• Industrial Pollution

Kerala PCB reluctant to put info in public domain: Study

Kochi: A majority of India’s pollution control agencies remain closed entities when it comes to sharing information with the public. A new rating study by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has found that a mere handful of India’s pollution control boards (PCBs) and authorities are adequately putting out environmental and governance information into the public domain through their websites. Odisha, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh boards have been rated as the most transparent among 35 such organisations studied. The Kerala state pollution control board (KSPCB) does not perform well in many of the 25 parameters that were used to measure their transparency in a five-year period of 2016-2020. However, it has a total score of 56.3%, with the toppers — Odisha and Telangana — at 67%, followed by Tamil Nadu at 65%. “Kerala PCB does not put out its orders against polluting industries in the public domain. As for its annual reports, we didn’t see any online, except 2013-14,” said Shreya Verma, programme officer-CSE and author of the study. For this study, CSE collected data from two sources — websites of SPCBs/PCCs and their annual reports. A few key indicators used in the study include the availability of information on direction/show-cause/closure notices issued by boards, information on public hearings and EIA reports, non-attainment cities and polluted river stretches, etc,” she said. One of these functions under Section 17(C) of the Air and Water Acts is to collect and disseminate information related to air and water pollution and also about its prevention, control or abatement. The law asks the boards to share the data in the public domain. But this is rarely done in practice. Most boards have been protective of industries polluting the environment. Of the 35 SPCBs, only five — J&K, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttarakhand and West Bengal — have shared soft copies of directions and show-cause/closure notices issued on their websites. Only five boards — Delhi, Goa, Haryana, Tripura and Uttarakhand — have shared minutes of their board meetings on their websites. Nine SPCBs/PCCs — Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Delhi, Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan, Goa and Mizoram — have provided detailed information on public hearings, which includes the executive summary, draft EIA report of the project, and minutes of the meeting. However, Kerala PCB scored good points for displaying their CEMS data. The study found huge laxity in sharing information on solid waste. “The study also found a lack of uniformity in displaying data. For instance, all surveyed SPCBs/PCCs have different website formats, which makes accessing information quite difficult. Similarly, there is no format for annual reports. Hence the information available varies from board to board,” Verma said.

• Climate Change and Green Economy

India stresses on ‘flexibility’ in climate goals for developing world

Yadav met COP26 president Alok Sharma, following which he said “differentiation” and “flexibility” should be at the core of decision-making at COP 26. Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav on Wednesday said India will advocate principles of “differentiation” and operationalisation of “flexibility” provided in the Paris Agreement for developing countries, at the upcoming United Nations Climate Change conference (COP26) in November -- reiterating the country’s position at a time when there are demands in some quarters for it to commit to so-called net-zero emissions. Yadav met COP26 president Alok Sharma, following which he said “differentiation” and “flexibility” should be at the core of decision-making at COP 26. “India believes that climate actions must be nationally determined and strongly advocates that the differentiation and operationalisation of flexibility provided in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement for developing countries should be at the core of decision-making,” said Yadav, emphasising the importance of climate justice. Among other factors, climate justice incorporates an understanding of historical responsibility for the climate crisis and equality. The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate crisis. The agreement, which has a goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C, preferably to 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels is guided by principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities, in the light of different national circumstances. Article 13 of the agreement says its transparency framework shall provide flexibility to developing countries that need it in the light of their capacities. The transparency framework covers all substantive aspects of the Paris deal, including the tracking progress and achievement of nationally determined contributions (NDCs). IPCC flagged earlier this month that the planet has a very short window to prevent catastrophic climate change. The 1.5°C global warming-threshold is likely to be breached in the next 10 to 20 years and by 2040 in all scenarios, it said in its report. Sharma in an interview to HT on Monday said: “We want every country to plan for net-zero by the middle of the century.” But India has said earlier that pushing developing countries with extremely low per capita emissions to commit to a net-zero goal will undermine their right to develop. “We have noted the pledges made by some countries to achieve Net Zero GHG (green house gas) emissions or carbon neutrality by or around mid-century. However, this may not be adequate... Therefore, and keeping in view the legitimate need of developing countries to grow, we urge G20 countries to commit to bringing down per capita emissions to the global average by 2030,” India said in its statement at a G20 ministerial meeting. On Tuesday, Sharma met RK Singh, the power and renewable energy minister; PK Mishra, PM Narendra Modi’s principal secretary; and Piyush Goyal, minister of commerce and industry and textiles. The power ministry on Wednesday said India has already retired 16,369 MW of inefficient coal fired power plants -- an issue Sharma raised during the meeting. Sharma said on Wednesday: “I leave India hopeful. I’ve had a set of very constructive discussions here... In the context of India, it is worth pointing out that India is already on track to overachieve its current NDC...” Experts said all countries must do more. “We should be proactive; push for hard action by 2030 by top polluters; not net-zero by 2050. Currently, countries are not on track. We must run the talk; no doubt our actions today are comparable with our contribution, but this is not enough. We can and must do more,” said Sunita Narain, director general, Centre for Science and Environment. “Every country’s circumstance and capacities are different so flexibility is important from the perspective of both implementation and reporting, but overall, our actions collectively need to be circumscribed by the constraints set by science. We have a small window of opportunity, and everything to lose given our vulnerable population,” said Apurba Mitra, head, Climate Policy, WRI India.

• Solid Waste Management and Circular Economy

Delhi govt gives nod to action plan to phase out single-use plastic

The Union environment ministry notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules (2021) that prohibits the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of identified single-use plastic items on August 12. New Delhi: The Delhi government on Wednesday approved a comprehensive action plan detailing steps to be taken by various agencies by December 2022 to phase out single-use plastic from the Capital. The 10-step action plan to kick out plastics The 10-step action plan to kick out plastics Senior Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) officials said that the “Comprehensive Action Plan for Elimination of Identified Single-Use Plastic” includes strict deadlines for the stakeholders to adhere to, adding that the progress will be closely monitored by the pollution control board. MORE FROM THIS SECTION Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain Remarkable progress in health care: Minister This morning, the rickshaw puller has parked his rickshaw on a street-side in central Delhi, close to where he sleeps. Wearing pants and a baniyan, he is leisurely perched on the passenger’s seat, smoking a beedi. Delhiwale: Man without a mobile number Delhi has so far recorded more than 25,000 deaths due to Covid-19 – more than half of which were recorded in the last and worst wave of the pandemic during April-May. Delhi govt gets more than 6,000 applications for Covid ex gratia New Delhi, India - Aug. 18, 2021: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers protest against BJP and MCD over the selling of Novelty Cinema, near BJP office, in New Delhi, India, on Wednesday, August 18, 2021. (Photo by Sanjeev Verma/ Hindustan Times) AAP protests against Novelty cinema deal, alleges corruption “The draft action plan was prepared last week, and we were awaiting its approval. We have been having detailed meetings with all stakeholders on the effective implementation of the ban,” said an environment department official. The Union environment ministry notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules (2021) that prohibits the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of identified single-use plastic items on August 12. The rules said the permitted thickness of plastic bags, currently 50 microns, will be increased to 75 microns from September 30 this year and to 120 microns from December 31, 2022. It also banned several single-use plastic items like earbuds with plastic sticks; plastic sticks for balloons; plastic flags; candy and ice-cream sticks; polystyrene (thermocol) for decoration; glasses; cutlery; wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets; and plastic or PVC banners of less than 100-micron thickness. The ban on these will come into force from July 1 next year. In May this year, Delhi constituted a special task force, under the chief secretary, to take measures to eliminate single-use plastics. Later in June and August, the principal secretary (environment) convened consultation meetings with stakeholders to identify and adopt alternatives to single-use plastic. Earlier in August,an information, education and communication (IEC) plan for different stakeholders, including manufacturers, resident welfare associations, market associations, was also prepared by DPCC to discourage the use of items that use single-use plastic. The comprehensive action plan approved on Wednesday details various steps to be taken to phase out single-use plastic, the time frames -- divided short, medium, long term or continuous action -- for each action, deadlines and the agencies responsible for the task. For instance, under the “management of littered single-use plastic items” in the action plan, one of the tasks --“identification of ingress points of littered single-use plastic items in surface water bodies and drains and strategy for prevention” -- has to be completed by October 31, 2021, by the urban local bodies, Delhi Jal Board and the Irrigation and Flood Control Departments. Other deadlines include the assessment of district-wise plastic waste generation in Delhi by March 31, 2022; identification and closure of units manufacturing single-use plastic products by June 30, 2022; development of a database of plastic recyclers by December 31, 2021; and a ‘continuous’ task of implementation of a plan to manage location-wise legacy waste. An assessment by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) this year showed that 66% of the plastic waste generated in the country is coming from seven states alone. It further said Delhi, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and West Bengal, “followed a highly consumerist lifestyle” and generated 48% of the total plastic waste. Atin Biswas, programme director (solid waste management) at CSE, said, “The test will be how the states implement this ban. These items are so widely in use that we will need a comprehensive and effective plan to phase out single-use plastic. Enforcement will have to be backed by awareness.”

• Director General Office

Odisha’s No 1 newspaper’s digital wing Sambad Digital, eco initiative Punascha Pruthivi launched

Bhubaneswar, 18/08/2021: Odisha’s largest media conglomerate today officially launched its bouquet of digital media platforms under the aegis of ‘Sambad Digital’ in which Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Besides, Union Ministers Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and Shri Bhupender Yadav; eminent environmentalist Ms Sunita Narain also attended the session as guests. In her welcome address, Sambad Group Executive Director Tanaya Patnaik said, “Many people ask me about Sambad Digital. Let me clarify that it is an umbrella of digital content of all our verticals. Sambad has many firsts. We were the first to introduce Odia websites—sambad.in and kanaknews.com. Our websites became popular overnight forcing our competitors to launch their websites in Odia”. She further added that a separate segment has been launched from today to connect with Odia diaspora and an environment initiative ‘Punascha Pruthibi’ has also been launched on this day. Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha Shri Naveen Patnaik expressed his delight over the launching of Sambad Digital and Punascha Pruthibi. “Over the last decade, digital media has been evolving rapidly and changing the way of dissemination in terms of news is being consumed. Affordability and accessibility of technology in the form of internet and smart phones has changed the face of news industries. Thanks to the digital and social media, the news comes to us almost instantly. Sambad digital is one of the earliest publishers to provide digital content in Odia to its readers,” he said in his video message. On the environmental initiative the Chief Minister said, “Media can create a positive impact with its wide reach to create awareness. It can mobilize masses as well to take proactive measures to protect our planet. Odisha is no stranger to the vagaries of nature brought by climate change. From cyclones to flash floods, we have received with natural disasters annually. However we have also paved the way and set an example in front of the world with our extensive and intensive disaster management strategies. With construction of numerous cyclone shelter homes and with use of early weather forecast system, the state has been able to successfully mitigate disasters, thus making us a resilient community. We are taking up projects to build 89 indoor stadiums at the district level that will double up as cyclone shelters and field hospitals during emergencies.” He further said that news pertaining to Odia diaspora in Sambad e-paper will help them to come closer to Odisha and unite us from across the globe. “This is not only the inauguration of Sambad Digital and ‘Punascha Pruthibi’, but also an initiative with Sambad being the custodian to unite us all for a noble cause. This is a great move towards sustainability and digitalisation,” said Union Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Lauding Sambad Group for its pioneership in media, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Cabinet Minister for Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship said it is the first newspaper of the state to use computers for printing purpose. “In the next 15-25 years, newspaper contents will be accessed by all through smart phones. The Government of India has planned to provide internet connectivity in rural areas. The digitalisation is all set to receive a major boost with the rolling out of 5G network in the near future,” the Union Minister said. The ‘Punascha Pruthibi’ campaign will benefit the coastal areas of the state in the next 15-20 years, he said, adding that this is a revolutionary step. “The initiative will be more effective with the participation of students and youths. It is our collective responsibility to make the planet safer and eco-friendly,” he added. Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change Bhupender Yadav in his address said: “The Central government is working towards making a better world, where no one is left behind. We have targeted to enhance the country’s production of biofuel and increase tree cover.” Appreciating Sambad Group for launching Punscha Pruthibi, Yadav expected the environmental programme to help make the world a better place to live. “There is no right time to launch the environmental programme when the World is fighting against Covid-19 Pandemic,” the Union Minister added. Noted environmentalist and Padma Shri awardee Sunita Narain was welcomed over a conversation with Panchami Manoo. She began by lauding Odisha’s Meteorological department for ensuring minimum damages and casualties during every cyclone and natural disaster it survives. She also emphasized that every time the state faces a cyclone or a natural disaster, the coping ability of its people reduces. Talking about the deteriorating climate situations, Narain said, “Climate change is not the only reason. Our mismanagement counts too. We are destroying our ponds and natural reservoirs and by that, we are in some ways, destroying out coping abilities.” Highlighting the alarming carbon emission issue, the Director General, Center for Science and Environment (CSE) said, “Three decades have gone by and we have gone backwards than forward. We are in a catastrophe which is bad both for the rich and the poor. The western world has to move faster and act promptly to address the issue of climate change. We need to do more. We can do and we must. We owe it to the people of Odisha.” Narain also talked about the prevailing COVID-19 adversities. She believes people’s dystopian relationship with food and nature have roles to play there. “If everybody is not vaccinated, no one is safe,” she said. Later, Narain congratulated Sambad Digital for its latest initiative ‘Punascha Pruthibi’. “The most critical thing is to tell the story as it happens. Environmental issues are about rights of community and voices of the voiceless at large… I am personally, really excited and will be definitely reading it.” Sambad Group Chairman Shri Soumya Ranjan Patnaik in his address said: “The world should come together to address the social dichotomy at the earliest. Digital media must be encouraged to make the world a better planet to live. We have not yet succeeded in bringing a harmony between technology & environment. Punascha Pruthibi initiative has been launched as an attempt to address the issue: Vote of thanks was delivered by Shri Arabind Das, CGM News (Sambad). The event organized on virtual mode, owing to Covid-19 advisory to avoid physical gatherings, witnessed an overwhelming participation of people from various walks of life. The webinar was attended by over 3000 people on the cloud meeting platform Zoom. Sambad Digital is the undisputed leader in the league as the digital verticals account for a collective engagement of 100 million a month. The logo of Sambad Digital was also unveiled.

• Solid Waste Management and Circular Economy

Indian ban on single-use plastics notified

India’s environment ministry has recently notified new plastic waste management rules that prohibit the use of plastic sticks on balloons, candy, ear buds, flags and ice-cream from 1 July 2022. Earlier, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had said, as per a DNA India Report that the country produces over 25,000 tonnes of plastic waste every day. The rules, reflecting India’s efforts to phase out single-use plastic by 2022, will also increase the minimum thickness of plastic bags from the current 50 microns to 75 microns by September 30 this year and to 120 microns by 31 December 2022. As Telegraph India reports, the ministry’s notification prohibits, from 1 July next year, plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, knives, spoons, stirrers, straws, trays, wrapping or packaging films around boxes of sweets, invitation cards, cigarette packets, and banners made from plastic less than 100 microns in thickness. Non-woven plastic carry bags should not be less than 60 gram per square metre with effect from 30 September 2021, the notification said. The provisions will not apply to commodities made of compostable plastic. “The manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of following single-use plastic, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, commodities shall be prohibited with effect from July 1, 2022: ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol) for decoration; plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays; wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron, stirrers,” it added. Three years ago, the Central Pollution Control Board had warned that India generates around 9200 tonnes of plastic waste – carry bags, packing films, snack packets, among other items – daily, or over 3.3 million tonnes a year. Waste management experts say the notification is in line with the goal of phasing out single-use plastics by 2022, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 August 2019, but remain concerned about the fate of plastic waste in the country amid lack of reliable data on recycling. A report from the New Delhi-based non-government Centre for Science and Environment flagging India’s plastic waste problem released last October had urged the government to ban plastic products that cannot be recycled, such as multi-layered plastic packets used to package snacks, ban carry bags, incentivize recycling, and enforce rules. In a statement, the Environment Ministry said plastic packaging waste not covered under the phase-out of identified single-use plastic items should be collected and managed in an environmentally sustainable way through the Extended Producer Responsibility of the producer, importer and brand owner (PIBO) as per Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. For effective implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility, the guidelines being brought out have been given legal force through the amended rules, it said. Extended Producer Responsibility is a policy approach in which producers take responsibility for management of the disposal of products they produce once those products are designated as no longer useful by consumers. The Centre had earlier asked states and union territories to constitute a special task force under the chief secretary or the administrator for elimination of single-use plastics and effective implementation of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. Fourteen states and union territories had constituted the special task force by 23 July. The Environment Ministry has also set up a national-level task force for making coordinated efforts in this direction. The environment ministry has said waste management infrastructure “is being strengthened” across the country and states have been asked to develop action plans for the elimination of single-use plastics and effective implementation of the waste management rules. The DNA India report highlights that during the Fourth United Nations Environment Assembly held in 2019, India moved a resolution on addressing single-use plastic products pollution by 2022 recognizing the urgent need for the global community to focus on this extremely important issue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that single-use plastic is one of the major causes of degradation of the environment and called on people to stop the use of single-use plastic bags in his Independence Day speech in 2019. He was conferred the ‘Champions of the Earth’ award by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2018 for pledging to eliminate all single-use plastic by 2022. As the Centre is taking measures for awareness generation towards the elimination of single-use plastics, essay writing competition on the theme for spreading awareness amongst school students are being organized across the nation.

• Director General Office

Salt, sugar and the ingredients of a dilemma for brands

As calls for stringent labelling regulations escalate, big packaged food companies are caught between profit and the urgency to rapidly transform their portfolio into ‘healthier’ products... At a recent annual global meeting of the top managers of a processed food giant, the immediate priority laid out before the managers was the urgency with which the company’s portfolio needed to be transformed into a healthier mix. Even if some of India’s growing one-billion-plus potential consumers were not fussing about the salt, sugar and fat content, they still needed to be told about the healthier options on the table. “While sales, profits and distribution targets are on auto pilot, it’s nutrition while retaining taste, and getting masses to increase the consumption of low-salt, low-sugar and low-fat foods, which are the biggest challenges we face,” said a senior manager of the company, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Priority: Healthier foods Almost every domestic or multinational packaged food company, from Nestle, PepsiCo, McCain and Mondelez, to McDonald’s, ITC, Britannia and Parle, say they have prioritised better-for-health food as a core focus area, even as scrutiny mounts globally over the portfolios of food and beverage makers. Industry executives say that it is now non-negotiable for these companies to reduce the unhealthy components in their products. All this, while pushing for market space in a country that is considered a core bastion of growth for large multinationals. “While packaged processed food companies are facing the dilemma over whether to prioritise health or taste, it is crucial to balance both. No brand can afford to ignore the part of business that is recognised as good-for-you,” said Devendra Chawla, managing director at Spencer’s Retail and Nature’s Basket, which runs close to 200 retail stores across India. The companies say that they are committed to ‘good food’, at a time when stakeholder consent and striking a balance between profit and health will be key to drive sales and profits. But a majority of Indian consumers are not fussy about salt, sugar and fat content, and profits are still coming from the mass products. “Taste remains an intrinsic part of snacking in India. There have been examples of many brand variants with lesser sugar, salt or fat, which have had to be withdrawn because of lack of consumer offtake,” said Mayank Shah, senior category head at biscuits and confectionery maker Parle Products. Sustainable strategy “‘Good food’ is a key pillar of our sustainability strategy,” said Vikas Mittal, MD, South Asia at frozen snacks maker McCain Foods (India). It is looking at a portfolio expansion to protein-based snacking options, besides reducing salt and oil in its food, and exploring how to do away with palm oil usage by 2025. Last month, Nestle India, which makes Maggi noodles and KitKat chocolate, began releasing a series of ad campaigns across mainstream platforms to ‘reassure’ consumers, just days after an international report cited a presentation by its Swiss parent which noted that over 60% of its food and beverage portfolio is unhealthy. A Nestle India spokesperson said: “We care about what matters to them [consumers], what concerns them and we are there for them if they have any questions or suggestions.” Recent launches by Nestle in the ‘healthier’ space include Munch chocolate with fruits and nuts, a spinach-infused Maggi noodles and health drink Milo with micro-nutrients. Others like McDonald’s have said they have removed artificial preservatives, reduced sodium and mayonnaise content over 20% and 40% respectively, introduced whole wheat buns, and plan to offer more balanced options from recommended food groups for children. Yet, all of it may not be enough. “The definition of health has completely changed in the pandemic. The health portfolio growth will have to be precipitated and the efforts by companies need to be in sync,” said Chawla. Missing piece However, the biggest missing piece in the portfolio transformation is the absence of stringent nutrition labelling regulations. The controversial front-of-pack labelling still hasn’t seen light of day in India. The labelling norms for salt, sugar and fat declaration have been in discussion stage for about seven years between national foods regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and packaged food companies. Various makers of juices, cookies and confectionery have asked the FSSAI to exempt them from the labelling norms, citing that it is ‘impractical’ to do so. The draft regulations remain in consultation stages and advocacy groups say that companies are resisting implementing of the guidelines in their own interests. “Processed food companies are trying to resist front-of-pack warning labels since it might impact their sales, market share and profits,” said Sunita Narain, director general at research and advocacy think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The CSE is among the organisations that have been pushing for immediate enforcement of nutrition and healthier foods guidelines. “Transformation of portfolios with reduced levels of salt, sugar and fat and informing consumers in a transparent manner are not being taken seriously. We are fighting for this cause consistently,” Narain said. In July, advocacy groups led by the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI) and the Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi) said in a joint statement that the per capita sales of ultra-processed food would increase to a worrying high of eight kg by 2024, up from six kg in 2019. The groups called for stringent guidelines about the consumption of processed and ultra-processed food. “Regulators and policymakers need to identify mandatory thresholds that are within the limits as prescribed by the WHO. As these will apply across the board, we can be sure only then that the entire market will adapt to and meet the new standards,” said Keshav Desiraju, former health secretary of India in the detailed joint statement. For the packaged food industry, it’s their move.

• Director General Office

Media has a bigger role in keeping planet safe: Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik that the state is no stranger to the vagaries of nature brought by climate change. BHUBANESWAR: Media with its wide reach can create a positive impact and mobilise masses to take proactive measures to protect our planet, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday. In his virtual address at the launch of Sambad Group’s ‘Sambad Digital’ and ‘Punascha Pruthibi’ campaign, Naveen said digital media has been evolving rapidly and changing the way of news dissemination. Media has a bigger role to play in raising awareness to keep the planet safe, he said. The Chief Minister added that Odisha is no stranger to the vagaries of nature brought by climate change. “However, the State has set an example for the world with its extensive and intensive disaster management strategies’’, he added. Stating that digital technology will touch greater heights in near future, Union Education and Skill Development Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the way National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has envisioned digitisation, it will even remove language barriers. Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change Bhupender Yadav said the Centre is working towards enhancing the country’s production of biofuel and increasing tree cover by 24 per cent. Noted environmentalist and Director General of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Sunita Narain called for urgent steps to combat climate change. "Our inability to manage land and water is crippling lives as well as livelihood. However, we are not walking the talk enough. We need to act promptly to address the issue of climate change," Narain said. Sambad Group Chairman Soumya Ranjan Patnaik in his address said digital media must be encouraged to make the world a better planet to live in. Executive Director Tanaya Patnaik said the bouquet of digital media platforms under the aegis of ‘Sambad Digital’ will help in making the ‘Punascha Pruthibi - One Earth. Unite for it’ campaign a success.

• Director General Office

‘ପୁନଶ୍ଚ ପୃଥିବୀ’-ପରିବେଶବିତଙ୍କ ଆହ୍ୱାନ: କଥାରେ ନୁହେଁ କାମରେ ଦେଖାଇବା । ଲୋକଙ୍କୁ ସଚେତନ କରାଇ ପୃଥିବୀକୁ ସୁରକ୍ଷିତ ରଖିବା ।

କନକ ବ୍ୟୁରୋ: ତାପମାତ୍ରା ବୃଦ୍ଧି ଉଭୟ ଧନୀ ଓ ଗରିବ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଅତି ସାଂଘାତିକ । ତେଣୁ ପାଶ୍ଚାତ୍ୟ ଦେଶ ଗୁଡିକୁ ଏବେ ଆଗକୁ ଆସିବାକୁ ପଡିବ ଓ ଜଳବାୟୁ ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନ ସମସ୍ୟାର ସମାଧାନ ପାଇଁ ତୁରନ୍ତ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରିବାକୁ ପଡିବ । ସମ୍ବାଦ ଡିଜିଟାଲର ଲୋକାର୍ପଣ ଏବଂ ‘ପୁନଶ୍ଚ ପୃଥିବୀ’ ଅଭିଯାନରେ ଯୋଗଦେଇ ଏଭଳି ଗୁରୁତ୍ୱପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ମତ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରିଛନ୍ତି ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ପରିବେଶବିତ୍ ପଦ୍ମଶ୍ରୀ ସୁନୀତା ନାରାୟଣ । ଜଳବାୟୁ ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନର ପ୍ରଭାବ ଏବେ ପୂରା ବିଶ୍ୱ ଦେଖୁଛି । ଜଳବାୟୁ ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ପାଇଁ ସବୁଠୁ ବଡ ସତର୍କ ଘଣ୍ଟି । ଯାହାର ଉଦାହରଣ ହେଉଛି ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଓ ପଶ୍ଚିମବଙ୍ଗ ବନ୍ୟାରେ ସବୁଠୁ ଅଧିକ ପ୍ରଭାବିତ ହେଉଥିବା ରାଜ୍ୟ । କିନ୍ତୁ ଜଳ ପରିଚାଳନା ଓ ବ୍ୟବହାର ସଠିକ୍ ଢଙ୍ଗରେ କରାନଯିବା ବେଶ ଦୁଃଖଦାୟକ ତେଣୁ ଏହାର ମୁକାବିଲା ଅତି ଆବଶ୍ୟକ । ଜଳବାୟୁ ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନ ଏକ ପ୍ରାକୃତିକ ପ୍ରକ୍ରିୟା । ହେଲେ ଆମେ ଯଦି ଜଳ ଏବଂ ମାଟିର ଦୂରୁପଯୋଗ କରିବା ତାର ପରିଣାମ ଆମକୁ ହିଁ ଭୋଗିବାକୁ ପଡ଼ିବ । ଯାହା ଏବେ ଅନେକ ସ୍ଥାନରେ ଦେଖିବାକୁ ମିଳୁଛି ବୋଲି କହିଛନ୍ତି ସୁନୀତା ନାରାୟଣ । ପୃଥିବୀର ସୁନ୍ଦରତା ଏବଂ ଏହାର ସୁରକ୍ଷା ପାଇଁ ଆମକୁ ଏକ ଦୀର୍ଘମିଆଦି ଯୋଜନା କରିବାର ଆବଶ୍ୟକ ରହୁଛି । ଆମେ ବହୁତ କଥା କହୁଛେ କିନ୍ତୁ ତାହାକୁ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକାରୀ କରୁନେ । ପ୍ରାକୃତିକ ବିପର୍ଯ୍ୟୟ କ’ଣ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଭଳି ରାଜ୍ୟଠୁ ଭଲଭାବେ କେହି ଅନୁଭବ କରିପାରିବେନି । ବାରମ୍ବାର ବାତ୍ୟାକୁ ସାମ୍ନା କରୁଥିବା ରାଜ୍ୟଭାବେ ବେଶ୍ ଅନୁଭବୀ ହେଉଛି ଓଡ଼ିଶା । ତେବେ ତନୟାଙ୍କ ଏଭଳି ଉଦ୍ୟମକୁ ମୁଁ ପ୍ରଶଂସା କରୁଛି । ପରିବେଶକୁ ସୁରକ୍ଷିତ ରଖିବା ପାଇଁ ଏମିତି ପଦକ୍ଷେପ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଗ୍ରହଣୀୟ । ‘ପୁନଶ୍ଚ ପୃଥିବୀ’ ଅଭିଯାନର ପରିକଳ୍ପନାକୁ ବାସ୍ତବତାର ରୂପ ଦେବାକୁ ଆମେ ସଂକଳ୍ପ ନେବା ବୋଲି ସମ୍ବାଦ ଡିଜିଟାଲର ଲୋକାର୍ପଣ ଉତ୍ସବରେ ଯୋଗଦେଇ କହିଛନ୍ତି ପଦ୍ମଶ୍ରୀ ସୁନୀତା ନାରାୟଣ ।

• Sustainable Food Systems

Palm-oil mission could stoke disaster without sustainability checks

Palm oil is the cheapest edible oil, used in most foods items, from bread to pizzas. In recent months, global prices have surged to multi-year peaks, forcing the government to cut import duties to make the fats affordable A plan cleared by the Union Cabinet to expand domestic palm-oil output in ecologically-sensitive regions could be environmentally perilous unless backed by a set of strong safeguards, experts have said, citing disastrous impacts in growers such as Malaysia and Indonesia. Palm oil is the cheapest edible oil, used in most foods items, from bread to pizzas. In recent months, global prices have surged to multi-year peaks, forcing the government to cut import duties to make the fats affordable. To cut India’s growing reliance on import of edible oils, the government on Wednesday approved the “National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP)”, allocating ₹11,040 crore for it. The programme seeks to promote plantations in the northeastern regions, besides the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the programme a “game-changer” on Twitter. Edible-oil plantations, as opposed to oilseeds crops, tend to replace natural tropical forests, depleting biodiversity. Environmental case studies in forested belts of Sumatra, Borneo and the Malay Peninsula -- which produce 90% of global palm oil – have found commercial cultivation had decimated swathes of pristine forests, wiping out wildlife, from orangutans to birds. MORE FROM THIS SECTION BSE Sensex in Mumbai (File Photo) Sensex falls 163 points to close at 55,629; Nifty settles at 16,569 Representational image. (HT Archive) Diesel prices fell by 40 paise/litre in two days as global crude plunged Alibaba’s shares have slumped 29% this year in Hong Kong compared to a fall of just under 7% for the Hang Seng Index. Alibaba shares slump to record low as China plans further crackdown The price of petrol has remained unchanged since July 17. Diesel price drops for second consecutive day; petrol remains unchanged Also Read | Remarkable progress in health care: Minister Officials said they were “aware of” sustainability issues. “The non-financial aspects of the scheme will address them,” an official with knowledge of the matter said, but did not divulge details as these were being fine-tuned. A top expert on sustainable agriculture said it was possible to grow palm oil sustainability, but certain strict criteria will need to be followed, which he said he hoped to see in the government’s plan. India has become the world’s largest importer of vegetable oils, a base ingredient for cooking most common dishes. The country meets up to two-thirds of its domestic demand through imports. In 2020-21, India imported both crude and refined palm oil worth $5.8 billion. Edible oil is the country’s third most high-value import, after petroleum crude and gold. “The environmental impacts, especially in ecologically sensitive areas, are a huge concern,” said Anumita Roy Chowdhury of the Centre for Science and Environment. “We don’t know yet how the plan will be put to implementation. It will need the same strong safeguards that are required and well recognized.” GV Ramanjaneyulu of the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture said India’s tropical climate was well-suited to palm oil plantations, which thrive on peaty soils. The oil has healthy unsaturated fats and vitamins, although it does have its share of unhealthy saturated fats. Consumed as part of balanced diet, it should not be unhealthy for the heart. Palm-oil, a perennial crop, yields more oil per acre, than say, coconut, but it requires three times the water. So, it must be grown in rainy areas to avoid groundwater extraction. “There are three or four ground rules. Rainforests should be absolutely no-go zones. Do field cultivation and soil management. Avoid weedicides and don’t allow monocropping. Grow other crops within the plantation,” Ramanjaneyulu said.“It can offer global advantages if grown sustainably, or else the country could face disaster.” The new scheme seeks to bring additional 0.65 million hectare under oil palm by 2025-26 to reach a targeted one million hectare, up from 0.3 million hectare at present. This would result in an increase in crude palm oil output to o 1.1 million tonne by 2025-26 and up to 2.8 million tonne by 2029-30, the official cited above said. The scheme also provides for viability gap funding to shield growers from international price volatility by paying directly to the farmers’ accounts in the form of direct benefit transfer. Environmental experts, such as Roy Chowdhury, cautioned about reckless expansion of palm-oil in the Indian archipelago of Andaman. Ramanjaneyulu said humid and rainy Andaman was a good place to grow palm oil provided rainforests were not touched.

• Industrial Pollution

Assam pollution board ‘lacks’ transparency

GUWAHATI: The Assam Pollution Control Board has fared poorly in terms of transparency while sharing key environment and pollution governance-related information with the public. It is ranked 19th after the study, “Transparency Index: Rating of pollution control boards on public disclosure” by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) assessed the data disclosure performance of 29 state pollution control boards and six pollution control committees from across the country. Of these, only 14 boards and committees scored 50 per cent or above and Assam has scored 44per cent, which shows lack of transparency. Putting crucial pollution-related information in the public domain is critical, which can help policymakers take pollution-management discussions to the next levels. But when it comes to sharing such information with the public, the majority of country’s pollution control agencies remain closed entities.\ Assam pollution board ‘lacks’ transparency TNN | Aug 19, 2021, 09.54 AM IST Assam pollution board ‘lacks’ transparency GUWAHATI: The Assam Pollution Control Board has fared poorly in terms of transparency while sharing key environment and pollution governance-related information with the public. It is ranked 19th after the study, “Transparency Index: Rating of pollution control boards on public disclosure” by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) assessed the data disclosure performance of 29 state pollution control boards and six pollution control committees from across the country. Of these, only 14 boards and committees scored 50 per cent or above and Assam has scored 44per cent, which shows lack of transparency. Putting crucial pollution-related information in the public domain is critical, which can help policymakers take pollution-management discussions to the next levels. But when it comes to sharing such information with the public, the majority of country’s pollution control agencies remain closed entities. Congratulations! You have successfully cast your vote It was found that information on functioning, actions taken by a board against polluting industries, public hearing data on new projects are rarely disclosed or remain difficult to access on the websites. For instance, only 12 states have shared their latest annual reports on their websites. Assam is not one of them. Assam has not provided detailed information on public hearings, which includes the executive summary, draft EIA report of the project, and minutes of the meeting. No initiative has been taken by the Assam Pollution Control Board in sharing its annual reports, informed the CSE report. Nivit Kumar Yadav, programme director (industrial pollution unit) of CSE, said, “State PCBs are entrusted with several functions under the provisions of the Water Act, 1974; Air Act, 1981; Water Cess Act, 1977; and various rules and notifications issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. One of these functions under Section 17(C) of the Air and Water Acts is to collect and disseminate information related to air and water pollution and also about its prevention, control or abatement.”

• Industrial Pollution

Transparency of Pollution Control Boards

A new report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has revealed that most of the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) in India remain non-transparent entities when it comes to sharing information with the public. CSE is a public interest research and advocacy NGO based in New Delhi. The report is titled, Transparency Index: Rating of pollution control boards on public disclosure. It has assessed the data disclosure performance of 29 State Pollution Control Boards And Six Pollution Control Committees from across the country. Of these, only 17 boards and committees scored 50% or above. Pollution control agencies under Air Act 1981 and Water Act 1974 is to collect and disseminate information related to air and water pollution and also about its prevention, control or abatement. The law also asks the boards to share the data in the public domain. However, this is rarely done in practice. The pollution control boards of Odisha and Telangana were the top performers and had scored 67% in transparency. Putting in the public domain crucial pollution-related information, data and details of actions taken is critical. It can help policy-makers take the discussions to the next level of pollution management. It can also reassure the people about the efficiency of these boards and committees.

• Industrial Pollution

Non-Transparent Pollution Control Boards

Why in News Recently, a new report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has revealed that most of the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) in India remain non-transparent entities when it comes to sharing information with the public. CSE is a public interest research and advocacy NGO based in New Delhi. Key Points About the Report: The report is titled, Transparency Index: Rating of pollution control boards on public disclosure. It has assessed the data disclosure performance of 29 State Pollution Control Boards And Six Pollution Control Committees from across the country. Of these, only 17 boards and committees scored 50% or above. Pollution control agencies under Air Act 1981 and Water Act 1974 is to collect and disseminate information related to air and water pollution and also about its prevention, control or abatement. The law also asks the boards to share the data in the public domain. However, this is rarely done in practice. The pollution control boards of Odisha and Telangana were the top performers and had scored 67% in transparency. Putting in the public domain crucial pollution-related information, data and details of actions taken is critical. It can help policy-makers take the discussions to the next level of pollution management. It can also reassure the people about the efficiency of these boards and committees. Other Issues Pertaining to SPCBs: More Responsibilities, Limited Institutional Capacity: Over the last two decades, SPCBs have seen an expansion in the scope and scale of their work but not in their budgets and workforce. Remuneration is meagre, making it hard for the board to retain talent. Shortage of Technical Experts: Further, an acute shortage of technical experts and other staff has reduced central and state pollution regulators to mere advisory bodies, leaving them unable to enforce air quality standards. Top Administrators Have No Domain Expertise: Leadership positions in SPCBs are usually held by civil servants with no expertise in science or environmental studies--necessary for comprehending issues relating to pollution and climate change. For example, the CPCB is dominated by government representatives and is constituted by the central government “which conflicts with the expectation of it acting as a watchdog”. Low Motivation and Accountability: State board officials often have a diminished view of their own role and responsibility. Also, the process of framing standards was not inclusionary and state officials were simply asked to implement these. Poor Multi-Sectoral Coordination: The lack of convergence and coordination between various state and central departments often means that other departments do not implement SPCB directives. Little Expertise in Monitoring: While the capacity for real-time monitoring increases every year, gaps in data collection and erroneous readings due to poor calibration remain. Pollution Control Boards in India Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): CPCB is a statutory organisation which was constituted in September, 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. It was also entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. It serves as a field formation and also provides technical services to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Principal Functions of the CPCB: To promote cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas of the States by prevention, control and abatement of water pollution. To improve the quality of air and to prevent, control or abate air pollution in the country. State Pollution Control Board (SPCB): They supplement the CPCB as they are a statutory organization entrusted to implement Environmental Laws and rules within the jurisdiction of a state. Pollution control committees (PCC): They perform similar functions to SPCB. The difference between the two is that PCC belongs to Union territories. Way Forward Uniform Standards: There should be a uniform format for presenting annual reports and sharing information on websites. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) should come up with a website format for the SPCBs/PCCs and guidelines for framing annual reports. Specialised Recruitment: There is a need for clear qualifications to be laid down for the recruitment of various members to the pollution control boards. Having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of matters relating to environmental protection can be one of the criteria. Strengthening Institutional capacity: Regulatory bodies that enable their implementation are strengthened with the technical and financial resources needed. Source: DTE

• Industrial Pollution

Lack of transparency’ in Assam Pollution Board. Guwahati News – Times of India

Guwahati: Assam Pollution Control Board Has performed poorly in terms of transparency while sharing key environmental and pollution governance related information with the public. It is ranked 19th after the study, “Transparency Index: Rating of Pollution Control Boards on Public Disclosures”. Science and Environment Center (CSE) 29. Assessed the data disclosure performance of State Pollution control boards and six pollution control committees from across the country. Of these, only 14 boards and committees have scored 50 per cent or more and Assam has scored 44 per cent, indicating a lack of transparency. It’s important to make important pollution-related information public, which can help policymakers take the pollution-management discussion to the next level. But when it comes to sharing such information with the public, most of the pollution control agencies in the country are shut down. It was found that information on operations, action taken by the Board against polluting industries, public hearing data on new projects are rarely disclosed or difficult to access on websites. For example, only 12 states have shared their latest annual reports on their websites. Assam is not one of them. Assam did not provide detailed information on the public hearing, including executive summary, draft EIA report of the project and minutes of the meeting. no initiative has been taken by Assam Pollution The Board of Control informed the CSE report by sharing its annual report. Nivit Kumar Yadav, Program Director (Industrial Pollution Unit), CSE said, “The State PCB has been entrusted with several functions under the provisions of the Water Act, 1974; the Air Act, 1981; the Water Cess Act, 1977; and the Environment (Protection) Act. , various rules and notifications issued under the Act, 1986. One of these functions under section 17(c) of the Air and Water Act is to collect and disseminate information relating to air and water pollution and also regarding its prevention, control or Shortage.”

• Industrial Pollution

CSE transparency index: M’laya pollution control board ranks 18th

Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) has been ranked 18th in the transparency index rating report released by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) recently. The Board scored 44.4 percentage points according to the rating study report by CSE, a Delhi-based not-for-profit public interest research and advocacy organisation. Among the other Northeastern states, Tripura State Pollution Control Board was ranked 17th with 45.3 percentage points, Assam Pollution Control Board 19th (44 percentage points) while Sikkim State Pollution Control Board with 42.1 percentage points and Mizoram Pollution Control Board with 40.7 percentage points were ranked 20th and 21st respectively. On the other hand, Nagaland Pollution Control Board (19.2 percentage points), Arunachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (13 percentage points) and Manipur Pollution Control Board (12.6 percentage points) were ranked 26th, 28th and 29th respectively. The performance of 31 pollution control boards and pollution control committees (PCCs) operating in the country from 2016-2021 were involved in the assessment. The rating was done on the basis of 18 parameters and the assessment focused on continuous emission monitoring, consent to establish and operate, public hearings for environmental clearance, show cause notices, directions and closure notices on public domain about 17 categories of industries. Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) topped the rating list with 67 percentage points. The CSE study observed that PCCs and boards from states in the North East have shared limited information on their websites. “There are some indicators in annual reports on which very few states have given information like compliance status of industries (only Karnataka and Haryana have shared information); number of inspections; number of directions, show cause and closure notices issued; and information on regulated entities in the state,” the study observed. “Only few boards have shared minutes of board meetings on their websites. Some SPCBs/PCCs are sharing their biomedical waste annual report, municipal solid waste annual report, hazardous waste annual report, action plan for polluted river stretches and action plan for non-attainment cities with CPCB but not sharing the same on their website,” it found.

• Industrial Pollution

Odisha pollution control board tops CSE transparency index

The Odisha State Pollution Control Board has ranked number 1 in the transparency index of the Centre for Science and Environment CSE, an official release said on Tuesday.The performance of all 31 state pollution control boards and pollution control committees operating in the country from 2016-2021 was taken into the assessment process, the release stated.The outcome of the assessment placed Odisha SPCB at the top with 67 percentage points. The Odisha State Pollution Control Board has ranked number 1 in the transparency index of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), an official release said on Tuesday. The performance of all 31 state pollution control boards and pollution control committees operating in the country from 2016-2021 was taken into the assessment process, the release stated. The outcome of the assessment placed Odisha SPCB at the top with 67 percentage points. The Telangana board scored at par with Odisha, followed by Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, it said. State Pollution Control Board member secretary K Murugesan said that the CSE, a not-for-profit public interest research and advocacy organisation, did the assessment on the basis of 18 parameters relating to focus areas. The assessment focused on data regarding continuous emission monitoring, consent to establish and operate, public hearings for environmental clearance, showcause notices, directions and closure notices on public domain about 17 categories of industries. Chief Secretary Suresh Mohapatra complimented the board for the achievement, advising it to involve different stakeholders in environmental management, according to the statement. The involvement of the stakeholders will be helpful for the board in the enforcement of regulatory compliances for environmental governance, it said. The procedural re-engineering and administrative reform in the Odisha SPCB started in 2015 under the leadership of Mohapatra during his tenure as the principal secretary and subsequently additional chief secretary of the Forest and Environment Department, according to the release. As of now, the board has put online 11 major services, including consent to establish, consent to operate, permissions regarding bio-medical, hazardous waste and solid waste management, real-time data from analysers and quality monitoring cameras. The Board has also rolled out a mobile application for redressal of public complaints in non-attainment cities, it added.

• Sustainable Food Systems

Indian report notes gaps in guidance on antibiotic use in food animals

A new report by an Indian public interest research and advocacy organization highlights gaps in global recommendations on antibiotic use in food-producing animals and calls for more uniform guidance from the Tripartite United Nations (UN) organizations. The report from the Centre for Science and Environment notes that while the WHO, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) all have their own guidance on the use of antibiotics in food-producing animals, there is significant overlap in the antibiotics considered critical for human medicine and veterinary medicine. For example, 47 of the antimicrobials listed by the OIE as being important for veterinary medicine are also on the WHO's list of critically important antibiotics for human medicine. The report also points out a lack of coherence among the organizations on how antibiotics should be used in food-producing animals. Although there is uniform agreement that critically important antibiotics for human medicine should not be used for growth promotion in livestock, there is less agreement on whether they should be used for disease prevention and control in herds and flocks, or whether critically important antibiotics should be used to treat sick animals. "Clearly, there is need for more clarity, coherence and, most importantly, a uniform message from the Tripartite organizations," the authors write. "In the absence of this, chances of consensus among national-level animal- and human-health stakeholders are low and the possibility for misinterpretation remains high. This can result in limited action, leading to misuse and overuse of critically important antimicrobials in the food-producing animal sector." The authors say the organizations should develop uniform guidance that contains a clear message about which critically important antibiotics can be used across the food-animal sector, how they should be used, and which should be prohibited immediately or phased out. They also call for the Tripartite organizations to develop a better understanding of how countries are using critically important antibiotics in food-producing animals, and the levels of resistance to those antibiotics. The report also contains recommendations for the Indian government to develop a roadmap and policy framework for conserving the use of these antibiotics in the food-animal sector. Aug 16 Centre for Science and Environment report