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‘AQI-Focused Homes’: Indore-based real estate co-investment firm unveils a project for ‘green living’

AQI, air pollution, and PM 2.5 have become pressing concerns for many Indians. In response, Micro Mitti, a property tech real estate co-investment company based in Indore, has announced a new project aimed at creating a healthier living environment. The firm is launching the Healthy Homes Community – Madhuvan Township, a residential development designed with a strong focus on Air Quality Index (AQI), wellness, and sustainability. The unveiling of Madhuvan comes at a crucial time in India’s battle against air pollution. Earlier this month, the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago released its Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) 2025, identifying air pollution as the most significant health threat in the country. The report revealed that all 1.4 billion Indians live in areas where PM 2.5 levels exceed the WHO’s safe threshold of 5 µg/m³. With this launch, Micro Mitti claims to be the first real estate co-investment firm in India to offer AQI-focused residential infrastructure. ‘Green Living’ and AQI-focused residence: Green living emphasises designing and operating homes in ways that minimise environmental impact and improve occupant health by enhancing resource efficiency, air quality, and overall sustainability. Residential green buildings typically use eco-friendly materials, employ energy-saving technologies, and incorporate low-emission paints, efficient ventilation, and abundant natural lighting to create healthier indoor environments. Countries that adopt AQI-focused residential building in some of their districts and areas: >> China is home to the world’s greenest skyscraper (Shanghai Tower) and over 1,500 LEED-certified projects are there in the building >> Canada is another strong in LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) adoption and sustainable housing policies >> Australia, a country whose AQI is mostly below 20, adopts Victoria’s planning policies that mandate energy-efficient and air-quality-conscious designs >> The Netherlands, France, Germany, and many European countries have always been leaders in green building regulations and AQI-focused infrastructure As the festive season approaches and Diwali nears, the risk of worsening air quality intensifies. In Delhi, PM 2.5 levels peaked at nearly 603 µg/m³ at midnight during Diwali 2024 (Down To Earth, Centre for Science and Environment). While the capital often makes headlines, Tier II cities are not far behind. In Lucknow, AQI spiked to 306 (“very poor”) the day after Diwali 2024, up from ~175 before the festival, according to various media reports. Spread across 30 acres, Madhuvan Township is thoughtfully planned by India’s leading architect Sanjay Puri, with two-side open plots averaging 1,250 sq. ft., designed to feel like 2,400 sq. ft. homes. Nearly 55% of the site is dedicated to open green spaces, merging built structures with forest-inspired landscapes. Micro Mitti claims Madhuvan to be a scientifically rooted design approach to improve air quality and enhance community health. The township stated to host 465 families and is located on the proposed 75-metre RE3 bypass, Indore.

₹65,300 करोड़ का वार्षिक घाटा: जीएसटी की उलटी टैक्स संरचना भारत की रीसाइक्लिंग अर्थव्यवस्था को कर रही कमजोर

भारत की पुनर्चक्रण (रीसाइक्लिंग) अर्थव्यवस्था इस समय एक जटिल विरोधाभास में फंसी हुई है। एक ओर यह हरित विकास, प्रदूषण नियंत्रण और संसाधन बचत में अहम भूमिका निभा सकती है, वहीं दूसरी ओर वर्तमान गुड्स एंड सर्विसेज टैक्स (GST) व्यवस्था इस क्षेत्र की क्षमता को सीमित कर रही है। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की ताज़ा रिपोर्ट “रिलैक्स द टैक्स 2025” के अनुसार, भारत इस खामी के कारण हर साल करीब ₹65,300 करोड़ के राजस्व नुकसान का सामना कर रहा है — जो मौजूदा औपचारिक रीसाइक्लिंग सेक्टर से मिलने वाले ₹30,900 करोड़ के टैक्स संग्रह से दोगुने से भी ज्यादा है। कचरा क्षेत्र में 90% तक अनौपचारिकता रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक भारत का रीसाइक्लिंग क्षेत्र अब भी बड़े पैमाने पर असंगठित है। कागज और कांच में 95% प्लास्टिक में 80% ई-कचरे में 90% और धातुओं में 65% काम अनौपचारिक क्षेत्र में होता है। यह केवल सांख्यिकीय आंकड़े नहीं, बल्कि एक आर्थिक अवसर की भारी क्षति है जो पर्यावरणीय लक्ष्यों और राजस्व दोनों को प्रभावित कर रही है। उलटी टैक्स संरचना से बढ़ी परेशानी रीसाइक्लिंग क्षेत्र की सबसे बड़ी समस्या जीएसटी की “इनवर्टेड टैक्स स्ट्रक्चर” है। रीसाइक्लिंग के लिए खरीदे जाने वाले PET स्क्रैप पर 18% टैक्स लगता है, जबकि उससे तैयार रीसाइक्लड फाइबर पर सिर्फ 5% टैक्स है। नतीजा — छोटे और मझोले रीसाइक्लरों (MSMEs) पर इनपुट टैक्स क्रेडिट (ITC) का बोझ बढ़ जाता है और नकदी प्रवाह की समस्या गहरा जाती है। अनौपचारिक व्यापार को मिल रहा बढ़ावा उच्च टैक्स दरों के कारण कई छोटे रीसाइक्लर जीएसटी व्यवस्था के दायरे से बाहर रहना ही बेहतर समझते हैं। यह स्थिति नकदी आधारित “ग्रे मार्केट” को बढ़ावा देती है, जहां टैक्स चोरी आम बात है। एक रीसाइक्लर ने कहा – “हम जीएसटी नियमों का पालन करते हैं, लेकिन कई बार महीनों बाद यह बताया जाता है कि स्क्रैप विक्रेता बोगस था, और हमें ब्याज सहित टैक्स वापस करना पड़ता है।” ऐसे मामलों ने वैध कारोबारियों के सामने भरोसे का संकट खड़ा कर दिया है। तीन स्तरों पर असर आर्थिक असर: धीमी रिफंड प्रक्रिया और टैक्स असमानता औपचारिक भागीदारी को हतोत्साहित करती है। राजकोषीय असर: ₹65,300 करोड़ का नुकसान देश के स्कूलों, स्वास्थ्य सुविधाओं और बुनियादी ढांचे से हटकर चला जाता है। पर्यावरणीय असर: महंगे टैक्स के कारण उद्योग गैर-रीसाइक्लड इनपुट का इस्तेमाल करने लगते हैं, जिससे लैंडफिल कचरा और उत्सर्जन दोनों बढ़ते हैं। विशेषज्ञों के सुझाए समाधान CSE और उद्योग जगत के विशेषज्ञों ने इस असंतुलन को ठीक करने के लिए चार प्रमुख सुधार सुझाए हैं — स्क्रैप पर जीएसटी दर घटाकर 5% की जाए, ताकि उलटा ढांचा समाप्त हो। रिवर्स चार्ज मैकेनिज्म (RCM) लागू किया जाए, जिससे रीसाइक्लर सीधे सरकार को टैक्स दे सकें और कागजी लेनदेन खत्म हो। “पुराने स्क्रैप” के लिए अलग टैक्स श्रेणी बनाई जाए, जिसमें 1% नाममात्र टैक्स दर रखी जाए। रिफंड प्रक्रिया तेज की जाए, ताकि छोटे कारोबारियों की कार्यशील पूंजी अटके नहीं। हरित रोजगार और निवेश का अवसर इन सुधारों से न केवल टैक्स अनुपालन बढ़ेगा, बल्कि निजी निवेश को भी नई दिशा मिलेगी। विशेषज्ञों के अनुसार, यदि टैक्स ढांचा अनुकूल बनाया गया, तो देश में लाखों नए हरित रोजगार सृजित किए जा सकते हैं और लैंडफिल कचरे में हजारों टन की कमी लाई जा सकती है। बदलाव का समय अब वर्तमान कर व्यवस्था एक विकृत प्रोत्साहन प्रणाली बन गई है जो ईमानदार रीसाइक्लरों को सज़ा देती है और अनौपचारिक कारोबारियों को बढ़ावा देती है। समय आ गया है कि सरकार जीएसटी संरचना में सुधार कर रीसाइक्लिंग सेक्टर को राहत दे — ताकि विकास, पर्यावरण संरक्षण और कर अनुपालन तीनों समानांतर रूप से आगे बढ़ सकें।

Pollution tracking fails in Haryana: 20 of 32 air monitors go offline amid smog surge

Haryana’s pollution monitoring network suffered a major setback on Wednesday, with 20 of its 32 stations — including three in Gurugram — going offline, distorting air quality data at a time when accurate tracking is crucial, The Times of India reported. As a result, authorities were unable to determine the nature of the haze blanketing the city, with official data showing an AQI of 150 (moderate) — a figure based solely on readings from the only operational station at Vikas Sadan. Officials from the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) were quoted by the newspaper as saying that the other three stations, located at Gwalpahari, Teri Gram and Sector 51, were offline due to technical snags and delayed calibration. As per the report, the same situation was reported in Faridabad, Hisar, Panchkula, Rohtak, and several other locations, where outages disrupted real-time pollution tracking just as stubble burning and shifting weather patterns were driving up particulate levels. Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at Centre for Science and Environment, told TOI, "Industrial belts and traffic corridors are missing from the data. Despite AQI in Gurgaon hovering between 150 and 180 over the past week, labelled as "moderate", residents have reported experiencing smog, eye irritation and breathlessness."

India 'creating its own rain' to deal with massive smog problem

India is creating its own rain to deal with smog. The council in Delhi has made cloud seeding a key part of its anti-pollution strategy, hoping to wash away smog and garner votes. Delhi residents may have heard the hum of Cessna aircraft in the skies trying to conjure artificial rain. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) promised to tackle pollution and improve air quality when it was elected in Delhi, one of the world's most polluted cities, in February. Cloud seeding adds silver iodide, which has a similar structure to ice, to clouds and raises the chances of rain. But there needs to be enough moisture in the atmosphere for it to work and experts say it is not a long-term solution. Anumita Roychowdhury, of the Centre for Science and Environment, said: "There will be some washout effect that reduces pollutants. But it will be very temporary and then the pollution will just bounce right back."

How cloud seeding works to clean toxic air

Delhi on Tuesday carried out its first-ever cloud seeding trial in a bid to trigger artificial rain and bring temporary relief from the city’s toxic post-Diwali smog. The experiment, conducted by a team of scientists and officials using aircraft over parts of the capital, is being closely watched as authorities explore whether artificial rain can help clean Delhi’s air, even if for a short while. Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique that aims to induce rainfall from existing clouds by dispersing certain substances into the atmosphere. Typically, chemicals such as silver iodide, potassium iodide or salt particles are released through aircraft or rockets into moisture-laden clouds. These particles act as nuclei around which water vapour condenses, forming droplets that can grow heavy enough to fall as rain. The key requirement, however, is the presence of clouds with sufficient moisture. Seeding cannot create rain from clear skies. In Delhi’s trial, aircraft released a combination of salts and silver iodide into pre-identified cloud formations over the city. Scientists expect that, if the atmospheric conditions are favourable, these particles will stimulate rainfall, which can help wash down suspended pollutants such as PM2.5 and PM10 from the air. Similar methods have been used in countries like China, the United Arab Emirates and the United States for purposes ranging from drought management to pollution control, though with mixed results. While cloud seeding can modestly increase rainfall by about 10 to 20 per cent, it is highly dependent on weather conditions. Delhi’s pollution peaks during late autumn and winter, when humidity is low and clouds are often shallow, making the method less reliable. Moreover, even if the experiment succeeds, any improvement in air quality would be temporary. Once the rain stops, pollutants from vehicles, industries, construction and crop burning continue to accumulate, bringing pollution levels back up. Scientists also warn that cloud seeding is not a sustainable solution to the capital’s air crisis. While it can provide short-term relief, it does not address the root causes of pollution. “It’s not yet clear whether this will have any real impact on Delhi’s air quality during the winter months,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment. “At that time of year, the weather conditions are such that pollutants get trapped close to the ground, making it extremely difficult for them to disperse. Even if cloud seeding manages to trigger some rain, the effect will be very short-lived. It’s a temporary, and very expensive, measure.” Ultimately, Delhi’s cloud seeding trial marks an important scientific effort, but one that should be viewed with tempered expectations. Artificial rain, if successful, may clear the air for a few hours or days, offering symbolic respite rather than lasting change. The city’s real challenge lies in cutting emissions, regulating dust, and curbing stubble burning, not in waiting for rain, artificial or otherwise. Hacking the Capital’s sky How it works: aircraft released silver iodide and salt particles into moisture-laden clouds to trigger rainfall by encouraging condensation around these particles Goal: to wash down suspended pollutants such as PM2.5 and PM10, providing temporary relief from hazardous air quality Conditions required: cloud seeding needs existing clouds with sufficient humidity; it cannot generate rain from clear skies, making timing crucial Technology used: modified aircraft equipped with flare systems and dispersal devices released the seeding agents at pre-identified altitudes over Delhi Expected impact: experts estimate seeding can increase rainfall by 10–20% if weather conditions are favourable Limitations: effectiveness depends heavily on cloud type, moisture content, and wind patterns; Delhi’s dry winter conditions often make success uncertain Expert opinion: scientists caution that even if the trial succeeds, the improvement in air quality will be short-lived unless emission sources are curbed Global precedent: cloud seeding has been used in China, the UAE and the U.S. for drought management and pollution control, with mixed results

Why city’s ‘moderate’ AQI doesn’t clear the air on what you’re breathing: 2Of 4 recording stations offline for days in peak pollution season

GURGAON: If you step outside and breathe in what feels like a smoky haze, you are not imagining things — despite the AQI reading showing ‘moderate’. The city’s air quality has stayed at 177 for two days on the trot — a comforting surprise for this part of the year when farm fires peak and windspeeds slow down. Yet, this number tells only part of the story — and perhaps not the most important part. With two of the city four air monitoring stations offline for days, the figures offer an illusion, rather than an accurate reflection of what residents are actually inhaling. Currently, only the Vikas Sadan and Gwal Pahari stations are operational, recording AQI levels of 150 and 206, respectively. The Teri Gram monitor has been out of action for almost six months, while the Sector 51 station — which has just resumed after a week-long blackout — had consistently reported “very poor” air quality before it went dark. As a result, the city’s overall AQI is being calculated from a patchy and unrepresentative data set, failing to capture the full scale of pollution across the city. At the Sector 51 station on Tuesday, TOI found the display screen blank. Officials from Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) cited technical glitches. “We have informed Central Pollution Control Board. We are able to collect data, but it’s just not getting uploaded,” said an HSPCB official. Experts warned that such data gaps not only distorted the pollution picture but also eroded public trust. “When half the monitors are down, the AQI number loses credibility. No prizes for guessing that pollution levels near industrial areas, arterial roads, and construction sites would be significantly higher than what is being reported,” said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at Centre for Science and Environment. The timing could hardly be worse. As the annual smog season deepens across NCR — driven by crop residue burning and temperature inversions — accurate realtime data is crucial for both public health and regulatory action like Graded Response Action Plan. Yet, at the very moment when vigilance is most needed, the city’s already limited monitoring system is faltering, experts pointed out. “Gurgaon, anyway, is insufficiently monitored according to CPCB criteria. We cannot afford blank readings during peak pollution episodes. The sensors must be upgraded or replaced so the true severity of air pollution isn’t hidden behind ‘no data’ screens,” said Manoj Kumar, analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. The issue goes beyond technical failures and raises the question of accountability. “When residential area stations that consistently report very poor air go offline for days, it’s not just a technical glitch. It’s a governance failure. The unavailability of real-time data deprives citizens of their right to know what they’re breathing. It also shows a worrying lack of preparedness of agencies responsible for maintaining continuous air quality surveillance,” said Arun Kumar Yadav, clean air programme manager at Envirocatalysts. A similar experience by Delhi during the Diwali days offers a caution. An analysis by TOI revealed that during the critical hours of Oct 20 and 21 — when pollution typically peaks — only 12 of 39 air-quality stations in the capital recorded uninterrupted hourly data. Across the network, there were 173 missing hours of data, with about 163 of those during the overnight peak, when air quality was likely at its worst. This means the official AQI for Delhi during Diwali (310–350) almost certainly underestimated actual exposure, leaving both regulators and the public blind during the most hazardous period. Since Diwali, Gurgaon’s air has remained polluted, with levels fluctuating between ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ even as the official numbers suggest improvement. With farm fires in neighbouring states now peaking and winter conditions setting in, experts warned that AQI levels were likely to worsen in the coming day

Rs 64 lakh per sortie: Why experts say Delhi's costly cloud seeding project can't fix winter smog

Delhi's ambitious cloud seeding project is facing mounting criticism from environmental experts who have labelled the technique a "hugely expensive, temporary and unsustainable" measure to combat the capital's toxic pollution, even as scientists behind the initiative report curious marginal improvements in air quality, TOI reported. Three trials, zero rain: The costly experiment

 The scientific endeavour, executed by IIT Kanpur, has conducted three trials to date, one on October 23 and two on October 28, with none producing significant rainfall in the capital. The latest attempts involved two aircraft sorties dispersing a tested mixture of flares over areas including Khekra, Burari and Mayur Vihar. Despite these efforts, the city saw no measurable rainfall. IIT Kanpur stated that neighbouring areas received only trace amounts - 0.1 mm in Noida and 0.2 mm in Greater Noida - data it attributed to a private weather application. Authorities identified a key culprit for the lack of rain: insufficient moisture. An IIT Kanpur statement confirmed that humidity levels within the targeted clouds ranged from a mere 10% to 20%, far below the ideal conditions required for successful seeding. Rs 64 lakh per sortie: A temporary fix under fire

 The project's substantial cost is now under intense scrutiny. According to the MoU between the Delhi environment department and IIT Kanpur, the budget for cloud seeding is over Rs 3.2 crore for five trials, translating to approximately Rs 64 lakh per sortie. With Delhi's air quality index (AQI) continuing to hover in the 'very poor' to 'poor' range, experts are questioning the value of this temporary intervention. Experts question science behind winter cloud seeding

 Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment, was cited by TOI as saying that even if rain were to wash out pollutants, the impact would be fleeting. "The pollution will bounce back quickly. The impact lasts from hours to a couple of days," she said, stressing that the initiative cannot be done regularly for the entire winter season and that investments should instead target actual emission reduction from ground sources. The scientific rationale for winter cloud seeding was further questioned by Shahzad Gani, assistant professor at IIT Delhi's Centre for Atmospheric Sciences. He explained that Delhi's winter is typically very dry, with meaningful rain usually only occurring due to a western disturbance.

दिल्ली में कृत्रिम बारिश करवाने से कोई फायदा नहीं... एक्सपर्ट ने बताया- आखिर यह क्यों नहीं करेगा काम

राजधानी दिल्ली मेंकृत्रिम बारिश करवाने से कोई फायदा नहीं होने वाला है। ऐसा हम नहीं बल्कि विशेषज्ञों ने कहा है। विशेषज्ञों ने कहा है कि क्लाउड सीडिंग के बाद दिल्ली में कृत्रिम बारिश करवाना पैसे की बर्बादी है और कुछ नहीं। विशेषज्ञों का कहना है कि अगर क्लाउड सीडिंग कराके बारिश करा भी दी जाए तो भी 2 से 3 दिन बार फिर से प्रदूषण बढ़ जाएगा और फिर से कृत्रिम बारिश करवाने की नौबत आ जाएगी। सबसे बड़ी परेशानी यह है कि इसमें एक ट्रायल पर 64 लाख रुपये खर्च होते हैं। अब तक 5 ट्रायल कराए जा चुके हैं। यानी कुल 3.20 करोड़ रुपये खर्च हो चुके हैं, जो कि बेकार ही हो गए। क्लाउड सीडिंग के बावजूद नहीं हुई बारिश सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट की कार्यकारी निदेशक (शोध एवं वकालत) अनुमिता रॉयचौधरी ने कहा कि क्लाउड सीडिंग के बाद शहर में अभी तक कोई अच्छी बारिश दर्ज नहीं की गई है। अगर बारिश प्रदूषकों को बहा भी देती है, तो भी प्रदूषण जल्दी ही वापस लौट आएगा। इसका असर कुछ घंटों से लेकर कुछ दिनों तक रहता है। उन्होंने कहा कि इसे पूरे ठंड के मौसम के दौरान इसे नियमित रूप से नहीं किया जा सकता। इस तरह के निवेशों का लक्ष्य जमीनी स्रोतों से वास्तविक उत्सर्जन में कमी लाना होना चाहिए, ताकि जन स्वास्थ्य की रक्षा के लिए वायु गुणवत्ता में निरंतर सुधार लाया जा सके।

देश की आधी से ज्यादा मिट्टी में नहीं हैं उपजाऊ तत्व, उर्वरकों से भी नहीं सुधर रही मिट्टी की सेहतः रिपोर्ट

India Soil Health Crisis: राजस्थान के निमली में अनिल अग्रवाल एनवायरनमेंट ट्रेनिंग इंस्टीट्यूट (AAETI) में सस्टेनेबल फूड सिस्टम पर आयोजित राष्ट्रीय कॉन्क्लेव में सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) ने एक रिपोर्ट जारी की। यह रिपोर्ट सरकार के सॉइल हेल्थ कार्ड डेटा पर आधारित है। इसमें बताया गया है कि उर्वरकों का इस्तेमाल बढ़ने के बावजूद कैसे मिट्टी में पोषक तत्वों की कमी है। स्टडी में पाया गया कि मिट्टी के 64 प्रतिशत सैंपल में नाइट्रोजन कम था और 48.5 प्रतिशत में ऑर्गेनिक कार्बन की कमी थी। मिट्टी की उपजाऊ शक्ति और जलवायु परिवर्तन से लड़ने की क्षमता के ये दो मुख्य इंडिकेटर हैं। पौधों के विकास के लिए नाइट्रोजन आवश्यक तत्व है। नतीजों से पता चला कि भारत में फर्टिलाइजर के ज्यादा इस्तेमाल से मिट्टी की सेहत में सुधार नहीं हुआ है। उर्वरक डालने से मिट्टी में पोषक तत्व नहीं बढ़े डेटा से पता चलता है कि मिट्टी में नाइट्रोजन फर्टिलाइजर डालने से मिट्टी के नाइट्रोजन स्तर में कोई खास सुधार नहीं होता। इसी तरह, संपूर्ण फर्टिलाइजर (NPK) के इस्तेमाल से मिट्टी में ऑर्गेनिक कार्बन की मात्रा में कोई बढ़ोतरी नहीं होती है। स्टडी में चेतावनी दी गई है कि इस कमी से लंबे समय में उत्पादकता और मिट्टी की कार्बन स्टोर करने की क्षमता को खतरा है। जलवायु परिवर्तन के प्रभाव को कम करने के लिए ये गुण जरूरी हैं। स्टडी में कहा गया है, "स्वस्थ मिट्टी का एक जरूरी काम ऑर्गेनिक कार्बन स्टोर करने की उसकी क्षमता है। यह गुण जलवायु परिवर्तन के असर को कम करने के लिए जरूरी है। भारत की मिट्टी हर साल लगभग 6-7 टेराग्राम कार्बन जमा कर सकती है।" "सस्टेनेबल फूड सिस्टम्स: एजेंडा फॉर क्लाइमेट-रिस्क्ड टाइम्स" शीर्षक वाली यह रिपोर्ट CSE ने राजस्थान के निमली में अनिल अग्रवाल एनवायरनमेंट ट्रेनिंग इंस्टीट्यूट (AAETI) में सस्टेनेबल फूड सिस्टम पर आयोजित राष्ट्रीय कॉन्क्लेव में जारी की।

दिल्लीः प्रोसेस महंगी, रिजल्ट कम? कृत्रिम बारिश को परमानेंट समाधान क्यों नहीं मान रहे एक्सपर्ट

कृत्रिम बारिश करवाकर लोगों को स्मॉग से राहत दिलवाने के लिए राजधानी में अब तक क्लाउड सीडिंग के तीन ट्रायल हो चुके हैं। इनमें दो ट्रायल मंगलवार को हुए। हालांकि तीनों ट्रायल रन में उम्मीद मुताबिक बारिश देखने को नहीं मिली। एक्सपर्ट इस प्रकिया को लेकर बहुत उत्साहित नहीं हैं। उनका कहना है कि नतीजों के हिसाब से यह एक बहुत महंगी प्रक्रिया है। इसकी राहत कुछ समय के लिए रहती है। वहीं, सर्दियों में इसके नतीजे अस्पष्ट हैं। इसकी बारिश हुई तो भी वह कम ही रहेगी। कम बारिश में स्मॉग से राहत मिलने की संभावना काफी कम रहेगी। कम बारिश में स्मॉग से राहत मिलने की संभावना काफी कम मौसम विभाग के पूर्व डीजी केजे रमेश ने बताया कि कृत्रिम बारिश के लिए प्राकृतिक बादल का होना जरूरी है। इसके बिना बारिश नहीं हो सकती। राजधानी में सर्दियों में बादल कम होते है। अब तक रिसर्च में कृत्रिम बारिश का पानी नुकसानदेह नहीं है। पानी में सिल्वर आयोडाइड मिला होता है। इसका सीमित मात्रा में इस्तेमाल सेहत पर खराब असर नहीं करता। कृत्रिम बारिश में बढ़ते हुए बादलों को रोककर बारिश करवाई जा सकती है। वहीं, इससे इसके बाद के क्षेत्र में बारिश कम होगी। हालांकि यह फ्रीक्वेंट नहीं है। मंगलवार को क्लाउड सीडिंग की गई दो बार उन्होंने बताया कि इस बारिश से प्रदूषक तत्व नीचे तो आ सकते है, लेकिन इसकी अपनी सीमाएं है। यह कुछ ही इलाकों में की जा सकती है। वहीं, प्रदूषण में थोड़ी कमी आएगी। बाकि जगहों पर स्थिति नहीं बदलेगी। जहां यह बारिश होगी, वहां भी इसका असर सीमित समय के लिए होगा। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (सीएसई) की एग्जीक्यूटिव डायरेक्टर अनुमिता रायचौधरी ने बताया कि मंगलवार को क्लाउड सीडिंग की प्रक्रिया दो बार की गई, लेकिन शाम 8 बजे तक बारिश नहीं हुई। अब सवाल यह उठता है कि अगर बारिश हो भी जाती है तो उससे प्रदूषण में कितनी राहत मिलेगी। इतनी महंगी प्रक्रिया कर अगर चंद घंटों के लिए प्रदूषण एक छोटे एरिया से घुल जाता है तो कुछ घंटों में वह वापस आएगा और लोगों की सेहत पर और बुरा असर डालेगा। प्रदूषण को कम करने के लिए प्रदूषण के कारणों को कम करने की जरूरत है। प्रदूषण के सोर्स पर काम करने की जरूरत आईफॉरेस्ट के फाउंडर और सीईओ डॉ. चंद्रभूषण ने बताया कि कई देशों में क्लाउड सीडिंग की प्रक्रिया हुई है। चीन, पाकिस्तान, दुबई सभी जगह इसे किया गया। हर जगह नतीजे बहुत अच्छे नहीं रहे। दो साल पहले पाकिस्तान में भी इसे करवाया गया। हल्की फुल्की बारिश हुई और चंद घंटों में स्मॉग आ गया। एक्सपेरिमेंट के लिहाज से इसे एक आद बार किया जा सकता है, लेकिन यह स्थाई समाधान नहीं है। प्रदूषण के सोर्स पर काम करने की जरूरत है। 'दूसरे तरीके खोजने की जरूरत है' एनवायरोकेटालिस्ट के फाउंडर और सीईओ सुनील दहिया ने बताया कि एयर क्वॉलिटी को ठीक करने के लिए ट्रांसपोर्ट, पावर कचरे और कंस्ट्रक्शन से होने वाले सेक्टर-स्पेसिफिक एमिशन से निपटना होगा। इसके बिना कोई और कदम जैसे क्लाउड सीडिंग, स्मॉग टावर, एंटी-स्मॉग गन जैसे कॉस्मेटिक उपाय काम नहीं करेंगे। यह कॉस्मेटिक उपाय कुछ समय के लिए विजिबिलिटी के फायदे दे सकते हैं, लेकिन इसे सस्टेनेबल सॉल्युशन नहीं कहा जा सकता। इस तरीकों के बजाय, राज्यों और एजेंसियों के बीच मिलकर काम करने पर ध्यान देना चाहिए। प्रदूषण को कम करने के लिए एयरशेड-बेस्ड तरीका अपनाया जाए और प्रदूषण के असली सोर्स को टारगेट किया जाए।

Delhi Carries Out Artificial Rain Trial; AQI Improves Slightly

In a pioneering step against choking winter smog, the Delhi government on Wednesday confirmed that its first artificial rain operation succeeded in triggering light showers across parts of south and central Delhi, leading to a marginal dip in pollution levels. The project, jointly undertaken by IIT-Kanpur scientists and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), used two aircraft fitted with silver iodide burners to seed existing clouds. The result: mild drizzle lasting 25 minutes, bringing AQI levels down from 398 to 362 — still ‘poor’, but an improvement. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called it “a breakthrough toward making Delhi’s air breathable again.” He added that two more sorties are planned between October 30 and November 2, depending on humidity and wind conditions. Challenges Ahead Experts caution that cloud-seeding cannot work without adequate moisture. Environmentalist Sunita Narain remarked that structural changes — cleaner fuels, waste management, and curbing vehicle emissions — remain essential. What Comes Next Delhi’s AQI this week averaged 372, far above WHO limits. The Centre for Air Quality Monitoring plans to publish a comparative study after the next round of experiments.

No artificial rain after cloud seeding: Experts decode whyDelhi’sRs 3.2 crore experimentfellflat

: Experts have termed Delhi govt's cloud seeding trials, held on Tuesday, a "hugely expensive, temporary and unsustainable" measure to deal with the capital's toxic pollution. Even if the artificial rain temporarily settles down the pollutants, the pollution will rise in one-two days, they say. According to the MoU signed between the Delhi environment department and IIT-Kanpur, the budget for cloud seeding is over Rs 3.2 crore for five trials — meaning one trial run costs Rs 64 lakh. Three trials have been done in north Delhi, and none of them led to any major rain. Delhi's air quality index (AQI) has been hovering in the ‘very poor' to ‘poor' range for the past few days. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment, said, "The city has not yet recorded any substantial rainfall after cloud seeding. Even if the rains wash out the pollutants, the pollution will bounce back quickly. The impact lasts from hours to a couple of days."

Most Indian soils low in nitrogen and organic carbon: Study

New Delhi: India’s soils are increasingly deficient in essential nutrients, threatening the foundation of sustainable agriculture, according to a new analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The Delhi-based think tank’s report, released on Tuesday, draws on the government’s Soil Health Card (SHC) data and points to alarming gaps in soil fertility and carbon storage capacity. The study found that 64 per cent of soil samples across the country were low in nitrogen, while 48.5 per cent showed deficiencies in organic carbon—two crucial indicators of soil productivity and resilience. Despite years of heavy fertiliser use, these inputs have not improved soil quality. “Data indicates that applying nitrogen-based fertilisers to the soil does not lead to any corresponding improvement in soil nitrogen levels,” the report stated. It also noted that there was “no improvement in soil organic carbon due to use of total (NPK) fertiliser.”

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)’s Sustainable Food Systems report highlights India’s soil health

The report finds severe nutrient deficiencies in Indian soils based on the Soil Health Card Scheme data. Key Findings Soil nutrient deficiencies: Nitrogen: 64% of samples tested 'low' for Nitrogen (N). Organic Carbon (SOC) Deficit: 48.5% of samples tested 'low' for SOC, a crucial indicator for soil structure and microbial abundance. Over 43% of districts at 'very high' climate risk also showed low SOC levels. Micronutrient Shortages: 55.4% of samples tested 'low' for Boron, and 35% for Zinc. High Urea Consumption: Fertilizer consumption is heavily skewed towards urea, which is about 68 per cent of total fertilizer consumption in 2023-24. Implications of soil nutrient deficiencies Threat to crop productivity, food security, farmer’s income and sustainable agriculture. Reduced capacity for carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. Recommendations Expand Current Soil Monitoring under SHC to include physical (texture, compaction) and biological (microbial activity) indicators. Reform fertiliser subsidy policy to incentivise balanced and efficient use. Use biochar to improve fertility, moisture retention, and carbon storage. Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme, 2015 Implemented by: Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Purpose: To assess soil fertility and provide nutrient-based recommendations to farmers. Measures 12 Chemical Indicators: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sulphur (Macronutrients); Zinc, Iron, Copper, Manganese, Boron (Micronutrients) ; and pH, Electrical Conductivity and Organic Carbon. Soil Health Card scheme has been merged in Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) Cafeteria scheme as one of its components under ‘Soil Health & Fertility’ from the year 2022-23.

Delhi govt’s Rs 3.2 crore cloud-seeding experiment fails, experts call it costly, unsustainable

New Delhi: Despite high hopes and a hefty budget, Delhi government's much-publicised cloud-seeding experiment has failed to bring significant rainfall, leaving experts questioning the efficacy of the initiative. The Delhi government’s cloud seeding trials, conducted on Tuesday, have been described as a “hugely expensive, temporary and unsustainable” measure to tackle the capital’s toxic pollution, according to experts cited by the Times of India. Even if artificial rain briefly reduces pollutants, they warn, pollution levels rebound within a day or two. Under a memorandum of understanding between the Delhi environment department and IIT-Kanpur, over Rs 3.2 crore has been allocated for five cloud-seeding trials — roughly Rs 64 lakh per trial. Three trials conducted in north Delhi failed to produce any major rainfall. Meanwhile, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has continued to hover in the ‘very poor’ to ‘poor’ range. Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director of Research and Advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment, noted that substantial rainfall has yet to be recorded after cloud seeding. “Even if the rains wash out the pollutants, the pollution will bounce back quickly. The impact lasts from hours to a couple of days,” TOI quoted her as saying. Roychowdhury added that the initiative is not sustainable and cannot be repeated throughout the winter. She emphasised that investments should focus on reducing emissions at the source for long-term improvements in air quality and public health. Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst of the think tank EnviroCatalysts, said that improving air quality requires tackling sector-specific emissions from transport, power, and construction. He added that no real impact can be achieved without addressing these sources. "Cosmetic measures may create short-term visibility benefits but are not sustainable solutions. The focus should instead be on coordinated action across states and agencies through an airshed-based approach that targets the actual sources of pollution," TOI quoted him as saying. Environmental activist Bhavreen Kandhari pointed out that Delhi’s atmosphere already had enough moisture due to a western disturbance, which naturally brings rain. “Under such circumstances, cloud seeding adds little scientific value; it becomes a costly experiment chasing what nature is already prepared to deliver. Clean air will not come from artificial rain, but from sustained reductions in emissions, dust control, and responsible policy," Kandhari added. While cloud seeding may seem futuristic, experts stress that Delhi’s true challenge is on the ground, not in the sky. With increasing construction dust, vehicle emissions, and industrial pollution, the city’s air quality cannot be improved through one-off measures. Sustainable progress, they say, depends on strict enforcement of pollution control norms, coordinated regional action, and long-term policy initiatives. facebook sharing buttontwitter sharing buttonwhatsapp sharing buttonlinkedin sharing buttonemail sharing buttonprint sharing button