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World Food Safety Day 2020: Combating Food Borne Illnesses

Right to food is a fundamental human right. Food quality and safety are important aspects of this right to food. In order to draw attention to the importance of food safety that has implications on human health and economic prosperity, World Food Safety Day was observed for the first time on June 7th, 2019 by WHO in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations. World Food Safety Day 2020 World Food Safety Day is aimed at reinforcing the commitment to scale up food safety made by the Addis Ababa Conference and the Geneva Forum in 2019 under the umbrella of “The Future of Food Safety”. World Food Safety Day 2020 is to be observed on June 7, 2020, with the theme – “Food Safety, Everyone’s Business”. The intent is to initiate an action-oriented campaign that will promote global food safety awareness and call upon countries and decision-makers, the private sector, civil society, UN organizations and the general public to take action. Food Safety – A Concern in India Food and Water contamination is a serious concern in India. Chandra Bhushan, Deputy Director-General, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has said, “Scientific evidence has shown that contamination of food is a serious issue in India as unchecked microbial activity and the use of pesticides and antibiotics seriously compromise food safety, while consumption of junk food and other chemically-laced foods adds to the problem.” According to CSE researchers, in 2013, about 10 per cent of deaths in India of children below 5 years were due to diarrhoea. The total burden of foodborne illnesses in the country is yet to be estimated. One of the major reasons that are responsible for food and water contamination is the indiscriminate use of pesticides in agriculture. Such food contamination leads to long-term health effects, such as endocrine disruption, birth defects and cancer. In addition to this, the unmet hygiene standards of highly popular street-food in India also contribute to food-borne illnesses in India. Relevance of World Food Safety Day 2020 Amid COVID-19 outbreak COVID-19 outbreak has drastically changed the world as we know it. Importance of hygiene and cleanliness has forced the food vendors to meet the safety and cleanliness standards. Considering the fact that there is no sure treatment for COVID-19 and vaccine for it seems unlikely in the near future, people are forced to take health seriously and improve their immunity. At such a time, World Food Safety Day 2020 has gained another dimension that needs to be addressed. Food safety now is not just about meeting some SDGs. It is about survival. Food Safety at Production Level Considering the fact that pesticides and chemical farming are largely responsible for food and water contamination, food producers need to find alternatives to these in agriculture and food production. Organic Farming Organic Farming benefits the farmers in a way that it helps them improve their soil quality and water quality. Wide range of organic pesticides and fertilizers helps them secure their production and earn more value for their produce considering the increased demand and low supply of organic products. These products also have health benefits for the consumers considering the absence of chemicals in them. The only drawback of the method is that it requires more manual labour, and less produce comparatively which might discourage the farmers from pursuing. Zero Budget Natural Farming Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) is a method of agriculture where the farmer lets nature run its course. The farmers do not need to till the soil or use any form of fertilizers or pesticides. In this method, the farmers do not have to make any form of investment except perhaps to procure seeds. Once planted, nature provides for the plant’s needs, which makes it resilient against storms or other natural calamities. It also prevents soil erosion and degradation. However, now since the seeds are chemically treated, the plants that grow from them are not adapted to sustain independently. This means that it might take a few years for farmers to actually be able to make money out of ZBNF, discouraging them to pursue the method. Precision Farming It is the indiscriminate use of fertilizers and pesticides that is harmful to soil and human health. Using it in a controlled manner is not as harmful. This is where the method of Precision Farming comes into the picture. In this method, the farmer uses technology in form of Artificial intelligence, sensors and ipads/tablets/smartphones that give them information as to which element is missing from the soil, or the moisture content of the soil at a specific time. This allows farmers to use fertilizers or pesticides in a controlled manner. Precision farming is highly beneficial since it saves water use, fertilizer use and prevents soil degradation and contamination. In addition, it does not impact the quality and quantity of the produce obtained. The drawback of the technique is; it requires a substantial initial investment in the form of installation of the technology. Also, it requires the farmers to develop the skill to employ the technology accurately, which is not an easy feat for Indian farmers. Food Safety at Consumption Level Food Safety does not end at the level of production. Consumers need to take necessary precautions from their end in order to ensure that the food is not contaminated before consumption. For this, individuals must; 1. Keep produce separate from meat, poultry, seafood and eggs, while shopping. 2. Keep produce and other ready to eat foods in a separate area of the refrigerator, away from the meat, poultry, seafood and eggs. 3. Refrigerate food within 2 hours of grocery shopping or 1 hour if kept in air temperatures above 32 degrees. 4. Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before preparing food. 5. Rinse whole fruits and vegetables under running water and dry with a clean cloth. 6. Clean cooking surfaces and utensils with hot, soapy water after every use. 7. Keep meat, poultry, and seafood warm (60 degrees or above) between cooking and serving. The individuals must make sure to avoid; 1. Choosing meat, poultry, seafood, or eggs with broken or leaking packaging. 2. Removing eggs from the carton or keeping them in the refrigerator door. 3. Placing raw meats, poultry, or seafood on upper shelves of the refrigerator where they can drip onto other foods. 4. Using soap or detergent on foods. 5. Reusing plates or cutting boards that have touched uncooked meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, or flour before washing them with hot, soapy water. 6. Allowing food to cool before refrigerating. 7. Letting food to sit out for more than 2 hours or 1 hour in air temperatures above 32 degrees. Food Safety is an important aspect to consider to fight against malnutrition, and achieve health goals in India. A collaborative effort from all to achieve food safety at production and a keen sense of self-preservation will achieve it at the level of consumption. | June 8, 2020

Life in a 'cursed' land during a pandemic: The story of Churaman Nagar

No one in Churaman Nagar remembers a time when there was no sickness No one in Churaman Nagar remembers a time when there was no sickness. “When your land is cursed, there is nothing you can do”, says Kunti Chaudhary (58) holding up the only photo she has of her granddaughter Putus. Putus, died a year ago. She was four and had never been able to get up or walk in her brief life. “One afternoon she went to sleep and never woke up. Like everyone else, she was swallowed by the water,” says Kunti. Churaman Nagar is a hamlet of 142 households in Churi panchayat of Bihar. Its residents are Mahadalits—an umbrella term used for the state’s 22 most economically and socially deprived castes. It falls under Gaya district, one of the 11 in the state which report higher than permissible levels of fluoride in water. The district laboratory puts this measure between 10-16 ppm (parts per million)— the latter figure standing at more than ten times the safety limit prescribed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Fluoride is necessary in small measures (upto 1.5 ppm as per the Bureau of Indian Standards) for strong teeth and bones, but an overdose causes dental and skeletal fluorosis manifested in numerous debilitating health conditions ranging from osteoporosis to arthritis and from brain damage to thyroid disorders. No medical tests were conducted on Putus to determine the cause of her death. But, in the land that Chaudhary calls ‘cursed’, at least one member of every household displays the most visible ill effects of fluoride contaminated water—yellow teeth and twisted legs. In addition to all the health problems that fluoride has caused, it has also brought social ostracisation to Churaman Nagar. Kaaili Devi (51), who is unable to walk while her two youngest children Sravan (15) and Vichitra (17) have stunted growth and twisted limbs, says, “Our village has a bad name. Nobody wants to get married to our young”. Some houses away from her, Guddu Kumar (14) displays the same symptoms. He says his physical appearance causes him great shame. “I stay at home. I don’t go to school. I don’t go out to play,” he says. His father Munsi Chaudhary says that they went as far as Patna to get him treated but when a doctor told them the only solution was to leave the village and stay elsewhere, they stopped. “We are poor people, how can we be expected to buy land,” he despairs. Harendra Kumar (27), is the local tola sewak—a government appointed social worker in Mahadalit villages, whose job includes making communities aware of the welfare schemes they are entitled to. His brother Sumit (19) and mother Shivrani (47) both have twisted limbs. He says, “What sense does it make to tell people like us to wash hands 10 times a day to ward off the coronavirus? The water we have to use is what makes us ill. It is also illogical to expect us to be able to afford so much soap”. Scientifically, water used for hand washing evaporates within a matter of seconds. It is thus unlikely to be ingested, and cause harm, even if one has a meal immediately after washing hands. Experts say that any ill effects on the skin are rare and would take decades of prolonged use to be visible. But Harendra’s concern underlines the fact that health status is intertwined with the land one lives on. In Churaman Nagar, where agricultural and construction labour is the most common livelihood, income levels hover between Rs 6,000 to Rs 9,000—leading to Bhattacharya says, “Our work shows that communities do not willingly adapt to defluoridation (reducing the levels of fluoride in drinking water) because of the work involved in maintenance. Providing an alternative source of water, such as through rainwater harvesting, too might not work as they would not find such water aesthetically pleasing.” According to Bhattacharya, a complete approach should include enhancing the responsiveness of service providers in the water sector as well as training medical practitioners and health workers at all levels to correctly diagnose manifestations of high fluoride. (Sravan and Vichitra for instance were treated for weakness by a local medicine man, and then for polio by a health practitioner says their mother). The most potent change however would come from the community taking charge for its well-being. This would require changing the mindset of Churaman Nagar’s residents.

Air pollution dropped by 88% during lockdown, turns severe again

According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), PM 2.5 levels across Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru dropped by a phenomenal 45-88 per cent during the pandemic-induced lockdown period Air pollution dropped by 88% during lockdown, turns severe again New Delhi: Even though the pollution levels in six major cities plummeted during the initial phase of the lockdown, it is on the rise again as the country gradually opens up, a recent study has revealed. According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), PM 2.5 levels across Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru dropped by a phenomenal 45-88 per cent during the pandemic-induced lockdown period. The analysis, however, found that the "pollution registered a comeback" as the nation opened up pursuant to lockdown 4.0. "In the six cities, there was a two-six times increase in PM 2.5 levels during lockdown 4.0," said the report. According to the findings, the national capital saw the steepest rise of four to eight times, as compared to two to six times in other cities. The initial decrease in pollution could be attributed to no industrial activity, reduced on-road traffic and temporary halt on construction activities. Sunita Narain, Director General of Centre for Science and Environment said that the analysis showed the nation needed an intervention at such a massive scale to make skies blue and our air and lungs clean. "It tells us that there should be no question, therefore, on the key sources of air pollution in our country: emissions from vehicles and industry," she added. CSE also presented a charter of environmental demands to ensure a better, cleaner and more sustainable environment, life and air quality. It stated that reducing pollution from heavy-duty vehicles, switching to clean vehicles, using clean power and providing green economic stimulus were a few strategies which could help retain the healthy air. Centre's executive director Anumita Roychowdhury said the nation must ensure that pollution levels do not go back to 'normal' - what they were before the lockdown. l | June 7, 2020

Greens mark World Environment Day with webinars and plantation drives

Dehradun: Maintaining social distancing protocols, nature lovers on Friday marked World Environment Day with webinars and other activities. Experts participated in different webinars at different time slots, webcast on social platforms like Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. While speaking on this year’s theme — Celebrating Biodiversity — several speakers said that Covid-19 may have pushed them indoors, but it has given them a new perspective on how to handle environmental concerns. One such initiative was organised by Global Interfaith WASH Alliance (GIWA) and Parmarth Niketan, in partnership with UNICEF and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It was hosted by Swami Chidanand Saraswati, president of Parmarth Niketan, and Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, secretary-general of GIWA. The webinar — Moving from United Nations to a united creation: bridging science and faith is the solution — illustrated multilateral commitment to protect nature. United Nations resident coordinator in India, Renata Lok- Dessallien, said, “When we talk about bridging science and faith, especially in the context of environment, we find these bridges already exist in the most ancient of our moral codes. All sacred traditions worship nature, seek balance between human beings and ecosystems and warn against destruction of the earth’s wealth. We must use this wisdom to strengthen our global effort towards sustainable development.” Noted environmentalist Dr Sunita Narain urged the audience towards ‘green’ growth, which requires protection and sustainable use of natural resources. Another webinar was organised by Making a Difference (MAD), in which noted environmentalists Dr Anil Joshi, Lokesh Ohri, Vandana Shiva, Parmjeet Singh Kakkar, et al, participated and emphasised on Uttarakhand’s longpending demand for additional funds or privileges as “green bonus”, for maintaining its robust biodiversity. Also as part of the World Environment Day, a Rudraprayag forest division team collected around 500 kg of plastic from Chopta, a prominent tourist spot.Elsewhere, premiere institutions like Forest Research Institute (FRI), Wildlife Institute of India and Forest Survey of India also marked the day by conducting tree plantation drives, internal workshops and competitions. A cleanliness and sanitisation programme was organised in the FRI campus, where a bamboo pedal sanitiser was inaugurated by director of ICFRE (Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education), Dr A S Rawat.

Pradeep Sachdeva, architect and urban planner, leaves a lasting legacy

Anupama Katakam Pradeep Sachdeva, the award-winning, New Delhi-based architect who was well known for designing several landmark public spaces in the capital city, passed away at the age of 62 on May 31. He was considered one of India’s foremost designers of urban spaces. The iconic and popular Dilli Haat at INA Market, Garden of Five Senses in Said-ul-Ajaib, and Emporia Plaza at Baba Kharak Singh Marg are some his most interesting contributions to New Delhi. Sachdeva’s untimely demise will be a monumental loss to Indian architecture, say many of his associates. Sachdeva’s work, however, transcended architecture. He often said his intention was to capture the soul of the place and allow the common man to enjoy an aesthetic he may not have access to in a wildly developing city such as New Delhi. Sachdeva certainly achieved his goal, for he will always be remembered as the man who, keeping inclusiveness and accessibility as a priority, created several beautiful spaces in the city. Other famous buildings he designed in Delhi are the headquarters of the Delhi Development Authority (INA Market), Azad Hind Gram in Tikri Kalan, Delhi University Plaza, Plaza and Streets at Bhikaji Cama Place, and the Botanic Garden in Noida. Sachdeva grew up in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. He was schooled in Mussorie and graduated in architecture from Roorkee University. He came from a modest background, and the simplicity of his upbringing seems to have remained a fundamental value which was prominent in his work. After working with senior architects, he set up his own practice, Pradeep Sachdeva Design Associates, in New Delhi in 1990. Sachdeva was among the trailblazers who discovered that small villages within the urban sprawl would be an inspiring location to set up workspaces. This was in the early 1990s, when architects, painters and designers found that rooms in old villages were affordable and loaded with personality. The trend eventually led to a symbiotic relationship between the villager and the designer, both taking the best from each other. Today several of Delhi’s villages have some of the most wellknown, not to mention expensive, designers housed in these localities. Sachdeva’s first office was in Khirkee Village. He later shifted to the Ayanagar, where he and his team turned a dusty plot of land in a village into an oasis. Sachdeva was an exceptional architect whose keen interest in conservation and urban planning saw his practice redesign and rejuvenate segments of cities across the country. Assi Ghat in Benaras, the refurbishment of Marine Drive in Mumbai, Willingdon Island Redevelopment in Kochi, and the Eco-Park in Kolkata are some of his pan-Indian projects. However, Delhi was where his heart was. He understood its history, its ethos and he worked industriously at helping it retain the architectural charm that it once commanded as a capital city. As an urban planner, his biggest fears was the city would be engulfed by poorly thought-out modern construction, which would ruin the beauty of the sprawling metropolis. Unwilling to let this happen, his firm would pitch for projects that involved developing or beautifying public spaces. Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia wrote: “The spaces he created have become architectural landmarks for our city brought alive by his imaginative design. RIP.” Jaya Jaitley, former Samata Party president, who worked closely with the architect on the Dilli Haat project, wrote: “The people of Delhi and beyond owe a huge debt of love and respect to an architect who was a lover of life, people, and the aesthetics of public spaces…. He gently encouraged citizens to respect and honour their surroundings by offering them something better than the general squalor in most public environments.” Sachdeva had been working on other significant Delhi government projects such as Chandni Chowk’s pedestrianisation and beautification, Jama Masjid precinct redevelopment, and streetscaping of Ring Road (Moolchand to Ashram chowk), and Vikas Marg. He was also in the middle of building a centre for environment along with the environmentalist Sunita Narain. Sachdeva was excited about the Chandi Chowk project which is located in Old Delhi. He was emphatic that it should retain its old-world pedestrian character yet be modernised just enough to allow easier movement in the congested precincts. His design did not want to displace centuries-old shops and generations of local people. Unfortunately, not all on the larger committee felt this way. In what turned into an ugly problem, some architects took him to court over Chandni Chowk. Sachdeva, a quiet and mild -tempered man, was shaken over the aggression, and associates close to him say was quite puzzled by why they were opposing a plan that was essentially planned with the local people in mind. A former employer of his said “he was very unassuming as you can see from the outpouring of friends and the media coverage. Everyone is equal in his office and workshop. It was also very secular with all communities working in harmony. Workers would work all night to complete a project on time. His work in sustainable materials and alternative energy was an indicator of an innovator and long-term thinking.” Sachdeva had a supremely creative and unique quality where he blended the traditional with the modern, heritage with new age, construction with climate and, perhaps, his most passionate theme, landscape in public spaces. It was his love and support for Indian craftsmanship, which he brought into design, that truly set him apart from his chrome and glass counterparts. Using local resources and material was his signature style. Through this he not only supported hundreds of workers and craftsmen but also created a familiarity for the Indian, which made the space accessible. It could be tiles from Gujarat or woodwork from Rajasthan, but it had a sense of commonality. Dilli Haat Dilli Haat is an example of Sachdeva’s style. Located in the rich and fancy neighborhood of Lutyens’ Delhi, Sachdeva did not want it to be another upmarket space which was shut off to the common man. It was among the country’s first open-air markets that catered to all sections and, more importantly, gave rural craftsmen a platform to sell directly. Winning awards for its design and philosophy, Dilli Haat has become a huge tourist attraction, where even visiting state dignitaries are taken for an outing. Egalitarian and collaborative, Sachdeva would work hands on with all his craftsman. Deeply involved in preserving Indian treasures, he would steer the artisan to produce fine work, which would find a place in a contemporary setting. Sachdeva won an award for saving a 300- year-old wooden Kerala home, which would have been knocked down, had he not dismantled and transported it to his farm in Haryana. He also saved old Haryanvi havelis by buying the pillars and windows before they met their downfall.

Air pollution dipped by 79% during lockdown in Delhi, on rise again

Of the six mega cities where PM 2.5 levels were studied during this period, Delhi saw the steepest rise of four to eight times, as compared to two to six times in other cities, the analysis shows. Pollution levels in Delhi-NCR -- which had come down by around 79% during the initial phase of the lockdown, mainly owing to no industrial activity, reduced on-road traffic and a pause on construction activities -- is on an upswing again as the city gradually opens up, a study by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has found. Of the six mega cities where PM 2.5 levels were studied during this period, Delhi saw the steepest rise of four to eight times, as compared to two to six times in other cities, the analysis shows. CSE studied the PM 2.5 levels of six cities — Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru — during both the initial and last phases of the nationwide lockdown to check the spread of Covid-19. According to the findings, while the PM 2.5 levels in other cities dropped by 45-88% in the initial lockdown phase and witnessed a pollution spike of 2-6 times on opening up, Delhi saw both the steepest drop and sharpest spike . “In Delhi-NCR, one of the major factors that led to the drop in pollution was a 97% reduction in overall traffic and 91% reduction in trucks and commercial vehicles entering the capital during April, as compared to the pre-lockdown months of December-January,” the study found. vehicles entering Delhi in January this year, only 7,942 plied in the city during April, when the lockdown was in full effect. PM 2.5 (ultrafine particles that can enter the lungs and blood stream) is the most prominent pollutant in Delhi-NCR as well as in other major cities across the country. Between March 25 and May 18, when the nationwide lockdown was implemented without any major relaxations, the pollution levels in the national capital reduced drastically and remained in the “satisfactory” category for most of the time. After May 18, however, as lockdown rules were eased, the pollution graph started climbing again. From May 18 to June 5, the air quality index of Delhi has remained in the ‘moderate’ category. On Friday, the AQI levels was recorded as 111 in the moderate category, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The pollution levels were also kept in check because of the increased Western Disturbances that crossed Delhi during and after the lockdown period. Though not all Western Disturbances brought rain, the increased wind speeds helped blow away pollutants. Sunita Narain, director general, CSE, said the analysis clearly shows that the nation needed an intervention at such a massive scale — where movement across the country was completely restricted, and all industrial activities stopped functioning — to clean our air and lungs. “It tells us clearly what the key sources of air pollution are — emissions from vehicles and industry,” she said. The study states that Delhi has an approximately 12.1 million registered vehicles, of which 4.6 million are private vehicles. Of these, only a fraction plied during the lockdown period. Also, visits to workplaces reduced by 60%, while retail and recreation activities reduced by 84%. Besides, activities in residential areas increased by 29%. Cycling and walking increased from 14% to 43%. “The challenge lies in the fact that on opening up, we are likely to go back to the old habits. Today we are re-opening without any plan to keep the air clean. We need to set an agenda including prompt implementation of BS-VI for cleaner fuel, augmentation of public transport, create infrastructure and promote incentivised cycling and walking and introduction of cleaner battery-powered para-transit modes,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy and head of air pollution and clean transportation programme at CSE. Brijmohan Das, atmospheric sciences researcher at IIT-Delhi, said that restrictions on human activities such as vehicular movement and industrial activities contribute a major chunk in the city’s pollution levels . “This should be an eye opener for us. Without human presence, the environment heals itself and pollution levels reduce to satisfactory. Apart from the effects of lockdown, the high wind speed and rain in May and June has also helped the air quality,” Das said .

Slice of childhood memories gone: Atlas Cycles finally pedals its way into history

The bicycle, made by Atlas, belonged to another wellknown son of India, economics Nobel laureate Amartya Sen. LUCKNOW/NEW DELHI: Among the hundreds of artefacts that adorn the walls of the Nobel Museum in Stockholm, Sweden, is a black-colored bicycle hanging from an iron rod. “That’s no ordinary bicycle,” the curator of the museum told Indian journalists in December last year, just before Indian- American economist Abhijit Banerjee, who shared the economics Nobel for 2019 with Esther Duflo and Michael Cremer, was presented the award. The bicycle, made by Atlas, belonged to another well-known son of India, economics Nobel laureate Amartya Sen. The 1998 Nobel winner used to cycle on it during his fieldwork in West Bengal, studying poverty and inequality in the impoverished regions. Sen could not be reached for comment but he will surely rue the fact that Atlas Cycles Haryana Ltd, the makers of the iconic cycle brand, the pioneers of the cycling revolution in India and the first cycle of almost every child, is now history. A journey that started in 1951 from a modest tin shed in Sonepat, Haryana, about 40 km from Delhi, has ended. The company shut its last factory in Sahibabad, just outside the national capital on June 3. A notice pasted on the gates reads: “We are facing difficulty in arranging funds for our day to- day operations. We are also unable to buy raw material. In these conditions, the management is not in a position to operate the factory.” “On June 1 and 2, we came to the factory happy about the fact that it had opened after such a long lockdown. There was no hint by the management that it was mulling a closure,” said Mahesh Kumar, the general secretary of the employees’ union. “On Wednesday, as we gathered at the gates we were denied entry by the guards who showed us the notice on the gate,” said Kumar, who has moved to labour court against the abrupt closure. From Atlas old-timers and patrons of the bicycle to cycling enthusiasts, the common refrain at the company’s closure is of sadness and personal loss. “Having worked with Atlas as a brand head the news was extremely painful and disheartening and gave me a sleepless night,” said Ashish Nagpal, who worked with the company for 19 years and now runs a cycling club, Cycle Sutra. Nostalgia, lament as Atlas shut down UP factory “I can confidently say that Girish Kapur and Gautam Kapur are one the best employers, God-fearing and kind-hearted people and extremely passionate about the Atlas brand. Two of the close executives are still employed at the age of 75,” Nagpal added. “I used to ride an Atlas cycle in my childhood. It was synonymous with bicycles. We want more cycles on the roads so this news is really tragic,” said Sunita Narain, a well-known environmentalist and a cycling buff. After its humble opening by Janki Das Kapur in 1951, Atlas quickly established itself as a leading brand. From the tin shed, it moved to a 25-acre factory complex in a record 12 months. In the very first year of operation, 12,000 cycles rolled out of the plant. There was no looking back. Atlas sent its first consignment overseas in 1958. It has since then exported to several countries. It introduced India’s first racing cycle in 1978 and was made the official supplier of bicycles for the Delhi Asian Games in 1982. Its troubles began in 2004, prompting the company to rope in actor Sunil Shetty and tennis star Sania Mirza as its brand ambassadors. Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra also endorsed the product. But falling demand forced it to shut its plant in Malanpur, Madhya Pradesh, in 2014. In 2018, it suspended operations from its Sonepat unit. With the closure of the Sahibabad factory, the iconic brand will now only be part of memory and nostalgia.

Needed: Pollution plan without boundaries

NEW DELHI: The National Capital Region (NCR) consists of some of the most polluted cities in the world with Delhi often stealing the limelight, especially during winters when PM2.5 and PM10 levels cross 10 times the Indian safe standards. The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) rolled out by Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) every winter to tackle pollution applies to the entire NCR. However, most plans have largely centered around Delhi, despite data showing that Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad and Ghaziabad are potentially more polluting. The air quality monitoring stations across the capital are also far more than other more polluting regions. Coal-based power plants at Rajghat and Badarpur have been shut, while industries have switched to cleaner fuel. Diesel vehicles, too, cannot be registered in the capital. In comparison, the neighbouring areas still have 11 coal-based power plants within a 300km radius of Delhi. Experts believe that without considering NCR as an airshed and ensuring regional cooperation, Delhi and cities like Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad cannot show improvement alone. A Teri source-apportionment study in 2018 found that Delhi only contributed 36% to its own pollution in winters, with 34% coming from NCR and the remaining 30% from outside. This holds similar for other NCR cities, which often receive transboundary pollution. Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment, said, while Delhi has cleaned up its act, the NCR needs to follow suit, however, this won’t be possible if states act individually. “Delhi has implemented the clean fuel policy and coal has been phased out. CNG and petrol are being given a push, alongside PNG for industries. However, this is not the case with NCR. A large number of polluting industries are still functioning across the neighbouring states, which means air quality cannot improve in Delhi if the surroundings are polluted,” Roy Chowdhury said. Aarti Khosla, director, Climate Trends, an NGO, said an airshed approach has worked abroad and was needed across the Indo-Gangetic plains. “Tackling it statewise has its limitations, especially in a region where pollution is widespread,” she added. Tanushree Ganguly, programme associate, Council on Energy, Environment and Water, said, coal-based power plants alone account for a large chunk of pollution in NCR. “Our assessment of the existing emission inventories for Delhi finds that the contribution from power plants alone ranges from 3-11% and all the 11 coal-fired plants in NCR are situated outside Delhi,” she said. The studies suggest that across the country the contribution of sources outside the city boundary could range from 15-50%. “While Delhi’s clean air action plan includes multiple measures that call for coordination between states, no interstate coordination mechanism has been established. Hence, to meet the democratic demand for clean air in Delhi- NCR, government-led regional coordination is must,” said Ganguly. Ashish Jain, founder director, Indian Pollution Control Association, an NGO, said that pollutants see no boundaries, which make it a problem for the entire region and not the state alone. “They travel under the impact of various atmospheric conditions, so each state cannot have its own strategy or policy and interstate cooperation is crucial,” he added.

India pledges to have forests in 200 urban areas, CSE calls for green stimulus package to retain blue skies

NEW DELHI: On the occasion of the World Environment Day on Friday, the Centre announced implementation of ‘Nagar Van’ scheme to develop urban forests in 200 municipal areas (cities/towns) across the country in next five years by involving multiple stakeholders including private companies, local communities and educational institutions. It asked states to map such areas within cities which have been marked as forest land but do not have adequate tree cover. Any other vacant land, offered by urban local bodies, will also be used for developing forests. “Urban forests will work as urban lungs,” said environment minister Prakash Javadekar while making announcement on the Nagar Van scheme and appealing people to work together and make it a people's movement. “India is probably the only country where trees are worshipped, where animals, birds and reptiles are worshipped and this is the respect Indian society places for environment. We had a very important tradition of village forest since ages, now this new scheme of urban forest will fill up the gap because urban areas have gardens but very rarely forests. With this activity of creating urban forest we will also create additional carbon sink,” said Javadekar. A success story of minister’s hometown Pune in developing Warje urban forest will act as a model for the rest of the country. The Maharashtra forest department and local body has converted 16.8 hectares of a barren hill into green forests in Pune. The project was launched there in 2015. The environment ministry held virtual celebrations of World Environment Day on this year’s theme with focus on urban forests and biodiversity. The event also saw participation of Executive Director, United Nation Convention to Combat Desertification, (UNCCD),Ibrahim Thiaw and Executive Director of United Nation Environment Programme(UNEP), Inger Andersen, through video conference. In the backdrop of the current Covid-19 situation, all the speakers on the occasion emphasised on broad aspect of biodiversity emphasising that the humans need nature more than nature needs them. The day was marked by a number of virtual events and webinars on protecting environment and how the world would need to reorient itself in the post-Covid phase. The New Delhi-based think tank, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), called for a ‘green’ stimulus package to help India retain its “blue skies and clean lungs”. Underlining air pollution issue, the CSE noted that the PM 2.5 levels across six major Indian cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru – dropped a phenomenal 45- 88% during the first three lockdown periods with Delhi-NCR reporting a drop of 66-79%. However, with the nation opening up in lockdown 4.0, pollution has started registering a comeback. In the six cities, there was a two-six times increase in PM 2.5 levels during lockdown 4.0 when Delhi-NCR reported significant rise of foureight times. “What this tells us is that the nation needed an intervention at such a massive scale – where movement across the country was completely restricted, and all industry stopped functioning – to make our skies blue and our air and lungs clean. It tells us that there should be no question, therefore, on the key sources of air pollution in our country: emissions from vehicles and industry. And it tells us that we need to set down an agenda for action which will help us retain this lockdown advantage of blue skies and clean lungs,” said Sunita Narain, director general, CSE. Referring to air quality during the lockdown period, Anumita Roychowdhury, the CSE’s executive director-research and advocacy, said, “During the lockdown period, overall mean speed on the roads of Delhi-NCR increased by 15 km/hour. Farm fires did not create the same kind of havoc that they do every year. Daily peak levels of nitrogen dioxide remained flat. We must move immediately to ensure that pollution and congestion levels do not go back to ‘normal’ – what they were before the lockdown.” CSE PITCHES FOR EIGHT MEASURES: 1. Do not delay in implementing the BS VI norms for vehicles. 2. Trucks and heavy-duty vehicles, which are one of the major contributors to pollution, need to be moved to BS VI – use financial stimulus to scrap BS IV-run vehicles and shift them to BS VI. 3. Introduce cleaner battery-powered para-transit and public transport – provide financial support for the shift, starting with autorickshaws and taxis in regions where CNG is not available. 4. Re-start public transport. Implement the global best practices for ensuring safety and hygiene. 5. Use financial stimulus to augment public transport in cities at scale and with speed. 6. Cycling and walking must become part of the ‘new normal’ – introduce measures to encourage and incentivise cycling and walking. 7. Bring natural gas under GST to reduce the tax burden and incentivise cleaner fuel. 8. Remove coal from OGL so that imports can be regulated and use can be monitored. Ensure power plants across the country meet the 2015 emission norms – introduce a policy which will ensure that only those plants which are clean can sell electricity.

Air pollution dropped by 88 percent during lockdown, turns severe again

According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), PM 2.5 levels across Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru dropped by a phenomenal 45-88 percent during the pandemic-induced lockdown period. New Delhi: Even though the pollution levels in six major cities plummeted during the initial phase of the lockdown, it is on the rise again as the country gradually opens up, a recent study has revealed. According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), PM 2.5 levels across Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru dropped by a phenomenal 45-88 percent during the pandemic-induced lockdown period. The analysis, however, found that the "pollution registered a comeback" as the nation opened up pursuant to lockdown 4.0. "In the six cities, there was a two-six times increase in PM 2.5 levels during lockdown 4.0," said the report. According to the findings, the national capital saw the steepest rise of four to eight times, as compared to two to six times in other cities. The initial decrease in pollution could be attributed to no industrial activity, reduced on-road traffic and temporary halt on construction activities. Sunita Narain, Director General of Centre for Science and Environment said that the analysis showed the nation needed an intervention at such a massive scale to make skies blue and our air and lungs clean. "It tells us that there should be no question, therefore, on the key sources of air pollution in our country: emissions from vehicles and industry," she added. CSE also presented a charter of environmental demands to ensure a better, cleaner and more sustainable environment, life and air quality. It stated that reducing pollution from heavy-duty vehicles, switching to clean vehicles, using clean power and providing green economic stimulus were a few strategies which could help retain the healthy air. Centre`s executive director Anumita Roychowdhury said the nation must ensure that pollution levels do not go back to `normal` - what they were before the lockdown.

Green stimulus package needed: CSE

Bathinda: Sunita Narain, director general, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), on Friday released a report on ‘An Environmental Agenda for the Future’ at a webinar on the occasion of the World Environment Day. The report highlighed how particulate matter (PM) 2.5 across six major Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, had dropped by 45-88% during lockdown 1 to 3 and started registering 2 to 6 times increase following relaxations in lockdown 4. “This clearly shows that the country needs an intervention at massive scale to keep the environment clean and green. And it tells us that we need to set down an agenda item for action, which will help retain this lockdown advantage of blue skies and clean lungs,” she said.

Air pollution dropped by 88% during coronavirus lockdown, turns severe again

The analysis, however, found that the "pollution registered a comeback" as the nation opened up pursuant to lockdown 4.0. NEW DELHI: Even though the pollution levels in six major cities plummeted during the initial phase of the lockdown, it is on the rise again as the country gradually opens up, a recent study has revealed. According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), PM 2.5 levels across Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru dropped by a phenomenal 45-88 per cent during the pandemic-induced lockdown period. The analysis, however, found that the "pollution registered a comeback" as the nation opened up pursuant to lockdown 4.0. "In the six cities, there was a two-six times increase in PM 2.5 levels during lockdown 4.0," said the report. According to the findings, the national capital saw the steepest rise of four to eight times, as compared to two to six times in other cities. The initial decrease in pollution could be attributed to no industrial activity, reduced on-road traffic and temporary halt on construction activities. Sunita Narain, Director General of Centre for Science and Environment said that the analysis showed the nation needed an intervention at such a massive scale to make skies blue and our air and lungs clean. "It tells us that there should be no question, therefore, on the key sources of air pollution in our country: emissions from vehicles and industry," she added. CSE also presented a charter of environmental demands to ensure a better, cleaner and more sustainable environment, life and air quality. It stated that reducing pollution from heavy-duty vehicles, switching to clean vehicles, using clean power and providing green economic stimulus were a few strategies which could help retain the healthy air. Centre's executive director Anumita Roychowdhury said the nation must ensure that pollution levels do not go back to 'normal' - what they were before the lockdown.

DATA DRIVE: Huge pendency in green cases

The worst showing is for The Environmental (Protection) Act and The Air & The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, where it will take over 32 and 33 years, respectively, to clear the huge backlog of pending cases. Over 90% court cases remain unresolved under five of the seven Acts related to forests, wildlife, environment protection and pollution. WHILE THE NUMBER of environmentrelated offences in the country declined 17% to 35,196 in 2018 from 42,143 in 2017, the number of cases pending in counts went up by7% to 48,238. So, at the current rate, according to the Centre for Science and Environment’s State of India’s Environment 2020 report, courts will take nine to 33 years to clear the backlog of cases for violations under forest, wildlife, environment protection and air pollution laws.

State of India’s Environment 2020 report

In News- Recently, the State of the Environment report was released. It mentions that one in five of all internal displacements in India was caused by disasters, mostly by floods, cyclones and drought in 2019. Key Highlights of the Report: There were more than 50 lakh internal displacements in India last year, the highest in the world and this refers to the number of movements, not people, as individuals can be displaced several times. Flooding caused by the south-west monsoon led to 26 lakh displacements, while Cyclone Fani alone led to 18 lakh displacements, followed by Cyclone Vayu and Bulbul and the report also broke down 2011 census data on migrant populations. There were over 45 crore migrants in the country at the time of disasters, with the vast majority migrating within their own State. In 2011, over 1.7 crore new migrants had moved for employment purposes, mostly from rural to urban areas. The report also offers a snapshot of data on forests, water, waste, air, land, wildlife and other natural resources. What is Cyclone? A “Cyclone” is an intense vortex/low pressure centre or a whirl/circulation in the atmosphere with very strong winds circulating around the low-pressure vortex. This circulation of the cyclone is in an anti-clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and in a clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere due to the effect of Coriolis Force. Cyclones gain their energy from the heat and moisture generated from warm ocean surfaces. The strength of the cyclones is measured by the wind speeds they generate. About South-west monsoon: The term monsoon refers to the phenomena of reversal of winds during the timespan of one year. The south-west monsoon owes its origin to the great difference of temperature which exists during the summer months between the heated land surface of India and the surrounding oceans. The shift of the position of Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in summer, over the Ganga plain (this is the equatorial trough normally positioned about 5°N of the equator is also responsible for southwest monsoon along with other factors. The period from June to September is referred to as the ‘Southwest Monsoon’ period. Southwest Monsoon period is the principal rainy season for the Indian subcontinent responsible for nearly 75% of its rainfall during this period. Southwest monsoon sets in over the extreme southwestern tip of the peninsula by the end of May. The onset of Monsoon is characterized by a sudden spurt of rainfall activity. It progresses inland in stages and covers the entire country by the middle of July. It starts retrieving from the extreme northwest by the beginning of September, progressively receding southwards. Tamil Nadu is considered as a rain shadow region as it lies on the eastern (leeward side) side of western ghats. The total annual rainfall is maximum over the southernmost part of the state.