Centre for Science and Environment masthead Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Donate

Cse In News

Cse In News

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.”

CSE की रिपोर्ट में खुलासा! मां के गर्भ से ही बच्चों पर प्रदूषण का हमला...इन बीमारियों का मंडरा रहा है खतरा

प्रदूषण का असर सिर्फ जन्म तक सीमित नहीं रहता. ये बच्चों पर जिंदगी भर बीमारियों का बोझ डालता है. CSE की रिपोर्ट बताती है कि गर्भ में प्रदूषण का सामना करने वाले बच्चे बाद में कई गंभीर स्वास्थ्य समस्याओं का शिकार होते हैं. Air pollution impact unborn children india cse report : सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की एक रिपोर्ट ने आंखें खोल देने वाली चेतावनी दी है, जिसके मुताबिक, वायु प्रदूषण मां के गर्भ से ही बच्चे के स्वास्थ्य को खतरे में डाल रहा है. जब एक गर्भवती मां प्रदूषित हवा में सांस लेती है, तो हवा में मौजूद छोटे, जहरीले कण (धूल और धुआं) उसके शरीर से होते हुए बच्चे तक पहुंच जाते हैं. विज्ञान साफ कहता है कि इन कणों की वजह से मां के फेफड़े प्रभावित होते हैं. इसका सीधा मतलब है कि बच्चे को सही मात्रा में ऑक्सीजन और जरूरी पोषक तत्व नहीं मिल पाते. इसका नतीजा बेहद खतरनाक होता है. मुख्य रूप से तीन बड़ी समस्याएं सामने आती हैं- बच्चा गर्भ (Stillbirth) में ही दम तोड़ देता है. बच्चा समय से पहले पैदा (Preterm Birth) हो जाता है, जो बहुत कमजोर होता है. बच्चा छोटा और कमजोर पैदा (Low Birth Weight) होता है, जिससे वह बीमारियों से ठीक से लड़ नहीं पाता. जीवन भर का बोझ प्रदूषण का असर सिर्फ जन्म तक सीमित नहीं रहता. ये बच्चों पर जिंदगी भर बीमारियों का बोझ डालता है. CSE की रिपोर्ट बताती है कि गर्भ में प्रदूषण का सामना करने वाले बच्चे बाद में कई गंभीर स्वास्थ्य समस्याओं का शिकार होते हैं. फेफड़े कमजोर बच्चों के फेफड़े ठीक से विकसित नहीं हो पाते, जिससे आगे चलकर सांस की बीमारियां होती हैं. दिमाग का विकास रुकना सबसे चिंताजनक बात यह है कि प्रदूषण बच्चे के दिमागी विकास को रोक देता है. इससे बच्चों में ध्यान की कमी (ADHD) और कम बुद्धिमत्ता (Low IQ) जैसी समस्याएं पैदा होती हैं. डायबिटीज और मोटापा ये बच्चों में हार्मोन और पाचन संबंधी बीमारियां (जैसे डायबिटीज) भी पैदा करता है, जो बड़े होने पर भी पीछा नहीं छोड़तीं. 5 से कम उम्र के बच्चों पर तो इसका असर और भी गहरा होता है, क्योंकि उनके फेफड़े और शरीर के बाकी अंग अभी बन ही रहे होते हैं. अगर हम भारत की बात करें, तो स्थिति बेहद गंभीर है. रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक, दुनिया के एक-चौथाई (25%) नवजात शिशु पहले महीने में ही मर जाते हैं, और इसका सबसे बड़ा कारण प्रदूषण है, जिसकी शुरुआत गर्भ से ही हो जाती है. हम 'ग्लोबल साउथ' (विकासशील देश) में रहते हैं, जहां गाड़ियों, उद्योगों और जलावन के धुएं ने हवा को जहरीला बना दिया है.गरीब परिवारो ंके लिए ज्यादा बड़ा खतरा गरीब परिवारों के लिए यह खतरा दोगुना है. उनके पास न अच्छा इलाज होता है, न ही साफ हवा या पानी. उनके बच्चे अक्सर खुली, प्रदूषित हवा में खेलते हैं, जिससे उनका नुकसान बढ़ जाता है. क्या करें? वैज्ञानिकों और सरकारों ने साफ चेतावनी दी है कि यह एक महामारी जैसा संकट है. हमें अब सिर्फ वयस्कों को बचाने के बारे में नहीं सोचना है, बल्कि उन बच्चों के लिए भी लड़ना है जो अभी दुनिया में आए भी नहीं हैं. ऐसे में हमें साफ हवा के लिए बड़े कदम उठाने होंगे, क्योंकि यह सिर्फ सांस की बीमारी नहीं, बल्कि हमारे बच्चों के भविष्य, उनके दिमाग और उनकी पूरी जिंदगी का सवाल है.

दिल्ली का AQI कितना है-300 या 1000? खुद को बचाने के लिए करें ये उपाय

350 vs 1,100 Delhi AQI : दिल्ली में दीवाली के बाद प्रदूषण के हालात किसी से छिपे नहीं हैं, लेकिन इसे नापने वाले आंकड़ों में एक बड़ा कन्फ्यूजन पैदा हो गया. एक तरफ, स्विट्जरलैंड की हवा की गुणवत्ता पर नजर रखने वाली कंपनी IQAir ने मंगलवार को दिल्ली का एयर क्वालिटी इंडेक्स (AQI) 1,121 बताया, जो बेहद चौंकाने वाला नंबर था. वहीं, भारत सरकार की संस्था, सेंट्रल पॉल्यूशन कंट्रोल बोर्ड (CPCB) ने इसी दिन AQI 351 दर्ज किया, जो 'बहुत खराब' (Very Poor) कैटेगरी में आता है. अब सवाल यह है कि जब हवा एक ही है, तो आंकड़े इतने अलग-अलग क्यों? एक्सपर्ट्स का कहना है कि दोनों ही आंकड़े अपनी-अपनी जगह पर सही हैं, लेकिन इसके पीछे वजह अलग-अलग हैं. आइए, ‘नंबरों के खेल' को समझते हैं. पहले समझते हैं AQI क्या है AQI यानी एयर क्वालिटी इंडेक्स, एक ऐसा पब्लिक हेल्थ टूल है जो हमें बताता है कि हवा कितनी साफ या गंदी है. इसमें 8 तरह के प्रदूषक तत्वों (जैसे PM2.5, PM10, ओजोन, सल्फर डाइऑक्साइड) को नापा जाता है. इस बारे में CPCB के पूर्व एडिशनल डायरेक्टर, मोहन जॉर्ज समझाते हैं कि AQI को अलग-अलग कलर कोड में बांटा जाता है, ताकि आम आदमी समझ सके कि हवा 'अच्छी' है, 'संतोषजनक' है या 'खतरनाक' है, और उसे क्या करना चाहिए. जैसे, अगर AQI 401 से 500 के बीच है, जिसे 'गंभीर' (Severe) कैटेगरी कहते हैं, तो यह हेल्दी लोगों के लिए भी खतरनाक है और ऐसे में घर से बाहर निकलना या खुली हवा में कसरत करना बिल्कुल मना है. CPCB और IQAir की AQI स्केल की सीमा क्या है CPCB का स्केल भारत का AQI स्केल 500 पर जाकर रुक जाता है. इसका मतलब है कि CPCB के हिसाब से AQI अगर 500 से ऊपर चला जाए, तो भी उसे 500 की 'गंभीर' (Severe) कैटेगरी में ही रखा जाएगा. 500 के ऊपर, सरकार इसे 'पब्लिक हेल्थ इमरजेंसी' मानती है. IQAir का स्केल वहीं, IQAir ने अपनी कोई अधिकतम सीमा तय नहीं की है. उनका स्केल 301 से ऊपर की हर रीडिंग को 'खतरनाक' (Hazardous) मानता है, लेकिन यह 1,000 या 2,000 तक भी जा सकता है. इसीलिए जब प्रदूषण बहुत ज्यादा बढ़ता है, तो IQAir का नंबर CPCB से कई गुना ज्यादा दिखता है, जैसे 1,121. यानी, CPCB का 500 पर कैप बंद हो जाता है, जबकि IQAir का नंबर खुला रहता है. डेटा कहां से आता है? नंबरों में अंतर की दूसरी बड़ी वजह है- डेटा कहां से लिया जा रहा है. CPCB यह सिर्फ सरकारी मॉनिटरिंग स्टेशनों से डेटा लेता है. ये स्टेशन 'रेफरेंस-ग्रेड' (Reference-grade) मॉनिटर कहलाते हैं, जिनका डेटा बहुत भरोसेमंद और कैलिब्रेटेड माना जाता है. IQAir यह सरकारी स्रोतों के अलावा और भी कई जगहों से डेटा लेता है. इसमें US एम्बेसी (Embassy) के स्टेशन, दूसरी कंपनियों के सेंसर और यहां तक कि कुछ लोगों द्वारा लगाए गए सेंसर भी शामिल होते हैं. IQAir इन सभी स्टेशनों के डेटा का एवरेज निकालता है. Envirocatalysts के संस्थापक सुनील दहिया के मुताबिक, इस वजह से भी उनके नंबर में बदलाव आ जाता है. AQI निकालने का फॉर्मूला CPCB और IQAir दोनों का AQI निकालने का फॉर्मूला भी अलग है. उदाहरण के लिए, अगर हवा में PM2.5 की मात्रा 1,100 माइक्रोग्राम प्रति क्यूबिक मीटर है, तो IQAir का कैलकुलेटर इसे 2,043 बताएगा, जबकि CPCB का कैलकुलेटर इसे 1,054 बताएगा, जिसे अंत में CPCB 500 पर 'कैप' कर देता है. CPCB और IQAir में से किसका डेटा सही है सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट के मोहन जॉर्ज सलाह देते हैं कि आपको नंबरों के फेर में नहीं पड़ना चाहिए. बस लेबल देखिए. चाहे CPCB के अनुसार AQI 351 हो या IQAir के हिसाब से 1,121 हो, दोनों ही मामलों में दिल्ली की हवा जहरीली है. इसलिए, नंबर की जगह आप 'गंभीर' (Severe) या 'खतरनाक' (Hazardous) जैसे लेबल पर ध्यान दें, या फिर प्रदूषण की असल मात्रा (जैसे PM2.5 की कंसंट्रेशन) पर नजर रखें और उसके हिसाब से अपनी सेहत का ख्याल रखें. अब आइए जानते हैं इस जहरीली हवा से खुद को सुरक्षित कैसे रखें क्‍या करें, क्‍या न करें N95 मास्क पहनकर हानिकारक कणों से बचें. अस्थमा या अन्य सांस से जुड़ी परेशानियों से पीड़ित लोगों बाहर निकलने की गलती बिल्कुल न करें, स्थिति गंभीर हो सकती है. जब हवा खराब हो, तो घर में रहें. घर की साफ सफाई का विशेष ध्यान रखें, धूल जमा न होने दें. SAFAR या AQI India ऐप्स से हवा की गुणवत्ता की जानकारी लेते रहें. बच्चों और बुजुर्गों का विशेष ध्यान रखें खराब हवा में बाहर न जाएं, घर में ही योग या हल्की एक्सरसाइज करें. घर में एयर प्यूरीफायर लगाकर हवा को साफ करें. खराब AQI के समय घर के दरवाजे और खिड़कियां बंद रखें.

Rajasthan High Court Orders FSSAI to Frame Regulations on Genetically Modified Foods, Citing Right to Safe Food under Article 21

In a decision with far-reaching implications for India’s food safety regime, the Rajasthan High Court in Kritesh Oswal & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.[1] directed the Central Government and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to urgently frame and notify regulations governing genetically modified (GM) foods under Section 22 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The Division Bench held that the absence of such regulations has created a regulatory vacuum posing risks to public health and violating the fundamental right to life and health under Article 21. The Court observed that despite India’s commitments under international biosafety conventions, GM food continues to enter the market without proper safety standards or oversight. Reaffirming the State’s duty under Article 47 to ensure safe nutrition, the Court’s ruling highlights that food security cannot come at the cost of food safety, and that scientific progress must align with constitutional values and the precautionary principle. The petition highlighted findings from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) indicating the presence of GM ingredients in Indian food products and relied on parliamentary replies acknowledging that no standards for GM foods had been framed by FSSAI. The petitioners also pointed out that the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 had continued to grant approvals for import of GM foods even after being divested of such authority through a 2007 exemption notification. In response, the Union of India and FSSAI admitted that while draft GM Food Regulations, 2022 had been published, they were yet to be finalized and notified. The respondents maintained that GEAC approvals were earlier granted under temporary abeyance notifications but have since lapsed.

गुरुग्राम में हवा की गुणवत्ता में सुधार, लेकिन स्थिति गंभीर बनी हुई है

गुरुग्राम में हवा की गुणवत्ता में आई मामूली सी राहत के बावजूद, शहरवासी अभी भी 'खराब' श्रेणी की हवा में सांस लेने को मजबूर हैं। गुरुवार को एयर क्वालिटी इंडेक्स (AQI) 281 से घटकर 208 पर आ गया, लेकिन यह सिर्फ एक अस्थायी सुधार है। विशेषज्ञों का कहना है कि यह राहत तेज हवाओं और साफ आसमान के कारण मिली है, जिसने प्रदूषण को कुछ हद तक फैला दिया। हालांकि, यह स्थिति जल्द ही बदलने वाली है। सप्ताहांत तक हवा की गति धीमी होने की उम्मीद है, जिससे प्रदूषण फिर से बढ़ने लगेगा और हवा की गुणवत्ता 'बहुत खराब' श्रेणी में जा सकती है। गुरुग्राम में गुरुवार को हवा की गुणवत्ता में थोड़ी सी नरमी देखी गई। सेंट्रल पॉल्यूशन कंट्रोल बोर्ड (CPCB) के अनुसार, शहर का औसत एयर क्वालिटी इंडेक्स (AQI) एक दिन पहले 281 से घटकर 208 पर आ गया। यह राहत कुछ घंटों के लिए ही थी। हवा अभी भी 'खराब' श्रेणी में है, जो बच्चों, बुजुर्गों और सांस की बीमारियों से पीड़ित लोगों के लिए खतरनाक है। अधिकारियों का कहना है कि यह अस्थायी सुधार तेज सतही हवाओं और साफ आसमान के कारण हुआ, जिसने कुछ प्रदूषण को फैलाने में मदद की। सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट के एक शोध सहयोगी शुभान्श तिवारी ने कहा, "यह संक्षिप्त सुधार मौसम संबंधी है, संरचनात्मक नहीं। जब तक गुरुग्राम अपने स्थानीय उत्सर्जन स्रोतों - निर्माण स्थलों से धूल, वाहनों का धुआं और खुले में कचरा जलाने जैसी समस्याओं से नहीं निपटता, तब तक AQI तब तक ऊपर-नीचे होता रहेगा जब तक कि मजबूत सर्दियों की हवाएं नहीं आ जातीं।"

Worst PM2.5 levels since January: What is cloud seeding? Can it help with Delhi's pollution?

Delhi recorded its worst PM2.5 levels of the year on Diwali and the day after, with pollution continuing to blanket the city well into midweek, according to a new analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). Despite attempts to control emissions, several neighbourhoods reported hazardous air quality levels, crossing both national and global safety limits by staggering margins. The CREA study found that Delhi’s average PM2.5 concentration stood at 228 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³) on Diwali and rose further to 241 µg/m³ the following day — levels seen only four times this year, all in January. The capital ranked as the seventh most polluted city in the country on Tuesday, trailing Haryana’s Jind (412), Dharuhera (298), Gurgaon (290), Narnaul (266), Bahadurgarh (247), and Rajasthan’s Bhiwadi (244). Rohtak (223), Noida (218) and Ghaziabad (207) rounded off the top ten. In some areas, the pollution levels were off the charts. At Nehru Nagar, hourly PM2.5 concentration skyrocketed from 679 µg/m³ at 9pm on Diwali to an alarming 1,763 µg/m³ at 10pm — 29 times the national ambient air quality standard and 118 times the WHO’s daily safe guideline of 15 µg/m³. Fourteen of the 20 Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) monitoring stations reported hourly PM2.5 levels above 1,000 on Diwali night, compared to only five the previous year. Delhi pollution levels 4x the safe limit “However, the AQI levels appear lower than reality because several CAAQMS stations maxed out or recorded missing values. This reminds us to interpret data cautiously and recognise that pollutant concentrations might have exceeded the instruments’ detection limits. For instance, Anand Vihar reported missing data from 11pm on 20 Oct to 3pm the next day, a window when Diwali pollution typically peaks, suggesting concentrations went beyond the measurable range,” said Manoj Kumar, analyst, CREA. Two days after Diwali, areas such as Anand Vihar continued to record dangerous pollution levels, with hourly PM2.5 at 579 µg/m³ — a slight improvement from 656 µg/m³ a day earlier. Health experts have warned that prolonged exposure to such fine particulate matter can have serious consequences. “These particles (PM2.5) are so small they can easily enter the bloodstream and impact different organs in the body, leading to toxic effects. The tinier the particle, the greater the health risk,” said Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). As the capital struggles under its annual smog blanket, attention has again turned to possible solutions — including the much-debated idea of cloud seeding. Cloud seeding: What it means and if it can help Yesterday, Delhi officials said the city was ready for artificial rain. Today, the plan is uncertain again. Amid these flip-flops, experts are questioning whether cloud seeding can really solve the capital’s pollution crisis. How Cloud Seeding works Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique that involves releasing chemicals such as silver iodide (AgI) or salt particles into clouds to induce rainfall. These particles act as nuclei, allowing moisture to condense into ice crystals which can then melt into raindrops. Aircraft usually disperse the seeding material depending on the humidity and temperature levels. Why the idea is on the table Artificial rain is being considered as a way to temporarily wash pollutants out of the air during Delhi’s pollution season, driven by: Vehicular and industrial emissions Open area dust Biomass and waste burning Stubble burning and stagnant winter air By inducing rain, suspended particles could be removed from the atmosphere for a short duration. The science and its limitations While the technique has been used globally — from China and the UAE to Indonesia and Malaysia — experts remain sceptical about its effectiveness in Delhi’s dry winter conditions. Cloud seeding requires moist, dense clouds like nimbostratus, which are rare over north India during this period. The western disturbances that pass over the region often bring high or short-lived clouds, unsuited for seeding, and any rain that does form may evaporate before reaching the ground. Global experience and history 1931 – First experiments using dry ice (CO₂) for cloud seeding in Europe. 1946-47 – GE scientists Schaefer & Vonnegut identify silver iodide as an effective ice nucleant. Modern usage: Countries like China, UAE, Indonesia and Malaysia use cloud seeding for agriculture, pollution control and event planning. 2023 – Pakistan conducts its first artificial rain operation in Lahore with UAE assistance. Experts advise caution The India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) have all warned that the method may have limited impact in Delhi’s climate. They have also raised questions about the chemical and environmental implications of silver iodide dispersal. For now, experts say that while cloud seeding may offer temporary respite, it cannot replace long-term measures to curb emissions — from reducing vehicular and industrial output to controlling crop residue burning.