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To Resume Public Transport, Experts Suggest Staggered Timings, Bus Lanes, Tech Systems

public transport services halted during the lockdown, technology-enabled systems, the optimal use of existing capacities and staggered commuting can help ensure social distancing and crowd management to prevent the spread of Covid-19, experts tell IndiaSpend. With the emphasis on physical distancing and as a measure to save time, this would mean increase Maximising Capacity “Reopening would essentially mean maximising operations based on what you have immediately,” said Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment. One way to maximise available capacity is to create priority bus lanes that will facilitate greater turnaround time, she suggested.

Locusts feast on India's woes as swarms spread

By ARUNAVA DAS in Kolkata, India | China Daily | Hit by disease and wild weather, country stretched in battle with insect invaders As if the coronavirus outbreak, the resultant lockdown and Cyclone Amphan that recently ravaged parts of the country were not enough, India finds itself imperiled by thick swarms of desert locusts. Swathes of farmland in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Punjab are being invaded by millions of the pests on a cropdevouring spree, potentially ruining food supplies. Keith Cressman, senior locust forecasting officer at the Food and Agriculture Organization, or FAO, of the United Nations, said there have been movements of adult locusts in India, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Uganda in recent days. "Successive waves of invasions can be expected until July in Rajasthan (bordering Pakistan) with eastward surges across northern India followed by westward movements and a return to Rajasthan on the changing winds associated with the monsoon," Cressman said. Much of these movements were associated with strong westerly winds from Cyclone Amphan in the Bay of Bengal, he said. India has struggled to curb the spread of the pandemic. It has reported fresh highs in the number of confirmed infections, of about 9,000 a day over the past days, pushing the total to 258,090 by Monday, according to a tally kept by the Johns Hopkins University. The locusts, though not a new phenomenon, worry experts this time because of the frequency and ferocity of their attacks. The swarms, which are the thickest and the largest in two and a half decades, are aided by frequent cyclones, unusually warm weather, and more rain－all offshoots of climate change, said Sunita Narain, director-general of the New Delhibased research organization Centre for Science and Environment, also works as a think tank. "We must try and understand what is happening, and why it is happening … why this huge scourge of locusts is linked to climate change," Narain said. Noticeable change "In fact, there has been a noticeable change in the way invasions are happening. Much of this can be ascribed to unseasonal rainfall, not just in India but in other breeding grounds." More rain in deserts, and more vegetation, make a perfect breeding ground for these creatures, she said. "And the monsoon was quite prolonged last year." FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu has warned that things will get worse. Juvenile locusts will become voracious adults in June just as farmers begin to harvest, compounding an already bleak outlook for food security. Qu also noted that recent heavy rains have created ideal conditions for the pest's reproduction in several countries, including India and Pakistan. Increasing cyclone activity in the Indian Ocean could be a trend that will result in heavy rains in the Arabian Peninsula and parts of Africa, and that, in turn, is leading to more desert locust upsurges, he noted in an FAO statement. In a highly interdependent world, Narain said, "we urgently require a global consensus and framework to combat the menace". Cressman called for coordinated and concerted action. He said national locust authorities in Iran, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan are in touch through weekly video calls under FAO guidance. Meanwhile, pesticides are being used for controlling the movement of locusts, prompting some experts to point out that a few pesticides are extremely toxic. "Not only can they harm humans, they can also impact soil fertility and crops," said G.V. Ramanjaneyulu, executive director at the Hyderabad-based Centre for Sustainable Agriculture. Ashok Gulati, professor for agriculture at the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, an economic policy think tank, said that fortunately, most of the crops have been harvested, which means less severe losses.

Environmental refocusing: crucial and immediate

Meena Janardhan After struggling to deal with the pandemic and the social and economic effects of the lockdown, countries are now slowly opening up and reinventing the wheel. And, as the world virtually celebrated World Environment Day (WED) on 5 June, it is extremely crucial and essential that every government refocuses and reprioritises ecological and environmental threats. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) points out that as nations of the world strive to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s WED brings into sharp focus the importance of fundamentally shifting humanity’s relationship with nature to preserve our societies and prevent future pandemics. Several initiatives were announced across the globe to commemorate the WED – but the need is to see them through and to revive and strengthen earlier and existing ones too. In India, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and the India office of the UNEP announced an urban forest programme in 200 cities, while the UNEP and TED-Ed’s “Earth School” was incorporated into the Ministry of Human Resources’ digital platform for teachers, DIKSHA. Called the Nagar van (urban forest) scheme, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said that the aim is to develop 200 urban forests across the country in next five years with a renewed focus on people’s participation and collaboration between forest departments, municipal bodies, NGOs, corporates and local citizens. A film played during India’s WED celebrations narrated how the initiatives of Pune residents along with the forest department and local bodies has converted 16.8 ha of a barren hill into green forests. Today, the forest is rich in biodiversity with 23 plant species, 29 bird species, 15 butterfly species, 10 reptiles and 3 mammal species. The Warje Urban Forest project is now helping maintain ecological balance, serving both environmental and social needs and is a role model for the rest of the country. The WED is the United Nations’ biggest event advocating for environmental action and the need to protect our planet. Since it was first observed in 1974, the event has grown to become a global platform for public outreach on the environment in over 100 countries. This year Colombia and Germany cohosted the main WED celebrations, streamed live online from Bogotá. Colombian President Iván Duque Márquez and Inger Andersen, Under-Secretary- General of the United Nations and UNEP Executive Director, led global calls to declare it “Time #ForNature,” a call to action to combat the accelerating species loss and degradation of the natural world. “This year, we cannot take to the beaches, forests and streets. We must stay at home, keep our distance and mark World Environment Day virtually. This is because we all stand in solidarity with those suffering from the global pandemic. We need to protect the sick, the poor and the vulnerable from the worst ravages of this disease. While these online celebrations are a tribute to human commitment and ingenuity, the fact that we have to do it this way means something is terribly wrong with human stewardship of the Earth. This virus is not bad luck, or a one-off event that nobody could see coming. It is an entirely predictable result of humanity’s destruction of nature – which will cause far greater suffering if left unchecked,” Andersen said. Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment released its statistical ecompendium on ‘State of India’s Environment’ to mark WED 2020. The book brings out the massive scale of the economic impact of the pandemic. It states that lockdowns have adversely affected almost 1.6 billion (76%) of the world’s informal work-force and that the pandemic has put 265 million people at risk of starvation. The report highlights that for the first time in 22 years, global poverty levels will rise. Around 50% of the global population is under lockdown or containment with little or no new income – 40-60 million people would be living in extreme poverty in the coming months due to loss of income. India will add 12 million more poor, the highest in the world, to its shattered population. A comprehensive study of the status on the progress of sustainable development goals (SDGs), state of forests, groundwater development, wasteland, and livestock, the e-compendium shows that India is lagging behind in meeting nine of the 17 SDGs. It adds that Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh are some of the best governed states – based on their performance in 10 key sectors. | June 10, 2020

To Resume Public Transport, Experts Suggest Staggered Timings, Bus Lanes, Tech Systems

Mumbai: As India’s cities gradually revive their public transport services halted during the lockdown, technology-enabled systems, the optimal use of existing capacities and staggered commuting can help ensure social distancing and crowd management to prevent the spread of COVID-19, experts tell IndiaSpend. With the emphasis on physical distancing and as a measure to save time, this would mean increased use of automatic and digital payment systems, and mobilephone based applications to provide alerts on vehicular traffic and crowd congestion, experts said. Daily, weekly and monthly passes at lower prices across various transport options would encourage greater use of public transport. Mobility patterns in India witnessed a change during the prolonged lockdown, with travel restrictions and freeze on transport facilities. Movement of people to public transport hubs such as subways and bus and train stations fell by 52%, according to a May 16 COVID-19 Community Mobility Report by Google. Mobility to workplaces declined by 41%, and to places of residence rose by 22%. “This is a big opportunity for the public transport system to move towards automatic and digital payment systems,” Madhav Pai, India director for the WRI Ross Centre for Sustainable Cities, told IndiaSpend. “Many major cities have resisted opting for automatic or digital payments over the years. Use of digital payments will stop cash leakage in the system and will provide data that will help plan our systems in a much better way.” The challenge is to resume public transport systems without undoing the benefits of the lockdown that enforced social distancing. “If you are not able to maintain social distancing, you run the risk of losing all that you have achieved so far,” said Om Srivastava, an infectious disease expert based in Mumbai. There could be a spurt in cases and new containment areas may come up with unplanned resumption of public transport services, he warned. In normal times, India’s public bus sector operated 170,000 buses that transport 70 million people every day, while metro services are functional in 10 cities, having a daily ridership of 4.6 million, with 525 stations and an operational network of over 700 km. Digitising systems In March 2019, the central government launched the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) or the One Nation One Card (ONOC) for transport mobility based on the debit/credit/prepaid card platform, which can be used across segments such as metro, bus, suburban railways, toll, parking, smart city and retail. In May 2020, the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited called for tenders to introduce NCMC, in a move to encourage cashless travel. In December 2019, the government had informed parliament that 11 transport agencies in the country were using NCMC facilities. Digital payment services will discourage physical exchange of currency while purchasing bus and train tickets, said Deepak Baindur, a transport and mobility consultant and former assistant professor in the faculty of Planning and Public Policy, CEPT University, Ahmedabad. The ONOC should be “extensively implemented” across cities in all public transport services, he said. Likewise, the government in December 2019 made implementation of FASTags mandatory for all vehicles to collect fees at toll plazas in a move to ensure swift movement of vehicles, saving fuel, time and to avoid traffic jams. Baindur also proposed solutions similar to Google Maps on mobile apps that can indicate crowd congestion levels as well as forecast passenger waiting time in buses or trains at each stop or station that can be useful for commuters to make informed choices. This can be done through CCTV cameras (by measuring crowd density and calculating real-time data), Intelligent Transportation System (advanced electronic/wireless-based transportation technologies for safety, communication and mobility systems), telematics and social media platforms including mobile apps to communicate, said Baindur. The government is implementing the “Integrated Sustainable Urban Transport Systems for Smart Cities”, across three smart cities--Bhubaneswar, Coimbatore, and Kochi. Under this project, standard operating procedures have been compiled for the bus transport system post the COVID-19 lockdown to ensure safety measures. Mumbai’s challenge Mumbai, the country’s financial capital, has been the worst affected city nationwide, with more than 48,500 cases and 1,636 deaths as of June 7, 2020, more than any other city or state in India. Getting the city back to normalcy will be critical to the country’s economy. This is a challenge for a city with a population of over 12.8 million that is largely dependent on public transport for commuting. Mumbai’s local trains carry over 8 million passengers daily. On its single journey, a local train carries about 3,500 people when it is supposed to carry 1,800 passengers, Pai of WRI pointed out. During the pandemic, with the need for maintaining social distancing, it should carry only 900 passengers, he estimated. “Services should be opened up in a systematic way,” said Satish Mathur, former director general of police, Maharashtra and joint commissioner of police (traffic) Mumbai. “The city can be mapped onto grids, identifying office areas and complexes that will operate on alternate days. This is workable and will help minimise overcrowding.” Maharashtra: Phase-wise opening and easing of restrictions The Maharashtra government has begun easing restrictions on activities in a phased manner from June 2020. Maharashtra is the worst-hit COVID-19 state in India, with 85,975 total confirmed cases, of which 43,601 active cases. In the first ongoing phase, physical exercises such as cycling, jogging will be permitted in public spaces between 5 a.m. and 7 p.m. The second phase that started June 5, permitted markets and shops (except malls) to open on odd-even dates on alternate sides of the street. In the third phase that started June 8, private offices can work with no more than 10% strength. Public and private transport will operate in a limited manner: two-wheelers with no pillion riders; three- and fourwheelers with 1 + 2 passengers. Intradistrict buses, but not inter-district, will be allowed with maximum 50% capacity. Metro rail services and international air travel are prohibited except those specified through separate orders. “The initial phase should be without local trains; we will have to manage public transport by road,” said Ashok Datar, chairperson, Mumbai Environmental Social Network, a think-tank on urban issues focusing on road-based public transport. The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) will have to operate more intelligently with a timetable that should take care of the crowd commuting through local trains, he added. Per day, BEST operates 2,865 buses carrying 2.2 million passengers, on average. The virus being highly contagious not only poses a risk to passengers but also those providing these services. By May 25, as many as 200 BEST employees--70% of them from the transport division such as drivers and conductors--have tested positive for COVID-19 and half of them have recovered. If local trains remain closed, the city would need around 5,000 buses to cater to peak-hour demand, said Datar. For this he suggested pressing into service private and school buses. Further, for social distancing, experts suggest reducing the capacity of BEST buses to less than 50%. They recommend setting up “priority bus lanes” for buses to ply faster and make more trips, and implementing the “odd and even rule” for vehicles to manage the traffic on roads. Though experts have suggested implementing priority bus lanes, similar efforts earlier in cities like Delhi, Bengaluru and Pune have not been very effective, reports suggest. Maximising capacity “Reopening would essentially mean maximising operations based on what you have immediately,” said Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment. One way to maximise available capacity is to create priority bus lanes that will facilitate greater turnaround time, she suggested. “We also need to have strategies to cut down on unnecessary travel for reducing the demand on the already stressed system,” Roy Chowdhury said. For this, alternative solutions such as work from home, staggered timings and roster-based attendance should be institutionalised across cities, she said. Walking and cycling for shorter trips should be encouraged with scaling up of infrastructure to further take the pressure off from public transport, she added. Opening up public transport services Metro railways could hire private security personnel for crowd management. On a pilot basis, fast train services should be resumed first and these should stop only at stations where most commuters board or alight. Slow services can be resumed gradually on assessing demand. The relevant authorities must ensure thermal screening at key bus and railway stations. No standing commutes should be allowed, and alternate seating be practised in trains and buses. Passengers without face masks should not be allowed entry onto buses and railway platforms. Corporate and government offices should hire public bus services on a contract basis for their employees in order to minimise the use of private vehicles and ease traffic jams. Shuttle or feeder bus services should be organised from railway/metro stations to the designated offices in business or industrial areas. Cities should introduce stronger parking regulations in the city with more pay-andpark facilities to manage better traffic. Cities must generate traffic and safety awareness among citizens on the upcoming or ongoing changes. Source: Interviews with experts The government on May 7, 2020, shared guidelines drafted by the Delhi-based Central Road Research Institute for safe opening up of roads and vehicles. The report, ‘Public Transport and Feeder Modes considering Social Distancing Norms’, suggested various approaches-- redesigning mobility facilities that enable social distancing, reducing demand, capacity enhancement and encouraging social distancing measures on footpaths, metro stations, bus stops, e-rickshaws, autos and taxis. Cycling, informal services Limiting the use of local trains and focussing on personal/public transport vehicles could congest city roads and parking lots, said Mathur, especially in Mumbai. Cycling is a good alternative, experts said. “The use of bicycles is a good way to maintain social distancing and also develop a sustainable and better public transport system,” said Pai of WRI, suggesting shared mobility practices once restrictions are eased. If only 50% of a city needs transport, half of them could opt for public transport like trains and buses, 15% could use private or shared vehicles, and the remaining 10% could cycle. Professionalising informal transit services like shared autos, taxis, e-rickshaws and private minibuses--that facilitate the bulk of public transport services in Indian cities--through technology and financial assistance from the government, could also help cities ease their way back to normalcy, said Shreya Gadepalli, South Asia director at the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy. | June 9, 2020

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

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. | June 8, 2020

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

The air pollution emergency in Delhi has aggravated with the air quality index (AQI) spiking sharply to 528 on June 5 morning. The AQI on Thursday was much lower at 470 in the 'severe plus' category. The PM 10 count was also in the severe plus category at 496 and PM 2.5 count was at 324. (Photo: IANS) New Delhi, June 6 (IANS) 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.

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.