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From Plans to Practice: Clean Air in Cities | Infravision Conversation | Anumita Roychowdhury

Too many cities produce plans, too few produce results. In this urgent conversation, Anumita Roychowdhury explains why repeated emergency measures are inadequate, argues for annual report-cards tied to departmental budgets and compliance systems, and lays out a three-part practical agenda (energy transition, mobility transition, circularity) needed to bend air-quality trends for good. She also draws on successful demonstrations – from Indore’s waste segregation and compressed biogas buses to Addis Ababa’s bold EV import rule and Dakar’s electric BRT corridors, to show that systemic change is possible when politics, policy and implementation align.

All-India Seminar on “Bio-CNG in Circular Economy Challenges and Way Forward”.

An upcoming All-India Seminar on “Bio-CNG in Circular Economy” on January 9, 2026, in Kolhapur, focusing on waste, sugar sector opportunities, policy, and tech. Other related events include past seminars by the Centre for Science & Environment (CSE) on India’s bio-CNG potential, and webinars/training by organizations like the Institute for Industrial Development (IID) and Indian Biogas Association (IBA). These events cover production, government policies, technology, economic viability, and the future of Bio-CNG (purified biogas) in India, linking it to sustainability and energy security.

Year Ender 2025: चक्रवात, भूकंप से लेकर भूस्खलन तक..., विश्व भर में आपदाओं ने इस साल मचाया कहर

Year Ender 2025: मानव जीवन के लिए प्राकृतिक आपदाएं सबसे ज्यादा खतरनाक होती है जो कहर बनकर इंसान पर टूटती है। साल 2025 खत्म होने की कगार पर है और इस साल जनवरी से लेकर दिसंबर तक देश-दुनिया ने कई आपदाएं...

Allergies don’t end with monsoon: Why winter triggers more eye irritation

Eye​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ allergies may have been associated with the monsoon for most of the Indians, but the situation is completely different for the 2025 winters, which have brought us persistently high levels of air pollution and low humidity, leading to eye irritation across the big cities. Thus, the data released by the Centre for Science and Environment’s winter air quality analysis for 2024-25 clearly outlines that megacities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai have experienced the worsening of their PM2.5 levels during the winter period when the fine particulate pollution was consistently above the WHO guidelines for the whole winter season. Short-term exposure to very high concentrations of PM2.5 and other pollutants can cause the disruption of the tear film and the irritation of the ocular surface, which can be accompanied by symptoms of burning, itching, watering and redness. Apart from this, the quality of winter air gets even worse due to weather factors such as temperature inversion and low wind speeds, which prevent pollutants from diffusing and, therefore, local concentrations increase. According to Dr. R K Sachdev, Sr. Cataract & Refractive Surgeon, Dr Sachdev Maxivision Eye Hospitals, “Winter-related eye allergies are frequently misunderstood and under-treated. Over the last few years, we have observed a marked rise in patients presenting with eye irritation during winter rather than the monsoon. Many patients assume these symptoms are simple dryness or screen fatigue and delay treatment. When inflammation is allowed to persist, it can worsen allergic conjunctivitis, aggravate dry eye disease, and significantly affect visual comfort and daily functioning. Early evaluation is critical, particularly during winter. Silent Rise in Winter Eye Allergies Winter​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ eye irritations, unlike eye infections caused by the monsoons, escalate slowly and are, in most cases, of a chronic nature. Research and clinical audits until 2025 have indicated that the prevalence of dry eye disease in urban India has gone beyond 30 per cent, with the winter season being acknowledged as a major period of aggravation. The co-existence of dry eye and allergic conjunctivitis is getting more and more prevalent, thus leading to extended symptoms that lower productivity, concentration, and the overall quality of ‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌life.

Parliamentary committee makes widespread recommendations to improve air quality

Current standards recommend PM10 levels don’t cross 60 micrograms annually and PM2.5 levels stay below 40 micrograms, which the Centre for Science and Environment told the Committee was “too lenient.” The World Health Organisation revised its standards to reflect the documented health impacts at minimal levels of exposure, recommending PM2.5 not exceed 5 micrograms per cubic meter and PM10 stay below 15 micrograms per cubic metre on an annual basis.

Unreliable data mask just how bad the air quality crisis is in India

Recent remarks about pollution from two Indian officials have increased frustration among residents who say policymakers are unwilling to acknowledge the severity of India’s air quality crisis. When Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav told Parliament earlier this month that India’s capital, New Delhi, has seen 200 days with good air quality readings, pollution experts and opposition leaders said he chose a figure that overlooked the worst pollution months. A week later, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the air quality index — a measure of air pollution — was similar to a temperature reading and could be dealt with by spraying water. Crowds jeered her at a subsequent public event, shouting “AQI” in reference to the city’s poor air quality readings. Residents in New Delhi and surrounding areas engulfed in toxic smog over the last few months said these are just the latest examples of officials denying the severity of air quality problems. “Instead of doing cloud seeding, I hope the government will wake up and take some real action,” said Anita, a 73-year-old New Delhi resident who goes by only one name. “It’s a shame.” Environmentalists and data experts said India’s air quality measurement standards are looser than in countries such as the United States, so moderate readings often mask dangerous pollution levels. India’s government air quality standards are also less stringent than World Health Organization guidelines. Experts said these gaps can erode public trust, even as few residents fully grasp how harmful polluted air is. Gaps in India’s air quality data India’s air quality is measured through a nationwide network of monitors and sensors, as well as satellite data. The monitors collect robust data, but there are too few of them, said Ronak Sutaria, CEO of Respirer Living, which builds machines and software for air quality monitoring. He said that the system falls short of letting citizens know how polluted the air in their neighborhoods really is. In 2019, India launched the National Clean Air Program, which set targets aiming to reduce pollution by up to 40% in 131 cities by 2026. The program has seen relative success, providing millions of dollars for monitors and water-spraying machines to reduce dust generated from vehicles plying the roads, construction activity and winds that blow desert sand into the cities. However, air pollution experts said the program has done little to reduce pollution from carbon-spewing industries or vehicle emissions, which are among the biggest sources of dirty air. Other sources include the burning of crop stubble on farms, use of wood and cow dung as cooking fuel and burning of garbage. A 2024 report by the Centre for Science and Environment, a New Delhi-based think tank, found that 64% of funds under the program went toward reducing dust and only 12% to reducing pollution from vehicles and less than 1% to bringing down industrial air pollution.

CAQM expert panel discusses vehicular emissions, clean mobility measures

New Delhi: An expert panel constituted by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to curb vehicular emissions in Delhi-NCR held its first meeting on Monday, focusing on key issues such as segment-wise vehicular emission contributions, exposure risks, Electric Vehicle (EV) readiness and infrastructure needs. TOI had reported on Saturday that CAQM had set up an expert committee to review policies, programmes and regulatory frameworks related to clean mobility, including Bharat Stage (BS) emission norms, electric mobility initiatives and fuel-efficiency standards across Delhi-NCR. Emission inventory studies for Delhi conducted by IIT-Kanpur in 2015, TERI-ARAI in 2018 and SAFAR in 2018 have estimated the transport sector's contribution to PM2.5 pollution at 20%, 39% and 41%, respectively. The first meeting of the committee was held today under the chairmanship of Prof Ashok Jhunjhunwala and co-chaired by Dr (Prof) Randeep Guleria. "The committee will place concrete, actionable recommendations for reducing vehicular emissions in the forthcoming meetings," said CAQM, adding that the next meeting is scheduled for Dec 18. The expert committee comprises representatives from Niti Aayog, IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, Centre for Science and Environment, International Council on Clean Transportation, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, TERI and CAQM. Separately, CAQM has earlier approached the Supreme Court seeking a review of its Aug 12 order that restrained authorities from taking coercive action against 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles in Delhi, recommending that relief not be extended to BS-III and older vehicles.

CAQM vehicular pollution panel holds first meeting

An expert panel constituted by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to frame a long-term roadmap for curbing vehicular pollution in Delhi-NCR held its first-ever meeting on Monday, with members holding wide-ranging discussions on how different vehicle segments contribute to pollution, who is most exposed to emissions, and whether the region is prepared for a large-scale transition to electric mobility, officials aware of the matter said on Monday. Officials present at the meeting said it was largely exploratory in nature, aimed at setting the agenda for more focused, solution-oriented deliberations in the weeks ahead. The next meeting of the panel has been scheduled for December 18, and members have been asked to submit detailed suggestions and practical recommendations before then, the people cited above said. The expert committee was constituted on December 12 amid sustained concern over the role of transport emissions in Delhi’s air quality crisis. “The first meeting of the expert committee … was held today under the chairmanship of prof Ashok Jhunjhunwala and co-chaired by Dr (Prof) Randeep Guleria. The meeting focused on broad discussions on key issues related to vehicular emission sources in Delhi-NCR,” CAQM said in a statement on Monday. According to officials, Monday’s meeting sought to identify key problem areas that require deeper analysis before concrete policy proposals are finalised. Among the issues deliberated were assessments of segment-wise vehicular emission contributions, exposure risks for different population groups, the current level of readiness for electric vehicles, and gaps in charging and supporting infrastructure. Officials said members also discussed whether existing data sufficiently captures the real-world pollution load from older and high-usage vehicles, including commercial fleets. Vehicular emissions remain a major and consistent contributor to Delhi’s pollution, unlike seasonal sources such as stubble burning. Emission inventory studies over the past decade highlight the scale of the challenge. A 2015 IIT-Kanpur study estimated that the transport sector contributed around 20% of year-old PM2.5 pollution in the Capital, while later studies by TERI-ARAI and SAFAR in 2018 placed the contribution much higher, at 39% and 41%, respectively. Officials said the committee will now work towards translating these broad discussions into firm policy recommendations. “The committee will place concrete, actionable recommendations for reducing vehicular emissions in the forthcoming meetings,” CAQM said. The panel comprises experts and officials from Niti Aayog, IIT-Delhi, IIT-Kanpur, the Centre for Science and Environment, the International Council on Clean Transportation, the ministry of road transport and highways, TERI and CAQM. Recently, CAQM approached the Supreme Court seeking a review of its August 12 direction that barred coercive action against owners of 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles in Delhi, arguing that relief should not extend to BS-III and older vehicles, which continue to contribute disproportionately to emissions.

Year-ender 2025 | Climate disasters across the world

2025 is coming to an end, and many events this year are worth remembering. However, this year saw several extreme weather events worth mentioning. The Climate India 2025 report by the Centre for Science and Environment and Down To Earth stated that India had extreme weather events on 99 per cent of days during January to September. Let us take a look at what major climate events and natural disasters took place this year:

दो महीने से हवा में जहर, घटते-बढ़ते रहे Grap के लेवल... आखिर पॉल्यूशन से जंग में कहां चूक रही दिल्ली?

दिल्ली में पिछले दो महीनों से हवा जहरीली बनी हुई है. AQI बार-बार 400-500 पार कर रहा है. वाहनों का धुआं. निर्माण की धूल. सर्दियों का इनवर्शन और पराली मुख्य कारण हैं. GRAP के नियम लागू होने के बावजूद सुधार नहीं है. बीजिंग व लंदन जैसे शहरों से सीखकर सख्त कानून, इलेक्ट्रिक वाहन और क्षेत्रीय सहयोग से प्रदूषण कम किया जा सकता है. दिल्ली और आसपास के इलाकों में पिछले दो महीनों से हवा जहरीली बनी हुई है. नवंबर से दिसंबर तक एयर क्वालिटी इंडेक्स बार-बार 'सीवियर' स्तर पर पहुंच रहा है. कभी थोड़ा सुधार होता है, तो कभी फिर बिगड़ जाता है. आइए वैज्ञानिक तथ्यों और कारणों के साथ समझते हैं.यह भी पढ़ें: धुंध, धुआं और खतरे में धड़कन... क्या दिल्ली-NCR अदृश्य महामारी की चपेट में है?दिल्ली में प्रदूषण के मुख्य कारण क्या हैं?दिल्ली का प्रदूषण सिर्फ एक कारण से नहीं होता. कई स्रोत मिलकर हवा को जहरीला बनाते हैं. वैज्ञानिक अध्ययनों के अनुसार, मुख्य कारण ये हैं...वाहनों का धुआं: दिल्ली में वाहनों की संख्या बहुत ज्यादा है. ये PM2.5 और NO2 छोड़ते हैं. सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट की रिपोर्ट कहती है कि सर्दियों में दैनिक प्रदूषण की बढ़ोतरी मुख्य रूप से ट्रैफिक से होती है.

Air pollution: Why legal must act

There are occasions when the weather remains a benign backdrop, a polite subject of discussion and a mere setting to the rhythms of corporate life. And then come moments when the atmosphere itself becomes a compliance crisis, an operational disruption and, most crucially, a governance imperative. India’s recurring winter smog is no longer a seasonal inconvenience. It has mutated into a structural risk. Air pollution has become a classic “wicked problem”, multi-causal, scientifically complex and administratively fragmented, yet its consequences for businesses and courts are immediate and material. This year again, the Supreme Court’s sober warnings, calling New Delhi’s air “very, very serious” and urging immediate steps beyond the cosmetic, are a juridical reminder that the quality of the air we breathe is inseparable from the quality of governance we practice. Environmental, social and governance (ESG) in the business vocabulary was meant to extend corporate responsibility beyond profit logics. Yet air quality, long dismissed as a civic or municipal concern, now stands at the very heart of ESG risk. It is an invisible pollutant with visible consequences: legal, financial, operational, reputational and, above all, ethical. From nuisance to risk The evidence is unequivocal. In recent months, New Delhi and North Indian cities once again crossed AQI (air quality index) levels of 450+, triggering stage III and stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Newspaper reports indicate that in several pockets, PM2.5 (particulate matter) concentrations surged to nearly 20 times the World Health Organisation safe limit. The Commission for Air Quality Management’s (CAQM) public bulletins reveal that despite episodic improvements, the underlying drivers, including stubble burning, industrial emissions, construction dust, biomass usage and transport pollution, continue to converge with meteorological inversions to create a toxic cocktail. Recent analyses by leading consulting and research institutions highlight the deepening business impact of deteriorating air quality in India. A Deloitte assessment notes that nearly 40% of companies in the NCR report measurable productivity losses during severe smog periods, with employee absenteeism rising 8% to 12%, alongside a steady increase in respiratory-related healthcare claims. Industry surveys further show that poor air quality disrupts logistics, inflates insurance costs and strains business continuity plans. Independent studies by organisations such as the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air reinforce that India’s pollution crisis is now a multi-city, multi-sector, multi-quarter phenomenon, not a Delhi-centric anomaly. For corporates, this translates into clear business impacts: Interruption of logistics when truck movement is halted under the GRAP; Construction bans affecting infrastructure, warehousing and real estate; Manufacturing curbs due to diesel generator-set and emissions restrictions; and Supply chain slowdowns caused by limitations on brick kilns, crushers and peripheral industries. Air quality today is a cross-enterprise risk, not a social welfare footnote. Legal architecture Indian jurisprudence has long treated the right to clean air as intrinsic to article 21 of the Constitution, which refers to the right to life and personal liberty. But the courts’ recent posture has been more assertive than ever. The Supreme Court has not only chastised governments for inertia. It has also emphasised that when AQI reaches hazardous levels, even the functioning of courts must adapt, prompting advisories to shift to virtual hearings. This judicial mood will inevitably influence enforcement. The statutory framework is broad: Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) Act, 2021, granting supra-state authority; and The GRAP, now a standing, enforceable protocol. For corporates, non-compliance is not merely regulatory. It evolves into contractual (inability to perform); labour-linked (occupational safety); and securities-linked (business responsibility and sustainability reporting (BRSR) core disclosures) exposure. The BRSR core requirements of the Securities and Exchange Board of India demand granular, auditable environmental metrics, and regulators are increasingly cross-verifying sustainability statements. In this evolving landscape, air quality exposure is also a disclosure risk. Why legal must lead The assumption that environmental management is a purely technical subject is obsolete. In-house legal teams must lead because: Legal risk is governance risk. Board minutes, risk registers, investor filings and ESG claims require legal stewardship under scrutiny. Regulatory orders trigger contractual consequences. GRAP-led restrictions activate force majeure, customer notice obligations, renegotiations of service-level agreements and delivery recalibrations. ESG claims must withstand scrutiny. Greenwashing litigation is rising globally. Legal must insist on data integrity, third-party assurance, and traceable emission baselines. Employee health is a legal obligation. Hazardous AQI is now an occupational safety concern implicating duty of care, insurance adequacy and statutory compliance. The in-house legal team is the bridge between atmospheric volatility and corporate resilience. Strategy through partnerships Air pollution is too complex for isolated corporate action. Counsel should advise leadership to: Collaborate with local authorities on logistics optimisation during high-AQI periods; Co-develop dust-control infrastructure in industrial clusters; Participate in biomass-management and clean-energy transition initiatives; Engage with independent research organisations (the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, the Centre for Science and Environment, and the Energy and Resources Institute) for credible data and policy advocacy. These partnerships elevate compliance into stewardship. National governance mindset While Delhi-NCR captures headlines, several Indian cities including Kanpur, Lucknow, Nagpur, Vapi, Ranchi and Ludhiana, record hazardous AQI episodes. Pollution does not respect state boundaries, as the Supreme Court has noted. This requires corporates to adopt: A nationally harmonised governance framework; Standardised contractual and disclosure principles; A pan-India supply-chain map identifying “air-stress zones”; and Portfolio-level risk thinking instead of site-level silos. Recent analyses, including the Greenpeace 2023 World Air Quality Report and reports by The Hindu newspaper show that India’s air pollution challenge is increasingly regional rather than localised. The 2024 India-Pakistan smog episode demonstrated how meteorology, emissions and agricultural cycles across borders can together create dense pollution episodes that blanket entire geographies. South Asia accounts for several of the world’s most polluted cities, with PM2.5 concentrations regularly exceeding global safety thresholds by five to 10 times. The World Bank’s assessments further highlight that such episodes impose not only severe public health burdens but also substantial economic losses by depressing productivity and increasing healthcare expenditure. For in-house counsel, this reinforces that air quality governance cannot be confined to municipal boundaries or state-level directives. It requires a harmonised risk lens that anticipates cross-border disruptions, regional supply chain impacts and co-ordinated regulatory responses across the northern industrial belt. The crisis sits at the intersection of agriculture, energy, transport and land use policy, areas that evolve slowly, making proactive corporate governance indispensable. From duty to leadership In-house counsel can sharpen organisational resilience by driving: Electrified logistics and hybrid or renewable backup power; Supplier training on dust and emissions management; Employee wellness interventions tied to measurable outcomes; and Community-level clean air initiatives that build social capital. Analyses by Deloitte, PwC and other global firms show that investors reward credible transition pathways, plans grounded in data and not rhetoric. Conclusion When the air turns toxic, the corporate mandate must expand beyond compliance. The Supreme Court’s stern message is more than judicial prose. It signals a new era of regulatory vigilance. For in-house counsel, this is a moment to lead, to translate atmospheric volatility into contractual resilience, operational readiness and credible disclosures. Clean air is a public good. But in a world where environmental risk maps directly to enterprise value, air quality governance is also a competitive virtue. Seasonal firefighting will no longer suffice. Long-term governance, assured data and cross-sector collaboration are now essential. The legal function must therefore rise from being a custodian of compliance to becoming the architect of environmental resilience, practical, principled and profoundly civic.

Delhi Sees Slight Air Quality Improvement, But Hotspots Remain in ‘Severe’ Zone

Although vehicle emissions and construction dust are ongoing major sources, experts point out that farm stubble burning has diminished significantly this season. Research from the Centre for Science and Environment highlighted that the crop burning period is largely over, with incidents markedly lower in Punjab and Haryana compared to previous years. Residents of the national capital experienced a modest easing in air pollution on Tuesday morning, following several days of ‘severe’ conditions that had gripped the city. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) Sameer app indicated Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 381 as of 6:30 AM, classifying it as ‘very poor’. This marked an improvement from Monday’s average of 427, which had kept the city in the ‘severe’ category for the third straight day. Certain localities continued to bear the brunt of hazardous air. Wazirpur recorded the highest AQI at 434, closely trailed by Jahangirpuri at 430. Other stations, including those at Mundka, Delhi Technical University, and Nehru Nagar, registered readings between 420 and 424, firmly in the ‘severe’ range. According to CPCB standards, an AQI of 0-50 is deemed “good”, 51-100 “satisfactory”, 101-200 “moderate”, 201-300 “poor”, 301-400 “very poor”, and 401-500 “severe”. The previous day, thick smog reduced visibility across the city, complicating travel and prompting hundreds of flight disruptions. Airports and airlines issued alerts as low visibility persisted. Although vehicle emissions and construction dust are ongoing major sources, experts point out that farm stubble burning has diminished significantly this season. Research from the Centre for Science and Environment highlighted that the crop burning period is largely over, with incidents markedly lower in Punjab and Haryana compared to previous years.

Delhi air quality improves slightly; several flights cancelled and trains delayed due to fog

While local pollution sources such as vehicular emissions, road dust and construction activity continue to be major contributors, experts say stubble burning is no longer a dominant factor this season. Research by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) noted that the crop-burning season is nearly over. Official data indicates that incidents of stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana have reduced substantially compared to previous years. Delhi-NCR saw a slight improvement in air quality and visibility on Tuesday as north-westerly surface winds helped disperse the dense fog that had blanketed the region on Monday. The improvement brought limited relief to residents after several days of choking pollution. However, authorities cautioned that disruptions to flight operations at the Delhi airport were likely to continue, even as conditions gradually recovered. Several trains are also delayed. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) Sameer app, Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) stood at 381 at around 6:30 am on Tuesday. This placed the city in the ‘very poor’ category, a noticeable decline from Monday’s average AQI of 427, which marked the third consecutive day of ‘severe’ pollution levels in the national capital. Delhi AQI today Despite the overall improvement, several areas continued to record dangerously high pollution levels. Wazirpur was the worst-affected locality, with an AQI reading of 434. Jahangirpuri followed closely with an AQI of 430. Monitoring stations at Mundka, Delhi Technical University (DTU) and Nehru Nagar also reported ‘severe’ air quality, with AQI levels ranging between 420 and 424. Several flights are currently facing delays at Delhi’s IGI Airport across multiple airlines due to low visibility. SpiceJet services affected include flights to Gorakhpur, Mumbai, Srinagar, Udaipur and Kochi. IndiGo flights to Jaipur, Bhopal and Jammu & Kashmir are also delayed. Akasa Air’s Delhi–Bagdogra flight and Virgin Atlantic’s Delhi–Bhopal service are among those impacted. As per Flightradar24, three flights have been cancelled so far, while around 82 flights are operating behind schedule at the airport. SpiceJet tweeted, “Due to bad weather(poor visibility) in Ayodhya (AYJ), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights may be affected. Passengers are requested to keep a check on their flight status .” Trains delayed today Meanwhile, the dense fog which has gripped Delhi and parts of north India, significantly reducing visibility, has also forced trains to operate at slower speeds. Several trains heading to Delhi from the eastern region are running hours behind schedule, with over 20 services affected so far. The Prayagraj Express is delayed by more than three hours, while the New Delhi–Varanasi Vande Bharat Express departed about 90 minutes late. The Rewa–Anand Vihar Terminal Superfast Express is running over four hours behind schedule. The Sangam Express, Shiv Ganga Express and the New Delhi Tejas Rajdhani Express have also been delayed by multiple hours due to foggy conditions. On Monday, a thick haze had enveloped large parts of Delhi, sharply reducing visibility and making it difficult to see even a short distance ahead. The poor conditions significantly affected air traffic as hundreds of flights were impacted. While local pollution sources such as vehicular emissions, road dust and construction activity continue to be major contributors, experts say stubble burning is no longer a dominant factor this season. Research by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) noted that the crop-burning season is nearly over. Official data indicates that incidents of stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana have reduced substantially compared to previous years. As per CPCB norms, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51–100 ‘satisfactory’, 101–200 ‘moderate’, 201–300 ‘poor’, 301–400 ‘very poor’ and 401–500 ‘severe’.

Why Are Indian Farmers Losing Crops? The Soil Crisis Explained

A recent study by the Centre for Science and Environment has exposed a critical threat to India’s agricultural foundation: widespread soil nutrient depletion affecting millions of farmers nationwide. The research reveals that approximately 64% of India’s soil samples show nitrogen deficiency, while 48% lack adequate organic carbon—two nutrients essential for healthy crop growth and sustained agricultural productivity. The Numbers Tell a Troubling Story Beyond nitrogen and carbon, the crisis extends to micronutrients. About 56% of Indian soil is deficient in boron, 34% lacks sufficient zinc, and 19% shows iron deficiency. These shortages directly impact crop yields, quality, and nutritional value. Madhya Pradesh, one of the most actively tested states under the Soil Health Card Program, exemplifies the problem. Despite using less nitrogen fertilizer than the national average, 64% of its soil still shows nitrogen deficiency, while 61% of samples from northern plains and central plateau regions lack organic carbon. The consequences are severe. Nitrogen deficiency can reduce crop yields by 25% or more, causing stunted growth and yellowing leaves. Organic carbon depletion weakens soil structure, reduces moisture retention, and diminishes climate resilience—making crops more vulnerable during droughts. For farmers, this translates to lower incomes, inferior crop quality, and increased expenses on fertilizers that fail to deliver guaranteed results. Solutions Within Reach The CSE report emphasizes that recovery is possible through organic interventions. Farmyard manure, vermicompost, and biochar can restore soil health and rebuild nutrient balance. Remarkably, increasing soil organic carbon by just 0.1% could significantly boost crop productivity while absorbing substantial carbon dioxide, supporting India’s climate goals.

Delhi Air Pollution: गैस चैंबर बनी दिल्ली, AQI 500 के पार, कोहरे से थमीं फ्लाइट्स और सड़कों पर कोहराम

वैज्ञानिकों ने Delhi Air Pollution के पीछे चौंकाने वाले कारण बताए हैं। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट की वैज्ञानिक शरणजीत कौर के मुताबिक, पराली को दोष देना गलत है। पिछले 10 दिनों में प्रदूषण में पराली का हिस्सा सिर्फ 0.1 प्रतिशत रहा है। असली वजह गाड़ियों से निकलने वाला धुआं है। सर्दियों में हवा की गति कम होने से यह धुआं वातावरण में जम जाता है। पंजाब और हरियाणा में इस बार 80 प्रतिशत कम पराली जली है, फिर भी हवा साफ नहीं है।

दिल्ली-एनसीआर में जहरीली हवा का कहर, AQI 500 पार; GRAP-4 बेअसर, सांस लेना हुआ मुश्किल

दिल्ली-एनसीआर में Delhi Air Pollution ने एक बार फिर खतरनाक स्तर पार कर लिया है। बीते तीन-चार दिनों से राजधानी और आसपास के इलाके गैस चैंबर में तब्दील हैं। वजीरपुर और रोहिणी जैसे क्षेत्रों में AQI 500 के पार पहुंच चुका है। GRAP-4 की सख्त पाबंदियां लागू होने के बावजूद लोगों को राहत नहीं मिल रही है। शहर में धुएं और धुंध की मोटी परत छाई हुई है। हालात इतने खराब हैं कि बच्चों, बुजुर्गों और मरीजों के लिए सांस लेना तक मुश्किल हो गया है। अस्पतालों में सांस और आंखों से जुड़ी शिकायतों के मामले तेजी से बढ़े हैं। पूरी खबर विस्तार से दिल्ली की हवा इस समय “Severe Plus” श्रेणी में दर्ज की गई है। केंद्रीय प्रदूषण नियंत्रण बोर्ड (CPCB) के आंकड़ों के मुताबिक, कई इलाकों में हवा की गुणवत्ता लगातार खतरनाक स्तर पर बनी हुई है। सर्दियों की शुरुआत के साथ ही प्रदूषण की मार तेज हो गई है। राजधानी के अलावा नोएडा, गाजियाबाद, गुरुग्राम और फरीदाबाद जैसे एनसीआर शहरों में भी हालात गंभीर हैं। सुबह और शाम के समय विजिबिलिटी बेहद कम हो जा रही है। लोगों को आंखों में जलन, गले में खराश और सांस फूलने जैसी समस्याओं का सामना करना पड़ रहा है। यूपी और हरियाणा भी प्रदूषण की चपेट में Delhi Air Pollution का असर अब सिर्फ दिल्ली तक सीमित नहीं रहा। उत्तर प्रदेश के नोएडा, गाजियाबाद और मेरठ में रेड अलर्ट जैसे हालात बन चुके हैं। हरियाणा के गुरुग्राम, फरीदाबाद और रोहतक में भी हवा बेहद जहरीली दर्ज की गई है। एयर क्वालिटी मैप पर ये सभी इलाके लाल निशान में दिखाई दे रहे हैं। खास बात यह है कि इस बार दिवाली बीत चुकी है और पराली जलाने की घटनाएं भी अपेक्षाकृत कम हुई हैं, इसके बावजूद प्रदूषण कम नहीं हो रहा। पराली नहीं, गाड़ियां बनीं बड़ी वजह वैज्ञानिकों ने Delhi Air Pollution के पीछे पराली से ज्यादा शहरी स्रोतों को जिम्मेदार बताया है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की वैज्ञानिक शरणजीत कौर के अनुसार, बीते 10 दिनों में प्रदूषण में पराली का योगदान केवल 0.1 प्रतिशत रहा है। असल समस्या शहरों में बढ़ते वाहनों की संख्या और उनसे निकलने वाला धुआं है। सर्दियों में हवा की रफ्तार कम होने से यह धुआं वातावरण में ही फंस जाता है। पंजाब और हरियाणा में इस बार लगभग 80 प्रतिशत कम पराली जली, फिर भी हवा साफ नहीं हो सकी। मौसम विभाग ने बताई नमी और हवा की रफ्तार भारतीय मौसम विभाग (IMD) के वैज्ञानिक नरेश कुमार ने प्रदूषण की मौजूदा स्थिति पर जानकारी दी। उन्होंने बताया कि उत्तर भारत में बादलों के पैच बने हुए हैं। Western Disturbance के असर से वातावरण में नमी बढ़ गई है। फिलहाल कोई मजबूत सिस्टम सक्रिय नहीं है, जिससे हवा की गति बेहद कम बनी हुई है। इसी वजह से कोहरा और धुआं जमीन के पास जमा हो गया है। मौसम वैज्ञानिकों का कहना है कि जब तक तेज हवाएं नहीं चलेंगी, तब तक Delhi Air Pollution से राहत मिलना मुश्किल है।