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CSE का खुलासा: देश में सभी प्रमुख ब्रांड के शहद में जबरदस्त मिलावट

नई दिल्ली यह खबर पढ़ कर आपको भारी झटका लग सकता है। अपने यहां शहद (Honey) को अमृत तुल्य माना गया है। इसका उपयोग औषधी के रूप में भी खूब होता है। लेकिन इसमें जबरदस्त मिलावट की जा रही है। यह हालत सिर्फ सड़क किनारे भगोने में बिकने वाले शहद की नहीं, बल्कि नामी गिरामी ब्रांडेड शहद की भी है। यह खुलासा सेंटर फार साइंस एंड एनवॉयरामेंट (CSE) ने किया है। CSE की महानिदेशक सुनीता नारायण ने आज इसका यहां खुलासा किया। उन्होंने बताया कि भारतीय बाजारों में बिक रहे शहद के लगभग सभी ब्रांडों में जबरदस्त तरीके से शुगर सिरप (Sugar syrup) की मिलावट हो रही है। उलेखनीय है कि इसी संगठन ने वर्ष 2003 और 2006 के दौरान सॉफ्ट ड्रिंक में कीटनाशक की उपस्थिति का खुलासा किया था। यह फूड फ्रॉड है सुनीता नारायण का कहना है कि शहर में शुगर सिरप की मिलावट खाद्य धोखाधड़ी (Food Fraud) है। यह 2003 और 2006 में सीएसई द्वारा सॉफ्ट ड्रिंक में की गई मिलावट की खोजबीन से ज्यादा कुटिल और ज्यादा जटिल है। लोग इस समय जानलेवा कोविड-19 के खिलाफ जंग लड़ रहे हैं और इससे बचने का कोई रास्ता नहीं है। ऐसे कठिन समय में भोजन में चीनी का जरूरत से ज्यादा इस्तेमाल (Overuse) हालात को और भयावह बना देगा। भारत और जर्मनी की प्रयोगशालाओं में हुआ है परीक्षण संगठन का कहना है कि यह रिपोर्ट भारत और जर्मनी की प्रयोगशाला में हुए अध्ययनों पर आधारित है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट द्वारा की गई यह गहरी पड़ताल बताती है कि भारत के सभी प्रमुख ब्रांड के शहद में जबरदस्त मिलावट की जा रही है। 77 फीसदी नमूनों में शुगर सिरप की मिलावट पाई गई है अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्तर पर स्वीकार्य न्यूक्लियर मैग्नेटिक रेजोनेंस स्पेक्ट्रोस्कोपी (NMR) परीक्षण में 13 ब्रांड में सिर्फ 3 ब्रांड ही पास हुए। उनका कहना है कि शहद के शुद्धता की जांच के लिए तय भारतीय मानकों के जरिए मिलावट को नहीं पकड़ा जा सकता, क्योंकि चीन की कंपनियां ऐसे शुगर सिरप तैयार कर रही हैं जो भारतीय जांच मानकों को आसानी से खरे उतरते हैं। इस समय भारतीय कुछ ज्यादा ही सेवन कर रहे हैं शहद का कोविड-19 संकट के वक्त भारतीय कुछ ज्यादा ही शहद का सेवन कर रहे हैं, क्योंकि उनका विश्वास है कि विषाणु से लड़ने के लिए यह अच्छाइयों की खान है। मसलन एंटीमाइक्रोबियल और एंटी इंफ्लेमेटरी गुणों के साथ इसमें प्रतिरक्षा (Immunity) को बनाने की क्षमता है। लेकिन, यदि शहद ही मिलावटी है तो असल में हम चीनी खा रहे हैं। यह मोटापा और अत्यधिक वजन की चुनौती को बढ़ाता है और जो अंततः हमें गंभीर कोविड-19 संक्रमण के जोखिम की ओर ले जाता है। तहकीकात में क्या पाया गया सीएसई के फूड रिसर्चर ने भारतीय बाजार में बिकने वाले 13 शीर्ष और छोटे ब्रांड वाले प्रोसेस्ड शहद को चुना। इन ब्रांड के नमूनों को सबसे पहले गुजरात के राष्ट्रीय डेयरी विकास बोर्ड (NDDB) में स्थित सेंटर फॉर एनालिसिस एंड लर्निंग इन लाइवस्टॉक एंड फूड (CALF) में जांचा गया। लगभग सभी शीर्ष ब्रांड (एपिस हिमालय छोड़कर) शुद्धता के परीक्षण में पास हो गए, जबकि कुछ छोटे ब्रांड इस परीक्षण में फेल हुए, उनमें सी3 और सी4 शुगर पाया गया, यह शुगर चावल और गन्ने के हैं। लेकिन जब इन्हीं ब्रांड्स को न्यूक्लियर मैग्नेटिक रेजोनेंस (NMR) परीक्षण पर परखा गया तो लगभग सभी ब्रांड के नमूने फेल पाए गए। एनएमआर परीक्षण वैश्विक स्तर पर मोडिफाई शुगर सिरप को जांचने के लिए प्रयोग किया जाता है। 13 ब्रांड परीक्षणों में सिर्फ 3 ही एनएमआर परीक्षण में पास हो पाए। इन्हें जर्मनी की विशेष प्रयोगशाला में जांचा गया था। इस मिलावट को पकड़ पाना बेहद जटिल सीएसई के फूड सेफ्टी एंड टॉक्सिन टीम के कार्यक्रम निदेशक अमित खुराना ने कहा कि हमने जो भी पाया वह चौंकाने वाला था। यह दर्शाता है कि मिलावट का व्यापार कितना विकसित है जो खाद्य मिलावट को भारत में होने वाले परीक्षणों से आसानी से बचा लेता है। हमारी चिंता सिर्फ इतनी भर नहीं है कि जो शहद हम खाते हैं वह मिलावटी है लेकिन यह चिंता इस बात को लेकर है कि इस मिलावट को पकड़ पाना बेहद जटिल और कठिनाई भरा है। हमने पाया कि शुगर सिरप इस तरह से डिजाइन किए जा रहे कि उनके तत्वों को पहचाना ही न जा सके। नामी बांड भी फेल हो गए शहद के 77 फीसदी नमूनों में शुगर सिरप के साथ अन्य मिलावट पाए गए। कुल जांचे गए 22 नमूनों में केवल पांच ही सभी परीक्षण में पास हुए। शहद के प्रमुख ब्रांड्स जैसे डाबर, पतंजलि, बैद्यनाथ, झंडु, हितकारी और एपिस हिमालय, सभी एनएमआर टेस्ट में फेल हो गए। 13 ब्रांड्स में से सिर्फ 3 – सफोला, मार्कफेड सोहना और नेचर्स नेक्टर, सभी परीक्षणों में पास पाए गए। उल्लेखनीय है कि भारत से निर्यात किए जाने शहद का एनएमआर परीक्षण 1 अगस्त, 2020 से अनिवार्य कर दिया गया है, जो यह बताता है कि भारत सरकार इस मिलावटी व्यापार के बारे में जानती थी, इसलिए उसे अधिक आधुनिक परीक्षणों की आवश्यकता पड़ी। चीन से जुड़े हैं इसके तार बीते वर्ष भारतीय खाद्य सुरक्षा एवं मानक प्राधिकरण (FSSAI) ने आयातकों और राज्य के फूड कमिश्नरों को बताया था कि देश में आयात किया जा रहे गोल्डन सिरप, इनवर्ट शुगर सिरप और राइस सिरप का इस्तेमाल शहद में मिलावट के लिए किया जा रहा है। अमित खुराना ने कहा कि यह अब भी अस्पष्ट है कि खाद्य नियामक वास्तविकता में इस काले कारोबार के बारे में कितना जानता है। वह कहते हैं कि एफएसएसएआई के निर्देश में जिन सिरप के बारे में कहा गया है, वे उन नामों से आयात नहीं किए जाते हैं या इनसे मिलावट की बात साबित नहीं होती। इसकी बजाए चीन की कंपनियां फ्रुक्टोज के रूप में इस सिरप को भारत में भेजती हैं। सीएसई ने अलीबाबा जैसे चीन के व्यापारिक पोर्टल्स की छानबीन की जो अपने विज्ञापनों में दावा करते हैं कि उनका फ्रुक्टोज सिरप भारतीय परीक्षणों को बाईपास कर सकता है। यह भी पाया गया कि वही चीन की कंपनी जो फ्रुक्टोज सिरप का प्रचार कर रही थी, वह यह भी बता रही थी कि यह सिरप सी3 और सी4 परीक्षणों को बाईपास कर सकते हैं और इनका निर्यात भारत को किया जाता है। सीएसई ने इस मामले में और जानकारी हासिल करने के लिए एक अंडरकवर ऑपरेशन चलाया।

Honey sold by major brands in India adulterated with sugar syrup, claims CSE report

Honey sold by several major brands in India has been found adulterated with sugar syrup, the environment watchdog CSE claimed on Wednesday. Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) food researchers selected 13 top as well as smaller brands of processed and raw honey being sold in India to check their purity. It was found that 77 percent of the samples were adulterated with the addition of sugar syrup. Out of the 22 samples checked, only five passed all the tests. "Honey samples from leading brands such as Dabur, Patanjali, Baidyanath, Zandu, Hitkari and Apis Himalaya, all failed the NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) test," the study said. Responding to the claim, Emami (Zandu) spokesperson said, "Emami as a responsible organisation ensures that its Zandu pure honey conforms and adheres to all the protocols and quality norms/standards laid down by the Government of India and its authorised entities such as FSSAI." Dabur too refuted the claim, saying the recent reports seem "motivated and aimed at maligning our brand". "We assure our consumers that Dabur honey is 100 percent pure. It is 100 percent indigenous, collected naturally from Indian sources and packed with no added sugar or other adulterants. We also assure our consumers that Dabur does not import any honey/syrup from China and our honey is sourced entirely from Indian beekeepers," it said in a statement. It added that Dabur is complying with all 22 parameters mandated by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India for testing honey "In addition, Dabur honey is also tested for the presence of antibiotics, as mandated by FSSAI. Further, Dabur is the only company in India to have an NMR testing equipment in our own laboratory, and the same is used to regularly test our honey being sold in the Indian market. This is to ensure that Dabur Honey is 100 per cent pure without any adulteration," it said. Dabur also shared a copy of an NMR test report from Germany that stated that Dabur honey has passed the test. Commenting on the development, Patanjali Ayurved spokesperson SK Tijarawala told PTI, "We manufacture only the natural honey, which is approved by the food regulator FSSAI. Our product meets the standards laid by FSSAI. He also alleged that it was a conspiracy to defame the natural honey producers" of the country. "This is a conspiracy to sell German technology and costly machinery. This is also a conspiracy to defame the natural honey producers of the country and promote the processed honey. This would also dampen India's contribution to the global honey market," he said. Baidyanath and other companies couldn't be contacted immediately. Samples of these brands were first tested by the CSE at the Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food (CALF) at the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in Gujarat. According to the Centre for Science and Environment, almost all the top brands passed the tests of purity, while a few smaller brands failed the tests to detect C4 sugar, it is the basic adulteration using cane sugar. "But when the same brands were tested using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) laboratory tests currently being used globally to check for such modified sugar syrups almost all big and small brands failed. Out of the 13 brands tests, only three passed the NMR test, which was done by a specialised laboratory in Germany," it claimed. "What we found was shocking. It shows how the business of adulteration has evolved so that it can pass the stipulated tests in India. Our concern is not just that the honey we eat is adulterated, but that this adulteration is difficult to catch. In fact, we have found that the sugar syrups are designed so that they can go undetected," said Amit Khurana, programme director of CSE's Food Safety and Toxins team.

Patanjali, Dabur Among Top Brands Adulterating Honey with Chinese Syrups: CSE

With the ongoing pandemic, a significant section of Indians have turned to popular and trusted immunity boosters to keep themselves safe. With this, the market for honey has been booming, however, bee keepers are suffering an enormous price crash. An investigation by the Centre of Science and Environment, released in Delhi on December 2, has revealed nefarious adulteration in honey designed to bypass purity tests in India and massive implications for the health of Indians. The four-month long investigation conducted across laboratory studies in India and Germany reveal rampant adulteration in honey sold by major brands in India – 77% of samples were found adulterated with sugar syrup. Only three out of 13 brands pass the internationally accepted Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) test as Indian standards for honey purity cannot detect the adulteration. CSE food researchers selected 13 top and smaller brands of processed and raw honey being sold in India. “Samples of these brands were first tested at the Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food (CALF) at National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in Gujarat. Almost all the top brands (except Apis Himalaya) passed the tests of purity, while a few smaller brands failed the tests to detect C4 sugar – call it basic adulteration using cane sugar. But when the same brands were tested using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) – laboratory tests currently being used globally to check for such modified sugar syrups – almost all big and small brands failed. Out of the 13 brands tests, only three passed the NMR test, which was done by a specialised laboratory in Germany,” the report states. “What we found was shocking,” said Amit Khurana, programme director of CSE’s Food Safety and Toxins team. “It shows how the business of adulteration has evolved so that it can pass the stipulated tests in India. Our concern is not just that the honey we eat is adulterated, but that this adulteration is difficult to catch. In fact, we have found that the sugar syrups are designed so that they can go undetected,” he added.

'Honeygate': CSE alleges most top brands sell adulterated honey

everal brands of honey in India, including leading names such as Dabur and Patanjali, sell honey laced with sugar syrup, an investigation by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) claims. CSE is the firm that had brought to light the issue of pesticides in cola and antibiotics in honey in the past. At a press conference, CSE chief Sunita Narain said the firm had sent samples of 13 labs for testing at a German lab for advanced Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR), where only three brands Saffola, Markfed Sohna and Societe Naturelle passed the adulteration test. One batch of Nature's Hectar passed the test while another failed it. The brands that failed the test, including those whose multiple batches were tested, are Dabur, Patanjali, Apis Himalaya, Baidyanath, Zandu, Dadev, Hi Honey, Societe Naturelle, Hitkari and Indigenous Honey. CSE said its probe also reveals that the Indian standards for honey purity cannot detect the adulteration. “Our research has found that most of the honey sold in the market is adulterated with sugar syrup. Therefore, instead of honey, people are eating more sugar, which will add to the risk of COVID-19. Sugar ingestion is directly linked to obesity, and obese people are more vulnerable to life-threatening infections,” said Narain. CSE food researchers also tested the samples at the Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food (CALF) at National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in Gujarat, where almost all the top brands (except Apis Himalaya) passed the tests of purity. “What we found was shocking,” says Amit Khurana, programme director of CSE’s Food Safety and Toxins team. “It shows how the business of adulteration has evolved so that it can pass the stipulated tests in India. Our concern is not just that the honey we eat is adulterated, but that this adulteration is difficult to catch. In fact, we have found that sugar syrups are designed so that they can go undetected.” As of August 1, 2020, NMR tests have been made mandatory in India for honey that is meant for export. Over the past few years, FSSAI has revised norms for honey quality several times. Narain said that CSE's findings suggest that more needs to be done to tell apart pure honey. CSE said it also tracked down Chinese trade portals like Alibaba which were advertising fructose syrup that can bypass tests. It also found that the same Chinese companies that advertised this fructose syrup that can beat C3 and C4 tests also exported to India. CSE added that it also conducted an undercover operation where it imported batches of sugar syrup designed to beat normal tests. After mixing the syrup with pure honey in various proportions, CSE got the products tested, which passed purity tests to the point where sugar syrup was laced with honey for up to 50 percent. Besides, CSE also tracked down a factory in India, in Jaspur in Uttarakhand, which manufactures the 'all pass' syrup, which when mixed with honey, helps it clear tests. CSE said it has asked the government and industry to stop the import of syrups and honey from China and strengthen enforcement in India through public testing so that companies are held responsible. "The government should get samples tested using advanced technologies and make this information public so that consumers are aware and our health is not compromised. It will also hold companies responsible," Narain said. Narain added that the rampant adulteration of honey mixing has resulted in a sharp drop of price of honey from Rs 150 odd a kg in 2014-15 to about Rs 60-70 now, hurting local beekeepers. She added that consumers must become more aware of the honey they consume. "We often assume that if honey crystallises, it is not pure. This is not correct. We must start learning the taste, smell and colour of the honey that is natural,” she said.

New Delhi-based CSE says its probe found nefarious honey adulteration in top brands

New Delhi: Investigations by New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) with laboratory studies in India and Germany revealed rampant adulteration in honey sold by major brands in India, the non-profit research and advocacy group said. It claimed that 77 per cent of samples found adulterated with sugar syrup with only three out of 13 brands passing the internationally accepted Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) test. “It is a food fraud more nefarious and more sophisticated than what we found in our 2003 and 2006 investigations into soft drinks; more damaging to our health than perhaps anything that we have found till now– keeping in mind the fact that we are still fighting against a killer COVID-19 pandemic with our backs to the wall. This overuse of sugar in our diet will make it worse,” said Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) director general Sunita Narain today, while releasing a new CSE investigation into honey adulteration.

Local emissions, weather push air to ‘very poor’ zone

According to government agencies, it is likely to remain there throughout the week owing to the wind speed calming down and wind patterns changing in the coming days. While the farm fires in neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab have drastically reduced — it contributed just 4% to Delhi’s PM 2.5 levels on Tuesday, according to System for Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research — the national capital’s air quality plunged further to the upper end of the very poor zone of the air quality index (AQI) on Tuesday. According to government agencies, it is likely to remain there throughout the week owing to the wind speed calming down and wind patterns changing in the coming days. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI on Tuesday was 367, even worse than Monday’s 318, though both are in the very poor category. On a scale of 0 to 500, an AQI value between 300 and 400 is considered very poor, and those above 400 are considered severe. The air quality continued to deteriorate further Tuesday evening, with most of the hot spots slipping into the ‘severe’ zone. By 9pm, 11 of the 35 monitoring stations recorded severe air quality — Anand Vihar (414), Ashok Vihar (437), Bawana (413), DTU (409), Jahangirpuri (443), Mundka (413), Nehru Nagar (404), Patparganj (410), Punjabi bagh (405), Rohini (414) and Vivek Vihar (425). The CPCB, which is in charge of implementing the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap), said it is taking measures to control local pollution levels. “We are monitoring the situation closely. Measures under the very poor zone are already being enforced. Patrolling teams are carrying field inspections regularly,” said a senior CPCB official. Despite repeated attempts, MM Kutty, chairperson of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and adjoining areas, could not be reached for a comment. Scientists at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the average wind speed during the day reduced to 7-8 kmph from 10-12 kmph on Monday. “The wind speed will further reduce from December 4 or 5 and the direction is likely to change to easterly, from the present north-westerly. Whenever there is a change in pattern, winds turn calm and trap pollutants,” said Kuldeep Srivastava, head of IMD’s regional weather forecasting centre. He said easterly winds are also likely to bring in moisture, which when combined with calm winds allow pollutants to accumulate. There is also a forecast of shallow fog on December 4 or 5. “Besides, the change in wind pattern will also lead to a rise in minimum temperature between December 4 and 7,” Srivastava further said. On Tuesday, the Safdarjung Observatory — the official marker for the city’s weather— recorded a minimum temperature of 8.1 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal. The maximum settled at 27.2 degrees Celsius, two notches above normal. Sagnik Dey, associate professor, IITDelhi, said, “In October and November, farm fires contribute about 25% to the overall pollution in Delhi. In December, we record the same pollution level even without stubble burning because of reduced dispersion of pollutants,” Dey said. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said at present, the only factors at play are meteorological and local pollutants. “Even though there has been a declining trend in the overall pollution levels since 2017, Delhi still has to reduce its PM 2.5 concentrations at least by 60% to mitigate these peak episodes. Also, on-ground monitoring of waste burning and emissions from illegal industries need to be stepped up to have some real impact,” she said.

Save Power For More Power: Five Easy Ways To Conserve Energy And Be Energy Efficient

In India, thermal power plants are both a major source of energy and the largest contributors to air pollution, globally. This is not widely known, by generating one unit of energy from coal, we emit 525 milligrams of dust, 5,250 milligrams of sulphur dioxide which can potentially trigger more dust generation, 1,400milligrams of oxides of nitrogen, and 0.23 kg ash or waste is generated whose disposal again creates problems of dust and water contamination due to improper disposal in predominant cases. Also, we need 3.5 to 4 litres of water to generate one unit of power, said Soundaram Ramanathan, Researcher, Industrial pollution control unit at Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)

Faecal coliform levels 660 times desirable limit in the Yamuna

The level of faecal coliform (microbes from human and animal excreta) is above the desirable limit at all points tested in Yamuna in Delhi, except for Palla where the river enters the city, as per a Delhi government report. For bathing in a river, the desirable level of faecal coliform is 500 MPN/100 ml or lesser, as per the Central Pollution Control Board. Near ITO Bridge the level was 3,30,000 MPN/100 ml, which is 660 times the desirable level. In eight of the nine locations, the level was higher than the safe limit. The report is a ‘Monthly Progress Report’ submitted by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti on cleaning Yamuna. The report also said that levels of different pollutants are above permissible limits in ground water samples from different points near the four landfills in Delhi. The report further said that in September no sewer lines were laid and notified in unauthorised colonies, work that is part of the effort to clean the Yamuna. The report also pointed out that the New Delhi Municipal Council processed all 272 Tonnes Per Day (TPD) of solid waste generated in its area and none of the waste goes to landfills in the city. However, around 2,100 TPD of waste from the North Corporation finds its way to the landfills; 2,000 TPD of waste from East Corporation; and 1,750 TPD of waste from the South Corporation. Ground water samples from four different points near Ghazipur landfill showed that the hardness of water was higher than the desirable limit of 300 mg/l. The levels of chlorine and calcium were also above the desirable limit in all four samples. The level of sulfate was higher than the desirable limit of 200 mg/l in three of the four samples. Data from the other three landfills showed similar trends. “All the landfills in Delhi are overcapacity. They were not built as scientific landfills and are just dumping grounds. The waste ends up polluting both the surface and the groundwater,” said Suresh Kumar Rohilla, director of water programme, Centre for Science and Environment. “This results in higher than permissible levels of pollution in nearby areas,” he said, but added scientific interventions were made to resolve some issues. Regarding faecal coliform levels, Mr. Rohilla said: “Almost no stretch of the Yamuna in Delhi is safe for bathing. Water with such high level of fecal coliform can lead to skin infection on external contact and water borne diseases if ingested.”

Air quality in November worse than last year

The air quality of Delhi in November this year was worse than in 2019, as per an analysis of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. This year had more days in the ‘severe’ category compared to the last two years, CPCB’s studies observed. In November this year, there were nine days when the air quality was in the ‘severe’ category, but the same was only seven days in 2019 and five days in 2018. There were two days when the air quality was in the ‘moderate’ category in the same period this year, but there were three such days in 2019. Also, there was one day when the air quality was satisfactory in November 2019, but there was no such day this year during the same period.Besides, the average daily AQI (Air Quality Index) of November this year was higher than 2019, though lower than 2018, the data shows. Vivek Chattopadhyaya, senior programme manager at Centre for Science and Environment, Delhi said that Deepavali being in November this year and higher number of farm fires in the end of October in neighbouring States and low temperature are the possible reasons for the high pollution in 2020 compared to 2019. “There was higher number of farm fires towards the end of October and the effect of farm fires stays in Delhi for a few days after it gets transported from other States,” he said. AQI ‘very poor’ The air quality of Delhi and Noida was in the ‘very poor’ category and that of Gurugram’s was in the ‘poor’ category on Monday, as per CPCB data. It is expected to further deteriorate and stay in the ‘very poor’ category on Tuesday. “Air quality is likely to worsen in north India due to cold waves and low temperatures. The AQI is forecast to deteriorate to the middle-end of the very poor category for the next two days,” said a statement by the government-run monitoring agency SAFAR.

Pollution in November 2020 up from last year, shows CPCB data

The average pollution levels this November, when air quality was a dip due to a combination of factors such as farm fires, firecracker bursting on Diwali and adverse meteorological conditions, were higher than last year during the same time. An analysis of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) air quality data shows that the monthly average air quality index (AQI) this November was 327.9, as compared to 312.2 in November 2019. However, it was slightly better than the monthly average of 334.9 in 2018, 360.93 in 2017 and 374.06 in 2016. This November saw nine ‘severe’ air quality days, as compared to seven last year. Also this year, Delhi had six consecutive ‘severe’ days from November 5-10, the longest ‘severe’ spell seen in the city since 2016. Besides, only two ‘moderate’ air days were recorded this year -- November 17 (171) and November 27 (137). In November 2019, three ‘moderate’ days were seen -- November 27 (134), November 28 (106), November 30 (193) -- as well as a ‘satisfactory’ day (84) on November 29. While the year 2018 saw one ‘moderate’ day on November 4 with an AQI reading of 171, the years 2017 and 2016 did not record a single ‘moderate’ day. On Monday, the average air quality index (AQI) plunged to ‘very poor’ after remaining in the ‘poor’ to ‘moderate’ range over the past three days. The average AQI on Sunday was 256. It was 231 on Saturday and 137 on Friday. According to experts, a combination of factors playing up at the same time was behind the high pollution levels this November, including a prolonged and intensive stubble burning season that coincided with firecracker bursting and unfavourable meteorological conditions. “This year, farm fires started early on and continued till late November. The number of fires was much higher than last year. Besides, last year, Diwali was early (October 27) as compared to this year (November 14). This season starting from October itself was drier, as compared to last year. Only one instance of rainfall was seen this November, which helped clear the post-Diwali pollution. All these factors combined contributed to higher particulate matter (PM) concentration this time,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (research and advocacy), Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). V K Soni of the India Meteorological department’s environment research centre, said this October -November, the number of fire counts were at least 50% more than last year. Besides, a late Diwali impacted the air quality. “All these factors, with meteorological conditions not being favourable for dispersal at the same time, did not allow the pollutants accumulated in the air to disperse. Since the accumulation was higher, it took longer to disperse, resulting in a long spell of bad air,” said Soni.

Stubble burning incidents rose by over 20% in 2020, says Air quality commission official

Stubble burning incidents saw a steep rise of more than 20 per cent this year in comparison to the last two years, a factor which plays a significant role in spiking pollution levels in the Delhi-NCR, K J Ramesh, member of the newly formed commission for air quality management, said on Friday. Ramesh said the 'Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas' has started discussions with stakeholders and he exuded confidence of coming up with an "acceptable and suitable solution" to combat air pollution by next year. He said 2018 recorded 51,751 incidents of farm fires from mid-October to November end. This figure was the highest between 2010-2018, he said. The number dropped marginally to 50,738 a year later. "This year, 73,000 cases of farm fires were reported until November 17," Ramesh, who was the former director general of the India Meteorology Department, said citing a study done by the Air Pollution Action Group. Ramesh was speaking at a webinar on 'Clean Air Management for Public Welfare'. The webinar was organised by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, a research body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. IITM has launched several initiatives like SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research) to track air pollution. Farm fires or stubble burning post-harvest season during October-November in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan significantly contribute to the pollution levels in Delhi-NCR. Last month, the Centre announced formation of the Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas. The members include a chairperson, a representative of Environment secretary and five ex-officio members who are either chief secretaries or secretaries in charge of the environment departments of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. It also has two full-time members who have been joint secretaries to the central government, three full-time independent technical members who have specific scientific knowledge regarding air pollution, one technical member from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), one technical member nominated by ISRO and three members of NGOs having experience in matters concerning combating of air pollution. Ramesh, who is the one of the technical members, said the commission began its work from November 16. "Our work is to develop a common understanding on the issues of concern for Delhi's (Delhi-NCR) air quality by taking all states and central government ministries into assessment, understanding the process and evolving the most acceptable approach to emission reduction in Punjab, neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh...." He said the commission has started interactions with various groups in Delhi, with the Central Pollution Control Board, IMD and Indian Agricultural Research Institute's microbiology group where the bio-decomposer option is being talked about and tested at selected field sites. "We had a very detailed briefing from member of the EPCA (Environment Pollution [Prevention and Control] Authority), Sunita Narain. "With everybody's effort, the most acceptable and suitable solution for air quality improvement would emerge, definitely by next year. The target is to show some substantive changes with which the commission is working," he said.

Stubble burning rose by over 20% this year: Air quality commission official

Stubble burning incidents saw a steep rise of more than 20 per cent this year in comparison to the last two years, a factor which plays a significant role in spiking pollution levels in the Delhi-NCR, K J Ramesh, member of the newly formed commission for air quality management, said on Friday. Ramesh said the 'Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas' has started discussions with stakeholders and he exuded confidence of coming up with an "acceptable and suitable solution" to combat air pollution by next year. He said 2018 recorded 51,751 incidents of farm fires from mid-October to November end. This figure was the highest between 2010-2018, he said. The number dropped marginally to 50,738 a year later. "This year, 73,000 cases of farm fires were reported until November 17," Ramesh, who was the former director general of the India Meteorology Department, said citing a study done by the Air Pollution Action Group. Ramesh was speaking at a webinar on 'Clean Air Management for Public Welfare'. The webinar was organised by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, a research body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. IITM has launched several initiatives like SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research) to track air pollution. Farm fires or stubble burning post-harvest season during October-November in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan significantly contribute to the pollution levels in Delhi-NCR. Last month, the Centre announced formation of the Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas. The members include a chairperson, a representative of Environment secretary and five ex-officio members who are either chief secretaries or secretaries in charge of the environment departments of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. It also has two full-time members who have been joint secretaries to the central government, three full-time independent technical members who have specific scientific knowledge regarding air pollution, one technical member from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), one technical member nominated by ISRO and three members of NGOs having experience in matters concerning combating of air pollution. Ramesh, who is the one of the technical members, said the commission began its work from November 16. "Our work is to develop a common understanding on the issues of concern for Delhi's (Delhi-NCR) air quality by taking all states and central government ministries into assessment, understanding the process and evolving the most acceptable approach to emission reduction in Punjab, neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh...." He said the commission has started interactions with various groups in Delhi, with the Central Pollution Control Board, IMD and Indian Agricultural Research Institute's microbiology group where the bio-decomposer option is being talked about and tested at selected field sites. "We had a very detailed briefing from member of the EPCA (Environment Pollution [Prevention and Control] Authority), Sunita Narain. "With everybody's effort, the most acceptable and suitable solution for air quality improvement would emerge, definitely by next year. The target is to show some substantive changes with which the commission is working," he said.