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Emissions from residential cooking and heating, power generation, and industries together contribute up to 60 per cent of India's PM2.5 pollution, with about 80 per cent of this coming from <keyword id="23824528" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fossil-fuel-combustion" source="keywords">fossil fuel combustion</keyword>, a new study has found. The peer-reviewed study, published in MDPI's "Air" journal, suggests dividing India into 15 airsheds based on regional climate and pollution sources. An airshed is a geographic area where <keyword id="53848" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="air-quality" source="Orion">air quality</keyword> is influenced by common factors such as wind patterns and pollution sources. Since pollution can spread across regions, the <keyword id="22077484" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="airshed-approach" source="keywords">airshed approach</keyword> promotes coordinated action among states. "Residential cooking and heating, power generation, and all other industries together are responsible for 40-60 per cent of the PM2.5 pollution in all the airsheds, and approximately 80 per cent of the pollution comes from fossil fuel burning sources," said Sarath Guttikunda, lead author of the study and founder of UrbanEmissions.info. The study said biomass burning, including post-harvest crop residue burning, contributed less than 3 per cent to annual PM2.5 levels while transport accounted for 5-10 per cent in all airsheds. PM2.5 are fine particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less, about the width of a human hair. These are so small that these can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, posing significant health risks. An analysis of PM2.5 trends from 1998 to 2020, along with state-level data on fuel consumption, energy demand and emissions, revealed that 11 of the 15 airsheds were critical for India's air quality management and required coordinated interventions. The Indo-Gangetic Plains remain the most polluted region, with significant emissions from residential cooking and heating (especially in winter), power plants, brick kilns (driven by construction demand), waste burning, dust and vehicular movement for passengers and freight. The plateau region between the Eastern and Western Ghats, India's second most populated area, has seen the highest rise in annual PM2.5 pollution during this period, the study said. "This is an indication of the growing urbanisation and demand for transport, industrial, and commercial amenities," it said. Coastal areas, vital to India's industrial economy, have also experienced rising pollution despite the moderating effects of land-sea breezes. This increase is attributed to growing shipping emissions and overall industrial growth in cities such as Mundra, Surat, Mumbai, Goa, Mangalore, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Haldia.

Study traces 60% PM2.5 pollution in India to residential cooking, power generation, industries

If you looked at India from a very old perspective, you'd see a vast depression between Peninsular India and the Himalayas. As the Himalayas grew taller, they created many rivers flowing into this depression, carrying sediment with them. Over time, this sediment filled the depression, creating the <keyword id="20775140" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indo-Gangetic-Plains" source="keywords">Indo-Gangetic Plains</keyword>, fed by rivers like the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra. These fertile plains cover areas like Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Assam. However, <keyword id="19907392" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-change" source="keywords">climate change</keyword> poses a significant threat to this region. A study involving researchers from the <keyword id="19906424" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Institute-of-Technology" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Indian Institute of Technology" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Indian Institute of Technology">Indian Institute of Technology</keyword> has revealed worrying predictions about the future of the densely populated areas around the Indus and Ganges rivers. Compound <keyword id="20144034" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="extreme-weather" source="keywords">extreme weather</keyword>, made more common by climate change, is set to become a major problem. These <keyword id="21338499" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="compound-events" source="keywords">compound events</keyword>, where different extreme weather conditions occur together or in quick succession, are increasingly frequent. For example, droughts and <keyword id="21052325" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="heatwaves" source="keywords">heatwaves</keyword> or heavy rainfall after extreme temperatures can cause significant damage. Focusing on the compound event of extreme heat alongside <keyword id="46472" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="drought" source="Orion">drought</keyword> and heavy rains, the study looked at potential futures based on factors like population growth, technology, and carbon dioxide emissions. This data was used to create maps showing "hotspots" where people are most likely to be affected. The Indo-Gangetic Plains is identified as one such hotspot. "The Indo-Gangetic Plain is one and a half times the size of Spain and is already one of the most densely populated areas in the world," says study author Harald Kunstmann. "In the future, the population is expected to continue to climb." Moreover, the region is crucial for rice and wheat cultivation. The study suggests that the Plains could face increased risks of crop failure due to rising temperatures, drought, and unpredictable rainfall patterns caused by <keyword id="19942740" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="global-warming" source="keywords">global warming</keyword>. Kunstmann emphasises the importance of preparing for these challenges, suggesting measures such as investing in heat and drought-resistant seeds, building flood-resistant dams, and storing rainfall for irrigation during dry periods. While the effects of global warming are undeniable, adaptation is essential. The researchers advocate for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and implementing adaptation strategies to build resilience against climate change. Plans are also underway to expand the study globally, providing insights into regions most vulnerable to climate change impacts.

Indo-Gangetic Plains, home to half the Indian population, to soon become hotspot of extreme climate events: study

Panaji, Polymers in <keyword id="19970180" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="microplastics" source="keywords">microplastics</keyword> may pose a risk to the Indo-Gangetic plain, a study on the Ganga and Yamuna rivers by the Goa-based CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) has said. Researchers behind the study have said their findings could serve as a starting point for an action plan required by municipal corporations to "mitigate plastic pollution and target the possible sources at each location." Microplastics are extremely small pieces of plastic debris in the environment resulting from the disposal and breakdown of consumer products and industrial waste. The study, titled 'A comprehensive assessment of macro and microplastics from Rivers Ganga and Yamuna: Unveiling the seasonal, spatial and risk factors', has been published in the 'Journal of Hazardous Materials' on Saturday. As per the study, conducted by a team led by CSIR-NIO <keyword id="20827222" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="principal-scientist" source="keywords">principal scientist</keyword> <keyword id="20994181" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dr-mahua-saha" source="keywords">Dr Mahua Saha</keyword>, microplastics were detected in the Ganga from Haridwar to Patna, with the pollutant concentration being higher during "wet (rainy) season than the dry season". The high-hazard polymers in microplastics may pose a risk to the Indo-Gangetic plain, it said. In surface water, during the wet season, the highest abundance of microplastics was found in Haridwar and the lowest was observed in Patna. During the dry season, Agra had the highest affluence of microplastics, while Patna and Haridwar had the lowest concentration, as per the researchers. During the study, the researchers also identified the plastic leakage vulnerable regions using GIS applications and field surveys. "Among all, Agra recorded the highest plastic leakage followed by Prayagraj, Patna and Haridwar. In contrast, the microplastic concentration was highest during the wet season compared to the dry season for surface water, water column and sediments," it said. The microplastic abundance in surface water, water columns and sediments along the Ganga and Yamuna rivers differed evidently during the wet and dry seasons, the researchers concluded. During the study, it was observed that significant waste was brought by the river from the upstream cities in the dry season and was deposited in the floodplain region. These wastes get washed off during the wet season. "As a result, it is conceivable that over time, these macroplastics might have degraded into smaller pieces and subsequently transported into the adjacent river systems by urban run-off during the wet season," said the study. The dispersion of microplastics is not limited to localised areas in the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, it said. "However, it is challenging to distinguish the exact incorporation of microplastics between locally generated plastics and those carried from upstream sources since many rivers pass through the residential areas and due to the lack of awareness, sometimes local deposition of plastics into the river is much higher," the researchers said. The other researchers involved in the study included <keyword id="20994180" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="priyansha-gupta" source="keywords">Priyansha Gupta</keyword>, Akshata Naik, M <keyword id="20162494" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="manish-kumar" source="keywords">Manish Kumar</keyword>, Chaynika Rathore, Shrish Vashisth from the CSIR-NIO and <keyword id="20994179" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shukla-pai-maitra" source="keywords">Shukla Pai Maitra</keyword>, K D Bharadwaj and Harsh Thakural from the Delhi-based National Productivity Council.

Microplastics may pose risk to Indo-Gangetic plain: Study

A collaborative study led by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur has found that the high amount of <keyword id="7049079" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="particulate-pollution" source="Orion">particulate pollution</keyword> in Delhi during nightly hours was caused by <keyword id="1448891" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="biomass-burning" source="Orion">biomass burning</keyword> emissions. The study published in Nature Geoscience journal is led by IIT Kanpur and is contributed by Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), IIT Delhi, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) Switzerland and University Helsinki, Finland. The research paper is co-authored by Suneeti Mishra and Prof Sachchidanand Tripathi, from the Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kanpur. According to an IIT-K release, Delhi often experiences high amount of particulate pollution also termed as haze. However exact reasons behind their formation were hitherto unknown. The exhaustive research unearthed the reason behind the severe haze events experienced during winters in Delhi which is one of the world's most-populated cities. Prof Sachchidanand Tripathi, from IIT Kanpur who was the Principal Investigator in the study said, "The uncontrolled biomass burning for residential heating and cooking in the Indo-Gangetic plain gives rise to ultrafine particles, affecting the health of 5 per cent of the world's population and impacting the regional climate. Regulating the uncontrolled biomass-combustion emissions may help inhibit nocturnal haze formation and improve health. The study becomes important as <keyword id="55910" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="air-pollution" source="Orion">air pollution</keyword> is responsible for 18 per cent of the total annual premature deaths in India." This study was designed for Delhi during the winter months of 2019 where <keyword id="490672" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="aerosol" source="Orion">aerosol</keyword> size distribution and molecular composition of ambient aerosols and gases were measured. The measurements helped calculate growth of aerosols during night time along with the sources of aerosols and also the sources of gases. The study found that very high growth rates (tens of nano meter per hour) of aerosols especially for those smaller than 100 nano meters (nano particles) have been found in unfavourable new particle formation conditions compared to other places in the world, leading to haze formation in a span of few hours during extreme pollution events. The molecular information about aerosols clearly showed that organic vapours from biomass burning contributed to the growth of nano particles. It was also found that the composition of particles whose sizes were greater than 100 nano meter particles composition were dominated by ammonium and chloride species. Simultaneously, measurements of gases at molecular level showed that the biomass burning sources were their chief source which has preferential condensation on nano particles. Thermodynamic modelling of gaseous partitioning confirmed the observational findings. The study points out that the reduction of uncontrolled combustion, especially during conducive weather conditions, may limit the amount of supersaturated vapours available for nanoparticle growth and hence may be an effective strategy for the mitigation of nocturnal particulate number during haze in Delhi. <h2>Recommended stories:</h2> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="98544133" title="Climate change spiking ground-ozone levels, could lead to higher heart attack and stroke risk" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

Rampant biomass burning for heating and cooking may be driving Delhi's severe winter night pollution, haze problem

Concerned about the gallons of pollution you'll be swallowing this pollution season? Multiple estimates in the past suggested that the severe <keyword id="55910" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="air-pollution" source="Orion">air pollution</keyword> over the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP), including the Delhi-NCR, causes millions of premature deaths every year. This led many families to relocate to less-polluted regions while the remaining residents spent winter days under the constant anxiety of how their life might be cut short due to the choking, toxic air. Now, a new study says we might not have to be as paranoid as we are about the death risks associated with air pollution in <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>! <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Deadly, tiny particles of horror" comment="subhead" text="Deadly, tiny particles of horror">Deadly, tiny particles of horror</cmsannotation> India is notorious for being one of the worst pollution hotspots in the world. The winter inversion and the geography of the IGP trap most pollution particles near the surface. Add to that post-monsoon stubble burning, industrial and vehicular emissions, thermal power plants, and festival emissions, and it seems like a no-brainer that respiratory diseases are one of the leading causes of death in the country. The ball is driven right out of the park when we compare <keyword id="6473846" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pm2-5" source="Orion">PM2.5</keyword> levels — tiny particles of less than 2.5 micrometres — that form a significant component of the harmful stuff in the air. Many reports have shown that almost everyone in the country breathes exorbitant amounts of the matter than is considered safe by multiple health organisations, including the <keyword id="6356311" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="world-health-organisation" source="Orion">World Health Organisation</keyword> (WHO). Estimates from studies in reputed journals like The Lancet also attributed up to 23.5 lakh premature deaths per year to air pollution. But here's the catch — most research linking PM2.5 levels to mortality risk due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases are derived from models, not practical, real-life data. Furthermore, these models are based on high-income countries that are vastly different from ours in terms of disease patterns. "Most existing studies on air quality and health are done in high-income countries, where PM2.5 exposures are far lower, and disease patterns are substantially different than in low and middle-income countries such as India," explains co-author George D'Souza, dean of St. John's Medical College in Bengaluru, India. "That needs to change." <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Million Death Study shows unusual results" comment="subhead" text="Million Death Study shows unusual results">Million Death Study shows unusual results</cmsannotation> When scientists processed input from the Million Death Study — one of the world's most extensive studies of premature mortality using real-world historical data — they found that we might have been jumping to alarming conclusions a little too soon. After analysing over 2 lakh deaths aged 15-69, they found no direct correlation between excess risk between PM2.5 concentrations and respiratory or heart disease (excluding stroke). These results were similar over different age groups, as well as areas that might have high usage of solid household fuel (which is a significant contributor to PM2.5). The study calculated relative risks (RRs) by linking satellite-based estimated PM2.5 exposure over specific time periods to deaths 3 to 5 years later in over 7,400 small villages or urban blocks covering a total population of 6.8 million. Based on the results, the authors of the study recommend suitable caution in estimating deaths from PM2.5 exposure and even more caution in extrapolating model-based associations of risk derived mostly from high-income countries to India. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Health risks remain high" comment="subhead" text="Health risks remain high">Health risks remain high</cmsannotation> However, there was a 9% increase in stroke deaths for every ten micrograms increase in PM2.5 exposure in a cubic metre space. So, this doesn't put us in the clear to start burning woodstoves indoors, especially since we've recently found traces of soot in developing foetus brains and lungs. While this might help many of us breathe a little easier (literally, if Diwali goes well this year), there are still many reasons we cannot ignore the tragic pollution levels in India, especially in the metro and northern cities. "PM2.5 may not be the big killer in India as has been touted, but action to reduce PM2.5 exposure is still necessary," says Jha, a physician at St. Michael's Hospital. "Air pollution worsens child lung health and lowers the quality of life, and that is sufficient justification to act." The results of this research were published in Environmental Health Perspectives last month and can be accessed <a href="https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9538">here</a>. <h2>Recommended stories: </h2> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="95029181" title="World’s capacity to capture carbon  — a crucial climate change mitigation action — is likely to increase sixfold by 2030! But is it enough?" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"><payload><![CDATA[seealso]]></payload></div> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="95010063" title="Grazing animals may be extremely vital to climate change mitigation and maintaining soil carbon health, new study reveals" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"><payload><![CDATA[seealso]]></payload></div> <div type="QUIZ" hostid="261" msid="93637741" title="Sustainability Insider Quiz" mstype="1" mssubtype="2"><payload><![CDATA[sustainability-quiz]]></payload></div>

Breathe Easy This Diwali: New Study Indicates Air Pollution’s Effect on Indians is Bad, But Might Not Be as Lethal as Estimated!

<ul><li>Nearly 674 million citizens in the country are likely to breathe air with high concentration of PM 2.5 in 2030. </li><li>Only half the estimated population in 2030 will be living in areas with clean air. </li><li>The current policies and regulation of the state government ignores emission sources outside their jurisdiction. </li></ul>While India is stepping up its efforts to curb the problem of increasing air pollution, it may be ignoring domestic sources of emissions — including solid fuel usage in households and waste management practices. Poor waste management, agricultural practices like stubble burning and use of fossil fuels for transportation, heating and electricity are bigger sources of air <keyword id="2659838" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pollution-in-India">pollution in India</keyword>. These have contributed more to the worsening air quality than vehicular emissions, particularly along the gangetic plain in North India, according to a report by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Austria and the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW). Indoor pollution caused by cooking, heating or lighting with kerosene and solid fuels<a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/environment/pollution/air-pollution-claims-7-million-lives-each-year-un-expert/articleshow/68266636.cms"> is proven to be hazardous f</a>or women and children living in developing countries since they spend most of their time at home. Despite knowing the consequences, the Indian authorities<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indian-govt-on-backfoot-as-stubble-burning-worsens-air-pollution-in-the-national-capital/articleshow/66235837.cms"> have had a hard time in dealing </a>with the practise of stubble burning. Studies have suggested that stubble burning — a practise to get rid of leftover crop before harvest — contributes to half the pollution and toxic air problem in India’s capital. This comes in the back of<a href="https://www.google.co.in/amp/s/www.businessinsider.in/gurgaon-is-the-most-polluted-city-in-the-world/amp_articleshow/68267574.cms"> a recent study </a>that said seven of the 10 most polluted cities in the world are from India, with Gurugram ranking as the worst in the world with the highest levels of pollutants. The biggest source of pollution in Gurugram is stubble burning, which invariably contaminates the air in neighbouring New Delhi every winter. Short sighted The study clearly suggests that the current policies and regulation of the state government ignores emission sources outside their jurisdiction. For instance, crop burning in Punjab is one of the primary sources of pollution in New Delhi and nearby regions. The study also found that, the population living in Indo-Gangetic plain has the highest exposure to PM 2.5 concentration mainly because the emission sources are dense in numbers and the Himalayas are acting as a barrier in ventilation process. 13 of the world’s 15 most polluted cities in terms of PM 2.5 <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/pollution-on-gangetic-plain-affects-600-mn-what-india-can-learn-from-china-119030900140_1.html">belong of Indo-Gangetic plain</a>. It is affecting over 600 million people with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Indians will continue to deal with the struggle of alarming increase in air pollution as 674 million citizens in the country are likely to breathe air with high concentration of PM 2.5 in 2030 even if all the existing government policies and regulations are followed, <a href="http://www.iiasa.ac.at/web/home/about/news/190329-poor-air-india.html">said the study</a>. Only half the estimated population in 2030 will be living in areas with clean air. Any inefficiency in the policy will lead to significant increase in the number. In 2015 alone more than half the then Indian population — approx 650 million people — were breathing air with high concentration of PM 2.5 that breached the standards provided by NAAQS. Moreover, only 1% had access to air quality approved by World Health Organisation.

India's plan for cleaner air ignores an important source of pollution

Amid a cold wave prevailing in parts of northern India, Safdarjung in <keyword id="66" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="delhi" source="Orion">Delhi</keyword> recorded a minimum temperature of 1.9 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department said on Sunday. Meanwhile, Aya Nagar also in Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 2.6 degrees Celsius, while Lodhi Road recorded 2.8 degrees Celsius and Palam 5.2 degrees Celsius, the <keyword id="6366970" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="imd" source="Orion">IMD</keyword> added. A thick layer of fog covered the national capital on Sunday morning lowering visibility. The national capital and nearby states continue to witness severe cold and fog conditions. On Saturday, the IMD predicted cold wave and cold day conditions likely to continue over northwest India during the next two days till Monday. Dense to very dense fog conditions over many parts of Punjab, <keyword id="41646" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="haryana" source="Orion">Haryana</keyword>, and <keyword id="6360078" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="chandigarh" source="Orion">Chandigarh</keyword> during the next 48 hours and decrease and distribute thereafter, the IMD added on Saturday. According to the weather department, minimum temperatures are very likely to rise by about 2 degrees Celsius over many parts of the plains of Northwest India after two days from Tuesday onwards. No significant change in minimum temperatures is very likely over east India during the next three days till Tuesday and a rise of about 2 to 3 degrees Celsius thereafter. A fall of 2 to 3 degrees Celsius in minimum temperatures is very likely over Madhya Pradesh during the next two days till Monday with no significant change during the subsequent three days till Thursday, the weather department said. Due to the continuation of prevailing light winds and high moisture near the surface over Indo-Gangetic plains, dense to very dense fog is very likely to continue in some/many parts during the night and morning hours over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh &amp; Delhi and <keyword id="6357713" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="uttar-pradesh" source="Orion">Uttar Pradesh</keyword> during next two days till Monday and in isolated pockets thereafter for subsequent three days over the region. Very Dense fog in isolated pockets is very likely over Uttarakhand, north Rajasthan, Bihar, SubHimalayan West Bengal &amp; Sikkim, Assam &amp; Tripura during the next three days till Tuesday; over north Madhya Pradesh during the next two days. Very cold day to severe cold day conditions very likely in many/some parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh &amp; Delhi and Uttar Pradesh on January 7-8; in isolated pockets over Bihar, Rajasthan on January 7; Cold Day conditions in isolated pockets over Madhya Pradesh, SubHimalayan West Bengal &amp; Sikkim on January 7-8; over Bihar on Jan 8-9; Rajasthan on January 8, 2023, Very Ground frost conditions in isolated places of north Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh on January 8-9 and over Haryana, Chandigarh &amp; Delhi, Uttarakhand and West Uttar Pradesh on January 8 and abate thereafter. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/sbi-hdfc-bank-axis-bank-among-other-private-and-public-bank-earnings-could-see-a-further-ramp-up-in-q3-2022/articleshow/96768992.cms">Bank earnings could see a further ramp up in Q3, say analysts</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/skippi-ice-pops-what-this-hyderabad-popsicle-brand-is-doing-after-raising-rs-1-crore-from-shark-tank-india-season-1/articleshow/96759786.cms">Skippi Ice Pops – how the Hyderabad-based popsicle brand fared after bagging a ₹1 crore deal on Shark Tank India S1</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/tcs-infosys-wipro-and-other-it-companies-earnings-preview-for-q3-fy23/articleshow/96731891.cms">December quarter likely to be a weak one for the IT sector – Infosys amongst top analyst picks</a>

Delhi's Safdarjung records 1.9 degrees Celsius

New Delhi, Nov 7 (IANS) Along with bad air, there's bad news for residents of Delhi-NCR, the Ministry of Earth Sciences informed that overall AQI in the region has deteriorated to 'severe' category on Saturday morning and there is "no quick recovery" in sight unless "a drastic reduction of stubble fire counts takes place". Delhi's Air Quality Index was 405, while that of Ghaziabad was 432; Greater Noida 418; Millennium City Gurugram 411, Noida 404 and Faridabad a 410. SAFAR has synergized stubble fire counts over Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and neighbouring areas which increased and stood at 4,528 as on Friday -- the highest this season. "Despite moderate day time dispersion condition, air quality has declined, owing to sustained unusually high fire emissions. Surface winds have become calm today morning and pollutants are accumulating near the surface," said the ministry in a statement on Saturday. The boundary layer wind direction is Northwesterly, and favourable for the fire-related intrusion to Delhi-NCR region, stubble burning share in PM 2.5 in Delhi's air is estimated at 32 per cent for Saturday, said the ministry. However surface winds are forecast to decrease on Sunday and Monday. "No quick recovery is expected unless a drastic reduction in fire counts takes place. Air quality is forecast to stay at the 'Severe' to the higher end of 'Very Poor' category for the next two days. "In summary, fire-related emission is impacting air quality of the entire Indo Gangetic Plains, approaching winter making conditions hard for efficient dispersion of pollutants," added the Ministry. The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) air lab, which was installed a few days ago to monitor the pollution levels across the Millennium City, have identified 18 most polluted locations on Friday. These 18 places are: Sector 14, Sector 18, Sector 30, Sector 32, Sector 42, Sector 44, Sector 47, Sector 51, Atlas Chowk, Shankar Chowk, Huda City Centre, Teri Retreat, Teri Gram, Manesar, Vikas Sadarn, DLF Belvedere Towers, Vatika Chowk and Gwal Pahari. With the pollution level deteriorating, an alert was issued a few days ago by the Gurugram administration for Covid patients, children and senior citizens asking them to stay indoors. In western India, in Mumbai, Pune and Ahmedabad, the situation is fairly better. The air quality of Pune is the higher end of the Satisfactory category and Mumbai, and Ahmedabad is in the Moderate category. Pune AQI is likely to marginally deteriorate and stay in the Moderate for the next three days. Mumbai and Ahmedabad AQI is forecast to stay in the Moderate to Poor category for the next three days. The health officials in Delhi-NCR have claimed that due to worsening air quality, the number of patients with eye infections and other ailments have increased. The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of Gurugram has been in force since October 15. A team of the MCG has levied a fine of Rs 29 lakh on the violators, but it has had little effect. --IANS team-in

Toxic air: Delhi-NCR AQI 'severe'; govt says 'no quick recovery'

Chennai, Mar 9 () Madhya Pradesh's attempts tojoin the elite 'Basmati' league has failed once again as theMadras High court has dismissed the state's plea seekinggeographical indication (GI) tag for Basmati rice grown inareas falling under the state.A division bench of Justices R Subbiah andC Saravanan also refused to quash an order passed by theIntellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) granting GIcertificate for basmati to Agricultural and Processed FoodProducts Export Development Authority (APEDA).The court noted that for a same produce, two GIcertificates of registration cannot be issued and preciselythat is the reason why Madhya Pradesh has approached thecourt."At the same time, we have to observe that thepetitioners have an alternative and efficacious remedyavailable by filing an application to the registrar of trademark seeking to cancel or vary the GI certificate issued toAPEDA," the bench said.The issue pertains to an order passed by IPAB on February5, 2016 granting GI certificate for basmati in APEDA's favour.Aggrieved, Madhya Pradesh contended that such GI tagcannot be awarded to APEDA as some regions falling under MPwhich also produce Basmati has been omitted in the listprovided by APEDA.However,the IPAB rejected its claim observing that thedocuments and evidence filed by Madhya Pradesh show theimportance, special characters of rice cultivated in the statebut not Basmati cultivation in the traditional growing area.Challenging the rejection and the order granting GI forbasmati in favour of APEDA, Madhya Pradesh moved the presentappeal.In May 2010, GI status was given to basmati grown onlyin Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand andparts of western Uttar Pradesh and Jammu &amp; Kashmir.Madhya Pradesh moved a statutory opposition demandingthat its 13 districts be recognised as traditional basmatigrowing regions.The 13 districts of Madhya Pradesh which have beenexcluded from the tag are Monera, Vidisha, Bhind, Raisen,Gwalior, Sehore, Sheopur, Hoshangabad, Datia, Jabalpur,Shivpuri, Narsinghpur and Guna.According to Madhya Pradesh, these 13 districts hadbeen growing basmati for several decades and they were locatedin the Indo-Gangetic plains having climatic conditionfavourable for cultivation of basmati. Non-inclusion of the state in the basmati growingareas would have an adverse effect on the lives of farmers whomainly depend upon basmati cultivation, it said. BN BN

Madhya Pradesh plea seeking GI tag for Basmati rice dismissed

<ul><li><keyword id="42569" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="cyclones">Cyclones</keyword> are among the most common natural disasters that strike India while the others include floods, draught, and landslides. </li><li>The 7517 km coastal area of India is hit by over 10 percent of the world’s tropical cyclones year on year. </li><li>The eastern coast of India is more vulnerable to cyclones than the western coast and there are strong scientific reasons why this is the case.</li></ul>As per NCRMP (National Cyclone Risk Management Project), about <a href="https://ncrmp.gov.in/cyclones-their-impact-in-india/">2% of India’s GDP and about 12%</a> of the central government’s revenue are eroded away by the cyclones hitting the country’s long coastline. Estimates show that more than 32 crore people inhabiting the cyclone prone areas of the country are vulnerable to the hazards related to cyclone. This figure is almost one third of India’s population. In the eastern coast, the maximum damage due to cyclones happen in four states including Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu in addition to the UT Pondicherry. <a href="https://ncrmp.gov.in/cyclones-their-impact-in-india/">40% of the total population in the cyclone affected regions</a> live within 100 kms from the coastline, says the figures released by NCRMP. Cyclones bring winds of about 62 kms speed in an average. The data collected for the period between 1980 and 2000 reveal that about 370 million people in India are exposed to cyclones in the country. The peak periods that face the most cyclones are May – June and October – November. About <a href="https://ncrmp.gov.in/cyclones-their-impact-in-india/">308 cyclones struck the coastline of India from 1980 to 2000</a>, while only 48 cyclones crossed the western coast during this period. Recurring cyclones in the eastern coast cause huge number of deaths, loss of property, damage to infrastructure, loss of livelihood and reversal of developments. The scientific community cautions that the climate change and the resulting rise in sea level can considerably increase the coastal population’s vulnerability to cyclones. Reasons why the western coast sees fewer cyclones than the eastern coast NCRMP data show that about <a href="https://ncrmp.gov.in/cyclones-their-impact-in-india/">58 percent of the cyclones that are formed in the Bay of Bengal</a> hit and cross the eastern coast while only 25 percent of the cyclones developing in the Arabian sea are seen approaching the western coast of India. The temperature of the sea surface and humidity are the most important factors responsible for the formation of cyclones. The average rainfall seen by the Bay of Bengal is very high and hence the probability of the formation of cyclones in this region is also correspondingly very high. Tropical depression is a predominant occurrence in the Indo-Gangetic plains and this natural phenomenon is highly responsible for the cyclone formation in the Bay of Bengal. Bay of Bengal witnesses an average temperature of 28 degree Celsius. Warm air and the fresh water pouring into the bay from the rivers in the region increase the surface temperature of the sea further resulting in tropical depression. Cyclonic winds from other water bodies are transferred by Bay of Bengal. The lack of landmass in the Bay of Bengal basin means that the cyclones occurring in the region do not weaken and easily move towards the eastern coastline.

India’s western coast is hit by fewer cyclones than the eastern coast: Scientific reasons explained

<keyword id="6355165" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Agriculture">Agriculture</keyword> is a very important sector of the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Manufacturing-in-the-Indian-Economy/articleshow/48421005.cms">Indian economy</a>. It is because it provides employment to roughly half of India's workforce and contributes to 17% of India's GDP. Since independence, a lot of changes have been observed in the sector. 
	 
	<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/IndependenceDaySpl-From-then-to-now-heres-how-Tata-Group-penned-Indias-story-in-preindependence-era/articleshow/48456484.cms">Post-independence</a> India was dependent on imports of agricultural produce. But the years of drought in 1965 and 1966 led the government to focus on raising agricultural production by boosting the yield per hectare of crop. It is often termed as 'green revolution' that was focused on improvements in inputs leading to betterment of output. High yielding varieties, as well as better fertilizers and irrigation facilities and an able scientific research establishment, resulted in improvement in the yield of wheat in the early part of 1970's. When the productivity of wheat rose, rice was the second crop to undergo this kind of transformation. In the case of rice, tube wells played a critical role. Soon the revolution spread from the northern states of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh to the eastern states of Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha and along the Indo-Gangetic plain. The benefits, however, were largely limited to one-third of the area that was irrigated. Post-1980's the focus shifted to oilseed, fruits and vegetables that have increased yields and production. The growth in agriculture was slow during the 1960's and 1970's hovering around 3-4% but increased to 5-6% during the 1980's. In the early 1990's it briefly even touched 6-7% but declined rapidly after that to 1-2% in the later part of 1990's and post-2000. 
	 
	Prominent aspects of the Indian agriculture include: 
	 
	First, the overwhelming dependence of agriculture on monsoons as rural infrastructure like irrigation is still absent in most parts of the country. Barely 35% of the total agricultural land is reliably irrigated. It has to do with the knee-jerk policy reactions to address challenges of the Indian agriculture. This has to start from understanding the irrigation needs of the country. At present the Indian farmer often has to depend on the mercy of rain gods. Understanding how rivers can be leveraged not just for agriculture but for goods' movement as well as tourism is essential for an overarching perspective on rural development. Also, an integrated view of river systems and irrigation should be developed for all the stakeholders to benefit. 
	 
	Second, there is still a feeling of inhibition to technology adoption as the results of failure can be catastrophic for individual farmers. It comes as a surprise even after knowing the benefits of better varieties that spurred green revolution. This is where the research community has to play an active role in guiding and learning from farmers their challenges and concerns. Development of agriculture policy must start with making the farmer the centerpiece of any policy action. With population increase, the small size of the landholdings has decreased further and it has led to problems pertaining to farm mechanization. India has a very large proportion of ‘marginal holdings’ below a hectare of land that poses serious problems with respect to mechanization. It explains why the tractors per capita in India are 16 per 1000 hectares as compared to 19 in the world and 27 in the US. From the land holding pattern, it is apparently clear that the kind of farming prevalent in India was and still is ‘subsistence’. 
	 
	Third, access to formal credit remains problematic even after having banks that are specifically dedicated to agricultural credit. It is true for small farmers who have to depend often on informal sources of credit, which can lead to debt traps and also farmer suicides in many cases. The best way forward is to have better insurance schemes and some behavioural interventions which make farmers aware of their decisions as well as make them feel financially secure and independent. Also, the initiative of farmers is often curbed when credit is not available for value addition activities. When venture finance is available for investment in technology startups why cannot there be venture finance for agricultural producers who want to do value addition for their agricultural produce? 
	 
	Finally, government procuring at Minimum Support Prices (MSP) at present can be beneficial to farmers however it also has a downside. The downside is that farmers cannot command the price they could in a free market as the market signal has already been decided by the government. Also in the name of food security farmers should not be restricted to sell to only Indian consumers and government. These issues aside, the government has done a terrible job in storing foodgrains in its godowns. Wastage has had various official and non-official estimates with all agreeing that the wastage is considerable. It calls for more competition in the storage of foodgrains segment. 
	 Over the next few years as structural changes continue within the <keyword id="6356076" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-economy">Indian economy</keyword>, the share of agriculture is expected to go down. However, the government should focus on some crucial areas like rural infrastructure, better access to credit, and enabling value addition by farmers that spur the agricultural economy to better growth rates than are being presently witnessed. 
	 
	(The article is co-authored with Sankalp Sharma, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Competitiveness, India. Amit Kapoor is Chair, Institute for Competitiveness &amp; Editor of Thinkers. The views expressed are personal. Amit can be reached at <a href="mailto:amit.kapoor@competitiveness.in">amit.kapoor@competitiveness.in</a> and tweets @kautiliya)

Here’s why we need to focus
on agriculture in India!

When farmers were protesting across India against the NDA government’s land acquisition bill, over 30, 000 farmers in Uttar Pradesh willingly gave their fertile lands to the <keyword id="927064" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Samajwadi-Party-led-government">Samajwadi Party-led government</keyword> to build its six-lane Agra-Lucknow expressway project. The government's flagship 302-km expressway greenfield project is the longest in the country till date. 

	The state government has acquired nearly 3,000 hectares of fertile, multi-cropped land for its greenfield expressway project without a murmur of dissent. At least 30,074 farmers in that state gave up fertile tracts of the Indo-Gangetic plain in record time. 
	 

	But the question arises, how did this acquisition for the Rs 15,000 crore project happen so quickly? When asked about the same, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister <keyword id="6355031" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Akhilesh-Yadav">Akhilesh Yadav</keyword> told TOI that by keeping farmers happy. When <keyword id="93127" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="UP-Expressway-Industrial-Development-Authority">UP Expressway Industrial Development Authority</keyword> (UPEIDA), the nodal agency for implementing the project, set out to acquire land for the developers of the expressway project, it decided to avoid the contentious "acquisition" process almost entirely. "Instead of acquiring land as is usually done, it was decided to purchase land from farmers through a mutual agreement. 
	 

	To make the transaction more lucrative, land owners were offered four times the circle rates (CR) in rural areas, and twice the CR in urban parts, as purchase cost. Acquisition was only considered in cases where mutual agreement failed," said Navneet Sehgal, chief executive, UPEIDA. To build it by October 2016, as the chief minister has promised to do, the <keyword id="95895" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="UP-government">UP government</keyword> needs a total of 3,368.60 hectares of land cutting across 232 revenue villages from Agra to Lucknow, and passing through the districts of Mainpuri, Etawah, Kannauj, Auraiyya and Unnao. In the 270 days between June 2014 and January this year, UPEIDA completed about 27,000 registries at the rate of about 10 a day, arguably the fastest yet, government-run expressway project of this magnitude. To achieve this, UPEIDA paid, till May 15, 2015, Rs 2,844.55 crore to make an outright purchase of 2,824.16 hectares of land from individual land owners, and 303.29 hectares from government departments, almost 93% of the total land it needed. Assistant CEO UPEIDA, <keyword id="361651" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ashutosh-Dubey">Ashutosh Dubey</keyword> said, "The government set up rate fixation committees under the chairmanship of the <keyword id="6381069" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="District-magistrate">district magistrate</keyword> to arrive at a mutually agreeable rate. After the approval of the CEO, land owners were given four times, or twice the CR depending on the location of their land. 
	 Apart from their land holdings, owners were also compensated for permanent structures built on their land, and for unharvested crops." When TOI contacted land owners who gave up their land through a mutual agreement with the state government, reactions were mixed. In Unnao, which falls under segment 5 of the expressway project and is being developed by <keyword id="689816" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Larsen-Toubro-Limited">Larsen &amp; Toubro Limited</keyword>, Jagdamba Singh, a resident of Matariya village, confirmed he had received four times the circle rate. 
	 

	"My village was on the Unnao-Lucknow border, but on the Unnao side. My compensation, as a result, was paid according to the prevailing DM circle rates in Unnao. The neighbouring village that falls in Lucknow, however, received a higher compensation. So even though I got four times, I felt cheated," Singh said. In Etawah's Takha tehsil, Bakridan begum walked away with a compensation of Rs 8.91 lakh for selling 2.5 bighas of land held in her name. Her son, <keyword id="3718452" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Naseem-Khan">Naseem Khan</keyword> told TOI, "We used about Rs 98,000 for a wedding in the family. We are also in advanced stages of talks over the purchase of additional agriculture land with the compensation money we received." In both cases, Singh and Khan said their families will remain invested in farming and did not plan to use the surplus funds to diversify their businesses. 
	 

	Not all land holders, however, were agreeable to selling their land to the government. In such cases, UP opted for the land acquisition process as prescribed under the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act of 2013, and acquired 160.28 hectares of land. Here, while the rate of compensation remained the same, beneficiaries were offered an extra payment at an interest rate prescribed within the state's rules.

	The benefits of the dual model-acquisition plus purchase were many. "This model allowed UP to facilitate land transfer to developers in record time, Dubey said. Since the state's pur chase-acquisition process started in June last year, UPEIDA now has a land pool of 3,287.73 hectares of the 3,368.60 hectares it needed; that's 97.6% of the land it needed, organized in less than one year. 
	 

	The success of the Agra-Lucknow "expressway" model of acquiring land through mutual agreements and through the acquisition route has now been extended to other construction projects as well. "It is a smoother, faster process. More significantly, though, farmers and land holders get a much better deal for their land than they would if we went the acquisition way. That would have been also much more time-consuming,” Dubey added.

	 
	(Image: Indiatimes)

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