cities should also shift their buses, taxis and autos completely to CNG. “At a time when Delhi plans to go all-electric in terms of any new purchases made by the government on buses and auto-rickshaws, the neighbouring states or the NCR cities such as Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Noida, Gurugram, clearly are lagging. While EVs [Electric Vehicles] are still an emerging market, CNG is sorted and can be easily lapped up by the respective state governments. So, the onus is on all stakeholders,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (research and advocacy), Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Roychowdhury recalled that the former anti-pollution watchdog, Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) also pushed for CNG infrastructure and targeted the introduction of CNG vehicles in NCR like buses, taxis and other commercial vehicles. “Several issues related to setting up of CNG pipelines, stations, pricing of gas were addressed back then. There was also a problem that APM gas was not available in NCR. It had to be done by the private sector. But, all these can always be resolved and it ultimately comes down to the will or intent to do so,” she said. Delhi transport commissioner Ashish Kundra said he raised the need for NCR states to expand their CNG network in the recent meetings of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). “Unfortunately, there were no binding obligations on the cities which surround Delhi for conversion to CNG. Every day, thousands of diesel buses and trucks enter the city, not just from NCR, but from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. Senior officials from the UP state transport corporation (UPSRTC) said they are working on a proposal to purchase 130 new CNG buses and that 50-100 CNG buses are likely to be given to the interstate bus terminal (ISBT) in Kaushambi, Ghaziabad, which shares its border with Anand Vihar in Delhi. The area has already been identified as a pollution hot spot by government agencies and residents are pursuing court cases against agencies for their failure to tackle different local sources of pollution affecting their area. Of the 500-odd buses operating from the Kaushambi ISBT, only 125 UPSRTC buses are CNG-based currently, while the others are running on diesel. On November 18, the Delhi government even wrote to the Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan governments asking them not to deploy diesel buses that are older than five years for inter-state transport to the national Capital. Delhi’s letter to the neighbouring states, a copy of which is with HT, stated that public transport in the national Capital runs 100% on CNG, while buses plying from other states continue to be largely based on diesel fuel. “NGT has already directed that diesel vehicles of more than 10 years of life will not be allowed to ply in NCR… I seek your support to strengthen our hands in dealing with the grave situation by minimising the deployment of diesel buses destined for Delhi. It would be appreciated if vehicles of more than five years vintage are not deployed on Delhi bound routes till such time the pollution abates,” read the letter written by Kundra. Data accessed by the HT from the ministry of petroleum and natural gas shows that there are 3,179 CNG stations in the country, of which Delhi has around 436. UP has set a target of setting up 795 CNG stations, of which around 485 were operational as of March 31, 2021. Haryana has 186 stations against the target of at least 280, Punjab has 101 against 278, while Uttarakhand has 17 of the 50 stations planned in the state. Kundra said since air pollution has no boundaries, a consolidated effort to harmonise these efforts within and outside the NCR will be crucial to reducing pollution.

CSE Discovers Early Traits of Worsening Winter Pollution in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh

It is not only the northern part of India that is in the grip of severe winter pollution, but several cities in other regions—including in the central Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh—are experiencing a worsening of winter pollution, finds the latest analysis from Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The analysis shows that air pollution during winter is a problem in all the cities in these two states. Gwalior and Singrauli have the worst air quality—as bad as the winter air quality of cities in the National Capital Region and Uttar Pradesh. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution is also high in these cities, with Indore recording the highest for the region. Singrauli, a small town in eastern Madhya Pradesh but designated as a critically polluted area by the Central Pollution Control Board, has the most polluted air in the region, with a 2021 average of 81 micrograms per metre cube. Gwalior and Katni follow it with 2021 averages of 56 micrograms per metre cube and 54 micrograms per metre cube, respectively. The 2021 average has bypassed the 2020 average in all the major cities—Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Ujjain—and it does not meet the annual standard. "Satna has the lowest 2021 average value, but the quality of data from the city's only station is suspect. Bilaspur, Bhilai and Maihar do not have adequate data for computation of annual values," a release from the CSE said on Monday. "Even though real-time air quality data is extremely limited in this region, whatever real-time data is emerging from only 17 cities of these two great states indicate a growing crisis and vulnerability to winter smog. This demands early and stronger multi-sector action at a regional scale to meet the clean air targets," said executive director, research and advocacy, CSE, Anumita Roychowdhury. "Gaps in air quality data and lack of quality control of data makes it difficult to construct reliable air quality trends and do a proper risk assessment," said Avikal Somvanshi, programme manager, Urban Lab, CSE. "The worsening of air quality in the region has not drawn adequate public attention. In winter, the air quality of cities such as Singrauli, Gwalior, Jabalpur and Katni could get nearly three times worse than their annual average levels." The CSE analysis of air quality status in the cities of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh is an assessment of annual and seasonal trends in PM2.5 concentration for the period January 1, 2019, to December 12, 2021. This analysis is based on real-time data available from central India's current working air quality monitoring stations. The analysis covers 18 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) spread across 17 cities in the two states—two stations in Gwalior and one station each at Bhopal, Damoh, Dewas, Indore, Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Mandideep, Pithampur, Ratlam, Sagar, Satna, Singrauli, Ujjain, Bhilai and Bilaspur. Air quality monitoring is still very limited in the central region. Cities in MP have had data available for over two years. Still, real-time monitors in Chhattisgarh became operational only in the latter half of 2021, limiting the possibility of assessing long term trends. Therefore, the data is indicative of the current status of air quality and seasonal variations in particulate pollution in medium and smaller cities in the region, the CSE release said.

Mumbai’s first waste to energy plant gets Centre’s green nod

The BMC has proposed to build the plant, with 600 metric tonne per day capacity, at the city's oldest dumping ground, Deonar, on 12.19 hectares area and at a cost of Rs 504 crore. Mumbai’s first and upcoming Waste To Energy (WTE) plant at Deonar in Govandi area has received Environment Clearance (EC) from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change . Now, the BMC has approached Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) for its final consent. The BMC has proposed to build the plant, with 600 metric tonne per day capacity, at the city’s oldest dumping ground on 12.19 hectares area and at a cost of Rs 504 crore. Apart from incineration of waste in the dumping ground, the plant will also generate 4 megawatt electricity. The project got the mandatory EC on December 7. However, its copy was recently uploaded on the BMC website. Established in 1927, Deonar dumping ground is spread across 120 hectares. Out of about 7,000 metric tonne garbage generated daily in Mumbai, nearly 600 metric tonne is dumped in Deonar. State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Maharashtra, has approved BMC proposals with certain conditions, such as, use of fly ash generated from the plant for brick manufacturing and road construction, air pollution control measures, and separate funds for implementation of the environment management plan. It has also directed BMC to set up an exclusive Environment Management Cell, a check on ground water level and measures to ensure no ground water pollution takes place. “We are now awaiting MPCB consent to start work,” said Minesh Pimple, Deputy Chief Engineer, (Projects), Solid Waste Management. The construction of the plant will be completed in about 40 months. The BMC has also set aside Rs 12.40 crore for the environment management plan to implement mitigation measures. The project has faced opposition from locals and environmentalists who raised concerns about pollution and health issues in the area due to the plant. On April 27, 2021, a public hearing was held for the project as the 2006 Environment Impact Assessment Notification mandates to hold public consultation for draft impact assessment. In the meeting, questions were also raised about the success of such plants. According to a report from Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) which was published in 2018, the first such plant was established in Timarpur in Delhi in 1987 but it was shut down soon. mail logo

सर्दियों में दिल्ली ही नहीं इन राज्‍यों की हवा भी हो रही जहरीली, CSE की रिपोर्ट में बड़ा खुलासा

दिल्ली और एनसीआर सहित उत्तर भारत के ज्यादातर हिस्से सर्दियां बढ़ने के साथ गंभीर प्रदूषण का सामना कर रहे हैं। लेकिन सिर्फ उत्तर भारत में ही नहीं मध्य भारत के भी कई हिस्से जैसे मध्य प्रदेश और छत्तीसगढ़ के लोगों को गंभीर वायु प्रदूषण का सामना करना पड़ रहा है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) की ताजा रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक, सेंट्रल इंडिया के राज्यों मध्य प्रदेश और छत्तीसगढ़ सहित अन्य क्षेत्रों के कई शहर सर्दियों के प्रदूषण की गंभीर स्थिति का सामना कर रहे हैं। सीएसई की ताजा रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक, 2021 में सिंगरौली में 95 दिन हवा में प्रदूषण की स्थित या तो बेहद खराब या खतरनाक स्तर पर रही। ये लगभग दिल्ली में दर्ज किए गए प्रदूषण के स्तर के बराबर है। इसी तरह नवम्बर 2021 में भोपाल में 38 दिन, इंदौर में 36 दिन, ग्वालियर में 72 दिन, जबलपुर में 49 दिन और उज्जैन में 30 दिन हवा में प्रदूषण का स्तर बेहद खराब स्तर पर रहा। वहीं, सर्दियों के मौसम में सिंगरौली, कटनी, ग्वालियर, जबलपुर और भोपाल में हवा में सबसे ज्यादा प्रदूषण दर्ज किया गया जिससे स्मॉग जैसे हालात बने। हालांकि वार्षिक औसत देखा जाए तो हवा में प्रदूषण का स्तर सामान्य रहा लेकिन सर्दियों में हवा में प्रदूषण का स्तर तीन गुना तक बढ़ गया। कई शहरों में तो सर्दियों के महीनों में नाइट्रोजन डाइऑक्साइड का स्तर हवा में काफी बढ़ जाती है। कुछ जगहों पर तो हवा में नाइट्रोजन डाइऑक्साइड की मात्रा उत्तर भारत के शहरों की तुलना में ज्यादा दर्ज की गई हैं। हवा में नाइट्रोजन डाइऑक्साइड की इतनी मात्रा ऑफिस टाइम के दौरान बड़े पैमाने पर ट्रैफिक और उससे निकलने वाले धुएं को दर्शाता है। सीएसई की एक्जीक्यूटिव डायरेक्टर रिसर्च एंड एडवोकेसी अनुमिता रॉय चौधरी के मुताबिक, राष्ट्रीय स्वच्छ वायु कार्यक्रम के तहत वायु गुणवत्ता निगरानी को मजबूत करने और बहु-क्षेत्रीय स्वच्छ वायु कार्य योजनाओं के समयबद्ध कार्यान्वयन के लिए तत्काल ध्यान देने की जरूरत है। मध्य भारत में फिलहाल हवा की गुणवत्ता का उपलब्ध डेटा बहुत सीमित है। इसके लिए सीएसई ने बड़े पैमाने पर कदम उठाए हैं। सर्दियों में बढ़ते वायु प्रदूषण पर नजर रखने के लिए मध्य प्रदेश और छत्तीसगढ़ जैसे बड़े राज्यों के 17 शहरों में वायु प्रदूषण का रियल टाइम डेटा कलेक्ट करने के लिए लैब बनाई गई है। बढ़ते वायु प्रदूषण को ध्यान में रखते हुए इन राज्यों में कई सेक्टरों में बड़े पैमाने पर कदम उठाए जाने की जरूरत है। सीएसई ने मध्य प्रदेश और छत्तीसगढ़ तें वायु में प्रदूषण के स्तर पर बड़े पैमाने पर डेटा जुटा कर उस पर अध्ययन किया और पाया कि सर्दियों में सिंगरौली, ग्वालियर और जबलपुर जैस शहरों में हवा में प्रदूषण का स्तर औसत से तीन गुना तक बढ़ जाता है। CSE ने मध्य प्रदेश और छत्तीसगढ़ में हवा की गुणवत्ता पर नजर रखने के लिए कई जगहों पर Urban Data Analytics Lab भी लगाई है, जिसके आधार पर सर्दियों में हवा में प्रदूषण के स्तर पर नजर रखी जा रही है। मध्य प्रदेश और छत्तीसगढ़ के शहरों में वायु प्रदूषण के स्तर पर किया गया ये आकलन 1 जनवरी, 2019 से 12 दिसंबर, 2021 के बीच हवा में PM2.5 की मात्रा के आधार पर किया गया है। यह विश्लेषण मध्य भारत में वर्तमान में काम कर रहे वायु गुणवत्ता निगरानी स्टेशनों से उपलब्ध वास्तविक समय के आंकड़ों के आधार पर किया गया है। इस विश्लेषण के लिए यूएसईपीए (यूनाइटेड स्टेट्स एनवायर्नमेंटल प्रोटेक्शन एजेंसी) पद्धति के आधार पर डेटा बिंदुओं का बड़ी बारीकी से विश्लेषण किया गया है। विश्लेषण में दो राज्यों के 17 शहरों में फैले 18 रियलटाइम एयर क्वॉलिटी मॉनिटरिंग सेंटरों को शामिल किया गया है। ग्वालियर में दो स्टेशन और भोपाल, दमोह, देवास, इंदौर, जबलपुर, कटनी, मैहर, मंडीदीप, पीथमपुर, रतलाम सागर, सतना, सिंगरौली, उज्जैन, भिलाई और बिलासपुर में एक एक सेंटर बनाए गए हैं।

CSE finds early signs of rising air pollution in MP, Chhattisgarh

The CSE analysis shows that air pollution during winter is a problem in all the cities in these two states, with Gwalior and Singrauli having the worst air quality It is not only the northern part of India that is in the grip of severe winter pollution but several cities in other regions -- including in the central Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh -- are experiencing a worsening of winter pollution, finds a latest analysis from Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The analysis shows that air pollution during winter is a problem in all the cities in these two states, with Gwalior and Singrauli having the worst air quality -- as bad as the winter air quality of cities in the National Capital Region and Uttar Pradesh. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution is also high in these cities, with Indore recording the highest for the region. Singrauli, a small town in eastern Madhya Pradesh, but designated as a critically polluted area by the Central Pollution Control Board, has the most polluted air in the region with a 2021 average of 81 micrograms per metre cube. It is followed by Gwalior and Katni that have 2021 averages of 56 micrograms per metre cube and 54 micrograms per metre cube, respectively. The 2021 average has bypassed the 2020 average in all the major cities -- Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Ujjain -- and it does not meet the annual standard as well. "Satna has the lowest 2021 average value, but the quality of data from the city's only station is suspect. Bilaspur, Bhilai and Maihar do not have adequate data for computation of annual values," a release from the CSE said on Monday. "Even though real time air quality data is extremely limited in this region, whatever real time data is emerging from only 17 cities of these two big states indicate a growing crisis and vulnerability to winter smog. This demands early and stronger multi-sector action at a regional scale to meet the clean air targets," said executive director, research and advocacy, CSE, Anumita Roychowdhury. "Gaps in air quality data and lack of quality control of data makes it difficult to construct reliable air quality trends and do proper risk assessment," said Avikal Somvanshi, programme manager, Urban Lab, CSE. "The worsening of air quality in the region has not drawn adequate public attention. In winter, air quality of cities such as Singrauli, Gwalior, Jabalpur and Katni could get nearly three times worse than their annual average levels." The CSE analysis of air quality status in cities of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh is an assessment of annual and seasonal trends in PM2.5 concentration for the period January 1, 2019 to December 12, 2021. This analysis is based on real time data available from the current working air quality monitoring stations in central India. The analysis covers 18 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) spread across 17 cities in the two states -- two stations in Gwalior and one station each at Bhopal, Damoh, Dewas, Indore, Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Mandideep, Pithampur, Ratlam, Sagar, Satna, Singrauli, Ujjain, Bhilai and Bilaspur. Air quality monitoring is still very limited in the central region. Cities in MP have data available for over two years; but real time monitors in Chhattisgarh became operational only in the latter half of 2021, which limits the possibility of assessing long term trends. Therefore, the data is indicative of the current status of air quality and seasonal variations in particulate pollution in medium and smaller cities in the region, the CSE release said.

CSE finds early signs of rising air pollution in MP, Chhattisgarh

It is not only the northern part of India that is in the grip of severe winter pollution but several cities in other regions — including in the central Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh — are experiencing a worsening of winter pollution, finds a latest analysis from Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The analysis shows that air pollution during winter is a problem in all the cities in these two states, with Gwalior and Singrauli having the worst air quality — as bad as the winter air quality of cities in the National Capital Region and Uttar Pradesh. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution is also high in these cities, with Indore recording the highest for the region. Singrauli, a small town in eastern Madhya Pradesh, but designated as a critically polluted area by the Central Pollution Control Board, has the most polluted air in the region with a 2021 average of 81 micrograms per metre cube. It is followed by Gwalior and Katni that have 2021 averages of 56 micrograms per metre cube and 54 micrograms per metre cube, respectively. The 2021 average has bypassed the 2020 average in all the major cities — Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Ujjain — and it does not meet the annual standard as well. “Satna has the lowest 2021 average value, but the quality of data from the city’s only station is suspect. Bilaspur, Bhilai and Maihar do not have adequate data for computation of annual values,” a release from the CSE said on Monday. “Even though real time air quality data is extremely limited in this region, whatever real time data is emerging from only 17 cities of these two big states indicate a growing crisis and vulnerability to winter smog. This demands early and stronger multi-sector action at a regional scale to meet the clean air targets,” said executive director, research and advocacy, CSE, Anumita Roychowdhury. “Gaps in air quality data and lack of quality control of data makes it difficult to construct reliable air quality trends and do proper risk assessment,” said Avikal Somvanshi, programme manager, Urban Lab, CSE. “The worsening of air quality in the region has not drawn adequate public attention. In winter, air quality of cities such as Singrauli, Gwalior, Jabalpur and Katni could get nearly three times worse than their annual average levels.” The CSE analysis of air quality status in cities of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh is an assessment of annual and seasonal trends in PM2.5 concentration for the period January 1, 2019 to December 12, 2021. This analysis is based on real time data available from the current working air quality monitoring stations in central India. The analysis covers 18 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) spread across 17 cities in the two states — two stations in Gwalior and one station each at Bhopal, Damoh, Dewas, Indore, Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Mandideep, Pithampur, Ratlam, Sagar, Satna, Singrauli, Ujjain, Bhilai and Bilaspur. Air quality monitoring is still very limited in the central region. Cities in MP have data available for over two years; but real time monitors in Chhattisgarh became operational only in the latter half of 2021, which limits the possibility of assessing long term trends. Therefore, the data is indicative of the current status of air quality and seasonal variations in particulate pollution in medium and smaller cities in the region, the CSE release said.

सिंगरौली- ग्वालियर में सबसे प्रदूषित हवा: दिल्ली की तरह मध्यप्रदेश में बढ़ीती जा रही सर्दियों के वायु प्रदूषण की भीषणता

डिजिटल डेस्क, नई दिल्ली। सर्दियों में कोहरे के साथ गंभीर वायु प्रदूषण की समस्या से दिल्ली-एनसीआर तथा उत्तरी क्षेत्र के शहर तो जूझ रहे है, लेकिन अब सर्दियों में वायु प्रदूषण की भीषणता मध्य भारत के कुछ राज्यों जैसे मध्यप्रदेश, छत्तीसगढ सहित अन्य क्षेत्रों के कई शहरों तक पहुंच गई है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (सीएसई) के एक नवीनतम विश्लेषण में यह पाया गया है कि राष्ट्रीय राजधानी क्षेत्र की तरह इन दो राज्यों के शहरों की आबोहवा भी जहरीली हो गई है। सीएसई की रिपोर्ट बताती है कि मध्यप्रदेश के सिंगरौली और ग्वालियर में इस मौसम में सबसे खराब वायु गुणवत्ता दर्ज की गई। सीएसई की रिपोर्ट कहती है 2021 में सिंगरौली में 95 दिन वायु गुणवत्ता 'बेहद खराब' या 'खतरनाक' स्तर पर रही, जो लगभग इस अवधि में दिल्ली के समान थी। इसी तरह नवंबर 2021 में अन्य प्रमुख शहरों जैसे भोपाल (38 दिन), इंदौर (36 दिन), ग्वालियर (72 दिन),जबलपुर (49 दिन) और उज्जैन में (30 दिन) वायु गुणवत्ता का स्तर 'खराब' या 'बदतर' स्तर दर्ज किया गया। वहीं, सिंगरौली, कटनी, ग्वालियर, जबलपुर और भोपाल में हवा में सबसे ज्यादा प्रदूषण दर्ज किया गया जिससे स्मॉग जैसे हालात बने। सीएसई की एक्जीक्यूटीव डायरेक्टर रिसर्च एंड एडवोकैसी अनुमिता रॉयचौधरी के मुताबिक इस क्षेत्र में वास्तविक समय वायु गुणवत्ता का उपलब्ध डेटा बेहद सीमित है, लेकिन इन दो बड़े राज्यों के केवल 17 शहरों से जो भी डेटा सामने आ रहा है, वह बढते संकट और सर्दियों के धुंध की चपेट में आने का संकेत देता है। इसलिए साफ-सुथरी हवा के लक्ष्यों को पूरा करने के लिए क्षेत्रीय स्तर पर जितने जल्दी संभव हो, ठोस कदम उठाने की जरुरत है। सीएसई रख रहा है प्रदूषण पर नजर क्षेत्र में हवा की गुणवत्ता का उपलब्ध डेटा बहुत सीमित होने के कारण सीएसई ने ही अपनी ओर से कदम उठाए हैं। सर्दियों में बढते प्रदूषण पर नजर रखने के लिए मध्यप्रदेश और छत्तीसगढ के 17 शहरों में वायु प्रदूषण का रियल टाइम डेटा इकठ्‌ठा करने के लिए लैब बनाई है। जिसके आधार पर सर्दियों में हवा में प्रदूषण के स्तर पर नजर रखी जा रही है। विश्लेषण में 18 निरंतर परिवेशी वायु गुणवत्ता निगरानी स्टेशनों को शामिल किया गया है, जो दो राज्यों के 17 शहरों फैले हुए है। इनमें ग्वालियर के दो स्टेशन और जबलपुर, सतना, सिंगरौली, भिलाई, रतलाम, भोपाल, दमोह, देवास, इंदौर, कटनी, मैहर, मंडीदीप, पीथमपुर, सागर और बिलासपुर में एक-एक स्टेशन शामिल है। सीएसई के अर्बन लैब के प्रोग्राम मैनेजर अविकल सोमवंशी कहते है कि क्षेत्र में वायु गुणवत्ता की स्थिति तेजी से बिगडती जा रही है, लेकिन इस पर पर्याप्त ध्यान नहीं दिया जा रहा है। आने वाले दिनों में सर्दियों में सिंगरौली, ग्वालियर, जबलपुर, कटनी जैसे शहरों की वायु गुणवत्ता उनके वार्षिक औसत स्तर से लगभग तीन गुना खराब हो सकती है। सीएसई की ओर से 1 जनवरी,2019 से 12 दिसंबर, 2021 के बीच इन दो राज्यों में पीएम 2.5 का वार्षिक और मौसम में बदलाव के आधार पर आकलन किया गया है। यह विश्लेषण मध्य भारत में वर्तमान में कार्यरत वायु गुणवत्ता निगरानी स्टेशनों से उपलब्ध वास्तविक समय के आंकड़ों पर आधारित है। यूएसईपीए (यूनाइटेड स्टेट्स एनवायर्नमेंटल प्रोटेक्शन एजेंसी) पद्धति के आधार पर बड़ी मात्रा में इकठ्ठा किए गए आंकडों के आधार पर परिणाम तैयार किए गए है। इन शहरों में नाइट्रोजन डाइऑक्साइड (NO2) का स्तर भी अधिक बढा है। इंदौर में यह सबसे अधिक प्रदूषण दर्ज किया गया।

CSE analysis points to early signs of rising air pollution and worsening of winter pollution in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh

It is not only the northern part of India that is in the grip of severe winter pollution. Several cities in other regions – including in the central Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh — are experiencing a worsening of winter pollution, finds a latest analysis from Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). “Even though real time air quality data is extremely limited in this region, whatever real time data is emerging from only 17 cities of these two big states indicates a growing crisis and vulnerability to winter smog. This demands early and stronger multi-sector action at a regional scale to meet the clean air targets,” says Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE. “Gaps in air quality data and lack of quality control of data make it difficult to construct reliable air quality trends and do proper risk assessment,” says Avikal Somvanshi, programme manager, Urban Lab, CSE. “The worsening of air quality in the region has not drawn adequate public attention. In winter, air quality of cities like Singrauli, Gwalior, Jabbalpur and Katna could get nearly three times worse than their annual average levels.” CSE has analysed air quality status in cities of Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Chhattisgarh. This is a continuation of the air quality tracker initiative of the Urban Data Analytics Lab of CSE that was started last winter. The objective of this new analysis has been to understand the trends and magnitude of winter pollution in major cities of different regions that have real time air quality monitoring systems. This is an assessment of annual and seasonal trends in PM2.5 concentration for the period January 1, 2019 to December 12, 2021. This analysis is based on real time data available from the current working air quality monitoring stations in central India. A huge volume of data points have been cleaned and data gaps have been addressed based on the USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) method for this analysis. The analysis covers 18 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) spread across 17 cities in the two states: two stations in Gwalior and one station each in Bhopal, Damoh, Dewas, Indore, Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Mandideep, Pithampur, Ratlam, Sagar, Satna, Singrauli, Ujjain, Bhilai and Bilaspur. Air quality monitoring is still very limited in the central region. Cities in MP have data available for over two years; but real time monitors in Chhattisgarh became operational only in the latter half of 2021, which limits the possibility of assessing long term trends. Therefore, the data is indicative of the current status of air quality and seasonal variations in particulate pollution in medium and smaller cities in the region. The analysis shows that air pollution during winter is a problem in all cities in these two states, with Gwalior and Singrauli having the worst air quality — as bad as the winter air quality of cities in the National Capital Region and Uttar Pradesh. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution is also high in these cities, with Indore recording the highest for the region. The limited air quality data in the region indicates that it has not changed much from the 2020 levels. But due to limited historical data, it is difficult to comment on the regional air quality trends. Key highlights of the analysis Data quality remains poor despite automation: The central region has 18 real time monitors — 13 are operated by state pollution control boards, while five are operated by private entities: these are the Bhilai monitoring station (operated by the Bhilai Steel Plant), Satna (by Birla Cement), Maihar (by KJS Cement), Ratlam (by IPCA Lab), and Phool Bagh-Gwalior (by Mondelez India Foods). Most stations meet the minimum data availability of 75 per cent for the winter season this year (January 1-December 12, 2021). The stations that do not meet the minimum requirement are Maihar (38 per cent) and Phool Bagh-Gawlior (23 per cent). Stations in Chhattisgarh only started operating in September (Bilaspur) and November (Bhilai), but they have reported data for more than 75 per cent of days since becoming operational. A quick examination of the data indicates that stations operated by industry actors tend to report very low concentration numbers or have massive data gaps compared to stations operated by state pollution control boards. The station at Satna operated by Birla Cement especially stands out for uncannily low values — in fact, the annual average for 2020 for this particular station works out to be about 50 per cent lower than what is reported by two manual stations of the city in the annual NAMP report. It is not clear why such deviation occurs in Satna’s real time monitor data. Singrauli and Gwalior have the most polluted air in central India: Singrauli, a small town in eastern MP but designated as a critically polluted area by the Central Pollution Control Board, has the most polluted air in the region with a 2021 average of 81 ug/m3. It is followed by Gwalior and Katni that have 2021 averages of 56 ug/m3 and 54 ug/m3 respectively (see graph on PM2.5 trends in the full analysis report). The 2021 average has bypassed the 2020 average in all the major cities — Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Ujjain — and it does not meet the annual standard as well. Satna has the lowest 2021 average value, but the quality of data from the city’s only station is suspect. Bilaspur, Bhilia and Maihar do not have adequate data for computation of annual values. Singrauli has had over three months of very poor air quality days in 2021: In Singrauli, the year’s number of days with air quality in the ‘very poor’ or ‘severe’ categories stands at 95, which is identical to that of Delhi – as of November 2021 (see graph on PM2.5 AQI categorisation in the full analysis report). Singrauli has had just one severe day, though: there is a constant high pollution level in the city, but it rarely gets tipped over to ‘severe’, which generally happens due to impact of additional factors like meteorology or external pollution sources. Major cities like Bhopal (38 days), Indore (36 days), Gwalior (72 days), Jabalpur (49 days) and Ujjain (30 days) have recorded over a month of poor or worse air quality in 2021 so far. These bad air quality days are concentrated during winter months. Cities in the east abutting the Indo-Gangetic Plains are dirtier compared to rest of the cities in the region. High pollution episode common during winters despite low annual levels: Except Singrauli, rest of the central Indian cities have relatively low annual PM2.5 levels (requiring less than 30 per cent reduction to meet the annual standard). But during winters, episodes of high pollution are common, when weekly PM2.5 levels go as high up as 202 ug/m3 as recorded in Gwalior in November 2021 (see graph on weekly PM2.5 levels vs annual levels in the full analysis report). This winter, so far, the highest weekly level has crossed 100 ug/m3 in Singrauli (191 ug/m3), Katni (141 ug/m3), Bhopal (129 ug/m3), Jabalpur (124 ug/m3), Indore (104 ug/m3), and Damoh (101 ug/m3). The levels are marginally lower this winter compared to those in last winter. Indore has dangerously high NO2 levels in winter: There is a significant increase in the amount of NO2 in air of all cities of central India during November (compared to that in September-October). Gwalior registered a 4.6 times jump in monthly NO2 level, while Mandideep registered a 4 times increase. In absolute concentration terms, Indore registered the highest monthly average of 83 µg/m3 for November. This is higher than the 24-hour standard for NO2. Indore is followed by Jabalpur (60 µg/m3) and Gwalior (49 µg/m3). Such high levels have not been recorded even in north Indian cities, which are generally more polluted. Traffic is a major contributor to pollution: All cities show peaking of hourly NO2 concentrations between 6 PM and 8 PM which coincides with the evening rush hour. Hourly NO2 levels in Gwalior increases five-fold between noon and 6 PM. The cycle is equally sharp in other cities, with 2.5-4.3 times increases in the evening (from afternoon). All cities also have a morning NO2 peak around 7-8 AM, but this is relatively smaller than the evening peak. In Indore, high NO2 levels persist till midnight indicating pollution generated by night-time truck movement in the city. Diwali was a mega polluting event: The pollution level on Diwali night (8 PM to 8 AM) in cities in this region shot up by 1.4-3.9 times the average level recorded on seven nights preceding Diwali. Bhopal had the greatest pollution build-up on Diwali night, with a 3.9-fold increase in night-time PM2.5, followed by Ujjain that saw a 3.7 fold increase. Sagar, Bilaspur and Damoh registered very low PM2.5 levels with no impact of Diwali. In absolute concentration terms, Bhopal dominated the list of most polluted Diwali nights with a 371 µg/m3 PM2.5 level. Pollution was very high among all other major cities as well on Diwali night with Indore (342 ug/m3), Ujjain (309 ug/m3), Gwalior (281 ug/m3) and Jabalpur (209 ug/m3) crossing the 200 ug/m3 mark. The next steps Says Roychowdhury: “The central Indian region — that includes critically polluted industrial areas — requires urgent attention under the National Clean Air Programme. While strengthening the air quality monitoring network for proper risk assessment, action should be tightened in critically polluted areas and implementation of multi-sector clean air action plan scaled up to meet time-bound clean air targets. This is needed to prevent worsening of the public health crisis in this region.”