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Cse In News

भारत में वाहनों की स्क्रैप पॉलिसी की थी सख्त जरूरत, लेकिन कबाड़ वाहन बन सकते हैं चिंता का विषय- CSE Report

नई दिल्ली (ऑनलाइन डेस्क)। पिछले दिनों सामने आई सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (सीएसई) की स्टेट आफ इंडिया एनवायरमेंट रिपोर्ट 2021 में कई चौकाने वाले खुलासे किए गए हैं। भारत के मद्देनजर इस रिपोर्ट में कई चीजों की तरफ ध्यान आकर्षित किया गया है, जिसकी वजह से ये रिपोर्ट काफी खास हो जाती है। इस रिपोर्ट में वैश्विक महामारी से होने वाले नुकसान का भी जिक्र किया गया है। साथ ही वायु, जल प्रदूषण के बारे में भी बताया गया है। लोगों पर इसके प्रभाव के बारे में भी इस रिपोर्ट में बताया गया है। कोविड-19 महामारी का जिक्र कोविड-19 का जिक्र करते हुए इस रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि पूरी दुनिया में इसकी वजह से 50 करोड़ बच्चे प्रभावित हुए हैं। इन बच्चों को स्कूल से मजबूरन अलग होना पड़ा है। रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक इसमें आधे से अधिक अकेले भारत में हैं। इसमें कहा गया है कि इस वैश्विक महामारी ने दुनिया को और अधिक गरीब बना गया है। सीएसई प्रमुख सुनीता नारायण का कहना है कि वैश्विक महामारी की वजह से 11 करोड़ से अधिक लोग भूखमरी की चपेट में आ गए हैं। इनमें से अधिकतर दक्षिण एशिया से हैं। 2009 और 2018 में सबसे अधिक रहा प्रदूषण इसकी एक रिपोर्ट बताती है कि वर्ष 2019 में 6.70 करोड़ लोगों की मौत की वजह वायु प्रदूषण थी। गौरतलब है कि सीएसई लगातार बढ़ रहे प्रदूषण पर समय-समय पर अपनी रिपोर्ट सार्वजनिक करता रहता है और इसको कम करने के उपाय भी लगातार सुझाता रहता है। जहां तक वायु प्रदूषण की बात है तो भारत धीरे-धीरे इसको कम करने के लिए ऐसे वाहनों का उपयोग करने की तरफ आगे बढ़ रहा है जिनमें पेट्रोल और डीजल की खपत नहीं होगी। इस तरह के वाहनों को बिजली से चार्ज किया जा सकेगा। इसमें ये भी बताया गया है कि वर्ष 2009 और 2018 में भारत में वायु, जल और जमीन पर सबसे अधिक प्रदूषण फैला। स्क्रैप पॉलिसी की जरूरत सीएसई की रिपोर्ट में सरकार की नई स्क्रैप पॉलिसी का भी जिक्र किया गया है। इसमें कहा गया है कि देश में वाहनों की बढ़ती संख्या एक बड़ी समस्या है। लंबे समय तक चलने वाले वाहनों की वजह से पर्यावरण को काफी नुकसान पहुंचता है। रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है सरकार द्वारा लाई गई स्क्रैप पॉलिसी की सख्त जरूरत थी। रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक वर्ष 2025 तक करीब 2 करोड़ वाहन अपनी समय सीमा के अंत में होंगे या बेकार हो जाएंगे। कबाड़ वाहनों की इतनी बड़ी संख्या से पर्यावरण पर प्रतिकूल असर डालेगी। इससे पर्यावरण को नुकसान पहुंचेगा। भारत का स्थान सीएसई की रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक सतत विकास या सस्टेनेबल डेवलेपमेंट के मामने में भारत का विश्व के 192वें देशों में 117वां स्थान है। इस विषय पर केरल, हिमाचल प्रदेश, आंध्र प्रदेश, तमिलनाडु और तेलंगाना ने बेहतर काम किया है। वहीं बिहार, झारखंड, अरुणाचल प्रदेश, मेघालय और उत्तर प्रदेश इस मामले में सबसे अधिक पिछड़े हैं। जल जीवन मिशन इस रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि वर्ष 2024 तक जल जीवन मिशन के तहत सभी को पीने का साफ पानी मुहैया कराने के लिए हमें जल क्षेत्र को बढ़ाना होगा साथ ही ग्राउंड वाटर को दोबारा रिचार्ज करने के उपायों पर तेजी से काम करना होगा। बारिश के पानी को भी जमीन में पहुंचाने का जरिया तलाशना होगा। इस रिपोर्ट में इस बात पर खुशी जताई गई है कि वर्ष 2014-15 में मनरेगा के अंतर्गत करीब 34 फीसद फंड जल को बचाने और इससे संबंधित दूसरे उपायों पर खर्च किया गया। पर्यावरण संबंधित मसलों का धीमा निपटारा पर्यावरण के मुद्दे पर सामने आई इस रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि इससे संबंधित दर्ज मामलों की अपेक्षा इनके निपटारे की गति काफी धीमी रही है। इसमें कहा गया है कि कोर्ट को हर दिन इससे संबंधित 137 मामलों को निपटाना होगा। इसमें ये भी कहा गया है कि देश में बाघों की संख्या जरूर बढ़ी है लेकिन इनका क्षेत्र पहले के मुकाबले कम हो गया है।

Global Bodies Went Off the Rails When They Scrapped Ozone, Targeted Carbon Dioxide

Some of us old timers who grew up in Southern California recall the inversion layers of particles in the valleys that trapped smog. We later learned that the haze we saw (which was then called 'smog') was ozone, created primarily from vehicle emissions. That was “bad” ozone. There also was naturally occurring (good) ozone, generated by the sun’s reactions with naturally emitted hydrocarbons (e.g. pine trees) that one sees over the Great Smoky Mountains. Ozone is important, since its layer in the stratosphere protects us from intense UV radiation that is associated with skin cancer. So, years ago, the world’s leaders got together to stop the degradation of the ozone layer by ending use of ozone-depleting chemicals. I wrote about that at American Thinker last October, in an article titled, “What’s the Endgame with Ozone.” What I want to do now, is show that it's still the ozone-depleting chemicals, rather than the now-vaunted carbon dioxide, as what's most critical to what happens with climate. Once upon a time, the global bodies had been on the right track. On Sept. 16, 1987, 46 countries signed the Montreal Protocol to stop using ozone-depleting chemicals (ODCs). There are 200 countries that have eventually endorsed the Montreal Protocol. Developed countries were to lead the effort to roll back ODCs while developing countries were allowed a more relaxed period to stop their use. I believe that the Montreal Protocol was a trial balloon for the Kyoto Protocol, which was all about carbon dioxide emissions. Afghanistan: The 'Graveyard of Empires' Claims Another? The Kyoto Protocol was actually an international treaty which extended the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that committed state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, based on the “scientific consensus” that (part one) global warming is occurring and (part two) it is extremely likely that human-made CO2 emissions have predominantly caused it. The Kyoto Protocol applies to the six greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). The Kyoto Protocol was considered unsuccessful, since developing countries were not signatory to it. They emit at least half of the world’s greenhouse gases. Then the UNFCCC tried to put lipstick on a pig (author’s opinion) by then developing the Paris accord. The Paris agreement a.k.a., the Paris accord is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21 in Paris, on 12 December 2015 and entered into force on 4 November 2016. Its goal is to lower global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, comparable to pre-industrial levels. To achieve this long-term temperature goal, countries aim to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible to achieve a climate neutral world by mid-century. Note the “enforcement date” was four days before the national elections when Donald J. Trump was elected our 45th President. Shortly after being elected, President Trump removed the United States from the constraints of the Paris accord. As expected, shortly after Joe Biden took office, he reversed President Trump’s actions on the Paris accord. Since this is a treaty, the Senate is required to vote on its ratification, requiring 67 senators to vote 'yes' to encumber the United States to this international treaty. Will the Senate under Chuck Schumer take this up quickly since it is such an emergency for the progressive socialists? The basic premise for these protocols a.k.a., international treaties, is that global warming, synonymous with climate change, is caused by greenhouse gas emissions. The following from Wikipedia is a simplified example of the greenhouse effect: Light energy (white arrows) emitted by the sun warms the earth's surface, which reflects the energy as heat (orange arrows) that warms the atmosphere. Much of the heat is captured by greenhouse gas molecules such as water, carbon dioxide, and methane. Solar radiation keeps the earth’s average temperature at approximately 59 degrees Fahrenheit. But the greenhouse gas molecules in the atmosphere absorb some of the incoming infrared radiation from the sun. When the sun sets, these heated gas molecules transmit heat back to earth and to space. This phenomenon is called “black body radiation.” Note that heat moves from a warmer body to a colder body according to the Second Law of Thermodynamics. Resistance to this heat flow is insulation such as other layers of gases that might impede or slow down the flow. Ask yourself what the prior to sunrise temperature is versus the high temperature for the preceding day. Now think about the outside temperature that the airline pilot tells you it is at while you are flying at nearly 40,000 feet. Does about -40 F ring a bell? The propensity of a warm object to flow to a colder object increases the greater the temperature difference, right? Let’s return to the Montreal Protocol’s purpose. The world needed to stop using ozone-depleting chemicals (ODCs) since their emission into the atmosphere destroyed the ozone layer that protects us from severe ultraviolet rays. The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) located in Boulder, Colorado, synthesizes work done by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) under sponsorship of the National Science Foundation (NSF). NSF provides research grants (federal money) to colleges and universities to conduct atmospheric research. NCAR administers this funding. UCAR takes the results and simplifies them for redistribution to the public. UCAR issued a brief article in 2018 titled, “Some Greenhouse Gases Are Stronger than Others”. They discuss the relative heat-trapping characteristics of target substances: carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). The relationship of heat trapping characteristics are: CO2 – 1 CH4 – 30 N2O – 300 HFCs – 23,000 According to the 2016 U.S. greenhouse gas emissions data, the distribution is: CO2 – 82% CH4 – 10% N2O – 5% HFCs – 3% Imagine yourself in a room in a house that was completely closed off. Also imagine that the relative heat characteristics are quantified as candles. Therefore, you would have 82% of 1 candle (0.82 candle) due to CO2; 3 candles due to methane (CH4 – 10% times 30); 15 candles due to N2O (5% times 300); and 690 candles due to HFCs (3% times 23,000). This means that you would have about 709 candles in the room. Do you think removing the less than one candle (CO2) would have an impact on the heat trapped in the room by the candles? What about the 3 candles represented by methane? The United States has phased out the use of hydrofluorcarbons due to agreements reached over three decades ago and yes, there is some persistence of them in the atmosphere. They just don’t disappear overnight. But the developing countries, the largest being China, were given a relaxed schedule to phase out HFCs. According to Kiran Pandey at downearth.org (in India) on May 23, 2019, China was emitting between 40% and 60% of the global emissions of CFC-11 (a.k.a., trichlorofluoromethane), one of the banned HFCs from the Montreal Protocol. Wow, and as of this writing there is an article from the India Times by Sarthak Dogra that the Earth's Ozone Layer is healing as China stops its CFC-11 Emissions. Is Joe Biden committing ourselves as a nation to economic doom with other progressive socialist leaders chasing the modern day Quixotic windmills of man-induced climate change? American Thinker published an article on Feb. 21, 2021 titled, “The irony of Texas’s massive power outrages during winter weather,” by Andrea Widburg. Andrea reports about the frozen wind turbines in west Texas that have caused power outages throughout the state. Friends in Houston and Dallas shared photos with us about rare snowfall there this past weekend. Our friends in Athens, Greece have also shared photos of recent snowfall there, too. Climate change was the evolution of human-induced global warming vis-à-vis emissions from burning fossil fuels. I do not think that I am the only “scientist” that believes that carbon dioxide’s slight rise in atmospheric concentration has extremely little to do with “climate change.” The international bodies took their eye off the ball when they quit focusing on ozone. I think it is absurd that ignorant politicians with zero grounding in science let alone critical thinking, gamble our future on the replacement of the responsible combustion of abundant fossil fuels with so called “green energy.” Protect the ozone layer, of course.

India post-COVID economic recovery may be at the cost of public health, environment

While kick-starting its post-pandemic economic recovery, India is not directing its recovery measures to support a low-pollution transition. Instead, the fiscal stimuli encourages high-carbon economic production The COVID-19 shock and resultant humanitarian crisis have reinforced the fact that economic destabilisation is inevitable, if health and environmental boundaries of development are not respected. So, has India spent enough in strengthening these boundaries in the aftermath of the pandemic? Like the rest of the world, India too has spent large amounts of money to kick-start its post-pandemic economy but the additional money has not been directed towards recovery measures to support a low-pollution transition. The various fiscal stimuli (estimated to be equal to 10 per cent of the GDP), which have been announced by the government so far have, on the contrary, been aiding high-carbon economic production. Instead of supporting green initiatives, we seem to be retreating from earlier goals on pollution, emissions and sustainability. In its ‘State of India’s Environment 2021’ report, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) points out that public health and climate goals will slip out of reach quickly, if India misses this opportunity to turn the economic recovery packages into green recovery. Already, the cost of the pandemic has been staggering. The CSE study points towards a “pandemic generation” of 375 million children under the age of 14 years, suffering from long-lasting impacts such as being underweight and stunted and anyway, enhanced child mortality could also be on the horizon. Several Indian states had failed to ensure food continued to reach the underprivileged under designated state schemes during the lockdown. The CSE report cites the Jharkhand example, where anganwadis did not provide food for children. For many poor children, the food at anganwadi centres was the only nutritious and filling meal of the day. In Jharkhand alone, more than half a million children can become severely malnourished or underweight. Another half a million can become wasted. In the three states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, more than five million new malnourished children may be the by-product of the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown. But instead of doubling down on green development goals, aiding the fight against malnutrition and helping the underprivileged, India has gone ahead and undone some of the good work of the past. The CSE report lists some instances: Autos: The automobile industry is seeking to delay the implementation of Corporate Fuel Consumption Standards for passenger cars scheduled for implementation in 2022-23. Pushing back the timeline for implementation will impact emission goals. Also, while the government has announced a Vehicle Scrappage policy for promoting the sale of new vehicles, the “unsafe” dismantling of the population of ageing vehicles is causing huge wastage of material and contaminating water, soil and air, thereby increasing public health risks. Alongside vehicle scrapping, India also needs a sustainable scrappage infrastructure. Power: India’s power plants have already pleaded for a delayed deadline to meet the new standards beyond 2022; about 70% of the plants cannot meet the standards by that deadline. Also, the economic recovery package announced by the government for cash-strapped DISCOMs is also not linked to reforming them but to allow greater fund flow to make investment in emissions control technology for nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxides more bankable. The Union Budget for 2020-21 has proposed retirement of old thermal power plants. Subsequently, 5.1 GW has been earmarked for shutdown. Such decommissioning can help the debt-ridden utilities with contractual fixed cost obligations and improve the utilisation of more efficient and cleaner plants. This can also avoid the cost of retrofitting old, dirty plants. But, this will have to be taken forward. Coal: The fiscal stimulus packages announced so far call for private investments and ease-of-doing business in the coal sector for accelerated commercial coal mining while removing end-use restrictions. Rules on ash content of coal have also been waived off. This will flood the market with dirtier and cheaper coal. In any case, the influx of cheap and low-quality coal can increase industrial consumption of coal, especially in small-and-medium-scale units. Resisting this trend will be tough because cleaner fuels, like natural gas, are more expensive than coal. While coal is under GST and is taxed low, natural gas attracts state taxes and is more expensive. Public Transport: India’s 14 State Road Transport Undertakings have suffered massively during the pandemic with record low ridership numbers. Then, there is now the additional burden of safety protocols and social distancing requirements, adding to cost of operations. Net losses of these SRTUs have escalated, revenue has shrunk and the annual viability gap-funding need has increased by 69 per cent. Public transport revival is a critical part of the clean air and climate solution. But without a bailout strategy, India cannot meet its target of augmenting the bus fleet to 188,500, as estimated by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. EVs: Without a proper stimulus package, there are serious dangers of the electric vehicle (EV) programme getting derailed. Electric vehicle registrations are down, and a longer-term incentive programme is needed to lower the upfront cost and the total cost of ownership and bring cost parity between EVs and vehicles operating on internal combustion engines.

Ridge body to discuss Metro and RRTS projects on March 5

Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai approved the appointment of independent members to the board, Sohail Madan, the Delhi centre manager of the Bombay Natural History Society and Vivek Menon, chief executive officer of Wildlife Trust of India, last week. After a wait of nearly two years, the Ridge Management Board (RMB) is set to meet on March 5, with its newly appointed independent members to decide important infrastructure projects that are likely to impact the city’s green lungs. Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai approved the appointment of independent members to the board, Sohail Madan, the Delhi centre manager of the Bombay Natural History Society and Vivek Menon, chief executive officer of Wildlife Trust of India, last week. Senior officials of the forest department confirmed on Monday that the RMB, along with these newly appointed members, is scheduled to meet on March 5 to discuss important projects such as the approval of the Aerocity-Tughlakabad corridor of the Delhi Metro’s phase-4 project, Regional Rapid Transit System’s (RRTS) Delhi-Gurugram-Rewari-Alwar corridor, and the construction of a wild bird rescue centre at Rajokri. Since the tenure of the last board, which had Sunita Narain, director-general of environment NGO Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Vimlendu Jha, executive director of NGO Swechha, as independent members expired in March 2019, these projects have been pending approval. “The agenda for the discussion of around 14 projects have been pending for over a year. That will be the priority in this meeting,” said a senior forest department official. The RMB, a body formed in 1995 on the directions of the apex court, to preserve the Ridge, scheduled a meeting for September 18 last year to discuss these 14 projects. However, the meeting was postponed after former independent members refused to attend the meeting as “special invitees”.

Stalled projects on the table as ridge board back after a yr

New Delhi: Ridge Management Board (RMB), which last met over a year ago, has been reconstituted. It is now set to meet on March 5 to take a look at several development proposals that were halted over the last one year, including Phase-IV of the Delhi metro, which is to pass through parts of the Delhi ridge. Two independent expert members have been appointed by the board who will be taking part in the meeting on Friday, which also aims to tackle issues and proposals on better conservation of Delhi’s ridge areas. The expert members are Sohail Madan, centre manager at Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary and part of Bombay Natural History Society, and Vivek Menon, chief executive manager at Wildlife Trust of India. The board had last met in February 2020 when its tenure was officially set to expire the next month. It tried holding a meeting in September 2020 but it was opposed by its then independent expert members— Sunita Narain, director-general of environment NGO Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), and Vimlendu Jha, executive director of NGO Swechha. The two argued that since their term had finished, not only was the meeting being held without following proper rules but also that their opinions would not be legally binding. The meeting was subsequently cancelled, leaving proposals such as the construction of the campus of Indian Institute of Foreign Trade in Maidangarhi village, a skill centre and a skill university in Jaunapur, a lab complex and a storage-cum residential complex to wait longer. The DMRC is among those waiting for approval from the board to carry out construction in the southern ridge, the central ridge and parts of the morphological ridge as part of Phase-IV of the Delhi metro expansion. Among other issues, which were to be discussed, included prohibition of barbed wire in ridge areas and how to ensure availability of water for wild animals. “Fresh agenda has been prepared and all members have been asked to meet on Friday at 4.30pm. We will take a look at all construction-related proposals, which plan to use ridge land, as well as proposals to protect the ridge better,” said an official of the forest department.

Alarming revelations from CSE’s State of India’s Environment Report 2021

Many more probable pandemics may be on the way if we keep destabilising our serene Environment. Do we know? India has ranked 86th in Covid 19 performance index. Sri Lanka was the best faring nation in South Asia, ranking 10. Maldives was at 25, Pakistan at 69, Nepal at 70, and Bangladesh at 84. India bagged 117 rank amongst 192 nations in sustainable development measures based on 17 sustainable goals. This prompts us to ask: Are our efforts enough? India lies behind all countries from South Asia except Pakistan. So little we know that due to our inherent actions, perhaps inactions, 160 species have become extinct over the last decade (2009-2019). Much revelations have been enclosed within State of Environment report 2021 by CSE(Centre for Science and Environment). It aims to provide an insight on recent priority issues for India related to the status of environment and natural resources. Also deals with the pressures behind environmental changes and the impacts associated with these changes. Since 2020 proved to be the year associated with Covid, the impacts of Covid-19 on India have been elucidated in the report. Impacts on Citizenry by Covid: India has entered in a phase with “pandemic generation”. Its population being battered by the impacts of Covid. 375 million children considering age groups 0-14 yes age are prone to suffer long-lasting impacts. Their growth could get restricted by being underweight, stunting and increased child mortality, to losses in education, lesser work productivity and efficiency. Due to the imposed lockdown, over 500 million children remained out of school globally and India accounts for more than half of them, limiting their availability of food, nutrition, immunisation and above all basic education. 115 million additional people might get pushed into extreme poverty by the pandemic — and most of them live in South Asia. All about surrounding Environment: Between 2009-2018, most of the land, water and air of India has been degraded, despite our repeated attempts towards habitat safety. A few major industrial clusters were assessed in India. It was found that nearly 35 out of 88 were degradation in every respect. Source: Lancet, distribution of air pollution in India 33 pointed to constantly worsening air quality, 45 had more polluted water and 17 faced worse land pollution. Tarapur in Maharashtra listed on top to be the most polluted cluster. The report has pointed out the partial lack of action over the years to control and reduce pollution involving areas those were already identified as critically or severely polluted. The report deals with 14 chapters ranging and integrating the pandemic to sustainable development goals to poverty. The report is a loud proponent of promotion of rural development through energy enhancement. An extensive chapter on Biodiversity(global plus national) depicts our loss in terms of flora and fauna. As per the report, there are two signs of upcoming extinction: Loss in population of a specie Continuous Shrinking distribution habitats It is important to note that these two signs are evident among all species currently. The serene and polished Nature that everyone observed during the country-wide lockdown is a clear indication of our abuse of the nature. But as the State of India’s Environment 2021 says, this remained just a blip. This report incessantly reminds us of our failed promises to conserve nature and serve it till eternity. It’s important in the wake of such report that we began to rekindle our distorted relation with the Nature.

50,000 environment-linked crime cases await court hearings: CSE

About 50,000 court cases relating to wildlife and pollution were pending trial, according to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and part of the organisation’s annual State of India’s Environment (SoE) Report. In 2019 — the most updated figures available — 34,671 environment-related crimes were registered. Over 7,000 cases were pending police investigation. A similar number of cases (34,503) were reported in 2018 according to the previous edition of the SoE. Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra accounted for a 77% of India’s wildlife crimes in 2019. Between 2018 and 2019, some States saw an increase in wildlife crimes. These included Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal and all the States of the Northeast. In 2019, there were 86 cases on average (under all environment and pollution-related laws) that were disposed off by the courts every day. “The maximum number of cases that courts are managing to dispose of currently come under the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act and the Noise Pollution Act. We need to clear the backlog under the other laws as well. Environmental crimes — as the United Nations has pointed out — have the potential to threaten security and sustainable development of nations, and must be dealt with a heavy hand,” Richard Mahapatra, managing edditor, Down To Earth, which is the affliated to the CSE, said in a statement.

Delhi: Panel to preserve Ridge gets two new members

The new independent members will take over from Sunita Narain, the director general of the Centre for Science and Environment, and Vimlendu Jha, founder of environmental NGO Swechha, whose term had expired in March 2019. The Delhi government has appointed two new independent members to the Ridge Management Board (RMB), two years after the term of its previous members ended. The appointment of the new members — Vivek Menon, the chief executive officer of Wildlife Trust of India, and Sohail Madan, the Delhi centre manager of the Bombay Natural History Society — was approved by Environment Minister Gopal Rai last week, Delhi government officials said. The new independent members will take over from Sunita Narain, the director general of the Centre for Science and Environment, and Vimlendu Jha, founder of environmental NGO Swechha, whose term had expired in March 2019. The eight-member RMB is headed by the Delhi Chief Secretary and was formed in 1995 on directions of the Supreme Court to preserve the ridge, a reserved forest of over 7,700 hectares and the northern extension of the Aravalli Range. Board to decide on Metro Phase 4 corridor One of the major projects that the newly constituted Board will consider is a proposal to use over 82,000 square metres of the South, South-Central and Morphological Ridge for constructing the Aerocity-Tughlakabad corridor under Phase IV of the Delhi Metro. In a March 2020 letter, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) sought permission from RMB to use about 14,000 square metres of the Ridge area on permanent basis, and 68,000 square metres on temporary basis for construction of stations at Mahipalpur, Kishangarh, Ma Anandmayee Marg and the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). Details obtained under an RTI show that in August last year, Delhi’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Ishwar Singh had asked the DMRC to identify a parcel of non-forest land, equivalent to that being used in the Ridge, for compensatory afforestation. A Delhi government official said, “The proposal from the DMRC will first be considered by the Board. If the RMB deems it fit, it will recommend it to the Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee (CEC).” The official added, “The four-member CEC, which includes officials from the Environment Ministry, NGOs and advocates, will create a report on the proposal and submit it to the apex court. The court will then take a decision on the proposal.” In reply to queries by The Indian Express, a DMRC spokesperson said they have identified land for compensatory plantation but have not received permission yet to construct in the Ridge area. The spokesperson said, “DMRC has made all possible efforts to use only a minimum portion of the Ridge area. The alignment passes along the Mahipalpur–Mehrauli, and Mehrauli–Badarpur roads, which also mostly pass through the Ridge area.” He added, “The DMRC is extremely conscious of its responsibilities. However, it may be appreciated that the Ridge covers vast areas of South Delhi through which this alignment is planned and it would have been absolutely impossible to cater to the large population there without passing through the Ridge area.”

Rising air pollution led to 41,090 deaths in Punjab in 2019: Report

The report, which was released on Saturday, stated that 1.67 million Indians died due to air pollution in 2019 as per the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 on health and economic impact of air pollution in the states of India. Punjab reported as many as 41,090 deaths attributable to air pollution, which is 18.8% of the total fatalities, in 2019, revealed the Down to Earth and Centre for Science and Environment’s annual report titled “State of India’s Environment 2021”. The report, which was released on Saturday, stated that 1.67 million Indians died due to air pollution in 2019 as per the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 on health and economic impact of air pollution in the states of India. Half of these deaths were in just five states including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal and Rajasthan. In Punjab, 1,148 million US dollars (1.49% state GDP) economic loss was ascribed to air pollution. “As many as 34,119 deaths (19% of total deaths) were attributable to air pollution range in Haryana in the year while the state pegged 1,566 million US dollars economic loss due to air pollution,” the report said. The report mentioned that two Punjab industrial clusters, including Jalandhar and Batala, were among 33 of the 88 clusters of the country where air quality evaluated in 2009 had worsened by 2018. In 2009, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) developed the Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) to identify problematic industrial areas in the country. In the 2009 CEPI study, a total of 88 industrial clusters were identified as polluted industrial areas (PIAS) by CPCB and state PPCB.” Water pollution up in Ludhiana The report said that the industrial cluster of Ludhiana was among 45 of total 88 clusters where water pollution had increased. The city scored over 70 (CEPI score out of 100) in 2018, under the critically polluted cluster category, since 2009 in absence of adequate action to reduce the pollution. “Jalandhar and Batala were among 35 of the 88 industrial clusters between 2009 and 2018 where overall environmental degradation was witnessed in the period. In this category, CEPI score of Jalandhar was around 70 in the year 2009, but it has increased nearer to 80 (out of 100), while Batala scored over 60 in 2009 while it was closer to 70 in 2018,” the report said. The report underlined that despite environmental concerns, an industrial park was approved in July near the Mattewara forest range and the Sutlej in Ludhiana. Govt making all efforts: Environment secy Punjab environment secretary Rahul Tiwari said the Punjab government has been making efforts to curb air pollution. The government has cleared 23 plans to check pollution in the state. The plans are regularly monitored by his office and quarterly by the Punjab chief secretary and NGT panel.

State Of India’s Environment: Our Air, Water, Land Have Become More Polluted Between 2009 And 2018, Says Centre For Science And Environment Study

According to a new study released by the Centre for Science and Environment, a non-profit organisation based in Delhi, there has been lack of action over the years to control and reduce pollution in the areas that were already identified as ‘critically’ polluted New Delhi: As the country continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a need to plan a green recovery from it, in order to avoid future diseases caused by interaction of animals and humans (called as zoonotic diseases), says the State of India’s Environment 2021 report released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a non-profit organisation based in Delhi. It has highlighted that there has been slackening of environmental regulations across sectors which can produce enormous pollution and carbon in the future, affecting the health of the people. While talking about the findings of the report, Sunita Narain, Director General, CSE, said, The overall assessment is that our air and water quality is under stress; all trends show that pollution is increasing and this has massive impacts on our health. Even during the lockdown, data shows that river pollution did not reduce. Clearly, we need to do much more to improve the quality of the air we breathe and the water we drink. She further said that people and the government are learning to do things differently in order to adopt sustainable living. She said, We are adopting technologies that will be affordable to large numbers and so, sustainable. This is where the answer will be – in differently done sewage treatment, to mobility systems that will move people and not cars. We need to practice the learning that for a country like India, we cannot improve the environment without inclusive and equitable growth for all. And do this at scale. This is the challenge and the opportunity. The report has tried to shed light on the poor status of the country in achieving the targets set under the Sustainable Development Goals. The country ranked 117 among 192 nations in terms of sustainable development and was now behind all South Asian nations except Pakistan. When ranked on the basis of achieving SDGs, the best performing States were Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. The worst performers were Bihar, Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Uttar Pradesh, the report said. State Of India’s Environment: Our Air, Water, Land Have Become More Polluted Between 2009 And 2018, Says Centre For Science And Environment Study Best and worst performing states in achieving sustainable development goals Also Read: Reversing Global Warming: Bill Gates Talks About Ways To Reduce Pollution And Protect The Environment The Menace Of Pollution India’s air, water and land have become more polluted between 2009 and 2018. Of 88 major industrial clusters in the country, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), 35 showed overall environmental degradation, 33 pointed to worsening air quality, 45 had more polluted water and in 17, land pollution became worse. Tarapur in Maharashtra emerged as the most polluted cluster in the period of 2009-2018. According to the report, 6.7 crore Indians died due to air pollution in 2019. The experts have pointed out in the report that there has been lack of action over the years to control and reduce pollution in the areas that were already identified as ‘critically’ polluted. It further said, The countries across the globe have targeted to reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2050. But, unless we reduce our emissions drastically soon, we cannot be net-zero. The report has also asserted that contrary to popular belief, the country’s river did not see any significant improvement in their water quality during the COVID-19 pandemic induced lockdown. The report has claimed that of country’s 19 major rivers, five, including Ganga, ran dirtier in the COVID-19 period. Rising Habitat Loss And Increasing Threat To Biodiversity The report has emphasised on the rising threat to the biodiversity in the country. It said, What is well known is that India’s flora and fauna is under threat. What is relatively unknown is the scale – 438 plant species (of which 95 per cent are flowering plants, including food crops) and 889 vertebrates and invertebrates are threatened. It highlighted that the forest over in the country may not have really grown by over 5,000 square kilometers since 2017, as claimed by the Government of India. This is because, the Forest Survey of India considers trees as forests and counts orchards, plantations and even trees along highways as parts of forest and tree cover, said the report. The Wrath Of The Pandemic According the report, millions of children and pregnant mothers have been kept away from essential health services due to the disruption in the systems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This may increase child mortality by as much as 45 per cent in 118 low-income and middle-income countries, says the report. About 375 million children (from newborns to 14-year-olds) are likely to suffer long-lasting impacts, ranging from being underweight, stunting and increased child mortality, to losses in education and work productivity because of the pandemic. Ms. Narain, said, COVID-19 has made the world’s poor poorer. About 115 million additional people might get pushed into extreme poverty by the pandemic – and most of them live in South Asia. The study has underscored the importance of access to clean drinking water, sanitation and healthy environment. Climate change and environmental degradation are making matters worse as they help viruses mutate faster, thus increasing the rate of spread, the report highlighted. It further said, Human activities that drive climate change and biodiversity loss also drive pandemic risk through their impacts on our environment. Changes in the way we use land, the expansion and intensification of agriculture; unsustainable trade, production and consumption disrupt nature and increase contact between wildlife, livestock, pathogens and people. The places where the disease is most likely to breed are where settlements are overcrowded; where water supply and sanitation are inadequate; and where people have no way to stay safe. The report said that no country in the world- rich or poor had the preparedness or capability to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. It has called for strengthening the public healthcare system and said that the pandemic has shattered the belief that private sector led health services are efficient and responsive.

The new vehicle scrap policy: Expectations and challenges

The FM’s announcement in the Budget of a voluntary vehicle scrapping policy is aimed at reducing pollution and galvanising sales. While consumers keenly await the list of incentives and the industry as to who foots the subsidy bill, the challenges are many — an aversion to let go of possessions, lack of preparedness to deal with waste and the complex reality of the Delhi-NCR experience The end-of-life for petrol automobiles in the Delhi-NCR region is 15 years and for diesel 10. The order was passed in 2018 by the Supreme Court as a desperate measure to rein in the precipitous fall in the national capital’s air quality index, blamed largely on emission of noxious fumes by ageing vehicles. The move substantially reduced the resale value of vehicles, but a ready market emerged overnight — be it in the adjoining states, Chandigarh, or even Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, which do not have such strict provisions. Environmentally, the pollution burden of Delhi-NCR continues to get shifted to other areas. A 2016 study by the Central Pollution Control Board and GIZ (a German development company) estimated that more than 87 lakh vehicles reached the end-of-life (ELV) status in Delhi-NCR by 2015. “By 2025, the ELV numbers are expected to be 2.18 crore. Two-wheelers account for about 80 per cent,” says Anumita Roychowdhury, who heads the air pollution and clean transportation programme of the Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi. “Old vehicles are used extensively in India,” she adds, pointing to the grim reality of how a vehicle deemed un-roadworthy and certified as having outlived life in the national capital region could change hands several times before being considered for disposal as scrap — if at all. It is not just automobiles that are subjected to the reuse-recycle craft of ‘jugaad’. A vibrant second-hand market ensures a price for practically every item, but the problem arises when it comes to disposal. And the absence of a clear policy on disposal can turn it into an arbitrary, crude, unscientific and dangerous process, like in the case of e-waste. “The Supreme Court in Delhi-NCR and the High Court in Kolkata as well as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) have made good interventions. Some cities, including Kanpur and Lucknow, initiated the phase-out of older vehicles while states like Maharashtra and Karnataka levy green tax that increases with the age of vehicles to disincentivise old vehicles. The NGT has issued a directive to identify cleaner areas in the country where these polluting vehicles could be exported,” says Roychowdhury. However, transferring unfit vehicles elsewhere defeats the very purpose of air pollution control to protect public health. “The fact is that most cities do not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards required to implement clean air action plans under the Centre’s National Clean Air Programme for the target of 20-30 per cent reduction in particulate pollution by 2024. They may have phase-out strategies for old vehicles, but in the absence of a comprehensive policy guidance and legislative backing, only some cities, where the judiciary is directing action on air pollution, have issued specific directions to cap the age of old vehicles for phase-out,” she adds. This is one part of the story about the much-delayed but much-needed scrapping policy which the BJP-led NDA is planning to bring. There are others, including the tricky one about subsidies and incentives. Who will foot the bill, the government or the company, to replace the vehicle offered voluntarily for scrapping? And what do states have to say? Envisioning new start In her Budget speech on February 1, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government will “separately announce a voluntary vehicle scrapping policy to phase out old and unfit vehicles”. This, she added, will help in encouraging fuel-efficient, environment-friendly vehicles, thereby reducing vehicular pollution and the oil import bill. Vehicles would undergo fitness tests in automated centres after 20 years in the case of personal vehicles, and after 15 in the case of commercial vehicles. Officials say a draft note is being finalised for Cabinet approval. Several rounds of inter-ministerial consultation have been held, and the states would need to be brought on board. Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari’s post-Budget observations did indicate the broad outline of what the policy, expected to stimulate investment of Rs10,000 crore and create 50,000 jobs, will look like. “The policy would cover an estimated 51 lakh light motor vehicles (LMV) that are above 20 years of age, and another 34 lakh LMVs above 15 years. It would also cover 17 lakh medium and heavy motor vehicles, which are above 15 years, and currently without valid fitness certificates. These are estimated to cause 10-12 times more pollution than the latest vehicles,” Gadkari said, highlighting benefits like recycling of waste metal, improved road safety, reduction in air pollution and oil imports due to greater fuel efficiency. With India becoming an automobile hub, the industry turnover is expected to more than double in the years to come. The policy, it is being claimed, will boost new technologies with better mileage and promote green vehicles, strong hybrids, electric vehicles, and those running on alternative fuels like CNG/ethanol, etc. It is estimated that one crore vehicles will be scrapped for harvested material like steel, plastic, rubber and aluminum used in the manufacturing of automobile parts, thereby reducing their cost by 30 to 40 per cent. The keyword here is ‘voluntary’, and those opting for scrapping will be incentivised, apparently by the manufacturer. Those who opt out will have to pay green taxes, higher levies, registration charges, etc. Such vehicles will also have to undergo strict fitness tests. Vehicles that fail will face heavy penalties and can also be impounded. The green tax is to be used for reducing pollution. Farm equipment like tractors, tillers and harvesters is expected to remain out of the purview. Bumps and roadblocks Industry experts agree the policy will boost efforts to position India as a global manufacturing hub, help clean the environment and improve road safety. However, there are speed-breakers that need to be dealt with, like incentives. A top industry representative, who did not wish to be identified, said for the policy to succeed, the major chunk of incentives should come from the government. “It has already announced disincentives, but there must also be clear incentives. On any car sale, the manufacturer makes 10 to 15 per cent and the government more than 50 per cent by way of taxes, registration, etc. Therefore, the government should give incentives for every incremental vehicle sale. The whole concept is based on incrementality rather than revenue loss, assuming that the vehicle will not be sold if the policy is not there,” he explains. There is more. Industry watchers say the concept (of a scrapping policy) came when India, Delhi-NCR in particular, was fighting environmental pollution. However, while the industry made the transition in Bharat Stage (BS) emissions standards from III to IV to VI, old vehicles kept operating. “Earlier, it was called the Voluntary Vehicle Fleet Modernisation Programme. It was after the industry and economy hit a rough patch that growth became a priority. But the transition from BS-IV to BS-VI (in 2020), which reduced emissions substantially and improved road safety, came at a huge cost to the industry,” points out an industry representative. In other words, the government may be open to offering more incentives but the industry may not be as keen to increase its share on the grounds of an economic slowdown and investments made to ‘leapfrog’ to BS-VI. This even though the policy is expected to affect car-buying, usage patterns, and increase demand. Environmental & other gains Roychowdhury says old, ill-maintained and malfunctioning vehicles can become energy guzzlers and emit high amounts of heat-trapping carbon dioxide that causes global warming. The other tangible benefits from the policy are scientific disposal and recovery of waste. Recycle and reuse can contribute towards import substitution and improve India’s balance of payments. “The ultimate scrappage policy is to minimise the environmental footprint of junk vehicles and clunkers. This requires maximum recovery of material for reuse, an increase in the share of recyclable material, and a reduction in the usage of environmentally harmful materials. This calls for a strong waste recycling and recovery system and cooperation from manufacturers.” Great expectations, but not impossible ones. A tailor-made policy needed for India Currently, a vehicle that has outlived all its possible uses is sold to a ‘kabaadi’, who pays by the kilo. Automobile expert H Kishie Singh says India has no organised system of disposing of a car or any motorised vehicle. “Different countries have different policies for scrapping old/unfit vehicles. No country has a foolproof system that can be emulated. England, France and Germany have a ‘cash for clunkers’ policy that has not been successful. The government is said to be considering new taxes for those who opt out. But taxing and re-taxing is not the solution to pollution, rather the whole exercise is counterproductive,” he says. Therefore, Singh says, any policy India formulates has to be an original one. “It should have different classes for different cars. For example, vintage and classic cars should be a separate category. Every component in a car can be recycled and the scrapping policy should address these aspects intelligently. For example, in Canada, old tyres are used to build roads. Rims and engines can be melted to create a new economy. Which is why the policy should pass through a whole lot of thought and experts who know automobiles and engines well.” Projected Gains A 30 pc boost expected for the Indian automobile industry from the present Rs4.5 lakh crore turnover to a likely Rs10 lakh crore turnover in future The export component of Rs1.45 lakh crore of the present turnover is likely to go up to Rs3 lakh crore Availability of scrapped material like steel, plastic, rubber, aluminium, etc, will increase. This will be used in manufacturing of automobile parts, which in turn will reduce their cost by 30 to 40 per cent Will boost/promote new technologies with better mileage of vehicles besides promoting green fuel and electricity Will decrease India’s huge Rs10 lakh crore crude import bill Will lead to new investments of around Rs10,000 cr and create as many as 50,000 jobs Disincentives Green tax, higher levies, registration charges on pollution-causing ageing vehicles Older vehicles that fail fitness test will attract huge penalties and can also be impounded Green tax will be utilised to tackle pollution Vehicles to be exempted Strong hybrids, electric vehicles Those using alternative fuels like CNG, ethanol and LPG Farm and agricultural equipment like tractors, tillers and harvesters What is proposed Personal vehicles would undergo fitness test after 20 years, commercial vehicles after 15 Policy would cover an estimated 51 lakh Light Motor Vehicles above 20 years of age, while another 34 lakh LMVs are above 15 years Also covered would be 17 lakh medium and heavy motor vehicles which are above 15 years and without valid fitness certificates

Kochi: Overall better but sees rise in pollution peaks

KOCHI: The pollution levels stayed well under control in the city for almost six months from April-September during the lockdown period, but the city recorded more pollution peaks during the winter season compared to the same period previous year, according to a study conducted by Centre for science and environment (CSE). Track the pollution level in your city It means that the city recorded more “severe” days with high PM 2.5 levels compared to the same period previous year. image According to the study, which was conducted in 99 cities based on real time data from various monitoring stations, Kochi ranks third in the country with the cleanest air quality with Mysuru and Satna claiming the first and second positions, respectively. The average PM 2.5 levels in the city declined 19% during the 2020-2021 winter compared to the 2019-2020 winter. “The seasonal average PM 2.5 levels from November-January 2021 is very good but the point of concern is that the average peak pollution has gone up by almost 40%,” said Avikal Somvanshi, programme manager in CSE’s Urban Lab team, Sustainable Cities Programme. He said the city should start taking precautions so that it does not reach the kind of pollution levels being noted in other cities. According to the study, winter pollution is only an indicator of what is going wrong across regions. To curb the rising pollution levels, overall annual average levels have to reduce substantially on a year-on-year basis. The good news has been that cities in Kerala including Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode have been recording stable or declining seasonal average. “The winter PM2.5 concentration has risen compared to the 2019-20 winter in many cities across regions. This bouncing back of pollution post-lockdown unmasks the high impacts of local and regional pollution. This demands quicker regional reforms to curb pollution from vehicles, industry, and waste burning to curb the winter pollution and also sustain annual improvement at a regional scale with speed,” says Anumita Roychowdhury, CSE’s executive director in charge of research and advocacy. Overall winter PM2.5 levels have worsened significantly in 43 cities out of 99 cities that have valid daily PM2.5 concentration data for over 75% of days for this and previous winter seasons. Pollution board officials said while Vyttila station recorded the highest levels of pollution in the state, PM2.5 levels have been rising in areas around MG Road and Eloor during the post-lockdown period.

चिंताजनक : महामारी से 37.5 करोड़ बच्चों की सेहत प्रभावित, 50 करोड़ बच्चों का स्कूल छूटा

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एन्वॉयरनमेंट (सीएसई) की स्टेट ऑफ इंडडया इन्वॉयरमेंट ररपोटा के 2021 अनुसार, कोरोना महामारी के कारण देश भर में 37.5 करोड़ बच्चों के स्वास्थ्य और आधर्ाक हािात पर स्र्ायी असर पड़ा है। सीएसई की महाननदेशक डॉ. सुनीता नारायण ने ररपोटा जारी करते हुए बताया, नवजात से िेकर 14 वषा तक के बच्चों को स्वास्थ्य संबंधी तकिीफें ज्यादा होंगी। इसमें बच्चों का कम वजन, उम्र के अनुसार, शारीररक ववकास न होना और मृत्यु दर में बढ़ोतरी की आशंका है। बच्चों की खराब सेहत के कारण मशक्षा और काया क्षेत्र में भी दुष्प्रभाव देखने को ममि सकता है। ऑनिाइन जारी की गई इस ररपोटा को दुननयाभर के सार् पयाावरण और अन्य ववशेषज्ञों ने ममिकर तैयार ककया है। बढ़ता प्रदूषण सेहत के मिए और घातक ररपोटा के अनुसार, बीमारी, कुपोषण, अत्यंत गरीबी जैसी समस्याओं से मुजचकि होगी। हवा और पानी में प्रदूषण स्तर बढ़ने का सीधा असर स्वास्थ्य पर पड़ रहा है। िॉकडाउन में भी नददयों के प्रदूषण में कोई कमी नहीं आई है। सांस िेने के मिए हवा और पीने के मिए साफ पानी के मिए बहुत बड़े स्तर पर काम करना होगा। महाराष्ट् का तारापुर प्रदूवषत क्िस्टर कें द्रीय प्रदूषण ननयंत्रण बोडा के अनुसार, देश के 88 प्रमुख औद्योधगक किस्टर में से 35 में समग्र रूप से पयाावरण में धगरावट आई है। 33 स्र्ानों पर हवा की गुणवत्ता खराब, 45 स्र्ानों पर साि भर दूवषत पानी जबकक 17 स्र्ानों पर भूमम प्रदूषण अधधक र्ा। महाराष्ट् का तारापुर सबसे प्रदूवषत क्िस्टर र्ा। महामारी से 50 करोड़ बच्चों का स्कूि छूटा महामारी के कारण दुननया भर में 50 करोड़ बच्चों का स्कूि छूट गया। इसमें से 50 फीसदी से ज्यादा बच्चे भारत में है। सुनीता नारायण ने कहा, महामारी के कारण अनतररक्त 115 करोड़ िोग अत्यंत गरीबी के दायरे में आ चुके हैं। इसमें से अधधकतर दक्षक्षण एमशया में रहते हैं। 192 देशों में भारत 117वें स्र्ान पर सतत ववकास िक्ष्य हामसि करने में भारत दुननया भर के 192 देशों की सूची में 117वें स्र्ान पर है। पाककस्तान को छोड़कर सभी दक्षक्षण एमशयाई देशों से पीछे हैं। सतत ववकास िक्ष्यों को पाने में 5 राज्य केरि, दहमाचि प्रदेश, आंध्र प्रदेश, तममिनाडु और तेिंगाना बेहतर है। बबहार, अरुणाचि प्रदेश, मेघािय और यूपी सबसे पीछे हैं। 2025 तक स्रैपेज नीनत की जरूरत ररपोटा के अनुसार, भारत को वषा 2025 तक वाहनों के स्रैपेज के मिए नीनत की जरूरत होगी। देश में दो करोड़ वाहन ऐसे हैं जजनका जीवन अंत की ओर है। अगर सही समय पर इनका ननस्तारण नहीं ककया गया तो आने वािे समय में यह पयाावरण के मिए सबसे बड़ी चुनौती बनेंगे। भारत में वषा 2019 में 16.70 िाख िोगों की मौत वायु प्रदूषण के कारण हुई हैं। 889 जीवों पर मंडरा रहा खतरा भारत में 430 पौधे जजसमें 95 फीसदी फूि और खाद्य पदार्ा वािे हैं। वे खात्मे की कगार पर हैं। रीढ़ और रीढ़ ववहीन 889 जीवों पर भी खतरा मंडरा रहा है। पयाावरण से जुड़े आपराधधक मामिे बढ़े हैं। 2019 में 24,671 केस दजा हुए र्े जबकक 49,877 मामिे िंबबत हैं।

देश अब एक ‘महामारी जनरेशन’ में प्रवेश करने के लिए िैर्ार, बच्चों में र्दखेगा कोरोना का कुप्रभाव

संजीव गुप्ता, नई ददल्िी। कोववड-19 संरमण भिे ही कम हो गया हो और इसकी वैक्सीन भी आ गई हो, िेककन इस महामारी का कुप्रभाव अभी वषो तक देखने को ममिेगा। खासकर बच्चों का शारीररक ववकास इससे सवााधधक प्रभाववत होगा। बच्चों की मृत्युदर में भी इजाफा हो सकता है और उनकी पढ़ाई-मिखाई भी बीच में ही छूट सकती है। यह दावा ककया गया है सेंटर फार साइंस एंड एन्वायरमेंट (सीएसई) की वावषाक ररपोटा स्टेट आफ इंडडयाज एन्वायरमेंट 2021 में। सीएसई की महाननदेशक सुनीता नारायण सदहत देश भर के 60 से अधधक पयाावरणववदें ने एक सार् यह ररपोटा बृहस्पनतवार शाम वचुाअिी जारी की। इस ररपोटा के मुताबबक भारत अब एक ‘महामारी जनरेशन’ में प्रवेश करने के मिए तैयार है। 37.5 करोड़ बच्चे (नवजात मशशु से िेकर 14 साि के बच्चों तक) िंबे समय तक चिने वािे कोरोना के कुप्रभावों की चपेट में आ सकते हैं। उनकी रोग प्रनतरोधक क्षमता प्रभाववत होने से यह कुप्रभाव कम वजन, कम िंबाई और मृत्यु दर में वृवद्द से िेकर मशक्षा के नुकसान के रूप में भी सामने आ सकता है। अब इस मागा पर यातायात सुगम होने की उम्मीद बढ़ गई है। ववचव भर में पचास करोड़ से ज्यादा बच्चे स्कूि से बाहर हो गए हैं। इसमें आधे से ज्यादा बच्चे भारत में हैं। ररपोटा में यह भी बताया गया है कक पूणा िाकडाउन के बावजूद भारत संरमण मुक्त नहीं रहा। यहां आबादी का एक बड़ा दहस्सा स्िम, झुग्गी-झोपडड़यों और घनी आबादी वािे क्षेत्रों में रहता है। वहां न तो पीने का साफ पानी उपिलध है और न सफाई ठीक से होती है। ऐसे में संरमण फैिने की गुंजाइश रहती है। कान्क्िेव की अध्यक्षता पीएचडी चेंबर आफ कामसा एंड इंडस्ट्ीज के हररयाणा चेप्टर के अध्यक्ष प्रणब गुप्ता ने की। बाघों की संख्या बढ़ी, मगर घट गया वन क्षेत्र देश में वनस्पनत और वन्य जीव खतरे में हैं। पयाावरण संबंधी अपराध के मामिे बढ़ रहे हैं, पर उनका ननपटान धीमा है। वषा 2019 में 34,671 अपराध दजा ककए गए, जबकक 49,877 मामिे िंबबत हैं। सरकारी दावा है कक वषा 2017 के बाद से भारत का वन क्षेत्र 5,188 वगा ककमी हो गया है। हािांकक सीएसई इससे इत्तेफाक नहीं रखता। बाघों को िेकर भी आंकड़ा भ्रममत करता है। सरकारी दावा है कक भारत में 714 बाघों को जोड़ा है, पर बाघों के कलजे वािा क्षेत्र 17,000 वगा ककमी (वपछिे चार सािों में) पहिे से मसकुड़ गया है। राजीव चौक के बाद ये दूसरा सबसे गहरा मेट्ो स्टेशन बन गया है। Delhi Metro News: जाननए ददल्िी मेट्ो नेटवका में ककस िाइन पर और कहां है सबसे गहरा मेट्ो स्टेशन यह भी पढ़ें सतत ववकास में भारत 192 में से 117वें नंबर पर सतत ववकास के मामिे में भारत 192 देशों में से 117वें स्र्ान पर है। हैरत की बात यह कक अब भारत पाककस्तान को छोड़ सभी दक्षक्षण एमशयाई देशों से भी पीछे हो गया है। सतत ववकास के िक्ष्यों को पूरा करने के मामिे में देश में सबसे अच्छा प्रदशान वािे पांच राज्य केरि, दहमाचि प्रदेश, आंध्र प्रदेश, तममिनाडु और तेिंगाना हैं, जबकक सबसे खराब प्रदशान करने वािे पांच राज्य बबहार, झारखंड, अरुणाचि प्रदेश, मेघािय और उत्तर प्रदेश हैं। चाटाडा ववमानों के मिए शुरू ककए गए जनरि एववएशन टममानि से हवाई याबत्रयों का समय बच रहा है। अब यह जांच करने का समय आ गया है कक कोरोना महामारी हमारे मिए दीघाावधध में क्या छोड़ने वािी है। एक खोई हुई पीढ़ी, जो अस्वस्र्ता, कुपोषण, गरीबी और शैक्षखणक उपिजलधयों में दुबािता से नघरी हुई है। चुनौती यह भी है कक पयाावरण का उपयोग सतत ववकास के मिए ककया जाए, ताकक जिवायु-जोखखम वािे समय में हम आजीववका, पोषण सुरक्षा में सुधार कर सकें । (- सुनीता नारायण, महाननदेशक, सीएसई)