• Director General Office

India, France, and a Night of Ideas to come CLOSE/R

Purana Qila, Delhi. 28th January, 8:00 pm. With the amazingly illuminated Purana Qila in the background, the French institute in India organized the Night of Ideas for the third consecutive year. The goal of the Night of ideas (“La Nuit des idées”) is to celebrate the stream of ideas between countries, cultures and generations on diverse topics. This year, from Fiji to San Francisco via India and Tel Aviv, as the night progressed, the public embarked on an exceptional 24-hour digital experience for a true round-the-world trip of thought. But while all the Nights across the world were primarily are online, in Delhi the French institute in India took up the challenge of organizing an outdoor, on-site event, attended, among other dignitaries, by Ms Barbara Pompili, French Minister of Ecological Transition, on the occasion of her maiden official visit to India. It was a chilly winter evening in Delhi when Minister Barbara Pompili arrived on stage accompanied by the French Ambassador, Mr Emmanuel Lenain. But the ambience was so warm with the light of the full moon overhead that despite the low temperature, the enthusiasm of the public and the speakers alike warmed hearts. “Close(r)” was the topic chosen for this year’s Night of Ideas to debate on how the Covid crisis separates us physically (social distancing, closure of borders) but at the same time unites us. And how in this context, our relationship to time and space has changed over the past year. After a mouth-watering nocturnal stroll in the populated food streets of Old Delhi with Chef Manish Mehrotra and Ambassador Lenain, the first debate started with four eminent speakers. French Minister Barbara Pompili pointed out how the pandemic had highlighted the multiple links of interdependency in our lives, and the need to face the consequences of our actions on climate change and act to address them. When the moderator, journalist Sahar Zaman, asked Ms Pompili how the ecological crisis is a challenge for the conception of humankind as a species, the Minister underlined: “With the Covid-19 pandemic, maybe for the first time ever, we have realised a very simple truth: we are all in the same boat. There is no planet B. And, for me, it is a turning point in the way we cope with the ecological crisis. I believe we can write another future for our planet and generations to come. We have this window of opportunity. It is a small one. But I sense a collective will to succeed, together, as a species. To change our culture of life, to redefine the position we give ourselves in this world.” Surrounded by doyens of their fields, the Minister interacted with Dr Sunita Narain, ecological activist, Dr Susmita Mohanty, spaceship designer, and author and parliamentarian, Dr Shashi Tharoor. Dr Mohanty said that “we have to recalibrate our perception of time as homo sapiens”. Shashi Tharoor asked “Have we really become closer?! He added, “Solidarity is not an instinctive response to Covid, we are moving away from great solidarity with the battle for the vaccine”. After an aesthetically conceived documentary produced by the Alliance française on <em>Hyderabad by Night,</em> torn between the flyovers and the karst landscape, the second debate welcomed the famous Prof. Françoise Combe, specialist of cosmology and galaxies at Collège de France, and innovator and engineer Sonam Wangchuk from Ladakh. Prof. Combe shared:” The 21st century explored not only the solar system but we discovered millions of galaxies where we can expect that some life, as bacteria, probably exists among the other 4000 planets”. Sonam cautioned us that the geological and climate situation in the Himalayas is an “SOS message to the world”. As the audience curled up in warm customised shawls offered by the French institute in India, the Indian artist Natasha Sachdeva questioned her body in space in a normative world. Moving on from environment and science, the next discussion focused on culture, history and economy. Actress Nandita Das, economist Sanjeev Sanyal, writer William Dalrymple, and political scientist Christophe Jaffrelot exchanged views on the changes in our cultural habits of interaction, and the difficulty for economists to plan the future. Sanjeev Sanyal noticed that there is a positive impact of Covid the last ten months: “the Indian ministries often compared to silos” have to work together. He remined us that “traditionally India used to organize huge meetings such as Kumbh Mela in the largest scale” and wishes that “this way of working, continues between the Centre and state governments.” As the audience curled up in warm customised shawls offered by the French institute in India, the Indian artist Natasha Sachdeva questioned her body in space in a normative world. Moving on from environment and science, the next discussion focused on culture, history and economy. Actress Nandita Das, economist Sanjeev Sanyal, writer William Dalrymple, and political scientist Christophe Jaffrelot exchanged views on the changes in our cultural habits of interaction, and the difficulty for economists to plan the future. Sanjeev Sanyal noticed that there is a positive impact of Covid the last ten months: “the Indian ministries often compared to silos” have to work together. He remined us that “traditionally India used to organize huge meetings such as Kumbh Mela in the largest scale” and wishes that “this way of working, continues between the Centre and state governments.”

• Sustainable Food Systems

FSSAI has not taken strong action against honey adulteration, CSE says

FSSAI has not taken strong action against honey adulteration, CSE says CHENNAI: The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said on Thursday that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has not taken adequate action on the issue of honey adulteration. An investigation in December 2020 by the CSE unravelled the ‘food fraud’. The finding revealed that 77% of honey samples (17/22), which the CSE got tested in Indian and German laboratories, had failed the tests of purity and were found adulterated with sugar syrups. Only three out of 13 brands had passed all tests. The brands that passed were Saffola, Markfed Sohna, and Nature’s Nectar (one sample). The brands that failed included Dabur, Patanjali, Apis, Zandu, Baidyanath, Hitkary, Dadev, Indigenous, Hi Honey and Societe Naturelle. “We are concerned about the way the FSSAI has addressed this issue. There is no strong and public action to send the right message to honey-selling companies and reassure consumers,” said Sunita Narain, director general, CSE, in a release. “While some actions are being considered, there is no clear message from the FSSAI that there exist such syrups that can bypass Indian standards. In such a situation, the companies continue to claim that their honey passes all FSSAI parameters and thus mislead the consumers,” said Narain. The CSE investigation also highlighted the fact that laboratory tests conducted as per the FSSAI’s standards could not detect adulteration in honey samples. The CSE has called for regulating syrup imports, public testing, better enforcement and traceability to check this nefarious business of honey adulteration. “Honey adulteration not only impacts our health, but also our livelihood and food productivity," said Amit Khurana, programme director, food safety and toxins unit, CSE. It shared laboratory results of two additional samples with the FSSAI on December 17, 2020. These results showed very clearly that deliberate adulteration of up to 50% with sugar syrups was not detectable by the specific marker test for rice syrup (SMR), the CSE said. “This has put paid to the FSSAI’s contention (as declared in a meeting on December 4 with the CSE team) that conducting the SMR test is important to detect adulteration with rice syrup. Our additional tests -- along with the tests on the spiked samples conducted previously – show that modified syrups have been designed to bypass the Indian standards of 2020,” said Khurana. CSE researchers pointed out that the FSSAI had written to the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Department of Revenue, to make mandatory the end use declaration by importers as per HS (harmonized system) codes. It has also commissioned a study and asked for data from companies. "Besides these actions, it has convened a meeting with experts from its scientific panel, which focused on revision of standards (developed over the last several years and considered better compared to other countries)," said the release. The CSE investigation received responses from across the country and the world – ranging from consumers of honey, to agencies like the Central Consumer Protection Authority, National Human Rights Commission, etc. Most of these responses have called for necessary action by the FSSAI. "Following the expose by the CSE, media reports quoting Nitin Gadkari, Union minister for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) have pointed to the likelihood of action on sugar syrup imports from China. If syrup imports are regulated, it will solve one part of the problem as syrups are now being manufactured in India as well. Therefore, we need better enforcement and traceability of honey,” said Khurana. “It is clear that the business of adulteration has constantly evolved to beat laboratory tests. While India needs to regulate syrup imports, it also needs better public testing, enforcement and traceability in the honey sector. We need food to work for our nutrition; for nature and for livelihoods of communities," said Narain.

• Sustainable Food Systems

Coorg beekeepers rue decline in honey trade, seek govt hand-holding for revival

Coorg beekeepers rue decline in honey trade, seek govt hand-holding for revival The beekeepers and producers of ‘Coorg Honey’ said they want the authorities concerned to take their brand across the country and beyond and bring back the halcyon days when the hill district used to be the country’s top honey producer. Be sweet with Coorg Honey. Those were the words of Sri Shambhavananda Swamiji from Sri Ramakrishna Mission who developed a unique method of bee-keeping known as ‘Coorg Standard Hive’ in the hilly district of south Karnataka-Coorg (Kodagu). Now, the beekeepers want the state government to not only make the practice sustainable but also go big on promoting brand ‘Coorg Honey’. Citing a recent investigation by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which found that honey sold by major brands in India was laced with modified sugar syrup, the beekeepers and producers of ‘Coorg Honey’ said they want the authorities concerned to take their brand across the country and beyond and bring back the halcyon days when the hill district used to be the country’s top honey producer. After becoming the first president of Sri Ramakrishna Saradashrama in Coorg way back in 1928, Swami Shambhavananda initiated a bee-keeping project in the district knowing that the lush, hilly terrain presented an ideal setting for the practice which could also contribute to the local economy. In 1936, Swamiji set up the ‘Coorg Honey and Wax Producers Co-operative Society Ltd’, which, in time, became the first honey producers’ co-operative in the country. Over the last few years, the practice of bee-keeping and honey collection in the district has declined, to the extent that the Coorg Honey and Wax Producers Co-operative Society Ltd is now forced to procure honey from North Indian states just to keep their brand alive. Speaking to indianexpress.com, Kodira Praveen Chengappa, former president of Coorg Honey and Wax Producers Co-operative Society Ltd, said, “Everyone who comes to Coorg, which is one of the country’s top tourist destinations, wants to take home a pot of ‘Coorg Honey’. However, the beekeepers in the district are not producing honey now like they used to. Since the production has reduced, our society has little option but to buy honey from beekeepers in Chikamagaluru, Karnataka, Bihar, Punjab and other places, who collect pure and original honey. We do a strict quality check then if the honey meets our standards, we sell it under the ‘Coorg Honey’ brand name.” Advertisement Kodira Praveen Chengappa taking honey from his honey bee box. (Express Photo Darshan Devaiah BP) Apis Cerana bees, known as the honey bees of Coorg, still flock around the colourful indigenous flowers, lining the Western Ghats, drawing nectar. However, the practice of beekeeping has been severely hit. “Earlier, many trees were planted and wildflowers, including coffee blossoms, paddy, ragi, were cultivated, drawing bees by the droves. However, honey collection has been severely dented as the use of pesticides these days is killing the bees,” Chengappa said. Apiculture or beekeeping used to be one of the important farming activities in Coorg and contributed substantially to the income of local farmers. “In 1936, Shambhavananda Swamiji started the first honey producers’ co-operative in India at Virajpet in Coorg district. Later, in 1938, he founded the Ramakrishna Ashram and started to impart beekeeping lessons to local youth, who took an interest in the practice, at his office and a honey processing unit. He also sent local enthusiasts to beekeeping training centres in Pune and Coimbatore. He also marketed ‘Coorg Honey’ in Mumbai and other cities,” Chengappa said. Though the production of ‘Coorg Honey’ has declined drastically, the former boss of the co-operative said the demand for the brand remains undiminished and with a bit of hand-holding from the government and other authorities concerned, the district could return to its glory days of honey making. Advertisement Bee hive boxes kept inside a coffee estate in Coorg. (Express Photo by Darshan Devaiah BP) Traditional beekeepers, who have been harvesting honey since ages, are struggling these days as the honey bees of Coorg are declining in number, largely because of the use of pesticides. They said that radiations from mobile towers in the district are proving fatal for the bees. Nagesh, an apiarist at Bittangala village in South Coorg who has been into beekeeping for three decades, told indianexpress.com, “I request our farmers not to use pesticides as it is because of these chemicals that the honey bees are dying. I have also seen the bees dying because of radiation from mobile towers. As much as 30 to 50 per cent of bees are dying due to mobile tower radiation and another 80 per cent because of the use of pesticides.” Nestled in the midst of rolling hills and dense forests, Coorg experiences periodic shifts in climate and temperature, making it a favourable haunt for four major species of honey bees. According to Nagesh, a Coorgi, the honey tastes different as seasons roll and also at time of crop cultivation. “During the harvesting of coffee beans, the honey tastes very different compared to the season when paddy is cultivated,” Nagesh said, adding that the main four species of honey bees found in Coorg are Ponn thene (Apis dorsate) in forest areas, Potti thene (Apis cerena), Kaddi thene (Apis floria) and M ooli thene(Apis trigona), which are domesticated. Beekeepers in Coorg keep around 30 to 50 bee boxes within an area of one to one-and-a-half kilometres, depending on the source of bee forage, in their coffee estate or areca nut farms. Nagesh said bee colonies, these days, is very hard to find as they are facing the risk of a colony collapse disorder where the majority of worker bees in a colony disappear. A beekeeper in Coorg can harvest 2-3 kgs of honey from one box. “Earlier we used to harvest 10 to 20 kgs of honey from one box. During the peak time, honey can be extracted once in 15 days from one box if there are strengthened colonies. However, that is not possible now,” Nagesh said. The horticulture department has started providing Bee Hive Boxes and training to interested people at the beekeeping training centre in Bhagamandala, North Coorg. Founded in 1953, the centre provides three months of training, where students are taken through the basics of bee collecting, bee hiving and honey collecting or extraction, among other practices. Prakash Mandanna, a beekeeper who took his lessons in the practice at Bhagamandala training centre, said, “After enrolling for a training course 10 years ago, I started beekeeping. However, six years later, the bees were afflicted with diseases such as Thai sac brood. Planting of exotic trees such as Silver Oak, Eucalyptus and Acacia Auriculiformis in the coffee estates affected pollinators and altered the native flora of Coorg.” “The loss of forest cover and native trees is also an important reason for less honey bee production in Coorg. The government should focus on revival of bee production through the expansion of forest cover and forage plants in the district,” Mandanna told indianexpress.com. He said the need of the hour is for the state horticulture department to promote beekeeping among the youth in the district. “Our government has undertaken various initiatives to promote beekeeping but the problem is that people are losing interest in the practice as the bees are not available in plantations and forests now. The horticulture department should come forward and support beekeeping in Coorg,” he said. Officials in the horticulture department said various initiatives have been taken up in recent years to increase production of honey and provide subsidy to farmers interested in Apiculture. Speaking to indianexpress.com, Dr Hemalatha, senior assistant director, Horticulture (Apiculture), said, “We have three different schemes at central, state and district levels to help farmers who are interested in apiculture. As part of the state sector, we are giving a budget for beekeeping development and under the central sector scheme, we are providing pollination support. We are also giving residential beekeeping training at the Bhagamandala centre in Coorg where approximately 15 to 20 interested farmers can take a training in beekeeping every year and earn a stipend.” She said the horticulture department is also reaching out to farmers across the state, who are interested in beekeeping. “Our schemes are aimed at helping farmers interested in Apiculture and we are spreading the word through local newspapers and grama sabha meetings. Honey Mela is also organised every year in Bengaluru to promote Apiculture,” Hemalatha said.

• Director General Office

झाडे तोडणाऱ्यांनो सावधान; एका झाडाची किंमत तब्बल ७४ लाख ५० हजार रुपये

शंभर वर्षाच्या जुन्या झाडांची पर्यावरणीय किंमत एक कोटी रुपयांहून अधिक निश्चित केली आहे. एका छोट्या झाडाच्या बदल्यात १०, &nbsp;मध्यम आकाराच्या झाडांच्या बदल्यात २५ तर मोठ्या आकाराच्या झाडांच्या बदल्यात ५० रोपे जगवण्याची जबाबदारी द्यावेत कोल्हापूर एका झाडाची पर्यावरणीयकिंमत ७४ लाख ५० हजार रुपये इतकी असल्याचे सर्वोच्च न्यायालयाच्या एका तज्ञ समितीने निश्चित केले आहे. झाडांचे मूल्य ठरवण्यासाठी देशात प्रथमच अशा प्रकारची मार्गदर्शक तत्वे निश्चित करण्यात आली आहेत. यामुळे येत्या काळात उठसूट झाडं तोडण्याला चाप बसणार आहे. शंभर वर्षाच्या जुन्या झाडांची पर्यावरणीय किंमत एक कोटी रुपयांहून अधिक निश्चित केली आहे. एका &nbsp;छोट्या झाडाच्या बदल्यात १०, &nbsp;मध्यम आकाराच्या झाडांच्या बदल्यात २५ तर मोठ्या आकाराच्या झाडांच्या बदल्यात ५० रोपे जगवण्याची जबाबदारी द्यावेत असा निर्णय समितीने दिला आहे. एखाद्या प्रकल्पासाठी जर शंभराहून अधिक झाडे तोडली जाणार असतील तर आता त्यांना एका झाडाच्या बदल्यात दहा झाडे लावावी लागणार आहेत. गतवर्षी फेब्रुवारी महिन्यात सादर झालेला हा अहवाल जनसामान्यांसाठी बुधवारी जाहीर करण्यात आला आहे. पश्चिम बंगालमधील रेल्वेचे पाच उड्डाणपूल बांधण्यासाठी ३५६ झाडे तोडण्यासंदर्भात झालेल्या सुनावणी दरम्यान, सर्वोच्च न्यायालयाने झाडांची किंमत निश्चित करण्यासाठी या तज्ञ समितीला अहवाल देण्याचे निर्देश दिले होते. भविष्यात होणाऱ्या कोणत्याही विकास प्रकल्पासाठी जर झाडे तोडायची असतील तर त्यांची किंमत ठरवण्यासाठी मार्गदर्शक तत्वे निश्चित असावीत यासाठी गतवर्षी जानेवारी महिन्यात या समितीला अहवाल तयार करण्याच्या सूचना सर्वोच्च न्यायालयाने दिल्या होत्या. सदस्यांनी या अहवालात एखादे झाड निसर्गाला तो देत असलेला प्राणवायू व इतर लाभ याचे आर्थिक मूल्य विचारात घेतले आहे. हा अहवाल सर्वोच्च न्यायालयाचे मुख्य न्यायाधीश न्यायमूर्ती शरद बोबडे यांच्या अध्यक्षतेखालील खंडपीठासमोर ठेवण्यात आला होता. संदीप आडनाईकएका झाडाची पर्यावरणीय किंमत ७४ लाख ५० हजार रुपये इतकी असल्याचे सर्वोच्च न्यायालयाच्या एका तज्ञ समितीने निश्चित केले आहे. झाडांचे मूल्य ठरवण्यासाठी देशात प्रथमच अशा प्रकारची मार्गदर्शक तत्वे निश्चित करण्यात आली आहेत. यामुळे येत्या काळात उठसूट झाडं तोडण्याला चाप बसणार आहे. शंभर वर्षाच्या जुन्या झाडांची किंमत एक कोटी रुपयांहून अधिक निश्चित केली आहे. एका छोट्या झाडाच्या बदल्यात १०, मध्यम आकाराच्या झाडांच्या बदल्यात २५ तर मोठ्या आकाराच्या झाडांच्या बदल्यात ५० रोपे जगवण्याची जबाबदारी द्यावेत असा निर्णय समितीने दिला आहे. एखाद्या प्रकल्पासाठी जर शंभराहून अधिक झाडे तोडली जाणार असतील तर आता त्यांना एका झाडाच्या बदल्यात दहा झाडे लावावी लागणार आहेत. गतवर्षी फेब्रुवारी महिन्यात सादर झालेला हा अहवाल जनसामान्यांसाठी बुधवारी जाहीर करण्यात आला आहे. पश्चिम बंगालमधील रेल्वेचे पाच उड्डाणपूल बांधण्यासाठी ३५६ झाडे तोडण्यासंदर्भात झालेल्या सुनावणी दरम्यान, सर्वोच्च न्यायालयाने झाडांची किंमत निश्चित करण्यासाठी या तज्ञ समितीला अहवाल देण्याचे निर्देश दिले होते. भविष्यात होणाऱ्या कोणत्याही विकास प्रकल्पासाठी जर झाडे तोडायची असतील तर त्यांची किंमत ठरवण्यासाठी मार्गदर्शक तत्वे निश्चित असावीत यासाठी गतवर्षी जानेवारी महिन्यात या समितीला अहवाल तयार करण्याच्या सूचना सर्वोच्च न्यायालयाने दिल्या होत्या. सदस्यांनी या अहवालात एखादे झाड निसर्गाला तो देत असलेला प्राणवायू व इतर लाभ याचे आर्थिक मूल्य विचारात घेतले आहे. हा अहवाल सर्वोच्च न्यायालयाचे मुख्य न्यायाधीश न्यायमूर्ती शरद बोबडे यांच्या अध्यक्षतेखालील खंडपीठासमोर ठेवण्यात आला होता. टायगर एन्व्हायरमेंट सेंटरचे व्यवस्थापकीय संचालक निशिकांत मुखर्जी, &nbsp;टायगर सेंटर फॉर सायन्स अँन्ड एन्व्हायरमेंटचे व्यवस्थापकीय संचालक व सचिव व सचिव सोहम पंड्या, सेंटर फॉर सायन्स अँड एन्व्हायरमेंटचे संचालक सुनीता नारायण, पश्चिम बंगालच्या आरओबीचे युनिटचे मुख्य सहाय्यक अभियंता बिलवेशकुमार माझी आणि नोर्थ २४ परगण्याचे विभागीय वन अधिकारी निरंजीता मित्रा या पाच जणांच्या तज्ञ सदस्यांच्या समितीने हा अहवाल दिला आहे.

• Director General Office

‘300 felled trees will cost ₹2.2 billion in products, including oxygen’

The Supreme Court on Wednesday took judicial notice of its expert committee report, which said the felling of 300 heritage trees to construct five Railway over-bridges in West Bengal will cost India a staggering ₹2,23,50,00,000 (₹2.2 billion). The 10-digit figure was arrived at by the committee after calculating the products these trees would produce over 100 years of their natural lifetime. The committee's valuation included oxygen, micro-nutrients, compost and bio-fertiliser, besides the trees being valuable members of the natural environment. The committee said an individual tree parts with, free of cost, “products” worth ₹74,500 a year. Though the report was submitted a year ago, the figures of loss quoted in the report managed to alarm a three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice Sharad A. Bobde on Wednesday. Chief Justice Bobde suggested framing a new protocol by which road and highway projects ought to be cleared only after checking the feasibility of other modes of transport like waterways and Railways. In case a road project is inevitable, the value of each tree should be “built into the cost of the project”, Chief Justice Bobde suggested. The court asked advocate Prashant Bhushan to draft the protocol in consultation with the government. The report said the loss of 300 trees would be much more than the ₹500 crore sanctioned for the five rail over-bridges. Besides, the committee noted, traffic congestion would see a further widening of the road in a decade or so. This would mean cutting another 4,056 trees. If so, the report said, the loss would added up to ₹30.21 billion over a period of 100 years. The committee said this would lead to an “environmental and economic catastrophe of horrifying proportions”. The five proposed bridges are part of a mega project financed by the Centre to construct 208 rail over- and under-bridges across 19 States in the country. The “Setu Bharatam Mega Project”, as it is called, has a sanctioned cost of ₹20,800 crore. It is meant to better traffic movement, reduce accidents and avert deaths at rail crossings. The five rail over-bridges, across a 59-km stretch of the Jessore Road in West Bengal, is also part of India’s “Go East” vision to create a transport infrastructure through to Bangladesh and beyond Myanmar and China in the Far East to promote economic development of the country. A total of 22 rail over- and under-bridges have been sanctioned at a cost of ₹2,294 crore as part of the Setu Bharatam project and the “Go East” vision. The expert committee report was by Dr. Soham Pandaya, Executive Director, Centre of Science for Villages Wardha; Bikash Kumar Maji, Assistant Chief Engineer, West Bengal; Niranjita Mitra, District Forest Officer North; and Nishant Mukerji, Director, Tiger Centre, Nagpur. “These historical trees have irreplaceable value. Compensatory afforestation cannot replace trees of this value,” another committee member, Sunita Narain, from the Centre for Science and Environment, said in a separate report. On Wednesday, the Bench also rubbished the government’s circular that Environment Impact Assessment need not be done for road projects spanning under 100 km. “It is an unrealistic assumption that a 100 km road project will not destroy the environment. We will either ask someone to challenge your circular or take suo motu cognisance of it,” Chief Justice Bobde addressed the government side.

• Director General Office

Value of a tree with 100 years of life left is Rs 72 lakh, SC told

NEW DELHI: The true value of a tree, with 100 years of its lifespan remaining, would be Rs 72 lakh, taking into account the benefits it would give to nature and mankind, including the cost of oxygen it would emit to the atmosphere, the Supreme Court was informed on Wednesday. A bench headed by CJI S A Bobde had set up a committee in February to evaluate the true value of a tree when a PIL had challenged the West Bengal government's decision to cut 356 trees to construct five railway overbridges (ROBs) costing Rs 500 crore on a 59-km stretch on NH-112 (part of NH-35). The committee comprised Soham Pandya, B K Maji, Niranjita Mitra, N K Mukarji and Sunita Narain. This project is part of the Centre's 'Setu Bharatmala' programme, which aims to make national highways free of all railway crossings by constructing 208 railway over and underbridges in 19 states at a cost of Rs 20,800 crore. The Centre has sanctioned Rs 2,294 crore to West Bengal for 22 ROBs and RUBs on NH-112. The committee said 50 trees had already been cut, but the 306 remaining trees, many of which are of heritage value, would be valued at Rs 220 crore. It said the 59-km stretch is to be part of the 'Go East' policy of the government, which intends to integrate the Indian road network with that of Bangladesh and Myanmar. If the road is widened, it would require cutting down 4,036 more trees, many of which would be big leafy trees of heritage value. Their value would be close to Rs 3,000 crore. But if the real loss to the environment and humanity over the years were to be taken into account, the value of these 4,000 trees would be around Rs 30,000 crore, the committee said. The ministry of environment, forest and climate change is applying the Net Present Value calculations to compute the cost of all trees standing in an area of one hectare (2.4 acres). The NPV varies from a maximum of Rs 56 lakh (for very dense forest) to Rs 27 lakh (open forests). It would make road/railway projects as well as setting up of industrial projects cost intensive and project proponents would scurry for barren land with little tree cover for laying roads/railways or setting up industries. A bench of CJI Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian said, "If we accept the committee's report, governments will go bankrupt. The calculations need to be rationalised. After rationalisation, their cost can be built into the project cost". The bench also took serious note of the committee's finding that the environment ministry's guidelines exempted environment impact assessment of any road project of less than 100km span. Additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati said the Centre did not intend to do away with EIA for road projects over small stretches but left it to state governments to do necessary due diligence. The SC asked advocate Prashant Bhushan to give a draft note on the protocol that would be put in place for calculating the value of trees and also on the legality of the EIA. The court will take up the case after two weeks.

• Director General Office

What’s the value of a tree? Age multiplied by ₹74.5k: SC panel

The five-member committee of experts added that a heritage tree with a lifespan of well over 100 years could be valued at more than ₹1 crore. A tree’s monetary worth is its age multiplied by ₹74,500, a Supreme Court-appointed committee has submitted in a report, setting a guideline, for the first time in India, on the valuation of trees. The five-member committee of experts added that a heritage tree with a lifespan of well over 100 years could be valued at more than ₹1 crore -- and that the monetary value of a project, for which hundreds of trees are cut, is sometimes far less than the economic and environmental worth of the felled trees. The report was submitted before a Supreme Court bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde, that had asked the committee members in January 2020 to determine the economic value of trees, based on cost of oxygen they release, and other benefits to the environment. Also read: Coins worth ₹14.86 lakh missing from Union Bank in Odisha The bench, which also included justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, stressed on the necessity to do away with the evaluation of trees only on the basis of their timber value and rather focus on the positive impact of trees on the environment. For this purpose, the court, while hearing a case relating to cutting down of 356 trees for construction of five railway over-bridges (ROBs) in West Bengal, appointed a committee of five experts -- Nishikant Mukerji (managing director, Tiger Environment Centre), Soham Pandya, (secretary and executive director at the Centre of Science for Villages), Sunita Narain (director, Centre for Science and Environment), Bikash Kumar Maji (assistant chief engineer, ROB unit, West Bengal government) and Niranjita Mitra (division forest officer, North 24 Parganas). According to the report filed in February last year but made public on Wednesday, a tree is worth ₹74,500 a year. Out of this, the cost of oxygen alone is ₹45,000, followed by cost of biofertilisers, which are worth ₹20,000. Upon adding costs of micronutrients and compost, the report stated, living trees will more often than not outweigh the benefit of most of the projects they are felled for. Commenting on the West Bengal government’s plea to cut 356 trees, some of which were heritage trees, the committee evaluated their worth at ₹220 crore. The Supreme Court has not accepted the report yet, and sought the responses from the central government, West Bengal government and an NGO involved in the case.“The committee’s recommendation will make every government go bankrupt. So, we need to fine tune a few suggestions,” the court observed on Wednesday. The committee also suggested that instead of cutting trees for highway projects, the governments should first explore alternatives such as using existing waterways and railway lines to facilitate traffic and transport infrastructure. In case trees must be removed, the committee said, the first endeavour should be to relocate them, making use of modern technology, and if they must be felled; it also added that planting five saplings in lieu of one tree was not good enough since a 100-year-old tree cannot be equated with a few fresh saplings. It recommended that for a tree with small crown size, 10 saplings should be planted; 25 saplings for a tree with medium crown size; and 50 saplings for a tree with large crown size.Crown is part of the tree from which branches grow above the trunk. The bench, during the hearing on Wednesday, commended the committee’s efforts, adding that it was inclined to lay down certain new guidelines for all future projects which required felling trees in view of the report. It found favour with the recommendation that a developer must look to use existing waterways and railway lines before insisting on a road project that required cutting trees. The top court further expressed its displeasure at a central government notification that did away with the need for an environment impact assessment (EIA) for a road project of less than 100km. “Your notification is untenable. It is based on an assumption that no damage is done to the environment if a project is less than 100km in length. We will examine validity of your notification,” the bench told additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati, who appeared for the Union government in the matter. Apart from Bhati, the court also asked the West Bengal government and advocate Prashant Bhushan, who represented the NGO Association for Protection of Democratic Rights, which challenged the decision to cut the trees for the ROB project, to submit responses to the committee’s report. The bench will hear the matter next after two weeks. Speaking to HT, Sunita Narain, a committee member, said: “It is very important to identify and assess the historical and ecological significance of the heritage trees. They cannot be equated with fresh saplings, given the exceptional historical, cultural aesthetic values such trees they have because of their age or their association with an event or a person. All efforts must be made to accord them special protection.”

• Director General Office

पश्चिम बंगाल में भारत-बांग्लादेश सीमा पर पेड़ों की कटाई का मामला, SC ने केंद्र सरकार से पूछे सवाल

पश्चिम बंगाल में भारत-बांग्लादेश सीमा पर रेलवे ओवर ब्रिज ( RoB) के निर्माण के लिए पेड़ों की कटाई का मामले पर सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने पर्यावरण प्रभाव एसेसमेंट नियमों पर केंद्र सरकार पर सवाल उठाया. नई दिल्ली: पश्चिम बंगाल में भारत-बांग्लादेश सीमा पर रेलवे ओवर ब्रिज ( RoB) के निर्माण के लिए पेड़ों की कटाई का मामले पर सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने पर्यावरण प्रभाव एसेसमेंट नियमों पर केंद्र सरकार पर सवाल उठाया. अदालत ने कहा कि 100 किमी से कम सड़क परियोजना को EIA की आवश्यकता नहीं है,ये नियम टिकने वाला नहीं है. CJI एस ए बोबडे ने कहा अगर सरकार Go East का फैसला करती है तो मौजूदा समुद्री/रेल मार्गों पर विचार क्यों नहीं किया जाता ? चीफ जस्टिस ऑफ इंडिया के अनुसार आप यह मानकर चल रहे हैं कि 100 किमी तक की परियोजना में आप पर्यावरण को नुकसान नहीं पहुंचाते हैं. यह भी पढ़ें व्हाट्सऐप की नई निजता नीति के खिलाफ दाखिल याचिका पर सुनवाई से सुप्रीम कोर्ट का इंकारव्हाट्सऐप की नई निजता नीति के खिलाफ दाखिल याचिका पर सुनवाई से सुप्रीम कोर्ट का इंकार सुप्रीम कोर्ट में शारीरिक रूप से सुनवाई मार्च में शुरू होने की उम्मीद, मराठा आरक्षण केस की सुनवाई 8 मार्चसुप्रीम कोर्ट में शारीरिक रूप से सुनवाई मार्च में शुरू होने की उम्मीद, मराठा आरक्षण केस की सुनवाई 8 मार्च अवैध निर्माण पर BMC के नोटिस का मामला: सोनू सूद ने सुप्रीम कोर्ट से वापस ली याचिकाअवैध निर्माण पर BMC के नोटिस का मामला: सोनू सूद ने सुप्रीम कोर्ट से वापस ली याचिका Read Also: SC ने फ्रेंकलिन टेंपलटन को निवेशकों के 9122 करोड़ रुपये लौटाने का दिया आदेश कोर्ट ने कहा कि प्रथम दृष्टया हम इसे ठहरने वाला नहीं मानते हैं. हम इस बात से सहमत नहीं हैं कि यदि परियोजना 100 किमी से कम है तो आपको EIA की आवश्यकता नहीं है, हम किसी को इसे चुनौती देने के लिए कहेंगे या खुद नोटिस जारी करेंगे. सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने कहा कि कि वे ऐसी परियोजनाओं के लिए एक प्रोटोकॉल तैयार करना चाहते हैं और यह सुनिश्चित करना चाहते हैं कि उन विकल्पों पर विचार किया जाए जो पर्यावरण की दृष्टि से कम हानिकारक हैं. सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने याचिकाकर्ता के वकील प्रशांत भूषण को ड्राफ्ट प्रोटोकॉल तैयार करने को कहा है. अगली सुनवाई दो हफ्ते बाद होगी. Read Also: कृष्‍ण गोवर्धन रोड प्रोजेक्‍ट: SC का यूपी सरकार से सवाल, 'पेड़ों को काटकर सड़कों को सीधा क्‍यों बनाया जाए..' दरअसल पश्चिम बंगाल पर हेरिटेज पेड़ों के मुद्दे पर विशेषज्ञ समिति की रिपोर्ट और समिति के एक सदस्य सुनीता नारायण की एक अलग रिपोर्ट दी गई है. उक्त विशेषज्ञ समिति को एसोसिएशन फॉर प्रोटेक्शन ऑफ डेमोक्रेटिक राइट्स की याचिका पर सुप्रीम कोर्ट द्वारा नियुक्त किया गया था. याचिका में 4036 पेड़ों (लगभग 200 वर्ष या उससे अधिक पुराने और विलुप्तप्राय पेड़ों को शामिल किया गया है) की रक्षा करने का अनुरोध किया गया है, जो सड़क चौड़ीकरण परियोजना और पश्चिम बंगाल में रेलवे ओवर ब्रिज (आरओबी) के निर्माण के लिए काटे जाने हैं. रिपोर्ट में विशेषज्ञ समिति ने प्राकृतिक पूंजी को भी ध्यान में रखते हुए लागत / लाभ विश्लेषण किया है. रिपोर्ट एक पूर्ण विकसित पेड़ के वित्तीय मूल्य को ध्यान में रखती है, जिसे अक्सर परियोजना के प्रस्तावकों द्वारा अनदेखा किया गया है. उनके विश्लेषण के अनुसार, 300 पूर्ण विकसित पेड़ों का मूल्य जो उनकी प्राकृतिक उम्र से 100 साल पहले कम से कम 2.2 बिलियन (220 करोड़) है. इससे पहले पश्चिम बंगाल में भारत-बांग्लादेश सीमा पर रेलवे ओवर ब्रिज ( RoB) के निर्माण के लिए पेड़ों की कटाई के मामले में सुनवाई के दौरान देश के मुख्य न्यायाधीश एस ए बोबडे ने कहा था. ग्रीन कवर को संरक्षित किया जाना चाहिए. ये गिरावट इतनी तेजी से हो रही है कि किसी को भी पता चलने से पहले कई चीजें स्थायी रूप से चली जाएंगी. लोग विकल्प तलाशने को तैयार नहीं हैं। पेड़ों को काटे बिना रास्ता बनाने का कोई तरीका हो सकता है. दरअसल रेलवे लाइनों के पास लगभग 800 मौतें हुईं. सरकार ने 4 किमी फुट ओवरब्रिज के निर्माण का निर्णय लिया, जिसके लिए कई पेड़ों को काटने की आवश्यकता है. अदालत ने कहा था कि हम यह देखना चाहेंगे कि क्या हम कुछ सिद्धांतों का पालन कर सकते हैं. हम कुछ सुझाव चाहेंगे. पेड़ों को काटे बिना रास्ता बनाने का कोई तरीका हो सकता है. यह थोड़ा अधिक महंगा हो सकता है, लेकिन यदि आप संपत्ति को महत्व देते हैं, तो यह बेहतर होगा. पीठ ने कहा कि वो विशेषज्ञ पैनल की रिपोर्ट आने पर विचार करेंगे. दरअसल 9 जनवरी 2020 को सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने पर्यावरण विशेषज्ञों की एक समिति का गठन किया है जो पश्चिम बंगाल में भारत-बांग्लादेश सीमा पर रेलवे ओवर ब्रिज ( RoB) के निर्माण और बारासात से पेट्रापोल तक राष्ट्रीय राजमार्ग-112 के चौड़ीकरण के लिए 350 से अधिक पेड़ों की कटाई के विकल्प का सुझाव देगी. पीठ ने कहा कि जब हम एक विरासत के पेड़ को काटते हैं तो इन सभी वर्षों में पेड़ द्वारा उत्पादित ऑक्सीजन के मूल्य की कल्पना भी करें. पीठ ने चार सदस्यीय समिति, जिसमें विज्ञान और पर्यावरण केंद्र की पर्यावरणविद् सुनीता नारायण शामिल हैं, को चार सप्ताह में अपनी रिपोर्ट प्रस्तुत करने को कहा था. पीठ ने कहा था कि यह मामला पर्यावरण की गिरावट और विकास के बीच सामान्य दुविधा प्रस्तुत करता है. जाहिर है प्रत्येक स्थिति में अलग-अलग विचार शामिल होते हैं. इसमें कहा गया है कि पर्यावरण को होने वाले नुकसान के मूल्यांकन के लिए जो भी तरीका अपनाया जाना है, ये वांछनीय है कि विरासती पेड़ों की प्रस्तावित कटाई के विकल्पों पर विशेषज्ञों द्वारा विचार किया जाए. Read Also: पेड़ के नीचे गद्दा लगाकर तीन दोस्तों ने बनाया 'दुनिया का सबसे खराब Airbnb', देखते ही लोग करने लगे बुकिंग, देखें Video सुनवाई के दौरान पीठ ने पश्चिम बंगाल सरकार से कहा था कि जब एक विरासत के पेड़ को काटते हैं, तो इन सभी वर्षों में ऑक्सीजन के पेड़ के मूल्य की कल्पना करें. इसकी तुलना करें कि इन पेड़ों के बराबर ऑक्सीजन के लिए आपको कितना भुगतान करना होगा, अगर इसे कहीं और से खरीदना है.शुरुआत में एसोसिएशन फॉर प्रोटेक्शन ऑफ डेमोक्रेटिक राइट्स (APDR) के वकील प्रशांत भूषण ने कहा था कि कोई विकल्प नहीं खोजा गया और पेड़ों को गिराने की अनुमति दी गई जो लगभग 80-100 वर्ष की आयु के धरोहर हैं. उन्होंने कहा कि हर कोई ग्लोबल वार्मिंग के बारे में जानता है और अध्ययन में कहा गया है कि यदि वनस्पति की रक्षा नहीं की गई तो अगले 10-20 वर्षों में मानव प्रजाति खतरे में पड़ जाएगी. भूषण ने सुझाव दिया था कि बजाय पुलों के अंडरपास बनाए जा सकते हैं और पेड़ों की कटाई से बचने के लिए सड़कों के संरेखण को बदला जा सकता है. दूसरी ओर पश्चिम बंगाल की ओर से पेश वरिष्ठ वकील अभिषेक मनु सिंघवी ने कहा था कि इसके कारण हर साल 800 लोगों की मौत हो जाती है. कलकत्ता उच्च न्यायालय उन सभी पहलुओं पर विचार कर चुका है जिसके बाद उसने 356 पेड़ गिराने की अनुमति दी गई थी, जो कि RoB के निर्माण और सड़क के चौड़ीकरण के लिए आवश्यक है. दरअसल 31 अगस्त, 2018 को कलकत्ता उच्च न्यायालय ने राष्ट्रीय राजमार्ग के चौड़ीकरण का रास्ता खोला था और जेसोर रोड के चौड़ीकरण के लिए 350 से अधिक पेड़ों की कटाई की अनुमति दी थी, इस शर्त पर कि हर पेड़ काटने के बदले पांच पेड़ लगाए जाएंगे.ये सड़क शहर को भारत-बांग्लादेश सीमा पर पेट्रापोल से जोड़ती है. NH-112 या जेसोर रोड भारत और बांग्लादेश के बीच एक महत्वपूर्ण कड़ी है और राज्य सरकार ने इसे व्यापक बनाने के लिए एक परियोजना शुरू की है.

• Director General Office

CERAWeek by IHS Markit 2021 to Convene Energy CEOs, Government Officials, and Business and Technology Leaders for World’s Preeminent Energy Conference

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The world’s energy industry leaders, experts, government officials and policymakers, as well as leaders from the technology, financial and industrial communities will convene at the world’s preeminent energy conference, CERAWeek by IHS Markit 2021, to be held virtually March 1-5. “We are pleased to welcome Bill Gates among the distinguished group of speakers at CERAWeek 2021” Tweet this CERAWeek 2021: The New Map: Energy, Climate and Charting the Future will examine a new global map being shaped by dramatic shifts in energy and geopolitics—a map defined by changing policies, technology, alliances, geopolitics, and possibly collisions in global commerce and politics. Inspired by the new book, The New Map: Energy, Climate and the Clash of Nations by IHS Markit Vice Chairman and CERAWeek Chairman Daniel Yergin, the conference program will focus on key themes related to Energy Transition; Geopolitics, Economics and Markets; Investment and Financing; Technology and Innovation; Mobility and the Future Workforce. 2021 marks the 39th edition of the conference and is the first time that it will be an all-virtual event. The conference is produced by IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO), a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions. Bill Gates will be among the speakers for CERAWeek by IHS Markit 2021. The co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, founder of Breakthrough Energy and author of the forthcoming book, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need, Mr. Gates will join energy leaders, experts, government officials and policymakers, as well as leaders from the automotive, environmental, technology, financial and industrial sectors addressing the conference. “We are pleased to welcome Bill Gates among the distinguished group of speakers at CERAWeek 2021,” said Daniel Yergin, conference chair and vice chairman of IHS Markit. “Through an unmatched career at the forefront of technology, innovation and philanthropy—and now as the author of a much-anticipated new book—his unique perspective on climate change and the work he’s doing through Breakthrough Energy will be a timely addition to the critical dialogues taking place at this year’s conference. “There has perhaps never been a more important time for the CERAWeek community to come together. The past year has seen the novel coronavirus alter our world in profound ways. The great disruption it has wrought made more complex a broader transformation that had already been under way—one redrawing the map of global energy and geopolitics. The forces shaping this new map are still coming into view, and the past year has made the path forward all the more important to discern. At the same time a new Administration in the United States has sharply turned the corner on energy policy, both domestically and internationally. The CERAWeek 2021 program and its distinguished speakers will set out to bring clarity and perspective to this new and uncharted landscape.” CERAWeek 2021 and the related Innovation Agora will feature more than 245 speakers from 29 countries. Speakers will include (partial list): Bill Gates – co-chair, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and founder, Breakthrough Energy Amin Nasser – president and CEO, Saudi Aramco Bernard Looney – group chief executive, BP Ben van Beurden – CEO, Royal Dutch Shell Patrick Pouyanné – chairman and CEO, TOTAL S.A. Ryan Lance – chairman and CEO, ConocoPhillips Vicki Hollub – president and CEO, Occidental Petroleum Mike Wirth – chairman of the board and CEO, Chevron H.E. Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo – secretary general, OPEC Gina McCarthy – national climate advisor, The White House Hon. Joe Manchin – chairman, U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, U.S. Senator, State of West Virginia Hon. Daniel Sullivan – U.S. Senator, State of Alaska Lynn J. Good – chairman, president and CEO, Duke Energy Noubar Afeyan – co-founder and chairman, Moderna Pratima Rangarajan – CEO, OGCI Climate Investments Hon. Tina Bru, minister of petroleum and energy, Norway Hon. Sylvester Turner – mayor, City of Houston Susan Hockfield – president emerita and professor of neuroscience, MIT Walter Isaacson – author and professor of history, Tulane University Allison Herren Lee – acting chair, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Sunita Narain – director general, Centre for Science and Environment Ben Fowke – chairman of the board, president and CEO, Xcel Energy Nick Akins – chairman, president and CEO, AEP Ignacio S. Galán – chairman and CEO, Iberdrola S.A. Visit www.ceraweek.com for a complete list of speakers and the most up-to-date program information (subject to change). Registration Information CERAWeek by IHS Markit 2021 will be held virtually March 1-5. Further information and delegate registration is available at www.ceraweek.com. Media Accreditation Media registration is now open. Members of the media interested in covering CERAWeek 2021 are required to apply for accreditation. Applications can be submitted via the following link: https://ceraweek.com/about/press.html About IHS Markit (www.ihsmarkit.com) IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO) is a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets that drive economies worldwide. The company delivers next-generation information, analytics and solutions to customers in business, finance and government, improving their operational efficiency and providing deep insights that lead to well-informed, confident decisions. IHS Markit has more than 50,000 business and government customers, including 80 percent of the Fortune Global 500 and the world’s leading financial institutions. Headquartered in London, IHS Markit is committed to sustainable, profitable growth. IHS Markit is a registered trademark of IHS Markit Ltd. and/or its affiliates. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners © 2021 IHS Markit Ltd. All rights reserved.

• Down To Earth

Impurities in honey market In 2017, the FSSAI ordered that honey should be tested for adulteration with corn, sugarcane, rice and beetroot syrups.

In 2013, India started using Neonicotinoid pesticides in order to protect a crop that Monsanto had promised the Indian farmer he would not have to use pesticides on. These are the worst pesticides in the world and they have been indicted for having killed billions of bees on the planet. I called a meeting of ICAR in 2014 to ask for the ban of these pesticides. ICAR refused, even though they admitted that the bee population has gone down sharply. They said cotton was more important than fruit, grain and flowers which are dependent on bee pollination! If the bees have gone down in number drastically, how has the honey production tripled? Till 2013,&nbsp;the yearly growth rate was only 0-4.8%.From 2013-14 the growth rate rocketed&nbsp;&nbsp;from 5.3 to 11.1 %!!! This could not have happened naturally. How have hundreds of honey companies come into the market? This question has always troubled me. I don’t eat honey. Last month the environment magazine, Down to Earth, answered this question in a deeply detailed investigation that they took months over. You should read it. We do not take food adulteration seriously and yet it is the highest form of corruption, and should have the death penalty on it. I will attempt to encapsulate what they have discovered, but again, I repeat, go onto their website and read the expose. Let's start with the basics: Honey is eaten because it is known to be an antioxidant and has anti microbial (killing germs) properties. It is expensive to create, because thousands of bees have to be maintained and fed a steady diet of flowers. Sugar has no nutrient value and is known to add weight and cause chronic disease. It is cheap. The FSSAI is the government organisation in charge of food standards. In 2017, the FSSAI ordered that honey should be tested for adulteration with corn, sugarcane, rice and beetroot syrups. The test was called C3 and C4. The tests were isotope tests, SMR, TMR, foreign oligosaccharides tests and pollen counts. In 2019, FSSAI&nbsp;&nbsp;mysteriously issued a directive revising, and downgrading, the parameters and allowing the adulteration to go undetected. The Director of the National Bee Board told Down to Earth that he had written a letter to the government saying that by reducing pollen count FSSAI has legalised the practice of adulterating and selling rice syrup and corn syrup as honey. The cheating of the consumer, by honey processors, has been legalised "You can understand why". By now the companies selling honey have increased massively and become very powerful. Baba Ramdev had jumped in as well. But strangely enough, the honey farmers were all going bankrupt because these companies had stopped buying their honey. So, we have a huge honey industry which uses no honey? So what do the “honey” bottles contain? Sugar syrup import into India from China have increased steadily. Fructose and glucose syrup was being imported from China to India in bulk amounts. In 2014, 10,000 MT came in. By 2017 it was more than 4,300 MT. These syrups are imported under the names of “Fructose syrup (F55/F42)”, “Honey blend syrup”, “Tapioca fructose syrup”, “Golden fructose glucose syrup”, even “ Fructose Rice Syrup for Honey”. Anyone from India can look up the marketing portals like Alibaba, Okchem and Tradewheel, and order from a host of Chinese companies. The FSSAI issued directives to sugar importers saying they had evidence that this Chinese import was being used to adulterate honey. The FSSAI announced in 2020 that the&nbsp;Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) was now mandatory for any company exporting honey (the Indian consumer is expendable, of course, so the standards for detecting adulteration in honey remained the low ones revised in 2019.) Did the fructose syrup import stop? No. It simply changed its name. The Chinese were not hiding their product. On all the large Chinese portals they were advertising a sugar syrup&nbsp;&nbsp;called the All Pass Syrup. The advertisements claim that the chemical mixture, called syrup, can pass the honey adulteration tests – C 3, C4, TMR, SMT, Oligosaccharides and even NMR!! Companies in India are importing this chemical mixture, which was being sent to India in some cases as “industrial raw material”,&nbsp;and even&nbsp;“paint mixture”, from China. 11,000 tonnes of this mixture has come in annually. Nasik, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. The factories that make this syrup are all “legitimate food processing businesses.”&nbsp;The FSSAI chooses to look the other way. Down to Earth ordered samples online from two Chinese suppliers called Wuhu Foods and CNN Foods. In their order they specifically stated that they wanted this syrup to pass all the government tests. Both companies wrote that their product could pass any Indian tests, even if the adulteration was upto 80%, and added that their Indian clients used this percentage in their so called honey bottles. The samples that Fedex brought in simply said “syrup” and “paint pigment emulsion.” Down to Earth took pure raw honey and mixed it themselves with the Chinese and Indian adulterants (from a company in Jaspur) in different proportions – from 25% to 75% – and sent these to the Gujarat based lab Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food (CALF) of the National Dairy Development Board. The samples passed all the tests upto 75% adulteration! In August 2020, Down to Earth bought honey marketed by 13 companies and sent them to the same Gujarati Laboratory. All the large companies passed the tests except for Apis Himalaya Honey (they probably put more than 75%!) Three of the smaller brands: Dadev, Hi Honey and Societe Naturelle, failed and even the C 3 test showed that they had more than 20-27% cane sugar. All these three are labelled as Raw Unprocessed Natural Honey! But Down to Earth did not stop there. They sent all the brands for the gold standard test - the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Test (NMR). Dabur and Saffola have put it on their bottles that their honey has passed the NMR test. There is only one testing point in India – the Export Inspection Council (EIC) in Mumbai. They refused to do the tests. So, Down to Earth contacted a well known German Lab, which specialises only in honey adulteration tests including the NMR, and sent the samples – from the same batch that had passed the tests in Gujarat. They sent 17 samples from these 13 companies: Patanjali, Baidyanatha, Zandu, Saffola, Markfed Sohna, Nature’s Nectar, Dabur, Apis Himalaya, Hitkari, Dadev, Indigenous, Hi Honey, Societe Naturelle. Only THREE companies passed the tests: Saffola, Markfed Sohna and Nature’s Nectar. All the others FAILED – including Dabur and Saffola, who put it on their labels that their honey has passed the NMR Tests. Which means ONLY these THREE companies are selling us pure honey. The rest are all massively adulterated with chemical sugar syrup. In any other country, these people would be in jail and the company would be shut down. The Down to Earth article is meticulous in its exposure. But FSSAI has ignored the expose. Obviously FSSAI is implicated in the scandal – after all, they agreed to previous attempts at adulteration by deliberately lowering the standards for the large honey companies. These honey companies have even failed the lowered standards of adulteration – with no action being taken against them. During the COVID lockdown, people went all out to improve their health. Honey sales from March 2020 went up by 35%. But instead of making their bodies healthier, people were actually starting the day with shots of sugar syrup, which is just poison. Sugar increases the inflammation in the body, suppresses immunity and makes the body vulnerable to disease, including diabetes, and Corona. If you are angry, this is what you should do: 1. Banning of ALL sugar syrup imports from China, and closing down the factories importing it. 2. Every honey company MUST be able to trace the origins of the company – which beekeepers they buy it from. Each beekeeper should be licensed. This is mandatory for many food products in Europe. When eggs were discovered with pesticide in them, the labelling immediately showed 21 poultries in the Netherlands and they were shut down. 3. The testing requirements, that FSSAI lowered, should be brought back and NMR should be made compulsory. 4. The FSSAI has no data at all on honey producers, syrup producers. The Beekeeping Development Committee, which is directly under the Prime Minister’s Economic Council, has no data on honey production, sale or beekeepers!! 5. These 10 companies should be prosecuted and shut down. It is antinational to poison the people of India

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Pre-lockdown pollution back with a bang

monsoon period, has now been lost since economy got reopened and after winter set in. Levels of higher particulate matter 2.5 microns in thickness (PM 2.5) are being witnessed, which are typical when there are continuous emissions, including from vehicles, industry, and construction. PM 2.5 gets trapped due to meteorological changes. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director in charge of CSE’s Research and Advocacy said: “This analysis has dispelled the myth about safer air in the south compared to other regions. Health impacts are almost equally bad. Despite the dramatic reduction in air pollution during lockdown, pollution has bounced back across the southern region, unmasking the high impact of local and regional pollution.” After assessing the changing trends in Indo-Gangetic plains, Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and West Bengal, this analysis unravels the pattern of pollution in cities of southern India – a vulnerable but poorly monitored region from the air quality perspective. Avikal Somvanshi, programme manager in CSE’s Urban Lab team of Sustainable Cities programme, said: “Winter is not as harsh in southern cities. Therefore, the impact of inversion is expected to be limited; yet a build-up of pollution has been noted. Even though the average level of PM 2.5 for summer and monsoon months in 2020 is considerably lower than the previous year due to the summer lockdown, PM 2.5 levels this winter have risen beyond those in 2019 in most of the monitored cities, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram being the only exceptions. The region cannot rely only on the natural advantage of warmer winters and sea breeze to avoid bad air.” The analysis is based on publicly available granular real-time data (15-minute averages) from the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) official online portal Central Control Room for Air Quality Management. The study notes that while several bigger cities have witnessed reduction in annual trends in PM 2.5, smaller towns and cities have experienced an increase. Only nine out of 21 cities have data for 2019. The 2020 average PM 2.5 level in many inland cities in Deccan Plateau has climbed up to breach the average concentration recorded in 2019. Chikkaballapur in southern Karnataka is the worst performer with 3.9 per cent increase from 2019 level. Tirupati has registered a 1.8 per cent increase. The maximum improvement is noted in Chennai, which closed 2020 with a 30 per cent lower PM 2.5. Amravati has 24 per cent, Bengaluru 19, Visakhapatnam 16, and Hyderabad and Rajamahendravaram at 14 per cent are the other best performers in the pool. Thiruvananthapuram has shown an improvement of 5 per cent. The dirtiest week for Hyderabad, Amravati, Rajamahendravaram, Chikkaballapur, and Yadgir was the week ending on January 3, 2021. For Tirupati, Visakhapatnam, Hubballi, Chennai, Coimbatore, Kannur, Kozhikode, Kochi, and Thiruvananthapuram; the dirtiest week was that ending on December 27, 2020. Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam had earlier start with bad air days in 2020 winter. The rolling weekly average rose over the 24-hour standard or 60 μg/m3 in Visakhapatnam on October 23 (nine days earlier), and Hyderabad on October 25 (14 days earlier). This winter overall has been 34 per cent dirtier in Visakhapatnam, seven per cent in Hyderabad, and nine per cent in Thiruvananthapuram. Bengaluru registered no change in the seasonal average while Chennai was 20 per cent cleaner. The rolling weekly average did not breach the standard in Bengaluru, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram. | February 3, 2021

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

India’s air dirtiest, but clean-up budget slashed

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has cut federal allocations to tackle urban air pollution by half, even as India’s cities remain among the most polluted globally Of the 50 most populous cities in the world, seven are in India. All seven have PM2.5 levels in multiples of what the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends, a study found on the day India’s finance minister cut the central budget for air pollution control despite talking about providing budgetary support to clean dirty air in cities. Of all the cities, Delhi had the second highest annual average PM2.5 level of 102 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3) in 2019, according to the study conducted by air quality data platform OpenAQ in partnership with the Environmental Defence Fund. Lahore was the worst at 123.9 μg/m3. PM2.5 is particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less. Essentially, it is fine dust or smoke particles from combustion due to industrial activities – mainly coal-fired power generation – and from vehicle exhausts. These particles get deep into the lungs and the bloodstream and cause respiratory diseases. The WHO recommends a ceiling of 10 μg/m3 in a city. Instead, in 2019 Delhi had an average level of 102 μg/m3, Ahmedabad had 56.7, Kolkata 52.1, Mumbai 43.4, Hyderabad 38.2, Chennai 34.3 and Bangalore 27.1. Source: OpenAQ data Source: OpenAQ data While presenting the annual central budget in Parliament on February 1, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman acknowledged the need to “tackle the burgeoning problem of air pollution.” She allocated INR 22.17 billion (USD 304 million) to clean up foul air in 42 cities with over a million population for the financial year starting on April 1. Slashed by half However, this was almost half of INR 44 billion (USD 630 million) that was allocated in last year’s budget. Most of that money was not spent, experts said. “Last year’s funds remained largely unutilised by the urban local bodies,” said Ajay Singh Nagpure, director, air quality at World Resources Institute India, an independent research organisation. The federal finance ministry had released INR 22 billion as the first instalment in November 2020. “However, as the initial allocation was delayed due to pandemic disruption, it is too early to assess the impact of that funding,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment, a think tank. “This year, a concerted effort by the states and cities to develop capacity will help use the allocated funds efficiently and impact on-ground change,” Nagpure hoped. “While committed funding for clean air action is a positive step, it also raises the expectation of performance-based budgeting to ensure verifiable improvement in air quality,” said Roychowdhury. Air pollution shortens average life expectancy in India by 5.2 years compared with what it would be if WHO guidelines were met, according to Air Quality Life Index 2020 by the Energy Policy Institute of University of Chicago (EPIC). In cities like New Delhi, Delhi, life expectancy shrivels by around nine years from breathing filthy air, a situation that can be reversed only through drastic policy changes and action. See: Air pollution robs over five years of life in South Asia Poor countries, dirty countries While the situation in India and China is the worst, OpenAQ found that 33 of the largest cities in the world exceeded the WHO PM2.5 limit by around four times in 2019. The pollution is far more acute in developing country cities than in developed countries. The worst affected cities were in Asia – Lahore (Pakistan), New Delhi, Dhaka (Bangladesh), Ahmedabad and Xi’an (China), in that order. Air pollution is a bigger killer than the Covid-19 pandemic and will continue to remain so unless there is strong and sustained policy action to tackle the problem, researchers at EPIC said. It is a wake-up call for everyone to download air quality sensors on their smartphones or to buy a low-cost sensor, OpenAQ researchers believe. All the sensors are not equally good, but they provide an indication that helps fill 18 Monthly compilation of CSE’s media clippings: for the month of February 2021 key monitoring gaps and enables cities, governments, researchers and citizens to participate in monitoring air quality and fighting air pollution in their communities. The researchers point out that 90% of the world suffers harmful pollution levels, yet only half have access to air quality data. OpenAQ collects its data from a coalition of research scientists, NGOs and individuals. It uses high quality reference grade sensors that cost around USD 10,000, as well as low-cost sensors that cost around USD 100. The platform houses more than three quarter billion data points from over 11,000 stations in 99 countries. It is available to everyone, free of cost. Many scientists working in governmentrun laboratories criticise low-cost sensors, but these sensors are improving all the time. Many are mobile. Their use widens the areas that can be monitored in a city quite dramatically. Information can spark action Speaking at the release of the study, Jeremy Taub, executive director of OpenAQ, said, “We want to encourage new, affordable solutions to monitor air quality, and bring that data to OpenAQ to increase funding and action for those communities who are most affected by air pollution. It will fill important data gaps allowing communities to develop solutions to air pollution.” “One of the keys to fighting air pollution inequity is data transparency — ensuring that as wide a range of people as possible have access to as much of it as possible,” said Millie Chu Baird, Associate Vice President at Environmental Defence Fund. “It’s foundational to the ability to take action.”

• Down To Earth

UK, Nigeria And Egypt Send Strong Message To Cyril Ramaphosa Concerning Fake COVID-19 Vaccines.

The South African Covid strain may be available in a few African nations, cautions WHO There is a flood in the novel Covid sickness (COVID-19) cases and it is being fuelled by the new variations of the infection, the World Health Organization as of late cautioned. African countries should fortify their reactions against the SARS-COV-2 variations dreaded to be flowing in the landmass, said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, provincial chief, WHO Africa in a virtual public interview on January 28, 2021. As indicated by the Africa CDC, as of January 29, over 3.5 million individuals have been tainted in the locale and more than 88,900 individuals passed on of COVID-19. Southern and northern African locale is influenced the most and record for 80% cases and 86 percent passings in the mainland. Five African nations — South Africa, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Zambia and Nigeria — and 24 non-African countries have affirmed instances of the South African variation, 501Y.V2. South Africa enrolled a 238 percent spike in Covid contaminations in December. Henceforth, Moeti has forewarned that the South Africa variation is a lot of liable to be flowing undetected in a few African nations. More than 175,000 new COVID-19 cases and in excess of 6,200 passings were accounted for in Africa in the most recent seven day stretch of January while diseases rose by 50% in the mainland between December 29, 2020 and January 25, 2021, said WHO. South Africa is right now seeing a slight plunge in contaminations and cases at present however 22 African nations, including Ghana and Nigeria, keep on seeing their cases develop, as per WHO. Passings rose two-overlap in a similar four-week time span, with more than 15,000 packed in 10 southern and northern African nations. Genomic observation increase WHO is attempting to track and handle new variations by assisting nations with building and lift the complex genomic reconnaissance limits expected to distinguish and react to new variations, dispatching tests to sequencing labs and giving supplies and specialized direction, Dr Moeti said in her assertion. WHO, in a joint effort with the African Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, has set up a COVID-19 genomic sequencing lab organization. This comprises of labs in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda. All African countries have been encouraged by the WHO to deliver in any event 20 examples to sequencing research facilities consistently to help map the quick advancing circumstance and best objective reactions at all levels. The second influx of the pandemic is stressing because of the chronic weakness framework in Africa. Under these conditions, testing and following are key general wellbeing mediations to contain the pandemic. Yet, only 30 million tests have been accounted for since the start of the pandemic. Henceforth, the award of $12 million for the Africa Public Health Foundation declared by the Rockefeller Foundation on January 28 will help in growing the geographic inclusion of testing. To check the second rush of the pandemic, WHO called upon the African countries to increase testing, disengagement of contacts and treatment of patients. Demonstrated anticipation estimates like wearing veils, hand washing and safe social separating were additionally proposed to be improved. A moan of alleviation The current antibodies created by Pfizer and BioNTech are compelling against Covid variations that have arisen in South Africa and United Kingdom, WHO affirmed in an articulation delivered on 27 Jan 2021. Antibody engineers knew about infection changes and had considered, as per WHO Africa on January 22, 2021. The innovation and worldwide administration structure to rebuild SARS-CoV-2 antibodies for battling new variations as of now exist, the association said. There is no requirement for another immunization as of now however whenever required, Pfizer and BioNTech are prepared for it, they said. SOURCE : https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/africa/why-other-african-countries-need-to-guard-against-south-africa-covid-19-variant-75327

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Pre-lockdown pollution back with a bang

Pre-lockdown pollution back with a bang This analysis has dispelled the myth about safer air in the south compared to other regions Hyderabad: A new analysis of winter pollution in India’s five southern states until January 26, 2021, carried out by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), has revealed some startling details. It states that clean air, courtesy of lockdown and monsoon period, has now been lost since economy got reopened and after winter set in. Levels of higher particulate matter 2.5 microns in thickness (PM 2.5) are being witnessed, which are typical when there are continuous emissions, including from vehicles, industry, and construction. PM 2.5 gets trapped due to meteorological changes. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director in charge of CSE’s Research and Advocacy said: “This analysis has dispelled the myth about safer air in the south compared to other regions. Health impacts are almost equally bad. Despite the dramatic reduction in air pollution during lockdown, pollution has bounced back across the southern region, unmasking the high impact of local and regional pollution.” After assessing the changing trends in Indo-Gangetic plains, Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and West Bengal, this analysis unravels the pattern of pollution in cities of southern India – a vulnerable but poorly monitored region from the air quality perspective. Avikal Somvanshi, programme manager in CSE’s Urban Lab team of Sustainable Cities programme, said: “Winter is not as harsh in southern cities. Therefore, the impact of inversion is expected to be limited; yet a build-up of pollution has been noted. Even though the average level of PM 2.5 for summer and monsoon months in 2020 is considerably lower than the previous year due to the summer lockdown, PM 2.5 levels this winter have risen beyond those in 2019 in most of the monitored cities, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram being the only exceptions. The region cannot rely only on the natural advantage of warmer winters and sea breeze to avoid bad air.” The analysis is based on publicly available granular real-time data (15-minute averages) from the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) official online portal Central Control Room for Air Quality Management. The study notes that while several bigger cities have witnessed reduction in annual trends in PM 2.5, smaller towns and cities have experienced an increase. Only nine out of 21 cities have data for 2019. The 2020 average PM 2.5 level in many inland cities in Deccan Plateau has climbed up to breach the average concentration recorded in 2019. Chikkaballapur in southern Karnataka is the worst performer with 3.9 per cent increase from 2019 level. Tirupati has registered a 1.8 per cent increase. The maximum improvement is noted in Chennai, which closed 2020 with a 30 per cent lower PM 2.5. Amravati has 24 per cent, Bengaluru 19, Visakhapatnam 16, and Hyderabad and Rajamahendravaram at 14 per cent are the other best performers in the pool. Thiruvananthapuram has shown an improvement of 5 per cent. The dirtiest week for Hyderabad, Amravati, Rajamahendravaram, Chikkaballapur, and Yadgir was the week ending on January 3, 2021. For Tirupati, Visakhapatnam, Hubballi, Chennai, Coimbatore, Kannur, Kozhikode, Kochi, and Thiruvananthapuram; the dirtiest week was that ending on December 27, 2020. Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam had earlier start with bad air days in 2020 winter. The rolling weekly average rose over the 24-hour standard or 60 μg/m3 in Visakhapatnam on October 23 (nine days earlier), and Hyderabad on October 25 (14 days earlier). This winter overall has been 34 per cent dirtier in Visakhapatnam, seven per cent in Hyderabad, and nine per cent in Thiruvananthapuram. Bengaluru registered no change in the seasonal average while Chennai was 20 per cent cleaner. The rolling weekly average did not breach the standard in Bengaluru, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Industries outside NCR have major influence on Delhi’s air quality: New study

Industries outside NCR have major influence on Delhi’s air quality: New study TERI’s analysis found that in 32 pollution monitoring stations, there was an average reduction of 43% and 61% in PM2.5 and NOx concentrations respectively in 2020 during the lockdown period An analysis of air pollution levels in Delhi during the Covid -19 lockdown period between March 25 and May 31, 2020, has revealed that Delhi’s air quality is significantly influenced by air pollution sources outside the National Capital Region where most industries have not shifted to natural gas yet. The analysis titled “Assessment of air quality during lockdowns in Delhi” by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) released on Tuesday found that in 32 Central Pollution Control Board monitoring stations, there was an average reduction of 43% and 61% in PM2.5 and NOx concentrations respectively in 2020 during the lockdown period compared to the pre-lockdown period in 2019 despite adverse meteorological conditions like reduced wind speeds. The TERI team also focused on three air quality stations –India Habitat Centre (IHC), Laxmi Nagar, and Patel Nagar from April 22 to June 5 where chemical speciation of pollutants was also conducted to decipher the sources of air pollution during lockdown. The team found that PM2.5 levels violated the daily national standard of 60 micrograms per cubic metres 31-60% times at the three locations despite reduced emissions during the lockdown. IHC at Lodhi road showed 29% contribution to PM 2.5 from coal combustion like industrial activities. While there are no industries nearby, the contributions are expected to be from outside of Delhi city as the monitor was placed at a height of 25-30m which can capture regional sources, the analysis said. Contribution from the transport sector was also high -- 26% -- which may be due to government offices in the area remaining partially open during the lockdown. Districts upwind of Delhi like Jind, Panipat, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Sonipat etc; influence the air quality of Delhi considerably, the report said. At Laxmi Nagar and Patel Nagar, both residential areas, contribution from region sources was also seen. At Patel Nagar, there was more influence of long-range secondary particulates (not emitted directly from a source but pollutants which form in the atmosphere due to chemical processes) (29%) and waste and biomass-based sources (27%) were recorded. Laxmi Nagar had significant pollution contribution from regional coal-based industrial activities (22%) and also vehicles (13%). Overall, the average air pollution contribution in the city during the lockdown was from coal combustion (20%); waste and biomass burning (19%); and vehicles still contributed to about 15% of PM 2.5 emissions. “Industrial activities were also affected during the lockdown, and hence in absolute terms, the emissions and contributions must have decreased from the source. However, in relative terms, this still accounted for a significant share in Delhi’s PM2.5 concentrations. While most Delhi industries have shifted to gas, contributions from outside of NCR seem to be high. Share of biomass, agricultural residue and waste burning were enhanced than typically observed in Delhi, mainly due to restrictions,” the analysis has concluded. The report underlines that an airshed-based approach needs to be adopted to reduce severe air pollution in Delhi. Despite restriction on the local sources of emissions, contributions from upwind locations kept the pollution levels high. “Unless we tackle regional sources with equal or more intensity, we will not achieve air quality standards in Delhi. State governments need to come together and contribute,” said Ajay Mathur, Director General, TERI and member of the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Area formed last year to tackle air pollution in the region. Also Read | Plastic pens covered under Plastic Waste Management Rules, says NGT The analysis was reviewed by scientists at Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland, IIT Delhi, and other scientists at TERI. “During the lockdown, emissions from several local sources reduced significantly but biomass burning continued, power plants were also functioning. There are 11 power plants in 300 km radius of Delhi. We don’t know if any industrial activity was also continuing in the neighbouring districts. The findings once again drive home the fact that we need a strategy for the entire Indo-Gangetic Plains region and that we need a clean fuel transition. Industries need to move to natural gas or electricity,” said Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director, Centre for Science and Environment.

• Clean Air & Sustainable Mobility

Pollution levels higher this winter in Hyderabad, AP

Pollution levels higher this winter in Hyderabad, AP HYDERABAD: This winter was dirtier for Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam as compared to that of 2019 in terms of atmospheric pollution. For Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Rajahmundry, the dirtiest week during winter 2020-2021 was the week ending January 3. For Tirupati and Visakhapatnam, the dirtiest week was the one ending on December 27, 2020. The high winter pollution is blamed on the reopening of the economy and changing meteorology. A study of the air quality in major cities in South India, including Hyderabad in Telangana and Vijayawada, Amaravati, Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry and Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) revealed that the cleanest week for Rajahmundry, Tirupati and Visakhapatnam was recorded pre-monsoon in April, May, and early June 2020. The CSE study, comparing pollution during lockdown and post lockdown, was released on Tuesday. According to the CSE report, Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam had an earlier start of bad air days in winter of 2020. The rolling weekly average rose over the 24 hour standard (60 micrograms per metre cube) in Visakhapatnam on October 23 (9 days earlier), and ink Hyderabad on October 25 (14 days earlier). This winter overall has been 34% dirtier in Visakhapatnam and 7% in Hyderabad. The study revealed that the number of days with particulate matter (PM) 2.5 concentration meeting standards was considerably lower this winter in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam. There have been 31 days of poor or worse air days this winter compared to 10 recorded last year in Visakhapatnam. Hyderabad registered a day with poor air quality compared to zero in winter of 2019. Similarly, standard days have been lesser by 11 days in Hyderabad and 23 days in Visakhapatnam. The CSE took data up to January 26, 2021 for its study. It said even though atmospheric conditions during winter in the south is not the same as that in the Indo-Gangetic plains in the northern region, trapping of winter pollution is quite high, especially in inland cities. As part of the study, pollution data of 21 cities spread across five southern states was analysed. The 2020 average PM 2.5 level in many inland cities in the Deccan plateau has climbed up to breach the average concentration recorded in 2019. Tirupati has registered a 1.8% increase. Amaravati at 24%, Visakhapatnam at 16% and Hyderabad & Rajahmundry at 14% are the other best performers in the pool. From the respective cleanest week, the weekly average of PM 2.5 in Hyderabad rose seven times, while in Visakhapatnam it rose 14 times to the dirtiest week. Rajahmundry deteriorated 19 times and Amaravati 17 times.