By Kapil Kajal An average Bengalurean breathes in air that is 3 to 12 times more polluted than the prescribed limits, a study says. With growing numbers of vehicles, resultant congestion and diesel usage, air pollution is a growing concern in the cit... Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/city/must-act-immediately-to-save-bengaluru-from-air-pollution-experts-836810.html
The Aam Aadmi Party government said on Friday it will install giant outdoor air purifiers at five highly polluted locations in Delhi, unveiling more measures to battle the capital’s smog. A mist fountain will also be set up in a yet-to-be identified location, transport minister Satyendar Jain said amid a steady spike in pollution levels, which experts say can cause several ailments ranging from respiratory problems to even cancer in humans. Jain said the systems, to be installed by mid-December, will be placed at road intersections in Anand Vihar, ITO, Sarai Kale Khan, Kashmere Gate and IIT (Delhi) or AIIMS. The units works on the lines of a home air purifier by trapping particulate matter, besides improving dispersion of pollutants that remain suspended just above ground in winter. Experts, however, are skeptical about the system, which has a functional radius of 20 meters and could fail when pollution levels are too high. Anumita Roychowdhury of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) – a Delhibased research group — said it was not a good idea. “Purification works in a confined space, not in the open. The government should focus on other short-term measures,” she said. Last winter – a period when air toxicity jumps manifold -– the AAP government had twice introduced a rationing measure that allowed vehicles to ply on alternate days based on registration numbers ending with odd or even digits. The effort, however, failed to yield the desired results. An official said the Wind Augmentation and Air Purifying Unit (WAYU) — developed by IIT Bombay and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) – can potentially reduce particulate emission by 40%-60% during peak traffic hours. The government believes the move will indicate its intent to improve Delhi’s air quality which is expected to deteriorate with farmers in neighbouring states such as Punjab and Haryana starting their annual crop residue burning. On Friday, particulate matter (PM) level in Delhi’s most polluted zone — Anand Vihar — touched 960 micrograms/cubic meter against a safe level of 60. The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) also said in its Diwali forecast that PM 2.5 — minute particulates that penetrate the lungs and cause breathing ailments — would increase by up to 20%. Sources said that open air purification is not a tried and tested measure as one system was installed in Hong Kong in April 2015 without much success. | May 13, 2020
The rise in medical waste and its collection without adhering to safety protocols could also trigger a surge in virus cases The sharp rise in biomedical waste, including discarded masks and gloves collected from covid-19 containment zones, is risking the lives of thousands of sanitation workers who work for little pay and often without any protection or training to handle such hazardous material. Large amounts of disposable masks, gloves and other medical waste have been making their way to regular garbage piles across cities, posing a major challenge for civic authorities in charge of its collection and disposal. The pile-up of hazardous waste has also exposed the inadequate investments into waste management by city authorities. Aside from the hazards to civic workers, the rise in residential biomedical waste and its collection without adhering to safety protocols could also trigger a surge in caseload. “Patients under home care are generating infected waste daily, and it might be discarded as domestic waste. This is posing risks to sanitation workers," said Rashmi Shrivastav, research associate, municipal solid waste at Centre for Science and Environment, Delhi. The guidelines also mandate that sanitation workers need to be adequately equipped with personal protection into water bodies. Civic workers in Bengaluru said most households do not even segregate wet and dry waste. equipment, which include three layer masks, nitrile gloves, gumboots and safety goggles. Even vehicles used for waste collection need to be sanitized by sodium hypocholorite after every trip. The Central Pollution Control Board recommends that all waste that has been in contact with self-isolated individual should be properly labelled and doublebagged to be identified by common biomedical waste treatment and disposal facility and disposed of upon collection. Most garbage generated in cities finds its way to dump yards and could pose a risk since the long viability of viruses over surfaces suggests there is potential for the virus to be present in the waste, experts said. While Mumbai is running out of room to dispose its biomedical waste, poor waste management protocols in Bengaluru and other cities are adding to the challenges faced by state governments at a time when they are keen to ease curbs to help revive economic activity. Mumbai, for instance, is nearly exhausting its full capacity to handle biomedical waste, with only enough headroom to handle 4-5 tonnes more than its total capacity of 75 tonnes. “... Maharashtra can handle up to 75 tonnes of biomedical waste a day, but the state’s 29 facilities are scattered and the waste can’t be transported more than 75km from its place of origin according to rules, so hotspots like Mumbai will soon reach full capacity, said Dr Amar Supate, principal scientific officer, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board. The 120 containment zones in Karnataka have generated 80 tonnes of biomedical waste and have been disposed of by burning them in incinerators, said Basavaraj Patil, ex-member secretary, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board. A recent report by a Bengaluru-based environment group warned the virus could be transmitted through sewage flowing
13.1 Transforming Muzaffarpur into a Zero Landfill city ITC’s Swachhta Swasthya Samridhi programme in Muzaffarpur in partnership with Muzaffarpur Municipal Council and Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) expanded its coverage to all the 49 wards in the city in 2018-19. Muzaffarpur also became the first city in Bihar to have its own solid waste management by-laws and these were based on CSE and ITC’s efforts in the city. On account of the programme, Muzzaffarpur has been included in the list of smart cities.
The current pandemic has revealed major gaps in India’s healthcare system — requiring dedicated effort to shore up shortfalls in the healthcare budget Heeding the clarion call Arun Mitra12 May 2020 11:41 PM Amidst the ongoing crisis, the debate has already begun over the strategies for post-COVID-19 economic growth. The discussion is centred around how to restart the industry and other work which have been on standstill since the lockdown. One opinion is to carry forward the same old corporate-driven development model which talks only of wealth generation but ignores the needs of the vast majority of our people and breeds inequality while catering to the interests of a few. It is this model which is responsible for the degradation of the environment and climate change. There is another opinion which quotes Gandhiji and his ideas of rural-based development model. Another viewpoint is scientificallybased inclusive growth. What will ultimately happen, only time will tell? But one thing most essential is that we need growth which cares for the needs of all sections of the people and puts the human factor as primary. Also Read - A new chapter Development, progress and economic growth of a society and country are proportional to the participation of the workforce in these activities. Only a disease-free healthy person can contribute effectively in this process and disease scenario in our country is very dismal. India accounts for a relatively large share of the world's disease burden. The National Sample Survey Office's (NSSO) 71st round report on 'Health in India', has brought out certain facts which need serious consideration. Also Read - The forgotten masses About 9 per cent of the rural population and 12 per cent of the urban population reported ailment during a 15 day reference period. Proportion (number per 1000) of ailing persons (PAP) was highest for the age group of 60 and above (276 in rural, 362 in urban) followed by that among children (103 in rural, 114 in urban). About 4.4 per cent of the urban population was hospitalised (excluding childbirth) at any time during a reference period of 365 days. The proportion of persons hospitalised in the rural areas was lower (3.5 per cent). When such a large number is unwell at any time of the year, their participation in the nation's building is bound to be affected. Also Read - Lessons not learned The COVID-19 crisis has brought to the fore, shortcomings of our system to meet the challenge of the health crisis. It appears the lockdown has worked only for about 20 per cent population who own their house, have sufficient income to feed themselves for a few months and have education level to understand the importance of steps for prevention. But for a majority of the population, it has been a cause of misery. They do not have sufficient income to feed themselves even for a few days if they do not work. Physical distancing is not possible as many live in the shanty areas with 7-8 persons sharing a 8 x 8 feet room. Nor do they have android mobile phones to download apps to understand the intricacies of the preventive measures from COVID-19. Availability of healthcare for routine illnesses in this crisis situation is a dream for them as OPD care in several state-run hospitals is closed and they are unable to afford expenditure in private setups. India is always in an emergency situation for health. Tuberculosis is the cause of death for about 1,400 persons per day in our country. Over 900 people in India die due to Respiratory Tract Infection (RTI) every day. Despite a decline, the current infant mortality rate for India in 2019 stands at 29.848 deaths per 1,000 live births. A study by Lancet, one of the most credible medical journals, points out the death of hundreds in India due to poor nutrition. The study estimates that one in five deaths globally are due to poor dietary intake. This contributes to a range of chronic diseases in people around the world. The World Bank estimates that 21 per cent of communicable diseases in India are linked to unsafe water and the lack of hygiene practices. Further, more than 500 children under the age of five die each day from diarrhoea in India alone. The Lancet had formed a 37 member EATLancet Commission for the purpose including Dr K Srinath Reddy, a renowned Cardiologist and President of Public Health Foundation of India and Sunita Narayan, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment and the Editor of 'Down to Earth'. It had recommended for a healthy adult, an average daily intake of 232 grams of whole grain (rice, wheat, corn etc.), 50 grams of starchy vegetables (potatoes and cassava), 300 grams of all other vegetables, 200 grams of fruits, 250 grams of dairy foods (milk or equivalents), about 200 grams of protein sources from non-vegetarian food, about 50 grams of added fats (unsaturated oils and saturated oils) and 30 grams of added sugar to meet the requirement of our balanced diet. The average approximate cost of this diet at the present market price was found to be around Rs 130 per person per day. For a family of 5 members, this comes out to be Rs 650 per day or Rs 19,500 per month. This is impossible to be met within the present-day socio-economic structure of our country particularly in the present day context when many people have lost their jobs and in the absence of provision of a nutritional diet to such persons by the state, several of them are at the mercy of others to get food/ration. Under the present circumstances when a large percentage of the population is away from their families as a result of the lockdown, their mental health is at great risk. Lack of food, distance from kith and kin, the uncertainty of their future and walking hundreds of kilometres on foot to reach their native place is a grave issue. Unfortunately, this does not come under any discussion in our country, while it can have a far-reaching impact on people's health in the times to come. Therefore, steps need to be taken and strategy evolved to meet the nutritional needs of our population as a whole, provide clean drinking water and sanitation facilities to all the population, ensure healthy housing for all the people including the workers at their workplaces as well as in their native places while also strengthening the state healthcare system to provide adequate healthcare facilities to low-income groups. There is also a need to have hospital care for already prevalent diseases in emergency situations as is the case today. It is however commendable in the present crises that the state sector, despite the extremely poor infrastructure, is doing a yeoman's job right by giving medical aid in the healthcare facilities and public education through field workers. Unfortunately, our public health spending is very poor, hovering around 1.02 per cent of the GDP. This must be increased minimum to 6 per cent. Growth with mere wealth generation producing inequities will not meet the above needs. There is need for urgent policy evaluation to develop growth strategies centred around health. Otherwise, the times to come will be very hard for working people with low wages. | Delhi | May 13, 2020
An expert team from CSIR NEERI (National Environmental Engineering Research Institute) has on Monday visited LG Polymers site in RR Vishakapatnam to assess the impact of leaked styrene gas which killed around 11 people. Besides suggesting that people who are affected with gas leak should undergo medical tests for next one year, the expert team has collected the samples of vegetables, fruits and leaves to test if they are toxic. The people in nearby five villages, upto a radius of 5 Kms, were asked not to consume fruits and vegetables that are cultivated in that region. The expert team, which has identified the remains of styrene in residential area and highways, prepared an extensive report and it will being sent to government of India. In one of the residences, they have identified the high styrene density of 1.7 PPM (parts per million). According to govt regulations, it should be less than 5 PPB (parts per billion). The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has found that levels of styrene was 2,500 times higher than the normal limits prescribed by regulators on the day of gas leak. The expert suggested GVMC to truncate the plants and trees that are affected with styrene organic compound. The usage of water from nearby rivers is totally barred. The expert team further said that public places and auto vehicles will have to be cleaned using Sodium Hydrocloride. | May 12, 2020
NEW DELHI: Water tanker operators of Delhi Jal Board have been instructed not to stop at a distribution point where crowding is observed. They may later return with a constable and helpers to ensure that water is distributed without any chaos-- the new standard operating procedure for tanker water distribution in view of Covid-19 pandemic mandates. Meanwhile, a list of 600 vulnerable points which are prone to crowding and fights during summer months has been prepared and care is being taken to ensure that these places do not lead to spread of the novel coronavirus infection, a senior DJB official told TOI. These points constitute about 7% of 8,738 locations where water is distributed using DJB tankers. Water woes overflow: One cop with each tanker at 600 vulnerable points “In vulnerable areas, police have been requested to provide one cop each for every tanker. Markings have been made in some of these areas. In case a tanker driver finds the situation going out of his control, he has been directed to come back to the filling point and request local police for help,” an official overseeing the operations said. “Every zonal executive engineer has been asked to certify that the measures are in place in their respective area,” added the DJB official. “Some of the places where water will be distributed under police protection include Usmanpur village, Shiv Vihar, Mustafabad, Rajeev Gandhi Nagar, Mukundpur and Chauhan Patti. The tankers’ numbers and distribution timings have already been sent to the local thana,” an official from the northeast zone said. In the last few years, multiple fights have been reported over water from several city areas, including Sangam Vihar, Khajuri Khas and Wazirpur. In the summer of 2018, a man was even shot in Sangam Vihar following a dispute over water. Centre for Science & Environment has estimated that more hand washing may increase water woes of water-stressed regions this year. It estimated that a family of five would need 100 to 200 litres of water per day only to wash hands recommending that “emphasis should be laid on reducing the amount of water that comes out of a tap per minute.
Ravi Anand Loknath An urbanist’s reflection on the hidden disparities in Indian cities In the age of limbo, societies seem to suffer a deepening of existing fissures. In the first week of the lockdown in Chennai, I stepped out to shop for groceries. The tiller at the store, whilst billing my vegetables, summarised for me her difficulty in reaching the store that morning. With public transport having been shut down to adhere to the norms of social distancing, she had had to walk over 8 kilometres that day. Her predicament highlights how much people in Indian cities rely on public modes of commuting. A 2018 study by the Centre for Science and Environment indicates that a minimum of 40% and in some cases up to 80% of trips in Indian megacities are through public transport. I got back home with a stock that would last us the next week or a little more. With the need to limit the possibilities of outside contact, we insisted that our domestic help do so too. Much to our dismay, we spot her from our balcony buying necessities almost every other day. My instinctive response to this was that a lack of a refrigerator prevented her from stocking perishables. Rajesh Shukla’s How India Earns, Spends and Saves indicates that only 44% of urban households owned a refrigerator, more specifically — only 7% of working-class households. It turned out that she happens to be among the 7%. Our domestic help, seen from our balcony, returns after shopping for essentials What then made her step outside and buy provisions so often? While the above study indicates that most working-class and labour households spend a maximum proportion of incomes on food; it also highlights that these households spend 93% of their income. With only 7% left to save there was also lesser to spend, especially for bulk purchases. Added to this is also the habituation of buying in smaller quantities based on immediate daily needs, giving one the mental notion of spending humbly. Were these her reasons or my efforts in comprehension? Honestly, I couldn’t arrive at a conclusive answer. That said, I do know that if not for moving out regularly for purchases, she heads out to work at another residence in the neighbourhood, where she’s not been given ‘paid leave’ amidst the lockdown. Similarly, many others have been asked to continue their services too. Contrastingly, there have also been reports across the country depicting the dire conditions of domestic helpers over the last weeks — some fired, some temporarily relieved without pay, and some unable to collect salaries physically due to distance and with no access to bank accounts. The precarious nature of their situation, reiterates the need for a National Policy on Domestic Workers that has been in the making for a while now. Without legal validation, their rights are undermined especially in times such as this. Adding to the list of domestic helpers, tillers and employees in supermarkets, I see electricity board staff quickly repair a faulty line amidst the lockdown; cleaning staff from the corporation continue to disinfect streets and clear garbage; vegetable and fruit vendors on pushcarts bring supplies to one’s doorstep even amidst “total lockdowns”; and delivery agents, from independent stores and larger establishments, supply essentials as required. These men and women go out in these untoward times — be it out of compulsion or personal need but go out nonetheless — to keep the city functioning. A Swiggy delivery agent seen with a mask, taking a water break before he takes off again on duty. Many others though remain in precarious circumstances as their means of livelihood are held in suspension. Cab drivers, autorickshaw drivers, staff in shops that continue to remain closed, workers in industries, factories and manufacturing units, construction labourers and many other forms of daily-wagers are deeply affected. Collectively, these men and women come under the unorganised sector in India. Anywhere between 85% (Niti Aayog’s Strategy for New India released in 2018) and 93% (Ministry of Finance’s Economic Survey 2018-2019) of the country’s working force falls under this category, contributing to 50% of the country’s GDP. The Periodic Labour Force Survey conducted in 2018 assessed that even amongst the regular-waged/salaried workers of the non-agricultural (informal) sector, 71% had no written job contracts; 54% with no paid leave and 49% with no security benefits. The International Labour Organisations Report in the early weeks of the lockdown in India, indicated that around 40 crore of these workers could be pushed into deep poverty. The Wharton Finmart Research Report of 2017 highlights other financial findings. 56% of the country’s population is classified as “deprived”, earning less than ₹1.5 lakh per annum or an average monthly income of ₹12,500 or less. The other category of “aspirers” earn between ₹1.5 lakh and ₹3.4 lakh per annum, constituting 30% of the population. In a country where 1 in 6 urban citizens live below the poverty line, despite the Centre and State taking measures to aid relief, these are indeed demanding times for the urban poor. A family makes more “room” beneath a makeshift roof, along their corridor As I research, reflect and pen this article, my eyes are drawn to households of a poor income community, separated from my apartment by a mere alley. They’ve been built over time, ad-hoc, some finished and some with bricks bare without plaster. Just outside my window, I see two households one behind the other, each only around 150 sq.ft. Every morning, the families there put up a blanket over some wires, converting the corridor into a space to sit, talk and play, beneath some shade. While many of you who are reading this might be sitting inside your home and, maybe even with a room to yourself, this isn’t the norm for most in our country. As per the census of 2011, 35% of urban households in India have one room or less. Informal Housing, Inadequate Property Rights, a report published by FSG in 2018, states that 26-37 million households, or 33-47% of the urban population live in informal settlements, commonly referred to as slums. Informal households are known to have poor access to urban services such as water supply, sanitation and hygiene. The census records 29% of urban households not having sources of water within their premises. Adding to this, 18% have no drainage connectivity and 37% have open drains. Space, hygienic surroundings and safe social distancing remain as challenges that are, I daresay, unfeasible for many. As an urbanist, I’ve been aware of these disparities for a while now in terms of how we live in our cities — how unequally we live in our cities. In the last few weeks, these disparities and inequalities are only more apparent than ever. The concealed ways in which the city operates are evident even to the average citizen. As many of us adjust to the “new normal” of life — maintaining social distancing, covering our faces with masks and hands with gloves, adapting to the absence of our domestic helps, rearranging spaces in our houses as work desks to continue working from home, stocking up and getting essentials home-delivered and in multiple other ways, there remains a large portion of our country that adjusts to a much more difficult “new normal”. As people in the frontlines continue to fight the invisible enemy and sections of the urban poor continue to service the city so that it is kept functional, I hope the post-COVID-19 cities take into account those who keep its wheels moving day in and out, coronavirus or no coronavirus.
Nowadays we don’t see the bicycle being used for such simple utilities but in other parts of the world riding a bicycle to work is still in vogue. Meets the social distancing & sustainable commuting needs As a student of 9th class in 1972, it was mandatory for us to read a magazine named “Science Today” which was a weekly magazine available in our school library. Besides being a laid down routine, the magazine also held out a few interesting features for us to interest us. I remember, to do it yourself in the electronics column by Mr. Borkar, and also some regular features covering subjects of interest to teenagers of the time like “Aerodynamics of a cricket ball” or special features on “bicycles” etc. Riding a bicycle was a matter of pride and owning one was something to flaunt among friends. Even the family bicycles also were out of bounds for greenhorns and we had learned to ride from the on hire bicycles which were available on hire at the neighborhood market in Sector 4, R.K. Puram, New Delhi. I still remember the name of the store as “Surinder Stove and Cycle store.” We would be able to ride the family bicycle-only after we became adept at riding the hired ones. But such small drops of happiness seems to have vanished from the growing years of today. It is not out of deprivation bur due to overindulgence that these small gifts are missing from the lives of growing teenagers today. I also recall that in one of the editions of this Science Today, it was mentioned that people going to work in cities like Delhi, Pune, etc. predominantly used bicycles for commuting to work. We could even visualize while going to school the huge number of bicycles being ridden by different levels of office goers irrespective of hierarchy or status. Every office building had a cycle stand, in which specially designed iron rods had been molded and implanted to enable the fore wheel of the cycle to be placed and locked to ensure its safety. Not just in offices but also in colleges and even schools we had many students, teachers, and staff coming in bicycles. In fact, the proud possession would also come in handy for carrying the common cricket bag while going for intercollege matches, and also in bunking school or college for a movie in Chanakya cinema in Yashwant Place, New Delhi. The Chanakya cinema had a lovely cycle parking space so did most theatres in south Delhi at that time like Sangam or Kamal. Priya was an exception due to the fact that due to the enormous availability of space at that time (now Jayaprakash Hotel has come in there), the parking was overground. Even the bicycle was a handy means of transporting monthly grocery or disposing of unwanted utilities, old newspapers, etc. The motivation for this was the money realized in the sale of unwanted goods and old newspapers (Kabaadi) was your pocket money supplement. In the present circumstance of the COVID-19 pandemic in India, the use of this for commuting by its own design enables many of the proscriptions stipulated in these lockdown times. But now I don’t see the bicycle being used for such simple utilities. You have a below-par economy class of service providers using these bicycles who immediately upon getting the required financial strength graduate to motorized vehicles like a scooter or a motorcycle. We can see it all around us the usual masons, plumber, electrician, the vegetable and fruit vendor, the neighborhood pan, and cigarette vendors everywhere around us in India. In other parts of the world riding a bicycle to work is still in vogue. In the 1990s when this syndrome of missing bicycles in Delhi was beginning and tagging riding of bicycles to the office was also beginning, I saw in the University of Manchester, Mr. Lloyd Edomonds Assistant Professor, regularly riding to his work in bicycle, The fact that he owned a fancy car could be known only on the rare occasions he used to bring it to the institute. During this period the bicycle stands in most of the workspaces in Delhi was being replaced by Scooter stands. Not just in workspaces but also in other neighborhood markets, schools, and colleges, etc. In school, you could see a marked trend of parents dropping their children in schools in their personal vehicles. But do we appreciate the virtues of this excellent instrument called the bicycle? It vehicle. Riding it gives a lot of other attendant benefits. In the present circumstance of the COVID-19 pandemic in India, the use of this for commuting by its own design enables many of the proscriptions stipulated in these lockdown times. Enforced halt at home due to lockdown has caused me to read quite extensively. During this course of reading, I have noted certain important observation which was put in the context of the COVID-19 combating. Many prestigious organizations, prominently WHO, WRI, ECF and Forbes magazines and so on have brought out advisories for intensive usage of bicycles for achieving four prerequisites for dealing with COVID-19 crises: For maintaining social distancing Attaining higher immunity (physical and mental health) Sourcing essential goods and micromobility of essential service providers in the neighborhood Further, I also came across that In fact, many countries including China (286000 people used bicycles for 2mn miles in Wuhan), USA (cycling increased by 150% in Philadelphia, by 67% in New York and made emergency bicycle lanes in Bogota of Columbia), Ireland (Dublin witnessed booming Bicycle business), India (Movement of workers for essential services/goods as also several thousand migrant workers using Bicycles for returning to their homes, even covering few hundred km as extreme cases) and so on. I was given to understand that originally the public bike-sharing was introduced in certain areas of Bhopal but due to change of government, the same was vitiated beyond feasibility. Another article I came across about the declining trend of bicycle use is captured as follows In India, bicycle usage varied from below 10% of households to more than 70% of households. Mode share of cycling in the total mode shift had declined substantially over the decades and is currently reported to be between 7 and 21%. As a matter of fact, 750 million Indians can’t afford to buy a bicycle. A study for “Mode used to travel for work” mentions that approximately 200 million people travel by foot up to 10 km for their work[1]. At the macro level, if the business-as-usual scenario continues cycling (& walking) is estimated to plummet from 43% to 34% by 2030. At the global level, percentage bicycle ownership per capita of India is meager 9 as compared to 30 of China, 70 of Japan, and 110 of The Netherlands. It confirms the huge bicycle usage – gap within India and w.r.t best international indicators. But we don’t really need to source this much data to really assess and appreciate the benefits of using bicycles. We had harnessed these benefits in earlier times. Further, the issues of pollution and energy efficiencies were not on the agenda when the bicycles were in vogue in the previous inning, but having tasted the vice of pollution and also with appreciable sensitization amongst populace on the need to optimize the finite energy resource which is draining the Foreign Exchange Reserves is also a benefit multiplier. In fact, one prominent activist of Delhi Sunita Narain is already leading by personal example by riding a bicycle to work. We also have a certain institution with its workspace in India Habitat Centre encouraging its employees to use bicycles had arranged for bicycles to be kept in two proximate metro stations to their workspace. | May 9, 2020
NEW DELHI: With the ongoing pandemic, private offices are reluctant to use central air-conditioning as circulation of stale air may increase the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus. Experts feel that improving ventilation in buildings has become more important with the gradual increase in the number of office-goers after the lockdown. The design of buildings may also need to be changed. Offices may have to adapt fast for improving thermal comfort by improving insulation and allowing more fresh air in ACs. Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers has come up with guidelines to be followed in offices, homes and healthcare facilities to provide adequate ventilation. This includes maintaining humidity between 40% and 60%, high rate of air change, and higher temperature than normal. Barun Aggarwal, CEO at BreatheEasy and a member of the committee that formed the guidelines, said working without airconditioning is no long-term solution and the primary focus should be on improving ventilation. “Even central ACs allow intake of fresh air. Most offices avoid it as it increases the cost of running. In the current circumstances, the need for fresh air is most important,” said Aggarwal, adding ACs need to run at a temperature of 24- 27 degrees to create a balance with the fresh air. Offices will also need to keep disinfecting the vents daily. For newer buildings, Aggarwal suggested ventilation for each room and looking at technologies like H-13 certified filters, which can process particles up to 0.003 microns. Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which carried out an analysis for healthy living, said trapping of stale air would increase the risk of the virus indoors. This means the focus should be on improved ventilation as well as thermal comfort. “There is a need to design buildings for thermal comfort and minimise airconditioned hours. A total of 34% projects under PMAY-U are being delivered by the private sector. However, the entire focus is on speed and ease of construction and material choices. It is now necessary to link subsidies and incentives with ensuring quality and livability of the houses,” said CSE. Anumita Roy Chowdhury, CSE executive director (research and advocacy), said companies could look at passive design interventions and retrofits as options to improve the shading, insulation and ventilation. “The overall heat load on a building needs to reduce and options like green rooftops and solar panels can be put into place. Vertical gardens can also reduce the heat levels,” she added. The average heat index in India is increasing at the rate of 0.56°C per decade and 0.32°C per decade during summer, data shows. Dr Radha Goyal, deputy director, Indian Pollution Control Association, told TOI that air-conditioners could function normally, but the intake of fresh air was crucial, alongside regularly disinfecting the vents and ducts. “The fresh air intake should not be less than 3 cubic metres per hour per person. Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation can be used in the ducts and air handling units,” she added.
NEW DELHI: The average PM2.5 concentration in the city fell by around 31% and NO2 levels by 33% in the month-long full lockdown period between March 24 and April 25, data analysed by System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) shows. Track the pollution level in your city However, with the restrictions relaxed from May 4, the average NO2 levels have already risen by around 22%, despite reduced traffic on the roads. The SAFAR analysis considered data for both PM2.5 and NO2 for four cities — Delhi, Pune, Ahmedabad and Mumbai. Delhi recorded the lowest overall reduction, but experts said this could also be due to the influence of dust. The capital recorded a sustained dusty spell during the lockdown period. The lockdown data was compared with a one-month period from February 20 to March 20. An analysis carried out this week by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) showed that all gains were already being lost with an increase in vehicles on the roads. During lockdown 3.0, vehicles are allowed between 7am and 7pm, while both private and public offices can function with 33% staff. CSE’s analysis shows a spike of 22% in NO2 levels, which is directly related to vehicles. “We tracked hourly and weekly change in NO2 levels between the second and third phases of the lockdown to find out the influence of traffic on air quality. The change in 24-hour or daily average between the two weeks shows that the overall weekly average level increased by 22%. This change has occurred even when traffic is still limited,” said the CSE analysis. Station-wise, the steepest increase between the weekly average this week compared with last week was noted at Sri Aurobindo Marg (85%), Karni Singh Shooting Range (79%), Lodhi Road (56%) and RK Puram (56%) — all located on arterial roads. CSE’s Anumita Roy Chowdhury said the lockdown period allowed analysis of the rise and fall in pollution levels in each sector more closely, particularly NO2 in relation to vehicles. “Dust has impacted the overall air quality, but vehicles are linked closely to NO2. A partial return has led to such a spike. Once the roads are choked again, it will be far worse,” she added, while highlighting the importance of a strong public transport system. The return of activities also reflected on Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index, which spiked from 94 (satisfactory) on Monday, the first day of relaxations, to 134 (moderate) on Friday.
Styrene gas leaked from a Vizag factory called LG Polymers India Pvt Ltd. 11 people have died after inhaling the gas. This factsheet is based on the assessment done till 3.30 PM on May 7 What happened? Styrene gas leaked at 2.30 AM on May 7 from a Vizag (in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India)-based factory called LG Polymers India Pvt Ltd. Eleven people are reported dead after inhaling the gas. What is styrene? How toxic is it? Styrene is an organic compound used in the manufacture of polymers/plastic/resins. It is manufactured in petrochemical refineries. It is a likely carcinogenic substance. It can react with oxygen in the air to mutate into styrene dioxide which is more lethal. According to India’s Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules 1989, styrene is classified as a ‘hazardous and toxic chemical’. Acute (short-term) exposure to styrene in humans results in mucous membrane and eye irritation and gastrointestinal effects. Chronic (long-term) exposure results in impacts on the central nervous system (CNS), leading to headaches, fatigue, weakness, depression, CSN dysfunction, hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy. If the amount of styrene goes beyond 800 ppm, then the person exposed to it can go into a coma. The duration of the exposure and its relative concentration will determine toxicity – we currently know that roughly 3 tonnes of the gas leaked from its storage tank and the feeding line. We now need to determine exposure. “Styrene can stay in the air for weeks. It is highly reactive, it can combine with oxygen to form styrene dioxide which is more lethal. The presence of other pollutants can also affect the reactivity. On a sudden note operating one reactor in full load can also lead to such disasters,” says Dr ThavaPalanisami, professor, Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER) and CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Australia. Styrene monomer was being used at the manufacturing plant to produce expandable plastics. The storage requirement of styrene monomer says that it should be stored strictly at a temperature below 17oC. There was a temporary partial shutdown of the plant owing to the COVID pandemic, excluding maintenance activities in the plant, which were being carried out as per a predetermined schedule. The problem began as a result of styrene gas not being stored at the appropriate temperature. This caused pressure to build up in the storage chamber and led the valve to break, resulting in the gas leakage. Also, the container that was being used to store styrene gas was old and not properly maintained. This nonmaintenance of the facility resulted in the leakage of 3 tonnes of styrene into the surrounding areas. Another issue was the defunct VOC detection system at the plant; there is no monitoring mechanism that was installed to specifically detect styrene. The facility is spread over 600 acres of land including the nearby residential areas (according to terms of reference submitted by the company in 2018, it is spread over 231 acres). The impact zone has been in the range of 2-3 km. There is a revenue village nearby and the facility is surrounded by residential areas, resulting in a higher rate of exposure. The most important immediate treatment is to give oxygen to the affected people. The people in the zone also need to be evacuated as long-term exposure can be detrimental to their health. Also, as styrene reacts to form styrene dioxide, the air could remain contaminated for some time. However, the winds blowing from the sea could also help to disperse the gas. In 2018, the factory hadsubmitted a ₹ 168 croreproposal to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to expand its production capacity by another 250 tonnes per day (tpd) from the current 415 tpd. This permission, as we understand it, has been recently granted. Post-Bhopal disaster, there are clear guidelines on storage of hazardous chemicals in plants -- what are these? After the Bhopal disaster, many legislations were enacted beginning with the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991. According to The Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989, styrene is classified as a ‘hazardous and toxic chemical’. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: Omnibus act that gives sweeping powers to the Central government to take all measures to protect the environment. Under it are the following Rules: Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986: Set discharge and product standards – source standards for restricting pollution; product standards for manufactured goods and ambient air and water standards – for regulating quality of life and environmental protection. Hazardous Waste (management, handling and trans-boundary movement) Rules, 1989: Industry required to identify major accident hazards, take preventive measures and submit a report to the designated authorities. Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989: Importer must furnish complete product safety information to the competent authority and must transport imported chemicals in accordance with the amended rules. Chemical Accidents (Emergency, Planning, Preparedness and Response) Rules, 1996: Centre is required to constitute a central crisis group for management of chemical accidents; set up quick response mechanism termed as the crisis alert system. Each state is required to set up a crisis group and report on its work. Factories Amendment Act, 1987: Provision to regulate siting of hazardous units; safety of workers and nearby residents and mandates for on-site emergency plans and disaster control measures. Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991: Imposes a no-fault liability on the owner of hazardous substance and requires the owner to compensate victims of accident irrespective of any neglect or default. For this, the owner is required to take out an insurance policy covering potential liability from any accident. Did the company not follow the stipulated rules for storage and handling of hazardous chemicals? There are clear rules on hazardous chemical storage under the EPA, 1986.The unit in question is an ISO-certified facility, which means it has a protocol for everything. However, what seems to be the case is that the plant management, in its haste to re-start the plant,ignored the protocol of doing maintenance of the plant before resuming operations. This, combined with the lack of proper storage of the gas – not maintained at the temperature required – and faulty fixtures could have resulted in the accident. The lesson for COVID times -- Vizag could be just a tip of the iceberg This shows us that there are ticking bombs out there as the lockdown ends and industries start resuming activities. Therefore, an immediate directive must go to all units to ensure safety while resuming operations -- in case the lockdown continues, these safety precautions must not be negated.
Vizag gas tragedy should be a wake up call for Telangana State Government and more so for the department of factories to focus on industrial safety issues post lockdown. Hundreds of polymer, plastic industries, especially in MSME sector are operating in GHMC limits. Several of them were set in gross violation of the norms and located close to densely populated residential areas. These factories remain shut for nearly two months due to corona lockdown and set to start operations anytime with the State Government relaxing lockdown norms since May 6. There is an urgent need for department of factories to swing into action to assess the condition of machinery and safety measures in all the factories to avert Vizag-type tragedies. The Government should allow factories to reopen only after taking up thorough inspection of factories and after certification by the department of factories that the condition of factories, machinery and safety measures are satisfactory. Since the lockdown was imposed without any prior notice from March 22 and Government went on extending the lockdown till date without giving any scope for the managements of factories to take adequate safeguards by taking up overhauling, maintenance of machinery, factories, they pose the danger of malfunctioning and leakage of gases if factories are open in haste. The Telangana High Court in March this year ordered state Government that over 200 polluting plastic units in Hyderabad’s Kattedan industrial area must be shut down, as they were set up in violation of the rules but the Government is yet to act. The court said that officials of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and Pollution Control Board (PCB) remained ‘mute spectators’ as illegal plastic units mushroomed in the area. There are several industrial areas in GHMC limits. Though industrial areas were set up decades ago on Hyderabad city outskirts, the rapid expansion of city over the years has made them part of residential zones as several colonies come up around the industrial areas. According to Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), “This (gas leak incident) shows us that there are ticking bombs out there as the lockdown ends and industries start resuming activities. Therefore, an immediate directive must go to all units to ensure safety while resuming operations - - in case the lockdown continues, these safety precautions must not be negated,” Pioneer | Delhi | May 8, 2020
Environmentalists have advised that there must be immediate evacuation of everyone from areas in proximity to the factory in Vishakhapatnam where a styrene gas leak took place as the chemical is highly toxic and causes severe health impact both in the short and long terms. Sunita Narain, director general at the Centre for Science, said styrene can be more dangerous if it reacts with oxygen in the air and converts into Styrene di-oxide. She said evacuation of people is needed and advised them to wear wet masks to protect themselves. According to India''s Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules 1989, styrene is classified as a ''hazardous and toxic chemical''. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, transport, at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said air is the medium and the styrene gas is toxic and it is this kind of exposure that has caused the huge harm. CSE researcher Soundaram Ramanathan said the gas is still in the air and even its mild form can have health effects on people so the general practice is to wear wet masks and stay careful till the local environmental authorities say that the effect has gone and things are back to normal. "The effect can last for a few days. People should be very careful at least for the next three days. If possible nearby areas should be evacuated but it would be difficult in the present situation," she said. Due to fear of coronavirus infection, ideally people are staying indoors and it can help if they have filters or are disinfecting their houses, Ramanathan said. She said short term exposure to the gas can result in eye irritation, gastrointestinal effects while chronic long term exposure can affect the nervous system. "If it goes beyond 800 ppm then the person can go into coma," she told PTI. Sunil Dahiya, analyst with Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, said one of the reasons such things happen in India is due to negligence to environmental regulations. "In terms of protecting themselves, people experiencing symptoms should immediately reach out and wear wet masks. In the long term these kind of gases will impact you for years and there must be immediate evacuation of people from exposure areas," he said. "Styrene can stay in the air for weeks. It is highly reactive, it can combine with oxygen to form styrene dioxide which is more lethal. The presence of other pollutants can also affect the reactivity. On a sudden note operating one reactor in full load can also lead to such disasters," said Thava Palanisami, Senior Scientist, Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER) & CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Australia. The CSE, in a statement, said styrene is an organic compound used in the manufacture of polymers or plastic or resins and it is a likely carcinogenic substance. "It can react with oxygen in the air to mutate into styrene dioxide which is more lethal," the CSE said. It further said the duration of the exposure and its relative concentration will determine toxicity. "We currently know that roughly 3 tonnes of the gas leaked from its storage tank and the feeding line. We now need to determine exposure," the CSE said. The environmentalists said it seems that the gas leak occurred as the plant management, in its haste to re-start the plant, ignored the protocol of doing maintenance of the plant before resuming operations. "This, combined with the lack of proper storage of the gas – not maintained at the temperature required – and faulty fixtures could have resulted in the accident. The lesson for COVID times -- Vizag could be just a tip of the iceberg," the CSE said. They advised that an immediate directive must go to all units to ensure safety while resuming operations, and these safety precautions must not be negated in case the lockdown continues. A specialised CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and medical specialists are being rushed to Vishakhapatnam where 11 people have been killed and about 1,000 affected due to the gas leak at a chemical factory, the Centre said on Thursday. Till now, 500 people belonging to 200-250 families living within a 3 km radius of the factory have been evacuated to safer places.
New Delhi: Environmentalists have advised everyone living in close proximity to the LG Polymers factory in Vishakhapatnam, where a styrene gas leak killed 11 people, must be immediately evacuated as the chemical is highly toxic and may have severe health impact - in the long and short run. Sunita Narain, director general at the Centre for Science, said styrene can be more dangerous if it reacts with oxygen in the air and converts into styrene dioxide. She said evacuation of people is needed and advised they should wear wet masks to protect themselves from the toxic gas. According to India's Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules 1989, styrene is classified as a "hazardous and toxic chemical". Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director, Transport, at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said air is the medium and the styrene gas is toxic and it is this kind of exposure that has caused huge harm. CSE researcher Soundaram Ramanathan said the gas is still in the air and even in its mild form can have health effects on people so the general practice is to wear wet masks and stay careful till the local environmental authorities say that the effect has gone and things are back to normal. "The effect can last for a few days. People should be very careful at least for the next three days. If possible nearby areas should be evacuated but it will be difficult in the present situation," she said. Due to the fear of coronavirus, people are mostly staying indoors and it can help if they have filters or are disinfecting their houses, Ms Ramanathan said. She said short term exposure to the gas can result in eye irritation, gastrointestinal effects while chronic long term exposure can affect the nervous system. "If it goes beyond 800 ppm then the person can go into coma," she told PTI. Sunil Dahiya, analyst with Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, said one of the reasons such things happen in India is due to negligence to environmental regulations. "In terms of protecting themselves, people experiencing symptoms should immediately reach out and wear wet masks. In the long term these kind of gases will impact you for years and there must be immediate evacuation of people from exposure areas," he said. "Styrene can stay in the air for weeks. It is highly reactive, it can combine with oxygen to form styrene dioxide which is more lethal. The presence of other pollutants can also affect the reactivity. On a sudden note operating one reactor in full load can also lead to such disasters," said Thava Palanisami, Senior Scientist, Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER) & CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), University of Newcastle, Australia. The CSE, in a statement, said the duration of the exposure and its relative concentration will determine toxicity. "We currently know that roughly 3 tonnes of the gas leaked from its storage tank and the feeding line. We now need to determine the exposure," the CSE said. Environmentalists said it seems that the gas leak occurred as the plant management, in its haste to re-start the plant, ignored the protocol of conducting maintenance of the plant before resuming operations. "This, combined with the lack of proper storage of the gas - not maintained at the temperature required - and faulty fixtures could have resulted in the accident. The lesson for COVID times -- Vizag could be just a tip of the iceberg," the CSE said. They advised that an immediate directive must go to all units to ensure safety while resuming operations, and these safety precautions must not be negated in case the lockdown continues.