Centre for Science and Environment masthead Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Donate

Cse In News

Cse In News

बदलते मौसम में टिकाऊ खेती का मंत्र : CSE की नई रिपोर्ट ने दिखाई हरित भविष्य की राह

जलवायु परिवर्तन की मार झेल रहे कृषि क्षेत्र के लिए सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) ने एक नई राह दिखाई है। राजस्थान के निमली में आयोजित राष्ट्रीय सम्मेलन में सीएसई ने अपनी नई रिपोर्ट ‘सस्टेनेबल फूड सिस्टम्स: एन एजेंडा फॉर क्लाइमेट-रिस्क्ड टाइम्स’ जारी करते हुए यह बताया कि कैसे भारत की खेती को जलवायु-सहनशील और टिकाऊ बनाया जा सकता है। तीन दिवसीय सम्मेलन (27-29 अक्टूबर) कृषि, खाद्य सुरक्षा और जलवायु सहनशीलता पर केंद्रित है, जिसमें देशभर के विशेषज्ञ और नीति-निर्माता शामिल हुए हैं। रिपोर्ट में न सिर्फ कृषि उत्सर्जन को कम करने की रूपरेखा दी गई है, बल्कि यह भी बताया गया है कि किसान और उपभोक्ता दोनों मिलकर कैसे जलवायु संकट के बीच एक स्वस्थ व संतुलित खाद्य प्रणाली की दिशा में कदम बढ़ा सकते हैं। कार्यक्रम में सीएसई की महानिदेशक सुनीता नारायण ने कहा, “जब हम जलवायु परिवर्तन और उत्सर्जन की बात करते हैं, तो आमतौर पर जीवाश्म ईंधन पर चर्चा होती है, लेकिन हम उस ‘दूसरे हाथी’ को नजरअंदाज कर देते हैं- यानी हमारी कृषि और हमारा भोजन।” सीएसई की दो नई रिपोर्ट्स हुईं जारी Sustainable Food Systems: An Agenda for Climate-risked Times- यह रिपोर्ट बताती है कि किस तरह से हम अपने खाद्य उत्पादन, वितरण और उपभोग प्रणाली को जलवायु-सुरक्षित और टिकाऊ बना सकते हैं। Missing from the Plate: Edible Plants in Wetlands Lose Favour- यह रिपोर्ट भारत के आर्द्रभूमि क्षेत्रों में पाए जाने वाले खाने योग्य पौधों का दस्तावेज है, जो पोषण और जलवायु सहनशीलता दोनों के लिए महत्वपूर्ण हैं। इस अवसर पर अजय वीर जाखड़ (भारत कृषक समाज), डॉ. जी.वी. रामंजनयुलु (सेंटर फॉर सस्टेनेबल एग्रीकल्चर, हैदराबाद), सुधीर कुमार गोयल (पूर्व अतिरिक्त मुख्य सचिव, कृषि, महाराष्ट्र), अपूर्व ओझा (आगा खान फाउंडेशन) और डॉ. सुल्तान इस्माइल (ईकोसाइंस रिसर्च फाउंडेशन, चेन्नई) ने विचार रखे। जलवायु परिवर्तन और भारतीय कृषि पर प्रभाव सीएसई की रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, यदि अनुकूलन कदम नहीं उठाए गए, तो साल 2050 तक वर्षा आधारित धान की पैदावार में 20% और 2080 तक 47% की कमी आ सकती है। सिंचित धान की पैदावार में क्रमशः 3.5% (2050) और 5% (2080) की गिरावट अनुमानित है। देश के 573 ग्रामीण जिलों में से 90% जिले जलवायु जोखिम के घेरे में हैं। बढ़ते तापमान से कीट और रोगों का प्रकोप बढ़ रहा है, जिससे फसल उत्पादकता प्रभावित हो रही है। अनियमित मानसून के कारण जल संकट की समस्या गहराती जा रही है। CSE की रिपोर्ट जिस एग्रीकल्चर मॉडल की वकालत करती है, वह चार मुख्य उपायों की सलाह देता है- कृषि को कम इनपुट आधारित बनाना : मिट्टी का स्वास्थ्य बनाए रखें, सिंचाई और जैविक विकल्पों को बढ़ावा दें, रासायनिक कीटनाशकों के प्रयोग को घटाएं। जोखिम कम करने के लिए विविधता अपनाना : बहुफसली खेती और पशुधन आधारित अर्थव्यवस्था को प्रोत्साहित करें, ताकि किसान को कई आय स्रोत मिल सकें। स्थानीय और पोषक फसलों को बढ़ावा देना : सरकार को ऐसी नीतियां लानी चाहिए जो जल-संकट वाले इलाकों में बाजरा जैसे फसलों को बढ़ावा दें, जो कम पानी में भी उत्पादन दे सकें। भोजन की आदतों में परिवर्तन : उपभोक्ता के खाने की पसंद किसान के उत्पादन को तय करती है। यदि लोग पौष्टिक और जलवायु-अनुकूल आहार अपनाएंगे, तो किसान भी वैसी फसलें उगाएंगे। इस बीच सुनीता नारायण ने कहा, “भोजन और जलवायु का रिश्ता शाकाहार या जैविक भोजन तक सीमित नहीं है। यह इस बात पर निर्भर करता है कि भोजन कैसे उगाया जाता है, हम क्या खाते हैं और कितना खाते हैं।”

ग्रामीण भारत में वायु प्रदूषण : अब गांवों की हवा भी हो रही है जहरीली, औसतन 5 साल घट रही जिंदगी

स्वच्छ हवा पाने के लिए लोग गांवों की ओर देखते हैं। भारत के गांव, जिन्हें स्वच्छ हवा और हरियाली की पहचान माना जाता है। लेकिन, एक नई रिपोर्ट ने इन गांवों को लेकर गहरी चिंता में डाल दिया है। स्वच्छ हवा और हरियाली के प्रतीक ये गांव अब धीरे-धीरे वायु प्रदूषण के गहरे संकट में डूब रहे हैं। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (CSE) की नई रिपोर्ट “सांसों का आपातकाल” के अनुसार, ग्रामीण भारत की हवा अब उतनी ही दूषित हो चुकी है जितनी शहरों की। परेशानी में डालने वाला खुलासा क्लाइमेट ट्रेंड्स और IIT-दिल्ली के संयुक्त अध्ययन में पाया गया कि ग्रामीण भारत में PM 2.5 (अल्ट्राफाइन पार्टिकुलेट मैटर) का स्तर वर्ष 2022 में औसतन 46.4 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घनमीटर था, जबकि शहरी क्षेत्रों में यह 46.8 माइक्रोग्राम रहा, यानी दोनों के बीच का अंतर लगभग नगण्य। राष्ट्रीय मानक 40 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घनमीटर से यह आंकड़ा लगातार ऊपर जा रहा है। इस जहरीली हवा का सबसे बड़ा असर ग्रामीण लोगों की जीवन प्रत्याशा पर पड़ा है। रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, ग्रामीण लोगों की औसतन 5 साल 2 महीने की जिंदगी कम हो रही है, जबकि शहरों में यह 4 साल 5 महीने है। सबसे भयावह स्थिति उत्तर प्रदेश में है, जहां ग्रामीण इलाकों में औसतन 8 साल की जीवन प्रत्याशा घट रही है। बिहार और हरियाणा में यह गिरावट करीब 7 साल तक पहुंच गई है। महिलाएं और बच्चों पर ज्यादा असर भारत की लगभग 62% ग्रामीण आबादी को किसी भी प्रकार के वायु गुणवत्ता अलर्ट या चेतावनी प्रणाली तक पहुंच नहीं है। रिपोर्ट बताती है कि ग्रामीण भारत में वायु प्रदूषण का असर महिलाओं और बच्चों पर सबसे अधिक है, खासकर वे जो ठोस ईंधन (लकड़ी, गोबर के कंडे, कोयला) से खाना बनाती हैं। CSE की रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, ग्रामीण इलाकों में प्रदूषण के तीन बड़े स्रोत हैं- ठोस ईंधन का उपयोग (लकड़ी, गोबर आदि), कृषि अवशेषों का जलाना (पराली), ईंट-भट्ठों और सड़कों की धूल। यूनिवर्सिटी ऑफ ईस्ट एंग्लिया के एक अध्ययन में बताया गया कि ठोस ईंधन से निकलने वाला धुआं महिलाओं के फेफड़ों को नुकसान पहुंचाता है और दो वर्ष से छोटे बच्चों के मस्तिष्क विकास को प्रभावित करता है। उत्तर प्रदेश के शिवगढ़ गांव में हुए एक शोध में पाया गया कि ऐसे घरों में बच्चों की विज़ुअल मेमोरी और प्रोसेसिंग स्पीड कम होती है। 'गांवों की चौपालों तक पहुंच रहा धुआं' CSE की वरिष्ठ निदेशक अनुमिता राय चौधरी कहती हैं, “यह अब सिर्फ शहरों का संकट नहीं रहा। गांवों की चौपालों तक धुआं पहुंच चुका है। महिलाएं धुआं भरी रसोई में जूझ रही हैं, बच्चे जन्म से पहले ही प्रदूषण की मार झेल रहे हैं, और सरकार के पास गांवों की हवा को मापने का कोई मजबूत तंत्र नहीं है।”

Waste burns in open as air quality dips in Gurgaon, new sectors getthe stench

Gurgaon: Every morning, a dense, acrid haze settles over the new sectors near Sikohpur and Dhanwapur, forcing residents to start their day with stinging eyes and burning throats. The culprit? Unchecked open burning of garbage, which has turned these neighbourhoods into veritable gas chambers at a time when the city's air quality dips low. For months, residents have watched helplessly as piles of mixed waste — ranging from plastic and rubber to construction debris — are routinely set alight on vacant plots and at unauthorised dumping sites. Despite repeated complaints, both municipal corporations and pollution control authorities have failed to intervene, leaving locals to bear the brunt of the toxic fallout. "The situation turned severe on Thursday when someone set piles of trash on fire behind our society at night. Smoke engulfed the entire area, forcing us to call the fire department. The stench lingered till morning, causing throat irritation and coughing, especially among the children and elderly. We have been requesting the civic body to take strict action, but to no avail, " said Rajneesh Sachdeva, the RWA president of Umang Winter Hills in Sector 77. The problem is not confined to Sikohpur. In Dhanwapur, overflowing garbage collection points often lead to waste being burnt in the open to clear space. Sunil Sareen, joint convener of DXP-GDA, described the cycle as an annual ordeal. "Every winter, we go through the same thing. With GRAP measures already in force, authorities must enforce the norms strictly." Environmental experts warned that burning mixed and industrial waste releases fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and toxic chemicals, worsening respiratory problems and pushing the city's AQI further. Residents now fear that, without urgent intervention, these developing sectors could become the city's next pollution hotspots. Officials admitted the scale of the problem. An MCM official acknowledged that industrial waste is being dumped illegally. "As soon as we got information about the burning of garbage in Sikohpur, we informed the fire department, which doused the flames early on Friday morning. Independent enforcement teams are being formed to strictly monitor such practices. We have also identified vulnerable spots and informed HSIIDC to ensure proper disposal of industrial waste, " the official said. Meanwhile, an MCG official claimed that monitoring had been intensified under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), whose stage 2 is in force now. "Strict implementation of the measures under GRAP-II is being ensured. The burning of any kind of waste is a punishable act, and rigorous surveillance is being carried out to prevent and address violations, " the official added. "See, waste burning means the source of pollution is very close to where people live. And because this happens in neighbourhoods, such gross pollution occurs within very short proximity. That leads to very high exposure in the local area, " said Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment.

Delhi Breathes a Bit Easier as AQI Drops, Yet Smog Persists Across City

Delhi woke to a sliver of hope on Saturday as its overall Air Quality Index (AQI) eased to 261, a notch down from Friday’s stifling 290, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The citywide average remains firmly in the “poor” category, but the 29-point drop offered a fleeting breather amid weeks of toxic haze that have choked schools, grounded construction, and sent asthma cases soaring. into “severe” territory. The Sameer app, run by CPCB, flagged it as the capital’s dirtiest hotspot, painting a grim picture of localized pollution pockets that refuse to budge. Commuters near the busy inter-state bus terminal coughed through thick grey curtains, with visibility slashed to under 300 meters at dawn. Seven other monitoring stations clung to “very poor” levels (301–400), while the remaining network stayed mired in “poor” (201–300). For context, CPCB defines 0– 50 as “good, ” 51–100 “satisfactory, ” 101–200 “moderate, ” 201–300 “poor, ” 301–400 “very poor, ” and 401–500 “severe.” Delhi’s air, in short, is still far from breathable; masks remain mandatory for anyone stepping outside, especially children and the elderly. The day is forecast to peak near 32°C, starting with misty haze before clearing into a deceptively sunny sky. Meteorologists warn that light winds and overnight temperature inversion are trapping pollutants close to the ground, worsening the crisis despite lower stubbleburning activity reported from Punjab and Haryana. Experts blame the persistent smog on a toxic cocktail: stubble burning in neighboring states (though down 30% from last year), vehicular emissions from over 12 million registered vehicles, rampant construction dust, and industrial fumes from the NCR belt. Roadside vendors near India Gate reported a 40% drop in footfall, while hospitals logged a 25% spike in respiratory emergencies compared to last week. With Diwali fireworks looming just days away, residents brace for another potential spike in the days ahead. The Delhi government has already rolled out emergency measures—banning diesel generators, sprinkling water on roads, and threatening stricter odd-even vehicle rules patchy, and illegal firecracker sales thrive in black markets. Environmentalists call for urgent regional cooperation, pointing to satellite images showing over 800 farm fires in Punjab alone on Friday. “One city can’t fight this alone, ” said Anumita Roychowdhury of the Centre for Science and Environment. “Until stubble management subsidies reach farmers and crop residue markets scale up, Delhi will keep paying the price every winter.” For now, the capital limps through another smoggy weekend, praying for stronger winds and stricter action before the festive season turns the sky into a warzone once more.

हिमालयी क्षेत्र में जलवायु परिवर्तन पर अंतरराष्ट्रीय सम्मेलन का आयोजन

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट की 2023 की एक रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, उत्तराखंड में 2010 से 2022 के बीच 388 चरम मौसम की घटनाएं दर्ज की गईं। देहरादून: शनिवार को हेमवती नंदन बहुगुणा गढ़वाल विश्वविद्यालय के चौरास परिसर में जलवायु लचीलापन और पर्यावरणीय नाजुकता पर तीन दिवसीय अंतर्राष्ट्रीय सम्मेलन शुरू हुआ। इस सम्मेलन में भारत और विदेश के भूगोलवेदों और विद्वानों ने हिमालयी क्षेत्र में जलवायु परिवर्तन के प्रभाव और सतत विकास की रणनीतियों पर चर्चा की। यह कार्यक्रम इंस्टीट्यूट ऑफ इंडियन जियोग्राफर्स (IIG) की 46वीं वार्षिक बैठक थी। इसका उद्घाटन उच्च शिक्षा मंत्री धन सिंह रावत और पद्मश्री पुरस्कार विजेता पर्यावरणविद् डॉ. अनिल जोशी ने किया। "डायनामिक अर्थ, फ्रैजाइल एनवायरनमेंट एंड पाथ टू क्लाइमेट-रेसिलिएंट सोसाइटी" (Dynamic Earth, Fragile Environment and Path to Climate-Resilient Society) नामक इस सम्मेलन में भूविज्ञान, पर्यावरण अध्ययन और जलवायु न्याय के विशेषज्ञों ने भाग लिया। उच्च शिक्षा मंत्री धन सिंह रावत ने कहा, "जलवायु परिवर्तन दुनिया भर में एक गंभीर समस्या बनता जा रहा है। वैज्ञानिकों को इस पर गंभीरता से सोचने और इस दिशा में काम करने की आवश्यकता है। इसके अलावा, गढ़वाल विश्वविद्यालय में जल्द ही आपदा प्रबंधन अध्ययन केंद्र खोला जाएगा। इससे यहां के शोध छात्र आपदा संबंधी शोध कर सकेंगे और उत्तराखंड की भौगोलिक पारिस्थितिकी को आसानी से समझ पाएंगे।" पद्मश्री डॉ. अनिल जोशी ने अनियंत्रित विकास की पारिस्थितिक लागत पर प्रकाश डाला। उन्होंने कहा, "विकास को नकारा नहीं जा सकता, लेकिन विकास की इस दौड़ में हमने अपना घर बनाने के लिए दूसरों के घर छीन लिए हैं, जिससे हमारे पारिस्थितिकी तंत्र को भारी नुकसान हुआ है। चल रहे जलवायु परिवर्तन के कारण पृथ्वी का तापमान बढ़ रहा है। हिमालयी क्षेत्र इस प्रभाव की मार झेल रहे हैं, लेकिन वह दिन दूर नहीं जब इसका असर मैदानी इलाकों तक भी पहुंचेगा। इसलिए, जागरूकता की अभी भी आवश्यकता है।" सम्मेलन के आयोजकों ने बताया कि यह सम्मेलन नाजुक हिमालयी पारिस्थितिकी तंत्र की रक्षा के लिए कार्रवाई को जुटाने में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभा सकता है। IIG सदस्यों के अलावा, दिल्ली विश्वविद्यालय, जामिया मिलिया इस्लामिया और एचएनबी गढ़वाल विश्वविद्यालय जैसे संस्थानों के शिक्षकों और शोधकर्ताओं ने भी इस संगोष्ठी में भाग लिया। व्याख्यानों और पैनल चर्चाओं के माध्यम से 25 से अधिक विषयों को कवर किया जा रहा है, जो इस आयोजन के वैश्विक अकादमिक महत्व को बढ़ाते हैं। सत्रों में पारिस्थितिक अस्थिरता, पृथ्वी प्रणाली की गतिशीलता, जलवायु न्याय और आपदा तैयारियों जैसे विषयों पर ध्यान केंद्रित किया गया। उत्तराखंड की बिगड़ती भौगोलिक पारिस्थितिकी पर विशेष चर्चाएं हुईं, खासकर राज्य की प्राकृतिक आपदाओं के प्रति बढ़ती भेद्यता को देखते हुए। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट की 2023 की एक रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, उत्तराखंड में 2010 से 2022 के बीच 388 चरम मौसम की घटनाएं दर्ज की गईं। सम्मेलन में विशेषज्ञों ने पहाड़ी राज्यों में लोगों और पारिस्थितिकी तंत्र दोनों की रक्षा के लिए क्षेत्र-विशिष्ट पर्यावरण नीतियों और बेहतर लचीलापन बुनियादी ढांचे की आवश्यकता पर जोर दिया। डॉ. जोशी ने इस बात पर भी जोर दिया कि विकास की दौड़ में हमने प्रकृति का बहुत नुकसान किया है। उन्होंने कहा कि पृथ्वी का तापमान बढ़ रहा है और इसका सबसे बुरा असर हिमालय पर पड़ रहा है। लेकिन यह समस्या सिर्फ हिमालय तक सीमित नहीं रहेगी, जल्द ही इसका असर मैदानी इलाकों में भी दिखेगा। इसलिए, लोगों को जागरूक करना बहुत जरूरी है। सम्मेलन में भाग लेने वाले विशेषज्ञों ने कहा कि हिमालयी क्षेत्र की नाजुक पारिस्थितिकी को बचाने के लिए तुरंत कदम उठाने की जरूरत है। उन्होंने सुझाव दिया कि सरकारों को ऐसी नीतियां बनानी चाहिए जो पर्यावरण की रक्षा करें और साथ ही विकास को भी बढ़ावा दें। इसके अलावा, आपदाओं से निपटने के लिए बेहतर तैयारी और मजबूत बुनियादी ढांचे का निर्माण भी आवश्यक है। यह सम्मेलन इस बात पर प्रकाश डालता है कि जलवायु परिवर्तन एक वैश्विक समस्या है और इससे निपटने के लिए अंतर्राष्ट्रीय सहयोग की आवश्यकता है। भारत जैसे देश, जहां हिमालय जैसे संवेदनशील क्षेत्र हैं, को विशेष ध्यान देने की जरूरत है। इस तरह के सम्मेलन वैज्ञानिकों, नीति निर्माताओं और आम जनता को एक साथ लाने और समाधान खोजने में मदद करते हैं।

Delhi’s Anand Vihar remains notorious hot spot of localised air pollution

Even in Delhi – a city that has earned grim global recognition for its pollution – Anand Vihar stands apart. While the Capital has long been a cautionary tale for pollution, this chaotic part of east Delhi has emerged as an even more polluted anomaly within the city. Post-monsoon showers in the first half of October kept Delhi’s skies blue and the air quality index (AQI) between “satisfactory” and “moderate” levels, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. But not in Anand Vihar. No quick remedy Anand Vihar is among the 13 pollution hot spots identified jointly by the DPCC and CPCB in 2018, based on the annual PM2.5 concentration, which is higher than Delhi’s mean PM2.5. The other hot spots are Mundka, Wazirpur, Jahangirpuri, RK Puram, Rohini, Punjabi Bagh, Okhla, Bawana, Vivek Vihar, Narela, Ashok Vihar and Dwarka. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said the area requires stringent source-based action to reduce the impact of localised pollution sources. “Anand Vihar is a very complex land-use with diverse and concentrated polluting activities. The combined presence of ISBT, railway station, and metro station on one side and the Ghaziabad bus terminal across the border, lead to very high footfall and traffic movement. Heavy-duty traffic, buses and trucks, on National Highway 9 and NH 24 contribute substantially to pollution levels. This is further compounded by the emissions from the industrial areas of Sahibabad in Ghaziabad and the Patparganj in Delhi,” Roychowdhury said, adding that the Ghazipur landfill site nearby adds to the challenge.

Delhi Tests Cloud Seeding as Post-Diwali Pollution Soars—Experts Call It a ‘Gimmick’

As Delhi choked on hazardous post-Diwali air, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government launched its first cloud seeding trial on Thursday, 23 October 2025, aiming to induce artificial rain to disperse the toxic haze. But as the city’s air quality plunged to the worst PM2.5 levels since January 2025, scientists and environmental experts warned that the move may be little more than a distraction from the capital’s deep rooted pollution crisis. Delhi’s environment minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, confirmed that the first test flight was conducted in Burari on Thursday, firing seeding flares into the sky. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that if weather conditions remained favourable, Delhi could witness its first “artificial rain” on 29 October 2025. The initiative, long delayed by unpredictable weather, has been positioned as the government’s most ambitious pollution control measure since coming to power earlier this year. Cloud seeding involves dispersing particles such as silver iodide into clouds to stimulate rainfall. While the technique has been used in countries including China and the UAE, its success depends heavily on the presence of thick, moisture-laden clouds, a rarity in Delhi’s dry winter months. Experts from Delhi’s Centre for Atmospheric Sciences have denounced the plan as “a textbook case of science misapplied and ethics ignored.” Experts have called the experiment a “gimmick,” equating it with the city’s failed “smog towers” project: expensive installations that delivered negligible improvements to air quality. “Snake-oil solutions will not clear the air in Delhi or the rest of North India,” they warned, adding that the use of chemicals such as silver iodide and sodium chloride carried unknown risks for agriculture and human health. According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), Delhi’s average PM2.5 concentration during Diwali reached 228 micrograms per cubic metre, rising to 241 µg/m³ the next day. The figures, far above national and World Health Organization limits, were the city’s highest since January 2025. In some areas, hourly readings were off the charts: Nehru Nagar recorded 1,763 µg/m³ at 10 p.m. on Diwali night, 118 times the WHO’s safe guideline. Analysts said the official data likely underestimates the severity of the crisis, with several monitoring stations reporting missing or maxed out values. At Anand Vihar, pollution readings disappeared from 11 p.m. on 20 October 2025 to mid-afternoon the next day — the peak pollution window. “Pollutant concentrations might have exceeded instruments’ detection limits,” CREA’s Manoj Kumar observed. Health experts have repeatedly cautioned that sustained exposure to PM2.5, fine particulate matter small enough to enter the bloodstream, can cause long-term damage to the lungs, heart, and other organs. “The tinier the particle, the greater the health risk,” said Anumita Roy Chowdhury of the Centre for Science and Environment. Meteorologists from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) have all urged caution, noting that Delhi’s short lived western disturbances rarely provide suitable cloud cover. Even if rain is induced, it may evaporate before reaching the ground. Experts argue that the BJP government’s emphasis on cloud seeding mirrors the pattern of short term “visibility projects” that prioritise optics over impact. “It does not address the sources of pollutants — vehicles, industries, crop burning, and dust,” said one atmospheric scientist involved in government consultations. “We’re washing away symptoms, not curing the disease.”

चिंताजनक: 10 साल में प्रदूषण से 38 लाख मौत, छोटे शहरों में भी हवा जहरीली

भारत में सांस लेना अब जानलेवा होता जा रहा है। स्वीडन के कारोलिंस्का इंस्टीट्यूट की एक ताजा रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक 2009 से 2019 के बीच वायु प्रदूषण ने देश में 38 लाख लोगों की जान ली, जबकि छोटे और औद्योगिक शहर अब नए प्रदूषण हॉटस्पॉट के रूप में उभर रहे हैं। इस बात का उल्लेख दिल्ली स्थित सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरमेंट (सीएसई) की पुस्तक सांसों का आपातकाल करते हुए चेतावनी दी गई है कि यह संकट अब महानगरों से निकलकर पूरे भारत की हवा को विषाक्त कर चुका है। कारोलिंस्का इंस्टीट्यूट की रिसर्च बताती है कि 2009 से 2019 के दशक में भारत में वायु प्रदूषण से होने वाली मौतें कुल मृत्यु दर का 25 प्रतिशत हैं। अगर विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन (डब्ल्यूएचओ) के सख्त मानक (5 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति घन मीटर) को आधार बनाया जाए तो यह संख्या अनुमानित रूप से 1.66 करोड़ मौतों तक जा सकती है।

Just awareness drives and court orders won’t clean Delhi’s air

Despite strong public health concerns and repeated judicial diktats, Delhi NCR has failed to implement not only the absolute ban on firecrackers, but also the rules restricting their use. Public resistance has clearly weakened the will to implement such measures. This year too, the annual noise over crackers will die down soon. But this provokes a more fundamental question: what is the role of public awareness in promoting collective action for sustained air quality improvement across key sectors and reducing personal and societal harm? It is necessary to confront this now, as several clean air solutions are expected to become more difficult and inconvenient and require stronger public support for implementation. While ‘public awareness’ is seen as a non-combative strategy, it can create strong public demand for clean air. But it needs to be enabled. Without alternatives, people can face barriers that weaken any nudge. For instance, a campaign on using public transport cannot deliver if the transport system is unreliable and inconvenient, and personal vehicle usage is not adequately priced. Waste segregation in households is neglected if the waste infrastructure for circularity is not well developed. In the absence of viable options, nudges can have minimal or short-term effects. Several clean air wins in Delhi have been possible when industry and other institutional stakeholders were mandated for large-scale system changes and capital investments for implementation. These include replacement of diesel vehicles with CNG vehicles, ban on coal and pet coke in industry, adoption of natural gas based industrial technologies, closure of coal power plants or expansion of metro systems and electric buses. On the other hand, lifestyle solutions that require numerous individual decisions face aggressive public resistance. These include changing modes of travel, paying higher taxes for polluting and energy inefficient products and activities, paying higher parking fees, allowing more road space to buses, restraining car usage, paying user charges to municipalities for waste management and more. Nudges are most effective when the solutions are convenient, reliable, and accessible. More data and evidence on health effects of air pollution in the public domain have certainly influenced a section of citizens to make informed choices, but a large section still resists and denies. While public support is needed for hard and inconvenient lifestyle solutions, the awareness strategies must also not push the onus and burden of action to individuals and detract the attention from strong government action. Without adequate investments in alternative infrastructure, nudging behaviour has limited value as it cannot address systemic problems, institutional capacity, and resource requirements for clean air action. The cumulative impact of clean air action has bent the pollution curve in Delhi. But what more can Delhi do to ensure another 60% cut in PM 2.5 levels to meet the national clean air standards in a time-bound manner? The first comprehensive clean air action plan was directed by the Supreme Court in 2018 and that was followed by the 2022 clean air policy of the Commission on Air Quality Management. Despite periodic reporting by the state governments on implementation, it is not clear if these plans have been adequately integrated with the departmental targets, standard operating procedures and budgets to implement the priority measures at a scale in all the four NCR states. Time has come to go beyond short-term enforcement and emergency measures, and the common minimum requirements to a more ambitious good practice approach. A strong monitoring mechanism has to track the departments concerned to assess clean air relevance of their budget line and alignment of fund disbursements with the clean air roadmap. This has to prioritise measures with potentially high, medium and low impacts on air quality. Despite being the pollution epicentre, Delhi and most NCR cities are not included in the performance linked clean air funding of the 15th Finance Commission, while the National Clean Air programme grant remains small and underutilised. More aligned sectoral spending has to create assets and infrastructure to improve service level in all sectors. Waste cannot burn if the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 targets of diverting 80% of waste from landfills, 100% waste collection, and segregation are met. Congestion cannot choke if the official benchmark for public transport services, walking and cycling infrastructure, and vehicle restraint measures are in place. Mandating zero emission vehicles, electrification of industrial processes, clean household energy and more can be a game changer. Therefore, it is necessary to pair the nudges and awareness campaigns with firm regulatory action, financial and infrastructure measures and mandates. Only this can inspire confidence, augment investments in clean air solutions, and build public support for strong clean air action.

Himalayas’fragility amid climate shifts in focus at Garhwal univ conclave

A 2023 report by the Centre for Science and Environment said Uttarakhand recorded 388 extreme weather events between 2010 and 2022. Dehradun: A three-day international conference on climate resilience and environmental fragility began at Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University's Chauras campus on Saturday, with geographers and scholars from across India and abroad deliberating on the impact of climate change and strategies for sustainable development in the Himalayan region. The event marked the 46th annual meet of the Institute of Indian Geographers (IIG) and was inaugurated by higher education minister Dhan Singh Rawat and Padmashree awardee and environmentalist Dr Anil Joshi. The conference, themed "Dynamic Earth, Fragile Environment and Path to Climate-Resilient Society, " saw participation from experts in the fields of earth sciences, environmental studies and climate justice. Rawat said, "Climate change is becoming a serious issue worldwide, requiring scientists to think seriously about it and work in this direction. In addition, a centre for disaster management studies will soon be opened at Garhwal University. This will enable research students here to conduct disaster-related research and easily understand the geographical ecology of Uttarakhand." Joshi pointed to the ecological cost of unchecked development. "Development cannot be denied, but in this race for development, we have usurped others' homes to build our own, devastating our ecosystem. Earth's temperature is rising due to ongoing climate change. The Himalayan regions are bearing the brunt of this impact, but the day is not far when its impact will reach the plains. Therefore, awareness is still needed, " he said. Organisers said the conference could play a significant role in mobilising action to protect the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. In addition to IIG members, faculty and researchers from institutions such as Delhi University, Jamia Millia Islamia and HNB Garhwal University participated in the symposium. Over 25 themes are being covered through lectures and panel discussions, adding to the global academic significance of the event. Sessions focused on topics such as ecological instability, earth system dynamics, climate justice and disaster preparedness. Special discussions were held on Uttarakhand's deteriorating geographical ecology, particularly in light of the state's increasing vulnerability to natural disasters. A 2023 report by the Centre for Science and Environment said Uttarakhand recorded 388 extreme weather events between 2010 and 2022. Experts at the conference stressed the need for region-specific environmental policies and improved resilience infrastructure to protect both people and ecosystems in the hill states.

Stubble Burning Smoke Under 2% So Far, Vehicles Are Delhi’s Biggest Polluters: Experts | Interview

Despite the ongoing debate over stubble burning and firecrackers, it is Delhi’s ever-growing vehicular pollution which is driving nearly 40 per cent of the city’s toxic air, according to experts, as the national capital remained enveloped in toxic haze with Air Quality Index (AQI) still under ‘very poor’ levels. In an exclusive interview with CNN-News18, Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director, Centre for Science & Environment (CSE), New Delhi, highlighted that the city’s local combustion sources are to blame for the city’s air pollution not just during winter, but all year round. “It is so clear, and we know this so well from detailed studies in the past, that combustion sources – industries, vehicles, open waste burning are major contributors to Delhi-NCR’s pollution. Even though, quite a substantive part of pollution comes from surrounding areas, but in terms of local sources, vehicles are at the top – responsible for almost half of the total pollution load," said Roychowdhury who has also worked extensively to build the campaign on Right to Clean Air.

Delhi gears up for first artificial rain on October 29 to combat toxic air quality

“Cloud seeding can offer short-term relief, but it’s a band-aid solution. We need systemic measures like stricter emission norms and regional cooperation to tackle stubble burning,” said Sunita Narain, director of the Centre for Science and Environment. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced on Thursday that the national capital is set to experience its first artificial rain on October 29, as preparations for cloud seeding have been successfully completed. The move comes as a response to escalating concerns over Delhi’s deteriorating air quality, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching hazardous levels following Diwali celebrations. In a post on X, Gupta revealed that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted favorable cloud conditions between October 28 and 30. “Preparations have been completed for the first time in Delhi to induce artificial rain through cloud seeding. Today, experts successfully tested the technology in the Burari area. If conditions remain favorable, Delhi will experience its first artificial rain on October 29,” she stated. The announcement follows weeks of public outcry over Delhi’s toxic air, with AQI levels consistently exceeding 400 in several areas post-Diwali, categorizing the air as “severe” and prompting health warnings. Cloud seeding, a weather modification technique, involves injecting clouds with substances like silver iodide, potassium iodide, dry ice, or salts to enhance precipitation. In Delhi’s case, the process will use aircraft to disperse these particles into clouds, mimicking ice nuclei to trigger rain formation. According to experts, cloud seeding enhances a cloud’s ability to form ice crystals, which can fall as snow or melt into rain depending on atmospheric temperatures. The amount of rainfall depends on the presence of ice nuclei and available moisture in the clouds. The successful test in Burari has raised hopes that the technique could provide temporary relief by washing pollutants out of the air. Recent updates indicate that the Delhi government has collaborated with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and a private weather modification firm to execute the cloud seeding project. The initiative, costing an estimated ₹10 crore, has been fast-tracked due to public health concerns. However, experts caution that while artificial rain may reduce particulate matter temporarily, it is not a long-term solution to Delhi’s chronic air pollution crisis, driven by vehicular emissions, industrial activity, and stubble burning in neighboring states. Environmentalists have mixed reactions. While some welcome the innovative approach, others argue that cloud seeding’s environmental impact, including the use of chemicals like silver iodide, requires further scrutiny. “Cloud seeding can offer short-term relief, but it’s a band-aid solution. We need systemic measures like stricter emission norms and regional cooperation to tackle stubble burning,” said Sunita Narain, director of the Centre for Science and Environment. The IMD has warned that the success of the October 29 cloud seeding depends on weather conditions, including sufficient cloud cover and humidity. If successful, Delhi could see light to moderate rainfall, potentially lowering AQI levels temporarily. The government has also urged residents to stay indoors during peak pollution hours and follow health advisories. As Delhi braces for its first artificial rain, all eyes are on the skies, with hopes that this experimental measure will provide a breath of fresh air to a city choking under a toxic haze. (ILKHA)

Air quality in Gurgaon better, but may worsen again over weekend

: For a brief moment on Thursday, city residents could breathe a little easier. The city's average air quality index (AQI) dropped to 208, down from 281 the previous day, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The improvement, however, is only a temporary reprieve. The air will remain in the ‘poor' category — still dangerous for children, the elderly, and anyone with respiratory issues. Officials said the short-lived relief was due to stronger surface winds and clearer skies, which helped disperse some of the lingering pollutants. However, meteorologists warned that this window would close quickly. By the weekend, wind speeds are expected to fall, slowing the natural cleansing of the atmosphere and allowing pollution to build up once again. "The brief improvement is meteorological, not structural. Unless Gurgaon tackles its local emission sources — dust from construction, vehicular exhaust, and open waste burning — AQI will keep bouncing up and down until stronger winter winds arrive, " said Shubhansh Tiwari, a research associate at the Centre for Science and Environment.

Reality Check: Delhi's air quality stations riddled with faulty displays, dead monitors

As Delhi continues to choke on toxic air, India Today’s ground investigation across multiple air quality monitoring stations has uncovered widespread negligence, from malfunctioning display boards and questionable placement of sensors to discrepancies between on-ground readings and official data. While the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) official claimed all 39 of Delhi’s air monitoring stations are functional, reality on the ground paints a very different picture. Across the city, from Narela to Shahdara and Punjabi Bagh to RK Puram, several display boards meant to inform the public about local pollution levels were either defunct, hidden, or placed amid greenery. NARELA: CLEAN AIR AMID GREENERY In outer Delhi’s Narela, the air quality monitoring station has been installed inside the ITI campus — surrounded by dense greenery. The display board here is non-functional, and what’s more, an anti-smog gun was found operating right in front of the station during India Today’s visit. ITI students said the display board was unreadable, leaving residents with no way to see live data. "It has been over two months and the board has been like this," one ITI student said. Another added that they rely on media for AQI data. MCD staffer Dayachand was overseeing the cleaning work and sprinkling in the area. He admitted that cleaning around the site had intensified “a day or two ago.” The continuous cleaning was keeping dust levels abnormally low around the station. When asked about monitoring units being placed among dense greenery, Dayachand made it clear that he was from the sanitation department and the monitoring station was the responsibility of another department. AYA NAGAR: AQI DISPLAY DEAD FOR 18 MONTHS At Aya Nagar, the air quality display machine outside the IMD office has been defunct for one and a half years. A local guard confirmed on camera that “the machine has been off for the last 18 months.” While he claimed that indoor instruments inside the office were still working, public access was prohibited. India Today found that several such AQI stations across Delhi had display boards either switched off or malfunctioning. In a city where pollution levels routinely breach hazardous limits, such prolonged inaction by responsible departments raises serious questions about accountability. RK PURAM: BOARD HIDDEN AND DEFUNCT In RK Puram, the AQI display board installed on the rooftop of Kendriya Vidyalaya has been off since Diwali. Even when operational, the board is almost invisible — placed behind thick tree cover and about 50 metres from the main road. Meanwhile, Mohan P. George, former senior scientist with DPCC and now a consultant on clean air and sustainable mobility at the Centre for Science and Environment, explained the ideal standards for AQI monitoring.

Indonesia Urged to Learn from India’s Public Transport Electrification

Esposin, SOLO – The Indian government is working to align technology and mobility pathways to achieve clean air, including through the electrification of public transport. Some of the recommendations that could be considered by the Indonesian government include mass transport electrification. Director of Research and Advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), India, Anumita Roychowdhury, said there are several aspects of India’s transportation system that the Indonesian government could learn from. She said that, as of today, India has around 10,000 electric buses and aims to reach 50,000 units in the near future. Anumita stated that factors contributing to heat exhaustion and global warming include the extensive use of air conditioners, industrial activities, and vehicle emissions. “We are looking into the transport sector for the zero-emission transition. Now, India is already on that path. Jakarta, Indonesia, already has an electric vehicle policy. They are evolving in that direction,” said Anumita during an online webinar titled Voice of Tomorrow on Saturday, October 18, 2025.

Poison air cocktail: Ozone gives way to PM2.5, PM10 post Diwali in Delhi

As Delhi grapples with its annual pollution crisis, a subtle but significant shift has occurred in the cocktail of pollutants that cloud its skies. Through most of October, the Capital’s air has transformed – from being dominated by photochemical pollutants like ozone (O3) and carbon monoxide (CO) in the first 19 days to particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) in the past four days. The change, experts said, points to a sharp rise in combustion-driven emissions – primarily firecrackers, and aided by emissions from vehicles, industries, and local burning – that now define the city’s toxic air. Between October 1 and 19, data from Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) Sameer app showed that ground-level ozone was the primary pollutant on 12 of the 19 days, with CO and NO2 also contributing significantly to the overall air quality index (AQI). Ozone, a secondary pollutant, is not directly emitted but formed when nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from vehicles, factories, and power plants react in bright sunlight. CO, meanwhile, is a direct byproduct of incomplete combustion from similar sources. In the first 19 days, Delhi’s skies were clearer, the air was occasionally washed by light rain, and sunlight was abundant – ideal conditions for ozone formation. The city even recorded AQI reading of “satisfactory” on four days in this spell – on October 3 (88), October 7 (73), October 8 (81) and October 9 (100). But the chemistry of Delhi’s air changed dramatically – particularly with the onset of Diwali. From October 20 onward, ozone and CO disappeared from the AQI charts, replaced by particulate matter – tiny, hazardous particles that penetrate deep into the lungs. Since then, PM10 was the lead pollutant on October 20, 22 and 23. To be sure, the Capital’s AQI has remained in the “very poor” category for four consecutive days since October 20. On Thursday, it stood at 305, marginally lower than Wednesday’s 353 but still chokingly high. Overall, CPCB data shows a nearly 300-point swing this month – from 73 at the start of October to a peak of 353 as firecrackers and stagnant air combined to trap pollutants over the city. CPCB calculates sub-indices for eight individual pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb) at a monitoring location using its 24-hourly average concentration value (8-hourly in case of CO and O3). The worst sub-index is the AQI for that location. The overall average AQI is calculated by considering data for all stations, with a minimum data of three pollutants, out of which one should necessarily be either PM2.5 or PM10. CPCB classifies AQI between 0-50 as “good”, between 51 and 100 as “satisfactory”, between 101 and 200 as “moderate”, between 201 and 300 as “poor”, between 301 and 400 as “very poor”, and over 400 as “severe”. “The first half of the month was dominated with some rain, but also ample sunshine. Gases like ozone form when combustion sources like vehicles and emissions from industries combine with volatile organic compounds under sunlight. If O3 and CO were lead pollutants, it means that the impact of external combustion sources was minimal,” said Sunil Dahiya, stating with rains stopping, the air has become drier and a drop in wind speed had led to accumulation of both local sources and cross-boundary emissions. “Emissions from vehicles, industries and waste burning have begun to shoot up, leading to PM 2.5 and PM 10 rising. There is also dust, which leads to a spike in PM 10. However, from October 20, we have been seeing regular bursting of firecrackers, which is the primary combustion source at the moment,” Dahiya said. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said the transition was inevitable. “Combustion sources always dominate Delhi’s air, except in peak summer when dust plays a bigger role,” she said. “In the first half of October, rainfall helped settle particulate matter, allowing gases like ozone and CO to dominate. But once the weather turned dry and calm, particulates rose sharply. Add to that vehicles, industries, and the early burst of firecrackers, and you get the pollution mix we’re seeing now.”