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−	[[File: The government’s power to retire government servants in the public interest.jpg| The government’s power to retire government servants in the public interest; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Gallery.aspx?id=28_01_2016_001_019_010&type=P&artUrl=Sack-erring-babus-who-dont-mend-ways-Modi-28012016001019&eid=31808 ''The Times of India''], January 28, 2016|frame|500px]]
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−	[[Category:India |G]]
−	[[Category:Government|G]]
−	[[Category: Law,Constitution,Judiciary|G]]
−	[[Category:Name|Alphabet]]
−	=Corrupt. criminal government servants=
−	==SC: Assets of corrupt can be seized before conviction==
−	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Assets-of-graft-accused-can-be-seized-before-11122015008022 ''The Times of India''], Dec 11 2015
−	AmitAnand Choudhary
−	'''Assets of graft accused can be seized before conviction'''
−		+	=Acid rain=
−	The Supreme Court ruled that the government can bring special laws to control corruption, which it said was eating away the fundamental core of elective democracy and Constitutional governance.	+	==2001-2012: pH levels between 4.77- 5.32==
−	A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Prafulla C Pant upheld laws passed by Bihar and Odisha assemblies authorising the probe agencies to confiscate ill-gotten properties, including houses of corrupt public officials, even before their conviction in graft cases. The law was framed to deal with cases involving those occupying high public or political office.	+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Pollution-turning-countrys-rainfall-acidic-says-study-04032017001036  Neha Madaan, Pollution turning country's rainfall acidic, says study, March 4, 2017: The Times of India]
−	The bench held that there were no infirmities in the law and turned down a bunch of petitions filed by those whose properties had been confiscated. “In a way , corruption becomes national economic terror. This social calamity warrants a different control, and hence, the legislature comes up with special legislation with stringent provisions,“ it said. The accused pleaded that they could not be treated as a `special class' for alleged involvement in corruption cases and should be treated like other accused.	+	[[File: pH reading of rainwater, 1981-90 and 2001-12, station-wise.jpg|pH reading of rainwater, 1981-90 and 2001-12, station-wise; [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Pollution-turning-countrys-rainfall-acidic-says-study-04032017001036  Neha Madaan, Pollution turning country's rainfall acidic, says study, March 4, 2017: The Times of India]|frame|500px]]
−	“ ...in the context of the present Orissa Act, it is associated with high public office or with political office that are occupied by people who control the essential dynamics of power -which can be a useful weapon to amass wealth adopting illegal means. In such a situation, the argument that they were being put in a different class and should be tried in a separate special court solely because of the alleged offence, if nothing else, is a self-defeating one,“ the bench said.	+	Pollution is causing `life-giving' rain to turn increasingly acidic in many parts of the country , particularly in the last decade, research by India Meteorological Department and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology has revealed.
−	“We are unable to accept the submission of the learned counsel for the appellants that the words high public or political office not being defined creates a dent in the provision. The said words, we are absolutely certain, con vey a category of public ser vants which is well under stood and there is no room for arbitrariness,“ it said.	+	Analysis of rainwater samples from Nagpur, Mohanbari (in Assam), Allahabad, Visakhapatnam and Kodaikanal in the decade 2001-2012 shows a pH level varying between and 4.77 to 5.32, indicating that these places have actually been receiving `acid rain'.
−	Referring to its earlier ver dicts, the SC said immoral ac quisition of wealth destroys the energy of the people be lieving in honesty , and history records with agony of how they suffered. It said there should be zero tolerance to wards any kind of corruption “A democratic republic polity hopes and aspires to be governed by a government which is run by the elected representatives who do not have any involvement in seri ous criminal offences or offences relating to corruption casteism, societal problems affecting the sovereignty of the nation and many other offences,“ the bench said.	+	Rainwater with pH below 5.65 is considered acidic.
−	It said corruption should not be judged by degree as corruption causes disorder destroys societal will to progress and paralyses the eco nomic health of a country.	+	Potential of hydrogen, or pH, is a scale to measure acidity or alkalinity of a solution, where 7 is `neutral'. For lesser values, acidity increases with decreasing count.
−	==Recovery of bribe money not enough to convict a government servant: Supreme Court==	+	Acid rain is a result of rain water in the atmosphere mixing with polluting gases such as oxides of sulphur and nitrogen emitted from power plants, automobiles and some industrial units.
−	[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Recovery-of-bribe-money-not-enough-to-convict-a-babu-SC/articleshow/48992831.cms ''The Times of India''], Sep 17, 2015	+
−	Amit Anand Choudhary	+	Acid rain can reduce soil nutrition, corrode buildings (such as Taj Mahal), kill aquatic life and increase heavy metal concentration in soil and water, impacting human health. Acid rain causes leaching of soil nutrients, which means that these nutrients are not available to plants and crops grown in the soil, affecting productivity . Acid rain has had a corrosive effect on monuments,“ experts said.
−	A government official cannot be convicted under corruption charges merely on the basis of recovery of bribe money and it is essential to prove that he had demanded money, the Supreme Court has ruled.	+	Acid rain can also dissolve salts of heavy metals found in rocks and soil. These heavy metals then find their way into agriculture fields, water sources and ultimately human physiologies. According to the study by scientists V Vizaya Bhaskar and P S P Rao, which was published in the Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry , almost all global atmosphere watch (GAW) stations in India showed a decreasing trend in pH levels with each passing decade during the period of analysis (1981to 2012).
−	A bench of Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justices V Gopala Gowda and Amitava Roy said the proof of demand is an "indispensable essentiality" for establishing an offence of bribe and acquitted an assistant director of technical education department of Andhra Pradesh despite allegedly being caught red-handed for taking Rs 500 bribe in 1996.	+	=Carbon emissions=
		+	==India and the world: 2020==
		+	[[File: Carbon emissions in India and the world- 2020.jpg|Carbon emissions in India and the world: 2020 <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2021%2F02%2F12&entity=Ar02612&sk=D90C0198&mode=image  February 12, 2021: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
−	"The proof of demand of illegal gratification, thus, is the gravamen of the offence under Sections 7 and 13(1) (d)(i)&(ii) of the Act and in absence thereof, unmistakably the charge therefore, would fail. Mere acceptance of any amount allegedly by way of illegal gratification or recovery thereof ... would thus not be sufficient to bring home the charge under these two sections of the Act," it said.	+	'''See graphic''':
−	The court said mere recovery of money would not prove the charge and it has to be proved that the accused had demanded the bribe and had voluntarily accepted the money.	+	'' Carbon emissions in India and the world: 2020 ''
−	"Mere possession and recovery of currency notes from an accused without proof of demand would not establish the offence. It has been propounded that in the absence of any proof of demand for illegal gratification, the use of corrupt or illegal means or abuse of position as a public servant to obtain any valuable thing or pecuniary advantage cannot be held to be proved," the court said while referring to its verdict.
−	"As a corollary, failure of the prosecution to prove the demand for illegal gratification would be fatal and mere recovery of the amount from the person accused of the offence under Sections 7 or 13 of the Act would not entail his conviction thereunder," said Justice Roy, who wrote the judgement for the bench.
−	While acquitting the accused in the 19-year old case, the bench said the anti-corruption bureau, which had laid a trap and caught the official with phenolphthalein powder-coated currency notes, failed to prove that demand for the money was made by him.	+	=Causes, principal=
		+	==Some experts' views==
		+	[[File: What contributes most to air pollution in India. The views of six experts.jpg| What contributes most to air pollution in India? The views of six experts; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Gallery.aspx?id=05_05_2016_003_020_011&type=P&artUrl=Odd-even-gone-city-doesnt-know-why-air-05052016003020&eid=31808 ''The Times of India''], May 5, 2016|frame|500px]]
		+
		+
		+	'''See graphic''':
−	"Though, a very spirited endeavour has been made by state counsel to co-relate statement of witness to the attendant facts and circumstances including the recovery of this amount from the possession of the appellant by trap team, identification of currency notes used in the trap operation and also the chemical reaction of the sodium carbonate solution qua the appellant, we are left unpersuaded to return a finding that the prosecution in the instant case has been able to prove the factum of demand beyond reasonable doubt," the court said.	+	''What contributes most to air pollution in India.''
−	==Criminal offences by government servants==	+	==2018: Arab dust made Gurgaon, NCR India’s worst==
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F08%2F06&entity=Ar00409&sk=9C008037&mode=text  Shilpy Arora, August 6, 2018: ''The Times of India'']
−	'''Criminal offences by babus should draw life term: HC '''	+	[[File: 2018, Jun-5 Aug- air quality in Gurgaon and other NCR towns.jpg|2018, Jun-5 Aug: air quality in Gurgaon and other NCR towns <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F08%2F06&entity=Ar00409&sk=9C008037&mode=text  Shilpy Arora, August 6, 2018: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
−		+
−	Shibu Thomas | TNN	+
−	[http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?skin=pastissues2&enter=LowLevel From the archives of '' The Times of India '' 2007, 2009]	+	The city, which has been NCR’s most polluted for the past three days, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) declared Gurgaon as the most polluted among the country’s 62 cities measured, with AQI crossing the 300 mark.
−	Mumbai: A tougher law is needed to punish corrupt babus, Bombay High Court has said in an important order. Justice AB Chaudhari has recommended to the Union government to bring about changes in the Prevention of Corruption Act to provide for a maximum punishment of life imprisonment for criminal offences committed by government officials.	+	With AQI hovering between ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ categories, Gurgaon is witnessing air quality this poor after a month. On Sunday, AQI was 321 (‘Very Poor’), compared to other NCR cities — Delhi, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Noida and Greater Noida at 241 (Poor), 279 (Poor), 119 (Moderate), 276 (Poor) and 232 (Poor), respectively. On Saturday and Friday, the city had recorded AQI at 276 and 299 (both ‘Poor’), respectively.
−	‘‘Offences by public servants, bankers of various types of banks/financial institutions holding public money or those holding key posts in important public organisations have increased in unimaginable proportion as there is hardly any deterrent punishment,’’ said Justice Chaudhari, adding in exceptionally strong words, ‘‘Looking at the upsurge in the cancer of corruption in the country, the only way to have deterrent is now to provide life imprisonment in the Prevention of Corruption Act.’’	+	For the past month, the level of PM2.5 has been below 80 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3 ). Peak PM2.5 on Sunday was 189µg/m3 , compared to 127 and 135 on Saturday and Friday, respectively. The permissible limit for PM2.5 is 60µg/m3 .
−	As per existing provisions in the PCA, a government officer held guilty can be awarded a maximum imprisonment of seven years, which the HC felt was not enough. The court’s remarks came during the hearing of a petition filed by an IAS officer, Akola municipal commissioner Giridhar Kurve (54), who	+	While authorities blamed it on a dust storm from the Arabian peninsula, environmentalists blamed authorities for not implementing GRAP (graded response action plan) until now. “A dust storm in the Arabian peninsula has led to an increase in atmospheric dust in Delhi and NCR since Thursday. The dust storm started in Oman on July 27. The dust entered the Arabian Sea over next few days, before reaching northwest India and Delhi-NCR. It generally takes 2-3 days for the dust to reach Delhi-NCR, depending on wind speed and other parameters. There are hardly any local factors responsible for a spike in particulate matter in the city,” said an official of Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB).
−	had urged the court to quash a criminal complaint against him. Dismissing his plea, the HC asked the police to investigate the alleged fraud.	+
−	The court further asked the Centre to have a relook at the procedures where offences under IPC involving criminal breach of trust committed by a public servant (Section 409) go to the magistrate’s court. Since the magistrate cannot award a prison term of more than three years, the HC has directed the government to consider sending such matters to the sessions court which has the powers to award life imprisonment.	+	Dipnakar Saha, former head of air laboratory division at CPCB, told TOI, “Gurgaon is worst-affected as it lies to the west of Delhi and the dust is blowing from a northwestern direction. Humidity levels in Delhi and NCR are high, so particulate matter gets stuck to moisture in air. Til there is a strong wind and rain, the situation might prevail in the region. However, we can’t ignore local factors that add to pollution.” The Met department expects showers on Monday that could bring down AQI levels.
−	The case relates to a decision by Kurve to deposit Rs 1.30 crore in the Vidarbha Urban Cooperative Bank in March 2009. A month later the bank shut down. A private complaint was lodged against the commissioner and following the court’s intervention an FIR was registered against Kurve. The municipal commissioner claimed he had followed rules, but the court refused to accept this pointing out that the Vidarbha bank was not in the list of banks where a commissioner was allowed to deposit public funds.	+	==2020:  cooking fuel, agriculture, natural sources==
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2020%2F09%2F26&entity=Ar01202&sk=F742C5C7&mode=text  Chandra Bhushan, September 26, 2020: ''The Times of India'']
−	‘‘Prima facie, there appears to be a clear cut nexus between Kurve and somebody to dupe Akola Municipal Corporation,’’ said the judge. The judge also asked the state to reconsider its decision to allow public money to be parked in cooperative banks.
−	==Convicted Government officials to pay compensation from salaries==	+	The writer is CEO, International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology (iFOREST)
−	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Babus-can-be-told-to-pay-damages-from-08112015036040 ''The Times of India''], Nov 08 2015	+
−	Sana Shakil
−	'''Babus can be told to pay damages from salary'''
−	
−	Government officials convicted of wrongdoing can be told to pay compensation from their own salaries, a court has ruled.
−	Government institutions have often been sued for lapses or inaction and made to compensate victims, but it is unprecedented for individual officials to be told to pay the aggrieved parties from their own pockets.
−	The Delhi court gave the order on a petition filed by two Burari residents against the Delhi chief secretary and sub-divisional magistrate of Civil Lines after the administration demolished their farm's boundary wall, citing “non-agricultural activity“.	+	By focussing on cities and vehicles, we have been barking up the wrong tree on air pollution
−	While giving its verdict, the court referred to various Supreme Court judgments that state action can be taken against public servants if they abuse their office. “It is time that public servants be held personally responsible for their mala fide acts in the discharge of their functions. Public servants have to be made liable for damages for malicious, deliberate or injurious wrong-doing,“ additional district judge Kamini Lau said.	+	Chandra Bhushan
−	The case referred to authorities bringing down a wall on a property though permission had been taken from the SDM. atpal and Yashpal told the court that they built the wall in December 1993 -after taking permission from the SDM -to protect their property from encroachment and save their crops from animals. The administration pulled it down without serving a notice, they said.
−	The accused officials alleged that Satpal and Yashpal broke the law when they built the wall and cited an inspection by a revenue director to accuse them of using their agricultural land for industrial purposes.Satpal and Yashpal contested this version and told the court that they filed an RTI in 2010 to know why their wall was razed but got no reply . In response to the RTI, the officials had said that the files were missing. The court found merit in the petitioners' submissions and termed the allegations levelled by the officials as “vague“. “The construction of a boundary wall cannot be treated as nonagricultural use of the property. The allegations (of running a factory on farmland) are vague... that the land in question was being put to non-agricultural use,“ the court said, noting the officials withheld information from the duo despite being asked by the chief information commissioner to reply to them.Also, if the files were indeed missing, there was no effort to trace them, the court said.	+	1)  ‘National Ambient Air Quality Status & Trends 2019’, which contains air quality data for 344 cities/ towns from 28 states and 6 UTs. This is the only report that gives a snapshot of the status of air pollution in the country.
−	“There was total departmental reluctance... The relevant file and documents went missing and... have not even been placed before this court,“ the judge said, ordering the government to file an FIR and identify the officials were responsible for misplacing the file. The judge granted a compensation of Rs 3 lakh to the petitioners “to be paid from the public funds and then recovered from the erring officers...“	+	2)  ‘Impact of the Lockdown on Ambient Air Quality’. This report compares data for 12 cities from different parts of the country, including Delhi and NCR towns, during the lockdown phases with the corresponding periods in 2019. The report also estimates the various sources on air pollution in Delhi by chemically analysing PM2.5 (particles less than 2.5 microns in size or fine particles) in different phases of lockdown. Furthermore, it measured PM2.5 concentrations using satellite to estimate the air quality improvement over the entire country.
−	=Education of children=	+	Here are the major findings of these two reports: India has predominantly a PM10 problem: Most cities are exceeding the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM10 (particles less than 10 microns in size or coarse particles). About 78% of the cities exceeded PM10 standards compared to 36% for PM2.5, 9% for NO2 and none for SO2.
−	==2015: UP HC: Send officials' children to govt schools==	+
−	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Send-officials-kids-to-govt-schools-HC-19082015013009 ''The Times of India''], Aug 19 2015	+	We are not winning the air pollution battle: The data for the last few years show that while the SO2 concentration has decreased and NO2 concentration has remained stable, the PM2.5 levels have increased and PM10 levels have remained very high and are fluctuating. So, the two problem parameters – PM2.5 and PM10 – are not showing any sign of abating. In fact, PM2.5 levels have increased significantly in the last three years.
−	''' Send officials' kids to govt schools: HC '''	+	The CPCB report also lays to rest the controversy about air quality improvements in Delhi. PM2.5 levels in Delhi have consistently increased in the last 3 years and were 144 micrograms per cubic meters (μg/m3) in 2019 – more than three times the standard.
		+	The baseline pollution level in India is high: During the peak lockdown (March 25-April 19 2020 ), ground based monitoring stations in 12 cities recorded average PM2.5 levels of 25-50 μg/m3 and PM10 levels of 50-110 μg/m3. The satellite recorded PM2.5 levels in different parts of the country as 29-76 μg/m3, with an all-India average of 59 μg/m3. These levels are double the WHO standards and almost the same as NAAQS.
−	The Allahabad high court took a serious note of the pathetic condition of primary schools in the state and directed the chief secretary to ensure that childrenwards of government officialsservants, those serving in the local bodies, representatives of people and judiciary , etc., send their wards to these schools.	+	So, when transportation and industries were down by 80%, coal power plants were operating at 40% capacity, and people were largely indoors, even in relatively less polluting months of March-April, the country was barely meeting NAAQS. ''' This indicates that pollution from cooking fuel, agriculture and natural sources are sufficient to breach air quality norms ''' in large parts of the country.
−	Only then would they be serious enough to look into the requirements of these schools and ensure that they are run in good condition, the court observed.	+
−	Hearing a slew of writ petitions filed by Umesh Kumar Singh and several others, Justice Sudhir Agarwal directed the chief secretary to take steps within six months so as to make the aforesaid directions effective from the next academic session of primary schools.	+	An interesting fact the report captures is that during the [2020] lockdown in Delhi, the ratio of PM2.5 to PM10 was higher than in 2019. This is contrary to the general understanding; one would have expected lower ratio during the lockdown because factories and vehicles were not operating. The only plausible reason seems to be that ''' we have been underestimating the contribution of PM2.5 from cooking fuel and natural sources. '''
−	The court also directed him to submit a compliance report immediately after the lapse of six months.	+	If we join the dots, what emerges is that controlling PM10 emissions is key to solving the air pollution crisis. This would mean reducing the burning of solid fuels like biomass and coal and controlling emissions from land and agriculture. But by mainly focussing on cities and vehicles, we have lost the plot on air pollution. I will discuss this in detail in my next column.
−	The issue involved in the writ petitions was with regard to appointment of assistant teachers in state's primary schools.	+	'' The writer is CEO, International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology (iFOREST) ''
−	During the course of hearing, the court noticed the deplorable condition of these schools and observed that although they are catering to the needs of 90% population of children, their condition could be described as shabby.	+	[[Category:Climate|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Development|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Economy-Industry-Resources|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Environment and pollution|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:India|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
−	The court further observed that as the officials responsible for running these primary schools are treating them in a shabby manner, these schools have given rise to multiple litigations.	+	=City-wise=
		+	==Most cities do not meet national air quality standards==
		+	[[File: Air Pollution, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore, 2007-15.jpg|Air Pollution, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore, 2007-15; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=INDIAS-POLLUTION-IN-5-CHARTS-21042016004025 ''The Times of India''], April 21, 2016|frame|500px]]
		+	'''Since 2011, at least 94 Indian cities have not met national air quality standards'''
−	=Foreign assignments=	+	[[File: causes of air pollution, Sources of lead pollution,  Types of pollutants.jpg| The 5 main causes of pollution <br/> [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Gallery.aspx?id=06_11_2016_010_005_008&type=P&artUrl=Delhi-Today-Your-City-Tomorrow-06112016010005&eid=31808 ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
−	== Not for those who fail to join as CVO’s : Centre ==	+
−	[http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/no-foreign-job-for-babus-who-fail-to-join-as-cvos-centre-2/ Daily Excelsior , No foreign job for babus who fail to join as CVO’s : Centre "Daily Excelsior" 18/11/2015]	+
−	Failure to take up the appointment as Chief Vigilance Officers (CVOs), who act as distant arm of CVC to check corruption in a Government organisation, will debar an officer for five years from being considered for foreign assignments, the Centre said today.	+	[[File: causes of air pollution, Sources of lead pollution, Types of pollutants2.jpg| i) Sources of lead pollution, <br/> ii) Types of pollutants <br/> [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Gallery.aspx?id=06_11_2016_010_005_008&type=P&artUrl=Delhi-Today-Your-City-Tomorrow-06112016010005&eid=31808 ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
−	It has sought nominations of suitable officers for posting as CVOs in central public sector enterprises and in other Government organisataions against the existing vacancies and those likely to arise in next fiscal.	+	[[File: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata monitoring of air pollution, PM10 particles in the air, 2007-15, Total number of vehicles in the city and the growth in the number of vehicles, 2003-13.jpg| Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata <br/> i) The monitoring of air pollution, <br/>ii) PM10 particles in the air, 2007-15, <br/>iii) Total number of vehicles in the city and the growth in the number of vehicles, 2003-13 <br/> [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=DELHI-IS-THE-MOST-POLLUTED-BUT-OTHER-METROS-06112016010031 ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
−	The CVOs are authorised to decide upon the existence of vigilance angle in a particular case at the time of registration of complaint besides screening them before they are referred to CBI. They also monitor corruption, malpractices and misconduct on the part of employees and to take remedial action.	+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Delhi-Today-Your-City-Tomorrow-06112016010005  Jayashree Nandi, Delhi Today, Your City Tomorrow. Nov 06 2016 : The Times of India]
−	“Failure to take up the appointment on the part of the officer will lead to debarment for 5 years along with its attendant consequences. It is also pointed out that it is not only the failure to take up the appointment, but also withdrawal after a panel has been drawn up by the Department, that leads to debarment for 5 years.
−	“It is, therefore, important that only applications of willing officers are forwarded,” an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to all secretaries of Central Government ministries and chief secretaries of states said.	+	94 Cities Haven't Met Air Quality Standards In 5 Years
−	If an officer does not join within one month of issue of his appointment order, his appointment would be treated as cancelled and the officer concerned would stand debarred from central deputation for a period of five years from the date of issuing of orders of his appointment, it said.	+	There's something the hillside retreat of Parwanoo in Himachal Pradesh has in common with the industrial town of Korba in Chhattisgarh--both have consistently recorded higher than acceptable particulate matter (PM) levels.
−	“Further, the officer would also be debarred from being considered for deputation on foreign assignments or consultancies abroad during the period of debarment.	+	Since 2011, at least 94 Indian cities have not met national air quality standards. Many of these cities have been on the list from the 1990s, say officials of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).Neither the Centre nor the states have put in place a plan to ensure that cities get taken off this list.The World Health Organisation's recent urban air quality database lists 10 Indian cities among the world's 20 worst polluted. But that doesn't seem to worry the CPCB or administrators either.
−	“The officers who are debarred from central deputation should not be sponsored for consideration for these posts till they complete their debarment period and become eligible for re-consideration,” the order said.	+	For the past couple of years when air pollution in Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow and Varanasi touched dangerous levels, CPCB did nothing to ensure that its directions on meeting air quality standards were en forced. It also ignored its own studies, commissioned from Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute in 2003, on the impact of air pollution on children over 15 years, which found serious physical and psychological impacts.
−	The nominations have been sought for 25 posts of CVOs, at the level of Joint Secretary and Director, which are likely to fall vacant in 2016-17.	+	The Centre has made only one major decision this year to tackle air pollution--notifying BSVI emission standards for vehicles manufactured after April 2020, which will bring down particulate emissions from vehicles by 60%-80%. The National Air Quality Standard notification, 2009, says safe standards for air should be met 98% of the year, a criterion none of the cities monitored by CPCB meet.Dipankar Saha, additional director, air laboratory at CPCB said: “This is not relevant anymore since we have started real-time monitoring of cities. We alert the nonattaining cities every three years.“
−	On selection, the officer would be eligible for an initial deputation tenure of three years in a CPSE or in an organisation which is extendable – for a further period of two years in the same organisation (total 5 years) or for a further period of three years on transfer to another organisation on completion of initial tenure. (PTI)	+	But CPCB only monitors 29 cities real time and has just one continuous air quality monitor at most locations.The rest are manual monitoring machines which are “highly inefficient“ and at times “inaccurate“, say experts.
−	=Income from lawful sources=	+	“Only when there is pressure from the people and the judiciary, cities start acting on pollution. There is no national policy. Even the government's smart city project only makes a passing reference to air quality but doesn't make it binding on cities to meet this criteria,“ says Anumita Roy Chowdhury, head of Centre for Science and Environment's clean air programme. CPCB's air quality bulletins routinely show Faridabad, Agra, Kanpur and Lucknow in “severe“ or “very poor“ categories.
−	==Gifts are not lawful income==	+
−	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Public-servants-cant-show-gifts-as-income-from-16022017009022  Dhananjay Mahapatra, Public servants can't show gifts as income from legal sources, says SC, Feb 16, 2017: The Times of India]	+
		+	This month for the first time CPCB used its statutory powers to direct municipalities in NCR to take steps to curb air pollution. “The air act gives us statutory powers to issue closure orders or cut electricity or water supply to industries that do not meet norms but it doesn't give us powers to penalize municipalities. So our directions are not binding on them,“ said Saha. In this situation, he is not sure how air quality standards will be met in cities.
		+	“CPCB and state pollution boards have the power to take immediate action,“ insists Kanchi Kohli of Namati Environmental Justice Programme. “They can hold municipalities accountable if they want to.“
−	In its judgment deflating Sasikala's ambition to become CM of Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court has dealt a blow to gift-loving public servants by ruling that presents could not be counted as income from lawful sources.
−	A bench of Justices Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Amitava Roy said: “Gifts to Jayalalithaa, a public servant in the context of Sections 161 to 165A of Indian Penal Code now integrated into the Prevention of Corruption Act, are visibly illegal and forbidden by law.The endeavour to strike a distinction between `legal' and `unlawful' as sought to be made to portray gifts to constitute a lawful source of income is thus wholly misconstrued.“	+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=DELHI-IS-THE-MOST-POLLUTED-BUT-OTHER-METROS-06112016010031  DELHI IS THE MOST POLLUTED, BUT OTHER METROS AREN'T GETTING BETTER Nov 06 2016 : The Times of India]
−	The bench added: “With the advent of the PC Act, 1988, and consequent upon the expansion of the scope of definition of `public servant' and the integration of Section 161 to 165A IPC in the said statute, the claim of the defence to treat the gifts offered to Jayalalithaa on her birthday as lawful income, thus cannot receive judicial imprimatur.“	+	==Emission levels in 14 major cities, 2017==
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F08%2F25&entity=Ar00305&sk=A004882C&mode=text  Vishwa Mohan, Delhi fares worst on emission levels, fuel use – or does it?, August 25, 2018: ''The Times of India'']
−	The court was informed by the counsel for Jayalalithaa that the income tax department did not view receipt of gifts as crime if one disclosed them and paid tax. The counsel had requested the court to take a similar view.	+	[[File: Emission levels in 14 major Indian cities,  presumably as in 2017.jpg| Emission levels in 14 major Indian cities,  presumably as in 2017 <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F08%2F25&entity=Ar00305&sk=A004882C&mode=text  Vishwa Mohan, Delhi fares worst on emission levels, fuel use – or does it?, August 25, 2018: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
−	Rejecting the contention, the SC said: “To reiterate, disclosure of such gifts in the I-T returns of Jayalalithaa and orders of the I-T authorities on the basis thereof do not validate the said receipts to elevate the same to lawful income to repel the charge under Section 13(1)(e) of the PC Act.“ RELATED REPORTS: P 18 While dealing with the nexus between Jayalalithaa as the kingpin and associates Sasikala, V N Sudhakaran and J Elavarasi, the SC said: “The unimpeded, frequent and spontaneous inflow of funds from the accounts of Jayalalithaa to those of the other co-accused and the firms companies involved overwhelmingly demonstrate the collective culpable involvement of the respondents in the transactions in the face of their overall orientation so as to render the same to be masked banking exchanges though involving several accounts but mostly of the same bank. No other view is possible.“
−	The SC accepted the trial court finding that although Sasikala, Sudhakaran and Elavarasi claimed to have independent sources of income, “but the fact of constitution of firms and acquisition of large tracts of land out of the funds provided by Jayalalithaa indicate that all the accused congregated in the house of Jayalalithaa neither for social living nor Jayalalithaa allowed them free accommodation out of humanitarian concern“.	+	''City Goes Up 10 Ranks On Per Trip Basis''
−	“The facts and circumstances proved in evidence undoubtedly point out that Sasikala, Sudhakaran and Elavarasi were accommodated in Jayalalithaa's house pursuant to the criminal conspiracy hatched by them to hold Jayalalithaa's assets,“ the SC said.	+	Emission levels are the least in Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) which also guzzles the lowest amount of fuel for urban commute while Delhi is the worst on both these parameters among 14 Indian cities assessed and ranked by Delhi-based thinktank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
−	= Maternity leave=	+	In its study on the cleanliness aspect of urban mobility in these cities, the CSE has found that though Kolkata and Mumbai figured at seventh and 10th positions, respectively, in terms of overall emissions and energy consumption, these two cities emit the least among six mega cities due to high usage of public transport and walking.
−	==For having children via a surrogate==	+
−	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F02%2F08&entity=Ar01509&sk=78F2B301&mode=text  Now, maternity leave for having kids via surrogate, February 8, 2018: ''The Times of India'']	+
		+	The thinktank selected the 14 cities for its study as these are among the most populous in different regions and can be used as better indicators in the race for clean and low carbon mobility.
−	''Implement Delhi HC’s ’15 Order: DoPT To Govt Depts''	+	The study groups six of them — Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad — as “mega cities” while the remaining eight are clubbed as metropolitan cities.
−	The department of personnel and training (DoPT) has instructed all central ministries and departments to implement a 2015 order of the Delhi high court for granting maternity leave to women employees who choose to have a child by commissioning a surrogacy. Such leave would include both the pre-natal and postnatal period.	+	The overall analysis was done on the basis of the combined score on total emissions of heat-trapping carbon dioxide and toxic pollutants like particulate matter and nitrogen oxides, as well as energy-guzzling from urban commuting practices.
−	The Delhi HC had in July 2015 pronounced a judgement on plea by a Kendriya Vidyalaya teacher who had a pair of twins through a surrogate mother but was denied the 180-day maternity leave on the ground that she was not the biological mother.	+	Kolkata figured at the top among the mega cities for the lowest level of emissions and energy consumption, banking on its “public transport culture, compact city design, high street density, short travel distances and restricted availability of land for roads and parking”.
−	Reasoning that the commissioning mother is legal mother of the child, HC laid down guidelines and filled a vacuum in law since the Centre or state governments have no maternity benefit policy for women employees who opt to have children through a surrogate pregnancy.
−	As instructed by the court, the commissioning mother would be entitled to apply for maternity leave under sub rule (1) of Rule 43 of CCS (Leave) Rules. The competent authority would decide the timing and period for which the maternity leave is to be granted to the commissioning mother, based on material placed before it.	+	''' ‘Delhi PM emission 3 times more than that of Mumbai’ '''
−	Under Rule 43(1), female government employees are entitled to maternity leave up to 180 days. While the scrutiny would be keener and detailed when leave is sought by the commissioning mother in the pre-natal stage and a reasoned order would be passed were the leave to be declined, the competent authority would ordinarily grant leave sought at the post-natal stage, except where there are substantial reasons for declining the request.	+	Despite having the thirdhighest share of public transport trips, Delhi came at the bottom as overall emissions and fuel use are the highest due to the sheer number of personal vehicles, high volume of travel and long trip distances.
−	A DoPT officer told TOI that until the CCS(Leave) Rules are amended to lay down a clear and uniform policy based on the Delhi HC order, the central ministries and departments would have to implement the order in letter and spirit while processing applications for maternity leave from commissioning mothers opting for the surrogacy route. “All ministries/departments are advised to give wide publicity of its (Delhi HC order’s) contents to the concerned officers,” the DoPT said in an office memorandum dated January 29, 2018.	+	“This negates per-trip emissions improvement derived from its CNG programme and limited public transport strategy,” said CSE’s report, “The Urban Commute”, which was released in Kolkata on Friday.
−	=Militants, former=	+	Delhi has the highest vehicle stock among these cities. As a result, Delhi emits PM five times more than Kolkata and three times more than Mumbai. Besides, its poor rank is an effect of its relatively higher population compared to other mega cities.
−	==Can't get govt jobs back on surrender==	+
−	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Ex-militants-cant-get-govt-jobs-back-HC-23122015008031 ''The Times of India'']Dec 23 2015	+	The thinktank in its study analysed level of motorisation, travel demand based on population, share of different modes of transport (public transport, walking, cycling and personal vehicles), average length of daily travel trips and quality of vehicle technologies and fuels to come at its findings.
−	TIMES NEWS NETWORK	+	“This review has become necessary as greenhouse gas emissions from transport — though the thirdhighest currently among all sectors — has recorded the steepest increase. This is also responsible for health-damaging toxic exposure,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (research and advocacy), CSE.
−	The Jammu & Kashmir HC has dismissed a plea seeking reemployment of former government employees who turned to militancy but subsequently surrendered under the state's 2004 rehabilitation policy .	+	The report attributed the increase in greenhouse gas emission from transport to massive motorisation in the past few years. It noted that it took 57 years (1951-2008) for India to cross the mark of 105 million registered vehicles. But thereafter, the same number was added in a mere six years (2009-15). Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai score poorly as they have a lower share of public transport compared to Delhi.
−	Chief justice N Paul Vasanthakumar on Monday said the employees can't get their jobs back under the policy . Petitioner Irshad Ahmad Bhat had left his job as a junior government engineer to join militants in 1999. He surrendered in 2004, and was allowed by the executive engineer to join the service again despite his over 5-year absence, considered “abandoning of service“ in J&K. He was eventually dismissed.	+	==BENGALURU==
		+	[[File: Air pollution in Bengaluru.jpg| Air pollution in Bengaluru |frame|500px]]
−	=Pension=	+	An unusual combination of a long weekend a dispute over sharing water keeping out fireworks from Tamil Nadu, and activism meant Bengaluru had slightly cleaner air this Di wali compared to previous years. But that's no indication of overall air quality in the city . The annual average increase in levels of respirable suspended particulate matter in the last five years is 5%, according to the Karnataka State Pollu tion Control Board The increasing pollution is in step with the rising number of vehicles: 8% every year. While vehicle emissions are the main source, road and construc tion dust and burning of garbage also contribute “In fact, the air we breathe in Bengaluru is clean only during bandh days,“ says Lakshman, chair man, KSPCB. The problem is the lack of coordinated efforts by various civic agencies.While KSPCB monitors air quality and churns out data, its power stops at issuing notices to various agencies. State governments have failed to set out an action plan to tackle air pollution. Transport department officials said they try to detect pollut ing vehicles. “We have random checks to fine those without pollution under control certificates. It isn't easy as we are short staffed,“ said an official.
−	==Right to pension can't be taken away pending proceedings: SC==	+	--Rohith BR & Aditi Sequeira
−	PTI | Aug 20, 2013	+	==CHENNAI==
		+	[[File: Air pollution in Chennai1.jpg| Air pollution in Chennai |frame|500px]]
−	NEW DELHI: Observing that gratuity and pension are hard earned benefits of an employee and right to receive pension is in the nature of "property", the Supreme Court has held that this right cannot be taken away from a government employee pending departmental or criminal proceedings.	+	In humid Chennai's `winter' months of No vember and December, doctors' clinics fill up with patients with respiratory illnesses.The numbers are far lower during in March to August, but those are the months when the PM10 count goes up to 200mcg per cubic metre. Winter may get people coughing, but it's in summer that the air is dirtier. Vehicular emissions, road dust and construction activity (including eight years of work on the Chennai Metro Rail) are major air pollutants. The ratio of people to vehicles is almost 1:1 in Chennai, says Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board lab director Dr K Rangana than. TNPCB works with the corporation and transport de partment to keep pollu tion in check.
−	"It is an accepted position that gratuity and pension are not the bounties. An employee earns these benefits by dint of his long, continuous, faithful and un-blemished service. It is thus hard earned benefit which accrues to an employee and is in the nature of "property".	+	“Chennai's air is clean. Improving g reen cover could further bring down pollution levels,“ says Ranganathan. Air quality at Adyar, a busy residential and commercial locality within easy access of the beach, is the best in the city. It records PM10 count as low as 20mcg per cubic metre--but that could also be because the monitoring device is located at the green Periyar Science and Technology Centre, beside the lush IIT-M campus.
−	"This right to property cannot be taken away without the due process of law as per the provisions of Article 300 A of the Constitution of India," a bench of justices K S Radhakrishnan and A K Sikri said.	+	--Abdullah Nurullah
−	The court passed the judgement while dismissing the appeal of Jharkhand government against the state's high court order directing it to release the withheld dues of its retired employee Jitendra Kumar Srivastava, who had criminal cases pending against him.	+	==Indo-Gangetic plains==
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL/2019/11/19&entity=Ar00905&sk=1D3C603C&mode=text  Jasjeev Gandhiok, Nov 19, 2019: ''The Times of India'']
−	"We are of the opinion that the right of the petitioner (Srivastava) to receive pension is property under Article 31(1) (of the Constitution) and by a mere executive order the State had no power to withhold the same."	+	[[File: PM2.5 levels from Punjab to West Bengal, presumably as in 2015.jpg|PM2.5 levels from Punjab to West Bengal, presumably as in 2015 <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL/2019/11/19&entity=Ar00905&sk=1D3C603C&mode=text  Jasjeev Gandhiok, Nov 19, 2019: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
−	"...the order dated June 12, 1968 denying the petitioner right to receive pension affects the fundamental right of the petitioner under Articles 19(1)(f) and 31(1)of Constitution, and as such the writ petition under Article 32 is maintainable," the bench said.	+	With two smog episodes already this month, Delhi has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. However, the national capital is not alone in its misery — Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida and Jind have fared worse in the last two weeks (November 1-15). In fact, the problem is spread across the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) region and experts say an airshed approach is required to tackle the problem if the NCAP target of a 25% reduction in PM2.5 levels by 2024 has to be met.
−	It also said "a person cannot be deprived of this pension without the authority of law, which is the Constitutional mandate enshrined in Article 300 A of the Constitution. It follows that attempt of the appellant to take away a part of pension or gratuity or even leave encashment without any statutory provision and under the umbrage of administrative instruction cannot be countenanced."	+	At a discussion organised by Climate Trends, a Delhi-based communications initiative, experts and pollution control boards sought better cooperation among states and greater focus on smaller towns where higher emissions may be going undetected. “The problem of high pollution in Delhi was not as prevalent in the winters a decade ago because background emissions from neighbouring towns and cities were not that high. This has, however, grown a lot and is going unchecked. One needs to treat the entire Indo-Gangetic Plain as one expansive area; plans need to be in place for not just one city alone,” Dr Sagnik Dey, associate professor at IIT-Delhi and coordinator for the Centre for Excellence for Research for Clean Air, said.
−	==Pensions for children of divorced/ illegally wedded wives==	+	Dey said there were gaps in data that were not allowing comprehensive action to be taken on the ground. “We live in the age of data and, yet, there is no air pollution figures for the entire rural India. To address the problem of air pollution comprehensively, we need to delineate ‘airsheds’ based on wind flows in the regions and their pollutant reach. While city action plans have been submitted, these should be integrated with the larger airshed management strategy to make an effective plan,” Dey said.
−	''' Children of divorced, illegally wedded wives of deceased officers entitled to pension '''	+	A 2012 study by IIT-Delhi mapped the aerosol transfer across Indo-Gangetic belt, finding it to be world’s most polluted hotspot — stretching from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, UP and Bihar to all the way to West Bengal. Experts say the entire belt has a complex set of topographical and meteorological conditions that produce a landlocked valley effect.
−	PTI | Aug 29, 2013	+	Data analysed by Urban Sciences across 26 cities in Indo-Gangetic Plain from November 1-15 showed Ghaziabad to be the most polluted. There were five cities from Haryana too that experts say are missing from the NCAP list of 102+20 cities. Ronak Sutaria, CEO at Urban Sciences says there’s a need to scale up monitoring across the region. Dr Ravindra Khaiwal, additional professor, School of Public Health, PGIMER Chandigarh, suggested incentivising people to cut down on pollution levels.
−	[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Children-of-divorced-illegally-wedded-wives-of-deceased-officers-entitled-to-pension/articleshow/22137270.cms The Times of India]	+	[[Category:Climate|A
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−	Children of divorced, illegally wedded wives of deceased officers entitled to pension	+	==KOLKATA==
−	Earlier, children born outside wedlock had no claim on family pension and the legally wedded wife was the sole recipient of the post-retirement benefit.	+	[[File: Air pollution in Kolkata.jpg| Air pollution in Kolkata |frame|500px]]
−	NEW DELHI: Children of divorced or those born to illegally wedded wife of a deceased all India services officer are entitled to get family pensions, according to new rules notified by the central government.	+	Last week, after Diwali the PM 10 count in Kolkata was 10 times the permissible limit, and though it dropped, it remained at 3.5 times above normal for the next four nights. Every year, pollution peaks after the festival, though the worst months are December and January . The administration has been taking sporadic steps to check pollution. For instance, use of adulterated fuel by autorickshaws, a major source of pollution, was banned. Automatic pollution recording stations have been set up, but monitoring and implementation of norms remain lax.Automatic recording stations often do not work. The three major causes of pollution are vehicle emission, construction dust and industrial emission. Over the last five years, a number of industrial units have been forced to move out of Kolkata or adopt less-polluting methods. Many have switched from coal to LPG. Pollution from construction dust remains a threat since Kolkata is expanding fast and construction activity is on the rise.
−	"Where the deceased member of service or pensioner is survived by a widow but has left behind eligible child or children from a divorced or an illegally wedded wife or wives, the eligible child or children shall be entitled to the share of family pension which the mother would have received at the time of the death of the member of service or pensioner had she not been so divorced or had she been legally wedded," they say.	+	--Prithvijit Mitra
−	All India services comprise IAS, IPS and Indian Forest Service.	+	==Mumbai  ==
		+	See also [[Air pollution: Mumbai ]]
		+	[[File: Air pollution in Mumbai1.jpg| Air pollution in Mumbai, 2016|frame|500px]]
−	Earlier, children born outside wedlock of a government servant had no claim on family pension and the legally wedded wife was the sole recipient of the post-retirement benefit.	+	Mumbai's a coastal city isn't always able to counter the pollutants in the air. On several days in the year, air quality drops into the poor category , and experts say more monitoring and data is needed to ensure it doesn't go the Delhi way. Not all existing monitoring stations are able to give us the right picture because they don't meet the required standards. Having access to data and using it to take precautionary measures is important,“ says Neha Parkhi of Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology. Local governments claim to have recognized air pollution as a major problem. “Some of the major sources of pollution are smoke from bakeries and burning garbage,“ says Vinayak Karnik, deputy chief engineer, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation environment department. The corporation issues an environment status report every August. In its recent report (2015-2016), BMC said the total number of vehicles in the city rose from 25 lakh in 2015 to 27 lakh in 2016, he says. –
−	==Pensions for additional wives==	+	--Vinamrata Borwankar
−	The amended All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958, also have provisions to provide equal share of pension to more than one widow of a deceased officer.	+	==Varanasi, Allahabad, Gwalior/ 2015==
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Varanasi-Allahabad-had-no-clean-air-day-in-13122016001065 ''The Times of India''], Dec 13 2016
−	The rules have a provision to recognise marriage and family of a member of the services after his or her retirement and have made such family member eligible to receive pension after the death of an officer.	+	Jayashree Nandi
−	They also provide for monetary support to mentally retarded children of an officer of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS).	+	'''Varanasi, Allahabad had no clean air day in 2015'''
−	"If the son or daughter of a member of service is suffering from any disorder or disability of mind including the mentally retarded or is physically crippled or disabled so as to render him or her unable to earn a living even after attaining the age of twenty-five years, the family pension shall be payable to such son or daughter for life," the rules said.	+	People in Varanasi, Allahabad and Gwalior did not have a single “good air“ day throughout 2015, making these cities worse than Delhi, at least in terms of lack of clean air, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
		+	By contrast, Delhi saw 24 clean air days last year, when PM2.5 concentrations were below 30 mgm3.
−	If there are more than one such son or daughter suffering from disorder or disability of mind or who are physically crippled or disabled, the family pension shall be paid in the order of their birth and the younger of them will get the family pension only after the elder next above him or her ceases to be eligible, the rules clarified.	+	The figures were quoted in “Varanasi Chokes“, a report released in Varanasi on Monday that delves deeper into PM Modi's constituency where the air pollution crisis is severe and monitoring lax. The report was presented by IndiaSpend, Centre for Environment and Energy Development and Care4Air at a workshop in the holy city .
−	In case both wife and husband are members of service and are governed by the provisions of the rules and one of them dies while in service or after retirement, the family pension in respect of the deceased shall become payable to the surviving husband or wife and in the event of the death of the husband or wife, the surviving child or children shall be granted the two family pensions in respect of the deceased parents, they said.	+	Air pollution data for Varanasi and Allahabad were available for 227 and 263 days, respectively , during 2015. Average PM10 (coarse pollution particles) levels in Varanasi have increased steadily between 2010 and 2016.
−	==Pension after age 80/ 95/ 100==	+
−	Retired all India service officials will also get additional pensions after completing 80 years of age, according to them.	+
−	Such retired government officials will get 20 per cent of additional pension after they complete 80 years of age, 30 per cent of after completing 85 years, 40 per cent after crossing 90 years of age, 50 per cent after reaching 95 years and 100 per cent of additional pension after completing 100 years of age, the rules said.	+	The report is also being used by civil society organisations to demand action on air pollution and make it an agenda for political parties in the upcoming UP election.
−	If there are more than one such son or daughter suffering from disorder or disability of mind or who are physically crippled or disabled, the family pension shall be paid in the order of their birth and the younger of them will get the family pension only after the elder next above him or her ceases to be eligible, the rules clarified.	+	Varanasi has only three air quality monitoring stations with just one online monitoring station that monitors both PM10 and PM2.5. In comparison, Delhi has 13 continuous air quality monitoring stations.
−	In case both wife and husband are members of service and are governed by the provisions of the rules and one of them dies while in service or after retirement, the family pension in respect of the deceased shall become payable to the surviving husband or wife and in the event of the death of the husband or wife, the surviving child or children shall be granted the two family pensions in respect of the deceased parents, they said.	+	Data for four weeks between October 2015 and November 2015 for Varanasi showed the city's average PM2.5 (fine, respirable pollution particles) levels were at least two to three times the national safe standard of 60 micrograms per cubic metres. Abysmal air quality monitoring infrastructure in these cities is also responsible for lack of focus on controlling emissions in the region, experts said.
−	Retired all India service officials will also get additional pensions after completing 80 years of age, according to them.	+	The scientists who participated in Monday's conference said that emission sources in the Indo-Gangetic plains had increased massively , contributing to the problem. “There is satellite data to show how aerosol optical depth (pollution particles) has increased rapidly in the last decade in the region. We need tighter emission standards for industries and other sources to control this,“ said S N Tripathi of department of civil engineering at IIT Kanpur.
−	Such retired government officials will get 20 per cent of additional pension after they complete 80 years of age, 30 per cent of after completing 85 years, 40 per cent after crossing 90 years of age, 50 per cent after reaching 95 years and 100 per cent of additional pension after completing 100 years of age, the rules said.	+	He added that PM1 (particles of less than 1 micron diameter or superfine particles) levels were nearly as high as PM2.5 emissions around Kanpur. “The sources of PM1emissions are similar to PM2.5 emission sourc es -vehicles, industries, biomass burning and others.“
−	== Widow, not dead man's mother, to get pension==	+
−	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Widow-not-dead-mans-mom-will-get-pension-30092016009030  Dhananjay Mahapatra, Widow, not dead man's mom, will get pension: SC The Times of India Sep 30 2016]	+
−	Deciding a long and bitter `saas-bahu' fight over a dead man's pension, the Supreme Court stood behind the daughter-in-law and ruled that a widow alone was entitled to pension after death of an employee and not his mother.	+	Tripathi's research team has found PM1 24-hour average to be as high as 300 micrograms per cubic metres, five times the PM2.5 safe standard in Kanpur during winter. The sources of emissions were varied and complex because scientists are seeing the share of secondary particles which are formed from chemical reactions between gases such as sulphur dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) are also very high. Tripathi's findings are significant because PM1 particles can travel to the deepest area of the lungs, pass through the cell membranes of the alveoli, enter the bloodstream, damage the inner walls of arteries.
−	A bench of Justices A R Dave and L Nageshwar Rao faced a tricky question while deciding this dispute between the mother and wife of deceased Haryana government employee Yash Pal.While the widow laid claim to her late husband's pension, the mother cited the Hindu Succession Act to stake her claim.	+	The report also quotes testimonies of doctors and patients from Varanasi who say there is several-fold rise in health conditions associated with air and water pollution.
−	Writing the judgment for the bench, Justice Dave said so far as provisions of Hindu Succession Act, 1956 were concerned, the properties of a Hindu who dies intestate (without writing a will) would first of all go to persons categorised as class-I heirs.	+	==2015: improvement, status quo and deterioration in different cities==
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Some-good-news-some-bad-for-15-major-02062016009016 ''The Times of India''], Jun 02 2016
−	“Therefore, so far as the properties of late Yash Pal are concerned, they would be divided among the mother and widow, provided no other family member of Yash Pal is alive who would fall within class-I heirs,“ Justice Dave said.	+	Jayashree Nandi
−	But the position on pension was different, the SC said. Citing an earlier judgment, the court said family pension did not form part of the deceased employee's property to be divided among his family members categorised as class-I heirs.	+	''' Some good news, some bad for 15 major cities on air quality front '''
−	“Even the employee has no right to dispose of family pension in his will by giving direction that someone other than the one entitled to it should be given the same,“ the bench said and set aside Punjab and Haryana High Court's order entitling the mother to 50% of family pension.	+	A Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report on air quality in 15 cities shows that most cities are breaching the national annual safe standard.
−	On the fight between the daughter-in-law and the mother-in-law over Yash Pal's pension, the bench said, “Under the family pension scheme, widow is the only family member entitled to the pension and, therefore, the mother of the deceased would not get any right in the pension. Of course, it cannot be disputed that if there are other assets left by late Yash Pal, his mother would get 50% share if he had not prepared any will and it appears that late Yash Pal had died intestate and no will had been executed by him.“	+	While some are seeing a rising trend and some, interestingly, are also showing a decreasing trend in PM 10 (coarse pollution particles) levels, the study also shows that most cities saw an improvement in 2015 compared to previous years. The CPCB concludes in its report that improvement could be linked to implementation of stricter vehicle norms and better fuel quality.
−	==Pensioner need not visit bank to activate pension==	+	The report was compiled by the CPCB after the NGT in its February 9 order directed it to file an “analysis report“ on pollution levels in all major cities identified by the tribunal.The report is also one of the documents on the basis of which the NGT is spearheading the efforts to reduce pollution in other major cities while an air pollution case pertaining to the Capital is being heard in the Supreme Court.
−	[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/no-need-for-govt-employees-to-visit-bank-to-start-pension-government/articleshow/59939293.cms  No need for govt employees to visit bank to start pension: Government, Aug 6, 2017: The Times of India]	+
		+	The NGT asked for more air pollution data from states on Wednesday with details of major sources so that it can come up with effective solutions. The report, which com piles pollution levels from manual monitoring stations in 15 cities, shows that PM 10 levels seem to be falling in Mumbai, Pune, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Chennai while in Lucknow they are stabilising.
		+
		+	There are no clear trends in Bengaluru, Jalandhar, Al lahabad, Kanpur and Kolkata, but PM levels are seen increasing in Hyderabad and Varanasi. “The reason for decrease in PM 10 levels may be implementation of stricter vehicle norms (BS IV),“ the study claims. “The fluctuating trends in some cities co uld be because of vehicles, diesel gen sets, small scale industries, biomass incineration, resuspension of traffic dust and others,“ it said.
		+
		+	Experts, however, said the report is inadequate as it doesn't correlate PM 10 levels with vehicle numbers, establishment of new industries, introduction of cleaner fuels and other interventions.They also pointed that PM 10 is not an effective indicator for pollution caused by combustion sources like vehicles or waste burning. The CPCB should have provided with PM 2.5 data (fine, respirable pollution particles) to give a clearer picture.
		+
		+	BS IV was introduced in NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Surat, Kanpur, Lucknow, Sholapur, Jamshedpur and Agra in 2010.The gradual PM 10 rise in Varanasi could be because it is still on BS III but experts said improvements in Ludhiana, Amritsar or Nagpur cannot be due to better fuel norms.
		+
		+	==2015/ 2016:  Greenpeace study of 280 cities==
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F01%2F30&entity=Ar01000&sk=A8DC0F5E&mode=text  Delhi most polluted among 280 cities where air quality is tracked, January 30, 2018: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	'''See graphic''':
		+
		+	''Cities, most and least polluted, 2015-16''
		+
		+	[[File: Cities, most and least polluted, 2015-16.jpg|Cities, most and least polluted, 2015-16 <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F01%2F30&entity=Ar01000&sk=A8DC0F5E&mode=text  Delhi most polluted among 280 cities where air quality is tracked, January 30, 2018: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	''Study Finds PM10 Levels In Capital Way Above Safe Limits Through The Year''
		+
		+	Airpocalypse II, a report by environmental NGO Greenpeace India, has found that more than 47% of the population in India is still living in areas where there is no air quality monitoring. Greenpeace researchers analysed PM10 (coarse pollution particles) annual averages for 280 cities monitored by the Central Pollution Control Board under their national air quality monitoring programme, which shows Delhi to be the most polluted and Hassan in Karnataka to have the cleanest air.
		+
		+	Of the 630 million people living in 280 cities where CPCB monitors air quality, close to 550 million live in areas exceeding national safe standards for PM10; and 180 million people live in areas where air pollution levels are more than twice the safe standard of 60 micrograms per cubic metres set by CPCB.
		+
		+	“This includes 47 million children under five years of age, living in areas where the standard is exceeded and 17 million in areas where the air pollution levels are more than twice the stipulated standards,” the report states.
		+
		+	While there is no air pollution monitoring for nearly 580 million people, real-time data are available for a population of only 190 million. Most children under five years live in cities where PM10 levels are more than twice the safe standard — Uttar Pradesh (6.3 million) and Rajasthan (2.1 million), followed by Bihar (1.7 million), Maharashtra (1.4 million) and Delhi (1.4 million).
		+
		+	“Only 16% of the population inhabiting the districts has real-time air quality data available, showing how inhumanly we are responding to the national health crisis in front of us. Even the manual data collected for 300 cities/ towns across the country are not shared in a timely manner and in a format that can be accessed and understood easily by general public,” Sunil Dahiya, senior campaigner, Greenpeace India, said.
		+
		+	Data on monthly PM10 levels during 2016 in Delhi were obtained from six manually operated air quality monitoring stations installed across the city, operating under the Delhi Pollution Control Committee. Assessment of air quality from Delhi, meanwhile, showed that annual PM10 levels were between four and seven times higher than the annual standard prescribed under NAAQS at the six locations data were collected from.
		+
		+	“Not only were the annual values above the annual standard, but they were also way above the daily standard. Except for a couple of months at two stations, we did not see any of the months having PM10 below the daily standard of 100 µg/m3 ,” the report said.
		+
		+	According to the data, Anand Vihar had both the highest peak and annual levels during 2016. Annual PM10 levels during 2016 for RK Puram, Mandir Marg, Punjabi Bagh, Civil Lines, IGI and Anand Vihar were 276, 238, 274, 282, 247 and 423 micrograms per cubic metre, respectively. Overall, the annual PM10 levels for Delhi during 2016 was at 290µg/m3 — nearly three times the safe standard.
		+
		+	Greenpeace researchers also made RTI inquiries and accessed state pollution control board annual reports to check what was being done in polluted cities to comply with national standards.
		+
		+	Based on pollution levels between 2011 and 2015, CPCB had issued directions to states to formulate action plans to reduce air pollution levels across 94 non-attainment (those not meeting safe standard) cities spread across the country. These plans were to be made during 2016 by the state pollution control boards.
		+
		+	“As per the directions, action was required to be taken within a specific timeline, ranging from action on the directions within a week to six months. As per the update with us most of the pollution control boards forwarded the letter to the relevant departments for further action. Apart from Delhi-NCR where a Graded Response Action Plan has come into force and, in Lucknow, where the same plan has been copied for Lucknow city (on paper only — its implementation still seems to be a distant dream), no other city seems to be taking any action of any worth against the polluters,” the report found.
		+
		+	==2017, air quality, city-wise==
		+	'''See graphic'''
		+
		+	''Air quality, June 2017, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and Pune''
		+
		+
		+	[[File: Air quality, June 2017, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and Pune.jpg|Air quality, June 2017, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and Pune; [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Gallery.aspx?id=28_06_2017_002_007_008&type=P&artUrl=Why-even-early-rain-has-failed-to-clean-28062017002007&eid=31808 The Times of India], June 28, 2017|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	==2017 city-wise quality: Chicago U study ==
		+	[[File: Annual average PM2.5 concentration level, city-wise; Cities having more than 120 days of worst air quality, 2016.jpg|Annual average PM2.5 concentration level, city-wise; Cities having more than 120 days of worst air quality, 2016 <br/> From: [http://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2017%2F11%2F27&entity=Ar01010&sk=5204C00C&mode=text November 27, 2017: ''The Times of India''] |frame|500px]]
		+
		+	'''See graphic''':
		+
		+	''Annual average PM2.5 concentration level, city-wise; Cities having more than 120 days of worst air quality, 2016''
		+
		+	==2018==
		+	===2018: nine Indian towns===
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F02%2F16&entity=Ar01107&sk=C01EBDF0&mode=text  Ritam Halder, Don’t pack your bags yet: Air in these smaller towns is worse than Delhi’s, February 16, 2019: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	[[File: Air quality in Delhi, Varanasi, Patna, Kanpur, Jaipur, Dehradun, Ahmedabad, Ranchi and Raipur in October and November, 2018.jpg|Air quality in Delhi, Varanasi, Patna, Kanpur, Jaipur, Dehradun, Ahmedabad, Ranchi and Raipur in October and November, 2018 <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F02%2F16&entity=Ar01107&sk=C01EBDF0&mode=text  Ritam Halder, Don’t pack your bags yet: Air in these smaller towns is worse than Delhi’s, February 16, 2019: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+
		+	''New IIT-Kanpur Study Finds Patna, Varanasi And Kanpur To Be More Polluted Than Capital''
		+
		+	Patna, Varanasi and Kanpur are more polluted than Delhi, a report by IIT Kanpur, Respirer Living Sciences and Shakti Foundation on air pollution data collected using low-cost air quality monitoring devices in nine cities, has revealed.
		+
		+	In the north, monitors were installed in Delhi, Varanasi, Patna, Kanpur, Jaipur and Dehradun. In central India, they were installed in Ahmedabad, Ranchi and Raipur.
		+
		+	According to the report — Visualising the impact of episodic air pollution in the cities from October 15 to November 30, 2018 — Patna, Varanasi and Kanpur recorded the worst air quality, with 70% ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ AQI days. Patna had zero ‘good’ days, Kanpur was close second with 2%, and Varanasi marginally better at 11%.
		+
		+	Delhi and Jaipur were the next most polluted of the nine cities monitored for PM 2.5 levels. Delhi recorded 51% ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ days and 19% ‘good” AQI days, while Jaipur had 19% ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ and 15% ‘good’ AQI days.
		+
		+	Sachida Nand Tripathi, heads of Centre for Environmental Science & Engineering, IIT Kanpur, told TOI that the study shows how in the absence of high-end monitoring stations, the network based on low-cost wellcalibrated censors can help. “This data, which is comprehensive and accurate, especially from new places, will help policy makers too. Only Delhi had multiple stations till now while other cities had one or two. This winter, Bihar has come up with some highly polluted cities. Even Kolkata had some of the most polluted days. So more monitoring is bringing in more information regarding the air we breathe in different parts of the country,” Tripathi said, adding that IIT Kanpur researchers have helped calibrate the censors used in the study.
		+
		+	The data was collected using low-cost air quality monitors (Atmos) across the cities. These devices were calibrated against reference grade monitors (E-BAM) and have primarily being deployed in residential and office buildings. The assessment period spans 45 days, during which the episodes of Diwali and agriculture fire burnings were witnessed.
		+
		+	The report also revealed that the highest daily averages were recorded in Kanpur, Patna, Delhi, Varanasi and Dehradun during the Diwali week. Kanpur in particular had several ‘severe’ air quality days with persistent pollution levels peaking at 355, 449 and 305 micrograms per cubic meters at the time.
		+
		+	In the cities across central India, however, Ranchi topped the charts with Ahmedabad followed by Raipur. The peaks experienced in these cities were significantly lower in comparison with most cities in the north.
		+
		+	Varanasi witnessed the maximum PM2.5 level and consistently topped the charts for ‘poor’ air quality for over a couple of weeks in a row, indicating a persistent problem of poor air.
		+
		+	“Contrary to the popular notion, most monitoring locations spread across cities in the Indo-Gangetic Plain have recorded averages higher than Delhi and Gurgaon. The top five locations were in Varanasi, Kanpur and Patna,” said Ronak Sutaria, CEO, Respirer Living Sciences, adding that now, focus needs to shift to other cities too.
		+
		+	“There is a need to broaden the narrative. There is a low-cost sensor technology which can provide a wider, better understanding. In this study, sensors were placed in residential and institutional areas and not in industrial and traffic zones. So we have the data of where people are living or working, the air we breathe the most,” Sutaria said.
		+
		+	===2018: the 6 most polluted cities===
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F03%2F05&entity=Ar00904&sk=60FFEB36&mode=text  Ritam Halder, Delhi world’s most polluted capital: Report, March 5, 2019: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	[[File:  2018- India’s 6 most polluted cities.jpg| 2018: India’s 6 most polluted cities <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F03%2F05&entity=Ar00904&sk=60FFEB36&mode=text  Ritam Halder, Delhi world’s most polluted capital: Report, March 5, 2019: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	Delhi is the most polluted capital in the world, while Gurgaon is the most polluted city, revealed a Greenpeace report.
		+
		+	According to the latest data compiled in the IQAir AirVisual 2018 World Air Quality Report and interactive world’s most polluted cities ranking, prepared in collaboration with Greenpeace Southeast Asia, to reveal the state of particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution in 2018, Delhi had an average yearly PM2.5 concentration at 113.5 micrograms per cubic metre, followed by Dhaka at 97.1micrograms per cubic metre. Kabul was at the third spot with 61.8 micrograms per cubic metre.
		+
		+	However, in terms of cities, Delhi takes the no 11spot, as Gurgaon took no 1spot with an annual average PM2.5 reading of 135.8 micrograms per cubic metre. Ghaziabad is no 2 with 135.2 micrograms per cubic metre and Faisalabad in Pakistan is third with 130.4 micrograms per cubic metre. Faridabad, Bhiwadi, Noida take the next three spots with average PM2.5 readings of 129.1, 125.4 and 123.6 micrograms per cubic metre respectively.
		+
		+	According to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, the annual permissible limit for PM2.5 is 40ug/m3. The annual permissible limits prescribed by the World Health Organization are even lower at 10ug/m3.
		+
		+	“This report is based on 2018 air quality data from public monitoring sources, with a focus on data which has been published in real-time or near real-time. These sources include government monitoring networks, as well as validated data from air quality monitors operated by private individuals and organisations,” the report stated.
		+
		+	===2018: the 14 most polluted cities===
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F04%2F10&entity=Ar01111&sk=818EDB34&mode=text  Ritam Halder, Elected caretakers not proactive in finding lasting solution to bad air, April 10, 2019: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	[[File: 2018- the 14 most polluted cities in India .jpg|2018: the 14 most polluted cities in India  <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F04%2F10&entity=Ar01111&sk=818EDB34&mode=text  Ritam Halder, Elected caretakers not proactive in finding lasting solution to bad air, April 10, 2019: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+
		+	''Report Says Delhi Witnessing Criminal Negligence, Laziness From Politicians''
		+
		+	For a city with seven MPs and an elected government with several MLAs, the government institutional machinery can at best be described as reactive than pro-active based on evidence available, claims a report titled ‘Political Leaders’ Positions and Actions on Air Quality’.
		+
		+	“Instead of instant relief, the city is witnessing criminal negligence and laziness from elected caretakers and their implementation agencies in the form of piece-meal, limited, and short-term impact solutions being applied,” says the report by a Delhi-based organisation, Climate Trends. It does a review of the political leadership, citizen perceptions and stakeholder initiatives in the 14 cities of India ranked by WHO in 2018 as the world’s most polluted. These include three cities of NCR — Delhi, Gurgaon and Faridabad with the capital getting the sixth spot.
		+
		+	For Faridabad, ranked second after Kanpur, the warning bells had been ringing since long as all types of pollution sources exist in this industrial town that lead to high levels of pollution in both summer and winter months, contrary to the state government view, the report says. Ranked 11 is Gurgaon. Despite poor air quality it does not yet feature in National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) of Government of India and monitoring of air pollution in the past few years has not been carried out by CPCB. Only in 2018, continuous monitoring started.
		+
		+	“Though high levels of toxic metals are being found in children in the city, the sole focus in government policy and MP actions has been on road infrastructure and Metro project,” it states.
		+
		+	Director of Climate Trends Aarti Khosla said that India clearly needs more intense public awareness campaigns. “The recent State of Global Air report attributed 1.2 million deaths in India due to air pollution. In such a scenario, air pollution alerts and health advisories are a must to contain the public health emergency. While plans are underway, we need greater political commitment for better implementation of existing policies and plans. A national strategy that addresses key sources of pollution — industries, thermal plants, transport, waste management, will have to be developed such that our development doesn’t face any compromise but we don’t end up compromising public health at the same time,” she added.
		+
		+	According to her, it’s a step in the right direction that party manifestos are prioritising air pollution. “While the Congress manifesto talked about sectoral targets to tackle air pollution, BJP’s manifesto talks about converting NCAP into a mission. Our analysis of the 14 most polluted cities of the world, all of which are in north India, clearly shows that there is patchy recognition of the problem of unhealthy air. Inadequate monitoring and insufficient data on poor air quality is a primary reason for limited understanding of the problem,” she said.
		+
		+	The report also points out what Delhi MPs have done on air pollution in Parliament. In 2018, MP from Chandni Chowk and Union minister of environment, forest and climate change, Dr Harsh Vardhan, said that there is no conclusive data available in the country to establish direct correlation of death/disease exclusively to air pollution. New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi has asked questions about air pollution at different times on oddeven, level of pollution, impact of pollution on monuments, pollution measuring devices and monitoring of industries from the relevant ministries.
		+
		+	===NCR, 2018: 5 of world’s 10 most polluted cities===
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F03%2F06&entity=Ar00613&sk=9280A32E&mode=text  Ritam Halder, Rank-bad air: 5 of world’s 10 worst in NCR, March 6, 2019: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	[[File: Air pollution in the NCR and other major Indian cities in 2018.jpg|Air pollution in the NCR and other major Indian cities in 2018 <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F03%2F06&entity=Ar00613&sk=9280A32E&mode=text  Ritam Halder, Rank-bad air: 5 of world’s 10 worst in NCR, March 6, 2019: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+
		+	''Gurgaon, Ghaziabad Top-Most Polluted Cities, Delhi At 11th''
		+
		+	Five out of the top 10 most-polluted cities in the world are in Delhi-NCR with Gurgaon being at the number 1 spot clocking an annual average PM2.5 reading of 135.8 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3) in 2018. This has been revealed by data compiled in the IQAir AirVisual 2018 World Air Quality Report prepared in collaboration with Greenpeace Southeast Asia.
		+
		+	Ghaziabad is at the second spot with 135.2ug/m3, while Faisalabad in Pakistan is third with 130.4. Faridabad, Bhiwadi and Noida take the next three spots with average PM2.5 readings of 129.1, 125.4 and 123.6, respectively.
		+
		+	Delhi had an average yearly PM2.5 concentration of 113.5ug/m3 putting it eleventh on the list. However, it is still the most polluted capital followed by Dhaka at 97.1. The third spot went to Kabul with 61.8ug/m3.
		+
		+	The National Ambient Air Quality Standards puts the annual permissible PM2.5 limit at 40ug/m3. The annual permissible limits prescribed by World Health Organization is even lower at 10ug/m3.
		+
		+	The data also reveals that Delhi was ranked 12th in 2017 with an average reading of 108.2ug/m3, which increased to 113.5ug/m3 in 2018.
		+
		+	Monthly data also showed an overall increase in Delhi with November, December and January having the foulest air quality. In January 2017, the average PM2.5 was 157ug/m3, while in 2018 it was 204.6ug/m3. In December 2017, it was 199.9ug/ m3, while in 2018 it was 218.8ug/m3. In November 2017, it was 231.3ug/m3, while the next year it was 194.2ug/m3.
		+
		+	Air pollution has been a major issue plaguing policymakers and citizens in India. If the country reduces particulate pollution by 25% under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), residents of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh could live almost three years longer, according to a recent Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) report.
		+
		+	The Greenpeace report stated that four of the five most-polluted countries and regions in the world were located in South Asia. “Of the 84 cities monitored, 99% failed to meet the WHO annual guidelines for PM2.5. As a whole, cities here average a PM2.5 concentration of 60ug/m3, six times the recommended limit of 10ug/m3. Sources of PM2.5 pollution vary by region and city, but common contributors include vehicle exhaust, open crop and biomass burning, industrial emissions and coal combustion,” it stated.
		+
		+	The city rankings show Asian locations dominating the highest 100 average PM2.5 levels during 2018, with cities in India, China, Pakistan and Bangladesh occupying the top 50 spots. Middle-East region cities also rank highly with Kuwait City, Dubai and Manama all exceeding the WHO guidelines by over 500%.
		+
		+	At country-level weighted by population, Bangladesh emerged as the most-polluted country on average, closely followed by Pakistan and India, with Middle-Eastern countries, Afghanistan and Mongolia also within the top 10.
		+
		+	“Of the cities included in South Asia, it is interesting to note that, although Delhi typically receives most media coverage as one of the world’s pollution capitals, the Indian capital only ranks 10th for annual PM2.5 concentration,” the report stated.
		+
		+	Pujarini Sen of Greenpeace India said, “We need to do much more than was has already been planned and done. If we want India to breathe clean air, it’s high time that our plans such as NCAP, GRAP, CAP, etc become stringent, aggressive, legally binding and most of all implementable at ground.”
		+
		+	=Costs due to air pollution to..=
		+	==2019: Cost to industry, economy==
		+	[[File: The Cost of Air pollution to Indian industry, economy, 2019.jpg|The Cost of Air pollution to Indian industry, economy, 2019 <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2021%2F04%2F21&entity=Ar01507&sk=6C1610B3&mode=image  April 21, 2021: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	'''See graphic''':
		+
		+	'' The Cost of Air pollution to Indian industry, economy, 2019 ''
		+
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		+
		+	=Diwali pollution=
		+	See also graphic and [[Air pollution: Delhi]]
		+	[[File: Air pollution in eight major Indian cities on Diwali day, 2016a.jpg| Air pollution in eight major Indian cities on Diwali day, 2016 <br/> [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Air-pollution-behind-1-in-10-under-5-01112016020042 ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	== Crackers leave lasting impact on air==
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Crackers-leave-lasting-impact-on-air-02112016002033  Crackers leave lasting impact on air, Nov 02 2016 : The Times of India]
		+
		+
		+	Diwali is gone but it seems the toxic pollutants released due to bursting of firecrackers are still hanging in the air. The air quality on Tuesday continued to be in the “severe“ category , according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting Research (SAFAR). The AQI released by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), however, showed a slight improvement-“very poor“.
		+
		+	Experts said even if firecrackers were burst only for a day , they left a lingering impact on the air quality because the pollutants were not able to disperse easily as temperatures dropped and the wind speed was very low.
		+
		+	“You have to understand that there were very high intensity emissions over a very short period. While such high emissions can trigger health impacts immediately, they are also adding to the existing pollution, which is not able to escape,“ said a scientist from SAFAR. “The pollutants from this Diwali have started dispersing very slowly and tomorrow dispersion may happen if the wind speed picks up as forecast. But temperature has dropped by a degree, which will make a complete clearout difficult.“ According to SAFAR, PM 2.5 concentrations on Tuesday were about 315 micrograms per cubic metres, about 12 times the WHO standards. “Tomorrow, this could fall to about 240 provided the wind speed improves,“ added the scientist. Wind speed remained very low even on Tuesday , ranging from 2 metres per second in the day to 0.3 metre per second in the evening.
		+
		+	M P George, head of air lab, DPCC, said accumulation of pollutants had begun even before Diwali. “The severe pollution level will have to be seen in the light of prevailing air pollution and meteorological conditions in the past week. The high pollution levels are a result of trans-region movement of pollutants due to crop residue burning, low wind speed and contribution from fireworks on the Diwali night,“ he said.
		+
		+	=Dussehra effigy burning=
		+	==2018==
		+	[[File: The impact of the burning of the three demons’ effigies on Dussehra day in various parts of Delhi and various Indian metropolitan cities.jpg|The impact of the burning of the three demons’ effigies on Dussehra day in various parts of Delhi and various Indian metropolitan cities <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F10%2F20&entity=Ar01117&sk=5CDB9841&mode=image  October 20, 2018: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	'''See graphic''':
		+
		+	''The impact of the burning of the three demons’ effigies on Dussehra day in various parts of Delhi and various Indian metropolitan cities''
		+
		+	=Economic damage caused by air pollution=
		+	==2015: killed 81,000 in Delhi, Mumbai; cost Rs 70,000cr==
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Air-pollution-killed-81k-in-Delhi-Mumbai-cost-19012017001087  Vinamrata Borwankar, `Air pollution killed 81k in Delhi & Mumbai, cost Rs 70,000cr in 2015', Jan 19, 2017: The Times of India]
		+
		+
		+	Air pollution contributed to a total of 80,665 premature deaths of adults over 30 years in Mumbai and Delhi in 2015, a two-fold jump from 1995, according to a new study at the Indian Institute of Technology , Bombay .
		+
		+	In economic terms, air pollution cost the two cities $10.66 billion (approximately Rs 70,000 crore) in 2015, or about 0.71% of the country's gross domestic product.
		+
		+	The study has said the impact on health and productivity as a result of exposure to pollution and the consequ ent burden of respiratory ailments rose with every passing decade.
		+
		+	Researchers calculated impact using data on PM 10 (fine particulate matter mea suring 10 microns), population and death rates.
		+
		+	With its higher pollution levels, Delhi recorded more premature deaths due to ingestion of PM10 from vehicle exhaust, construction dust and other industrial processes. Casualties went up from 19,716 in 1995 to 48,651 in 2015.
		+
		+	In Mumbai, the compara tive figure rose from 19,291 to 32,014 in 20 years. Air pollution was also re sponsible for 23 million cases of restricted activity days (RAD) -either less productive days or days off work for individuals -in the commercial capital in 2015.The worsening quality of air in the city also led to 64,037 emergency room visits in 2015 by those stricken by respiratory ailments, up by 35.4% from 1995. In comparison, in Delhi, there were 29 million cases of RAD and 0.12 million emergency room visits in 2015.
		+
		+	The study's lead author, Kamal Jyoti Maji, said the impact of air pollution on health and productivity was evident in that the increase in cases and cost after 2005 was in line with the overall trend in pollution.
		+
		+	Pollution also cost the two cities as much as $10.66 billion in 2015, or about 0.71% of the country's GDP, a cost that's almost doubled since 1995.
		+
		+	The economic cost of PM10 exposure rose by around 60% in Mumbai from $2.68 million in 1995 to $4.26 billion in 2015.Cost to Delhi jumped by 135% in the same period to hit $6.39 billion, the study found.
		+
		+	One measure of health and longevity is called “disabilityadjusted life years“ (DALY), representing years lost due to various illness. This measure for illnesses caused by air pollution doubled in Delhi between 1995 and 2015 from 0.34 million to 0.75 million DALY. In Mumbai, that number rose from 0.34 million to 0.51million DALYs in the same period. To keep to current health outcomes in 2030, PM10 levels would have to decline by 44% in Mumbai and 67% in Delhi, the study said.
		+
		+	These estimates are likely to be an undercount of actual costs, mortality and morbidity , said the researchers, since the study looked only at the impact of PM10 and to a lesser extent PM2.5. The IIT study was published recently in the Environmental Science and Pollution Research Journal, and authored by research scholar Maji, IIT Bombay professor Anil Dikshit and Ashok Deshpande from the Berkeley Initiative in Soft Computing, USA. In India, air pollution causes over half a million premature deaths annually and 20 million DALYs, according to WHO.
		+
		+	=The extent of the problem=
		+	== World’s 14 most polluted cities are all in India==
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F05%2F02&entity=Ar00131&sk=A462F978&mode=text  May 2, 2018: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	[[File: The 15 most polluted cities of the world, of which 14 were in India, as in 2016; and the number of India cities among the 15 most polluted in the world, 2010-16.jpg|i) The 15 most polluted cities of the world, of which 14 were in India, as in 2016; and <br/> ii) The number of India cities among the 15 most polluted in the world, 2010-16. <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F05%2F02&entity=Ar00131&sk=A462F978&mode=text  May 2, 2018: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	[[File: 2016- In terms of PM 2.5, the 10 most polluted cities of the world were all in India; Pollution levels in Delhi, 2010-16.jpg|2016: In terms of PM 2.5, the 10 most polluted cities of the world were all in India; <br/> Pollution levels in Delhi, 2010-16. <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F05%2F02&entity=Ar00131&sk=A462F978&mode=text  May 2, 2018: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+
		+	'''WHO Report Says Delhi Air Worst In 6 Yrs'''
		+
		+	Delhi is not the most polluted city in the world. But that’s hardly any reason to cheer. The WHO global air pollution database released in Geneva early Wednesday morning reveals that India has 14 out of the 15 most polluted cities in the world in terms of PM 2.5 concentrations, with the worst being Kanpur.
		+
		+	Despite public outcry over severe air pollution, and both Centre and Delhi government taking up the issue, WHO’s database of more than 4,000 cities in 100 countries shows that Delhi’s pollution levels improved only marginally between 2010 and 2014 but started deteriorating again in 2015.
		+
		+	In 2016, the latest year in WHO’s database, Delhi was in sixth spot, having recorded its highest pollution levels in six years. The city’s PM 2.5 annual average was 143 micrograms per cubic metre, more than three times the national safe standard, while the PM 10 average was 292 micrograms per cubic metre, more than 4.5 times the national standard.
		+
		+	The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had recently claimed that air pollution levels improved in 2017 as compared to 2016. The board, however, hasn’t released the annual average PM 2.5 concentration for 2017 yet.
		+
		+	A number of policies came into effect towards the end of 2016 — the graded response action plan (GRAP) in October, doubling of the environment compensation charge (ECC) on trucks in December 2015 and better coordination among NCR states on pollution control.
		+
		+	The WHO report, however, doesn’t reflect this because it considers annual PM 10 and PM 2.5 averages between 2010 and 2016.
		+
		+
		+	===Delhi unable to keep pace with Beijing in bad-air fight===
		+	Experts Not Sure What Led To Sudden Spike In Delhi Pollution In 2015 And 2016
		+
		+	The data sources for Delhi is mainly from CPCB (about 10 stations), although for the years 2015 and 2016 WHO also considered data from ministry of earth sciences (MoES) and US Environment Protection Agency’s (EPA) Air Now. This may have also influenced the air pollution concentrations for 2015 and 2016, experts said.
		+
		+	Kanpur topped the 2016 list with a PM 2.5 concentration of 173 micrograms per cubic metre, followed by Faridabad, Varanasi and Gaya.
		+
		+	Ironically, as India’s air pollution monitoring network improved in the past few years with more cities being monitored, the number of Indian cities in the top polluters’ list zoomed.
		+
		+	“With improved air quality monitoring, we are beginning to understand the depth and spread of the air pollution problem in India. While Delhi is at the crossroads and is expected to bend the curve post 2016, other pollution hot spots are proliferating across the country,” said Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
		+
		+	“This is a national public health crisis and the newly proposed national clean air action plan has to ensure stringent action in all cities to comply with clean air standards,” Chowdhury said.
		+
		+	In 2010, Delhi was the worst polluted city globally followed by Peshawar and Rawalpindi. Agra was the only other Indian city in the top 10 polluted (PM 2.5) cities, in 2011 too Delhi and Agra were the only two Indian cities and Ulaanbaatar was the worst.
		+
		+	But this started changing 2012 onward when 14 out of top 20 most polluted were in India. In 2013, 2014 and 2015 too, four to seven Indian cities were in top
		+
		+	20. But in the 2016 data released on Wednesday, 14 out of 15 most polluted are in India.
		+
		+	As for Delhi, experts are not sure what may have led to a sudden spike in 2015 and 2016. “In 2015 and 2016, there were northwesterly winds in the crop burning season which brought particulate pollution from neighbouring states. These meteorological factors may have also accentuated air pollution in Delhi," said Dipankar Saha, former CPCB air lab head.
		+
		+	In contrast, many Chinese cities are improving. In 2016 only four Chinese cities —Baoding, Hengshui, Xingtai and Anyang — were in top 20 compared to 14 Chinese cities, including Beijing, in 2013’s top 20.
		+
		+	Delhi and Beijing are often compared due to their high air pollution levels and policies like the odd-even road rationing measure or air pollution emergency action plan. However, WHO’s recent data shows that Beijing’s air pollution levels have been consistently reducing 2013 onwards.
		+
		+	In 2016, Beijing’s PM 2.5 concentration was 73 micrograms per cubic metre compared to Delhi’s 143. “There are cities that have seen a decrease in PM2.5 level, Beijing and Mexico, if you look at the data. China has put a number of measures since 2013, from a National Action Plan of Air pollution Control, enforcement of environmental standards etc,” WHO said, responding to TOI’s questionnaire.
		+
		+	WHO said that 9 out of 10 people in the world breathe air containing high levels of pollutants. “Updated estimations reveal an alarming death toll of 7 million people every year caused by ambient (outdoor) and household air pollution. Ambient air pollution alone caused some 4.2 million deaths in 2016, while household air pollution from cooking with polluting fuels and technologies caused an estimated 3.8 million deaths,” it said.
		+
		+	WHO also highlighted that air pollution is mainly responsible for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), causing an estimated one-quarter (24%) of all adult deaths from heart disease, 25% from stroke, 43% from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 29% from lung cancer.
		+
		+	==2019: ‘Not merely an urban problem’==
		+	[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/and-we-thought-pollution-is-an-urban-problem/articleshow/79109747.cms  Chandrima Banerjee, November 9, 2020: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	[[File: Little difference in pollution levels in urban and rural areas, 2020.jpg|Little difference in pollution levels in urban and rural areas, 2020 <br/> From: [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/and-we-thought-pollution-is-an-urban-problem/articleshow/79109747.cms  Chandrima Banerjee, November 9, 2020: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	[[File: Emissions in rural areas more than double that in urban areas, 2020.jpg|Emissions in rural areas more than double that in urban areas, 2020 <br/> From: [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/and-we-thought-pollution-is-an-urban-problem/articleshow/79109747.cms  Chandrima Banerjee, November 9, 2020: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	[[File: People are dying sooner both in urban and non-urban areas, 2020.jpg|People are dying sooner both in urban and non-urban areas, 2020 <br/> From: [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/and-we-thought-pollution-is-an-urban-problem/articleshow/79109747.cms  Chandrima Banerjee, November 9, 2020: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+
		+	'''Emissions in non-urban areas more than double those in urban ones, exposing 84% across India to unsafe air.'''
		+
		+	People living outside the big cities in India are just as badly hit by air pollution, but they may be far less equipped to reduce the risks. And because there has been little focus on pollution outside urban spaces, 84% of India’s population is exposed to pollution levels much higher than India’s safety standards allow.
		+
		+	The study, ‘Outdoor air pollution in India is not only an urban problem’, was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA earlier this week. The scientists, from Colorado State University and IIT-Bombay, divided the area of study into six zones — Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP), north India, east India, south India, west India and central India — and went over satellite-derived PM2.5 levels at various points over a decade.
		+
		+	“The IGP stands out as the area of highest population-weighted PM2.5 (>100 µg/m3 throughout) and has the largest population density. In this region, the pollution is almost evenly spread across urban and nonurban regions … Even in the other five regions, there is little difference between population-weighted PM2.5 levels between urban and non-urban regions,” the study found.
		+
		+	Southern India, in a 30-50µg/m3 range, had the best air quality in non-urban areas, followed by central India. While pollution over the Indo-Gangetic Plain is double that of the rest of the country, PM2.5 levels in all urban and non-urban areas were above the safe levels in all other five regions as well. “IGP has a high population. It also has many high-polluting industries — coal-powered electricity plants, cement production,” lead author Dr AR Ravishankara told TOI.
		+
		+	The WHO’s guidelines for healthy air set the danger mark at 10µg/m3. By those standards, less than 0.001% (or less than 1 in a lakh) Indians breathe air that is safe, the study found. India’s standards allow for four times more particulate matter in the air (0µg/m3), and even by those, only 16% breathe relatively cleaner air. “Clearly, the non-urban regions in India are being affected by air pollution as much as the more visible urban regions,” the paper said.
		+
		+	So far, understanding of how pollution in one area affects another has been restricted to stubble burning. But that doesn’t take into account the impact at source. “We have shown previously that eastern India is greatly affected by pollution transport from the IGP. It appears that nonurban regions create a significant amount of their own pollution,” the paper said. In fact, emissions in non-urban areas, 53 Tg (teragram)/year (million tons a year), are more than double that in urban areas, 25 Tg/year.
		+
		+	How it works is also different. “In urban areas, the contribution of indoor air pollution to outdoor air pollution is not very large. Transportation, industry, among others, are significant factors,” Ravishankara said. In non-urban areas, it’s exactly the opposite: “The residential energy use is a significant emissions source, primarily due to household cooking with solid fuels in the non-urban areas.”
		+	The impact is the same — people are dying sooner. “The annual premature mortality attributable to PM2.5 for India (urban and nonurban) is 1.05 million,” the study said, linking bad air to six causes of death — ischemic heart disease, stroke, lower respiratory infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and diabetes mellitus type 2.
		+
		+	But non-urban areas are worse placed than urban ones, with even less oversight, limited infrastructure and awareness. “The nonurban population has a lesser ability to reduce their risks because of economic reasons and, thereby, raising equity issues,” the paper said. “Nonurban regions have the further confounding influence of indoor air quality due to the use of solid fuels for cooking in inefficient cookstoves. The inclusion of this impact would only ... enhance the air pollution impacts in nonurban areas relative to urban areas.”
		+
		+	[[Category:Climate|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Development|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Economy-Industry-Resources|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Environment and pollution|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:India|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+
		+	[[Category:Climate|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Development|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Economy-Industry-Resources|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Environment and pollution|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:India|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+
		+	[[Category:Climate|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Development|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Economy-Industry-Resources|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Environment and pollution|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:India|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+
		+	=Fog in North-Central India (UP, Bihar, Bengal, NCR)=
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=UP-Bihar-West-Bengal-see-more-fog-than-06022016018028 ''The Times of India''], Feb 06 2016
		+
		+	Vaishnavi Chandrashekhar
		+
		+	''' UP, Bihar, West Bengal see more fog than NCR '''
		+
		+	When it comes to fog in north India, the large number of flight cancellations helps keep the spotlight irmly on New Delhi. But a new study suggests that the national capital region may not be the area most affected by the phenomenon.
		+	The frequency of fog occurrences has increased in the past 15 years in the eastern parts of the Indo-Gangetic plains -including eastern UP, Bihar, West Bengal, Bang adesh, as well as the Nepal Terai -but not in the western parts including Delhi, according to a satellite data analysis by IIT-Bombay researchers led by Ritesh Gautam.
		+
		+	The new findings are surprising because previous research has shown an increase n fog frequency over Delhi and surrounding areaslinked to a rise in humidity and pol ution. By contrast the new study , which was presented at the American Geophysical Union conference in December, found high year-to-year variability in fog occurrence over the Delhi region --linked to variability in weather conditions --but no longterm rise in the past decadeand-a-half.
		+
		+	Gautam, an assistant pro essor at IIT's centre of studies in resources engineering and climate studies, said the divergence could be because most other studies have relied on visibility measurements.
		+
		+	“When the visibility falls to less than one-km, it is classified as fog,“ he said. “But it might just be polluted haze.“
		+
		+	Satellite data has its own limitations. But Gautam said that the team had also found corroborative trends in surface data from 2000-2015.
		+
		+	The increase in fog over the eastern region coincided with a rise in pollution, the IIT analysis also found. Other studies have also shown a ink between increasing winter-time pollution and fogginess. Pollution particles, especially those known as aerosols, attract water vapour, promoting the formation of fog droplets.
		+
		+	In this case, Gautam suggested that the westerlies -winds flowing from north west of India -transport pol lution eastwards, leading to an accumulation over the eas tern Indo-Gangetic plains.
		+
		+	The findings point to the need for broadening fog study beyond the capital region Gautam said. “Although most of north India experiences fog and pollution in winter the focus is mostly on Delhi,“ said the former Nasa resear cher. “There should be incre ased focus over both urban and rural locations in nort hern India.“
		+
		+	Interestingly , a previous study by Gautam's team fo und holes in the fog cover over Delhi and other cities. This could be due to higher tempe ratures from urban heat is lands, the study suggested.
		+
		+	These studies stem from IIT-Bombay's Fog South Asia initiative (fogsoutha sia.com), a satellite monito ring system for fog detection being developed to aid the go vernment in forecasting and transport management.
		+
		+	The initiative is part of a slew of new efforts to decip her an important yet under studied phenomenon in So uth Asia, including the role played by air pollution.
		+
		+	In December, the Indian Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology started a five-year study of fog in Delhi. The same month, a regional fog study was launched by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), an intergovernmental think-tank based in Kathmandu. The project is being conducted with the collaboration of scientists across India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh.
		+
		+	“The issue of fog is such that it cannot be studied locally and thus needs regional cooperation,“ said Bhupesh Adhikary , air quality specialist at ICIMOD.
		+
		+	The project involves collecting pollution and meteorology data in various locations along with satellite-based data, to understand the chemical science. “At the same time, we are also collecting data in small villages to try to understand the social dimension,“ Adhikary said.
		+
		+	While there is no scientific evidence yet about fog in the Nepal Terai, the public perception is that fog is getting more intense and lasts longer, he added.
		+
		+	“Existing forecasting models are from the US and don't show us the entire picture,“ said Sachin Ghude, the IIT-M coordinator for the Delhi campaign, which plans to collaborate with IIT-Bombay .“The goal,“ he said, “is to improve our understanding and fine-tune our models.“
		+
		+	=Fuels that are cleaner, more efficient=
		+	==2000-19: progress made==
		+	[[File: 2000-19- progress made in Delhi and elsewhere in India towards Euro and BS fuel standards.jpg|2000-19: progress made in Delhi and elsewhere in India towards Euro and BS fuel standards <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F04%2F09&entity=Ar00706&sk=92A09AEF&mode=text  Jasjeev Gandhiok, April 9, 2019: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	'''See graphic''':
		+
		+	''2000-19: progress made in Delhi and elsewhere in India towards Euro and BS fuel standards''
		+
		+
		+	==March 2018/ Delhi, first city in India to run on Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) fuel==
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F03%2F27&entity=Ar00405&sk=00FBD5A0&mode=text  Sanjay Dutta, Delhi quietly becomes first city running on BS-VI fuel, March 27, 2018: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	[[File: BS IV vis-à-vis BS VI and Euro VI explained.jpg|BS IV vis-à-vis BS VI and Euro VI explained <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F03%2F27&entity=Ar00405&sk=00FBD5A0&mode=text  Sanjay Dutta, Delhi quietly becomes first city running on BS-VI fuel, March 27, 2018: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	''Benefit Partial As Engines Yet To Be Upgraded''
		+
		+	If you live in Delhi, you may have felt your car engine running a tad more smoothly of late. The reason is that, unknown to motorists, Delhi has already switched to Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) fuels, ahead of the scheduled April 1 launch for the capital.
		+
		+	State-run fuel retailers have been pushing cleaner petrol and diesel — similar to, but not exactly the same, as Euro-VI fuels — since February to flush supply pipelines and tanks at petrol pumps. Almost all the 397 petrol pumps in the capital are selling BS-VI fuels.
		+
		+	This makes Delhi the first city in the country to run on BS-VI fuels, two years ahead of the 2020 deadline the Centre had set for rolling out cleaner fuels across the country. The decision to jump the deadline for Delhi was taken in November when smoke from burning of crop stubble by farmers in neighbouring states choked the capital. The blame was also put on vehicular emissions, especially from ill-maintained commercial vehicles with old engines crowding the city.
		+
		+	Amid a public outcry over the capital’s poor air quality, oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan stepped in by ordering state-run fuel retailers to supply BS-VI fuels in Delhi from April 1, 2018 and examine introducing these fuels in NCR by April 2019.
		+
		+	Oil company executives claimed that BS-VI fuels will have “better” emission than vehicles running on CNG. But auto experts said introducing BS-VI fuels without the vehicles tuned for such fuels will only yield partial benefit since these will be used by vehicles with BS-IV or BSIII engines plying on Delhi’s roads. Currently, only Mercedes sells BS-VI cars, while the certification process is on for other auto manufacturers.
		+
		+
		+	'''Why using BS-VI fuel in BS-IV engines won’t give you full benefit'''
		+
		+	B S-IV diesel has 50 ppm (parts per million) sulphur, while BS-VI will have 10 ppm. So, using BS-VI fuel in BS-IV engines will not hurt performance but will also not give you the full benefit,” an engineer working with an auto company said requesting anonymity.
		+
		+	The Saumitra Chaudhuri report, the forebearer of fuel quality standards, had in 2014 projected an increase of 70-80 paise per litre — at costs and taxes prevailing then — in the price of cleaner fuels. Dealers told TOI they are yet to hear from the oil companies on whether prices will rise after April 1 or not. But with the daily fuel price revision, oil companies can stagger any upward revision required due to the quality upgrade as it can be subsumed into the routine increase because of global oil prices.
		+
		+	Transport minister Nitin Gadkari had in January 2016 persuaded the government to leapfrog to BS-VI by 2020, skipping the BS-V stage throughout the country.
		+
		+	In November, the Society of Indian Auto Manufacturers (SIAM) had welcomed the move to advance the introduction of BS-VI fuels in Delhi, saying it was in line with international practices where the higher grade of fuel is generally introduced a couple of years before higher emission standards for vehicles kick in.
		+
		+	“Early introduction of BS-VI fuel gives confidence to the auto industry that these will be available across the country from April 1, 2020,” a SIAM statement had quoted its president Abhay Firodia as saying. It could be another story for automakers who may find it difficult to start supplying vehicles with BS-VI engines at such a short notice, should the government pressure them to do so.
		+
		+	Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari had in January 2016 persuaded the government to leapfrog to BS-VI by 2020, skipping the BS-V stage throughout India
		+
		+	=Global ramifications of India’s pollution=
		+	==The Arctic sea/ 2020==
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2021%2F03%2F02&entity=Ar00321&sk=13840C7D&mode=text  Chandrima Banerjee, March 2, 2021: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	Last year, a study found that 75% of aerosol absorption over the Indo-Gangetic plains and the Himalayas comes from black carbon, or soot. It was alarming that pollutants from the plains were reaching all the way to the mountains.
		+
		+	Also last year, the Arctic sea ice shrunk to its lowest in eight years and nearly half of what it was just four decades ago. Every decade, it is losing 13% of its ice.
		+
		+	Scientists have now found what links the two — an 8,500-km expressway that takes soot straight from the heart of north India over central Asia to the icy expanse of the Arctic in just seven days.
		+
		+	A new study by researchers from the Finnish Meteorological Institute, the University of Washington and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Washington DC has found that Asian — specifically, Indo-Gangetic — emissions explain much of the black carbon “events” over the Arctic.
		+
		+
		+	''' Black carbon makes Arctic ice darker, absorb more light '''
		+
		+	It is a combination of high pollution levels at the source and a pathway that does not dilute or remove the atmospheric pollutants before entering the Arctic,” lead author John Backman from the Finnish Meteorological Institute told TOI. “For example, a more direct and drier route would transport more particulate air pollution from A to B compared to a longer route with more precipitation from that very same A to B.”
		+	What black carbon does is it sticks to the surface of ice and turns it darker. The reflective surface, which would under normal circumstances bounce off sunlight, then starts absorbing more light. That sunlight turns into heat, its surface temperature starts increasing and the ice starts melting. “The Arctic is particularly sensitive to changes in surface temperature, and increases in surface temperature are coupled to sea ice extent,” the paper said. “Because black carbon is so destructive for the Arctic climate, it is essential to understand (its) properties, transport to, and concentrations in the Arctic.”
		+
		+	So, data from six stations in the Arctic — Alert, Barrow, Pallas, Summit, Tiksi and Zeppelin — were collected over a period of three years. “A model was used to calculate a path the air had travelled before arriving at the station. This path was calculated backwards in time using meteorological data from another model,” Backman said. “By combining a path the air had travelled with measured concentrations of pollutants we could construct a map showing which levels of pollutants had come from where.”
		+
		+	==2005> 2017==
		+	[[File: The carbon footprints of the people of various countries..jpg| The carbon footprints of the people of various countries. <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/olive/apa/timesofindia/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F09%2F28&id=Ar01001&sk=321015D4&viewMode=image  Sep 28, 2019: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	'''See graphic''':
		+
		+
		+	'' The carbon footprints of the people of various countries. ''
		+
		+	[[Category:Climate|A
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Development|P
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Economy-Industry-Resources|P
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Environment and pollution|A
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:India|P
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Pages with broken file links|AIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+
		+	=Government efforts=
		+	==Government funding==
		+	===2020- 21===
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2020%2F03%2F12&entity=Ar02108&sk=8C6EE4ED&mode=text  Vishwa Mohan, March 12, 2020: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	[[File: City-wise (urban local bodies) break-up of the funding from urban development ministry, 2020- 21.jpg|City-wise (urban local bodies) break-up of the funding from urban development ministry, 2020- 21 <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2020%2F03%2F12&entity=Ar02108&sk=8C6EE4ED&mode=text  Vishwa Mohan, March 12, 2020: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	As the government works on a mechanism to assist big cities in battling air pollution, Mumbai is set get the highest grant of Rs 488 crore from the Centre’s Rs 4,400 crore fund which is earmarked exclusively for cities with more than one million population in states to improve air quality during 2020-21. Delhi may miss this assistance despite figuring among the most polluted cities in the country as the fund would only be meant for ‘million plus’ population cities.
		+
		+	The national capital, will, however continue to get support from the National Clean Air Programme (pollution control scheme) of the environment ministry and other schemes of the agriculture ministry to deal with stubble-burning. Under the pollution control scheme, the environment ministry has, however, been allocated just Rs 460 crore for 122 ‘non-attainment’ cities.
		+
		+	Non-attainment cities are those which do not meet the national ambient air quality standards. At Rs 488 crore, share of Mumbai local body will be higher than the total money (Rs 460 crore) earmarked for the entire NCAP of the environment ministry. Besides NCAP, the Centre has in its budget for 2020-21 allocated Rs 4,400 crore for taking up clean air measures in ‘million plus’ cities.
		+
		+	Forty-two of 50 such cities will get assistance from the fund. After Mumbai, the second highest amount from the urban development ministry’s fund will be allocated to Kolkata (Rs 385 crore).
		+
		+	[[Category:Climate|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Development|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Economy-Industry-Resources|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Environment and pollution|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:India|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+
		+	= Greenhouse gases=
		+	See [[Greenhouse gases: India]]
		+
		+	[[Category:Climate|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Development|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Economy-Industry-Resources|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Environment and pollution|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:India|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+
		+	=Health issues=
		+	==1998> 2018==
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2020%2F07%2F29&entity=Ar00105&sk=5ED9350D&mode=text  Jasjeev Gandhiok, July 29, 2020: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	[[File: Years of life people stand to lose at current pollution levels, 1998-2008.jpg|Years of life people stand to lose at current pollution levels, 1998-2008 <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2020%2F07%2F29&entity=Ar00105&sk=5ED9350D&mode=text  Jasjeev Gandhiok, July 29, 2020: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+	[[File: Worst affected India states, cities, 1998-2008.jpg|Worst affected India states, cities, 1998-2008 <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2020%2F07%2F29&entity=Ar00105&sk=5ED9350D&mode=text  Jasjeev Gandhiok, July 29, 2020: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	India has the second-worst air quality in the world that is cutting short the average life expectancy of Indians by 5.2 years — behind only 6.2 years of Bangladesh residents — with particulate pollution having risen 42% since 1998, says a new analysis.
		+
		+	According to the study by University of Chicago through its Air Quality Life Index that took the 2018 pollution levels as base, the average Delhiite is losing 9.4 years of life. That’s the human cost of the city failing to meet the WHO’s air quality norm. By even meeting the national standard, Delhiites will gain 6.5 years.
		+
		+
		+	''' ‘Fight bad air like you’re fighting Covid’ '''
		+
		+	As many as 84% of Indians live in areas that exceed the country’s own air quality standard — 40 micrograms per cubic metre — and the entire population is exposed to levels that exceed the World Health Organization (WHO) standard of 10 micrograms.
		+
		+	As a result, an average Indian sees her life cut short by more than five years in relation to what it would have been if the WHO standard was met, while it is shortened by 2.3 more years compared to the national standard.
		+
		+	According to the study, a quarter of India’s population is exposed to pollution levels not seen in any other country. Between 1998 and 2018, Indians, on average, lost 1.8 years of their life span, it adds.
		+
		+	The study says 248 million residents of north India are likely to lose more than eight years of life in the current scenario.
		+	Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh has the highest level of pollution in the country — 11 times more than the WHO norm. At this rate, its residents stand to lose 10.3 years of their life.
		+	The findings also indicate that in states like Bihar and West Bengal, people can add more than seven years to their life if air quality meets the WHO guidelines, while the count will be eight years in Haryana.
		+
		+	“Though the threat of novel coronavirus deserves every bit of attention it is receiving, embracing the seriousness of air pollution with a similar vigour will allow billions of people around the world to lead longer and healthier lives,” said Michael Greenstone, the Milton Friedman Distinguished Service Professor in economics and creator of AQLI along with colleagues at Energy Policy Institute at University of Chicago.
		+
		+	“The reality is, no shot in the arm will alleviate air pollution. For a country like India, the solution lies in a robust public policy. AQLI tells citizens and policymakers how particulate pollution is affecting them and their communities and can be used to measure the benefits of policies to reduce pollution,” he added.
		+
		+	==2010, death of 2 people every minute==
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Bad-air-kills-two-Indians-every-minute-20022017001071  `Bad air kills two Indians every minute', Feb 20, 2017: The Times of India]
		+
		+	[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/pollution/patna-delhi-among-most-polluted-cities-report/articleshow/57241014.cms  Feb 20, 2017: The Times of India]
		+
		+
		+	Air pollution is killing two people in India every minute with the country's environment turning more toxic by the day , says a new study published in the journal `The Lancet'. According to the study , some of the worst polluted cities of the world are in India.
		+
		+	The study , released in Feb 2017 but based on 2010 data, week but based on 2010 data, estimates that, globally , 2.73.4 million preterm births may be associated with exposure to PM 2.5. South Asia, with 1.6 million preterm births, is the worst hit, the study adds.
		+
		+	Released by 48 leading scientists, the study adjudged Patna and New Delhi the world's worst polluted cities by levels of PM 2.5, micro particles that can enter the bloodstream and damage the respiratory system.
		+
		+	The study says even safe level of air pollution in harmful
		+
		+	The report also adds that household air pollution that results from use of solid fuels and other biomass contributes to around 4.3 million deaths annually
		+
		+	In the report, Patna and Delhi figure among the most polluted cities, both having an annual PM 2.5 concentration of more than 120 micrograms per cubic metres — about 12 times the WHO guideline. The WHO annual PM 2.5 guideline is 10 micrograms per cubic metres. This IEA report had sourced data from the World Health Organisation (WHO's) urban air quality database of 2016.
		+
		+	"An estimated 18,000 people die every day because of exposure to ambient and household air pollution, making it the world's largest single environmental health risk. Ambient air pollution is particularly pertinent in urban areas, but it also affects non-urban populations," the Lancet Countdown states.
		+	"About 80% of people living in urban areas around the world are exposed to air pollution levels in excess of WHO guidelines. This number rises to 98% for urban populations in low-income and middle-income countries," the countdown states.
		+
		+	The report also adds that household air pollution that results from use of solid fuels and other biomass contributes to around 4.3 million deaths annually, which are related to pneumonia, stroke, lung cancer, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
		+	The Lancet Countdown will report annually in The Lancet journal. The institutions involved in the project includes bodies such as University College London, Tsinghua University and the Centre for Climate & Security among others. They have collaborated with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) too. The report underlines that air pollution and climate change are related and addressing air pollution will have climate change benefits too.
		+
		+	==2012-14: Cases increase, deaths decrease==
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Respiratory-disease-cases-rose-by-5m-since-2012-23092015013034 ''The Times of India''], Sep 23 2015
		+	[[File: Cases and death due to acute respiratory infection, 2001-14.jpg|Cases and death due to acute respiratory infection, 2001-14; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Respiratory-disease-cases-rose-by-5m-since-2012-23092015013034 ''The Times of India''], Sep 23 2015|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	Sushmi Dey
		+
		+	'''Respiratory disease cases rose by 5m since 2012: Govt'''
		+
		+	Air pollution may be posing a rising health risk in India as the number of cases of acute respiratory infection (ARI) have risen by five million since 2012 even though deaths have declined in the same period, government data released on Tuesday evening shows.
		+	Cases of ARI have been rising even before 2012, though deaths began to decline since that year.
		+
		+	The government report notes the strong association between air pollution and respiratory diseases. While ARI cases rose by five million, deaths due to the condition reduced marginally . As many as 2,932 people died due to ARI in 2014, as against 3,513 in the previous year, according to the `National Health Profile 2015' released by health minister J P Nadda. The report's profile stated that air pollution leads to a wide array of health effects, of which ARI “has accounted for the maximum number of cases“ while noting that “over the years, ARI cases are showing an increasing trend“.
		+
		+	The increasing trend in number of ARI cases is clear ly discernible since 2011. The National Health Profile 2015, published by the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI), covers demographic, socio-economic, health status and health finance indicators, along with comprehensive information on health infrastructure and human resources in health.
		+
		+	Around 3.5 crore ARI cases were reported in 2014, out of which 1.7 crore were females and 1.8 crore were men, the data shows. TOI had earlier reported that on an average, more than 2.6 crore cases of ARI were reported in India ev ery year, whereas over 35,000 people died due to the air pollu ion-linked disease in close to 10 years. The data was presented by the environment minis ry to Parliament during the monsoon session this year in a rare official admission that pollution could be causing deaths on a large scale.
		+
		+	However, global studies have attributed far more deaths o air pollution in India. A WHO assessment, reported by TOI in May , showed India and China as worst-hit countries compared to the global average of deaths due to air pollution. It also noted that pollution is sharply increasing in develop ng countries leading to various serious health problems.
		+
		+	In Delhi, close to 3,39,506 ARI cases and 104 deaths were reported in 2014. However, deaths due to the disease in UP and Bengal were much higher, at 619 and 625, respectively.
		+
		+	==2013: 1.4 million lives lost==
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=14m-lives-lost-in-India-due-to-air-09092016013037 ''The Times of India''], Sep 09 2016
		+	[[File: Total deaths from air pollution, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the world.jpg|Total deaths from air pollution, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the world; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=14m-lives-lost-in-India-due-to-air-09092016013037 ''The Times of India''], Sep 09 2016|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	Atul Thakur
		+
		+	'''1.4m lives lost in India due to air pollution in 2013: Study'''
		+
		+	India lost 1.4 million lives to air pollution in 2013, while in China the toll was 1.6 million, estimates a World Bank report released.
		+	The report, released by the World Bank and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, shows that in 2013 more than five million deaths worldwide were attributed to health conditions caused by air pollution. About 60% of them were in the world's two most populous countries.
		+
		+	Exposure to air pollution increases a person's risk of contracting ailments such as lung cancer, stroke, heart disease and chronic bronchitis.
		+
		+	China and India aren't among the worst hit in absolute terms because of the sheer size of their respective populations. Even after adjusting for population, these two countries along with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan were among the 15 nations with the highest toll per million population.
		+
		+	China and India ranked 4th and 6th worst in the world respectively . Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan were ranked 11th, 12th and 15th on this count.
		+
		+	The bank estimates that in 2013 Georgia saw the highest rate of air pollution deaths per million of its population at 2,117. It was fol lowed by Cambodia with a death rate of 1,300 per million.
		+
		+	Among the 142 countries for which the bank complied this data, there were 10 where the rate was higher than 1,000 deaths per million. Australia fared best on this parameter with an estimated death rate of 34 per million.
		+
		+	The report also estimat ed that air pollution cost the world economy more than $5 trillion -purchasing power parities (PPP) at 2011 prices -in welfare losses and an additional $66 billion worth of manpower loss.
		+
		+	China's overall welfare and manpower loss was $1.6 trillion while India lost more than $560 billion, which was equivalent to over 10% of China's and 8.5% of India's GDP .
		+
		+	Air pollution is estimated to be the fourth leading fatal health risk worldwide after metabolic risks, dietary risks and tobacco smoke. The estimates are based on exposure to PM2.5 pollutants. It is noticeable in the report that the risks are much higher in the developing world.
		+
		+	By damaging people's health and causing fatal diseases, air pollution can have a lasting effect on a person's economic productivity .
		+
		+	Experts argue that typically the economically weakest section is the worst hit because of limited access to health care facilities. Thus, exposure to bad air quality and other risks will ultimately widen the existing economic inequalities, they say.
		+
		+	==2013-14: Report "Hidden Price Tags/ impact on health"==
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Study-Health-costs-of-pollution-in-India-8-02082017021016  Jayashree Nandi, Study: Health costs of pollution in India 8 times of govt's fuel subsidy , August 2, 2017: The Times of India]
		+
		+	[[File: Fossil fuel subsidies and premature deaths from air pollution, India and the world.jpg|Fossil fuel subsidies and premature deaths from air pollution, India and the world; [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Study-Health-costs-of-pollution-in-India-8-02082017021016  Jayashree Nandi, Study: Health costs of pollution in India 8 times of govt's fuel subsidy , August 2, 2017: The Times of India]|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	''' Cost To Fight Such Diseases Stands At Rs 141 Billion: Report '''
		+
		+	India spent $16.9 billion on oil, gas and coal subsidies in 2013 and 2014 but the health costs to meet the burden of air pollution-linked diseases was eight times more at $140.7 billion, says a report by an European environmental non-profit organisation.
		+
		+	The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) assessed the spending of seven economically powerful countries on fossil fuel subsidies, and the health costs associated with fossil fuel subsidies.
		+
		+	The report, `Hidden Price Tags', said India can provide 375 million households with solar lamps or train nearly 32,000 extra doctors for rural areas with its annual spend on fossil fuels subsidies. This was assessed considering that each solar lamp costs about $22.5 and the recent estimate of All India Institute of Medical Science which put the cost of training a doctor at Rs 1.7 crore. The subsidy amount could fund 24% of the total money needed to implement healthcare coverage for all Indians, the report suggests.
		+
		+	Making a case for spending fossil fuel subsidy money on public health instead, the report released on Thursday claimed that G20 governments spent about $444 billion in subsidies to fossil fuel companies in 2014, but the health costs of these subsidies in the form of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, as well as premature deaths, were as high as $2.76 trillion, six times the subsidy amount.
		+
		+	The report calls for reallocation of fossil fuel subsidies because they increase the price gap between fossil fuels and renewables, which makes fossil fuels seem cheaper and discourages investment in green energy .
		+
		+	HEAL has used a combination of data provided by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and Oil Change International (OCI) to arrive at their findings. For subsidy estimates, data from ODI and OCI were used for 2013 and 2014, which includes national subsidies delivered through direct spending and tax breaks, investments by state owned enterprises and public finance from government owned banks.
		+
		+	On India's spending on fossil fuel subsidies, researchers from the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), who drafted the India chapter, noted that two-thirds of electricity in India continues to be generated from coal, one of the biggest contributors to air pollution. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and kerosene were also subsidised.
		+
		+	The report said not all fossil fuels are bad. In fact, LPG has significant health benefits when used to substitute biomass or coal as cooking fuel.“About 400 million households have been helped to make the switch from burning solid fuels to the healthier LPG option with the help of subsidy schemes since 1980.
		+
		+	But population growth has resulted in over two-thirds of households burning highly carbon-emitting biomass fuels for cooking with resulting health impacts,“ the report states. That India has ambitious renewable energy targets of meeting over 50% of installed power capacity with renewable energy by 2027 is encouraging, authors said.
		+
		+	On kerosene, the authors noted that “as much as half of the subsidised kerosene is simply sold on the black market since it can be used in diesel engines.“ Kerosene is “poor man's fuel“ used by millions of households in rural India to meet basic lighting needs. Government subsidies make the fuel more affordable.They said kerosene smoke is rich in black carbon and kerosene poisoning among children remains a concern.
		+	China spent about $96.5 billion on fossil fuel subsidies and its associated health costs are $1,785.4 billion, 19 times the subsidy amount.
		+
		+	==2015: Pollution killed 2.5m people in India==
		+	[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/pollution/study-world-pollution-deadlier-than-wars-disasters-hunger/articleshow/61149195.cms  Oct 21, 2017: The Times of India]
	'''HIGHLIGHTS'''		'''HIGHLIGHTS'''
−	No need for central govt employees to visit banks to start pension.	+	Environmental pollution is killing more people every year than all war and violence in the world.
−	The copy of the pension payment order will be handed over to them at the time of retirement.	+	One out of every six premature deaths in the world in 2015 — about 9 million — could be attributed to disease from toxic exposure.
−	There are about 48 lakh central government employees and about 53 lakh pensioners.	+	The greatest numbers of deaths linked to pollution in 2015 were in India with 2.5 million, and China with 1.8 million.
		+	NEW DELHI: Environmental pollution — from filthy air to contaminated water — is killing more people every year than all war and violence in the world. More than smoking, hunger or natural disasters. More than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined.
−	There is no need for central government employees to visit banks to start pension as their copy of the Pension Payment Order (PPO) will be handed over to them at the time of retirement, the Personnel Ministry has said.	+	One out of every six premature deaths in the world in 2015 — about 9 million — could be attributed to disease from toxic exposure, according to a major study released on Thursday in The Lancet medical journal. The financial cost from pollution-related death, sickness and welfare is equally massive, the report says, costing some $4.6 trillion in annual losses — or about 6.2 percent of the global economy.
−	Citing existing rules in this regard, the ministry, in a recent order issued to all central government departments, has said, "The pensioner is no longer required to visit the bank to activate the first payment of pension."	+	"There's been a lot of study of pollution, but it's never received the resources or level of attention as, say, AIDS or climate change," said epidemiologist Philip Landrigan, dean of global health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, and the lead author on the report.
−	The rules also provide for an undertaking to be submitted by the retiring government servants or pensioners to the disbursing banks before the commencement of their pensions.	+	The report marks the first attempt to pull together data on disease and death caused by all forms of pollution combined.
−	After ascertaining that the bank's copy (of PPO) has been dispatched by the Central Pension Accounting Office, the pensioner's copy is to be handed over to him at the time of retirement along with other retirement dues, the order said.	+	"Pollution is a massive problem that people aren't seeing because they're looking at scattered bits of it," Landrigan said.
		+	The study found pollution was linked to around nine million deaths in 2015.
−	An employee posted at a location away from the head of office, or who for any other reasons feels that it would be more convenient to him to obtain his copy of the PPO from the bank, may inform the head of office of his option in writing while submitting his pension papers, it said.	+	Dirty air - caused by everything from transport and industry to indoor fires - was the biggest contributor linked to 6.5 million deaths, it said.
		+	The next biggest was polluted water that spread gastrointestinal diseases and parasitic infections and killed 1.8 million people.
−	In the recent past, many instances have come to the notice wherein the pensioner's copy of the PPO had not been handed over to him/her and instead had been sent to the bank and was lost in transit sometimes, thereby causing hardship to the pensioner, the order issued on August 1, said.	+	The greatest numbers of deaths linked to pollution in that year were in India with 2.5 million, and China with 1.8 million.
−	In view of these, all ministries/departments are once again requested to strictly follow the procedure henceforth and hand over the copy of the PPO to the pensioner at the time of retirement along with other retirement dues, except if the pensioner specifically requests for delivering his/her copy of the PPO through the bank, it said.	+	Several other countries such Bangladesh, Pakistan, North Korea, South Sudan and Haiti also see nearly a fifth of their premature deaths caused by pollution.
−	Top Comment	+
−	modi is taking decision on evry small and imp thing. amazing administartion. thanks PM	+	Areas like Sub-Saharan Africa have yet to even set up air pollution monitoring systems. Soil pollution has received scant attention. And there are still plenty of potential toxins still being ignored, with less than half of the 5,000 new chemicals widely dispersed throughout the environment since 1950 having been tested for safety or toxicity.
−	Singh Pankaj	+
−	There are about 48 lakh central government employees and about 53 lakh pensioners.	+	To reach its figures, the study's authors used methods outlined by the US Environmental Protection Agency for assessing field data from soil tests, as well as with air and water pollution data from the Global Burden of Disease, an ongoing study run by institutions including the World Health Organization and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.
−	The pension gets delayed either due to the delay in receipt of intimation by the pensioner that relevant papers have reached the bank or because of delay on the part of the pensioner in approaching the bank for submission of undertaking, the personnel ministry had said in one of its earlier orders.	+
−	=Polygamy =	+	Even the conservative estimate of 9 million pollution related deaths+ is one-and-a-half times higher than the number of people killed by smoking, three times the number killed by AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined, more than six times the number killed in road accidents, and 15 times the number killed in war or other forms of violence, according to GBD tallies.
		+	It is most often the world's poorest who suffer. The vast majority of pollution-related deaths — 92 percent — occur in low- or middle-income developing countries, where policy makers are chiefly concerned with developing their economies, lifting people out of poverty and building basic infrastructure, the study found. Environmental regulations in those countries tend to be weaker, and industries lean on outdated technologies and dirtier fuels.
−	[http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?skin=pastissues2&enter=LowLevel From the archives of '' The Times of India '' 2007, 2009] 2010	+	In wealthier countries where overall pollution is not as rampant, it is still the poorest communities that are more often exposed, the report says.
−	''' OK to sack Muslim cop for having 2 wives: SC '''	+	"What people don't realize is that pollution does damage to economies. People who are sick or dead cannot contribute to the economy. They need to be looked after," said Richard Fuller, head of the global toxic watchdog Pure Earth and one of the 47 scientists, policy makers and public health experts who contributed to the 51-page report.
−	TIMES NEWS NETWORK	+	"There is this myth that finance ministers still live by, that you have to let industry pollute or else you won't develop, he said. "It just isn't true."
−	New Delhi: After 23 years in court, a Muslim constable’s plea that he did not fall afoul of a bigamy charge as this was permissible in his religion, has been decisively quashed by Supreme Court which dismissed his special leave petition against a high court ruling.	+	The report cites EPA research showing that the US has gained some $30 in benefits for every dollar spent on controlling air pollution since 1970, when Congress enacted the Clean Air Act, one of the world's most ambitious environmental laws. Removing lead from gasoline has earned the US economy another $6 trillion cumulatively since 1980, according to studies by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
−	The SC decision not to entertain the petition clearly establishes that those in government jobs cannot get around service rules that stipulate dismissal from service for bigamous employees. The SC said that religion-based personal laws cannot be invoked to prevent government rules from being enforced.	+	Some experts cautioned, however, that the report's economic message was murky. Reducing the pollution quantified in the report might impact production, and so would not likely translate into gains equal to the $4.6 trillion in economic losses.
−	Former Rajasthan police constable, Liyakat Ali challenged the termination of his services under the Rajasthan Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1971, banning second marriage without divorcing the first wife.	+	The report "highlights the social and economic justice of this issue," said Marc Jeuland, associate professor with the Sanford School of Public Policy and the Duke Global Health Institute at Duke University, who was not involved in the study.
−	The Supreme Court upheld the HC ruling against Ali on the ground that he had contracted a second marriage without divorcing his first wife. Ali contended that Muslim personal law did not prohibit a second marriage even as the relation with the first wife remained legally binding.	+	Without more concrete evidence for how specific policies might lead to economic gains, "policy makers will often find it difficult to take action, and this report thus only goes part way in making the case for action," he said.
−	==Cop’s first marriage not annulled ==	+	Jeuland also noted that, while the report counts mortality by each pollutant, there are possible overlaps — for example, someone exposed to both air pollution and water contamination — and actions to address one pollutant may not reduce mortality.
−	New Delhi: The former Rajasthan constable, who was dismissed from service on a bigamy charge had taken a plea that he had divorced his first wife before contracting the marriage with Maksuda. However, the inquiry reportedly revealed that the first marriage had not been annulled when he married for the second time.	+	"People should be careful not to extrapolate from the US numbers on net (economic) benefits, because the net effects of pollution control will not be equivalent across locations," he said.
−	The law did not mandate taking permission of the government and Liyakat Ali married Maksuda Khatun without divorcing his first wife Farida Khatun.	+	The study's conclusions on the economic cost of pollution measure lost productivity and health care costs, while also considering studies measuring people's "willingness to pay" to reduce the probability of dying. While these types of studies yield estimates at best, they are used by many governments and economists trying to understand how societies value individual lives.
		+	While there has never been an international declaration on pollution, the topic is gaining traction.
−	On January 25, an apex court bench comprising Justices V S Sirpurkar and Aftab Alam dismissed Ali’s appeal against the HC judgment prima facie accepting the stand of the Rajasthan government that the 1971 rules were applicable to all government servants, irrespective of the religion, to enforce strict discipline.	+	The World Bank in April declared that reducing pollution, in all forms, would now be a global priority. And in December, the United Nations will host its first-ever conference on the topic of pollution.
−	=Prosecution=	+	"The relationship between pollution and poverty is very clear," said Ernesto Sanchez-Triana, lead environmental specialist at the World Bank. "And controlling pollution would help us address many other problems, from climate change to malnutrition. The linkages can't be ignored."
−	==Sanction (prior) for probe into corruption allegations==	+
−	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=HC-No-need-for-govt-nod-to-probe-03072016010044 The Times of India], Jul 03 2016	+
−	A Subramani	+	==2015: Deaths attributable to air pollution, India and the world==
		+	'''See graphic: '''
		+
		+	''Deaths per 100,000 people attributable to pollution, 2015''
		+
		+	[[File: Deaths per 100,000 people attributable to pollution, 2015.jpg|Deaths per 100,000 people attributable to pollution, 2015 <br/> From: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=INDOOR-POLLUTON-BIGGER-KILLER-THAN-FOUL-WATER-24102017028015 The Times of India], October 24, 2017|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	== India accounts for 75% of air pollution casualties in SE Asia==
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=India-accounts-for-75-of-air-pollution-casualties-28092016028024 Sushmi Dey, `India accounts for 75% of air pollution casualties in SE Asia',  Sep 28 2016 : The Times of India]
		+
		+	Nine out of 10 people in the world are breathing poor quality air, a new report by the World Health Organisation said calling on countries to take action against air pollution which is causing over six million deaths a year globally .With the use of new interactive maps, the UN agency found 92% of the world's population living in places where air quality levels exceed WHO limits.
		+
		+	India accounts for 75% of the 8 lakh air-pollution related deaths annually in the South East Asia Region, whereas 90% of the world's casualties from poor air quality are in low-and middle-income countries, the maps show identifying specific areas where pollution levels are extremely high.
		+
		+	The UN agency's report said 94% of the pollution-related deaths in lowand middle-income countries are due to non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular diseases, stroke, chronic obstructi ve pulmonary disease, lung cancer. Air pollution also increases the risks for acute respiratory infections.
		+
		+	Over 6 lakh people die in In dia every year of ailments caused from air pollution such as acute lower respiratory infection, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, ischemic heart disease and lung cancer.
		+
		+	The report represents the most detailed outdoor (or ambient) air pollution-related health data, by country , ever reported by WHO. The model is based on data derived from satellite measurements, air transport models and ground station monitors for more than 3000 locations, both rural and urban. It was developed by WHO in collaboration with the University of Bath in UK.
		+
		+	According to the report, the problem of air pollution is most acute in cities, but air in rural areas is worse than many think and poorer countries have much dirtier air than the developed world, it said.
		+
		+	== Air pollution and premature deaths==
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Bad-air-killing-more-than-expected-in-India-03122016002031  Bad air killing more than expected in India, China: Greenpeace report, Dec 03 2016 : The Times of India]
		+	[[File: The inverse relationship between air pollution and GDP per capita.jpg| The inverse relationship between deaths due to air pollution and GDP per capita, presumably in 2015, in Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Myanmar, Pakistan and other select  countries |frame|500px]]
		+
		+
		+	As countries become richer, air pollution-related deaths reduce. This is the general trend for most nations except India and China, a report released by Greenpeace has found. The study , which assesses the GDP per capita versus deaths resulting from toxic air, revealed India and China had higher death rates than what is expected of countries with similar per capita GDP .
		+
		+	The report states that air pollution may have caused 1.6 million additional deaths than a projected death number based on GDP growth rate for 2015 in India and China collectively .The report sources the number of such deaths from the Global Burden of Disease report and GDP per capita estimations for all countries from a recent World Bank document.
		+
		+	“Usually , air pollution has an inverse relationship with the GDP . As countries become richer, they generally develop less polluting industries. But in India and China, the trend has been quite the opposite. An economy heavily reliant on coal can only spell doom for its people,“ said Lauri Myllyvirta of Greenpeace East Asia.
		+
		+	Although air pollution death rates have fallen in China and India since 1990, they are still worse than most similar countries. In India, rates have not improved since 2010. In 2015, pollution claimed 138 and 115 lives per 1 lakh people in India and China, respectively .
		+
		+	According to its GDP per capita, the expected death rate in India is 94 per lakh but its death rate remains 138. “So, unlike China, it hasn't yet reached an income level where its air pollution death rate could be expected to be similar to that in rich nations. But in both cases, there is potential for significant improvements in air pollution death rates,“ said Sunil Dahiya of Greenpeace India.
		+
		+	==2016: India tops in under-5 deaths due to toxic air, 60,000 killed==
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F10%2F30&entity=Ar01216&sk=C2E6521A&mode=text  Sushmi Dey, India tops in under-5 deaths due to toxic air, 60,000 killed in 2016: WHO, October 30, 2018: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	[[File: The impact of Air pollution on the health of people in India and the world- 2016.jpg|The impact of Air pollution on the health of people in India and the world- 2016 <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F10%2F30&entity=Ar01216&sk=C2E6521A&mode=text  Sushmi Dey, India tops in under-5 deaths due to toxic air, 60,000 killed in 2016: WHO, October 30, 2018: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	'' ‘Air Pollution Killed Over 1L Children In ’16’ ''
		+
		+	India’s toxic air has been linked to the premature deaths of close to 1,10,000 children in 2016, with the country witnessing highest number of deaths of children under five years of age attributed to their exposure to ambient air pollution of particulate matter (PM) 2.5, said a World Health Organisation (WHO) report released on the eve of the first-ever conference on air pollution and health.
		+
		+	As many as 60,987 children of under five years of age in India died because of their exposure to PM 2.5, followed by Nigeria with 47,674 deaths, Pakistan with 21,136 deaths and Democratic Republic of Congo with 12,890 deaths.
		+
		+	In India, the death rate for this age bracket is 50.8 per 1,00,000 children with more girls under the age of five dying than boys due to pollution. About 32,889 girls died, compared to 28,097 boys in 2016, according to the report.
		+
		+	Between five and 14 years, India saw the deaths of 4,360 children attributed to ambient air pollution in 2016. Across both these age groups, over 1 lakh children died in India due to both ambient and household pollution of particulate matter 2.5 in 2016. Particulate matter 2.5 orPM 2.5 are fine dust particles in air which are considered highly harmful for health.
		+
		+	The report, titled ‘Air Pollution and Child Health – Prescribing clean air’, seeks to caution against the rising levels of pollution causing growing burden of diseases as well as deaths.
		+
		+	Over 2 million deaths occur prematurely in India due to pollution, accounting for 25% of the global deaths due to air pollution.
		+
		+	Globally, every day around 93% of children under the age of 15 years (1.8 billion children) breathe air that is so polluted it puts their health and development at serious risk. WHO estimates that in 2016, 6,00,000 children died from acute lower respiratory infections caused by polluted air.
		+
		+	While in low and middle income countries, 98% of children under five are said to be exposed to PM 2.5, in high income countries, this number is almost half at 52%. The report also highlights adverse impact of pollution on pregnant women and children. Pregnant women, exposed to polluted air, are more likely to give birth prematurely, and have small, low birth-weight children, the report says.
		+
		+	“Air pollution is stunting our children’s brains, affecting their health in more ways than we suspected,” said Dr Maria Neira, director, department of public health, environmental and social determinants of health at WHO.
		+
		+	==2017: Rate of death higher in India than China==
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Deaths-due-to-air-pollution-rising-faster-in-15022017001018  Vishwa Mohan, Feb 15, 2017: The Times of India]
		+
		+
		+	'''Country Can't Continue In Denial: Experts'''
		+
		+
		+	India has been in denial mode on linking premature deaths to air pollution in the absence of conclusive data, but a new comprehensive global report by two US-based institutes may now trigger a rethink. The report claims the country's worsening air pollution caused some 1.1 million premature deaths in 2015 and it now rivals China in having among the highest air pollution health burdens in the world.
		+
		+	The State of Global Air 2017 report, released in Boston, claims longterm exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) -the most significant element of air pollution -contributed to 4.2 million premature deaths in the world in 2015 where both India and China to gether were responsible for over half of the total global deaths. Though the report sounds alarm bells for entire Asia, it paints a particlularly grim picture for India where the rate of increase of premature deaths due to air pollution is even higher than in China. It noted that while the early deaths related to PM2.5 in China has increased by 17.22% since 1990, it has increased by 48% in India.
		+
		+	Ozone-related early deaths in India are, in fact, 33% higher than those recorded for China. India's deepening pollution problem, which hit home with a vengeance after Diwali last year as Delhi and NCR woke up enveloped in smog that refused to lift for days, has a death toll second only to China's, and together the two nations acount for over half the world's deaths from pollution.
		+
		+	According to the State of Global Air 2017 report, released in Boston, as many as 2.54 lakh deaths occurred in 2015 on account of exposure to ozone and its impact on chronic lung disease.India accounts for the highest number of premature deaths due to ozone pollution, its toll 13 times higher than Bangladesh's, and 21 times higher than Pakistan's.
		+
		+	An interactive website on the report also highlights that 92% of the world's population lives in areas with unhealthy air. “We are seeing increasing air pollution problems worldwide, and this new report and website details why that air pollution is a major contributor to early death,“ said Dan Greenbaum, president of the Health Effects Institute (HEI), the research institute that designed and carried out the study . He said, “The trends we report show that we have seen progress in some parts of the world, but serious challenges remain“.
		+
		+	The report was prepared by HEI in cooperation with the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington and the University of British Columbia. Involving more than 2,000 researchers, the report factored in the role of an extensive set of behavioural, dietary and environmental risk factors for more than 300 diseases in 195 countries from 1990 onwards.
		+
		+	Referring to the findings of the report, Anumita Roychowdhury of the Centre for Science and Environment, said, “India can't afford to remain complacent or in denial. With so many people dying early and falling ill... due to particulate and ozone pollution, it is a state of health emergency . This demands nationwide intervention to ensure stringent mitigation and a roadmap to meet clean air standards“.
		+
		+	==2017/ Air pollution shortened lifespan by 30 months==
		+	[https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/over-12m-early-deaths-in-india-in-2017-due-to-air-pollution-report/article26719117.ece  Bindu Shajan Perappadan, April 4, 2019: ''The Hindu'']
		+
		+	''In India, air pollution is the third-highest cause of death among all health risks: report''
		+
		+	[[File: Contribution of major risk factors to loss of life expectancy, 2017.jpg|Contribution of major risk factors to loss of life expectancy, 2017 <br/> From: [https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/over-12m-early-deaths-in-india-in-2017-due-to-air-pollution-report/article26719117.ece  Bindu Shajan Perappadan, April 4, 2019: ''The Hindu'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+
		+	Overall, long-term exposure to outdoor and indoor air pollution contributed to nearly 5 million deaths from stroke, diabetes, heart attack, lung cancer, and chronic lung disease in 2017.
		+
		+	The current high level of air pollution has shortened the average lifespan of a South Asian child by two-and-a-half years while globally the reduction stands at 20 months, according to a global study released on Wednesday.
		+
		+	State of Global Air 2019, published by Health Effects Institute (HEI), said exposure to outdoor and indoor air pollution contributed to over 1.2 million deaths in India in 2017. The report added that worldwide, air pollution was responsible for more deaths than many better-known risk factors such as malnutrition, alcohol abuse and physical inactivity.
		+
		+	In India, air pollution is the third-highest cause of death among all health risks, ranking just above smoking; each year, more people globally die from air pollution related disease than from road traffic injuries or malaria.
		+
		+
		+	'''In China and India'''
		+
		+	The study found that China and India together were responsible for over half of the total global attributable deaths, with each country witnessing over 1.2 million deaths from all air pollution in 2017. China has made initial progress, beginning to achieve air-pollution decline.
		+
		+	Overall, long-term exposure to outdoor and indoor air pollution contributed to nearly 5 million deaths from stroke, diabetes, heart attack, lung cancer, and chronic lung disease in 2017.
		+
		+	Out of these, 3 million deaths are directly attributed to PM2.5, half of which are from India and China together. The South Asian region — Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan — led the world as the most polluted, with over 1.5 million air-pollution related deaths according to the report.
		+
		+
		+	'''‘Steps taken in India’'''
		+
		+	“At the same time, India has initiated major steps to address pollution sources: the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana Household LPG program, accelerated Bharat Stage 6/VI clean vehicle standards, and the new National Clean Air Programme. These and future initiatives have the potential, if fully implemented as part of a sustained commitment to air quality, to result in significant health benefits in coming years,” said Robert O’Keefe, vice president, Health Effects Institute.
		+
		+	Meanwhile, for the first time, this year’s report and website include worldwide estimates of the effect of air pollution on life expectancy.
		+
		+	Worldwide, air pollution reduced life expectancy by an average of 20 months in 2017, a global impact rivaling that of smoking; this means a child born today will die 20 months sooner, on average, than would be expected without air pollution.
		+
		+	The report also highlighted that nearly half of the world’s population — a total of 3.6 billion people — were exposed to household air pollution in 2017. Globally, there has been progress: the proportion of people cooking with solid fuels has declined as economies develop.
		+
		+	But in India, 60% of the population still uses solid fuels; in Bangladesh that number rises to 79%, underscoring the importance of achieving success in government initiatives to address the problem.
		+
		+	The State of Global Air 2019 annual report and accompanying interactive website are designed and implemented by the Health Effects Institute in cooperation with the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Texas, Austin.
		+
		+	==2017:  India, China had 50% of foul air deaths==
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F04%2F03&entity=Ar01305&sk=3C81D31C&mode=text  Sushmi Dey, At 2.5m, India & China had 50% of world foul air deaths, April 3, 2019: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	[[File: Types of health-harming air pollution in India and the world..jpg|Types of health: harming air pollution in India and the world. <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F04%2F03&entity=Ar01305&sk=3C81D31C&mode=text  Sushmi Dey, At 2.5m, India & China had 50% of world foul air deaths, April 3, 2019: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+
		+	Even as India and China together accounted for over 50% of the total 5 million deaths globally from air pollution in 2017, both countries have initiated significant steps to address the problem that now causes more disease burden than smoking, says a new report on global air pollution by two US-based institutes — Health Effects Institute and Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.
		+
		+	Each of the two countries — India and China — registered over 1.2 million deaths in 2017 from air pollution — which includes ambient as well as household air pollution.
		+
		+	On an average, the study — titled State of Global Air 2019 — reported that the life of a south Asian child born today will be shortened by two years and six months (over two years) growing up in prevailing high levels of air pollution.
		+
		+	In India, air pollution is the third highest cause of death among all health risks, ranking just above smoking. Worldwide, air pollution is responsible for more deaths than other risk factors such as malnutrition, alcohol use, and physical inactivity.
		+
		+	While around 82% of the disease burden attributable to air pollution stems from chronic non-communicable diseases, it also contributes to communicable disease.
		+
		+	In 2017, India recorded 6,73,000 deaths and a loss of 21.3 million disability adjusted life years (DALYs) due to long term exposure to ambient air pollution less than the minimal level, whereas 8,52,000 Chinese died of it the same year and had 19.8 million DALYs. Together, the two countries accounted for 52% of the nearly 3 million global deaths and 50% of the DALYs from exposure to ambient air pollution, .
		+
		+	The report states that while China has made initial progress with slight decline in pollution levels, India has initiated major steps to address pollution sources.
		+
		+	It listed the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana Household LPG programme, accelerated Bharat Stage 6/VI clean vehicle standards, and the new National Clean Air Programme as some of the steps initiated by the government to reduce both outdoor and household air pollution.
		+
		+	==2017-18: Air pollution causes 1 death in 8==
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F12%2F07&entity=Ar00310&sk=8FBE0597&mode=text  Sushmi Dey, Air pollution causes 1 in 8 deaths in India: Report, December 7, 2018: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	[[File: Impact of air pollution on health; The worst-hit countries; The worst affected states.jpg|Impact of air pollution on health; The worst-hit countries; The worst affected states <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F12%2F07&entity=Ar00310&sk=8FBE0597&mode=text  Sushmi Dey, Air pollution causes 1 in 8 deaths in India: Report, December 7, 2018: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+
		+	'' ‘Deadlier Than Smoking In Causing Illness’ ''
		+
		+	One in every eight deaths in India is attributable to air pollution, which now contributes to a bigger disease burden than smoking.
		+
		+	In fact, the average life expectancy in India would have been 1.7 years higher if the air pollution level was less than the minimum level, show the first comprehensive estimates of deaths, disease burden and life expectancy reduction associated with air pollution in each state of India, released by Indian Council of Medical Research on Thursday.
		+
		+	Around 77% of India’s population is exposed to outdoor air pollution levels above National Ambient Air Quality Standards safe limit, the report says. States in east and north India had some of the highest levels of ambient particulate matter and household air pollution, especially Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand. Delhi, Haryana and Punjab had some of the highest ambient particulate matter pollution exposure.
		+
		+	==2017, 2019==
		+	[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/pollution-deaths-in-india-rose-to-1-67-million-in-2019-lancet/articleshow/79872184.cms  Sushmi Dey, December 23, 2020: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	‘Pollution killed 1.7m in India in 2019, behind 18% of all deaths’
		+
		+	NEW DELHI: Air pollution killed nearly 1.7 million people in India in 2019, accounting for an alarming 17.8% of all deaths in the country in the year, a new paper written as a collaborative effort by Indian institutions that include ICMR has said.
		+
		+	The economic loss due to lost output from premature deaths and disease caused by pollution last year was estimated at around Rs 2.6 lakh crore, nearly 1.4% of gross domestic product (GDP) with Delhi suffering the highest per capita loss, followed by Haryana. The health and economic losses are higher than previously estimated.
		+
		+	The study was conducted by the India State-Level Disease Burden Initiativs a collaborative effort involving over 300 researchers from institutions like ICMR, Public Health Foundation of India, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and others and assumes significance as it provides data from across different states for policy-makers. The findings show the per capita economic loss due to air pollution was generally higher in states with high per capita GDP.
		+
		+	“This scientific paper presents the latest evidence on air pollution in India, translating health loss to economic impact. The paper provides a robust assessment of the current situation in each state, and highlights that augmenting the existing air pollution control efforts based on the specific situation of each state would be useful. Air pollution and its impact is not a matter for the health sector alone, and the solutions lie in a multi-sectoral approach,” Niti Aayog member-health Dr VK Paul said.
		+
		+	The economic loss due to premature deaths and illness attributable to air pollution — outdoor and household — as a percentage of state GDP was 1.08% in Delhi. The highest loss to GDP was recorded by Uttar Pradesh at nearly 2.6% followed by Bihar at 1.9% and Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan 1.7% each.
		+
		+	When it comes to impact of outdoor air pollution alone on state GDP, Delhi recorded a loss of 1.06%. UP still recorded the highest loss to GDP at just over 1.3% followed by Punjab at 1.2%.
		+
		+	Overall, deaths and diseases caused by air pollution are linked to loss of almost 1.4% of India’s GDP, the study shows. While 40% of the disease burden due to air pollution is from lung diseases, the remaining 60% is from ischaemic heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and neonatal deaths related to pre-term birth. While household air pollution is decreasing in India resulting in 64% reduction in the death rate per 1,00,000 population attributable to it from 1990 to 2019, the death rate from outdoor air pollution has increased during this period by 115%.
		+
		+	PHFI’s Lalit Dandona, who is also director of the India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative, said, “Improved methods in this paper have led to a higher estimate of the impact of air pollution on health and disease in India than previously estimated. The health and economic impact of air pollution is highest in the less developed states of India, an inequity that should be addressed.”
		+
		+	He added, “India has many initiatives to reduce air pollution, which can benefit further from the state-specific insights provided in this paper. Investing further in air pollution control will more than return that investment in terms of better health and economic development in India.”
		+
		+	=== Economic loss===
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2020%2F12%2F23&entity=Ar01013&sk=92113E57&mode=text  December 23, 2020: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	Delhi’s per-capita loss due to bad air highest in country, finds study
		+
		+	New Delhi:
		+
		+	Delhi suffered the highest per-capita economic loss due to air pollution last year, according to a study in medical journal Lancet.
		+
		+	For years, northern India — especially New Delhi — has been battling critical levels of air pollution, which have remained consistently in the hazardous mark, for many days at a stretch, during winters. This air pollution has already taken a big toll on the health of the citizens and rattled the government, forcing it to devise new governance mechanism to address the menace of pollution in the capital.
		+
		+	The study said the economic loss due to lost output from premature deaths and morbidity from air pollution was 1.36% of the GDP in India in 2019. In Delhi, the loss due to lost output from premature deaths and illness attributable to air pollution as a percentage of state GDP was 1.06%.
		+
		+	Uttar Pradesh recorded highest loss to GDP at 1.34%, followed by Punjab at 1.22%. “Delhi had the highest per-capita economic loss due to air pollution, followed by Haryana in 2019, with 5.4 times variation across all states,” said the findings.
		+
		+	According to the study, the economic loss per capita was highest in Delhi, which was to the tune of $62 followed by neighbouring Haryana at $53.8.
		+
		+	The study’s findings suggested that 1.67 million deaths were attributable to air pollution in India in 2019, accounting for 17.8% of the total deaths in the country.
		+
		+	The crude death rate per 100,000 population due to household air pollution decreased in India by 64.2% from 1990 to 2019, due to reduced use of solid fuels, while that due to ambient particulate matter pollution increased by 115.3% and that due to ambient ozone pollution increased by 139.2%, said the study.
		+
		+	The authors of the study suggested that in 2019, the economic loss due to lost output from premature deaths attributable to ambient ozone pollution as a percentage of GDP in India was 0.05% and varied 11.2 times across the states, ranging from 0.01% in Nagaland to 0.12% in Uttar Pradesh. IANS
		+
		+	[[Category:Climate|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Development|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Economy-Industry-Resources|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Environment and pollution|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:India|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+
		+	==2018: AQLI index and average lifespan==
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F11%2F20&entity=Ar00100&sk=1BC08E18&mode=text  Ritam Halder, Foul air reducing Delhiites’ average life by 10 yrs: Study, November 20, 2018: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	[[File: Average gain in life expectancy if air quality improves to WHO standard.jpg|Average gain in life expectancy if air quality improves to WHO standard <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F11%2F20&entity=Ar00100&sk=1BC08E18&mode=text  Ritam Halder, Foul air reducing Delhiites’ average life by 10 yrs: Study, November 20, 2018: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+
		+	'' ‘Capital 2nd Most Polluted City In India’ ''
		+
		+	The toxic air of Delhi is taking away more than 10 years from the life of an average resident who is exposed to it for a sustained period, according to a new index released by a US university.
		+
		+	The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) developed by the University of Chicago’s Milton Friedman professor in economics, Michael Greenstone,
		+
		+	and his team at the varsity’s Energy Policy Institute (EPIC), calculates the effect of air quality on life expectancy.
		+
		+	“The AQLI is an index that translates particulate air pollution into its impact on life expectancy. In Delhi, pollution concentrations in 2016 averaged 113 micrograms per cubic metre. Based on the research, life expectancy would be more than 10 years longer for people in Delhi if the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards had been met,” explained Ken Lee, executive director of EPIC India.
		+
		+	According to WHO, the safe limit of annual mean PM2.5 is 10 micrograms per cubic metre. By Indian standards, the limit has been raised to 40 micrograms per cubic metre.
		+
		+	===2018: Bad air costs 4.3 years of life, vs. 2.2 years in 1998===
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F11%2F20&entity=Ar00408&sk=3B349C3D&mode=text  Ritam Halder, Bad air costs you 4.3 years of your life now against 2.2 years in 1998, November 20, 2018: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	[[File: Impact of bad air on health, across India, in 1998 and 2018.jpg|Impact of bad air on health, across India, in 1998 and 2018 <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F11%2F20&entity=Ar00408&sk=3B349C3D&mode=text  Ritam Halder, Bad air costs you 4.3 years of your life now against 2.2 years in 1998, November 20, 2018: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+
		+	''Particulate Matter In Delhi Has Risen To 10 Times The WHO Safe Limit In Two Decades''
		+
		+	A new index released by a US university has put definite numbers to the health risks posed by bad air. According to the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI), in 1998, Delhi and the north Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Bihar had already suffered from particulate concentrations that exceeded WHO safe levels by factors of 3 to 6, and reduced life expectancy for residents there by between 2 and 5 years. Over the ensuing two decades, pollution in this region increased to as much as 10 times the WHO safe limit in the case of Uttar Pradesh, where air pollution levels now reduce life expectancy by 8.6 years.
		+
		+	Over the past two decades, the concentration of fine particulates increased by 69% on average across India. As a result, sustained exposure to particulate pollution now reduces the life expectancy of the typical Indian citizen by 4.3 years compared to 2.2 years in 1998.
		+
		+	In 2016, the added lifeyears from compliance with the WHO guideline would raise average life expectancy at birth from 69 to 73 years — a larger gain than from eliminating unsafe water and poor sanitation, the index reveals.
		+
		+	The AQLI is rooted in recent research that quantifies the causal relationship between long-term human exposure to air pollution and life expectancy. The index then combines this research with hyper-localised, global particulate measurements, yielding unprecedented insight into the true cost of particulate pollution in communities around the world.
		+
		+	The index also illustrates how air pollution policies can increase life expectancy when they meet the WHO’s guideline for what is considered a safe level of exposure, existing national air quality standards, or user-defined air quality levels.
		+
		+	“This information can help local communities and policymakers understand the importance of air pollution policies in concrete terms,” Lee said.
		+
		+	The AQLI also points out that India is today the world’s second most polluted country, just behind Nepal. Particulate pollution is so severe that it shortens the average Indian’s life expectancy by more than four years relative to what it would be if WHO air quality guidelines were met.
		+
		+	“High levels of air pollution are a part of people’s lives in India, just as they were in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan and other countries in the past. The last several decades have seen tremendous progress in many of these countries, but this progress did not happen by accident—it was the result of policy choices. As India navigates the dual challenges of sustaining economic growth and protecting environmental quality, the AQLI provides a tool to make the benefits of policies to reduce air pollution concrete,” said Michael Greenstone, director of EPIC.
		+
		+	The index also reveals that fossil fuel-driven particulate air pollution cuts global average life expectancy by 1.8 years per person. The AQLI establishes particulate pollution as the single greatest threat to human health globally, with its effect on life expectancy exceeding that of devastating communicable diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, behavioural killers like cigarette smoking, and even war.
		+
		+	“Around the world today, people are breathing air that represents a serious risk to their health. But the way this risk is communicated is very often opaque and confusing, translating air pollution concentrations into colours, like red, brown, orange, and green. What those colours mean for people’s well-being has always been unclear,” Greenstone said.
		+
		+	Compared to the reduction in average life expectancy by 1.8 years due to particulate pollution, first-hand cigarette smoke leads to a reduction in global average life expectancy of about 1.6 years. Other risks to human health have even smaller effects: alcohol and drugs reduce life expectancy by 11 months; unsafe water and sanitation take off 7 months; and HIV/ AIDS, 4 months. Conflict and terrorism take off 22 days.
		+
		+	So, the impact of particulate pollution on life expectancy is comparable to that of smoking, twice that of alcohol and drug use, three times that of unsafe water, five times that of HIV/AIDS, and more than 25 times that of conflict and terrorism, the study reveals.
		+
		+	==2019: The state-wise picture==
		+	[[File: 2019- A state-wise snapshot of the effect of Air pollution on health in India.jpg|2019: A state-wise snapshot of the effect of Air pollution on health in India <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F06%2F05&entity=Ar02215&sk=15B9309B&mode=image  June 5, 2019: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	See graphic, '2019: A state-wise snapshot of the effect of Air pollution on health in India  '
		+
		+	[[Category:Climate|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Development|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Economy-Industry-Resources|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Environment and pollution|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:India|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+
		+	==2019: State of Global Air 2020==
		+	[https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/air-pollution-now-biggest-health-risk-in-india-says-report/article32912916.ece  October 22, 2020: ''The Hindu'']
		+
		+
		+	''Air pollution now biggest health risk in India, says report''
		+
		+	Long-term exposure contributed to over 1.67 million deaths in 2019; 1.16 lakh infants died in first month
		+
		+	Long-term exposure to outdoor and household air pollution contributed to over 1.67 million annual deaths from stroke, heart attack, diabetes, lung cancer, chronic lung diseases and neonatal diseases in India in 2019, according to the State of Global Air 2020 by the U.S.-based Health Effects Institute. Overall, air pollution was now the largest risk factor for death among all health risks, the report noted.
		+
		+	Outdoor and household particulate matter pollution also contributed to the deaths of more than 1,16,000 Indian infants in their first month of life last year. More than half of these deaths were associated with outdoor PM2.5 and others were linked to use of solid fuels such as charcoal, wood, and animal dung for cooking.
		+
		+	For the youngest infants, most deaths were related to complications from low birth weight and preterm birth.
		+
		+	India faced the highest per capita pollution exposure — or 83.2 μg/cubic metre — in the world, followed by Nepal at 83.1 μg/cubic metre and Niger at 80.1, according to the report which sources its data from publicly available sources. Countries with the least population exposure are below 8 micrograms (μg) per cubic metre.
		+
		+
		+	'''Marginal decline'''
		+
		+	The government has claimed that average pollution levels in India are declining over the past three years but these have been marginal, particularly in the Indo-Gangetic plains which see extremely high particulate matter pollution especially during winter.
		+
		+	After a decline in pollution due to the nationwide lockdown in late March and the months-long process of reopening, pollution levels are again rising and air quality has dipped to ‘very poor’ category in several cities.
		+
		+	COVID-19, a disease for which people with heart and lung disease are particularly at risk of infection and death, has claimed more than 1,10,000 lives in India. Although the full links between air pollution and COVID-19 are not yet known, there is clear evidence linking air pollution and increased heart and lung disease, creating a growing concern that exposures to high levels of air pollution during winter months in South Asian countries and East Asia could worsen the effects of COVID-19.
		+
		+	“This newest evidence suggests an especially high risk for infants born in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa,” said HEI president Dan Greenbaum in a statement. “Although there has been slow and steady reduction in household reliance on poor-quality fuels, the air pollution from these fuels continues to be a key factor in the deaths of these youngest infants.”
		+
		+	[[Category:Climate|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Development|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Economy-Industry-Resources|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Environment and pollution|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:India|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+
		+	[[Category:Climate|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Development|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Economy-Industry-Resources|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Environment and pollution|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:India|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+
		+	[[Category:Climate|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Development|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Economy-Industry-Resources|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Environment and pollution|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:India|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+
		+	==Why pollution reduces life by 10 years==
		+	[[File: Why pollution reduces life by 10 years.jpg|Why pollution reduces life by 10 years <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F11%2F21&entity=Ar00201&sk=718F2FB1&mode=image  November 21, 2018: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+
		+	'''See graphic''':
		+
		+	''Why pollution reduces life by 10 years''
		+
		+	[[Category:Climate|P
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Development|P
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Economy-Industry-Resources|P
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Environment and pollution|P
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:India|P
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+
		+	=India vis-a-vis the world=
		+
		+
		+	==1850-2011: the world's biggest polluters==
		+
		+
		+	[[File: India and the world, The main countries responsible for CO2  emissions between 1850 and 2011, and their share; as well as likely emissions till 2030.jpg| India and the world: The main countries responsible for CO2  emissions between 1850 and 2011, and their share; as well as likely emissions till 2030; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Gallery.aspx?id=30_11_2015_010_029_006&type=P&artUrl=The-need-for-an-ambitious-but-equitable-agreement-30112015010029&eid=31808 ''The Times of India''], November 30, 2015|frame|500px]]
		+
		+
		+	See graphic, 'India and the world, The main countries responsible for CO2  emissions between 1850 and 2011, and their share; as well as likely emissions till 2030'
		+
		+
		+	==2015: in absolute terms, in per capita terms==
		+	[[File: India and the world, Top 10 emitters of climate-damaging greenhouse gases.jpg| India and the world, Top 10 emitters of climate-damaging greenhouse gases; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Gallery.aspx?id=01_10_2015_019_014_009&type=P&artUrl=India-to-submit-climate-action-plan-to-UN-01102015019014&eid=31808 ''The Times of India''], October 1, 2015|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	See graphic, 'India and the world, Top 10 emitters of climate-damaging greenhouse gases'
		+
		+	==2017: Compliance with the Paris Agreement, share of fossil- and zero carbon- fuels==
		+	[[File: The compliance of India and other major countries with the Paris Agreement,  presumably as in 2017; The share of fossil fuels and zero carbon fuels in the primary energy supply of India and other major countries.jpg|The compliance of India and other major countries with the Paris Agreement,  presumably as in 2017. <br/> The share of fossil fuels and zero carbon fuels in the primary energy supply of India and other major countries <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F11%2F27&entity=Ar00201&sk=03C867BB&mode=image  November 27, 2018: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	'''See graphic''':
		+
		+	''The compliance of India and other major countries with the Paris Agreement,  presumably as in 2017. <br/> The share of fossil fuels and zero carbon fuels in the primary energy supply of India and other major countries''
		+
		+	==Countries’ share of global emissions/ 2017==
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F11%2F28&entity=Ar02014&sk=91D6D8C9&mode=text  Vishwa Mohan, ‘Most countries not on track to cut carbon footprint’, November 28, 2018: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	[[File: The top 16 countries’ share of global emissions- 2017; Peaking of GHG emission status, 1900-2010.jpg|The top 16 countries’ share of global emissions/ 2017 <br/> Peaking of GHG emission status, 1900-2010. <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F11%2F28&entity=Ar02014&sk=91D6D8C9&mode=text  Vishwa Mohan, ‘Most countries not on track to cut carbon footprint’, November 28, 2018: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	Global emissions continue to be high as most countries are not on track to cut their carbon footprint as per their pledges of climate action, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said in its flagship ‘emission gap’ report.
		+
		+	Highlighting the gap in their actions, the report said countries must raise their ambition by 3x (three times) to meet the 2 degree Celsius target and 5x (five times) to meet the 1.5 degree Celsius target as continuation of the current trend was likely to result in global warming of around 3°C by the end of the century, with continued temperature rises after that.
		+
		+	“If the emissions gap is not closed by 2030, it is extremely unlikely that the 2°C temperature goal can still be reached (by 2100),” the report said in a warning to countries in the backdrop of the recent IPCC special report which quantified how disastrous the situation would be if the world didn’t take urgent, drastic and largescale action to keep warming within 1.5°C by 2100.
		+
		+	=Industrial pollution=
		+	== Family conglomerates and carbon dioxide emissions==
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2021%2F03%2F06&entity=Ar02815&sk=5D190115&mode=text  Chandra Bhushan, March 6, 2021: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	On November 5, 2020, 24 leading companies signed a ‘declaration of the private sector on climate change’ to tackle the climate crisis.
		+
		+	One of the key features of prominent family conglomerates in India is that they operate in fossil-fuel intensive sectors and are responsible for a significant share of India’s carbon dioxide emissions.
		+
		+	Today, just seven family conglomerates (Reliance, Adani, Tata, Aditya Birla, Mahindra, Jindal, and Vedanta) are responsible for emitting at least 530 million tonnes of CO2 annually. This is equivalent to 22% of India’s total CO2 emissions. In 2019-20, these seven groups operated 25% of India’s coal-based power plants (50,000 MW); produced 39% of India’s steel (43 million tonnes), 27% of India’s cement (91 million tonnes), and 22% of India’s passenger and commercial vehicles (0.92 million). They also accounted for 30% of oil refining capacity and 25% crude oil production.
		+
		+	'' The writer is CEO, International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology (iFOREST) ''
		+
		+	===Details===
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2021%2F03%2F05&entity=Ar00802&sk=08A23DC0&mode=text  Sidhartha Roy, March 5, 2021: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+
		+	From being ranked 65th among111 cities in 2018, Delhi has climbed up to the 13th position in the Ease of Living Index-2020 released by the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs. The capital’s ascent has primarily been powered by the economic opportunities it offers, the parameter on which it was ranked second in the country after Bengaluru.
		+
		+	Among the five major “pillars” of the index, economic ability is the worst performing with an aggregate score of 13.1 nationally. The cities that buck the trend are Bengaluru, which has secured the top spot with a score of 78.8, followed by Delhi (50.7), Pune (48.8) and Ahmedabad (48.1). All these cities have a population of over a million.
		+
		+	When it comes to economic opportunities, Delhi is the only positive outlier in the category with a perfect score of 100, followed by Bengaluru with a significant gap (58.1), Hyderabad (48) and Chennai (45.11). Delhi is on top among 29 cities scoring above the national average, including 16 with a population of over a million and 13 with less than a million.
		+
		+	The capital is also an economic powerhouse in the northern region with the economic ability score of 50.7. This not only ranks it the highest, but also way ahead of the next city Ludhiana, which has a score of 26.2. In fact, with a regional average score of 52.5, most of the over 17 million cities in the northern region have a score higher than the national average of 53.5. Apart from Delhi, the other top ranking north Indian cities are Ludhiana (14th), Jodhpur (21st) and Jaipur (23rd).
		+
		+	Interestingly, in the economic development category, Delhi scores the lowest at 1.4, while the national average is 18. The reason is that cities like Bengaluru, Pune, Ahmedabad, Thane and Chennai and even Gurgaon score higher due to their legacy of industrial development. Delhi is traditionally a major trading point and only non-polluting industries are allowed in the city.
		+
		+	Another area where Delhi scores high is the housing and shelter category, where along with Thiruvananthapuram, Puducherry and Bhopal, it has been identified as the perfect positive outlier. All households in these cities have electrical connections and beneficiaries are covered under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. However, 10-20% of the urban population resides in slums.
		+
		+	Delhi is also among at least 34 cities, including Bengaluru, Chennai and Chandigarh, that have professionally trained teachers.
		+
		+	An area of major concern is the number of crimes against women. Most cities recording high incidence of such crimes are in north India, including top performers in the quality of life category, like Delhi, Gurgaon and Indore.
		+
		+	Despite having the largest metro network in the country, Delhi records low figures for availability of public transport. The figure of Delhi (1,688.5 per lakh population) is lower than Bengaluru (4,409.6), Pune (2,585.5) and Navi Mumbai (2,037.8). In Chennai, availability of public transport is the highest at 92,017.9 per lakh population, followed by Visakhapatnam (21,212.9).
		+
		+	The public transport system in cities like Delhi is not efficient enough to support the population and they may be “automobile-dependent”, states the report. Delhi’s figure for transport-related fatalities of 12.43 per lakh population is also higher than many other cities.
		+
		+	The report mentions that according to World Health Organisation, 20 of the world’s most polluted cities belong to India, including Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow and Patna. However, it also states that Delhi government shut down a thermal power plant at Rajghat, aiming to redevelop it into a 5,000 kW solar park.
		+
		+	[[Category:Climate|A
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Development|P
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Economy-Industry-Resources|P
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Environment and pollution|A
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:India|P
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Pages with broken file links|AIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+
		+	==Effect on rainfall==
		+
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=THREAT-TO-CROPS-Bad-air-to-blame-for-03072017002042 Jayashree Nandi, Jul 03 2017 : The Times of India (Delhi)]
		+
		+	It's not just your lungs that the city's bad air is hurting. A study , published in the Atmospheric, Chemistry and Physics journal, has highlighted how air pollution could delay rains in some areas, on one hand, and cause intense rain in a relatively short period, on the other.
		+
		+	This -and several other similar studies -drives home how air pollution may already be impacting crop yields and food production.
		+
		+	The study carried out by IIT-Kanpur, Weizmann Institute in Israel and Indian Meteorological Department has assessed long-term data of clouds, aerosols and rainfall from June to September between 2002 and 2013. “Satellite modelling studies showed that aerosols caused formation of a large number of cloud droplets that are relatively smaller in size. These release a lot of energy , or latent heat. Then, the droplets are pushed vertically , crossing the freezing line. This is also an energy-extensive process that fuels cloud growth,“ said professor SN Tripathi of department of Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering at IIT-Kanpur.
		+
		+	In simple terms, he explained, “more aerosols can cause intense rain in a relatively short period. It can also delay the onset of rain during monsoon“. Aerosol Optical Depth -the degree to which aero sols (airborne solid and liquid particles) prevent transmission of light in an area -is also considered an indirect proxy for air quality. In this study, scientists found AOD in the summer monsoon region during the monsoon months to be 0.6. There is no safe stan dard for AOD, but in cleaner areas such as in the US, the AOD is about 0.1.
		+
		+	A study by Princeton University in 2011 had indicated that monsoon rain was decreasing over the years, mainly because of anthropogenic aerosol emissions.
		+
		+	Professor Sagnik Dey , associate professor at Centre for Atmospheric Sciences at IIT-Delhi, said: “The frequency and intensity of rainfall during monsoon is getting affected. When it's raining, it's raining very heavily and the monsoon is often not progressing smoothly .The aerosol load is higher over the Indo-Gangetic plains, the heating gradient is higher and the cloud patterns are also changing.“
		+
		+	According to Pallavi Pant, a US-based scientist: “The role of aerosols in rainfall is quite complex. Presence of particles in the atmosphere can influence cloud formation because they can act as nuclei or seeds for clouds to form. In some cases, a higher number of particles in the atmosphere can result in heavier rainfall.“
			
−	'''HC: No need for govt nod to probe babus'''
−	In a landmark ruling, Madras high court has quashed a Tamil Nadu government order making prior permission or `remarks' from the government mandatory for probing corruption allegations against all `public servants' irrespective of category and rank.	+	==Action taken against polluters==
−	“The powers of a police officer are sought to be restricted by superimposing a requirement of a mandatory prior remarks `before ordering an appropriate inquiry by the directorate of vigilance and anticorruption (DVAC),“ said the first bench comprising justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and justice R Mahadevan on Friday .The term `government servants' was also replaced with a new term `public servants' thereby bringing even elected representatives under the protective umbrella of prior nod.	+	===2017: CPCB shuts 387 units in UP===
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=CPCB-shuts-down-387-polluting-units-across-UP-28082017013025  Maria Khan, CPCB shuts down 387 polluting units across UP, August 28, 2017: The Times of India]
−	==No sanction required for officials transferred out of a post==
−	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Tainted-officials-lose-anti-prosecution-shield-when-transferred-08092016027030 ''The Times of India''], Sep 08 2016
−	Dhananjay Mahapatra	+	The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued directions to shut down 387 industrial units across Uttar Pradesh after inspections found that they had been violating pollution control norms. According to the CPCB report, the industries, which range from tanneries to textile mills, sugar mills to chemical processing plants, have been discharging effluents directly or indirectly into the Ganga and its tributaries, thereby contam inating the water.
−	''' `Tainted' officials lose anti-prosecution shield when transferred: SC '''	+	Based on reports, the board on August 9 had issued closure directions to 433 defaulting units across the state under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Of these, 46 grossly polluting industries (GPIs) have since complied with the directions and have been issued revocation directions. The remaining 387 have either not complied with the directions relating to online effluent monitoring devices or have found to be not complying with prescribed standards. In the list, which was re ceived by district authorities on Saturday , textile units make the largest number of those which are to be shut down, at 224. Tanneries number 118. Also in the list are 11sugar mills; 10 distilleries; nine food, dairy and beverage processing units; six chemical units and two slaughterhouses and paper mills each.
		+
		+	Additional district magistrate (enforcement), SP Singh told TOI, “The process of shutting them down has already begun.“
		+
		+	[[Category:Climate|A
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Development|P
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Economy-Industry-Resources|P
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Environment and pollution|A
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:India|P
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Pages with broken file links|AIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+
		+	=Kitchens’ air pollution=
		+
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=THREAT-TO-CROPS-Bad-air-to-blame-for-03072017002042  Jayashree Nandi| Threat To Crops – Bad air to blame for irregular rain| Jul 03 2017 : The Times of India (Delhi)]
		+	==Effect on rainfall==
		+
		+	THREAT TO CROPS - Bad air to blame for irregular rain
		+
		+	New Delhi
			
−	Providing investigating agencies a significant handle to go after officials accused of corruption, the Supreme Court has ruled that no sanction will be required to prosecute government servants who have been transferred out of a post where they allegedly indulged in such activities.	+	It's not just your lungs that the city's bad air is hurting. A study , published in the Atmospheric, Chemistry and Physics journal, has highlighted how air pollution could delay rains in some areas, on one hand, and cause intense rain in a relatively short period, on the other.
−	A bench of Justices A K Sikri and N V Ramana gave the ruling while answering the question -“whether a public servant who is not in the same post and is transferred loses the protection under Section 19 (1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, though he continues to be a public servant, albeit on a different post?“ Section 19(1) prohibits courts from taking cognisance of an offence under various provisions of the PC Act without sanction from the government concerned. This means a designated court cannot take cognisance of a chargesheet filed under the Act against a government servant unless the investigating agency has obtained sanction for prosecution before filing of the charge-sheet.	+
−	The shield to protect the bureaucracy from malicious prosecution and help them take bold decisions will no longer be available to officers if they get transferred from the station where they they committed the alleged corrupt act. Civil servants are already restive over the prosecution proceedings against some of their colleagues.	+	This -and several other similar studies -drives home how air pollution may already be impacting crop yields and food production.
−	Expanding apex court's ruling in Parkash Singh Badal case, the bench said: “If the public servant had abused entirely different office or offices than the one which he was holding on the date when cognisance was taken (by the designated court), there was no necessity of sanction under Section 19 of the PC Act.“	+	The study carried out by IIT-Kanpur, Weizmann Institute in Israel and Indian Meteorological Department has assessed long-term data of clouds, aerosols and rainfall from June to September between 2002 and 2013. “Satellite modelling studies showed that aerosols caused formation of a large number of cloud droplets that are relatively smaller in size. These release a lot of energy , or latent heat. Then, the droplets are pushed vertically , crossing the freezing line. This is also an energy-extensive process that fuels cloud growth,“ said professor SN Tripathi of department of Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering at IIT-Kanpur.
−	“Where the public servant had abused the office which he held in the check period, but had ceased to hold `that office' or was holding a different office, then sanction would not be necessary . Likewise, where the alleged misconduct is in some different capacity than the one which is held at the time of taking cognisance, there will be no necessity to take sanction,“ Justice Sikri, who wrote the judgement for the bench, said.	+	In simple terms, he explained, “more aerosols can cause intense rain in a relatively short period. It can also delay the onset of rain during monsoon“. Aerosol Optical Depth -the degree to which aero sols (airborne solid and liquid particles) prevent transmission of light in an area -is also considered an indirect proxy for air quality. In this study, scientists found AOD in the summer monsoon region during the monsoon months to be 0.6. There is no safe stan dard for AOD, but in cleaner areas such as in the US, the AOD is about 0.1.
−	Upholding a Karnataka high court order allowing prosecution of one L Narayana Swamy , the SC said since the appellant had allegedly abused entirely different office than the one which he was holding on the date on which cognisance was taken, there was no necessity to take sanction under Section 19 of the PC Act.	+	A study by Princeton University in 2011 had indicated that monsoon rain was decreasing over the years, mainly because of anthropogenic aerosol emissions.
−	=Recruitment=	+	Professor Sagnik Dey , associate professor at Centre for Atmospheric Sciences at IIT-Delhi, said: “The frequency and intensity of rainfall during monsoon is getting affected. When it's raining, it's raining very heavily and the monsoon is often not progressing smoothly .The aerosol load is higher over the Indo-Gangetic plains, the heating gradient is higher and the cloud patterns are also changing.“
−	==Age limit==	+
−	===UP abolishes it for widows, divorced women===	+
−	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=No-age-bar-for-widows-divorced-women-applying-29102016019029  Subhash Mishra, No age bar for widows, divorced women applying for UP govt jobs, Oct 29 2016 : The Times of India]	+
		+	According to Pallavi Pant, a US-based scientist: “The role of aerosols in rainfall is quite complex. Presence of particles in the atmosphere can influence cloud formation because they can act as nuclei or seeds for clouds to form. In some cases, a higher number of particles in the atmosphere can result in heavier rainfall.
		+	==25% urban households don't have kitchen==
		+	Could you please give a link to this page on the Housing and UD  page but not vice-versa?
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=17cr-households-in-cities-have-no-kitchen-12042017001108  Dipak Dash, 1.7cr households in cities have no kitchen , April 12, 2017: The Times of India]
		+	[[File: Houses without kitchen, state-wise, top 3 and bottom 3.jpg|Houses without kitchen, state-wise, top 3 and bottom 3; [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=17cr-households-in-cities-have-no-kitchen-12042017001108  Dipak Dash, 1.7cr households in cities have no kitchen , April 12, 2017: The Times of India]|frame|500px]]
−	In a major policy decision, UP government has done away with the upper age limit for widows and divorced women applying for government jobs.	+	At least one-fourth of urban households in India don't have separate a kitchen, according to data based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) carried out by the housing ministry .
−	==Verification of character, antecedents==	+
−	===Prior police verification replaced by self-declaration===	+
−	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Verification-by-cops-dropped-for-govt-jobs-02072016018036 The Times of India], Jul 02 2016	+
−	'''Verification by cops dropped for govt jobs'''	+	The survey indicates how nearly 1.7 crore urban households may be using their single room for cooking food as well.This fresh data gains importance considering that different studies have shown how air pollution in kitchens has become a major health concern and that too in urban areas where the ambient air is getting increasingly polluted due to vehicular emission and dust.
		+
		+	A study published in Elsevier, a journal on environmental research, which assessed people's personal ex posure to pollution in Delhi, showed how kitchens can be more polluted than roads.
		+
		+	The study mentioned how urban households, particularly kitchens, could be enveloping people in PM 2.5 pollutants as well. Other studies across the globe have also shown how kitchen appliances release colourless pollutants. Kitchens also get more polluted when they lack proper ventilation. In fact, the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), launched by PM Narendra Mod, was a big step towards making kitchens smoke-free for women who are often the worst-affected by such pollution.
		+
		+	According to SECC data, while Mizoram has the maximum percentage of such households, Bihar ranks second. In Daman and Diu and Kerala, over 90% households have exclusive kitchens.
		+
		+	SECC data shows that in 2011, when the survey was conducted through a comprehensive door-to-door enumeration across the country , nearly 24.5% of urban households had a single room.
		+
		+	Sources in the housing ministry said the SECC data collected in 2011 is being utilised in sanctioning houses for the urban poor with central aid under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. SECC data, which conceals sensitive caste and poverty details in urban areas, gives details of how many families are “houseless“ and how many live in rented accommodations in towns and cities.
		+
		+	=Link between meteorological conditions, air quality=
		+	==2015 and 2016==
		+
		+
		+	[[File: Link between meterological conditions and the air quality in Delhi on the 1st Oct and 7 Nov, 2015 and 2016.jpg| Link between meteorological conditions and the air quality in Delhi on the 1st Oct and 7 Nov, 2015 and 2016. <br/> [ ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+	See graphic.Link between meteorological conditions and the air quality in Delhi on the 1st Oct and 7 Nov, 2015 and 2016.
		+
		+	[[Category:Climate|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Development|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Economy-Industry-Resources|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Environment and pollution|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:India|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+
		+
		+	=Measurement of Air Quality=
		+	==National Air Quality Index needs help/ 2017==
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Whats-ailing-Indias-air-The-nation-doesnt-know-23042017005023  Jayashree Nandi, What's ailing India's air? The nation doesn't know enough, April 23, 2017: The Times of India]
		+
		+
		+	'''The Six Problems With The Way We Measure Air Quality In Our Country'''
		+
		+	Two years after it was started, India's National Air Quality Index (NAQI) does not provide a relia ble picture of pollution in cities. The index uses colours ranging from dark green to
		+	dark red to show users at a glance how polluted the air in their area is at any time. However, it is unreliable because most cities don't have enough monitoring stations, and the existing stations do not monitor for all important pollutants.
		+	NOT ENOUGH STATIONS
		+
		+	The entire metropolis of Mumbai--home to more than 2.2 crore people--has only one air quality monitor in Bandra for NAQI. When former environment m i n i s t e r P r a k a s h Java d e k a r launched NAQI under the Swachh Bharat campaign in April 2015, the goal was to cover 46 cities with a population of more than 10 lakh each, but only 29 are on the network so far. Of these, 20 cities, including some severely polluted ones like Varanasi, Patna and Kanpur, have only one NAQI monitoring station each.
		+
		+	The northeast has virtually no monitoring station. Large states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha also don't have any. Asansol, Coimbatore, Bhiwadi, Ghaziabad, Noida, Ludhiana and Vapi are some of the critically-polluted areas that may be connected to NAQI this year.
		+
		+	Delhi is the only city with eight monitoring stations and it is likely to get 20 more this year. Compare that with Beijing that already has more than 35, and London, which has 100, according to a recent Greenpeace India report. Entire China has 1,500 government-run monitoring stations.
		+
		+	Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which runs the NAQI programme, had prescribed at least three stations each in Class 1 cities, nine each in mega cities like Ben galuru, and six each in all other cities that are either state capitals or major industrial areas.
		+
		+	COST HURDLE
		+
		+	Why has the NAQI network of monitoring stations grown so slowly? CPCB officials say the high cost of equipment and shortage of trained manpower is delaying its growth.
		+
		+	“We cannot just establish automatic stations. Each station that monitors eight criteria (common) pollutants costs about Rs 1 crore and its operational cost is Rs 10 lakh per year,“ said Dipankar Saha, head of Air Lab at CPCB. “They are all US EPA-approved automatic analysers.It takes about nine months to set up each station and we need dedicated manpower to monitor and validate the data recorded by these stations.“
		+
		+	Saha said CPCB will not take data from low-cost private monitors. “Our monitoring methodology is prescribed in the gazetted notification.We do not trust low-cost monitors.“
		+
		+	Experts say the cost hurdle can be overcome by using satellite data and air quality modelling.
		+
		+	DOUBTFUL READINGS
		+
		+	CPCB may doubt data from private monitors, but its own equipment is often not calibrated properly. For mer CPCB member secretary B Sengupta says, “We have noticed that many of the stations aren't even calibrated, which could give erroneous results.“
		+
		+	Calibration is done by injecting gas into the monitor and tallying the results with specific readings. “We have noticed that scientists in most state pollution control boards are not capable of doing this calibration and it's entirely left to the suppliers of the equipment who also don't do it. Often, gas isn't available for testing.“
		+
		+	That explains the huge difference in data collected manually and by automatic stations at the same location. “The difference is often as much as 30-50% when it shouldn't be more than 10%. Unfortunately , we are drawing some major conclusions on air quality based on very limited data,“ added Sengupta.
		+
		+	ALL POLLUTANTS NOT MEASURED
		+
		+	CPCB stations do not measure the levels of all important pollut ants. For instance, PM 2.5 (fine, respirable pollu tion particles) is measured in only seven cities, so World Health Organization (WHO) extrapolated PM 2.5 data from PM 10 (coarse particles) data for India's urban air quality database.
		+
		+	“We may not know the proportion of industrial pollution either. Toxic of industrial pollution either. Toxic pollutants are not being monitored.Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are commonly emitted around industries in critically-polluted areas like Vapi, Ankleshwar, Vatva and others, are not being captured at all,“ said Sengupta.
		+
		+	MONITOR LOCATION MATTERS
		+
		+	Besides the number of monitoring stations in a city, where they are located is also important to get a representative picture. “We recently correlated air pollution levels captured by ground monitors in some cities with the city averages based on high-resolution satellite data and found that monitoring is not science driven,“ said Sagnik Dey, associate professor, Centre for Atmospheric Sciences at IIT Delhi.“In Varanasi, the lone monitoring station is more or less representative of the city average, but in many other cities it's not so. A city where the monitor isn't placed in the right location may move up very high in city ranking despite being less polluted.“
		+
		+	NOT USING ALL AVAILABLE DATA
		+
		+	While CPCB has just one operational station in Mumbai, a parallel government sys tem called SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research) has 10, but the two are not connected. SAFAR, which is under Ministry of Earth Sciences, has 10 stations each in Delhi, Pune and Ahmedabad. Saha says NAQI and SAFAR will share data eventually . For now, “Their design is prediction-oriented while we are capturing real-time data. There are technical difficulties in aligning the two.“
		+
		+	==“State of the Global Air 2017“ report, US-based Health Effects Institute (HEI)==
		+	===CPCB disputes ozone-related deaths===
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=CPCB-junks-ozone-data-03032017011016  Jayashree Nandi, CPCB `junks' ozone data, March 3, 2017: The Times of India]
		+	[[File: Number of days ozone breached the eight hour safe standard of 100 micrograms per cubic metre at two locations monitored by CPCB 2016.jpg|Number of days ozone breached the eight hour safe standard of 100 micrograms per cubic metre at two locations monitored by CPCB 2016; [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=CPCB-junks-ozone-data-03032017011016  Jayashree Nandi, CPCB `junks' ozone data, March 3, 2017: The Times of India]|frame|500px]]
		+
		+
		+	Reacting to a recent international report that said India had the highest number of ozone-related deaths, scientists from the Central Pollution Control Board said exposure to ozone cannot lead to premature mortality and that the report was only putting India on the spot with “observational data“.
		+
		+	In its “State of the Global Air 2017“ report, US-based Health Effects Institute (HEI) had analysed the impact on health of air pollution across the globe and found India had the most fatalities due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) caused by ozone.
		+
		+	The report said 2.54 lakh deaths occurred in 2015 globally on account of ozone exposure, of which India accounted for over more one lakh and China, 71,900. The report also said India's record contributed substantially to the 67% rise in ozone attributable COPD deaths since 1990.
		+
		+	Refuting the findings, Dipankar Saha, head of CPCB's air lab, said, “Ozone exposure cannot be linked with mortality. If it were true, by now we would have seen a very large number of deaths in the US, which has high ozone concentrations. Our data shows India rarely exceeds the safe standard for the gas.“
		+
		+	While CPCB shared annual average concentrations of the highly hazardous and reactive gas for 33 cities and 56 stations, though not the daily or monthly concentrations, experts who declined to be quoted said annual concentrations could mask ozone peaks.Ozone is formed when nitrogen dioxide emissions react with volatile organic compounds in hot weather.
		+
		+	Contradicting even the death figures associated with respirable pollutants in the HEI report, Saha said, “It's an observational study . Our data is robust and comparable becau se India is the only country that has specified pollution measurement methods and techniques.“ S Scientists TOI spoke to also confirmed that proof of ozone's link with mortality is only now being studied. “Current research only looks at ozone's association with worsening COPD, asthma and inflammation and increased risk of premature mortality ,“ a public health expert pointed out. “The link is strong, but stronger evidence base is necessary before a conclusive declaration can be made.“
		+
		+	Referring to the report, Union environment minister Anil Madhav Dave too had pointed out, “These reports are often based on extrapolations without due scientific validation and there is a need for caution before arriving at any conclusion.“
		+
		+	The HEI report stated that “over the last 25 years, India experienced a nearly 150% increase in ozone-attributable deaths, while China's number remained about the same. The ozone-attributable COPD mortality rate decreased by about 1% over this time period in the United States and Indonesia, and remained relatively stable in Russia and the European Union“.
		+
		+	CPCB's own “Epidemiolo gical study on effect of air pollution on human health in Delhi“, published in 2012, admitted that the combustion of fuels produced outdoor pollutants, including ozone. “There is increasing evidence to suggest that exposure to these pollutants elicits adverse health effects often at levels well below the current WHO guidelines,“ the report said.
		+
		+	The “Delhi commitment on multi-sectoral action for addressing air pollution“, the result of a workshop organised by the union environment ministry and WHO, recommends making air pollution impact assessment mandatory for public policies of various ministries. It also advises investment of “additional human and financial resources“ to reduce exposure to air pollution.
		+
		+	=Metropolitan cities, 2015-16=
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Delhis-air-most-foul-among-metros-29042016006020 ''The Times of India''], Apr 29 2016
		+	[[File: Air pollution levels in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai, May 2015-March 2016.jpg|Air pollution levels in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai, May 2015-March 2016; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Delhis-air-most-foul-among-metros-29042016006020 ''The Times of India''], Apr 29 2016|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	''' Delhi's air most foul among metros '''
		+
		+	The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) released national air quality index (NAQI) status for 24 cities in 10 states.
		+
		+	The report provided daily AQI values for 11 months for most major cities and for 4-6 months for others that CPCB started monitoring later. Data showed that Delhi, Varanasi, Lucknow and Kanpur had a large number of days with very poor and severe air quality whereas the coastal and southern states fared better. But there is a huge disparity in the number of monitoring stations in each city. Here, we compare the air quality in Delhi with Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. Delhi has nine monitoring stations. Mumbai had just one station functioning on Thursday, Bangalore had 5, and these differences will have to be factored in.
		+
		+	Delhi had two months of “very poor“ and five months of “poor“ air (see graph). Mumbai had no months in the “poor“ or “very poor“ categories, nor did Bengaluru or Chennai.Experts said meteorological factors play a crucial role in this --while coastal cities have better dispersal of pollutants, Delhi, Kanpur, Varanasi and others in the Indo-Gangetic plains are worse off because of higher emission sources such as industries, brick kilns and others. The CPCB's report also indicates that the monitoring is very weak in certain parts with many cities showing “no data“ for several days. Gurgaon, for instance, had AQI only for a day in all of January . This indicates the report gives a skewed picture in these cities
		+
		+	=Ozone levels=
		+	==2014==
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=10-20-rise-in-ozone-levels-in-India-09092016013038 ''The Times of India''], Sep 09 2016
		+	[[File: Total deaths from Ambient Ozone Pollution by Region (1990 and 2013).jpg|Total deaths from Ambient Ozone Pollution by Region (1990 and 2013); Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=10-20-rise-in-ozone-levels-in-India-09092016013038 ''The Times of India''], Sep 09 2016|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	Jayashree Nandi
			
−	After promoting self-attestation in government documentation, the Narendra Modi government has now done away with mandatory completion of police verification prior to the issuance of appointment letters for government jobs.	+	'''10-20% rise in ozone levels in India, harmful for lungs and crops: Report'''
−	Instead, a self-declaration by the candidate selected for recruitment stating that he she has no criminal case pending against himher, or, if any , with details of the case(s), will suffice for the issuance of a provisional appointment letter. Though police verification will still be carried out, the issuance of the provisional letter need not be withheld pending the procedure.	+
−	Once the verification report is received, the provisional appointment letter will be confirmed. Of course, the candidate must give a commitment in the self-declaration that in case any false information is given, heshe will be rendered unfit for employment. The candidate will also be liable for criminal action.]	+	While Indian cities are still grappling with the impacts of severe particulate matter (PM) pollution, a new report has raised the flag on ozone levels (O3) too.
		+	`The Cost of Air Pollution', a report by the World Bank and Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) released, estimates that the concentrations of O3 has increased by 10 to 20% in India between 1990 and 2013. The trend is similar in neighboring countries and in Brazil, while a declining course was seen in the US and Indonesia, among others.
−	=Retirement=	+	High ozone levels are not only associated with serious health impacts like reduced lung function, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), aggravating asthma and respiratory conditions, but also with widespread crop loss.
−	==Premature==	+	The study also estimates that total deaths due to increase in exposure to O3 increased by 50% between 1990 and 2013 in South Asia. For this report, the health and economic burden of O3 is only based on COPD incidence from it. Total deaths due to exposure to PM2.5 have also increased in South Asia during the same phase, but not as steeply as with O3.
−	===Forced early retirement: Bad reputation sufficient grounds===	+	Interestingly, even though the cost of O3 related premature deaths are far lower than that of PM2.5 (both household and outdoor), O3 associated economic or welfare losses for South Asia are equivalent to that of North America. The welfare losses due to O3 exposure are to the tune of 0.4% of gross domestic product (GDP) equivalent, the report states.If you consider man days lost, it's about 0.09% of GDP equivalent, it says.
−	'''Bad reputation can justify forced early retirement: HC '''	+	Air quality experts said O3 could be a serious concern soon. “Even before we could deal with health damage from particulate pollution we are falling into the pincer grip of ozone pollution that damages both lungs and crops. This is also the sign that emissions of toxic gases are increasing rapidly in our country . Keep in mind that for estimating health damage from ozone this report has only considered chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. The actual cost of health damage could be way higher,“ said Anumita Roy Chowdhury , head of Centre for Science and Environment's clean air programme.
−		+
−	Ajay Sura TNN	+
−	Chandigarh: An employee may be forced to retire in public interest if his/her “general reputation” is not good even without tangible material to substantiate it, the Punjab and Haryana HC has said.	+	Ozone is not directly emitted from any source, it is created by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight. It's mainly released from combustion sources which includes vehicles and industries.
−	A division bench passed the order on Friday while upholding the HC decision on premature retirement of Haryana Superior Judicial Services judicial officer Chaman Lal Mohal.	+	A 2014 study by scientists at Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology estimated that ozone-induced damage to wheat and rice is enough to feed roughly 35% of 270 million BPL population in India.
−	Mohal was entitled to work till the age of 60, but was forced to prematurely retire on January 29 after the court’s administrative judge declared his integrity as “doubtful”.	+	==2015: India tops in ozone pollution deaths ==
−	==Post-retirement==	+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com//Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=India-tops-list-of-countries-in-ozone-pollution-15022017020036  Vishwa Mohan, Country Can't Continue In Denial: Experts, Feb 15, 2017: The Times of India]
−	===Cooling-off period for post-retirement employment===	+	[[File: Global ranking on premature deaths due to exposure to ozone, India, Pakistan and the world.jpg|Global ranking on premature deaths due to exposure to ozone, India, Pakistan and the world; [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com//Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=India-tops-list-of-countries-in-ozone-pollution-15022017020036  Vishwa Mohan, Country Can't Continue In Denial: Experts, Feb 15, 2017: The Times of India]|frame|500px]]
−	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=RIDERS-APPLY-Cooling-off-period-for-babus-cut-22122015011039 ''The Times of India''] Dec 22 2015
−	The cooling-off period for bureaucrats seeking commercial employment post-retirement has been cut, by half, to one year.	+	''' India tops list of countries in ozone pollution deaths '''
−	New rules formulated recently by the personnel ministry say that to take up jobs at private firms, officers of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and the Indian Police Service (IPS), among others, will only have to seek prior permission from the Centre if it's within a year from the date ofretirement.	+	
		+	India has been in denial mode on linking premature deaths to air pollution in the absence of conclusive data, but a new comprehensive global report by two US-based institutes may now trigger a rethink. The report claims the country's worsening air pollution caused some 1.1 million premature deaths in 2015 and it now rivals China in having among the highest air pollution health burdens in the world.
−	However, they need to declare clear service records, particularly with respect to integrity and dealings with non-government organisations (NGOs), and also mention that the proposed emoluments and pecuniary benefits offered to them conform to industry standards.	+	The State of Global Air 2017 report, released in Bos ton on Tuesday , claims longterm exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) -the most significant element of air pollution -contributed to 4.2 million premature deaths in the world in 2015 where both India and China to gether were responsible for over half of the total global deaths. Though the report sounds alarm bells for entire Asia, it paints a particlularly grim picture for India where the rate of increase of premature deaths due to air pollution is even higher than in China. It noted that while the early deaths related to PM2.5 in China has increased by 17.22% since 1990, it has increased by 48% in India.
−	The reduction follows a demand by officers that the cooling-off period be brought down from two years.	+	Ozone-related early deaths in India are, in fact, 33% higher than those recorded for China. India's deepening pollution problem, which hit home with a vengeance after Diwali last year as Delhi and NCR woke up enveloped in smog that refused to lift for days, has a death toll second only to China's, and together the two nations acount for over half the world's deaths from pollution.
		+	According to the State of Global Air 2017 report, released in Boston on Tuesday , as many as 2.54 lakh deaths occurred in 2015 on account of exposure to ozone and its impact on chronic lung disease.India accounts for the highest number of premature deaths due to ozone pollution, its toll 13 times higher than Bangladesh's, and 21 times higher than Pakistan’s.
−	The officials need to make the following declaration in a revised application form: “The organisation in which I am seeking employment is not involved in activities which are in conflict with or prejudicial to India's foreign relations, national security and domestic harmony . The organisation is not undertaking any activity for intelligence gathering.“	+	An interactive website on the report also highlights that 92% of the world's population lives in areas with unhealthy air. “We are seeing increasing air pollution problems worldwide, and this new report and website details why that air pollution is a major contributor to early death,“ said Dan Greenbaum, president of the Health Effects Institute (HEI), the research institute that designed and carried out the study . He said, “The trends we report show that we have seen progress in some parts of the world, but serious challenges remain“.
−	Pensioners need to affirm that in the last three years of service, they were not privy to sensitive or strategic information directly related to the areas of interest or work of the organisation that they propose to join or to the areas in which they propose to practise or consult.	+	The report was prepared by HEI in cooperation with the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington and the University of British Columbia. Involving more than 2,000 researchers, the report factored in the role of an extensive set of behavioural, dietary and environmental risk factors for more than 300 diseases in 195 countries from 1990 onwards.
−	=Seniority: not a fundamental right: CAT=	+	Referring to the findings of the report, Anumita Roychowdhury of the Centre for Science and Environment, said, “India can't afford to remain complacent or in denial. With so many people dying early and falling ill... due to particulate and ozone pollution, it is a state of health emergency . This demands nationwide intervention to ensure stringent mitigation and a roadmap to meet clean air standards“.
−		+
−	[http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?skin=pastissues2&enter=LowLevel From the archives of '' The Times of India '' 2010]	+
−	New Delhi: Central Administrative Tribunal has refused to set aside an order by the MCD revising the seniority list of its junior stenographers saying that it cannot be claimed as a “fundamental right”. “As per the law, seniority is not a fundamental right of a public employee. It is only a civil right. There cannot be any change in this contrary to the principles of natural justice,” the Tribunal bench, said. PTI	+	=The pollutants/ the chemicals in the air=
		+	==Sulphur dioxide==
		+	===2016-18===
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F08%2F20&entity=Ar00401&sk=3B33B2BE&mode=text  Vishwa Mohan, August 20, 2019: ''The Times of India'']
−	=Sexual harassment=
−	==Shift staff for probe==
−	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=STATOISTICS-UP-TO-60-OF-JUDGES-POSTS-ARE-13092016008038 ''The Times of India''], September 13, 2016
−	[[File: Vacancies as % of sanctioned strength in high courts and districts and subordinate courts.jpg|Vacancies as % of sanctioned strength in high courts and districts and subordinate courts; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=STATOISTICS-UP-TO-60-OF-JUDGES-POSTS-ARE-13092016008038 ''The Times of India''], September 13, 2016|frame|500px]]	+	[[File: The worst emitters of sulphur dioxide in 2017-18, India’s rank among the world’s worst; and India’s worst regions and cities.jpg|The worst emitters of sulphur dioxide in 2017-18: <br/> India’s rank among the world’s worst; and <br/> India’s worst regions and cities. <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F08%2F20&entity=Ar00401&sk=3B33B2BE&mode=text  Vishwa Mohan, August 20, 2019: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
−	The country needed more judges to counter the increase in per capita litigation, which he said was bound to rise further with improved literacy rates and incomes. The shortage of judges in our courts is laid bare by the fact that there are glaring vacancies even in the sanctioned posts	+	Coal-based power makes India top global SO2 emitter: Greenpeace
		+	New Delhi:
		+	Sulphur dioxide (SO2), a significant contributor to air pollution, may be within the national ambient air quality standard in all major cities in India, but the country is the largest cumulative emitter of this pollutant in the world and thus prone to being a victim of a cocktail of several toxic air pollutants.
−	[[Category:India |G ]]	+	As a reactive pollutant, SO2 reacts with other air pollutants to form sulphate particles and makes a significant part of particulate matter (PM2.5), which has the largest public health impact. It is estimated that SO2 commonly makes up more than 10% of the deadly fine particles in India and China.
−	[[Category:Law,Constitution,Judiciary |G ]]	+
−	== Sexual harassment victims allowed three months paid leave : Govt ==	+	Though Russia’s Norilsk smelter complex is the largest individual SO2 emission hotspot, India figured at the top, contributing more than 15% of all anthropogenic sulphur dioxide globally in 2018. The primary reason for the country’s high emission output is the expansion of coal-based electricity generation over the past decade.
−	[http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/sexual-harassment-victims-allowed-three-months-paid-leave-govt/ Daily Excelsior , Sexual harassment victims allowed three months paid leave : Govt "Daily Excelsior" 18/7/2015]	+
−	A complainant in sexual harassment case will be allowed three months paid leave and she or the charged Government employee can be transferred to other department during the inquiry, according to a fresh set of strict instructions by the Centre in such cases.	+	These are the findings of a new report by Greenpeace, a global environmental NGO, which analysed sulphur dioxide hotspots detected by US space agency Nasa’s OMI (Ozone Monitoring Instrument) satellite. It shows Russia is the second largest cumulative emitter of sulphur dioxide followed by China, Mexico, Iran, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
−	The disciplinary authority has been directed not to dispense with the inquiry in complaints of sexual harassment lightly, arbitrarily or with ulterior motive or merely because the case against the Government servant is weak.	+	The Greenpeace study, released on Monday, finds that Singrauli, Neyveli, Talcher, Jharsuguda, Korba, Kutch, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Ramagundam and Raigarh are the major SO2 emission hotspots in India.
−	The committees for checking sexual harassment at work place will have the powers to recommend transfer of the aggrieved woman or the charged officer to any other workplace, and to grant leave to the aggrieved woman up to a period of three months. “The leave will not be deducted from her leave account,” it said.	+	Analysis of ambient air quality data by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India’s national pollution watchdog, however, shows that sulphur dioxide levels were within the acceptable limits in all 50 major cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Pune and Kanpur, in the country during 2016-18.
		+	Asked for explanation, clean air analyst and one of the authors of this report, Sunil Dahiya, said, “Although SO2 concentration monitored directly across cities in India might show low values, being a reactive pollutant, it converts to sulphates very quickly, making a significant part of secondary PM2.5, which has proven to be a major health risk across the world, leading to millions of deaths”.
−	Complaints committees have been set up in all ministries and organisations under them in pursuance to the judgement of the Supreme Court in the Vishakha case. These committees are to be headed by a woman and at least half of its members should be women.	+	Citing an example, he told TOI that the IIT Kanpur report on air pollution in Delhi, compiled in 2015, also highlighted this fact by mentioning that 90% reduction in SO2 from power plants within 300km of the capital will result in reduction of approximately 35 micrograms per cubic metre of PM2.5.
−	“In case a woman officer of sufficiently senior level is not available in a particular office, an officer from another office may be so appointed. To prevent the possibility of any undue pressure or influence from senior levels, such complaints committees should involve a third party, either an NGO or some other body which is familiar with the issue of sexual harassment,” the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said in its instructions.	+	The report noted that among the major emitters of SO2, China has been able to reduce emissions rapidly by dramatically improving emissions standards for its power plants and enforcing sulphur dioxide controls.
−	The aggrieved woman or complainant is required to make a complaint within three months of the incident and in case there has been a series of incidents, three months of the last incident, it said.	+	“This report makes it clear that we cannot give coal power plants a free hand to continue polluting and keep leading to a health emergency situation in India due to air pollution,” said Pujarini Sen, senior campaigner at Greenpeace, in a statement.
−	The complaints committee may, however, extend the time limit for reasons to be recorded in writing, if it is satisfied that the circumstances were such which prevented the complainant from filing a complaint within the stipulated period, the DoPT guidelines said.	+	==Toxic metals==
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F01%2F18&entity=Ar00310&sk=E852B710&mode=text&fbclid=IwAR2p2al-sEcLtTaj7s4JMkvA5ZJb40v8yWaldHzs477bIxs2qF_eE1-Ytjw  High levels of toxic metals in air: Study, January 18, 2019: ''The Times of India'']
−	Sexual harassment includes physical contact and advances, demand or request for sexual favours, sexually coloured remarks, showing any pornography and any other unwelcome physical, verbal, non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature.	+	[[File: Samples of air taken from Delhi and Gurgaon in November- December 2018 revealed presence of alarming levels of toxic heavy metals, in addition to excess PM2.5.jpg|Samples of air taken from Delhi and Gurgaon in November- December 2018 revealed presence of alarming levels of toxic heavy metals, in addition to excess PM2.5 <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F01%2F18&entity=Ar00310&sk=E852B710&mode=text&fbclid=IwAR2p2al-sEcLtTaj7s4JMkvA5ZJb40v8yWaldHzs477bIxs2qF_eE1-Ytjw  High levels of toxic metals in air: Study, January 18, 2019: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
−	Besides, implied or explicit promise of preferential or detrimental treatment in employment; implied or explicit threat about her present or future employment status; interference with her work, creating an intimidating, offensive or hostile work environment for her; and humiliating treatment likely to affect her health or safety may also amount to sexual harassment, it said. The committee may make recommendations including deduction from the salary or wages of the charged officer such sum as it may consider appropriate to be paid to the aggrieved woman or to her legal heirs.	+	Samples of air taken from Delhi and Gurgaon in November and December 2018 have revealed the presence of alarming levels of toxic heavy metals such as manganese, nickel and lead, in addition to excess PM2.5, according to a study released by an NGO, Lung Care Foundation.
−	“Committee may recommend action to be taken against complainant, if the allegation is malicious, or the complainant knows it to be false, or has produced any forged or misleading document. The Committee may also recommend action against any witness if such witness has given false evidence or produced any forged or misleading document,” the DoPT instructions read. (PTI)	+	In the study, “Death in every breath”, results of seven air samples from New Delhi and Gurgaon were analysed. Levels of manganese in five samples were found to be much higher than the US standard while nickel concentration exceeded WHO guidelines in all seven samples. Lead levels exceeded the US safe standard in six samples and extremely high levels of barium were detected around Diwali.
−	=Suspension=	+	PM2.5 levels in all the seven samples were above statutory limits, ranging from 90.3 ug/m3 to 563.5 ug/m3 — between 1.5 and 9.4 times higher than standards prescribed by the Union environment ministry.
−	==Limited to 90 days==	+
−	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com//Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=SC-fixes-90-day-limit-for-suspension-of-17022015009098 ''The Times of India'']	+
−	Feb 17 2015	+
−	''' SC fixes 90-day limit for suspension of govt employees '''	+	Delhi air rich in 3 toxins that can cause brain damage, finds study
−	Amit Choudhary	+	Manganese levels in five samples exceeded the US EPA reference concentration for exposure to to the metal (0.05 ug/m3) and the WHO annual health-based guidelines value of 0.15 ug/m3. There are no standards in India for manganese in ambient air.
−	Protracted period of suspension of delinquent government employee has become a norm and such practice must be curbed, the Supreme Court on Monday said while fixing a period of ninety 90 days for authorities to complete proceedings against such an employee.	+	Levels of lead in six samples exceed the US EPA threemonth average for exposure to lead (0.15 ug/m3) and in two samples exceed the Indian NAAQS annual and WHO annual health-based guidelines value of 0.05 ug/m3.
−	The court said that an employee suffered ignominy and scorn of society due to prolonged period of suspension. “We, therefore, direct that the currency of a suspension order should not extend beyond three months... if within this period the Memorandum of ChargesChargesheet is not served on the delinquent officeremployee,“ a bench headed by Justice Vikaramajit Sen said. It said suspension, specially preceding the formulation of charges, is essentially transitory or temporary in nature, and must be of short duration.	+
−	“If it is for an indeterminate period or if its renewal is not based on sound reasoning contemporaneously available on the record, this would render it punitive in nature,“ the bench said.	+	Nickel levels in all samples exceed the WHO annual healthbased guidelines value of 0.0025 ug/m3, which is based on the risk of cancer associated with long-term exposure to nickel.
−	“Protracted periods of suspension, repeated renewal thereof, have regrettably become the norm and not the exception that they ought to be. The suspended person suffering the ignominy of insinuations, the scorn of society and the derision of his department, has to endure this excruciation even before he is formally charged with some misdemeanour or offence,“ the bench said The court passed the order on a petition filed by defence estate officer Ajay Kumar Choudhary who was kept suspended for a long time.	+	“Manganese, lead and nickel are neurotoxins that damage the brain. Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of lead. Exposures to even low levels of lead early in life have been linked to effects on IQ, learning, memory and behavior. It’s a matter of very serious concern that such high levels of these toxic metals are found in the air that our children breathe,” said Dr Arvind Kumar of Lung Care Foundation.
−	= Temporary staff=	+	“There is an urgent need for policy makers to bring the focus back on the people and the health problems they are reporting, to understand the impact of air pollution and its severity. People are the best monitors and they have been reporting severe health impacts already,” he said.
−	==Should be paid on a par with regular staff==	+
−	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=SC-Temporary-staff-should-be-paid-on-par-27102016023011  AmitAnand Choudhary, SC: Temporary staff should be paid on par with regular ones, Oct 27 2016 : The Times of India]	+
		+	The barium level in the sample collected a day before Diwali was 21.5 µg/m3. It was 5.8 µg/m3 on Diwali and 2.4 µg/ m3 the day after.
−	`Follow Equal Pay For Equal Work Principle'	+	According to Dr Mark Chernaik, staff scientist at Environment Law Alliance Worlwide (ELAW), US, “These levels are extremely high and unheard of. Typically, barium levels are <0.05 µg/m3.” Based on limited human and animal data, the respiratory tract is the most sensitive target following inhalation exposure. According to studies, barium, typically as barium nitrate, imparts a yellow or apple green colour to fireworks. For brilliant green, barium monochloride is used.
−	In what comes as a relief for lakhs of temporary employees who have been hired by government departments and agencies across the country on contractual basis, the Supreme Court held on Wednesday that they are entitled to wages on par with permanent staff under the `equal pay for equal work' principle.	+	[[Category:Climate|A
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Development|P
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		+	[[Category:Economy-Industry-Resources|P
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		+	[[Category:Environment and pollution|A
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		+	[[Category:Pages with broken file links|AIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
−	A bench of Justices JS Khehar and SA Bobde said the principle of `equal pay for equal work' constitutes a clear and unambiguous right vested in every employee, whether engaged on regular or temporary basis.	+	=Prosecution of offenders=
		+	==2016==
		+	[http://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2017%2F12%2F06&entity=Ar01301&sk=55C0E9BF&mode=text  Vishwa Mohan, December 6, 2017: ''The Times of India'']
−	“In our considered view, it is fallacious to determine artificial parameters to deny fruits of labour. An employee engaged for the same work, cannot be paid less than another ... Certainly not, in a welfare state. Such an action besides being demeaning, strikes at the very foundation of human dignity ,“ the bench said.	+	[[File: Cases relating to "green" offences, 2015-16; The 5 states that registered the highest number of cases in 2016.jpg|Cases relating to "green" offences, 2015-16; The 5 states that registered the highest number of cases in 2016 <br/> From: [http://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2017%2F12%2F06&entity=Ar01301&sk=55C0E9BF&mode=text  Vishwa Mohan, December 6, 2017: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
−	The bench said the principle had been expounded through a large number of judge ments rendered by the apex court and constitutes law declared by the Supreme Court.
−	“Any act of paying less wages as compared to others similarly situated, constitutes an act of exploitative enslavement, emerging out of a domineering position. Undoubtedly, the action is oppressive, suppressive and coercive as it compels involuntary subjugation,“ Justice Khehar said.	+	'''See graphic''':
−	The court passed the verdict on petitions filed by temporary employees working for Punjab seeking wage parity with regular employees. They approached the SC after the Punjab and Haryana HC held that temporary employees were not entitled to the minimum of the regular pay-scale.	+	''Cases relating to "green" offences, 2015-16 <br/> The 5 states that registered the highest number of cases in 2016''
−	Setting aside the HC order, the SC held that the principle of `equal pay for equal work' must be followed as India is a signatory to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. “ There is no escape from the above obligation, in view of different provisions of the Constitution and in view of the law declared by this court under Article 141 of the Constitution. The principle of `equal pay for equal work' constitutes a clear and unambiguous right and is vested in every employee -whether engaged on regular or temporary basis,“ it said.	+	This is how serious Delhi is about its air
−	=Transfers=
−	[http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?skin=pastissues2&enter=LowLevel From the archives of '' The Times of India '' 2010]	+	'''Not A Single Case Registered In City Under Pollution Law'''
−	Courts shouldn’t meddle in routine transfers: HC	+	Delhi had seen one of the worst years in terms of air pollution in 2016 but the city did not file a single case against anyone for violating the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, reflecting gaps in the enforcement of green laws in the country.
		+
		+	The crime figures released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) last week capture this irony with the country as a whole registering only 25 cases under the air pollution law act with the maximum 21 being registered in Maharashtra and two each in Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.
		+
		+	Though the number of cases collectively under all five green laws in the country has consistently been decreasing since 2014, the registration of lower number of cases under air and water pollution acts puts a big question mark over the functioning of the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) across the country.
		+
		+	“The SPCBs have policing power, but they are not exercising it. They simply issue warning, asking them to refrain from violating air or water pollution act. It is a serious enforcement issue and the government must intervene to address this,” environment lawyer Ritwick Dutta told TOI.
		+
		+	He said that most of the SPCBs do not even lawyers to take up their cases in court. “Not even a single person is convicted under the air pollution act since 1980. Just issuing warnings and handling it without bringing it to the notice of courts (by registering cases) are something which should be questioned”, said Dutta.
		+
		+	The five green laws under which violators are booked in the country include Indian Forest Act, 1927; Wildlife Protection Act, 1972; Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
		+
		+	According to the NCRB, total 4,732 cases were registered under various environmental laws. Most of the cases registered in 2016 were related to violations of forest and wildlife protection laws with only 25 being registered under air pollution act and 11 under water pollution act.
		+
		+	Asked about such a huge number of cases under forest and wildlife protection laws, Dutta said forest officials were trained to do policing jobs unlike their counterparts in SPCBs. “Better enforcement is also linked to career progression of forest officials and therefore the conservators do their jobs diligently”, he said.
		+
		+
		+
		+	[[Category:Climate|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Development|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Economy-Industry-Resources|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Environment and pollution|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:India|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+
		+	=Reduction of pollution: measures=
		+	==Measures taken by Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan/ 2013, '14==
		+
		+	[[File: Measures taken by Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan to limit air pollution.jpg| Measures taken by Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan to limit air pollution; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Gallery.aspx?id=06_12_2015_005_018_011&type=P&artUrl=CPCB-can-ensure-state-compliance-06122015005018&eid=31808 ''The Times of India''], December 6, 2015|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	See graphic, 'Measures taken by Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan'
		+
		+	==PAT (perform, achieve, trade)’s achievements 2012-15==
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Just-478-units-reduced-2-of-Indias-annual-26102017015013  Just 478 units reduced 2% of India's annual CO2 emission, October 26, 2017: The Times of India]
		+
		+	[[File: Power saving, some statistics-energy saving, emission reduction, savings in rupees, skill development, investment into domestic manufacturing of energy efficient apparatus.jpg|Power saving, some statistics-energy saving, emission reduction, savings in rupees, skill development, investment into domestic manufacturing of energy efficient apparatus <br/> From: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Just-478-units-reduced-2-of-Indias-annual-26102017015013  Just 478 units reduced 2% of India's annual CO2 emission, October 26, 2017: The Times of India]|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	Just 478 industrial units from energy-intensive industries have reduced their carbon emission by 31 million tonne, or 2% of India's total annual emission, and saved over Rs 9,500 crore through more efficient energy use in the three years between 2012 and 2015, the first report card of a governmentpromoted scheme shows.
		+
		+	The results for the first implementation cycle of PAT (perform, achieve & trade) scheme of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency under the power ministry also shows monetary savings of Rs 37,685 crore from avoided generation of 5,635 MW, indicating a gradual greening of Indian industry .
		+
		+	The first cycle of PAT (2012-15) covered the chosen factories -called `designated units' -from eight sectors with high energy consumption: aluminium, cement, chloralkali, fertiliser, iron & steel, pulp and paper, textiles and thermal power plants. Together, these sectors account for about 33% of India's primary energy consumption.
		+
		+	PAT is a market-based mechanism focused on reducing energy consumption for each unit of production in large energy-intensive industries. It is being implemented under the National Mission on Enhanced Ener gy Efficiency (NMEEE) as part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) of 2012.
		+
		+	The scheme facilitates large, energy-intensive industries to achieve their legal obligation under the Energy Conservation Act of 2001 and also motivating them with necessary market-based incentives to reduce their perunit energy consumption and surpass their individual energy saving targets.
		+
		+	These results are encouraging in the backdrop of last week's healthy start to Energy Efficiency Certificates (ESCerts) trading. Industry generated over Rs 11 crore of additional revenue during the first month of trading. Some 117,425 ESCerts have been exchanged at an average bid price of Rs 990 each in the auctions over the past month.
		+
		+	The government launched ESCert trading on the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) and the Power Exchange India Ltd (PXIL) on September 26. The certificates are traded only on Tuesdays through closed doublesided uniform price auction.
		+
		+	The certificates are issued by the power ministry to industries that surpass the energy saving targets set by BEE under `PAT (perform, achieve and trade)' scheme.
		+
		+	The PAT scheme is now being implemented as a rolling cycle, with new units notified for a period of three years every year. Thus, there will be no gap in notifying new units, as was the case between PAT I and PAT II.
		+
		+	== 2016 was cleaner than 2013 in some places==
		+	[http://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2017%2F12%2F01&entity=Ar01614&sk=609B5EF4&mode=text  Jayashree Nandi & Atul Thakur, Winter’s here, but more cities see improvement in air quality: CPCB, December 1, 2017:  ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	[[File: PM10 annual average-Stations with maximum deterioration, 2013-16; States with maximum improvement, 2013-16.jpg|PM10 annual average-Stations with maximum deterioration, 2013-16; States with maximum improvement, 2013-16 <br/> From: [http://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2017%2F12%2F01&entity=Ar01614&sk=609B5EF4&mode=text  Jayashree Nandi & Atul Thakur, Winter’s here, but more cities see improvement in air quality: CPCB, December 1, 2017:  ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	'''See graphic''':
		+
		+	''PM10 annual average-<br/> i) Stations with maximum deterioration, 2013-16; <br/> '') States with maximum improvement, 2013-16''
		+
		+	Winter’s arrival is often followed by grim stories on smog episodes and severe air pollution in north Indian cities. This popular perception of forever deteriorating air quality may be a partial picture. An analysis of data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB’s) national air quality monitoring programme (NAMP) shows surprising trends.
		+
		+	A little over half (52%) of the 482 stations for which continuous data was available have recorded an improvement or no change in annual average levels of PM 10 (coarse polluting particles) between 2013 and 2016. The road to clean air remains very long, as despite this improvement more than 80% of these stations have PM 10 concentrations higher than the annual safe standard of 60 µg/m3.
		+
		+	Much of this data is only indicative and cannot establish reliable trends because only at 76 of these stations was air quality monitored for at least 104 days a year as recommended by CPCB’s guidelines. But even among the 76 stations, 48 showed improvement and 28 recorded a decline in air quality.
		+
		+	Among these 76 stations, the ones in Punjab’s Khanna municipality showed the highest decrease while a station in Ujjain saw the highest increase in PM10 concentration. Stations at Ludhiana, Guwahati, Allahabad, Nagpur and Nashik were among those that saw a decline in PM10 concentration. Those that recorded increases were located at Shimla, Vishakhapatnam, Chandigarh, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Agra. Once again, despite the improvement, PM10 concentration was higher than the safe level in 37 of the 48 stations.
		+
		+	If we consider all 482 stations, air pollution levels have peaked massively in cities like Delhi, Tuticorin, Dehradun, Nanded and Dhanbad. In the port and industrial city, Tuticorin, PM 10 levels increased from 87 micrograms per cubic metres to 245 micrograms per cubic metres, in Dehradun’s ISBT station from 178 in 2013 to 302 in 2016. Similarly, Bhopal’s Hamidia Road saw significant improvement from 333 in 2013 to 110 in 2016. Stations in Alwar, Kochi and Kolkata also recorded significant declines, though none of them met the 104-day monitoring guidelines.
		+
		+	CPCB officials declined to comment on why air quality was not adequately monitored but explained “We try to assess the trends based on whatever data we have till now. Most state pollution control boards are highly short staffed, they do not have adequate funds, while for some air quality is not a priority issue.”
		+
		+	The officials said that “success stories” haven’t been documented but they know that some pollution control boards are working with municipal authorities and their development bodies to ensure improvement in air pollution levels. “Our air quality goal is the notified air quality standard. Land use planning and development needs to be done with air quality goals in mind. We know many stations in Kerala, in Maharashtra are improving because of their good land use planning,” said Dipankar Saha, head of CPCB’s air lab.
		+
		+	Manju Mohan, head of IIT Delhi’s Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, cautions that the data from the 482 stations may actually be indicative of increasing air pollution levels.
		+
		+	==Colour-coded stickers for vehicles/ 2018==
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F08%2F14&entity=Ar01711&sk=62AF44C2&mode=text  AmitAnand Choudhary, August 14, 2018: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	[[File: Colour-coded stickers for vehicles on the basis of level of pollution they cause- Blue, Orange and Green.jpg|Colour-coded stickers for vehicles on the basis of level of pollution they cause- Blue, Orange and Green <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F08%2F14&entity=Ar01711&sk=62AF44C2&mode=text  AmitAnand Choudhary, August 14, 2018: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	On the lines of the practice followed in Paris, different colour-coded hologram-based stickers would now be put on vehicles in India to indicate the nature of fuel being used. Vehicles running on relatively cleaner fuels like petrol and CNG would be given blue sticker while similar ones in orange would be pasted on vehicles using diesel. It will be rolled out from the national capital by end of next month.
		+
		+	Prodded by the Supreme Court to adopt colour-coded stickers for vehicles, the Centre on Monday told a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur, S Abdul Nazeer and Deepak Gupta that the government had decided to amend the Central Motors Vehicles Rules to pave the way for mandatory pasting of stickers on cars.
		+
		+	The proposal for colour coding was mooted by advocate Aparajita Singh, who is assisting the court as amicus curiae. She pleaded that colour coding would be more effective than ‘evenodd scheme’ in controlling pollution whenever it reached alarming level as the authorities could identify polluting vehicles without examining them.
		+
		+	“It is important to classify fuel according to its polluting properties. This would help policy-makers and public in identifying cleaner vehicles. Paris has classified vehicles into six categories based on fuel and issued colour-coded stickers for identification. Similar colour-coded stickers can be used to identify vehicles in India and restrict the use of dirtier vehicles during poor category days. This would be more scientific than the ‘odd and even scheme’ that is being followed presently,” she told the bench.
		+
		+	=Reduction of pollution: successes=
		+	==2016-18==
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F07%2F15&entity=Ar00304&sk=1128F17B&mode=text  Vishwa Mohan, July 15, 2019: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	[[File: Cities where PM10 has dropped, 2016-18.jpg|Cities where PM10 has dropped, 2016-18 <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F07%2F15&entity=Ar00304&sk=1128F17B&mode=text  Vishwa Mohan, July 15, 2019: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	[[File: 2016-18- Trend of PM10 level in select cities.jpg|2016-18: Trend of PM10 level in select cities <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F07%2F15&entity=Ar00304&sk=1128F17B&mode=text  Vishwa Mohan, July 15, 2019: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	The national capital may be the most polluted city in the country but the level of a key pollutant, PM10, has been consistently declining here since 2016 unlike in less polluted cities such as Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Bhopal, where concentrations of the deadly particulate matter have increased in the last three years.
		+
		+	Analysis of data from 50 cities for 2016, 2017 and 2018 showed a declining trend in Delhi, Varanasi, Ranchi, Raipur, Vijayawada and Bengaluru, among others, whereas PM10 levels rose in Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Jodhpur, Kota, Gwalior and Jabalpur.
		+
		+	The government shared the data on PM10 in Parliament recently. Though data on PM2.5 levels is also available, the information is sketchy as many cities did not start measuring concentrations of these finer, respirable particles three years ago.
		+
		+	Around 14 cities showed an increasing trend in PM10. Another 14 showed a decreasing trend while the levels were fluctuating in 22 cities, including Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Allahabad, Patna, Amritsar, Nagpur, Pune, Hyderabad and Chandigarh.
		+
		+	Though the National Clean Air Programme, launched in January, aims to reduce both PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations in 102 cities by 20-30% by 2024 (from 2017 levels), the PM2.5 trend is currently available for only 17 cities.
		+
		+
		+	''' Delhi measures helped cut PM 10 level '''
		+
		+	Analysis showed that many cities suffering from high pollution levels, including Delhi, Varanasi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Jaipur, Mumbai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad, will continue to be polluted even if target of reducing 30% of PM10 concentrations in the next five years is achieved.
		+
		+	This means the current target is not enough to bring level of pollutants to the acceptable limit — that is, an annual average of 60 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/ m3) — by 2024. It may be possible only by scaling up efforts in these cities.
		+
		+	Particulate matter can get deep into the lungs (particularly PM2.5) and some may even get into the bloodstream, causing serious health problems.
		+
		+	Steady decline in the levels of PM10 in Delhi may be attributed to multiple actions such as leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standard, operationalisation of eastern and western peripheral expressways, implementing dust mitigation measures and closing down coal-based Badarpur thermal power plant, among others. Much more, however, needs to be done to substantially bring down the level of pollutants to the acceptable limit in the national capital and the other 101 cities identified under the NCAP.
		+
		+	[[Category:Climate|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Development|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Economy-Industry-Resources|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Environment and pollution|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:India|PAIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+
		+	=Region-wise=
		+	==Northern plains, pollution==
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Why-our-northern-plains-are-worlds-most-polluted-13052016015027 ''The Times of India''], May 13 2016
		+
		+	Amit Bhattacharya
		+
		+	The northern Indian plains have again come into focus as one of the globe's most-polluted regions, with nine of the world's 20 most polluted cities in the 2016 WHO urban air pollution database from this swathe of land.
		+	What make this region's air so foul? It's a confluence of factors, say experts, with geography , climate, population, agricultural practices as well as fossil fuel emissions all playing a part.
		+
		+	“A major reason for high pollution in the Indo-Gangetic plains is its geography. Located next to the Himalayas, this is a wind convergence zone which transports pollution from other places into these region,“ said Gufan Beig, project director of System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), which monitors air quality in a number of cities.
		+
		+	The convergence factor shows up the most in winters, when the region sees spells of dense fog due to cold winds coming from the west. Fog traps pollutants, leading to sharp deterioration in air quality .Cold winds also leads to `inversion', wherein pollutants are trapped near the surface.
		+
		+	The northern plains also have among the highest population densities in the world.This translates to higher pollution from human activities.“The other major source of pollution is the practice of crop burning. During winters, soot from these fires hang in the air longer. The region also sees high use of coal and wood, which are very polluting, for cooking,“ Beig said. Ironically, the region's fertile alluvial soil, which attracted people to this belt, also contributes to its pollution. Alluvial soil is highly dusty when dry , say experts.
		+
		+	“Many parts of this region do not get much rain -the average for Delhi is 40 days in a year -which is why these places are very dusty ,“ said a CPCB official.
		+
		+	These natural causes have combined with growing vehicular and industrial emissions to make the plains the pollution hotspot of the world.
		+
		+	== Delhi, Odisha, UP-MP among world’s NO2 hotspots==
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F10%2F30&entity=Ar01215&sk=A20A13C3&mode=text  U Sudhakarreddy, Report: Delhi, Odisha, UP-MP among world’s NO2 hotspots, October 30, 2018: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+
		+	Delhi, Odisha and the Uttar Pradesh-Madhya Pradesh region are among the top 50 global hotspots for NO2 emissions, environmental watchdog ‘Greenpeace’ said on Monday after analysing new satellite data.
		+
		+	NO2 is a dangerous pollutant that impacts human health. The satellite data was gathered from European Space Agency’s Sentinel 5P satellite recorded between June and August 2018. Coal and vehicular emissions were identified as the two principal sources of NO2.
		+
		+	Greenpeace said toxic clouds hover over parts of Secunderabad and Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Vishakapatnam, Ramagundam in the two Telugu states. While the toxic clouds over the twin cities is due to vehicular pollution, in Vijayawada and Vizag it is due to vehicular pollution and presence of thermal plants while in Ramagundam it is due to thermal plants alone.
		+
		+	Ramagundam in Telangana has a Red Spot because of the highest level of NO2 thickness measured in Dobson units because of the presence of thermal plants there. The high presence of toxic clouds in Vishakapatnam and Atchyutyapuram is due to the presence of Vizag thermal power station, Simhadri power station and Vizag steel power plant, while in Vijayawada, it is due to Dr Narla Thermal power Plant. Ramagundam has very high NO2 clouds because of the thermal plants at Ramagundam, Paloncha and Kothagudem.
		+
		+	Former joint environmental chief scientist of Telangana Pollution Control Board Dr P Veeranna told TOI, “NO2 pollution is caused due to vehicular pollution. The concentration of nitrogen dioxide depends on the wind direction too. In Hyderabad, we don’t have other sources except for vehicular emissions. The boiler units of drug industries are small compared to thermal power plants.”
		+
		+	==2020: PM2.5, NO2, rising in Delhi, Kanpur==
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL/2021/04/30&entity=Ar00606&sk=5AC6CB4D&mode=text  April 30, 2021: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+
		+	Levels of air pollutants, such as fine particles (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), both hazardous to health, are increasing in Kanpur and Delhi, according to scientists using observations from instruments on satellites that scan the global skies every day.
		+
		+	The findings, led by the University of Birmingham and University College London (UCL), showed that the rise in PM2.5 and NO2 reflect increasing vehicle ownership, industrialisation and the limited effect of air pollution policies to date. This contrasts with trends in the UK’s London and Birmingham, which show modest, but ongoing declines in PM2.5 and NOx, reflecting the success of policies targeting sources that emit these pollutants.
		+
		+	The study, published in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, also showed increases in the air pollutant formaldehyde in Delhi, Kanpur and London. IANS
		+
		+	==Uttarakhand==
		+	===2021, Jan- May===
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL/2021/06/06&entity=Ar01511&sk=F295A5DE&mode=text  June 6, 2021: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+
		+	The spate of forest fires earlier this year may have caused Dehradun’s air quality to plummet to ‘poor category’ — where air quality index (AQI) levels hover between 201 and 300 — for two straight months. In March, the AQI was 237, and April 225. This put Dehradun in the same range as Delhi, where the AQI swung between 190 to 250 during the same period.
		+
		+	“In all likelihood, the pollution rise in Dehradun in these two months can be related to the forest fires, with other factors like construction works and vehicular pollution also contributing,” said SP Subudhi, member secretary, state pollution control board.
		+
		+	Rishikesh, which neighbours Dehradun, also witnessed poor AQI of 221 during March. Covid curfew seems to have had little impact on the environment of Uttarakhand this time unlike previous year’s lockdown when the air quality in March and April remained in ‘moderate and satisfactory categories’ with AQI levels between 51 and 200 across the state.
		+
		+	In March, the state lost 868.4 hectares of forest cover in 627 fire incidents whereas April saw 1,807 fire incidents and the loss of 24,18.65 hectares of forest cover. The intensity of forest fires this year could be gauged by the fact that in April IAF choppers called from Bareilly for fire-fighting in Kumaon could not take off because the smoke was extremely dense.
		+
		+	[[Category:Climate|A
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Development|P
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Economy-Industry-Resources|P
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Environment and pollution|A
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:India|P
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+	[[Category:Pages with broken file links|AIR POLLUTION: INDIAAIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+
		+	=Season-wise=
		+	==Winter==
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Air-no-good-in-any-of-winter-months-18032017006003  Air no good in any of winter months: Study, March 18, 2017: The Times of India]
		+
		+
		+	''' 89% Of Days In `Poor' Category '''
		+
		+	The Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED) on Friday released a report on `ambient air quality of Delhi' for winter months, which depicted alarming levels of PM 2.5 in the capital between November and February .
		+
		+	Not a single day in the four-month-long winter season was noted under the “good“ air quality category , while a whopping 89% of the total days fell into either the “poor“ or “very poor“ categories of the graded response action plan (GRAP) notified by the Supreme court.The report also noted that 6% of the total winter days fell into the “severe“ category, with PM 2.5 levels between 250-300 microgramscubic metre.
		+
		+	According to the report, 981 microgramscubic metre was the maximum 24-hour average concentration of PM 2.5 observed, which was recorded at the monitoring station of Delhi Technologi cal University (DTU) near Bawana Industrial Area on November 5. This is 16 times higher than the prescribed limits of 60 microgramscubic metre for the 24-hour rolling average of PM 2.5.
		+	“The air quality of the city was unbreathable and is choking its residents, especially those more vulnerable to it. It is a crisis looming at our faces and we cannot turn a blind eye to it. GRAP is the way forward and will help in improving the situation,“ said Dimpy Suneja, programme officer, CEED.
		+
		+	The findings have been based on data collected from 10 real-time air monitoring stations in Delhi, set up by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
		+	The findings were recorded between November 2016 and February 2017 from stations including ITO, Anand Vihar, Mandir Marg and Punjabi Bagh.
		+	The report also revealed that the monthly mean values showed a downward trend from November onwards.
		+
		+	==Monsoon==
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F07%2F29&entity=Ar00318&sk=8731D79F&mode=text  For first time in 2018, you are breathing ‘good air’ ,  July 29, 2018: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	[[File: PM 2.5 concentrations in Delhi, Jan-July 2018; The city recorded safe PM 2.5 (fine, respirable particulate matter) concentrations after the onset of monsoon.jpg|PM 2.5 concentrations in Delhi: Jan-July 2018. <br/> The city recorded safe PM 2.5 (fine, respirable particulate matter) concentrations after the onset of monsoon <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F07%2F29&entity=Ar00318&sk=8731D79F&mode=text  For first time in 2018, you are breathing ‘good air’ ,  July 29, 2018: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	While showers may be stopping you from venturing outdoors, now is the best time to step out in the open. The city’s air quality has turned “good” for the first time this year as rains wash away pollutants.
		+
		+	The city has been recording safe PM 2.5 (fine, respirable particulate matter) concentrations since the onset of monsoon. On Saturday, the running average PM 2.5 concentration was measured at 29 micrograms per cubic metres, according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting Research. The 24-hour safe standard is 60.
		+
		+	The air quality is likely to deteriorate once the monsoon ends and stubble burning starts towards the end of September and early October.
		+
		+	SAFAR’s forecast shows that PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations will remain in the ‘good’ category. Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at just 43 on Friday which classified as ‘good’, while it was 58 on Saturday — which falls into the ‘satisfactory’ category of Central Pollution Control Board’s index.
		+
		+	An AQI in the range of 0-50 is classified as ‘Good’, 51-100 as ‘satisfactory’.
		+
		+	The pollution board’s realtime air quality monitoring shows that Delhi is recording the best PM 2.5 levels this year. In the last seven days, its air quality has been in the ‘safe’ zone with a sharp dip in PM2.5 levels on Friday. According to CPCB, PM 10 concentrations ranged 93 micrograms per cubic metres to 39 in the last seven days, while PM 2.5 concentrations ranged from 73 to 31.
		+
		+	=Solutions=
		+	==Scrap laws for Preservation of Sub Soil Water ==
		+	[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F11%2F09&entity=Ar00804&sk=B51476F5&mode=text  Sudhir Vohra, Nov 9, 2019: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	[[File: Arguments for and against laws for the Preservation of Sub Soil Water.jpg|Arguments for and against laws for the Preservation of Sub Soil Water <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F11%2F09&entity=Ar00804&sk=B51476F5&mode=text  Sudhir Vohra, Nov 9, 2019: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	In the escalating debate on the effect of stubble burningwhich causes farm fires in Punjab and Haryana —on air quality in Delhi and rest of NCR, one important point has been missed. And that is where lies the root of the problem.
		+
		+	In 2007 and 2008, Punjab State Farmers and Farm Workers’ Commission (PSFC), a body tasked to look at issues concerning farmers in that state, suggested that the sowing of paddy in the state be delayed by a month. This it said could be achieved by enacting a law restricting farmers from sowing their paddy seedlings till the 10th of May and from transplanting paddy till the 10th of June every year.
		+
		+	The immediate objective of that proposed legislation was to arrest the dropping levels of groundwater in the state. Initially, both Congress and Akali governments shied away from enacting such a law (as they felt it would not be liked by farmers) , The Punjab Preservation of Sub Soil Water Act, 2009, was finally enacted. Haryana quickly enacted an identical act in 2010.
		+
		+	Both states have been growing paddy since the early seventies, three decades before the act was notified. Paddy is a water guzzling crop and it indeed leads to depletion of groundwater in some regions of these states. This move, however, failed to anticipate its effect on the neighbouring states.
		+
		+	Farmers in both states began delaying their paddy crop by about 30 days. The farmers used to begin the sowing of seedlings earlier in April, right after harvesting the wheat crop and sometimes even earlier as the area needed for seedlings is about 1% of the area needed post transplantation. This initial 30 days of delay in the sowing pattern had various implications for the crop .
		+
		+	First, the advantage of a hardy, disease-resistance paddy was lost. April and May are hot and dry months in these states. This helps the seedlings to become hardier and less disease-prone when transplanted after the customary 30 days of growth. This advantage was lost post 2009 and resulted in excessive use of chemical medicines.
		+
		+	Secondly, the harvesting date of the paddy crop was advanced by 30 days, and sometimes more. That resulted in the crop being harvested in late October and early November, months which coincide with Diwali as well as with the weeks when the autumn air gets colder and heavier. This delay of a month or more also coincides with burning of autumn leaves and of the post-monsoon brush growth which also adds to the air pollution.
		+
		+	Prior to the enactment of Punjab Preservation of Sub Soil Water Act, 2009, the paddy crop would be harvested in late September, just when the monsoon starts its retreat and when the air is cleaner. Since there is no cold weather to bother about in September, there is no fog or smog.
		+
		+	Agricultural technocrats in the Punjab state may still argue that the act helps in conserving groundwater in April and May and thus it made sense to enact the law then. What they don't want to tell us is that very little water is drawn from the soil in April (when the Rabi crop needs to dry up before harvesting around Baisakhi) and the farmer is forced to keep his land fallow for a month because of the act and that one month is not good for anything meaningful to be grown. They also fail to tell us that the 30-day delay forced on them by the act results in both extra expenditure on pesticides as well as a further delay in sowing of the next winter (Rabi) crop. And, of course, they don’t tell us how this 30-day delay causes pollution in the NCR and the “downward states” south of Punjab and Haryana.
		+
		+	While paddy needs water, one of the reasons for the water crisis in Punjab and Haryana is the decrepit state of the canal system, especially for agricultural use. Much of canal water is now being used to feed urban areas with drinking water and the original beautiful canal network and its associated advantage of recharging agricultural aquifers has been lost. The result is that whatever groundwater recharge takes place now is from the monsoon rain and not from the canal system.
		+
		+	Now that we know that the foul air in NCR is largely due to the untimely burning of crop straw in Punjab and Haryana, it may be time for the Centre to review the act.
		+
		+	[[Category:Climate|A
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
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		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+
		+	=Stoves (chulhas) pollute villages=
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Chulhas-make-Bharat-as-polluted-as-India-09012016011034 ''The Times of India''] Jan 09 2016
		+	[[File: air poll.jpg|Ambient air pollution in India: 2015|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	Vaishnavi Chandrashekhar
		+
		+	''' New Study Calls For Integrated Approach That Focuses On Reducing Exposure Not Emissions '''
		+
		+	Who's more affected by toxic air: A young executive in New Delhi or a housewife in a Haryana village?
		+
		+	One might assume the executive is worse off -after all, Delhi has the world's worst air. Yet a village woman who cooks over a dung-fuelled chulha for several hours a day could be more exposed to hazardous pollutants than a Delhi office worker.
		+
		+	This distinction between ambient pollution levels and individual exposure lies at the heart of a new report from a Union health ministry committee that -correcting a historical focus on urban air pollution -highlights the importance of tackling pollution from the burning of dung and wood in village chulhas across India.
		+
		+	The report, made available on the health ministry's website this week, calls for an integrated approach to air pollu tion that focuses on “reducing exposures not emissions“.
		+
		+	“All pollution is bad but, with the intention of eventually taking care of all of it, where do you focus your efforts first?“ said Ambuj Sagar, committee co-chair and Vipula and Mahesh Chaturvedi Professor of Policy Studies at the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi. “From a health standpoint, you prioritise reduction in areas and sources that most affect people directly.“
		+
		+	Top of the committee's list: reducing household air pollution from cooking with biomass because the proximity to humans makes stove smoke most harmful -next only to cigarette smoking.
		+
		+	Household cooking is “probably the largest single source of exposure in the country , although only one of many contributors to ambient air pollution,“ the report said.Most rural households in India, an estimated 780 million people, continue to rely on wood, dung and other biomass for cooking, while a good percentage of urban households also use non-LPG stoves.
		+
		+	Next on the committee's priority list: pollution from vehicles, garbage burning, and diesel generator sets -all micro or local sources of pollution. Then comes road and construction dust, followed by brick kilns, local industries, and then power plants and other large industries. Conventionally , environmental policy has focused on large-scale sources of ambient pollution. Road dust, for example, is thought to be a bigger source of pollution in Delhi than vehicles.
		+
		+	“The standard practice of ranking pollution sources on the basis of their contribution to ambient emissions...may be creating distortions in their apparent relative importance from the health standpoint, although perhaps adequate for other purposes -visibility , for example,“ the report says.
		+
		+	“Evaluation by exposure will not only re-order the ranking of major outdoor emission sources but will reveal an entirely different landscape of sources; those that may significantly affect exposure without appreciably affecting ambient concentration.“
		+
		+	Much more data and studies are needed to understand pollution patterns, Sagar said.Monitoring of air pollution is still largely confined to cities, the report notes, and monitors tend to be on rooftops “where people hardly ever are“.
		+
		+	To reduce household pollution, the report advocates expanding power and gas coverage as well as innovating cleaner stoves and running public health campaigns.Tackling air pollution should be part of the Swachh Bharat campaign, the committee said.
		+
		+	Emissions from cooking with biomass also contribute a quarter of ambient PM2.5 levels in the country , the report notes.
		+
		+	=Vehicular emissions=
		+	== Emission test norms lax: CSE==
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Gallery.aspx?id=04_02_2017_005_019_008&type=P&artUrl=Emission-test-norms-lax-CSE-04022017005019&eid=31808 Emission test norms lax: CSE The Times of India], Feb 4, 2017
		+
		+	[[File: Emission testing of vehicles, Jan1-25, 2017.jpg|Emission testing of vehicles, Jan 1-25, 2017; [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Gallery.aspx?id=04_02_2017_005_019_008&type=P&artUrl=Emission-test-norms-lax-CSE-04022017005019&eid=31808  Emission test norms lax: CSE The Times of India], Feb 4, 2017|frame|500px]]
		+
		+
		+	Only 5% of 3.93 lakh vehicles checked at 614 pollution under control (PUC) centres in Delhi between January 1 and 25 failed the emission test, according to data released by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). While this may seem like great news given the poor air quality in the capital, the tiny fail percentage raises serious questions about the efficiency of the system.
		+
		+	CSE researchers claim the data gathered from the transport department only show a huge inefficiency in dealing with vehicular emissions through the PUC system. The PUC norms for onroad vehicles are extremely lax for the older or pre-BS-IV vehicles. For diesel vehicles, only a smoke density test is carried out, which are particularly lenient--for BS-IV compliant vehicles, the norm is 50 hartridge smoke density (HSU) and 65 HSU for pre-BSIV vehicles.
		+
		+	The norm in Singapore and Pakistan is 40 HSU while it is 50 HSU in Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Malaysia. “It's like the norm itself is meant to catch the absolute worst offender. Why not also catch the other bad ones,“ asked a CSE researcher. Participants at a round-table on “Reinventing in-use emissions compliance regime“, held on Friday , discussed how not only were the standards lax, but there was too much corruption in the system.
		+
		+	“They (PUC centres) clear the vehicles because they will not get the money for the test otherwise. We have seen it happening several times,“ said a CPCB official present at the meeting.
		+
		+	The Supreme Court has directed the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) to audit all the 614 PUC stations. An audit carried out by CPCB in 2013 at 76 PUC centres had also exposed a number of anomalies, including non-compliance of the code of practice, poor condition of the laboratories, non-functioning analysers.
		+
		+	The CSE round-table also flagged the fact that the PUC system was not even designed to test tiny particles and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions.
		+
		+	==Carbon emission intensity==
		+	===2005-10: emissions reduced by 12%===
		+	[[File: Total greenhouse gas emissions by India in 2010, as well as the sectors of the economy that contributed to these emissions.jpg| Total greenhouse gas emissions by India in 2010, as well as the sectors of the economy that contributed to these emissions; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=India-cut-carbon-emission-intensity-by-12-in-23012016013007 ''The Times of India''], January 23, 2016|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	'''Sources:'''
		+
		+	1. [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=India-emission-down-12-in-five-years-23012016001018 ''The Times of India''], January 23, 2016
		+
		+	2. [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=India-cut-carbon-emission-intensity-by-12-in-23012016013007 ''The Times of India''], January 23, 2016, Vishwa Mohan
		+
		+	'''India emission down 12% in five years'''
		+	
		+	India is on course to fulfil its global commitment, having voluntarily cut its carbon emission intensity (emission per unit of GDP) by about 12% between 2005 and 2010, according to its report submitted to a UN climate body , reports Vishwa Mohan. The result shows the country is in line to reach its 20-25% reduction target by 2020 and subsequently the 33-35% emission intensity reduction goal by 2030 as promised by it.
		+	Just weeks after the Paris deal of December 2015, India submitted its first Biennial Update Report (BUR) to a UN climate body highlighting that the country is well on course to fullfil its global commitment by voluntarily cutting its carbon emission intensity (emission per unit of GDP) by about 12% between 2005 and 2010.
		+	The result appears encou raging as it shows that the country is in line to reach its 2025% reduction target by 2020 and subsequently the 33-35% emission intensity reduction goal by 2030 as promised by it in the country's climate action plan to the UN body . The BUR was submitted by India under its obligation to inform the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) about its action on the ground to deal with the challenges of climate change. As per the provisions of the Convention, countries need to periodically provide information in the form of their National Communication'.
		+
		+	The Paris climate agreement, reached by 195 countries on December 13 last year, had called for developing countries to submit their first biennial update reports as soon as possible. So far, 24 developing countries including Brazil, South Africa and South Korea have submitted the ir BURs. China, the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, is yet to submit its report. Brazil has submitted its report, but has given only provisional inventory .
		+
		+	Developed countries, on the other hand, are required to submit a report known as the Biennial Report (BR), which is to be submitted every alternate year and is subjected to International Ana lysis and Review (IAR). But, the BURs of developing countries are subjected to an international process known as International Consultation and Analysis (ICA). It is a process that includes international scrutiny of BUR in a manner that is “non-intrusive, non-punitive and respectful of national sovereignty“.
		+
		+	India's BUR was prepared by the ministry of environ ment and climate change in consultations with various public and private institutions. It was approved by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday .According to India's BUR, the country had emitted 2,136.84 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gases in 2010.About 12% of the emissions were, however, offset by carbon sink action of forests and croplands.
		+
		+	== Car emission testing==
		+	===Serious flaws: CSE, 2017===
		+	[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/auto/miscellaneous/toxicity-rising-in-top-gear-cse-report-finds-shocking-pitfalls-in-car-emission-testing/articleshow/57276017.cms Ajanta Chakraborty, Toxicity rising in top gear: CSE report finds shocking pitfalls in car emission testing, Feb 21, 2017: The Times of India]
		+
		+	[[File: Countries with the most air pollution deaths, India, Pakistan and the world.jpg|Countries with the most air pollution deaths, India, Pakistan and the world; [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/auto/miscellaneous/toxicity-rising-in-top-gear-cse-report-finds-shocking-pitfalls-in-car-emission-testing/articleshow/57276017.cms Ajanta Chakraborty, Toxicity rising in top gear: CSE report finds shocking pitfalls in car emission testing, Feb 21, 2017: The Times of India]|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	[[File: Number of years lost if one stayed in the above mentioned regions, Delhi, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha; Premature deaths due to exposure to PM 2.5 in 2011.jpg|Number of years lost if one stayed in the above mentioned regions, Delhi, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha; Premature deaths due to exposure to PM 2.5 in 2011; [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/auto/miscellaneous/toxicity-rising-in-top-gear-cse-report-finds-shocking-pitfalls-in-car-emission-testing/articleshow/57276017.cms Ajanta Chakraborty, Toxicity rising in top gear: CSE report finds shocking pitfalls in car emission testing, Feb 21, 2017: The Times of India]|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	'''HIGHLIGHTS'''
		+
		+	A Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report urges for urgent steps to upgrade the current in-use emission testing
		+
		+	It says PUC centres must be checked, testing procedure upgraded and auto makers made accountable
		+
		+	CSE warns of alarming consequences if current situation continues to prevail
		+
		+
		+	One of the biggest corporate frauds in the global automobile industry - the Volkswagen defeat device case - and the mounting evidence from Europe that most new diesel cars are emitting much higher than their certification levels, have largely gone unnoticed in India.
		+
		+	Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has strongly urged for urgent steps to upgrade the current in-use emission testing, prepare for real driving emission testing with portable emission monitoring systems for Euro VI vehicles and make vehicle manufacturers liable and accountable for emission performance of vehicles during their useful life on the road.
		+
		+	The current practice of pollution under control programme (PUC) is rudimentary and ineffective. It is not designed to address complex emissions control systems in new vehicles. This cannot screen inherent technical flaws and frauds for which manufacturers are responsible that compromise the emissions performance in the real world.
−	A Subramani | TNN	+	''' ''The key highlights of the CSE analysis:'' '''
−	Chennai: A government servant holding a transferable post has no vested right to remain posted at one place and courts should not interfere with a transfer order made for administrative reasons, Madras High Court has ruled.	+	'''Very poor PUC compliance and ineffective tests'''
		+
		+	The PUC system, the only system to check emissions from on-road vehicles in India is extremely weak in terms of lax norms, poor enforcement and poor quality test procedures. New data from the Delhi Transport Department shows that failure rate is as dismal as 5 per cent - nearly all vehicles pass the test. There is no data, however, on how many vehicles show up for the test.
		+	The PUC norms for on-road vehicles are extremely lax for the older pre-Bharat stage IV vehicles. While under PUC, petrol cars are tested for carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons along with lambda (that indicates the optimum condition needed for proper functioning of catalytic converters), diesel vehicles are tested only for smoke density. While all norms are lax, those for on-road diesel vehicles are particularly lenient - smoke density norms are 50 HSU only for the Bharat Stage IV-compliant diesel vehicles. For pre-BS-IV vehicles, the norm is as lax as 65 HSU. In Singapore and Pakistan, this norm is 40 HSU; in Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Malaysia it is 50 HSU for all genre of vehicles.
		+	This is a serious issue at a time when Delhi, which already has more than 614 PUC centres, is trying set up more. This investment can go waste without an effective system in place.
−	A bench of chief justice H L Gokhale and Justice V Dhanapalan, concurring with the submissions of senior counsel A L Somayaji, said, ‘‘It is the cardinal principle that a transfer is ordinarily an incident of service. The court should not interfere with a transfer order, which is made for administrative reasons, unless the orders are made in violation of any mandatory or statutory rule or on the ground of malafide.’’	+	'''Serious concern over quality of checks in PUC centres'''
		+
		+	The Supreme Court has recently given directions to the EPCA to audit all the 614 PUC stations. There are serious concerns over quality and credibility of PUC tests across the cities. In fact, a detailed audit that was carried out by the Central Pollution Control Board in 2013 in 76 PUC centres exposed serious anomalies - non-compliance with the code of practice; unavailability of calibration certificate for testing instruments in several centres; poor condition of laboratory; leak test failure; and non-functioning analysers. This clearly brings out the ineffectiveness of the programme.
−	The matter relates to a writ appeal filed by National Insurance Company Limited, which challenged a single judge order quashing the transfer of S Ashok Kumar, who was transferred to Tuticorin as divisional manager. Ashok Kumar challenged the transfer, stating that his father had been diagnosed with malignant rectal cancer and that he required constant medication and monitoring, including chemotherapy and radiation.	+	'''Smoke density test under PUC cannot check particulate emissions'''
		+
		+	The smoke test was introduced in the 1960s to reduce the visibility problems due to diesel smoke. There is no real correlation between smoke density and particle emissions. Smoke is not a good surrogate for tiny particles. There can be a risk of misclassifying polluters - low smoke emissions can also mean high particulate emissions. Even in Europe, virtually no vehicle fails the smoke test. Other governments including ones in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, the US, etc now conduct these tests on chassis dynamometer to simulate speed. This makes the emissions test more rigorous. China is further developing a nationwide I/M system for evaluating NOx emissions from in-use HDVs.
		+	Tests are needed to prevent emissions frauds or poor emissions performance of advanced emissions control systems on roads - especially diesel vehicles
		+	The PUC system is not even designed to test tiny particles and NOx on road - the key concerns from diesel vehicles. Volkswagen was caught cheating on NOx emissions. In fact, too much focus on reducing smoke can actually increase NOx emissions as a trade-off. But new generation diesel vehicles will come with advanced emissions control systems to reduce particulate and NOx. If these systems perform sub-optimally, there can be uncontrolled emissions.
		+	The fact that India is totally unprepared to prevent emissions frauds and underperformance of emissions control systems on roads was proved a few years ago when the Tavera fraud case of General Motors was exposed. These models passed the certification tests with one set of engines that did not the match those actually sold in the market. But this incident did not lead to any major reform to establish in-use compliance norms and monitoring in India.
		+
		+	The Indian government does not have the power to penalise manufacturers for non-compliance and violation. This has serious implications as the next level of Euro V and Euro VI standards will require advanced particulate traps and NOx control systems like SCR to cut toxic diesel emissions. If engineering deficiency reduces the effectiveness of these systems or if these are not properly operated like urea refilling in SCR system, it can lead to uncontrolled emissions and nullify pollution control measures in our cities.
		+	India has already specified more advanced On Board Diagnostic Systems in post-2013 vehicles. This should be integrated with vehicle inspection programme for more effective monitoring.
		+
		+	If a problem or malfunction is detected, the OBD II system illuminates a warning light on the vehicle instrument panel to alert the driver. This warning light will typically display the phrase "Check Engine" or "Service Engine Soon," and will often include an engine symbol. The OBD system stores important information about any detected malfunction so that a repair technician can accurately find and fix the problem. It is notified to monitor catalyst, fuel injection system, particulate trap, coolant temperature, EGR, fuel system, emission control systems, etc.
		+	Smog-check inspections in USA for post-2000 model vehicles are now primarily based on an inspection of the OBD II system - tailpipe testing is no longer required. It identifies emission-related components covered under warranty, eliminates unnecessary repairs, and gives information about area of malfunction or a specific component. This reduces cost of warranty repairs and ensures customer satisfaction, allows early detection of malfunctions etc. But this system will require strong surveillance and appropriate software to work effectively.
−	In 2008, Ashok Kumar had been transferred to Hyderabad, which was later put on hold in view of his father’s health condition.	+	'''Auto company and its accountability'''
−	Senior counsel Somayaji, however, pointed out that Ashok Kumar was in Chennai for 17 years without a transfer, and that the earlier transfer too had been cancelled on humanitarian grounds.	+	India also needs strong compliance regulations to make manufacturers responsible for on-road emissions performance for a vehicle's useful life on road
		+	Consistent with the global best practices, India needs an independent authority to check emissions against standards; issue recall of vehicles by companies if they are found non-compliant; levy fines on defaulting companies; and withdraw approval of sale if vehicles do not conform with the stated emissions targets. An independent authority should monitor this process without being influenced by industry. Only such a system will make non-compliance with regulations more expensive for companies than compliance with regulations and ensure implementation. The Auto Fuel Policy committee has recommended an emissions warranty and recall programme and in-use compliance regulations. But this has not been implemented.
−	=='Sack workers who do not deliver'==	+	CSE's review shows that currently, Indian certification agencies do not select vehicle samples for certification tests randomly and independently. In fact, certification agencies give prior notice to manufacturers about the approximate time during which samples will be collected from a given lot. This compromises independent and impartial testing. Legal procedures for the MoRTH to issue mandatory recalls or levy fines have not been established yet.
−	''' Sack sweepers if they can't deliver: HC '''	+	Moreover, there is no system post-sales (as in the US) to allow testing agencies to select any vehicle, anywhere, and at any time, without prior notice to the manufacturer. India urgently needs rules for the government and manufacturers to remove non-compliant vehicles. A mandatory recall policy for non-compliant vehicles is needed to ensure that manufacturers design vehicles to comply with emission standards for the duration of their useful life.
−	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com//Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Sack-sweepers-if-they-cant-deliver-HC-27112014001087 ''The Times of India''] Nov 27 2014	+	In fact, China has taken steps to move in this direction. China has recently revised its programmes to allow the selection of vehicles at random without any prior notice. Furthermore, COP testing in China is now corroborated through inter-laboratory round-robin testing, which adds an additional level of scrutiny.
−	If 60,000 conservancy workers can't keep the city clean they must be removed, the Delhi high court said on Wednesday , taking to task municipal corporations for wasting public money, reports Abhinav Garg. If things remained as such, the “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is not going to kick off...“ the judges observed.	+	==Vehicles and their carbon footprint==
−	“If they aren't working why waste public money on them.Just leave them,“ the bench of Justices B D Ahmed and Siddharth Mridul said. Their reference was to the city's invisible army of safai karmacharis. The bench was hearing a petition filed by an NGO seeking details of daily conservancy work.	+	===As in 2019===
		+	[[File: Vehicles and their carbon footprint, As in 2019.jpg| Vehicles and their carbon footprint, As in 2019 <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL/2019/10/16&entity=Ar01213&sk=9B0E1293&mode=text  Sanjay Dutta, Oct 16, 2019: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
		+
		+	'''See graphic''':
		+
		+	'' Vehicles and their carbon footprint, As in 2019 ''
		+
		+	[[Category:Climate|A
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		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]
		+
		+	==Where the problem is the gravest==
		+	=== Bus travellers inhale less soot than those in cars===
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=City-bus-travellers-inhale-less-soot-than-those-04042017027018  Jayashree Nandi, City bus travellers inhale less soot than those in cars: Study, April 4, 2017: The Times of India]
		+
		+
		+	Commuting by bus in Delhi exposes you to the lowest concentrations of fine-particle pollutants called black carbon, or soot, as compared with other modes of transport -even lower than the exposure you are likely to get travelling in a car, a study reveals.
		+
		+	The study , published in Elsevier journal on environmental research, assessed people's personal exposure to pollution in Delhi. For outdoor exposure, it considered commuters in cars, buses and autorickshaws.
		+
		+	Travellers in autorickshaws were found to be at the highest risk of inhaling soot, a product of incomplete fuel combustion with harmful impacts on the lungs and heart.
		+
		+	“Exposure to particles is lower in cars than on two-wheelers and autorickshaws, but driving a car with open windows could lead to similar levels (of exposure) as in an auto,“ said Pallavi Pant, lead author of the study . Pant admitted that the find ings on exposure to pollu tion inside a car was surprising. “From the current analyses, black carbon concentrations in buses seem to be lower in comparison to other modes, but more research is needed to confirm this, both in Delhi and other cities. AC use can help reduce exposure in cars,“ she said.
		+
		+	It's not only being out on the roads that exposes you to respirable pollution particles.Your home, especially the kitchen, could be enveloping you in PM2.5 pollutants too, the study said.
		+
		+	It found high exposure to PM 2.5 pollutants in indoor activities such as cleaning or cooking. However, the nature of pollution indoors differs from that outdoors. According to Pant, exhaust emissions on the roads could be far more toxic than say pollutants arising from cooking or cleaning.“Cooking emissions often comprise ultrafine particles that can be harmful,“ Pant said. “Research on ultrafine particles is ongoing, but so far we know they can have several adverse health effects.“ Pant suggested opening the windows and using exhaust fans during cooking or cleaning to avoid accumulation of such pollutants.
		+
		+	Buses, because they use CNG as fuel in Delhi, do not emit soot and are safer. Also, bus passengers sit at an elevated height compared with autorickshaws and cars and avoid the denser pollution layer near the road surface. In cities where buses run on diesel, they may , however, show higher levels of black carbon. An in-depth analysis is required to confirm this.
		+
		+	The authors, from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, IIT Delhi and University of Washington, have suggested more studies on in-vehicle exposure. “Future studies should look at in-vehicle exposure with respect to land use and traffic characteristics, and personal exposure data should be used as an input for land use zoning and urban transportation planning,“ the study concluded.
		+
		+	The researchers worked with healthy volunteers, men and women, aged 18 to 60 years.Their individual exposure to pollution was sampled using portable sampling devices.Commute exposure was recorded on a 22km sampling route, including a section of the busy Mathura Road-National Highway 2, during peak hours (8­10am and 6­8pm) and offpeak times (12 noon-2pm). Most volunteers were non-smokers and all used LPG as cooking medium at home. They spent 40-90 minutes commuting daily and 8 to 10 hours at work.
		+
		+	The study also reported that pollution risk is higher in winter than in summer. “The pattern for personal exposure to particles is similar to ambient air quality , and can be as much as six times higher than the national air quality standard in winter,“ said Pant.
	=See also=		=See also=
−	[[Corruption: India]]	+	[[Air pollution: South Asia]]
		+
		+	[[Air pollution: India]]
		+
		+	[[Air pollution: Delhi]]
		+
		+	[[Air pollution: Mumbai]]
		+
		+	[[Cities of India: the best and the worst]]
		+
		+	[[Greenhouse gases: India]]
−	[[Family planning: India]]	+	[[Category:Climate|A]]
		+	[[Category:Development|P]]
		+	[[Category:Economy-Industry-Resources|P]]
		+	[[Category:Environment and pollution|A]]
		+	[[Category:India|P]]
		+	[[Category:Pages with broken file links|AIR POLLUTION: INDIA
		+	AIR POLLUTION: INDIA]]

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Revision as of 17:54, 21 June 2021

This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content.

Contents 1 Acid rain 1.1 2001-2012: pH levels between 4.77- 5.32 2 Carbon emissions 2.1 India and the world: 2020 3 Causes, principal 3.1 Some experts' views 3.2 2018: Arab dust made Gurgaon, NCR India’s worst 3.3 2020: cooking fuel, agriculture, natural sources 4 City-wise 4.1 Most cities do not meet national air quality standards 4.2 Emission levels in 14 major cities, 2017 4.3 BENGALURU 4.4 CHENNAI 4.5 Indo-Gangetic plains 4.6 KOLKATA 4.7 Mumbai 4.8 Varanasi, Allahabad, Gwalior/ 2015 4.9 2015: improvement, status quo and deterioration in different cities 4.10 2015/ 2016: Greenpeace study of 280 cities 4.11 2017, air quality, city-wise 4.12 2017 city-wise quality: Chicago U study 4.13 2018 4.13.1 2018: nine Indian towns 4.13.2 2018: the 6 most polluted cities 4.13.3 2018: the 14 most polluted cities 4.13.4 NCR, 2018: 5 of world’s 10 most polluted cities 5 Costs due to air pollution to.. 5.1 2019: Cost to industry, economy 6 Diwali pollution 6.1 Crackers leave lasting impact on air 7 Dussehra effigy burning 7.1 2018 8 Economic damage caused by air pollution 8.1 2015: killed 81,000 in Delhi, Mumbai; cost Rs 70,000cr 9 The extent of the problem 9.1 World’s 14 most polluted cities are all in India 9.1.1 Delhi unable to keep pace with Beijing in bad-air fight 9.2 2019: ‘Not merely an urban problem’ 10 Fog in North-Central India (UP, Bihar, Bengal, NCR) 11 Fuels that are cleaner, more efficient 11.1 2000-19: progress made 11.2 March 2018/ Delhi, first city in India to run on Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) fuel 12 Global ramifications of India’s pollution 12.1 The Arctic sea/ 2020 12.2 2005> 2017 13 Government efforts 13.1 Government funding 13.1.1 2020- 21 14 Greenhouse gases 15 Health issues 15.1 1998> 2018 15.2 2010, death of 2 people every minute 15.3 2012-14: Cases increase, deaths decrease 15.4 2013: 1.4 million lives lost 15.5 2013-14: Report "Hidden Price Tags/ impact on health" 15.6 2015: Pollution killed 2.5m people in India 15.7 2015: Deaths attributable to air pollution, India and the world 15.8 India accounts for 75% of air pollution casualties in SE Asia 15.9 Air pollution and premature deaths 15.10 2016: India tops in under-5 deaths due to toxic air, 60,000 killed 15.11 2017: Rate of death higher in India than China 15.12 2017/ Air pollution shortened lifespan by 30 months 15.13 2017:  India, China had 50% of foul air deaths 15.14 2017-18: Air pollution causes 1 death in 8 15.15 2017, 2019 15.15.1 Economic loss 15.16 2018: AQLI index and average lifespan 15.16.1 2018: Bad air costs 4.3 years of life, vs. 2.2 years in 1998 15.17 2019: The state-wise picture 15.18 2019: State of Global Air 2020 15.19 Why pollution reduces life by 10 years 16 India vis-a-vis the world 16.1 1850-2011: the world's biggest polluters 16.2 2015: in absolute terms, in per capita terms 16.3 2017: Compliance with the Paris Agreement, share of fossil- and zero carbon- fuels 16.4 Countries’ share of global emissions/ 2017 17 Industrial pollution 17.1 Family conglomerates and carbon dioxide emissions 17.1.1 Details 17.2 Effect on rainfall 17.3 Action taken against polluters 17.3.1 2017: CPCB shuts 387 units in UP 18 Kitchens’ air pollution 18.1 Effect on rainfall 18.2 25% urban households don't have kitchen 19 Link between meteorological conditions, air quality 19.1 2015 and 2016 20 Measurement of Air Quality 20.1 National Air Quality Index needs help/ 2017 20.2 “State of the Global Air 2017“ report, US-based Health Effects Institute (HEI) 20.2.1 CPCB disputes ozone-related deaths 21 Metropolitan cities, 2015-16 22 Ozone levels 22.1 2014 22.2 2015: India tops in ozone pollution deaths 23 The pollutants/ the chemicals in the air 23.1 Sulphur dioxide 23.1.1 2016-18 23.2 Toxic metals 24 Prosecution of offenders 24.1 2016 25 Reduction of pollution: measures 25.1 Measures taken by Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan/ 2013, '14 25.2 PAT (perform, achieve, trade)’s achievements 2012-15 25.3 2016 was cleaner than 2013 in some places 25.4 Colour-coded stickers for vehicles/ 2018 26 Reduction of pollution: successes 26.1 2016-18 27 Region-wise 27.1 Northern plains, pollution 27.2 Delhi, Odisha, UP-MP among world’s NO2 hotspots 27.3 2020: PM2.5, NO2, rising in Delhi, Kanpur 27.4 Uttarakhand 27.4.1 2021, Jan- May 28 Season-wise 28.1 Winter 28.2 Monsoon 29 Solutions 29.1 Scrap laws for Preservation of Sub Soil Water 30 Stoves (chulhas) pollute villages 31 Vehicular emissions 31.1 Emission test norms lax: CSE 31.2 Carbon emission intensity 31.2.1 2005-10: emissions reduced by 12% 31.3 Car emission testing 31.3.1 Serious flaws: CSE, 2017 31.4 Vehicles and their carbon footprint 31.4.1 As in 2019 31.5 Where the problem is the gravest 31.5.1 Bus travellers inhale less soot than those in cars 32 See also

Acid rain

2001-2012: pH levels between 4.77- 5.32

Neha Madaan, Pollution turning country's rainfall acidic, says study, March 4, 2017: The Times of India

Pollution is causing `life-giving' rain to turn increasingly acidic in many parts of the country , particularly in the last decade, research by India Meteorological Department and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology has revealed.

Analysis of rainwater samples from Nagpur, Mohanbari (in Assam), Allahabad, Visakhapatnam and Kodaikanal in the decade 2001-2012 shows a pH level varying between and 4.77 to 5.32, indicating that these places have actually been receiving `acid rain'.

Rainwater with pH below 5.65 is considered acidic.

Potential of hydrogen, or pH, is a scale to measure acidity or alkalinity of a solution, where 7 is `neutral'. For lesser values, acidity increases with decreasing count.

Acid rain is a result of rain water in the atmosphere mixing with polluting gases such as oxides of sulphur and nitrogen emitted from power plants, automobiles and some industrial units.

Acid rain can reduce soil nutrition, corrode buildings (such as Taj Mahal), kill aquatic life and increase heavy metal concentration in soil and water, impacting human health. Acid rain causes leaching of soil nutrients, which means that these nutrients are not available to plants and crops grown in the soil, affecting productivity . Acid rain has had a corrosive effect on monuments,“ experts said.

Acid rain can also dissolve salts of heavy metals found in rocks and soil. These heavy metals then find their way into agriculture fields, water sources and ultimately human physiologies. According to the study by scientists V Vizaya Bhaskar and P S P Rao, which was published in the Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry , almost all global atmosphere watch (GAW) stations in India showed a decreasing trend in pH levels with each passing decade during the period of analysis (1981to 2012).

Carbon emissions

India and the world: 2020

See graphic:

Carbon emissions in India and the world: 2020

Causes, principal

Some experts' views

See graphic:

What contributes most to air pollution in India.

2018: Arab dust made Gurgaon, NCR India’s worst

Shilpy Arora, August 6, 2018: The Times of India

The city, which has been NCR’s most polluted for the past three days, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) declared Gurgaon as the most polluted among the country’s 62 cities measured, with AQI crossing the 300 mark.

With AQI hovering between ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ categories, Gurgaon is witnessing air quality this poor after a month. On Sunday, AQI was 321 (‘Very Poor’), compared to other NCR cities — Delhi, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Noida and Greater Noida at 241 (Poor), 279 (Poor), 119 (Moderate), 276 (Poor) and 232 (Poor), respectively. On Saturday and Friday, the city had recorded AQI at 276 and 299 (both ‘Poor’), respectively.

For the past month, the level of PM2.5 has been below 80 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3 ). Peak PM2.5 on Sunday was 189µg/m3 , compared to 127 and 135 on Saturday and Friday, respectively. The permissible limit for PM2.5 is 60µg/m3 .

While authorities blamed it on a dust storm from the Arabian peninsula, environmentalists blamed authorities for not implementing GRAP (graded response action plan) until now. “A dust storm in the Arabian peninsula has led to an increase in atmospheric dust in Delhi and NCR since Thursday. The dust storm started in Oman on July 27. The dust entered the Arabian Sea over next few days, before reaching northwest India and Delhi-NCR. It generally takes 2-3 days for the dust to reach Delhi-NCR, depending on wind speed and other parameters. There are hardly any local factors responsible for a spike in particulate matter in the city,” said an official of Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB).

Dipnakar Saha, former head of air laboratory division at CPCB, told TOI, “Gurgaon is worst-affected as it lies to the west of Delhi and the dust is blowing from a northwestern direction. Humidity levels in Delhi and NCR are high, so particulate matter gets stuck to moisture in air. Til there is a strong wind and rain, the situation might prevail in the region. However, we can’t ignore local factors that add to pollution.” The Met department expects showers on Monday that could bring down AQI levels.

2020: cooking fuel, agriculture, natural sources

Chandra Bhushan, September 26, 2020: The Times of India

The writer is CEO, International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology (iFOREST)

By focussing on cities and vehicles, we have been barking up the wrong tree on air pollution

Chandra Bhushan

1) ‘National Ambient Air Quality Status & Trends 2019’, which contains air quality data for 344 cities/ towns from 28 states and 6 UTs. This is the only report that gives a snapshot of the status of air pollution in the country.

2) ‘Impact of the Lockdown on Ambient Air Quality’. This report compares data for 12 cities from different parts of the country, including Delhi and NCR towns, during the lockdown phases with the corresponding periods in 2019. The report also estimates the various sources on air pollution in Delhi by chemically analysing PM2.5 (particles less than 2.5 microns in size or fine particles) in different phases of lockdown. Furthermore, it measured PM2.5 concentrations using satellite to estimate the air quality improvement over the entire country.

Here are the major findings of these two reports: India has predominantly a PM10 problem: Most cities are exceeding the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM10 (particles less than 10 microns in size or coarse particles). About 78% of the cities exceeded PM10 standards compared to 36% for PM2.5, 9% for NO2 and none for SO2.

We are not winning the air pollution battle: The data for the last few years show that while the SO2 concentration has decreased and NO2 concentration has remained stable, the PM2.5 levels have increased and PM10 levels have remained very high and are fluctuating. So, the two problem parameters – PM2.5 and PM10 – are not showing any sign of abating. In fact, PM2.5 levels have increased significantly in the last three years.

The CPCB report also lays to rest the controversy about air quality improvements in Delhi. PM2.5 levels in Delhi have consistently increased in the last 3 years and were 144 micrograms per cubic meters (μg/m3) in 2019 – more than three times the standard. The baseline pollution level in India is high: During the peak lockdown (March 25-April 19 2020 ), ground based monitoring stations in 12 cities recorded average PM2.5 levels of 25-50 μg/m3 and PM10 levels of 50-110 μg/m3. The satellite recorded PM2.5 levels in different parts of the country as 29-76 μg/m3, with an all-India average of 59 μg/m3. These levels are double the WHO standards and almost the same as NAAQS.

So, when transportation and industries were down by 80%, coal power plants were operating at 40% capacity, and people were largely indoors, even in relatively less polluting months of March-April, the country was barely meeting NAAQS. This indicates that pollution from cooking fuel, agriculture and natural sources are sufficient to breach air quality norms in large parts of the country.

An interesting fact the report captures is that during the [2020] lockdown in Delhi, the ratio of PM2.5 to PM10 was higher than in 2019. This is contrary to the general understanding; one would have expected lower ratio during the lockdown because factories and vehicles were not operating. The only plausible reason seems to be that we have been underestimating the contribution of PM2.5 from cooking fuel and natural sources.

If we join the dots, what emerges is that controlling PM10 emissions is key to solving the air pollution crisis. This would mean reducing the burning of solid fuels like biomass and coal and controlling emissions from land and agriculture. But by mainly focussing on cities and vehicles, we have lost the plot on air pollution. I will discuss this in detail in my next column.

The writer is CEO, International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology (iFOREST)

City-wise

Most cities do not meet national air quality standards

Since 2011, at least 94 Indian cities have not met national air quality standards

Jayashree Nandi, Delhi Today, Your City Tomorrow. Nov 06 2016 : The Times of India

94 Cities Haven't Met Air Quality Standards In 5 Years

There's something the hillside retreat of Parwanoo in Himachal Pradesh has in common with the industrial town of Korba in Chhattisgarh--both have consistently recorded higher than acceptable particulate matter (PM) levels.

Since 2011, at least 94 Indian cities have not met national air quality standards. Many of these cities have been on the list from the 1990s, say officials of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).Neither the Centre nor the states have put in place a plan to ensure that cities get taken off this list.The World Health Organisation's recent urban air quality database lists 10 Indian cities among the world's 20 worst polluted. But that doesn't seem to worry the CPCB or administrators either.

For the past couple of years when air pollution in Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow and Varanasi touched dangerous levels, CPCB did nothing to ensure that its directions on meeting air quality standards were en forced. It also ignored its own studies, commissioned from Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute in 2003, on the impact of air pollution on children over 15 years, which found serious physical and psychological impacts.

The Centre has made only one major decision this year to tackle air pollution--notifying BSVI emission standards for vehicles manufactured after April 2020, which will bring down particulate emissions from vehicles by 60%-80%. The National Air Quality Standard notification, 2009, says safe standards for air should be met 98% of the year, a criterion none of the cities monitored by CPCB meet.Dipankar Saha, additional director, air laboratory at CPCB said: “This is not relevant anymore since we have started real-time monitoring of cities. We alert the nonattaining cities every three years.“

But CPCB only monitors 29 cities real time and has just one continuous air quality monitor at most locations.The rest are manual monitoring machines which are “highly inefficient“ and at times “inaccurate“, say experts.

“Only when there is pressure from the people and the judiciary, cities start acting on pollution. There is no national policy. Even the government's smart city project only makes a passing reference to air quality but doesn't make it binding on cities to meet this criteria,“ says Anumita Roy Chowdhury, head of Centre for Science and Environment's clean air programme. CPCB's air quality bulletins routinely show Faridabad, Agra, Kanpur and Lucknow in “severe“ or “very poor“ categories.

This month for the first time CPCB used its statutory powers to direct municipalities in NCR to take steps to curb air pollution. “The air act gives us statutory powers to issue closure orders or cut electricity or water supply to industries that do not meet norms but it doesn't give us powers to penalize municipalities. So our directions are not binding on them,“ said Saha. In this situation, he is not sure how air quality standards will be met in cities.

“CPCB and state pollution boards have the power to take immediate action,“ insists Kanchi Kohli of Namati Environmental Justice Programme. “They can hold municipalities accountable if they want to.“

DELHI IS THE MOST POLLUTED, BUT OTHER METROS AREN'T GETTING BETTER Nov 06 2016 : The Times of India

Emission levels in 14 major cities, 2017

Vishwa Mohan, Delhi fares worst on emission levels, fuel use – or does it?, August 25, 2018: The Times of India

City Goes Up 10 Ranks On Per Trip Basis

Emission levels are the least in Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) which also guzzles the lowest amount of fuel for urban commute while Delhi is the worst on both these parameters among 14 Indian cities assessed and ranked by Delhi-based thinktank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

In its study on the cleanliness aspect of urban mobility in these cities, the CSE has found that though Kolkata and Mumbai figured at seventh and 10th positions, respectively, in terms of overall emissions and energy consumption, these two cities emit the least among six mega cities due to high usage of public transport and walking.

The thinktank selected the 14 cities for its study as these are among the most populous in different regions and can be used as better indicators in the race for clean and low carbon mobility.

The study groups six of them — Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad — as “mega cities” while the remaining eight are clubbed as metropolitan cities.

The overall analysis was done on the basis of the combined score on total emissions of heat-trapping carbon dioxide and toxic pollutants like particulate matter and nitrogen oxides, as well as energy-guzzling from urban commuting practices.

Kolkata figured at the top among the mega cities for the lowest level of emissions and energy consumption, banking on its “public transport culture, compact city design, high street density, short travel distances and restricted availability of land for roads and parking”.

‘Delhi PM emission 3 times more than that of Mumbai’

Despite having the thirdhighest share of public transport trips, Delhi came at the bottom as overall emissions and fuel use are the highest due to the sheer number of personal vehicles, high volume of travel and long trip distances.

“This negates per-trip emissions improvement derived from its CNG programme and limited public transport strategy,” said CSE’s report, “The Urban Commute”, which was released in Kolkata on Friday.

Delhi has the highest vehicle stock among these cities. As a result, Delhi emits PM five times more than Kolkata and three times more than Mumbai. Besides, its poor rank is an effect of its relatively higher population compared to other mega cities.

The thinktank in its study analysed level of motorisation, travel demand based on population, share of different modes of transport (public transport, walking, cycling and personal vehicles), average length of daily travel trips and quality of vehicle technologies and fuels to come at its findings.

“This review has become necessary as greenhouse gas emissions from transport — though the thirdhighest currently among all sectors — has recorded the steepest increase. This is also responsible for health-damaging toxic exposure,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (research and advocacy), CSE.

The report attributed the increase in greenhouse gas emission from transport to massive motorisation in the past few years. It noted that it took 57 years (1951-2008) for India to cross the mark of 105 million registered vehicles. But thereafter, the same number was added in a mere six years (2009-15). Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai score poorly as they have a lower share of public transport compared to Delhi.

BENGALURU

An unusual combination of a long weekend a dispute over sharing water keeping out fireworks from Tamil Nadu, and activism meant Bengaluru had slightly cleaner air this Di wali compared to previous years. But that's no indication of overall air quality in the city . The annual average increase in levels of respirable suspended particulate matter in the last five years is 5%, according to the Karnataka State Pollu tion Control Board The increasing pollution is in step with the rising number of vehicles: 8% every year. While vehicle emissions are the main source, road and construc tion dust and burning of garbage also contribute “In fact, the air we breathe in Bengaluru is clean only during bandh days,“ says Lakshman, chair man, KSPCB. The problem is the lack of coordinated efforts by various civic agencies.While KSPCB monitors air quality and churns out data, its power stops at issuing notices to various agencies. State governments have failed to set out an action plan to tackle air pollution. Transport department officials said they try to detect pollut ing vehicles. “We have random checks to fine those without pollution under control certificates. It isn't easy as we are short staffed,“ said an official.

--Rohith BR & Aditi Sequeira

CHENNAI

In humid Chennai's `winter' months of No vember and December, doctors' clinics fill up with patients with respiratory illnesses.The numbers are far lower during in March to August, but those are the months when the PM10 count goes up to 200mcg per cubic metre. Winter may get people coughing, but it's in summer that the air is dirtier. Vehicular emissions, road dust and construction activity (including eight years of work on the Chennai Metro Rail) are major air pollutants. The ratio of people to vehicles is almost 1:1 in Chennai, says Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board lab director Dr K Rangana than. TNPCB works with the corporation and transport de partment to keep pollu tion in check.

“Chennai's air is clean. Improving g reen cover could further bring down pollution levels,“ says Ranganathan. Air quality at Adyar, a busy residential and commercial locality within easy access of the beach, is the best in the city. It records PM10 count as low as 20mcg per cubic metre--but that could also be because the monitoring device is located at the green Periyar Science and Technology Centre, beside the lush IIT-M campus.

--Abdullah Nurullah

Indo-Gangetic plains

Jasjeev Gandhiok, Nov 19, 2019: The Times of India

With two smog episodes already this month, Delhi has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. However, the national capital is not alone in its misery — Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida and Jind have fared worse in the last two weeks (November 1-15). In fact, the problem is spread across the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) region and experts say an airshed approach is required to tackle the problem if the NCAP target of a 25% reduction in PM2.5 levels by 2024 has to be met.

At a discussion organised by Climate Trends, a Delhi-based communications initiative, experts and pollution control boards sought better cooperation among states and greater focus on smaller towns where higher emissions may be going undetected. “The problem of high pollution in Delhi was not as prevalent in the winters a decade ago because background emissions from neighbouring towns and cities were not that high. This has, however, grown a lot and is going unchecked. One needs to treat the entire Indo-Gangetic Plain as one expansive area; plans need to be in place for not just one city alone,” Dr Sagnik Dey, associate professor at IIT-Delhi and coordinator for the Centre for Excellence for Research for Clean Air, said.

Dey said there were gaps in data that were not allowing comprehensive action to be taken on the ground. “We live in the age of data and, yet, there is no air pollution figures for the entire rural India. To address the problem of air pollution comprehensively, we need to delineate ‘airsheds’ based on wind flows in the regions and their pollutant reach. While city action plans have been submitted, these should be integrated with the larger airshed management strategy to make an effective plan,” Dey said.

A 2012 study by IIT-Delhi mapped the aerosol transfer across Indo-Gangetic belt, finding it to be world’s most polluted hotspot — stretching from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, UP and Bihar to all the way to West Bengal. Experts say the entire belt has a complex set of topographical and meteorological conditions that produce a landlocked valley effect.

Data analysed by Urban Sciences across 26 cities in Indo-Gangetic Plain from November 1-15 showed Ghaziabad to be the most polluted. There were five cities from Haryana too that experts say are missing from the NCAP list of 102+20 cities. Ronak Sutaria, CEO at Urban Sciences says there’s a need to scale up monitoring across the region. Dr Ravindra Khaiwal, additional professor, School of Public Health, PGIMER Chandigarh, suggested incentivising people to cut down on pollution levels.

KOLKATA

Last week, after Diwali the PM 10 count in Kolkata was 10 times the permissible limit, and though it dropped, it remained at 3.5 times above normal for the next four nights. Every year, pollution peaks after the festival, though the worst months are December and January . The administration has been taking sporadic steps to check pollution. For instance, use of adulterated fuel by autorickshaws, a major source of pollution, was banned. Automatic pollution recording stations have been set up, but monitoring and implementation of norms remain lax.Automatic recording stations often do not work. The three major causes of pollution are vehicle emission, construction dust and industrial emission. Over the last five years, a number of industrial units have been forced to move out of Kolkata or adopt less-polluting methods. Many have switched from coal to LPG. Pollution from construction dust remains a threat since Kolkata is expanding fast and construction activity is on the rise.

--Prithvijit Mitra

Mumbai

See also Air pollution: Mumbai

Mumbai's a coastal city isn't always able to counter the pollutants in the air. On several days in the year, air quality drops into the poor category , and experts say more monitoring and data is needed to ensure it doesn't go the Delhi way. Not all existing monitoring stations are able to give us the right picture because they don't meet the required standards. Having access to data and using it to take precautionary measures is important,“ says Neha Parkhi of Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology. Local governments claim to have recognized air pollution as a major problem. “Some of the major sources of pollution are smoke from bakeries and burning garbage,“ says Vinayak Karnik, deputy chief engineer, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation environment department. The corporation issues an environment status report every August. In its recent report (2015-2016), BMC said the total number of vehicles in the city rose from 25 lakh in 2015 to 27 lakh in 2016, he says. –

--Vinamrata Borwankar

Varanasi, Allahabad, Gwalior/ 2015

The Times of India, Dec 13 2016

Jayashree Nandi

Varanasi, Allahabad had no clean air day in 2015

People in Varanasi, Allahabad and Gwalior did not have a single “good air“ day throughout 2015, making these cities worse than Delhi, at least in terms of lack of clean air, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. By contrast, Delhi saw 24 clean air days last year, when PM2.5 concentrations were below 30 mgm3.

The figures were quoted in “Varanasi Chokes“, a report released in Varanasi on Monday that delves deeper into PM Modi's constituency where the air pollution crisis is severe and monitoring lax. The report was presented by IndiaSpend, Centre for Environment and Energy Development and Care4Air at a workshop in the holy city .

Air pollution data for Varanasi and Allahabad were available for 227 and 263 days, respectively , during 2015. Average PM10 (coarse pollution particles) levels in Varanasi have increased steadily between 2010 and 2016.

The report is also being used by civil society organisations to demand action on air pollution and make it an agenda for political parties in the upcoming UP election.

Varanasi has only three air quality monitoring stations with just one online monitoring station that monitors both PM10 and PM2.5. In comparison, Delhi has 13 continuous air quality monitoring stations.

Data for four weeks between October 2015 and November 2015 for Varanasi showed the city's average PM2.5 (fine, respirable pollution particles) levels were at least two to three times the national safe standard of 60 micrograms per cubic metres. Abysmal air quality monitoring infrastructure in these cities is also responsible for lack of focus on controlling emissions in the region, experts said.

The scientists who participated in Monday's conference said that emission sources in the Indo-Gangetic plains had increased massively , contributing to the problem. “There is satellite data to show how aerosol optical depth (pollution particles) has increased rapidly in the last decade in the region. We need tighter emission standards for industries and other sources to control this,“ said S N Tripathi of department of civil engineering at IIT Kanpur.

He added that PM1 (particles of less than 1 micron diameter or superfine particles) levels were nearly as high as PM2.5 emissions around Kanpur. “The sources of PM1emissions are similar to PM2.5 emission sourc es -vehicles, industries, biomass burning and others.“

Tripathi's research team has found PM1 24-hour average to be as high as 300 micrograms per cubic metres, five times the PM2.5 safe standard in Kanpur during winter. The sources of emissions were varied and complex because scientists are seeing the share of secondary particles which are formed from chemical reactions between gases such as sulphur dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) are also very high. Tripathi's findings are significant because PM1 particles can travel to the deepest area of the lungs, pass through the cell membranes of the alveoli, enter the bloodstream, damage the inner walls of arteries.

The report also quotes testimonies of doctors and patients from Varanasi who say there is several-fold rise in health conditions associated with air and water pollution.

2015: improvement, status quo and deterioration in different cities

The Times of India, Jun 02 2016

Jayashree Nandi

Some good news, some bad for 15 major cities on air quality front

A Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report on air quality in 15 cities shows that most cities are breaching the national annual safe standard.

While some are seeing a rising trend and some, interestingly, are also showing a decreasing trend in PM 10 (coarse pollution particles) levels, the study also shows that most cities saw an improvement in 2015 compared to previous years. The CPCB concludes in its report that improvement could be linked to implementation of stricter vehicle norms and better fuel quality.

The report was compiled by the CPCB after the NGT in its February 9 order directed it to file an “analysis report“ on pollution levels in all major cities identified by the tribunal.The report is also one of the documents on the basis of which the NGT is spearheading the efforts to reduce pollution in other major cities while an air pollution case pertaining to the Capital is being heard in the Supreme Court.

The NGT asked for more air pollution data from states on Wednesday with details of major sources so that it can come up with effective solutions. The report, which com piles pollution levels from manual monitoring stations in 15 cities, shows that PM 10 levels seem to be falling in Mumbai, Pune, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Chennai while in Lucknow they are stabilising.

There are no clear trends in Bengaluru, Jalandhar, Al lahabad, Kanpur and Kolkata, but PM levels are seen increasing in Hyderabad and Varanasi. “The reason for decrease in PM 10 levels may be implementation of stricter vehicle norms (BS IV),“ the study claims. “The fluctuating trends in some cities co uld be because of vehicles, diesel gen sets, small scale industries, biomass incineration, resuspension of traffic dust and others,“ it said.

Experts, however, said the report is inadequate as it doesn't correlate PM 10 levels with vehicle numbers, establishment of new industries, introduction of cleaner fuels and other interventions.They also pointed that PM 10 is not an effective indicator for pollution caused by combustion sources like vehicles or waste burning. The CPCB should have provided with PM 2.5 data (fine, respirable pollution particles) to give a clearer picture.

BS IV was introduced in NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Surat, Kanpur, Lucknow, Sholapur, Jamshedpur and Agra in 2010.The gradual PM 10 rise in Varanasi could be because it is still on BS III but experts said improvements in Ludhiana, Amritsar or Nagpur cannot be due to better fuel norms.

2015/ 2016: Greenpeace study of 280 cities

Delhi most polluted among 280 cities where air quality is tracked, January 30, 2018: The Times of India

See graphic:

Cities, most and least polluted, 2015-16

Study Finds PM10 Levels In Capital Way Above Safe Limits Through The Year

Airpocalypse II, a report by environmental NGO Greenpeace India, has found that more than 47% of the population in India is still living in areas where there is no air quality monitoring. Greenpeace researchers analysed PM10 (coarse pollution particles) annual averages for 280 cities monitored by the Central Pollution Control Board under their national air quality monitoring programme, which shows Delhi to be the most polluted and Hassan in Karnataka to have the cleanest air.

Of the 630 million people living in 280 cities where CPCB monitors air quality, close to 550 million live in areas exceeding national safe standards for PM10; and 180 million people live in areas where air pollution levels are more than twice the safe standard of 60 micrograms per cubic metres set by CPCB.

“This includes 47 million children under five years of age, living in areas where the standard is exceeded and 17 million in areas where the air pollution levels are more than twice the stipulated standards,” the report states.

While there is no air pollution monitoring for nearly 580 million people, real-time data are available for a population of only 190 million. Most children under five years live in cities where PM10 levels are more than twice the safe standard — Uttar Pradesh (6.3 million) and Rajasthan (2.1 million), followed by Bihar (1.7 million), Maharashtra (1.4 million) and Delhi (1.4 million).

“Only 16% of the population inhabiting the districts has real-time air quality data available, showing how inhumanly we are responding to the national health crisis in front of us. Even the manual data collected for 300 cities/ towns across the country are not shared in a timely manner and in a format that can be accessed and understood easily by general public,” Sunil Dahiya, senior campaigner, Greenpeace India, said.

Data on monthly PM10 levels during 2016 in Delhi were obtained from six manually operated air quality monitoring stations installed across the city, operating under the Delhi Pollution Control Committee. Assessment of air quality from Delhi, meanwhile, showed that annual PM10 levels were between four and seven times higher than the annual standard prescribed under NAAQS at the six locations data were collected from.

“Not only were the annual values above the annual standard, but they were also way above the daily standard. Except for a couple of months at two stations, we did not see any of the months having PM10 below the daily standard of 100 µg/m3 ,” the report said.

According to the data, Anand Vihar had both the highest peak and annual levels during 2016. Annual PM10 levels during 2016 for RK Puram, Mandir Marg, Punjabi Bagh, Civil Lines, IGI and Anand Vihar were 276, 238, 274, 282, 247 and 423 micrograms per cubic metre, respectively. Overall, the annual PM10 levels for Delhi during 2016 was at 290µg/m3 — nearly three times the safe standard.

Greenpeace researchers also made RTI inquiries and accessed state pollution control board annual reports to check what was being done in polluted cities to comply with national standards.

Based on pollution levels between 2011 and 2015, CPCB had issued directions to states to formulate action plans to reduce air pollution levels across 94 non-attainment (those not meeting safe standard) cities spread across the country. These plans were to be made during 2016 by the state pollution control boards.

“As per the directions, action was required to be taken within a specific timeline, ranging from action on the directions within a week to six months. As per the update with us most of the pollution control boards forwarded the letter to the relevant departments for further action. Apart from Delhi-NCR where a Graded Response Action Plan has come into force and, in Lucknow, where the same plan has been copied for Lucknow city (on paper only — its implementation still seems to be a distant dream), no other city seems to be taking any action of any worth against the polluters,” the report found.

2017, air quality, city-wise

See graphic

Air quality, June 2017, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and Pune

2017 city-wise quality: Chicago U study

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Annual average PM2.5 concentration level, city-wise; Cities having more than 120 days of worst air quality, 2016

2018

2018: nine Indian towns

Ritam Halder, Don’t pack your bags yet: Air in these smaller towns is worse than Delhi’s, February 16, 2019: The Times of India

New IIT-Kanpur Study Finds Patna, Varanasi And Kanpur To Be More Polluted Than Capital

Patna, Varanasi and Kanpur are more polluted than Delhi, a report by IIT Kanpur, Respirer Living Sciences and Shakti Foundation on air pollution data collected using low-cost air quality monitoring devices in nine cities, has revealed.

In the north, monitors were installed in Delhi, Varanasi, Patna, Kanpur, Jaipur and Dehradun. In central India, they were installed in Ahmedabad, Ranchi and Raipur.

According to the report — Visualising the impact of episodic air pollution in the cities from October 15 to November 30, 2018 — Patna, Varanasi and Kanpur recorded the worst air quality, with 70% ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ AQI days. Patna had zero ‘good’ days, Kanpur was close second with 2%, and Varanasi marginally better at 11%.

Delhi and Jaipur were the next most polluted of the nine cities monitored for PM 2.5 levels. Delhi recorded 51% ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ days and 19% ‘good” AQI days, while Jaipur had 19% ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ and 15% ‘good’ AQI days.

Sachida Nand Tripathi, heads of Centre for Environmental Science & Engineering, IIT Kanpur, told TOI that the study shows how in the absence of high-end monitoring stations, the network based on low-cost wellcalibrated censors can help. “This data, which is comprehensive and accurate, especially from new places, will help policy makers too. Only Delhi had multiple stations till now while other cities had one or two. This winter, Bihar has come up with some highly polluted cities. Even Kolkata had some of the most polluted days. So more monitoring is bringing in more information regarding the air we breathe in different parts of the country,” Tripathi said, adding that IIT Kanpur researchers have helped calibrate the censors used in the study.

The data was collected using low-cost air quality monitors (Atmos) across the cities. These devices were calibrated against reference grade monitors (E-BAM) and have primarily being deployed in residential and office buildings. The assessment period spans 45 days, during which the episodes of Diwali and agriculture fire burnings were witnessed.

The report also revealed that the highest daily averages were recorded in Kanpur, Patna, Delhi, Varanasi and Dehradun during the Diwali week. Kanpur in particular had several ‘severe’ air quality days with persistent pollution levels peaking at 355, 449 and 305 micrograms per cubic meters at the time.

In the cities across central India, however, Ranchi topped the charts with Ahmedabad followed by Raipur. The peaks experienced in these cities were significantly lower in comparison with most cities in the north.

Varanasi witnessed the maximum PM2.5 level and consistently topped the charts for ‘poor’ air quality for over a couple of weeks in a row, indicating a persistent problem of poor air.

“Contrary to the popular notion, most monitoring locations spread across cities in the Indo-Gangetic Plain have recorded averages higher than Delhi and Gurgaon. The top five locations were in Varanasi, Kanpur and Patna,” said Ronak Sutaria, CEO, Respirer Living Sciences, adding that now, focus needs to shift to other cities too.

“There is a need to broaden the narrative. There is a low-cost sensor technology which can provide a wider, better understanding. In this study, sensors were placed in residential and institutional areas and not in industrial and traffic zones. So we have the data of where people are living or working, the air we breathe the most,” Sutaria said.

2018: the 6 most polluted cities

Ritam Halder, Delhi world’s most polluted capital: Report, March 5, 2019: The Times of India

Delhi is the most polluted capital in the world, while Gurgaon is the most polluted city, revealed a Greenpeace report.

According to the latest data compiled in the IQAir AirVisual 2018 World Air Quality Report and interactive world’s most polluted cities ranking, prepared in collaboration with Greenpeace Southeast Asia, to reveal the state of particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution in 2018, Delhi had an average yearly PM2.5 concentration at 113.5 micrograms per cubic metre, followed by Dhaka at 97.1micrograms per cubic metre. Kabul was at the third spot with 61.8 micrograms per cubic metre.

However, in terms of cities, Delhi takes the no 11spot, as Gurgaon took no 1spot with an annual average PM2.5 reading of 135.8 micrograms per cubic metre. Ghaziabad is no 2 with 135.2 micrograms per cubic metre and Faisalabad in Pakistan is third with 130.4 micrograms per cubic metre. Faridabad, Bhiwadi, Noida take the next three spots with average PM2.5 readings of 129.1, 125.4 and 123.6 micrograms per cubic metre respectively.

According to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, the annual permissible limit for PM2.5 is 40ug/m3. The annual permissible limits prescribed by the World Health Organization are even lower at 10ug/m3.

“This report is based on 2018 air quality data from public monitoring sources, with a focus on data which has been published in real-time or near real-time. These sources include government monitoring networks, as well as validated data from air quality monitors operated by private individuals and organisations,” the report stated.

2018: the 14 most polluted cities

Ritam Halder, Elected caretakers not proactive in finding lasting solution to bad air, April 10, 2019: The Times of India

Report Says Delhi Witnessing Criminal Negligence, Laziness From Politicians

For a city with seven MPs and an elected government with several MLAs, the government institutional machinery can at best be described as reactive than pro-active based on evidence available, claims a report titled ‘Political Leaders’ Positions and Actions on Air Quality’.

“Instead of instant relief, the city is witnessing criminal negligence and laziness from elected caretakers and their implementation agencies in the form of piece-meal, limited, and short-term impact solutions being applied,” says the report by a Delhi-based organisation, Climate Trends. It does a review of the political leadership, citizen perceptions and stakeholder initiatives in the 14 cities of India ranked by WHO in 2018 as the world’s most polluted. These include three cities of NCR — Delhi, Gurgaon and Faridabad with the capital getting the sixth spot.

For Faridabad, ranked second after Kanpur, the warning bells had been ringing since long as all types of pollution sources exist in this industrial town that lead to high levels of pollution in both summer and winter months, contrary to the state government view, the report says. Ranked 11 is Gurgaon. Despite poor air quality it does not yet feature in National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) of Government of India and monitoring of air pollution in the past few years has not been carried out by CPCB. Only in 2018, continuous monitoring started.

“Though high levels of toxic metals are being found in children in the city, the sole focus in government policy and MP actions has been on road infrastructure and Metro project,” it states.

Director of Climate Trends Aarti Khosla said that India clearly needs more intense public awareness campaigns. “The recent State of Global Air report attributed 1.2 million deaths in India due to air pollution. In such a scenario, air pollution alerts and health advisories are a must to contain the public health emergency. While plans are underway, we need greater political commitment for better implementation of existing policies and plans. A national strategy that addresses key sources of pollution — industries, thermal plants, transport, waste management, will have to be developed such that our development doesn’t face any compromise but we don’t end up compromising public health at the same time,” she added.

According to her, it’s a step in the right direction that party manifestos are prioritising air pollution. “While the Congress manifesto talked about sectoral targets to tackle air pollution, BJP’s manifesto talks about converting NCAP into a mission. Our analysis of the 14 most polluted cities of the world, all of which are in north India, clearly shows that there is patchy recognition of the problem of unhealthy air. Inadequate monitoring and insufficient data on poor air quality is a primary reason for limited understanding of the problem,” she said.

The report also points out what Delhi MPs have done on air pollution in Parliament. In 2018, MP from Chandni Chowk and Union minister of environment, forest and climate change, Dr Harsh Vardhan, said that there is no conclusive data available in the country to establish direct correlation of death/disease exclusively to air pollution. New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi has asked questions about air pollution at different times on oddeven, level of pollution, impact of pollution on monuments, pollution measuring devices and monitoring of industries from the relevant ministries.

NCR, 2018: 5 of world’s 10 most polluted cities

Ritam Halder, Rank-bad air: 5 of world’s 10 worst in NCR, March 6, 2019: The Times of India

Gurgaon, Ghaziabad Top-Most Polluted Cities, Delhi At 11th

Five out of the top 10 most-polluted cities in the world are in Delhi-NCR with Gurgaon being at the number 1 spot clocking an annual average PM2.5 reading of 135.8 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3) in 2018. This has been revealed by data compiled in the IQAir AirVisual 2018 World Air Quality Report prepared in collaboration with Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

Ghaziabad is at the second spot with 135.2ug/m3, while Faisalabad in Pakistan is third with 130.4. Faridabad, Bhiwadi and Noida take the next three spots with average PM2.5 readings of 129.1, 125.4 and 123.6, respectively.

Delhi had an average yearly PM2.5 concentration of 113.5ug/m3 putting it eleventh on the list. However, it is still the most polluted capital followed by Dhaka at 97.1. The third spot went to Kabul with 61.8ug/m3.

The National Ambient Air Quality Standards puts the annual permissible PM2.5 limit at 40ug/m3. The annual permissible limits prescribed by World Health Organization is even lower at 10ug/m3.

The data also reveals that Delhi was ranked 12th in 2017 with an average reading of 108.2ug/m3, which increased to 113.5ug/m3 in 2018.

Monthly data also showed an overall increase in Delhi with November, December and January having the foulest air quality. In January 2017, the average PM2.5 was 157ug/m3, while in 2018 it was 204.6ug/m3. In December 2017, it was 199.9ug/ m3, while in 2018 it was 218.8ug/m3. In November 2017, it was 231.3ug/m3, while the next year it was 194.2ug/m3.

Air pollution has been a major issue plaguing policymakers and citizens in India. If the country reduces particulate pollution by 25% under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), residents of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh could live almost three years longer, according to a recent Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) report.

The Greenpeace report stated that four of the five most-polluted countries and regions in the world were located in South Asia. “Of the 84 cities monitored, 99% failed to meet the WHO annual guidelines for PM2.5. As a whole, cities here average a PM2.5 concentration of 60ug/m3, six times the recommended limit of 10ug/m3. Sources of PM2.5 pollution vary by region and city, but common contributors include vehicle exhaust, open crop and biomass burning, industrial emissions and coal combustion,” it stated.

The city rankings show Asian locations dominating the highest 100 average PM2.5 levels during 2018, with cities in India, China, Pakistan and Bangladesh occupying the top 50 spots. Middle-East region cities also rank highly with Kuwait City, Dubai and Manama all exceeding the WHO guidelines by over 500%.

At country-level weighted by population, Bangladesh emerged as the most-polluted country on average, closely followed by Pakistan and India, with Middle-Eastern countries, Afghanistan and Mongolia also within the top 10.

“Of the cities included in South Asia, it is interesting to note that, although Delhi typically receives most media coverage as one of the world’s pollution capitals, the Indian capital only ranks 10th for annual PM2.5 concentration,” the report stated.

Pujarini Sen of Greenpeace India said, “We need to do much more than was has already been planned and done. If we want India to breathe clean air, it’s high time that our plans such as NCAP, GRAP, CAP, etc become stringent, aggressive, legally binding and most of all implementable at ground.”

Costs due to air pollution to..

2019: Cost to industry, economy

See graphic:

The Cost of Air pollution to Indian industry, economy, 2019

Diwali pollution

See also graphic and Air pollution: Delhi

Crackers leave lasting impact on air

Crackers leave lasting impact on air, Nov 02 2016 : The Times of India

Diwali is gone but it seems the toxic pollutants released due to bursting of firecrackers are still hanging in the air. The air quality on Tuesday continued to be in the “severe“ category , according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting Research (SAFAR). The AQI released by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), however, showed a slight improvement-“very poor“.

Experts said even if firecrackers were burst only for a day , they left a lingering impact on the air quality because the pollutants were not able to disperse easily as temperatures dropped and the wind speed was very low.

“You have to understand that there were very high intensity emissions over a very short period. While such high emissions can trigger health impacts immediately, they are also adding to the existing pollution, which is not able to escape,“ said a scientist from SAFAR. “The pollutants from this Diwali have started dispersing very slowly and tomorrow dispersion may happen if the wind speed picks up as forecast. But temperature has dropped by a degree, which will make a complete clearout difficult.“ According to SAFAR, PM 2.5 concentrations on Tuesday were about 315 micrograms per cubic metres, about 12 times the WHO standards. “Tomorrow, this could fall to about 240 provided the wind speed improves,“ added the scientist. Wind speed remained very low even on Tuesday , ranging from 2 metres per second in the day to 0.3 metre per second in the evening.

M P George, head of air lab, DPCC, said accumulation of pollutants had begun even before Diwali. “The severe pollution level will have to be seen in the light of prevailing air pollution and meteorological conditions in the past week. The high pollution levels are a result of trans-region movement of pollutants due to crop residue burning, low wind speed and contribution from fireworks on the Diwali night,“ he said.

Dussehra effigy burning

2018

See graphic:

The impact of the burning of the three demons’ effigies on Dussehra day in various parts of Delhi and various Indian metropolitan cities

Economic damage caused by air pollution

2015: killed 81,000 in Delhi, Mumbai; cost Rs 70,000cr

Vinamrata Borwankar, `Air pollution killed 81k in Delhi & Mumbai, cost Rs 70,000cr in 2015', Jan 19, 2017: The Times of India

Air pollution contributed to a total of 80,665 premature deaths of adults over 30 years in Mumbai and Delhi in 2015, a two-fold jump from 1995, according to a new study at the Indian Institute of Technology , Bombay .

In economic terms, air pollution cost the two cities $10.66 billion (approximately Rs 70,000 crore) in 2015, or about 0.71% of the country's gross domestic product.

The study has said the impact on health and productivity as a result of exposure to pollution and the consequ ent burden of respiratory ailments rose with every passing decade.

Researchers calculated impact using data on PM 10 (fine particulate matter mea suring 10 microns), population and death rates.

With its higher pollution levels, Delhi recorded more premature deaths due to ingestion of PM10 from vehicle exhaust, construction dust and other industrial processes. Casualties went up from 19,716 in 1995 to 48,651 in 2015.

In Mumbai, the compara tive figure rose from 19,291 to 32,014 in 20 years. Air pollution was also re sponsible for 23 million cases of restricted activity days (RAD) -either less productive days or days off work for individuals -in the commercial capital in 2015.The worsening quality of air in the city also led to 64,037 emergency room visits in 2015 by those stricken by respiratory ailments, up by 35.4% from 1995. In comparison, in Delhi, there were 29 million cases of RAD and 0.12 million emergency room visits in 2015.

The study's lead author, Kamal Jyoti Maji, said the impact of air pollution on health and productivity was evident in that the increase in cases and cost after 2005 was in line with the overall trend in pollution.

Pollution also cost the two cities as much as $10.66 billion in 2015, or about 0.71% of the country's GDP, a cost that's almost doubled since 1995.

The economic cost of PM10 exposure rose by around 60% in Mumbai from $2.68 million in 1995 to $4.26 billion in 2015.Cost to Delhi jumped by 135% in the same period to hit $6.39 billion, the study found.

One measure of health and longevity is called “disabilityadjusted life years“ (DALY), representing years lost due to various illness. This measure for illnesses caused by air pollution doubled in Delhi between 1995 and 2015 from 0.34 million to 0.75 million DALY. In Mumbai, that number rose from 0.34 million to 0.51million DALYs in the same period. To keep to current health outcomes in 2030, PM10 levels would have to decline by 44% in Mumbai and 67% in Delhi, the study said.

These estimates are likely to be an undercount of actual costs, mortality and morbidity , said the researchers, since the study looked only at the impact of PM10 and to a lesser extent PM2.5. The IIT study was published recently in the Environmental Science and Pollution Research Journal, and authored by research scholar Maji, IIT Bombay professor Anil Dikshit and Ashok Deshpande from the Berkeley Initiative in Soft Computing, USA. In India, air pollution causes over half a million premature deaths annually and 20 million DALYs, according to WHO.

The extent of the problem

World’s 14 most polluted cities are all in India

May 2, 2018: The Times of India

WHO Report Says Delhi Air Worst In 6 Yrs

Delhi is not the most polluted city in the world. But that’s hardly any reason to cheer. The WHO global air pollution database released in Geneva early Wednesday morning reveals that India has 14 out of the 15 most polluted cities in the world in terms of PM 2.5 concentrations, with the worst being Kanpur.

Despite public outcry over severe air pollution, and both Centre and Delhi government taking up the issue, WHO’s database of more than 4,000 cities in 100 countries shows that Delhi’s pollution levels improved only marginally between 2010 and 2014 but started deteriorating again in 2015.

In 2016, the latest year in WHO’s database, Delhi was in sixth spot, having recorded its highest pollution levels in six years. The city’s PM 2.5 annual average was 143 micrograms per cubic metre, more than three times the national safe standard, while the PM 10 average was 292 micrograms per cubic metre, more than 4.5 times the national standard.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had recently claimed that air pollution levels improved in 2017 as compared to 2016. The board, however, hasn’t released the annual average PM 2.5 concentration for 2017 yet.

A number of policies came into effect towards the end of 2016 — the graded response action plan (GRAP) in October, doubling of the environment compensation charge (ECC) on trucks in December 2015 and better coordination among NCR states on pollution control.

The WHO report, however, doesn’t reflect this because it considers annual PM 10 and PM 2.5 averages between 2010 and 2016.

Delhi unable to keep pace with Beijing in bad-air fight

Experts Not Sure What Led To Sudden Spike In Delhi Pollution In 2015 And 2016

The data sources for Delhi is mainly from CPCB (about 10 stations), although for the years 2015 and 2016 WHO also considered data from ministry of earth sciences (MoES) and US Environment Protection Agency’s (EPA) Air Now. This may have also influenced the air pollution concentrations for 2015 and 2016, experts said.

Kanpur topped the 2016 list with a PM 2.5 concentration of 173 micrograms per cubic metre, followed by Faridabad, Varanasi and Gaya.

Ironically, as India’s air pollution monitoring network improved in the past few years with more cities being monitored, the number of Indian cities in the top polluters’ list zoomed.

“With improved air quality monitoring, we are beginning to understand the depth and spread of the air pollution problem in India. While Delhi is at the crossroads and is expected to bend the curve post 2016, other pollution hot spots are proliferating across the country,” said Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

“This is a national public health crisis and the newly proposed national clean air action plan has to ensure stringent action in all cities to comply with clean air standards,” Chowdhury said.

In 2010, Delhi was the worst polluted city globally followed by Peshawar and Rawalpindi. Agra was the only other Indian city in the top 10 polluted (PM 2.5) cities, in 2011 too Delhi and Agra were the only two Indian cities and Ulaanbaatar was the worst.

But this started changing 2012 onward when 14 out of top 20 most polluted were in India. In 2013, 2014 and 2015 too, four to seven Indian cities were in top

20. But in the 2016 data released on Wednesday, 14 out of 15 most polluted are in India.

As for Delhi, experts are not sure what may have led to a sudden spike in 2015 and 2016. “In 2015 and 2016, there were northwesterly winds in the crop burning season which brought particulate pollution from neighbouring states. These meteorological factors may have also accentuated air pollution in Delhi," said Dipankar Saha, former CPCB air lab head.

In contrast, many Chinese cities are improving. In 2016 only four Chinese cities —Baoding, Hengshui, Xingtai and Anyang — were in top 20 compared to 14 Chinese cities, including Beijing, in 2013’s top 20.

Delhi and Beijing are often compared due to their high air pollution levels and policies like the odd-even road rationing measure or air pollution emergency action plan. However, WHO’s recent data shows that Beijing’s air pollution levels have been consistently reducing 2013 onwards.

In 2016, Beijing’s PM 2.5 concentration was 73 micrograms per cubic metre compared to Delhi’s 143. “There are cities that have seen a decrease in PM2.5 level, Beijing and Mexico, if you look at the data. China has put a number of measures since 2013, from a National Action Plan of Air pollution Control, enforcement of environmental standards etc,” WHO said, responding to TOI’s questionnaire.

WHO said that 9 out of 10 people in the world breathe air containing high levels of pollutants. “Updated estimations reveal an alarming death toll of 7 million people every year caused by ambient (outdoor) and household air pollution. Ambient air pollution alone caused some 4.2 million deaths in 2016, while household air pollution from cooking with polluting fuels and technologies caused an estimated 3.8 million deaths,” it said.

WHO also highlighted that air pollution is mainly responsible for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), causing an estimated one-quarter (24%) of all adult deaths from heart disease, 25% from stroke, 43% from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 29% from lung cancer.

2019: ‘Not merely an urban problem’

Chandrima Banerjee, November 9, 2020: The Times of India

Emissions in non-urban areas more than double those in urban ones, exposing 84% across India to unsafe air.

People living outside the big cities in India are just as badly hit by air pollution, but they may be far less equipped to reduce the risks. And because there has been little focus on pollution outside urban spaces, 84% of India’s population is exposed to pollution levels much higher than India’s safety standards allow.

The study, ‘Outdoor air pollution in India is not only an urban problem’, was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA earlier this week. The scientists, from Colorado State University and IIT-Bombay, divided the area of study into six zones — Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP), north India, east India, south India, west India and central India — and went over satellite-derived PM2.5 levels at various points over a decade.

“The IGP stands out as the area of highest population-weighted PM2.5 (>100 µg/m3 throughout) and has the largest population density. In this region, the pollution is almost evenly spread across urban and nonurban regions … Even in the other five regions, there is little difference between population-weighted PM2.5 levels between urban and non-urban regions,” the study found.

Southern India, in a 30-50µg/m3 range, had the best air quality in non-urban areas, followed by central India. While pollution over the Indo-Gangetic Plain is double that of the rest of the country, PM2.5 levels in all urban and non-urban areas were above the safe levels in all other five regions as well. “IGP has a high population. It also has many high-polluting industries — coal-powered electricity plants, cement production,” lead author Dr AR Ravishankara told TOI.

The WHO’s guidelines for healthy air set the danger mark at 10µg/m3. By those standards, less than 0.001% (or less than 1 in a lakh) Indians breathe air that is safe, the study found. India’s standards allow for four times more particulate matter in the air (0µg/m3), and even by those, only 16% breathe relatively cleaner air. “Clearly, the non-urban regions in India are being affected by air pollution as much as the more visible urban regions,” the paper said.

So far, understanding of how pollution in one area affects another has been restricted to stubble burning. But that doesn’t take into account the impact at source. “We have shown previously that eastern India is greatly affected by pollution transport from the IGP. It appears that nonurban regions create a significant amount of their own pollution,” the paper said. In fact, emissions in non-urban areas, 53 Tg (teragram)/year (million tons a year), are more than double that in urban areas, 25 Tg/year.

How it works is also different. “In urban areas, the contribution of indoor air pollution to outdoor air pollution is not very large. Transportation, industry, among others, are significant factors,” Ravishankara said. In non-urban areas, it’s exactly the opposite: “The residential energy use is a significant emissions source, primarily due to household cooking with solid fuels in the non-urban areas.” The impact is the same — people are dying sooner. “The annual premature mortality attributable to PM2.5 for India (urban and nonurban) is 1.05 million,” the study said, linking bad air to six causes of death — ischemic heart disease, stroke, lower respiratory infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and diabetes mellitus type 2.

But non-urban areas are worse placed than urban ones, with even less oversight, limited infrastructure and awareness. “The nonurban population has a lesser ability to reduce their risks because of economic reasons and, thereby, raising equity issues,” the paper said. “Nonurban regions have the further confounding influence of indoor air quality due to the use of solid fuels for cooking in inefficient cookstoves. The inclusion of this impact would only ... enhance the air pollution impacts in nonurban areas relative to urban areas.”

Fog in North-Central India (UP, Bihar, Bengal, NCR)

The Times of India, Feb 06 2016

Vaishnavi Chandrashekhar

UP, Bihar, West Bengal see more fog than NCR

When it comes to fog in north India, the large number of flight cancellations helps keep the spotlight irmly on New Delhi. But a new study suggests that the national capital region may not be the area most affected by the phenomenon. The frequency of fog occurrences has increased in the past 15 years in the eastern parts of the Indo-Gangetic plains -including eastern UP, Bihar, West Bengal, Bang adesh, as well as the Nepal Terai -but not in the western parts including Delhi, according to a satellite data analysis by IIT-Bombay researchers led by Ritesh Gautam.

The new findings are surprising because previous research has shown an increase n fog frequency over Delhi and surrounding areaslinked to a rise in humidity and pol ution. By contrast the new study , which was presented at the American Geophysical Union conference in December, found high year-to-year variability in fog occurrence over the Delhi region --linked to variability in weather conditions --but no longterm rise in the past decadeand-a-half.

Gautam, an assistant pro essor at IIT's centre of studies in resources engineering and climate studies, said the divergence could be because most other studies have relied on visibility measurements.

“When the visibility falls to less than one-km, it is classified as fog,“ he said. “But it might just be polluted haze.“

Satellite data has its own limitations. But Gautam said that the team had also found corroborative trends in surface data from 2000-2015.

The increase in fog over the eastern region coincided with a rise in pollution, the IIT analysis also found. Other studies have also shown a ink between increasing winter-time pollution and fogginess. Pollution particles, especially those known as aerosols, attract water vapour, promoting the formation of fog droplets.

In this case, Gautam suggested that the westerlies -winds flowing from north west of India -transport pol lution eastwards, leading to an accumulation over the eas tern Indo-Gangetic plains.

The findings point to the need for broadening fog study beyond the capital region Gautam said. “Although most of north India experiences fog and pollution in winter the focus is mostly on Delhi,“ said the former Nasa resear cher. “There should be incre ased focus over both urban and rural locations in nort hern India.“

Interestingly , a previous study by Gautam's team fo und holes in the fog cover over Delhi and other cities. This could be due to higher tempe ratures from urban heat is lands, the study suggested.

These studies stem from IIT-Bombay's Fog South Asia initiative (fogsoutha sia.com), a satellite monito ring system for fog detection being developed to aid the go vernment in forecasting and transport management.

The initiative is part of a slew of new efforts to decip her an important yet under studied phenomenon in So uth Asia, including the role played by air pollution.

In December, the Indian Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology started a five-year study of fog in Delhi. The same month, a regional fog study was launched by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), an intergovernmental think-tank based in Kathmandu. The project is being conducted with the collaboration of scientists across India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh.

“The issue of fog is such that it cannot be studied locally and thus needs regional cooperation,“ said Bhupesh Adhikary , air quality specialist at ICIMOD.

The project involves collecting pollution and meteorology data in various locations along with satellite-based data, to understand the chemical science. “At the same time, we are also collecting data in small villages to try to understand the social dimension,“ Adhikary said.

While there is no scientific evidence yet about fog in the Nepal Terai, the public perception is that fog is getting more intense and lasts longer, he added.

“Existing forecasting models are from the US and don't show us the entire picture,“ said Sachin Ghude, the IIT-M coordinator for the Delhi campaign, which plans to collaborate with IIT-Bombay .“The goal,“ he said, “is to improve our understanding and fine-tune our models.“

Fuels that are cleaner, more efficient

2000-19: progress made

See graphic:

2000-19: progress made in Delhi and elsewhere in India towards Euro and BS fuel standards

March 2018/ Delhi, first city in India to run on Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) fuel

Sanjay Dutta, Delhi quietly becomes first city running on BS-VI fuel, March 27, 2018: The Times of India

Benefit Partial As Engines Yet To Be Upgraded

If you live in Delhi, you may have felt your car engine running a tad more smoothly of late. The reason is that, unknown to motorists, Delhi has already switched to Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) fuels, ahead of the scheduled April 1 launch for the capital.

State-run fuel retailers have been pushing cleaner petrol and diesel — similar to, but not exactly the same, as Euro-VI fuels — since February to flush supply pipelines and tanks at petrol pumps. Almost all the 397 petrol pumps in the capital are selling BS-VI fuels.

This makes Delhi the first city in the country to run on BS-VI fuels, two years ahead of the 2020 deadline the Centre had set for rolling out cleaner fuels across the country. The decision to jump the deadline for Delhi was taken in November when smoke from burning of crop stubble by farmers in neighbouring states choked the capital. The blame was also put on vehicular emissions, especially from ill-maintained commercial vehicles with old engines crowding the city.

Amid a public outcry over the capital’s poor air quality, oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan stepped in by ordering state-run fuel retailers to supply BS-VI fuels in Delhi from April 1, 2018 and examine introducing these fuels in NCR by April 2019.

Oil company executives claimed that BS-VI fuels will have “better” emission than vehicles running on CNG. But auto experts said introducing BS-VI fuels without the vehicles tuned for such fuels will only yield partial benefit since these will be used by vehicles with BS-IV or BSIII engines plying on Delhi’s roads. Currently, only Mercedes sells BS-VI cars, while the certification process is on for other auto manufacturers.

Why using BS-VI fuel in BS-IV engines won’t give you full benefit

B S-IV diesel has 50 ppm (parts per million) sulphur, while BS-VI will have 10 ppm. So, using BS-VI fuel in BS-IV engines will not hurt performance but will also not give you the full benefit,” an engineer working with an auto company said requesting anonymity.

The Saumitra Chaudhuri report, the forebearer of fuel quality standards, had in 2014 projected an increase of 70-80 paise per litre — at costs and taxes prevailing then — in the price of cleaner fuels. Dealers told TOI they are yet to hear from the oil companies on whether prices will rise after April 1 or not. But with the daily fuel price revision, oil companies can stagger any upward revision required due to the quality upgrade as it can be subsumed into the routine increase because of global oil prices.

Transport minister Nitin Gadkari had in January 2016 persuaded the government to leapfrog to BS-VI by 2020, skipping the BS-V stage throughout the country.

In November, the Society of Indian Auto Manufacturers (SIAM) had welcomed the move to advance the introduction of BS-VI fuels in Delhi, saying it was in line with international practices where the higher grade of fuel is generally introduced a couple of years before higher emission standards for vehicles kick in.

“Early introduction of BS-VI fuel gives confidence to the auto industry that these will be available across the country from April 1, 2020,” a SIAM statement had quoted its president Abhay Firodia as saying. It could be another story for automakers who may find it difficult to start supplying vehicles with BS-VI engines at such a short notice, should the government pressure them to do so.

Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari had in January 2016 persuaded the government to leapfrog to BS-VI by 2020, skipping the BS-V stage throughout India

Global ramifications of India’s pollution

The Arctic sea/ 2020

Chandrima Banerjee, March 2, 2021: The Times of India

Last year, a study found that 75% of aerosol absorption over the Indo-Gangetic plains and the Himalayas comes from black carbon, or soot. It was alarming that pollutants from the plains were reaching all the way to the mountains.

Also last year, the Arctic sea ice shrunk to its lowest in eight years and nearly half of what it was just four decades ago. Every decade, it is losing 13% of its ice.

Scientists have now found what links the two — an 8,500-km expressway that takes soot straight from the heart of north India over central Asia to the icy expanse of the Arctic in just seven days.

A new study by researchers from the Finnish Meteorological Institute, the University of Washington and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Washington DC has found that Asian — specifically, Indo-Gangetic — emissions explain much of the black carbon “events” over the Arctic.

Black carbon makes Arctic ice darker, absorb more light

It is a combination of high pollution levels at the source and a pathway that does not dilute or remove the atmospheric pollutants before entering the Arctic,” lead author John Backman from the Finnish Meteorological Institute told TOI. “For example, a more direct and drier route would transport more particulate air pollution from A to B compared to a longer route with more precipitation from that very same A to B.” What black carbon does is it sticks to the surface of ice and turns it darker. The reflective surface, which would under normal circumstances bounce off sunlight, then starts absorbing more light. That sunlight turns into heat, its surface temperature starts increasing and the ice starts melting. “The Arctic is particularly sensitive to changes in surface temperature, and increases in surface temperature are coupled to sea ice extent,” the paper said. “Because black carbon is so destructive for the Arctic climate, it is essential to understand (its) properties, transport to, and concentrations in the Arctic.”

So, data from six stations in the Arctic — Alert, Barrow, Pallas, Summit, Tiksi and Zeppelin — were collected over a period of three years. “A model was used to calculate a path the air had travelled before arriving at the station. This path was calculated backwards in time using meteorological data from another model,” Backman said. “By combining a path the air had travelled with measured concentrations of pollutants we could construct a map showing which levels of pollutants had come from where.”

2005> 2017

See graphic:

The carbon footprints of the people of various countries.

Government efforts

Government funding

2020- 21

Vishwa Mohan, March 12, 2020: The Times of India

As the government works on a mechanism to assist big cities in battling air pollution, Mumbai is set get the highest grant of Rs 488 crore from the Centre’s Rs 4,400 crore fund which is earmarked exclusively for cities with more than one million population in states to improve air quality during 2020-21. Delhi may miss this assistance despite figuring among the most polluted cities in the country as the fund would only be meant for ‘million plus’ population cities.

The national capital, will, however continue to get support from the National Clean Air Programme (pollution control scheme) of the environment ministry and other schemes of the agriculture ministry to deal with stubble-burning. Under the pollution control scheme, the environment ministry has, however, been allocated just Rs 460 crore for 122 ‘non-attainment’ cities.

Non-attainment cities are those which do not meet the national ambient air quality standards. At Rs 488 crore, share of Mumbai local body will be higher than the total money (Rs 460 crore) earmarked for the entire NCAP of the environment ministry. Besides NCAP, the Centre has in its budget for 2020-21 allocated Rs 4,400 crore for taking up clean air measures in ‘million plus’ cities.

Forty-two of 50 such cities will get assistance from the fund. After Mumbai, the second highest amount from the urban development ministry’s fund will be allocated to Kolkata (Rs 385 crore).

Greenhouse gases

See Greenhouse gases: India

Health issues

1998> 2018

Jasjeev Gandhiok, July 29, 2020: The Times of India

India has the second-worst air quality in the world that is cutting short the average life expectancy of Indians by 5.2 years — behind only 6.2 years of Bangladesh residents — with particulate pollution having risen 42% since 1998, says a new analysis.

According to the study by University of Chicago through its Air Quality Life Index that took the 2018 pollution levels as base, the average Delhiite is losing 9.4 years of life. That’s the human cost of the city failing to meet the WHO’s air quality norm. By even meeting the national standard, Delhiites will gain 6.5 years.

‘Fight bad air like you’re fighting Covid’

As many as 84% of Indians live in areas that exceed the country’s own air quality standard — 40 micrograms per cubic metre — and the entire population is exposed to levels that exceed the World Health Organization (WHO) standard of 10 micrograms.

As a result, an average Indian sees her life cut short by more than five years in relation to what it would have been if the WHO standard was met, while it is shortened by 2.3 more years compared to the national standard.

According to the study, a quarter of India’s population is exposed to pollution levels not seen in any other country. Between 1998 and 2018, Indians, on average, lost 1.8 years of their life span, it adds.

The study says 248 million residents of north India are likely to lose more than eight years of life in the current scenario. Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh has the highest level of pollution in the country — 11 times more than the WHO norm. At this rate, its residents stand to lose 10.3 years of their life. The findings also indicate that in states like Bihar and West Bengal, people can add more than seven years to their life if air quality meets the WHO guidelines, while the count will be eight years in Haryana.

“Though the threat of novel coronavirus deserves every bit of attention it is receiving, embracing the seriousness of air pollution with a similar vigour will allow billions of people around the world to lead longer and healthier lives,” said Michael Greenstone, the Milton Friedman Distinguished Service Professor in economics and creator of AQLI along with colleagues at Energy Policy Institute at University of Chicago.

“The reality is, no shot in the arm will alleviate air pollution. For a country like India, the solution lies in a robust public policy. AQLI tells citizens and policymakers how particulate pollution is affecting them and their communities and can be used to measure the benefits of policies to reduce pollution,” he added.

2010, death of 2 people every minute

`Bad air kills two Indians every minute', Feb 20, 2017: The Times of India

Feb 20, 2017: The Times of India

Air pollution is killing two people in India every minute with the country's environment turning more toxic by the day , says a new study published in the journal `The Lancet'. According to the study , some of the worst polluted cities of the world are in India.

The study , released in Feb 2017 but based on 2010 data, week but based on 2010 data, estimates that, globally , 2.73.4 million preterm births may be associated with exposure to PM 2.5. South Asia, with 1.6 million preterm births, is the worst hit, the study adds.

Released by 48 leading scientists, the study adjudged Patna and New Delhi the world's worst polluted cities by levels of PM 2.5, micro particles that can enter the bloodstream and damage the respiratory system.

The study says even safe level of air pollution in harmful

The report also adds that household air pollution that results from use of solid fuels and other biomass contributes to around 4.3 million deaths annually

In the report, Patna and Delhi figure among the most polluted cities, both having an annual PM 2.5 concentration of more than 120 micrograms per cubic metres — about 12 times the WHO guideline. The WHO annual PM 2.5 guideline is 10 micrograms per cubic metres. This IEA report had sourced data from the World Health Organisation (WHO's) urban air quality database of 2016.

"An estimated 18,000 people die every day because of exposure to ambient and household air pollution, making it the world's largest single environmental health risk. Ambient air pollution is particularly pertinent in urban areas, but it also affects non-urban populations," the Lancet Countdown states. "About 80% of people living in urban areas around the world are exposed to air pollution levels in excess of WHO guidelines. This number rises to 98% for urban populations in low-income and middle-income countries," the countdown states.

The report also adds that household air pollution that results from use of solid fuels and other biomass contributes to around 4.3 million deaths annually, which are related to pneumonia, stroke, lung cancer, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The Lancet Countdown will report annually in The Lancet journal. The institutions involved in the project includes bodies such as University College London, Tsinghua University and the Centre for Climate & Security among others. They have collaborated with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) too. The report underlines that air pollution and climate change are related and addressing air pollution will have climate change benefits too.

2012-14: Cases increase, deaths decrease

The Times of India, Sep 23 2015

Sushmi Dey

Respiratory disease cases rose by 5m since 2012: Govt

Air pollution may be posing a rising health risk in India as the number of cases of acute respiratory infection (ARI) have risen by five million since 2012 even though deaths have declined in the same period, government data released on Tuesday evening shows. Cases of ARI have been rising even before 2012, though deaths began to decline since that year.

The government report notes the strong association between air pollution and respiratory diseases. While ARI cases rose by five million, deaths due to the condition reduced marginally . As many as 2,932 people died due to ARI in 2014, as against 3,513 in the previous year, according to the `National Health Profile 2015' released by health minister J P Nadda. The report's profile stated that air pollution leads to a wide array of health effects, of which ARI “has accounted for the maximum number of cases“ while noting that “over the years, ARI cases are showing an increasing trend“.

The increasing trend in number of ARI cases is clear ly discernible since 2011. The National Health Profile 2015, published by the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI), covers demographic, socio-economic, health status and health finance indicators, along with comprehensive information on health infrastructure and human resources in health.

Around 3.5 crore ARI cases were reported in 2014, out of which 1.7 crore were females and 1.8 crore were men, the data shows. TOI had earlier reported that on an average, more than 2.6 crore cases of ARI were reported in India ev ery year, whereas over 35,000 people died due to the air pollu ion-linked disease in close to 10 years. The data was presented by the environment minis ry to Parliament during the monsoon session this year in a rare official admission that pollution could be causing deaths on a large scale.

However, global studies have attributed far more deaths o air pollution in India. A WHO assessment, reported by TOI in May , showed India and China as worst-hit countries compared to the global average of deaths due to air pollution. It also noted that pollution is sharply increasing in develop ng countries leading to various serious health problems.

In Delhi, close to 3,39,506 ARI cases and 104 deaths were reported in 2014. However, deaths due to the disease in UP and Bengal were much higher, at 619 and 625, respectively.

2013: 1.4 million lives lost

The Times of India, Sep 09 2016

Atul Thakur

1.4m lives lost in India due to air pollution in 2013: Study

India lost 1.4 million lives to air pollution in 2013, while in China the toll was 1.6 million, estimates a World Bank report released. The report, released by the World Bank and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, shows that in 2013 more than five million deaths worldwide were attributed to health conditions caused by air pollution. About 60% of them were in the world's two most populous countries.

Exposure to air pollution increases a person's risk of contracting ailments such as lung cancer, stroke, heart disease and chronic bronchitis.

China and India aren't among the worst hit in absolute terms because of the sheer size of their respective populations. Even after adjusting for population, these two countries along with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan were among the 15 nations with the highest toll per million population.

China and India ranked 4th and 6th worst in the world respectively . Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan were ranked 11th, 12th and 15th on this count.

The bank estimates that in 2013 Georgia saw the highest rate of air pollution deaths per million of its population at 2,117. It was fol lowed by Cambodia with a death rate of 1,300 per million.

Among the 142 countries for which the bank complied this data, there were 10 where the rate was higher than 1,000 deaths per million. Australia fared best on this parameter with an estimated death rate of 34 per million.

The report also estimat ed that air pollution cost the world economy more than $5 trillion -purchasing power parities (PPP) at 2011 prices -in welfare losses and an additional $66 billion worth of manpower loss.

China's overall welfare and manpower loss was $1.6 trillion while India lost more than $560 billion, which was equivalent to over 10% of China's and 8.5% of India's GDP .

Air pollution is estimated to be the fourth leading fatal health risk worldwide after metabolic risks, dietary risks and tobacco smoke. The estimates are based on exposure to PM2.5 pollutants. It is noticeable in the report that the risks are much higher in the developing world.

By damaging people's health and causing fatal diseases, air pollution can have a lasting effect on a person's economic productivity .

Experts argue that typically the economically weakest section is the worst hit because of limited access to health care facilities. Thus, exposure to bad air quality and other risks will ultimately widen the existing economic inequalities, they say.

2013-14: Report "Hidden Price Tags/ impact on health"

Jayashree Nandi, Study: Health costs of pollution in India 8 times of govt's fuel subsidy , August 2, 2017: The Times of India

Cost To Fight Such Diseases Stands At Rs 141 Billion: Report

India spent $16.9 billion on oil, gas and coal subsidies in 2013 and 2014 but the health costs to meet the burden of air pollution-linked diseases was eight times more at $140.7 billion, says a report by an European environmental non-profit organisation.

The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) assessed the spending of seven economically powerful countries on fossil fuel subsidies, and the health costs associated with fossil fuel subsidies.

The report, `Hidden Price Tags', said India can provide 375 million households with solar lamps or train nearly 32,000 extra doctors for rural areas with its annual spend on fossil fuels subsidies. This was assessed considering that each solar lamp costs about $22.5 and the recent estimate of All India Institute of Medical Science which put the cost of training a doctor at Rs 1.7 crore. The subsidy amount could fund 24% of the total money needed to implement healthcare coverage for all Indians, the report suggests.

Making a case for spending fossil fuel subsidy money on public health instead, the report released on Thursday claimed that G20 governments spent about $444 billion in subsidies to fossil fuel companies in 2014, but the health costs of these subsidies in the form of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, as well as premature deaths, were as high as $2.76 trillion, six times the subsidy amount.

The report calls for reallocation of fossil fuel subsidies because they increase the price gap between fossil fuels and renewables, which makes fossil fuels seem cheaper and discourages investment in green energy .

HEAL has used a combination of data provided by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and Oil Change International (OCI) to arrive at their findings. For subsidy estimates, data from ODI and OCI were used for 2013 and 2014, which includes national subsidies delivered through direct spending and tax breaks, investments by state owned enterprises and public finance from government owned banks.

On India's spending on fossil fuel subsidies, researchers from the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), who drafted the India chapter, noted that two-thirds of electricity in India continues to be generated from coal, one of the biggest contributors to air pollution. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and kerosene were also subsidised.

The report said not all fossil fuels are bad. In fact, LPG has significant health benefits when used to substitute biomass or coal as cooking fuel.“About 400 million households have been helped to make the switch from burning solid fuels to the healthier LPG option with the help of subsidy schemes since 1980.

But population growth has resulted in over two-thirds of households burning highly carbon-emitting biomass fuels for cooking with resulting health impacts,“ the report states. That India has ambitious renewable energy targets of meeting over 50% of installed power capacity with renewable energy by 2027 is encouraging, authors said.

On kerosene, the authors noted that “as much as half of the subsidised kerosene is simply sold on the black market since it can be used in diesel engines.“ Kerosene is “poor man's fuel“ used by millions of households in rural India to meet basic lighting needs. Government subsidies make the fuel more affordable.They said kerosene smoke is rich in black carbon and kerosene poisoning among children remains a concern. China spent about $96.5 billion on fossil fuel subsidies and its associated health costs are $1,785.4 billion, 19 times the subsidy amount.

2015: Pollution killed 2.5m people in India

Oct 21, 2017: The Times of India

HIGHLIGHTS

Environmental pollution is killing more people every year than all war and violence in the world.

One out of every six premature deaths in the world in 2015 — about 9 million — could be attributed to disease from toxic exposure.

The greatest numbers of deaths linked to pollution in 2015 were in India with 2.5 million, and China with 1.8 million.

NEW DELHI: Environmental pollution — from filthy air to contaminated water — is killing more people every year than all war and violence in the world. More than smoking, hunger or natural disasters. More than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined.

One out of every six premature deaths in the world in 2015 — about 9 million — could be attributed to disease from toxic exposure, according to a major study released on Thursday in The Lancet medical journal. The financial cost from pollution-related death, sickness and welfare is equally massive, the report says, costing some $4.6 trillion in annual losses — or about 6.2 percent of the global economy.

"There's been a lot of study of pollution, but it's never received the resources or level of attention as, say, AIDS or climate change," said epidemiologist Philip Landrigan, dean of global health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, and the lead author on the report.

The report marks the first attempt to pull together data on disease and death caused by all forms of pollution combined. "Pollution is a massive problem that people aren't seeing because they're looking at scattered bits of it," Landrigan said. The study found pollution was linked to around nine million deaths in 2015.

Dirty air - caused by everything from transport and industry to indoor fires - was the biggest contributor linked to 6.5 million deaths, it said. The next biggest was polluted water that spread gastrointestinal diseases and parasitic infections and killed 1.8 million people.

The greatest numbers of deaths linked to pollution in that year were in India with 2.5 million, and China with 1.8 million. Several other countries such Bangladesh, Pakistan, North Korea, South Sudan and Haiti also see nearly a fifth of their premature deaths caused by pollution.

Areas like Sub-Saharan Africa have yet to even set up air pollution monitoring systems. Soil pollution has received scant attention. And there are still plenty of potential toxins still being ignored, with less than half of the 5,000 new chemicals widely dispersed throughout the environment since 1950 having been tested for safety or toxicity.

To reach its figures, the study's authors used methods outlined by the US Environmental Protection Agency for assessing field data from soil tests, as well as with air and water pollution data from the Global Burden of Disease, an ongoing study run by institutions including the World Health Organization and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.

Even the conservative estimate of 9 million pollution related deaths+ is one-and-a-half times higher than the number of people killed by smoking, three times the number killed by AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined, more than six times the number killed in road accidents, and 15 times the number killed in war or other forms of violence, according to GBD tallies. It is most often the world's poorest who suffer. The vast majority of pollution-related deaths — 92 percent — occur in low- or middle-income developing countries, where policy makers are chiefly concerned with developing their economies, lifting people out of poverty and building basic infrastructure, the study found. Environmental regulations in those countries tend to be weaker, and industries lean on outdated technologies and dirtier fuels.

In wealthier countries where overall pollution is not as rampant, it is still the poorest communities that are more often exposed, the report says.

"What people don't realize is that pollution does damage to economies. People who are sick or dead cannot contribute to the economy. They need to be looked after," said Richard Fuller, head of the global toxic watchdog Pure Earth and one of the 47 scientists, policy makers and public health experts who contributed to the 51-page report.

"There is this myth that finance ministers still live by, that you have to let industry pollute or else you won't develop, he said. "It just isn't true."

The report cites EPA research showing that the US has gained some $30 in benefits for every dollar spent on controlling air pollution since 1970, when Congress enacted the Clean Air Act, one of the world's most ambitious environmental laws. Removing lead from gasoline has earned the US economy another $6 trillion cumulatively since 1980, according to studies by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Some experts cautioned, however, that the report's economic message was murky. Reducing the pollution quantified in the report might impact production, and so would not likely translate into gains equal to the $4.6 trillion in economic losses.

The report "highlights the social and economic justice of this issue," said Marc Jeuland, associate professor with the Sanford School of Public Policy and the Duke Global Health Institute at Duke University, who was not involved in the study.

Without more concrete evidence for how specific policies might lead to economic gains, "policy makers will often find it difficult to take action, and this report thus only goes part way in making the case for action," he said.

Jeuland also noted that, while the report counts mortality by each pollutant, there are possible overlaps — for example, someone exposed to both air pollution and water contamination — and actions to address one pollutant may not reduce mortality.

"People should be careful not to extrapolate from the US numbers on net (economic) benefits, because the net effects of pollution control will not be equivalent across locations," he said.

The study's conclusions on the economic cost of pollution measure lost productivity and health care costs, while also considering studies measuring people's "willingness to pay" to reduce the probability of dying. While these types of studies yield estimates at best, they are used by many governments and economists trying to understand how societies value individual lives. While there has never been an international declaration on pollution, the topic is gaining traction.

The World Bank in April declared that reducing pollution, in all forms, would now be a global priority. And in December, the United Nations will host its first-ever conference on the topic of pollution.

"The relationship between pollution and poverty is very clear," said Ernesto Sanchez-Triana, lead environmental specialist at the World Bank. "And controlling pollution would help us address many other problems, from climate change to malnutrition. The linkages can't be ignored."

2015: Deaths attributable to air pollution, India and the world

See graphic:

Deaths per 100,000 people attributable to pollution, 2015

India accounts for 75% of air pollution casualties in SE Asia

Sushmi Dey, `India accounts for 75% of air pollution casualties in SE Asia', Sep 28 2016 : The Times of India

Nine out of 10 people in the world are breathing poor quality air, a new report by the World Health Organisation said calling on countries to take action against air pollution which is causing over six million deaths a year globally .With the use of new interactive maps, the UN agency found 92% of the world's population living in places where air quality levels exceed WHO limits.

India accounts for 75% of the 8 lakh air-pollution related deaths annually in the South East Asia Region, whereas 90% of the world's casualties from poor air quality are in low-and middle-income countries, the maps show identifying specific areas where pollution levels are extremely high.

The UN agency's report said 94% of the pollution-related deaths in lowand middle-income countries are due to non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular diseases, stroke, chronic obstructi ve pulmonary disease, lung cancer. Air pollution also increases the risks for acute respiratory infections.

Over 6 lakh people die in In dia every year of ailments caused from air pollution such as acute lower respiratory infection, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, ischemic heart disease and lung cancer.

The report represents the most detailed outdoor (or ambient) air pollution-related health data, by country , ever reported by WHO. The model is based on data derived from satellite measurements, air transport models and ground station monitors for more than 3000 locations, both rural and urban. It was developed by WHO in collaboration with the University of Bath in UK.

According to the report, the problem of air pollution is most acute in cities, but air in rural areas is worse than many think and poorer countries have much dirtier air than the developed world, it said.

Air pollution and premature deaths

Bad air killing more than expected in India, China: Greenpeace report, Dec 03 2016 : The Times of India

As countries become richer, air pollution-related deaths reduce. This is the general trend for most nations except India and China, a report released by Greenpeace has found. The study , which assesses the GDP per capita versus deaths resulting from toxic air, revealed India and China had higher death rates than what is expected of countries with similar per capita GDP .

The report states that air pollution may have caused 1.6 million additional deaths than a projected death number based on GDP growth rate for 2015 in India and China collectively .The report sources the number of such deaths from the Global Burden of Disease report and GDP per capita estimations for all countries from a recent World Bank document.

“Usually , air pollution has an inverse relationship with the GDP . As countries become richer, they generally develop less polluting industries. But in India and China, the trend has been quite the opposite. An economy heavily reliant on coal can only spell doom for its people,“ said Lauri Myllyvirta of Greenpeace East Asia.

Although air pollution death rates have fallen in China and India since 1990, they are still worse than most similar countries. In India, rates have not improved since 2010. In 2015, pollution claimed 138 and 115 lives per 1 lakh people in India and China, respectively .

According to its GDP per capita, the expected death rate in India is 94 per lakh but its death rate remains 138. “So, unlike China, it hasn't yet reached an income level where its air pollution death rate could be expected to be similar to that in rich nations. But in both cases, there is potential for significant improvements in air pollution death rates,“ said Sunil Dahiya of Greenpeace India.

2016: India tops in under-5 deaths due to toxic air, 60,000 killed

Sushmi Dey, India tops in under-5 deaths due to toxic air, 60,000 killed in 2016: WHO, October 30, 2018: The Times of India

‘Air Pollution Killed Over 1L Children In ’16’

India’s toxic air has been linked to the premature deaths of close to 1,10,000 children in 2016, with the country witnessing highest number of deaths of children under five years of age attributed to their exposure to ambient air pollution of particulate matter (PM) 2.5, said a World Health Organisation (WHO) report released on the eve of the first-ever conference on air pollution and health.

As many as 60,987 children of under five years of age in India died because of their exposure to PM 2.5, followed by Nigeria with 47,674 deaths, Pakistan with 21,136 deaths and Democratic Republic of Congo with 12,890 deaths.

In India, the death rate for this age bracket is 50.8 per 1,00,000 children with more girls under the age of five dying than boys due to pollution. About 32,889 girls died, compared to 28,097 boys in 2016, according to the report.

Between five and 14 years, India saw the deaths of 4,360 children attributed to ambient air pollution in 2016. Across both these age groups, over 1 lakh children died in India due to both ambient and household pollution of particulate matter 2.5 in 2016. Particulate matter 2.5 orPM 2.5 are fine dust particles in air which are considered highly harmful for health.

The report, titled ‘Air Pollution and Child Health – Prescribing clean air’, seeks to caution against the rising levels of pollution causing growing burden of diseases as well as deaths.

Over 2 million deaths occur prematurely in India due to pollution, accounting for 25% of the global deaths due to air pollution.

Globally, every day around 93% of children under the age of 15 years (1.8 billion children) breathe air that is so polluted it puts their health and development at serious risk. WHO estimates that in 2016, 6,00,000 children died from acute lower respiratory infections caused by polluted air.

While in low and middle income countries, 98% of children under five are said to be exposed to PM 2.5, in high income countries, this number is almost half at 52%. The report also highlights adverse impact of pollution on pregnant women and children. Pregnant women, exposed to polluted air, are more likely to give birth prematurely, and have small, low birth-weight children, the report says.

“Air pollution is stunting our children’s brains, affecting their health in more ways than we suspected,” said Dr Maria Neira, director, department of public health, environmental and social determinants of health at WHO.

2017: Rate of death higher in India than China

Vishwa Mohan, Feb 15, 2017: The Times of India

Country Can't Continue In Denial: Experts

India has been in denial mode on linking premature deaths to air pollution in the absence of conclusive data, but a new comprehensive global report by two US-based institutes may now trigger a rethink. The report claims the country's worsening air pollution caused some 1.1 million premature deaths in 2015 and it now rivals China in having among the highest air pollution health burdens in the world.

The State of Global Air 2017 report, released in Boston, claims longterm exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) -the most significant element of air pollution -contributed to 4.2 million premature deaths in the world in 2015 where both India and China to gether were responsible for over half of the total global deaths. Though the report sounds alarm bells for entire Asia, it paints a particlularly grim picture for India where the rate of increase of premature deaths due to air pollution is even higher than in China. It noted that while the early deaths related to PM2.5 in China has increased by 17.22% since 1990, it has increased by 48% in India.

Ozone-related early deaths in India are, in fact, 33% higher than those recorded for China. India's deepening pollution problem, which hit home with a vengeance after Diwali last year as Delhi and NCR woke up enveloped in smog that refused to lift for days, has a death toll second only to China's, and together the two nations acount for over half the world's deaths from pollution.

According to the State of Global Air 2017 report, released in Boston, as many as 2.54 lakh deaths occurred in 2015 on account of exposure to ozone and its impact on chronic lung disease.India accounts for the highest number of premature deaths due to ozone pollution, its toll 13 times higher than Bangladesh's, and 21 times higher than Pakistan's.

An interactive website on the report also highlights that 92% of the world's population lives in areas with unhealthy air. “We are seeing increasing air pollution problems worldwide, and this new report and website details why that air pollution is a major contributor to early death,“ said Dan Greenbaum, president of the Health Effects Institute (HEI), the research institute that designed and carried out the study . He said, “The trends we report show that we have seen progress in some parts of the world, but serious challenges remain“.

The report was prepared by HEI in cooperation with the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington and the University of British Columbia. Involving more than 2,000 researchers, the report factored in the role of an extensive set of behavioural, dietary and environmental risk factors for more than 300 diseases in 195 countries from 1990 onwards.

Referring to the findings of the report, Anumita Roychowdhury of the Centre for Science and Environment, said, “India can't afford to remain complacent or in denial. With so many people dying early and falling ill... due to particulate and ozone pollution, it is a state of health emergency . This demands nationwide intervention to ensure stringent mitigation and a roadmap to meet clean air standards“.

2017/ Air pollution shortened lifespan by 30 months

Bindu Shajan Perappadan, April 4, 2019: The Hindu

In India, air pollution is the third-highest cause of death among all health risks: report

Overall, long-term exposure to outdoor and indoor air pollution contributed to nearly 5 million deaths from stroke, diabetes, heart attack, lung cancer, and chronic lung disease in 2017.

The current high level of air pollution has shortened the average lifespan of a South Asian child by two-and-a-half years while globally the reduction stands at 20 months, according to a global study released on Wednesday.

State of Global Air 2019, published by Health Effects Institute (HEI), said exposure to outdoor and indoor air pollution contributed to over 1.2 million deaths in India in 2017. The report added that worldwide, air pollution was responsible for more deaths than many better-known risk factors such as malnutrition, alcohol abuse and physical inactivity.

In India, air pollution is the third-highest cause of death among all health risks, ranking just above smoking; each year, more people globally die from air pollution related disease than from road traffic injuries or malaria.

In China and India

The study found that China and India together were responsible for over half of the total global attributable deaths, with each country witnessing over 1.2 million deaths from all air pollution in 2017. China has made initial progress, beginning to achieve air-pollution decline.

Overall, long-term exposure to outdoor and indoor air pollution contributed to nearly 5 million deaths from stroke, diabetes, heart attack, lung cancer, and chronic lung disease in 2017.

Out of these, 3 million deaths are directly attributed to PM2.5, half of which are from India and China together. The South Asian region — Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan — led the world as the most polluted, with over 1.5 million air-pollution related deaths according to the report.

‘Steps taken in India’

“At the same time, India has initiated major steps to address pollution sources: the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana Household LPG program, accelerated Bharat Stage 6/VI clean vehicle standards, and the new National Clean Air Programme. These and future initiatives have the potential, if fully implemented as part of a sustained commitment to air quality, to result in significant health benefits in coming years,” said Robert O’Keefe, vice president, Health Effects Institute.

Meanwhile, for the first time, this year’s report and website include worldwide estimates of the effect of air pollution on life expectancy.

Worldwide, air pollution reduced life expectancy by an average of 20 months in 2017, a global impact rivaling that of smoking; this means a child born today will die 20 months sooner, on average, than would be expected without air pollution.

The report also highlighted that nearly half of the world’s population — a total of 3.6 billion people — were exposed to household air pollution in 2017. Globally, there has been progress: the proportion of people cooking with solid fuels has declined as economies develop.

But in India, 60% of the population still uses solid fuels; in Bangladesh that number rises to 79%, underscoring the importance of achieving success in government initiatives to address the problem.

The State of Global Air 2019 annual report and accompanying interactive website are designed and implemented by the Health Effects Institute in cooperation with the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Texas, Austin.

2017:  India, China had 50% of foul air deaths

Sushmi Dey, At 2.5m, India & China had 50% of world foul air deaths, April 3, 2019: The Times of India

Even as India and China together accounted for over 50% of the total 5 million deaths globally from air pollution in 2017, both countries have initiated significant steps to address the problem that now causes more disease burden than smoking, says a new report on global air pollution by two US-based institutes — Health Effects Institute and Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

Each of the two countries — India and China — registered over 1.2 million deaths in 2017 from air pollution — which includes ambient as well as household air pollution.

On an average, the study — titled State of Global Air 2019 — reported that the life of a south Asian child born today will be shortened by two years and six months (over two years) growing up in prevailing high levels of air pollution.

In India, air pollution is the third highest cause of death among all health risks, ranking just above smoking. Worldwide, air pollution is responsible for more deaths than other risk factors such as malnutrition, alcohol use, and physical inactivity.

While around 82% of the disease burden attributable to air pollution stems from chronic non-communicable diseases, it also contributes to communicable disease.

In 2017, India recorded 6,73,000 deaths and a loss of 21.3 million disability adjusted life years (DALYs) due to long term exposure to ambient air pollution less than the minimal level, whereas 8,52,000 Chinese died of it the same year and had 19.8 million DALYs. Together, the two countries accounted for 52% of the nearly 3 million global deaths and 50% of the DALYs from exposure to ambient air pollution, .

The report states that while China has made initial progress with slight decline in pollution levels, India has initiated major steps to address pollution sources.

It listed the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana Household LPG programme, accelerated Bharat Stage 6/VI clean vehicle standards, and the new National Clean Air Programme as some of the steps initiated by the government to reduce both outdoor and household air pollution.

2017-18: Air pollution causes 1 death in 8

Sushmi Dey, Air pollution causes 1 in 8 deaths in India: Report, December 7, 2018: The Times of India

‘Deadlier Than Smoking In Causing Illness’

One in every eight deaths in India is attributable to air pollution, which now contributes to a bigger disease burden than smoking.

In fact, the average life expectancy in India would have been 1.7 years higher if the air pollution level was less than the minimum level, show the first comprehensive estimates of deaths, disease burden and life expectancy reduction associated with air pollution in each state of India, released by Indian Council of Medical Research on Thursday.

Around 77% of India’s population is exposed to outdoor air pollution levels above National Ambient Air Quality Standards safe limit, the report says. States in east and north India had some of the highest levels of ambient particulate matter and household air pollution, especially Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand. Delhi, Haryana and Punjab had some of the highest ambient particulate matter pollution exposure.

2017, 2019

Sushmi Dey, December 23, 2020: The Times of India

‘Pollution killed 1.7m in India in 2019, behind 18% of all deaths’

NEW DELHI: Air pollution killed nearly 1.7 million people in India in 2019, accounting for an alarming 17.8% of all deaths in the country in the year, a new paper written as a collaborative effort by Indian institutions that include ICMR has said.

The economic loss due to lost output from premature deaths and disease caused by pollution last year was estimated at around Rs 2.6 lakh crore, nearly 1.4% of gross domestic product (GDP) with Delhi suffering the highest per capita loss, followed by Haryana. The health and economic losses are higher than previously estimated.

The study was conducted by the India State-Level Disease Burden Initiativs a collaborative effort involving over 300 researchers from institutions like ICMR, Public Health Foundation of India, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and others and assumes significance as it provides data from across different states for policy-makers. The findings show the per capita economic loss due to air pollution was generally higher in states with high per capita GDP.

“This scientific paper presents the latest evidence on air pollution in India, translating health loss to economic impact. The paper provides a robust assessment of the current situation in each state, and highlights that augmenting the existing air pollution control efforts based on the specific situation of each state would be useful. Air pollution and its impact is not a matter for the health sector alone, and the solutions lie in a multi-sectoral approach,” Niti Aayog member-health Dr VK Paul said.

The economic loss due to premature deaths and illness attributable to air pollution — outdoor and household — as a percentage of state GDP was 1.08% in Delhi. The highest loss to GDP was recorded by Uttar Pradesh at nearly 2.6% followed by Bihar at 1.9% and Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan 1.7% each.

When it comes to impact of outdoor air pollution alone on state GDP, Delhi recorded a loss of 1.06%. UP still recorded the highest loss to GDP at just over 1.3% followed by Punjab at 1.2%.

Overall, deaths and diseases caused by air pollution are linked to loss of almost 1.4% of India’s GDP, the study shows. While 40% of the disease burden due to air pollution is from lung diseases, the remaining 60% is from ischaemic heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and neonatal deaths related to pre-term birth. While household air pollution is decreasing in India resulting in 64% reduction in the death rate per 1,00,000 population attributable to it from 1990 to 2019, the death rate from outdoor air pollution has increased during this period by 115%.

PHFI’s Lalit Dandona, who is also director of the India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative, said, “Improved methods in this paper have led to a higher estimate of the impact of air pollution on health and disease in India than previously estimated. The health and economic impact of air pollution is highest in the less developed states of India, an inequity that should be addressed.”

He added, “India has many initiatives to reduce air pollution, which can benefit further from the state-specific insights provided in this paper. Investing further in air pollution control will more than return that investment in terms of better health and economic development in India.”

Economic loss

December 23, 2020: The Times of India

Delhi’s per-capita loss due to bad air highest in country, finds study

New Delhi:

Delhi suffered the highest per-capita economic loss due to air pollution last year, according to a study in medical journal Lancet.

For years, northern India — especially New Delhi — has been battling critical levels of air pollution, which have remained consistently in the hazardous mark, for many days at a stretch, during winters. This air pollution has already taken a big toll on the health of the citizens and rattled the government, forcing it to devise new governance mechanism to address the menace of pollution in the capital.

The study said the economic loss due to lost output from premature deaths and morbidity from air pollution was 1.36% of the GDP in India in 2019. In Delhi, the loss due to lost output from premature deaths and illness attributable to air pollution as a percentage of state GDP was 1.06%.

Uttar Pradesh recorded highest loss to GDP at 1.34%, followed by Punjab at 1.22%. “Delhi had the highest per-capita economic loss due to air pollution, followed by Haryana in 2019, with 5.4 times variation across all states,” said the findings.

According to the study, the economic loss per capita was highest in Delhi, which was to the tune of $62 followed by neighbouring Haryana at $53.8.

The study’s findings suggested that 1.67 million deaths were attributable to air pollution in India in 2019, accounting for 17.8% of the total deaths in the country.

The crude death rate per 100,000 population due to household air pollution decreased in India by 64.2% from 1990 to 2019, due to reduced use of solid fuels, while that due to ambient particulate matter pollution increased by 115.3% and that due to ambient ozone pollution increased by 139.2%, said the study.

The authors of the study suggested that in 2019, the economic loss due to lost output from premature deaths attributable to ambient ozone pollution as a percentage of GDP in India was 0.05% and varied 11.2 times across the states, ranging from 0.01% in Nagaland to 0.12% in Uttar Pradesh. IANS

2018: AQLI index and average lifespan

Ritam Halder, Foul air reducing Delhiites’ average life by 10 yrs: Study, November 20, 2018: The Times of India

‘Capital 2nd Most Polluted City In India’

The toxic air of Delhi is taking away more than 10 years from the life of an average resident who is exposed to it for a sustained period, according to a new index released by a US university.

The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) developed by the University of Chicago’s Milton Friedman professor in economics, Michael Greenstone,

and his team at the varsity’s Energy Policy Institute (EPIC), calculates the effect of air quality on life expectancy.

“The AQLI is an index that translates particulate air pollution into its impact on life expectancy. In Delhi, pollution concentrations in 2016 averaged 113 micrograms per cubic metre. Based on the research, life expectancy would be more than 10 years longer for people in Delhi if the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards had been met,” explained Ken Lee, executive director of EPIC India.

According to WHO, the safe limit of annual mean PM2.5 is 10 micrograms per cubic metre. By Indian standards, the limit has been raised to 40 micrograms per cubic metre.

2018: Bad air costs 4.3 years of life, vs. 2.2 years in 1998

Ritam Halder, Bad air costs you 4.3 years of your life now against 2.2 years in 1998, November 20, 2018: The Times of India

Particulate Matter In Delhi Has Risen To 10 Times The WHO Safe Limit In Two Decades

A new index released by a US university has put definite numbers to the health risks posed by bad air. According to the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI), in 1998, Delhi and the north Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Bihar had already suffered from particulate concentrations that exceeded WHO safe levels by factors of 3 to 6, and reduced life expectancy for residents there by between 2 and 5 years. Over the ensuing two decades, pollution in this region increased to as much as 10 times the WHO safe limit in the case of Uttar Pradesh, where air pollution levels now reduce life expectancy by 8.6 years.

Over the past two decades, the concentration of fine particulates increased by 69% on average across India. As a result, sustained exposure to particulate pollution now reduces the life expectancy of the typical Indian citizen by 4.3 years compared to 2.2 years in 1998.

In 2016, the added lifeyears from compliance with the WHO guideline would raise average life expectancy at birth from 69 to 73 years — a larger gain than from eliminating unsafe water and poor sanitation, the index reveals.

The AQLI is rooted in recent research that quantifies the causal relationship between long-term human exposure to air pollution and life expectancy. The index then combines this research with hyper-localised, global particulate measurements, yielding unprecedented insight into the true cost of particulate pollution in communities around the world.

The index also illustrates how air pollution policies can increase life expectancy when they meet the WHO’s guideline for what is considered a safe level of exposure, existing national air quality standards, or user-defined air quality levels.

“This information can help local communities and policymakers understand the importance of air pollution policies in concrete terms,” Lee said.

The AQLI also points out that India is today the world’s second most polluted country, just behind Nepal. Particulate pollution is so severe that it shortens the average Indian’s life expectancy by more than four years relative to what it would be if WHO air quality guidelines were met.

“High levels of air pollution are a part of people’s lives in India, just as they were in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan and other countries in the past. The last several decades have seen tremendous progress in many of these countries, but this progress did not happen by accident—it was the result of policy choices. As India navigates the dual challenges of sustaining economic growth and protecting environmental quality, the AQLI provides a tool to make the benefits of policies to reduce air pollution concrete,” said Michael Greenstone, director of EPIC.

The index also reveals that fossil fuel-driven particulate air pollution cuts global average life expectancy by 1.8 years per person. The AQLI establishes particulate pollution as the single greatest threat to human health globally, with its effect on life expectancy exceeding that of devastating communicable diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, behavioural killers like cigarette smoking, and even war.

“Around the world today, people are breathing air that represents a serious risk to their health. But the way this risk is communicated is very often opaque and confusing, translating air pollution concentrations into colours, like red, brown, orange, and green. What those colours mean for people’s well-being has always been unclear,” Greenstone said.

Compared to the reduction in average life expectancy by 1.8 years due to particulate pollution, first-hand cigarette smoke leads to a reduction in global average life expectancy of about 1.6 years. Other risks to human health have even smaller effects: alcohol and drugs reduce life expectancy by 11 months; unsafe water and sanitation take off 7 months; and HIV/ AIDS, 4 months. Conflict and terrorism take off 22 days.

So, the impact of particulate pollution on life expectancy is comparable to that of smoking, twice that of alcohol and drug use, three times that of unsafe water, five times that of HIV/AIDS, and more than 25 times that of conflict and terrorism, the study reveals.

2019: The state-wise picture

See graphic, '2019: A state-wise snapshot of the effect of Air pollution on health in India '

2019: State of Global Air 2020

October 22, 2020: The Hindu

Air pollution now biggest health risk in India, says report

Long-term exposure contributed to over 1.67 million deaths in 2019; 1.16 lakh infants died in first month

Long-term exposure to outdoor and household air pollution contributed to over 1.67 million annual deaths from stroke, heart attack, diabetes, lung cancer, chronic lung diseases and neonatal diseases in India in 2019, according to the State of Global Air 2020 by the U.S.-based Health Effects Institute. Overall, air pollution was now the largest risk factor for death among all health risks, the report noted.

Outdoor and household particulate matter pollution also contributed to the deaths of more than 1,16,000 Indian infants in their first month of life last year. More than half of these deaths were associated with outdoor PM2.5 and others were linked to use of solid fuels such as charcoal, wood, and animal dung for cooking.

For the youngest infants, most deaths were related to complications from low birth weight and preterm birth.

India faced the highest per capita pollution exposure — or 83.2 μg/cubic metre — in the world, followed by Nepal at 83.1 μg/cubic metre and Niger at 80.1, according to the report which sources its data from publicly available sources. Countries with the least population exposure are below 8 micrograms (μg) per cubic metre.

Marginal decline

The government has claimed that average pollution levels in India are declining over the past three years but these have been marginal, particularly in the Indo-Gangetic plains which see extremely high particulate matter pollution especially during winter.

After a decline in pollution due to the nationwide lockdown in late March and the months-long process of reopening, pollution levels are again rising and air quality has dipped to ‘very poor’ category in several cities.

COVID-19, a disease for which people with heart and lung disease are particularly at risk of infection and death, has claimed more than 1,10,000 lives in India. Although the full links between air pollution and COVID-19 are not yet known, there is clear evidence linking air pollution and increased heart and lung disease, creating a growing concern that exposures to high levels of air pollution during winter months in South Asian countries and East Asia could worsen the effects of COVID-19.

“This newest evidence suggests an especially high risk for infants born in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa,” said HEI president Dan Greenbaum in a statement. “Although there has been slow and steady reduction in household reliance on poor-quality fuels, the air pollution from these fuels continues to be a key factor in the deaths of these youngest infants.”

Why pollution reduces life by 10 years

See graphic:

Why pollution reduces life by 10 years

India vis-a-vis the world

1850-2011: the world's biggest polluters

See graphic, 'India and the world, The main countries responsible for CO2 emissions between 1850 and 2011, and their share; as well as likely emissions till 2030'

2015: in absolute terms, in per capita terms

See graphic, 'India and the world, Top 10 emitters of climate-damaging greenhouse gases'

2017: Compliance with the Paris Agreement, share of fossil- and zero carbon- fuels

See graphic:

The compliance of India and other major countries with the Paris Agreement, presumably as in 2017.
The share of fossil fuels and zero carbon fuels in the primary energy supply of India and other major countries

Countries’ share of global emissions/ 2017

Vishwa Mohan, ‘Most countries not on track to cut carbon footprint’, November 28, 2018: The Times of India

Global emissions continue to be high as most countries are not on track to cut their carbon footprint as per their pledges of climate action, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said in its flagship ‘emission gap’ report.

Highlighting the gap in their actions, the report said countries must raise their ambition by 3x (three times) to meet the 2 degree Celsius target and 5x (five times) to meet the 1.5 degree Celsius target as continuation of the current trend was likely to result in global warming of around 3°C by the end of the century, with continued temperature rises after that.

“If the emissions gap is not closed by 2030, it is extremely unlikely that the 2°C temperature goal can still be reached (by 2100),” the report said in a warning to countries in the backdrop of the recent IPCC special report which quantified how disastrous the situation would be if the world didn’t take urgent, drastic and largescale action to keep warming within 1.5°C by 2100.

Industrial pollution

Family conglomerates and carbon dioxide emissions

Chandra Bhushan, March 6, 2021: The Times of India

On November 5, 2020, 24 leading companies signed a ‘declaration of the private sector on climate change’ to tackle the climate crisis.

One of the key features of prominent family conglomerates in India is that they operate in fossil-fuel intensive sectors and are responsible for a significant share of India’s carbon dioxide emissions.

Today, just seven family conglomerates (Reliance, Adani, Tata, Aditya Birla, Mahindra, Jindal, and Vedanta) are responsible for emitting at least 530 million tonnes of CO2 annually. This is equivalent to 22% of India’s total CO2 emissions. In 2019-20, these seven groups operated 25% of India’s coal-based power plants (50,000 MW); produced 39% of India’s steel (43 million tonnes), 27% of India’s cement (91 million tonnes), and 22% of India’s passenger and commercial vehicles (0.92 million). They also accounted for 30% of oil refining capacity and 25% crude oil production.

The writer is CEO, International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology (iFOREST)

Details

Sidhartha Roy, March 5, 2021: The Times of India

From being ranked 65th among111 cities in 2018, Delhi has climbed up to the 13th position in the Ease of Living Index-2020 released by the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs. The capital’s ascent has primarily been powered by the economic opportunities it offers, the parameter on which it was ranked second in the country after Bengaluru.

Among the five major “pillars” of the index, economic ability is the worst performing with an aggregate score of 13.1 nationally. The cities that buck the trend are Bengaluru, which has secured the top spot with a score of 78.8, followed by Delhi (50.7), Pune (48.8) and Ahmedabad (48.1). All these cities have a population of over a million.

When it comes to economic opportunities, Delhi is the only positive outlier in the category with a perfect score of 100, followed by Bengaluru with a significant gap (58.1), Hyderabad (48) and Chennai (45.11). Delhi is on top among 29 cities scoring above the national average, including 16 with a population of over a million and 13 with less than a million.

The capital is also an economic powerhouse in the northern region with the economic ability score of 50.7. This not only ranks it the highest, but also way ahead of the next city Ludhiana, which has a score of 26.2. In fact, with a regional average score of 52.5, most of the over 17 million cities in the northern region have a score higher than the national average of 53.5. Apart from Delhi, the other top ranking north Indian cities are Ludhiana (14th), Jodhpur (21st) and Jaipur (23rd).

Interestingly, in the economic development category, Delhi scores the lowest at 1.4, while the national average is 18. The reason is that cities like Bengaluru, Pune, Ahmedabad, Thane and Chennai and even Gurgaon score higher due to their legacy of industrial development. Delhi is traditionally a major trading point and only non-polluting industries are allowed in the city.

Another area where Delhi scores high is the housing and shelter category, where along with Thiruvananthapuram, Puducherry and Bhopal, it has been identified as the perfect positive outlier. All households in these cities have electrical connections and beneficiaries are covered under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. However, 10-20% of the urban population resides in slums.

Delhi is also among at least 34 cities, including Bengaluru, Chennai and Chandigarh, that have professionally trained teachers.

An area of major concern is the number of crimes against women. Most cities recording high incidence of such crimes are in north India, including top performers in the quality of life category, like Delhi, Gurgaon and Indore.

Despite having the largest metro network in the country, Delhi records low figures for availability of public transport. The figure of Delhi (1,688.5 per lakh population) is lower than Bengaluru (4,409.6), Pune (2,585.5) and Navi Mumbai (2,037.8). In Chennai, availability of public transport is the highest at 92,017.9 per lakh population, followed by Visakhapatnam (21,212.9).

The public transport system in cities like Delhi is not efficient enough to support the population and they may be “automobile-dependent”, states the report. Delhi’s figure for transport-related fatalities of 12.43 per lakh population is also higher than many other cities.

The report mentions that according to World Health Organisation, 20 of the world’s most polluted cities belong to India, including Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow and Patna. However, it also states that Delhi government shut down a thermal power plant at Rajghat, aiming to redevelop it into a 5,000 kW solar park.

Effect on rainfall

Jayashree Nandi, Jul 03 2017 : The Times of India (Delhi)

It's not just your lungs that the city's bad air is hurting. A study , published in the Atmospheric, Chemistry and Physics journal, has highlighted how air pollution could delay rains in some areas, on one hand, and cause intense rain in a relatively short period, on the other.

This -and several other similar studies -drives home how air pollution may already be impacting crop yields and food production.

The study carried out by IIT-Kanpur, Weizmann Institute in Israel and Indian Meteorological Department has assessed long-term data of clouds, aerosols and rainfall from June to September between 2002 and 2013. “Satellite modelling studies showed that aerosols caused formation of a large number of cloud droplets that are relatively smaller in size. These release a lot of energy , or latent heat. Then, the droplets are pushed vertically , crossing the freezing line. This is also an energy-extensive process that fuels cloud growth,“ said professor SN Tripathi of department of Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering at IIT-Kanpur.

In simple terms, he explained, “more aerosols can cause intense rain in a relatively short period. It can also delay the onset of rain during monsoon“. Aerosol Optical Depth -the degree to which aero sols (airborne solid and liquid particles) prevent transmission of light in an area -is also considered an indirect proxy for air quality. In this study, scientists found AOD in the summer monsoon region during the monsoon months to be 0.6. There is no safe stan dard for AOD, but in cleaner areas such as in the US, the AOD is about 0.1.

A study by Princeton University in 2011 had indicated that monsoon rain was decreasing over the years, mainly because of anthropogenic aerosol emissions.

Professor Sagnik Dey , associate professor at Centre for Atmospheric Sciences at IIT-Delhi, said: “The frequency and intensity of rainfall during monsoon is getting affected. When it's raining, it's raining very heavily and the monsoon is often not progressing smoothly .The aerosol load is higher over the Indo-Gangetic plains, the heating gradient is higher and the cloud patterns are also changing.“

According to Pallavi Pant, a US-based scientist: “The role of aerosols in rainfall is quite complex. Presence of particles in the atmosphere can influence cloud formation because they can act as nuclei or seeds for clouds to form. In some cases, a higher number of particles in the atmosphere can result in heavier rainfall.“ 

Action taken against polluters

2017: CPCB shuts 387 units in UP

Maria Khan, CPCB shuts down 387 polluting units across UP, August 28, 2017: The Times of India

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued directions to shut down 387 industrial units across Uttar Pradesh after inspections found that they had been violating pollution control norms. According to the CPCB report, the industries, which range from tanneries to textile mills, sugar mills to chemical processing plants, have been discharging effluents directly or indirectly into the Ganga and its tributaries, thereby contam inating the water.

Based on reports, the board on August 9 had issued closure directions to 433 defaulting units across the state under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Of these, 46 grossly polluting industries (GPIs) have since complied with the directions and have been issued revocation directions. The remaining 387 have either not complied with the directions relating to online effluent monitoring devices or have found to be not complying with prescribed standards. In the list, which was re ceived by district authorities on Saturday , textile units make the largest number of those which are to be shut down, at 224. Tanneries number 118. Also in the list are 11sugar mills; 10 distilleries; nine food, dairy and beverage processing units; six chemical units and two slaughterhouses and paper mills each.

Additional district magistrate (enforcement), SP Singh told TOI, “The process of shutting them down has already begun.“

Kitchens’ air pollution

Jayashree Nandi| Threat To Crops – Bad air to blame for irregular rain| Jul 03 2017 : The Times of India (Delhi)

Effect on rainfall

THREAT TO CROPS - Bad air to blame for irregular rain

New Delhi  It's not just your lungs that the city's bad air is hurting. A study , published in the Atmospheric, Chemistry and Physics journal, has highlighted how air pollution could delay rains in some areas, on one hand, and cause intense rain in a relatively short period, on the other.

This -and several other similar studies -drives home how air pollution may already be impacting crop yields and food production.

The study carried out by IIT-Kanpur, Weizmann Institute in Israel and Indian Meteorological Department has assessed long-term data of clouds, aerosols and rainfall from June to September between 2002 and 2013. “Satellite modelling studies showed that aerosols caused formation of a large number of cloud droplets that are relatively smaller in size. These release a lot of energy , or latent heat. Then, the droplets are pushed vertically , crossing the freezing line. This is also an energy-extensive process that fuels cloud growth,“ said professor SN Tripathi of department of Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering at IIT-Kanpur.

In simple terms, he explained, “more aerosols can cause intense rain in a relatively short period. It can also delay the onset of rain during monsoon“. Aerosol Optical Depth -the degree to which aero sols (airborne solid and liquid particles) prevent transmission of light in an area -is also considered an indirect proxy for air quality. In this study, scientists found AOD in the summer monsoon region during the monsoon months to be 0.6. There is no safe stan dard for AOD, but in cleaner areas such as in the US, the AOD is about 0.1.

A study by Princeton University in 2011 had indicated that monsoon rain was decreasing over the years, mainly because of anthropogenic aerosol emissions.

Professor Sagnik Dey , associate professor at Centre for Atmospheric Sciences at IIT-Delhi, said: “The frequency and intensity of rainfall during monsoon is getting affected. When it's raining, it's raining very heavily and the monsoon is often not progressing smoothly .The aerosol load is higher over the Indo-Gangetic plains, the heating gradient is higher and the cloud patterns are also changing.“

According to Pallavi Pant, a US-based scientist: “The role of aerosols in rainfall is quite complex. Presence of particles in the atmosphere can influence cloud formation because they can act as nuclei or seeds for clouds to form. In some cases, a higher number of particles in the atmosphere can result in heavier rainfall.

25% urban households don't have kitchen

Could you please give a link to this page on the Housing and UD page but not vice-versa? Dipak Dash, 1.7cr households in cities have no kitchen , April 12, 2017: The Times of India

At least one-fourth of urban households in India don't have separate a kitchen, according to data based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) carried out by the housing ministry .

The survey indicates how nearly 1.7 crore urban households may be using their single room for cooking food as well.This fresh data gains importance considering that different studies have shown how air pollution in kitchens has become a major health concern and that too in urban areas where the ambient air is getting increasingly polluted due to vehicular emission and dust.

A study published in Elsevier, a journal on environmental research, which assessed people's personal ex posure to pollution in Delhi, showed how kitchens can be more polluted than roads.

The study mentioned how urban households, particularly kitchens, could be enveloping people in PM 2.5 pollutants as well. Other studies across the globe have also shown how kitchen appliances release colourless pollutants. Kitchens also get more polluted when they lack proper ventilation. In fact, the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), launched by PM Narendra Mod, was a big step towards making kitchens smoke-free for women who are often the worst-affected by such pollution.

According to SECC data, while Mizoram has the maximum percentage of such households, Bihar ranks second. In Daman and Diu and Kerala, over 90% households have exclusive kitchens.

SECC data shows that in 2011, when the survey was conducted through a comprehensive door-to-door enumeration across the country , nearly 24.5% of urban households had a single room.

Sources in the housing ministry said the SECC data collected in 2011 is being utilised in sanctioning houses for the urban poor with central aid under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. SECC data, which conceals sensitive caste and poverty details in urban areas, gives details of how many families are “houseless“ and how many live in rented accommodations in towns and cities.

Link between meteorological conditions, air quality

2015 and 2016

See graphic.Link between meteorological conditions and the air quality in Delhi on the 1st Oct and 7 Nov, 2015 and 2016.

Measurement of Air Quality

National Air Quality Index needs help/ 2017

Jayashree Nandi, What's ailing India's air? The nation doesn't know enough, April 23, 2017: The Times of India

The Six Problems With The Way We Measure Air Quality In Our Country

Two years after it was started, India's National Air Quality Index (NAQI) does not provide a relia ble picture of pollution in cities. The index uses colours ranging from dark green to dark red to show users at a glance how polluted the air in their area is at any time. However, it is unreliable because most cities don't have enough monitoring stations, and the existing stations do not monitor for all important pollutants. NOT ENOUGH STATIONS

The entire metropolis of Mumbai--home to more than 2.2 crore people--has only one air quality monitor in Bandra for NAQI. When former environment m i n i s t e r P r a k a s h Java d e k a r launched NAQI under the Swachh Bharat campaign in April 2015, the goal was to cover 46 cities with a population of more than 10 lakh each, but only 29 are on the network so far. Of these, 20 cities, including some severely polluted ones like Varanasi, Patna and Kanpur, have only one NAQI monitoring station each.

The northeast has virtually no monitoring station. Large states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha also don't have any. Asansol, Coimbatore, Bhiwadi, Ghaziabad, Noida, Ludhiana and Vapi are some of the critically-polluted areas that may be connected to NAQI this year.

Delhi is the only city with eight monitoring stations and it is likely to get 20 more this year. Compare that with Beijing that already has more than 35, and London, which has 100, according to a recent Greenpeace India report. Entire China has 1,500 government-run monitoring stations.

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which runs the NAQI programme, had prescribed at least three stations each in Class 1 cities, nine each in mega cities like Ben galuru, and six each in all other cities that are either state capitals or major industrial areas.

COST HURDLE

Why has the NAQI network of monitoring stations grown so slowly? CPCB officials say the high cost of equipment and shortage of trained manpower is delaying its growth.

“We cannot just establish automatic stations. Each station that monitors eight criteria (common) pollutants costs about Rs 1 crore and its operational cost is Rs 10 lakh per year,“ said Dipankar Saha, head of Air Lab at CPCB. “They are all US EPA-approved automatic analysers.It takes about nine months to set up each station and we need dedicated manpower to monitor and validate the data recorded by these stations.“

Saha said CPCB will not take data from low-cost private monitors. “Our monitoring methodology is prescribed in the gazetted notification.We do not trust low-cost monitors.“

Experts say the cost hurdle can be overcome by using satellite data and air quality modelling.

DOUBTFUL READINGS

CPCB may doubt data from private monitors, but its own equipment is often not calibrated properly. For mer CPCB member secretary B Sengupta says, “We have noticed that many of the stations aren't even calibrated, which could give erroneous results.“

Calibration is done by injecting gas into the monitor and tallying the results with specific readings. “We have noticed that scientists in most state pollution control boards are not capable of doing this calibration and it's entirely left to the suppliers of the equipment who also don't do it. Often, gas isn't available for testing.“

That explains the huge difference in data collected manually and by automatic stations at the same location. “The difference is often as much as 30-50% when it shouldn't be more than 10%. Unfortunately , we are drawing some major conclusions on air quality based on very limited data,“ added Sengupta.

ALL POLLUTANTS NOT MEASURED

CPCB stations do not measure the levels of all important pollut ants. For instance, PM 2.5 (fine, respirable pollu tion particles) is measured in only seven cities, so World Health Organization (WHO) extrapolated PM 2.5 data from PM 10 (coarse particles) data for India's urban air quality database.

“We may not know the proportion of industrial pollution either. Toxic of industrial pollution either. Toxic pollutants are not being monitored.Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are commonly emitted around industries in critically-polluted areas like Vapi, Ankleshwar, Vatva and others, are not being captured at all,“ said Sengupta.

MONITOR LOCATION MATTERS

Besides the number of monitoring stations in a city, where they are located is also important to get a representative picture. “We recently correlated air pollution levels captured by ground monitors in some cities with the city averages based on high-resolution satellite data and found that monitoring is not science driven,“ said Sagnik Dey, associate professor, Centre for Atmospheric Sciences at IIT Delhi.“In Varanasi, the lone monitoring station is more or less representative of the city average, but in many other cities it's not so. A city where the monitor isn't placed in the right location may move up very high in city ranking despite being less polluted.“

NOT USING ALL AVAILABLE DATA

While CPCB has just one operational station in Mumbai, a parallel government sys tem called SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research) has 10, but the two are not connected. SAFAR, which is under Ministry of Earth Sciences, has 10 stations each in Delhi, Pune and Ahmedabad. Saha says NAQI and SAFAR will share data eventually . For now, “Their design is prediction-oriented while we are capturing real-time data. There are technical difficulties in aligning the two.“

“State of the Global Air 2017“ report, US-based Health Effects Institute (HEI)

CPCB disputes ozone-related deaths

Jayashree Nandi, CPCB `junks' ozone data, March 3, 2017: The Times of India



Reacting to a recent international report that said India had the highest number of ozone-related deaths, scientists from the Central Pollution Control Board said exposure to ozone cannot lead to premature mortality and that the report was only putting India on the spot with “observational data“.

In its “State of the Global Air 2017“ report, US-based Health Effects Institute (HEI) had analysed the impact on health of air pollution across the globe and found India had the most fatalities due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) caused by ozone.

The report said 2.54 lakh deaths occurred in 2015 globally on account of ozone exposure, of which India accounted for over more one lakh and China, 71,900. The report also said India's record contributed substantially to the 67% rise in ozone attributable COPD deaths since 1990.

Refuting the findings, Dipankar Saha, head of CPCB's air lab, said, “Ozone exposure cannot be linked with mortality. If it were true, by now we would have seen a very large number of deaths in the US, which has high ozone concentrations. Our data shows India rarely exceeds the safe standard for the gas.“

While CPCB shared annual average concentrations of the highly hazardous and reactive gas for 33 cities and 56 stations, though not the daily or monthly concentrations, experts who declined to be quoted said annual concentrations could mask ozone peaks.Ozone is formed when nitrogen dioxide emissions react with volatile organic compounds in hot weather.

Contradicting even the death figures associated with respirable pollutants in the HEI report, Saha said, “It's an observational study . Our data is robust and comparable becau se India is the only country that has specified pollution measurement methods and techniques.“ S Scientists TOI spoke to also confirmed that proof of ozone's link with mortality is only now being studied. “Current research only looks at ozone's association with worsening COPD, asthma and inflammation and increased risk of premature mortality ,“ a public health expert pointed out. “The link is strong, but stronger evidence base is necessary before a conclusive declaration can be made.“

Referring to the report, Union environment minister Anil Madhav Dave too had pointed out, “These reports are often based on extrapolations without due scientific validation and there is a need for caution before arriving at any conclusion.“

The HEI report stated that “over the last 25 years, India experienced a nearly 150% increase in ozone-attributable deaths, while China's number remained about the same. The ozone-attributable COPD mortality rate decreased by about 1% over this time period in the United States and Indonesia, and remained relatively stable in Russia and the European Union“.

CPCB's own “Epidemiolo gical study on effect of air pollution on human health in Delhi“, published in 2012, admitted that the combustion of fuels produced outdoor pollutants, including ozone. “There is increasing evidence to suggest that exposure to these pollutants elicits adverse health effects often at levels well below the current WHO guidelines,“ the report said.

The “Delhi commitment on multi-sectoral action for addressing air pollution“, the result of a workshop organised by the union environment ministry and WHO, recommends making air pollution impact assessment mandatory for public policies of various ministries. It also advises investment of “additional human and financial resources“ to reduce exposure to air pollution.

Metropolitan cities, 2015-16

The Times of India, Apr 29 2016

Delhi's air most foul among metros

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) released national air quality index (NAQI) status for 24 cities in 10 states.

The report provided daily AQI values for 11 months for most major cities and for 4-6 months for others that CPCB started monitoring later. Data showed that Delhi, Varanasi, Lucknow and Kanpur had a large number of days with very poor and severe air quality whereas the coastal and southern states fared better. But there is a huge disparity in the number of monitoring stations in each city. Here, we compare the air quality in Delhi with Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. Delhi has nine monitoring stations. Mumbai had just one station functioning on Thursday, Bangalore had 5, and these differences will have to be factored in.

Delhi had two months of “very poor“ and five months of “poor“ air (see graph). Mumbai had no months in the “poor“ or “very poor“ categories, nor did Bengaluru or Chennai.Experts said meteorological factors play a crucial role in this --while coastal cities have better dispersal of pollutants, Delhi, Kanpur, Varanasi and others in the Indo-Gangetic plains are worse off because of higher emission sources such as industries, brick kilns and others. The CPCB's report also indicates that the monitoring is very weak in certain parts with many cities showing “no data“ for several days. Gurgaon, for instance, had AQI only for a day in all of January . This indicates the report gives a skewed picture in these cities

Ozone levels

2014

The Times of India, Sep 09 2016

Jayashree Nandi  10-20% rise in ozone levels in India, harmful for lungs and crops: Report

While Indian cities are still grappling with the impacts of severe particulate matter (PM) pollution, a new report has raised the flag on ozone levels (O3) too. `The Cost of Air Pollution', a report by the World Bank and Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) released, estimates that the concentrations of O3 has increased by 10 to 20% in India between 1990 and 2013. The trend is similar in neighboring countries and in Brazil, while a declining course was seen in the US and Indonesia, among others.

High ozone levels are not only associated with serious health impacts like reduced lung function, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), aggravating asthma and respiratory conditions, but also with widespread crop loss.

The study also estimates that total deaths due to increase in exposure to O3 increased by 50% between 1990 and 2013 in South Asia. For this report, the health and economic burden of O3 is only based on COPD incidence from it. Total deaths due to exposure to PM2.5 have also increased in South Asia during the same phase, but not as steeply as with O3.

Interestingly, even though the cost of O3 related premature deaths are far lower than that of PM2.5 (both household and outdoor), O3 associated economic or welfare losses for South Asia are equivalent to that of North America. The welfare losses due to O3 exposure are to the tune of 0.4% of gross domestic product (GDP) equivalent, the report states.If you consider man days lost, it's about 0.09% of GDP equivalent, it says.

Air quality experts said O3 could be a serious concern soon. “Even before we could deal with health damage from particulate pollution we are falling into the pincer grip of ozone pollution that damages both lungs and crops. This is also the sign that emissions of toxic gases are increasing rapidly in our country . Keep in mind that for estimating health damage from ozone this report has only considered chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. The actual cost of health damage could be way higher,“ said Anumita Roy Chowdhury , head of Centre for Science and Environment's clean air programme.

Ozone is not directly emitted from any source, it is created by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight. It's mainly released from combustion sources which includes vehicles and industries.

A 2014 study by scientists at Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology estimated that ozone-induced damage to wheat and rice is enough to feed roughly 35% of 270 million BPL population in India.

2015: India tops in ozone pollution deaths

Vishwa Mohan, Country Can't Continue In Denial: Experts, Feb 15, 2017: The Times of India

India tops list of countries in ozone pollution deaths

 India has been in denial mode on linking premature deaths to air pollution in the absence of conclusive data, but a new comprehensive global report by two US-based institutes may now trigger a rethink. The report claims the country's worsening air pollution caused some 1.1 million premature deaths in 2015 and it now rivals China in having among the highest air pollution health burdens in the world.

The State of Global Air 2017 report, released in Bos ton on Tuesday , claims longterm exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) -the most significant element of air pollution -contributed to 4.2 million premature deaths in the world in 2015 where both India and China to gether were responsible for over half of the total global deaths. Though the report sounds alarm bells for entire Asia, it paints a particlularly grim picture for India where the rate of increase of premature deaths due to air pollution is even higher than in China. It noted that while the early deaths related to PM2.5 in China has increased by 17.22% since 1990, it has increased by 48% in India.

Ozone-related early deaths in India are, in fact, 33% higher than those recorded for China. India's deepening pollution problem, which hit home with a vengeance after Diwali last year as Delhi and NCR woke up enveloped in smog that refused to lift for days, has a death toll second only to China's, and together the two nations acount for over half the world's deaths from pollution. According to the State of Global Air 2017 report, released in Boston on Tuesday , as many as 2.54 lakh deaths occurred in 2015 on account of exposure to ozone and its impact on chronic lung disease.India accounts for the highest number of premature deaths due to ozone pollution, its toll 13 times higher than Bangladesh's, and 21 times higher than Pakistan’s.

An interactive website on the report also highlights that 92% of the world's population lives in areas with unhealthy air. “We are seeing increasing air pollution problems worldwide, and this new report and website details why that air pollution is a major contributor to early death,“ said Dan Greenbaum, president of the Health Effects Institute (HEI), the research institute that designed and carried out the study . He said, “The trends we report show that we have seen progress in some parts of the world, but serious challenges remain“.

The report was prepared by HEI in cooperation with the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington and the University of British Columbia. Involving more than 2,000 researchers, the report factored in the role of an extensive set of behavioural, dietary and environmental risk factors for more than 300 diseases in 195 countries from 1990 onwards.

Referring to the findings of the report, Anumita Roychowdhury of the Centre for Science and Environment, said, “India can't afford to remain complacent or in denial. With so many people dying early and falling ill... due to particulate and ozone pollution, it is a state of health emergency . This demands nationwide intervention to ensure stringent mitigation and a roadmap to meet clean air standards“.

The pollutants/ the chemicals in the air

Sulphur dioxide

2016-18

Vishwa Mohan, August 20, 2019: The Times of India

Coal-based power makes India top global SO2 emitter: Greenpeace

New Delhi:

Sulphur dioxide (SO2), a significant contributor to air pollution, may be within the national ambient air quality standard in all major cities in India, but the country is the largest cumulative emitter of this pollutant in the world and thus prone to being a victim of a cocktail of several toxic air pollutants.

As a reactive pollutant, SO2 reacts with other air pollutants to form sulphate particles and makes a significant part of particulate matter (PM2.5), which has the largest public health impact. It is estimated that SO2 commonly makes up more than 10% of the deadly fine particles in India and China.

Though Russia’s Norilsk smelter complex is the largest individual SO2 emission hotspot, India figured at the top, contributing more than 15% of all anthropogenic sulphur dioxide globally in 2018. The primary reason for the country’s high emission output is the expansion of coal-based electricity generation over the past decade.

These are the findings of a new report by Greenpeace, a global environmental NGO, which analysed sulphur dioxide hotspots detected by US space agency Nasa’s OMI (Ozone Monitoring Instrument) satellite. It shows Russia is the second largest cumulative emitter of sulphur dioxide followed by China, Mexico, Iran, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

The Greenpeace study, released on Monday, finds that Singrauli, Neyveli, Talcher, Jharsuguda, Korba, Kutch, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Ramagundam and Raigarh are the major SO2 emission hotspots in India.

Analysis of ambient air quality data by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India’s national pollution watchdog, however, shows that sulphur dioxide levels were within the acceptable limits in all 50 major cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Pune and Kanpur, in the country during 2016-18. Asked for explanation, clean air analyst and one of the authors of this report, Sunil Dahiya, said, “Although SO2 concentration monitored directly across cities in India might show low values, being a reactive pollutant, it converts to sulphates very quickly, making a significant part of secondary PM2.5, which has proven to be a major health risk across the world, leading to millions of deaths”.

Citing an example, he told TOI that the IIT Kanpur report on air pollution in Delhi, compiled in 2015, also highlighted this fact by mentioning that 90% reduction in SO2 from power plants within 300km of the capital will result in reduction of approximately 35 micrograms per cubic metre of PM2.5.

The report noted that among the major emitters of SO2, China has been able to reduce emissions rapidly by dramatically improving emissions standards for its power plants and enforcing sulphur dioxide controls.

“This report makes it clear that we cannot give coal power plants a free hand to continue polluting and keep leading to a health emergency situation in India due to air pollution,” said Pujarini Sen, senior campaigner at Greenpeace, in a statement.

Toxic metals

High levels of toxic metals in air: Study, January 18, 2019: The Times of India

Samples of air taken from Delhi and Gurgaon in November and December 2018 have revealed the presence of alarming levels of toxic heavy metals such as manganese, nickel and lead, in addition to excess PM2.5, according to a study released by an NGO, Lung Care Foundation.

In the study, “Death in every breath”, results of seven air samples from New Delhi and Gurgaon were analysed. Levels of manganese in five samples were found to be much higher than the US standard while nickel concentration exceeded WHO guidelines in all seven samples. Lead levels exceeded the US safe standard in six samples and extremely high levels of barium were detected around Diwali.

PM2.5 levels in all the seven samples were above statutory limits, ranging from 90.3 ug/m3 to 563.5 ug/m3 — between 1.5 and 9.4 times higher than standards prescribed by the Union environment ministry.

Delhi air rich in 3 toxins that can cause brain damage, finds study

Manganese levels in five samples exceeded the US EPA reference concentration for exposure to to the metal (0.05 ug/m3) and the WHO annual health-based guidelines value of 0.15 ug/m3. There are no standards in India for manganese in ambient air.

Levels of lead in six samples exceed the US EPA threemonth average for exposure to lead (0.15 ug/m3) and in two samples exceed the Indian NAAQS annual and WHO annual health-based guidelines value of 0.05 ug/m3.

Nickel levels in all samples exceed the WHO annual healthbased guidelines value of 0.0025 ug/m3, which is based on the risk of cancer associated with long-term exposure to nickel.

“Manganese, lead and nickel are neurotoxins that damage the brain. Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of lead. Exposures to even low levels of lead early in life have been linked to effects on IQ, learning, memory and behavior. It’s a matter of very serious concern that such high levels of these toxic metals are found in the air that our children breathe,” said Dr Arvind Kumar of Lung Care Foundation.

“There is an urgent need for policy makers to bring the focus back on the people and the health problems they are reporting, to understand the impact of air pollution and its severity. People are the best monitors and they have been reporting severe health impacts already,” he said.

The barium level in the sample collected a day before Diwali was 21.5 µg/m3. It was 5.8 µg/m3 on Diwali and 2.4 µg/ m3 the day after.

According to Dr Mark Chernaik, staff scientist at Environment Law Alliance Worlwide (ELAW), US, “These levels are extremely high and unheard of. Typically, barium levels are <0.05 µg/m3.” Based on limited human and animal data, the respiratory tract is the most sensitive target following inhalation exposure. According to studies, barium, typically as barium nitrate, imparts a yellow or apple green colour to fireworks. For brilliant green, barium monochloride is used.

Prosecution of offenders

2016

Vishwa Mohan, December 6, 2017: The Times of India

See graphic:

Cases relating to "green" offences, 2015-16
The 5 states that registered the highest number of cases in 2016

This is how serious Delhi is about its air

Not A Single Case Registered In City Under Pollution Law

Delhi had seen one of the worst years in terms of air pollution in 2016 but the city did not file a single case against anyone for violating the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, reflecting gaps in the enforcement of green laws in the country.

The crime figures released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) last week capture this irony with the country as a whole registering only 25 cases under the air pollution law act with the maximum 21 being registered in Maharashtra and two each in Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.

Though the number of cases collectively under all five green laws in the country has consistently been decreasing since 2014, the registration of lower number of cases under air and water pollution acts puts a big question mark over the functioning of the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) across the country.

“The SPCBs have policing power, but they are not exercising it. They simply issue warning, asking them to refrain from violating air or water pollution act. It is a serious enforcement issue and the government must intervene to address this,” environment lawyer Ritwick Dutta told TOI.

He said that most of the SPCBs do not even lawyers to take up their cases in court. “Not even a single person is convicted under the air pollution act since 1980. Just issuing warnings and handling it without bringing it to the notice of courts (by registering cases) are something which should be questioned”, said Dutta.

The five green laws under which violators are booked in the country include Indian Forest Act, 1927; Wildlife Protection Act, 1972; Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.

According to the NCRB, total 4,732 cases were registered under various environmental laws. Most of the cases registered in 2016 were related to violations of forest and wildlife protection laws with only 25 being registered under air pollution act and 11 under water pollution act.

Asked about such a huge number of cases under forest and wildlife protection laws, Dutta said forest officials were trained to do policing jobs unlike their counterparts in SPCBs. “Better enforcement is also linked to career progression of forest officials and therefore the conservators do their jobs diligently”, he said.

Reduction of pollution: measures

Measures taken by Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan/ 2013, '14

See graphic, 'Measures taken by Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan'

PAT (perform, achieve, trade)’s achievements 2012-15

Just 478 units reduced 2% of India's annual CO2 emission, October 26, 2017: The Times of India



Just 478 industrial units from energy-intensive industries have reduced their carbon emission by 31 million tonne, or 2% of India's total annual emission, and saved over Rs 9,500 crore through more efficient energy use in the three years between 2012 and 2015, the first report card of a governmentpromoted scheme shows.

The results for the first implementation cycle of PAT (perform, achieve & trade) scheme of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency under the power ministry also shows monetary savings of Rs 37,685 crore from avoided generation of 5,635 MW, indicating a gradual greening of Indian industry .

The first cycle of PAT (2012-15) covered the chosen factories -called `designated units' -from eight sectors with high energy consumption: aluminium, cement, chloralkali, fertiliser, iron & steel, pulp and paper, textiles and thermal power plants. Together, these sectors account for about 33% of India's primary energy consumption.

PAT is a market-based mechanism focused on reducing energy consumption for each unit of production in large energy-intensive industries. It is being implemented under the National Mission on Enhanced Ener gy Efficiency (NMEEE) as part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) of 2012.

The scheme facilitates large, energy-intensive industries to achieve their legal obligation under the Energy Conservation Act of 2001 and also motivating them with necessary market-based incentives to reduce their perunit energy consumption and surpass their individual energy saving targets.

These results are encouraging in the backdrop of last week's healthy start to Energy Efficiency Certificates (ESCerts) trading. Industry generated over Rs 11 crore of additional revenue during the first month of trading. Some 117,425 ESCerts have been exchanged at an average bid price of Rs 990 each in the auctions over the past month.

The government launched ESCert trading on the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) and the Power Exchange India Ltd (PXIL) on September 26. The certificates are traded only on Tuesdays through closed doublesided uniform price auction.

The certificates are issued by the power ministry to industries that surpass the energy saving targets set by BEE under `PAT (perform, achieve and trade)' scheme.

The PAT scheme is now being implemented as a rolling cycle, with new units notified for a period of three years every year. Thus, there will be no gap in notifying new units, as was the case between PAT I and PAT II.

2016 was cleaner than 2013 in some places

Jayashree Nandi & Atul Thakur, Winter’s here, but more cities see improvement in air quality: CPCB, December 1, 2017: The Times of India

See graphic:

PM10 annual average-
i) Stations with maximum deterioration, 2013-16;
) States with maximum improvement, 2013-16

Winter’s arrival is often followed by grim stories on smog episodes and severe air pollution in north Indian cities. This popular perception of forever deteriorating air quality may be a partial picture. An analysis of data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB’s) national air quality monitoring programme (NAMP) shows surprising trends.

A little over half (52%) of the 482 stations for which continuous data was available have recorded an improvement or no change in annual average levels of PM 10 (coarse polluting particles) between 2013 and 2016. The road to clean air remains very long, as despite this improvement more than 80% of these stations have PM 10 concentrations higher than the annual safe standard of 60 µg/m3.

Much of this data is only indicative and cannot establish reliable trends because only at 76 of these stations was air quality monitored for at least 104 days a year as recommended by CPCB’s guidelines. But even among the 76 stations, 48 showed improvement and 28 recorded a decline in air quality.

Among these 76 stations, the ones in Punjab’s Khanna municipality showed the highest decrease while a station in Ujjain saw the highest increase in PM10 concentration. Stations at Ludhiana, Guwahati, Allahabad, Nagpur and Nashik were among those that saw a decline in PM10 concentration. Those that recorded increases were located at Shimla, Vishakhapatnam, Chandigarh, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Agra. Once again, despite the improvement, PM10 concentration was higher than the safe level in 37 of the 48 stations.

If we consider all 482 stations, air pollution levels have peaked massively in cities like Delhi, Tuticorin, Dehradun, Nanded and Dhanbad. In the port and industrial city, Tuticorin, PM 10 levels increased from 87 micrograms per cubic metres to 245 micrograms per cubic metres, in Dehradun’s ISBT station from 178 in 2013 to 302 in 2016. Similarly, Bhopal’s Hamidia Road saw significant improvement from 333 in 2013 to 110 in 2016. Stations in Alwar, Kochi and Kolkata also recorded significant declines, though none of them met the 104-day monitoring guidelines.

CPCB officials declined to comment on why air quality was not adequately monitored but explained “We try to assess the trends based on whatever data we have till now. Most state pollution control boards are highly short staffed, they do not have adequate funds, while for some air quality is not a priority issue.”

The officials said that “success stories” haven’t been documented but they know that some pollution control boards are working with municipal authorities and their development bodies to ensure improvement in air pollution levels. “Our air quality goal is the notified air quality standard. Land use planning and development needs to be done with air quality goals in mind. We know many stations in Kerala, in Maharashtra are improving because of their good land use planning,” said Dipankar Saha, head of CPCB’s air lab.

Manju Mohan, head of IIT Delhi’s Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, cautions that the data from the 482 stations may actually be indicative of increasing air pollution levels.

Colour-coded stickers for vehicles/ 2018

AmitAnand Choudhary, August 14, 2018: The Times of India

On the lines of the practice followed in Paris, different colour-coded hologram-based stickers would now be put on vehicles in India to indicate the nature of fuel being used. Vehicles running on relatively cleaner fuels like petrol and CNG would be given blue sticker while similar ones in orange would be pasted on vehicles using diesel. It will be rolled out from the national capital by end of next month.

Prodded by the Supreme Court to adopt colour-coded stickers for vehicles, the Centre on Monday told a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur, S Abdul Nazeer and Deepak Gupta that the government had decided to amend the Central Motors Vehicles Rules to pave the way for mandatory pasting of stickers on cars.

The proposal for colour coding was mooted by advocate Aparajita Singh, who is assisting the court as amicus curiae. She pleaded that colour coding would be more effective than ‘evenodd scheme’ in controlling pollution whenever it reached alarming level as the authorities could identify polluting vehicles without examining them.

“It is important to classify fuel according to its polluting properties. This would help policy-makers and public in identifying cleaner vehicles. Paris has classified vehicles into six categories based on fuel and issued colour-coded stickers for identification. Similar colour-coded stickers can be used to identify vehicles in India and restrict the use of dirtier vehicles during poor category days. This would be more scientific than the ‘odd and even scheme’ that is being followed presently,” she told the bench.

Reduction of pollution: successes

2016-18

Vishwa Mohan, July 15, 2019: The Times of India

The national capital may be the most polluted city in the country but the level of a key pollutant, PM10, has been consistently declining here since 2016 unlike in less polluted cities such as Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Bhopal, where concentrations of the deadly particulate matter have increased in the last three years.

Analysis of data from 50 cities for 2016, 2017 and 2018 showed a declining trend in Delhi, Varanasi, Ranchi, Raipur, Vijayawada and Bengaluru, among others, whereas PM10 levels rose in Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Jodhpur, Kota, Gwalior and Jabalpur.

The government shared the data on PM10 in Parliament recently. Though data on PM2.5 levels is also available, the information is sketchy as many cities did not start measuring concentrations of these finer, respirable particles three years ago.

Around 14 cities showed an increasing trend in PM10. Another 14 showed a decreasing trend while the levels were fluctuating in 22 cities, including Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Allahabad, Patna, Amritsar, Nagpur, Pune, Hyderabad and Chandigarh.

Though the National Clean Air Programme, launched in January, aims to reduce both PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations in 102 cities by 20-30% by 2024 (from 2017 levels), the PM2.5 trend is currently available for only 17 cities.

Delhi measures helped cut PM 10 level

Analysis showed that many cities suffering from high pollution levels, including Delhi, Varanasi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Jaipur, Mumbai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad, will continue to be polluted even if target of reducing 30% of PM10 concentrations in the next five years is achieved.

This means the current target is not enough to bring level of pollutants to the acceptable limit — that is, an annual average of 60 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/ m3) — by 2024. It may be possible only by scaling up efforts in these cities.

Particulate matter can get deep into the lungs (particularly PM2.5) and some may even get into the bloodstream, causing serious health problems.

Steady decline in the levels of PM10 in Delhi may be attributed to multiple actions such as leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standard, operationalisation of eastern and western peripheral expressways, implementing dust mitigation measures and closing down coal-based Badarpur thermal power plant, among others. Much more, however, needs to be done to substantially bring down the level of pollutants to the acceptable limit in the national capital and the other 101 cities identified under the NCAP.

Region-wise

Northern plains, pollution

The Times of India, May 13 2016

Amit Bhattacharya

The northern Indian plains have again come into focus as one of the globe's most-polluted regions, with nine of the world's 20 most polluted cities in the 2016 WHO urban air pollution database from this swathe of land. What make this region's air so foul? It's a confluence of factors, say experts, with geography , climate, population, agricultural practices as well as fossil fuel emissions all playing a part.

“A major reason for high pollution in the Indo-Gangetic plains is its geography. Located next to the Himalayas, this is a wind convergence zone which transports pollution from other places into these region,“ said Gufan Beig, project director of System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), which monitors air quality in a number of cities.

The convergence factor shows up the most in winters, when the region sees spells of dense fog due to cold winds coming from the west. Fog traps pollutants, leading to sharp deterioration in air quality .Cold winds also leads to `inversion', wherein pollutants are trapped near the surface.

The northern plains also have among the highest population densities in the world.This translates to higher pollution from human activities.“The other major source of pollution is the practice of crop burning. During winters, soot from these fires hang in the air longer. The region also sees high use of coal and wood, which are very polluting, for cooking,“ Beig said. Ironically, the region's fertile alluvial soil, which attracted people to this belt, also contributes to its pollution. Alluvial soil is highly dusty when dry , say experts.

“Many parts of this region do not get much rain -the average for Delhi is 40 days in a year -which is why these places are very dusty ,“ said a CPCB official.

These natural causes have combined with growing vehicular and industrial emissions to make the plains the pollution hotspot of the world.

Delhi, Odisha, UP-MP among world’s NO2 hotspots

U Sudhakarreddy, Report: Delhi, Odisha, UP-MP among world’s NO2 hotspots, October 30, 2018: The Times of India

Delhi, Odisha and the Uttar Pradesh-Madhya Pradesh region are among the top 50 global hotspots for NO2 emissions, environmental watchdog ‘Greenpeace’ said on Monday after analysing new satellite data.

NO2 is a dangerous pollutant that impacts human health. The satellite data was gathered from European Space Agency’s Sentinel 5P satellite recorded between June and August 2018. Coal and vehicular emissions were identified as the two principal sources of NO2.

Greenpeace said toxic clouds hover over parts of Secunderabad and Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Vishakapatnam, Ramagundam in the two Telugu states. While the toxic clouds over the twin cities is due to vehicular pollution, in Vijayawada and Vizag it is due to vehicular pollution and presence of thermal plants while in Ramagundam it is due to thermal plants alone.

Ramagundam in Telangana has a Red Spot because of the highest level of NO2 thickness measured in Dobson units because of the presence of thermal plants there. The high presence of toxic clouds in Vishakapatnam and Atchyutyapuram is due to the presence of Vizag thermal power station, Simhadri power station and Vizag steel power plant, while in Vijayawada, it is due to Dr Narla Thermal power Plant. Ramagundam has very high NO2 clouds because of the thermal plants at Ramagundam, Paloncha and Kothagudem.

Former joint environmental chief scientist of Telangana Pollution Control Board Dr P Veeranna told TOI, “NO2 pollution is caused due to vehicular pollution. The concentration of nitrogen dioxide depends on the wind direction too. In Hyderabad, we don’t have other sources except for vehicular emissions. The boiler units of drug industries are small compared to thermal power plants.”

2020: PM2.5, NO2, rising in Delhi, Kanpur

April 30, 2021: The Times of India

Levels of air pollutants, such as fine particles (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), both hazardous to health, are increasing in Kanpur and Delhi, according to scientists using observations from instruments on satellites that scan the global skies every day.

The findings, led by the University of Birmingham and University College London (UCL), showed that the rise in PM2.5 and NO2 reflect increasing vehicle ownership, industrialisation and the limited effect of air pollution policies to date. This contrasts with trends in the UK’s London and Birmingham, which show modest, but ongoing declines in PM2.5 and NOx, reflecting the success of policies targeting sources that emit these pollutants.

The study, published in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, also showed increases in the air pollutant formaldehyde in Delhi, Kanpur and London. IANS

Uttarakhand

2021, Jan- May

June 6, 2021: The Times of India

The spate of forest fires earlier this year may have caused Dehradun’s air quality to plummet to ‘poor category’ — where air quality index (AQI) levels hover between 201 and 300 — for two straight months. In March, the AQI was 237, and April 225. This put Dehradun in the same range as Delhi, where the AQI swung between 190 to 250 during the same period.

“In all likelihood, the pollution rise in Dehradun in these two months can be related to the forest fires, with other factors like construction works and vehicular pollution also contributing,” said SP Subudhi, member secretary, state pollution control board.

Rishikesh, which neighbours Dehradun, also witnessed poor AQI of 221 during March. Covid curfew seems to have had little impact on the environment of Uttarakhand this time unlike previous year’s lockdown when the air quality in March and April remained in ‘moderate and satisfactory categories’ with AQI levels between 51 and 200 across the state.

In March, the state lost 868.4 hectares of forest cover in 627 fire incidents whereas April saw 1,807 fire incidents and the loss of 24,18.65 hectares of forest cover. The intensity of forest fires this year could be gauged by the fact that in April IAF choppers called from Bareilly for fire-fighting in Kumaon could not take off because the smoke was extremely dense.

Season-wise

Winter

Air no good in any of winter months: Study, March 18, 2017: The Times of India

89% Of Days In `Poor' Category

The Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED) on Friday released a report on `ambient air quality of Delhi' for winter months, which depicted alarming levels of PM 2.5 in the capital between November and February .

Not a single day in the four-month-long winter season was noted under the “good“ air quality category , while a whopping 89% of the total days fell into either the “poor“ or “very poor“ categories of the graded response action plan (GRAP) notified by the Supreme court.The report also noted that 6% of the total winter days fell into the “severe“ category, with PM 2.5 levels between 250-300 microgramscubic metre.

According to the report, 981 microgramscubic metre was the maximum 24-hour average concentration of PM 2.5 observed, which was recorded at the monitoring station of Delhi Technologi cal University (DTU) near Bawana Industrial Area on November 5. This is 16 times higher than the prescribed limits of 60 microgramscubic metre for the 24-hour rolling average of PM 2.5. “The air quality of the city was unbreathable and is choking its residents, especially those more vulnerable to it. It is a crisis looming at our faces and we cannot turn a blind eye to it. GRAP is the way forward and will help in improving the situation,“ said Dimpy Suneja, programme officer, CEED.

The findings have been based on data collected from 10 real-time air monitoring stations in Delhi, set up by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The findings were recorded between November 2016 and February 2017 from stations including ITO, Anand Vihar, Mandir Marg and Punjabi Bagh. The report also revealed that the monthly mean values showed a downward trend from November onwards.

Monsoon

For first time in 2018, you are breathing ‘good air’ , July 29, 2018: The Times of India

While showers may be stopping you from venturing outdoors, now is the best time to step out in the open. The city’s air quality has turned “good” for the first time this year as rains wash away pollutants.

The city has been recording safe PM 2.5 (fine, respirable particulate matter) concentrations since the onset of monsoon. On Saturday, the running average PM 2.5 concentration was measured at 29 micrograms per cubic metres, according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting Research. The 24-hour safe standard is 60.

The air quality is likely to deteriorate once the monsoon ends and stubble burning starts towards the end of September and early October.

SAFAR’s forecast shows that PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations will remain in the ‘good’ category. Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at just 43 on Friday which classified as ‘good’, while it was 58 on Saturday — which falls into the ‘satisfactory’ category of Central Pollution Control Board’s index.

An AQI in the range of 0-50 is classified as ‘Good’, 51-100 as ‘satisfactory’.

The pollution board’s realtime air quality monitoring shows that Delhi is recording the best PM 2.5 levels this year. In the last seven days, its air quality has been in the ‘safe’ zone with a sharp dip in PM2.5 levels on Friday. According to CPCB, PM 10 concentrations ranged 93 micrograms per cubic metres to 39 in the last seven days, while PM 2.5 concentrations ranged from 73 to 31.

Solutions

Scrap laws for Preservation of Sub Soil Water

Sudhir Vohra, Nov 9, 2019: The Times of India

In the escalating debate on the effect of stubble burningwhich causes farm fires in Punjab and Haryana —on air quality in Delhi and rest of NCR, one important point has been missed. And that is where lies the root of the problem.

In 2007 and 2008, Punjab State Farmers and Farm Workers’ Commission (PSFC), a body tasked to look at issues concerning farmers in that state, suggested that the sowing of paddy in the state be delayed by a month. This it said could be achieved by enacting a law restricting farmers from sowing their paddy seedlings till the 10th of May and from transplanting paddy till the 10th of June every year.

The immediate objective of that proposed legislation was to arrest the dropping levels of groundwater in the state. Initially, both Congress and Akali governments shied away from enacting such a law (as they felt it would not be liked by farmers) , The Punjab Preservation of Sub Soil Water Act, 2009, was finally enacted. Haryana quickly enacted an identical act in 2010.

Both states have been growing paddy since the early seventies, three decades before the act was notified. Paddy is a water guzzling crop and it indeed leads to depletion of groundwater in some regions of these states. This move, however, failed to anticipate its effect on the neighbouring states.

Farmers in both states began delaying their paddy crop by about 30 days. The farmers used to begin the sowing of seedlings earlier in April, right after harvesting the wheat crop and sometimes even earlier as the area needed for seedlings is about 1% of the area needed post transplantation. This initial 30 days of delay in the sowing pattern had various implications for the crop .

First, the advantage of a hardy, disease-resistance paddy was lost. April and May are hot and dry months in these states. This helps the seedlings to become hardier and less disease-prone when transplanted after the customary 30 days of growth. This advantage was lost post 2009 and resulted in excessive use of chemical medicines.

Secondly, the harvesting date of the paddy crop was advanced by 30 days, and sometimes more. That resulted in the crop being harvested in late October and early November, months which coincide with Diwali as well as with the weeks when the autumn air gets colder and heavier. This delay of a month or more also coincides with burning of autumn leaves and of the post-monsoon brush growth which also adds to the air pollution.

Prior to the enactment of Punjab Preservation of Sub Soil Water Act, 2009, the paddy crop would be harvested in late September, just when the monsoon starts its retreat and when the air is cleaner. Since there is no cold weather to bother about in September, there is no fog or smog.

Agricultural technocrats in the Punjab state may still argue that the act helps in conserving groundwater in April and May and thus it made sense to enact the law then. What they don't want to tell us is that very little water is drawn from the soil in April (when the Rabi crop needs to dry up before harvesting around Baisakhi) and the farmer is forced to keep his land fallow for a month because of the act and that one month is not good for anything meaningful to be grown. They also fail to tell us that the 30-day delay forced on them by the act results in both extra expenditure on pesticides as well as a further delay in sowing of the next winter (Rabi) crop. And, of course, they don’t tell us how this 30-day delay causes pollution in the NCR and the “downward states” south of Punjab and Haryana.

While paddy needs water, one of the reasons for the water crisis in Punjab and Haryana is the decrepit state of the canal system, especially for agricultural use. Much of canal water is now being used to feed urban areas with drinking water and the original beautiful canal network and its associated advantage of recharging agricultural aquifers has been lost. The result is that whatever groundwater recharge takes place now is from the monsoon rain and not from the canal system.

Now that we know that the foul air in NCR is largely due to the untimely burning of crop straw in Punjab and Haryana, it may be time for the Centre to review the act.

Stoves (chulhas) pollute villages

The Times of India Jan 09 2016

Vaishnavi Chandrashekhar

New Study Calls For Integrated Approach That Focuses On Reducing Exposure Not Emissions

Who's more affected by toxic air: A young executive in New Delhi or a housewife in a Haryana village?

One might assume the executive is worse off -after all, Delhi has the world's worst air. Yet a village woman who cooks over a dung-fuelled chulha for several hours a day could be more exposed to hazardous pollutants than a Delhi office worker.

This distinction between ambient pollution levels and individual exposure lies at the heart of a new report from a Union health ministry committee that -correcting a historical focus on urban air pollution -highlights the importance of tackling pollution from the burning of dung and wood in village chulhas across India.

The report, made available on the health ministry's website this week, calls for an integrated approach to air pollu tion that focuses on “reducing exposures not emissions“.

“All pollution is bad but, with the intention of eventually taking care of all of it, where do you focus your efforts first?“ said Ambuj Sagar, committee co-chair and Vipula and Mahesh Chaturvedi Professor of Policy Studies at the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi. “From a health standpoint, you prioritise reduction in areas and sources that most affect people directly.“

Top of the committee's list: reducing household air pollution from cooking with biomass because the proximity to humans makes stove smoke most harmful -next only to cigarette smoking.

Household cooking is “probably the largest single source of exposure in the country , although only one of many contributors to ambient air pollution,“ the report said.Most rural households in India, an estimated 780 million people, continue to rely on wood, dung and other biomass for cooking, while a good percentage of urban households also use non-LPG stoves.

Next on the committee's priority list: pollution from vehicles, garbage burning, and diesel generator sets -all micro or local sources of pollution. Then comes road and construction dust, followed by brick kilns, local industries, and then power plants and other large industries. Conventionally , environmental policy has focused on large-scale sources of ambient pollution. Road dust, for example, is thought to be a bigger source of pollution in Delhi than vehicles.

“The standard practice of ranking pollution sources on the basis of their contribution to ambient emissions...may be creating distortions in their apparent relative importance from the health standpoint, although perhaps adequate for other purposes -visibility , for example,“ the report says.

“Evaluation by exposure will not only re-order the ranking of major outdoor emission sources but will reveal an entirely different landscape of sources; those that may significantly affect exposure without appreciably affecting ambient concentration.“

Much more data and studies are needed to understand pollution patterns, Sagar said.Monitoring of air pollution is still largely confined to cities, the report notes, and monitors tend to be on rooftops “where people hardly ever are“.

To reduce household pollution, the report advocates expanding power and gas coverage as well as innovating cleaner stoves and running public health campaigns.Tackling air pollution should be part of the Swachh Bharat campaign, the committee said.

Emissions from cooking with biomass also contribute a quarter of ambient PM2.5 levels in the country , the report notes.

Vehicular emissions

Emission test norms lax: CSE

Emission test norms lax: CSE The Times of India, Feb 4, 2017

Only 5% of 3.93 lakh vehicles checked at 614 pollution under control (PUC) centres in Delhi between January 1 and 25 failed the emission test, according to data released by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). While this may seem like great news given the poor air quality in the capital, the tiny fail percentage raises serious questions about the efficiency of the system.

CSE researchers claim the data gathered from the transport department only show a huge inefficiency in dealing with vehicular emissions through the PUC system. The PUC norms for onroad vehicles are extremely lax for the older or pre-BS-IV vehicles. For diesel vehicles, only a smoke density test is carried out, which are particularly lenient--for BS-IV compliant vehicles, the norm is 50 hartridge smoke density (HSU) and 65 HSU for pre-BSIV vehicles.

The norm in Singapore and Pakistan is 40 HSU while it is 50 HSU in Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Malaysia. “It's like the norm itself is meant to catch the absolute worst offender. Why not also catch the other bad ones,“ asked a CSE researcher. Participants at a round-table on “Reinventing in-use emissions compliance regime“, held on Friday , discussed how not only were the standards lax, but there was too much corruption in the system.

“They (PUC centres) clear the vehicles because they will not get the money for the test otherwise. We have seen it happening several times,“ said a CPCB official present at the meeting.

The Supreme Court has directed the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) to audit all the 614 PUC stations. An audit carried out by CPCB in 2013 at 76 PUC centres had also exposed a number of anomalies, including non-compliance of the code of practice, poor condition of the laboratories, non-functioning analysers.

The CSE round-table also flagged the fact that the PUC system was not even designed to test tiny particles and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions.

Carbon emission intensity

2005-10: emissions reduced by 12%

Sources:

1. The Times of India, January 23, 2016

2. The Times of India, January 23, 2016, Vishwa Mohan

India emission down 12% in five years  India is on course to fulfil its global commitment, having voluntarily cut its carbon emission intensity (emission per unit of GDP) by about 12% between 2005 and 2010, according to its report submitted to a UN climate body , reports Vishwa Mohan. The result shows the country is in line to reach its 20-25% reduction target by 2020 and subsequently the 33-35% emission intensity reduction goal by 2030 as promised by it. Just weeks after the Paris deal of December 2015, India submitted its first Biennial Update Report (BUR) to a UN climate body highlighting that the country is well on course to fullfil its global commitment by voluntarily cutting its carbon emission intensity (emission per unit of GDP) by about 12% between 2005 and 2010. The result appears encou raging as it shows that the country is in line to reach its 2025% reduction target by 2020 and subsequently the 33-35% emission intensity reduction goal by 2030 as promised by it in the country's climate action plan to the UN body . The BUR was submitted by India under its obligation to inform the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) about its action on the ground to deal with the challenges of climate change. As per the provisions of the Convention, countries need to periodically provide information in the form of their National Communication'.

The Paris climate agreement, reached by 195 countries on December 13 last year, had called for developing countries to submit their first biennial update reports as soon as possible. So far, 24 developing countries including Brazil, South Africa and South Korea have submitted the ir BURs. China, the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, is yet to submit its report. Brazil has submitted its report, but has given only provisional inventory .

Developed countries, on the other hand, are required to submit a report known as the Biennial Report (BR), which is to be submitted every alternate year and is subjected to International Ana lysis and Review (IAR). But, the BURs of developing countries are subjected to an international process known as International Consultation and Analysis (ICA). It is a process that includes international scrutiny of BUR in a manner that is “non-intrusive, non-punitive and respectful of national sovereignty“.

India's BUR was prepared by the ministry of environ ment and climate change in consultations with various public and private institutions. It was approved by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday .According to India's BUR, the country had emitted 2,136.84 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gases in 2010.About 12% of the emissions were, however, offset by carbon sink action of forests and croplands.

Car emission testing

Serious flaws: CSE, 2017

Ajanta Chakraborty, Toxicity rising in top gear: CSE report finds shocking pitfalls in car emission testing, Feb 21, 2017: The Times of India

HIGHLIGHTS

A Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report urges for urgent steps to upgrade the current in-use emission testing

It says PUC centres must be checked, testing procedure upgraded and auto makers made accountable

CSE warns of alarming consequences if current situation continues to prevail

One of the biggest corporate frauds in the global automobile industry - the Volkswagen defeat device case - and the mounting evidence from Europe that most new diesel cars are emitting much higher than their certification levels, have largely gone unnoticed in India.

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has strongly urged for urgent steps to upgrade the current in-use emission testing, prepare for real driving emission testing with portable emission monitoring systems for Euro VI vehicles and make vehicle manufacturers liable and accountable for emission performance of vehicles during their useful life on the road.

The current practice of pollution under control programme (PUC) is rudimentary and ineffective. It is not designed to address complex emissions control systems in new vehicles. This cannot screen inherent technical flaws and frauds for which manufacturers are responsible that compromise the emissions performance in the real world.

The key highlights of the CSE analysis:

Very poor PUC compliance and ineffective tests

The PUC system, the only system to check emissions from on-road vehicles in India is extremely weak in terms of lax norms, poor enforcement and poor quality test procedures. New data from the Delhi Transport Department shows that failure rate is as dismal as 5 per cent - nearly all vehicles pass the test. There is no data, however, on how many vehicles show up for the test. The PUC norms for on-road vehicles are extremely lax for the older pre-Bharat stage IV vehicles. While under PUC, petrol cars are tested for carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons along with lambda (that indicates the optimum condition needed for proper functioning of catalytic converters), diesel vehicles are tested only for smoke density. While all norms are lax, those for on-road diesel vehicles are particularly lenient - smoke density norms are 50 HSU only for the Bharat Stage IV-compliant diesel vehicles. For pre-BS-IV vehicles, the norm is as lax as 65 HSU. In Singapore and Pakistan, this norm is 40 HSU; in Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Malaysia it is 50 HSU for all genre of vehicles. This is a serious issue at a time when Delhi, which already has more than 614 PUC centres, is trying set up more. This investment can go waste without an effective system in place.

Serious concern over quality of checks in PUC centres

The Supreme Court has recently given directions to the EPCA to audit all the 614 PUC stations. There are serious concerns over quality and credibility of PUC tests across the cities. In fact, a detailed audit that was carried out by the Central Pollution Control Board in 2013 in 76 PUC centres exposed serious anomalies - non-compliance with the code of practice; unavailability of calibration certificate for testing instruments in several centres; poor condition of laboratory; leak test failure; and non-functioning analysers. This clearly brings out the ineffectiveness of the programme.

Smoke density test under PUC cannot check particulate emissions

The smoke test was introduced in the 1960s to reduce the visibility problems due to diesel smoke. There is no real correlation between smoke density and particle emissions. Smoke is not a good surrogate for tiny particles. There can be a risk of misclassifying polluters - low smoke emissions can also mean high particulate emissions. Even in Europe, virtually no vehicle fails the smoke test. Other governments including ones in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, the US, etc now conduct these tests on chassis dynamometer to simulate speed. This makes the emissions test more rigorous. China is further developing a nationwide I/M system for evaluating NOx emissions from in-use HDVs. Tests are needed to prevent emissions frauds or poor emissions performance of advanced emissions control systems on roads - especially diesel vehicles The PUC system is not even designed to test tiny particles and NOx on road - the key concerns from diesel vehicles. Volkswagen was caught cheating on NOx emissions. In fact, too much focus on reducing smoke can actually increase NOx emissions as a trade-off. But new generation diesel vehicles will come with advanced emissions control systems to reduce particulate and NOx. If these systems perform sub-optimally, there can be uncontrolled emissions. The fact that India is totally unprepared to prevent emissions frauds and underperformance of emissions control systems on roads was proved a few years ago when the Tavera fraud case of General Motors was exposed. These models passed the certification tests with one set of engines that did not the match those actually sold in the market. But this incident did not lead to any major reform to establish in-use compliance norms and monitoring in India.

The Indian government does not have the power to penalise manufacturers for non-compliance and violation. This has serious implications as the next level of Euro V and Euro VI standards will require advanced particulate traps and NOx control systems like SCR to cut toxic diesel emissions. If engineering deficiency reduces the effectiveness of these systems or if these are not properly operated like urea refilling in SCR system, it can lead to uncontrolled emissions and nullify pollution control measures in our cities. India has already specified more advanced On Board Diagnostic Systems in post-2013 vehicles. This should be integrated with vehicle inspection programme for more effective monitoring.

If a problem or malfunction is detected, the OBD II system illuminates a warning light on the vehicle instrument panel to alert the driver. This warning light will typically display the phrase "Check Engine" or "Service Engine Soon," and will often include an engine symbol. The OBD system stores important information about any detected malfunction so that a repair technician can accurately find and fix the problem. It is notified to monitor catalyst, fuel injection system, particulate trap, coolant temperature, EGR, fuel system, emission control systems, etc. Smog-check inspections in USA for post-2000 model vehicles are now primarily based on an inspection of the OBD II system - tailpipe testing is no longer required. It identifies emission-related components covered under warranty, eliminates unnecessary repairs, and gives information about area of malfunction or a specific component. This reduces cost of warranty repairs and ensures customer satisfaction, allows early detection of malfunctions etc. But this system will require strong surveillance and appropriate software to work effectively.

Auto company and its accountability

India also needs strong compliance regulations to make manufacturers responsible for on-road emissions performance for a vehicle's useful life on road Consistent with the global best practices, India needs an independent authority to check emissions against standards; issue recall of vehicles by companies if they are found non-compliant; levy fines on defaulting companies; and withdraw approval of sale if vehicles do not conform with the stated emissions targets. An independent authority should monitor this process without being influenced by industry. Only such a system will make non-compliance with regulations more expensive for companies than compliance with regulations and ensure implementation. The Auto Fuel Policy committee has recommended an emissions warranty and recall programme and in-use compliance regulations. But this has not been implemented.

CSE's review shows that currently, Indian certification agencies do not select vehicle samples for certification tests randomly and independently. In fact, certification agencies give prior notice to manufacturers about the approximate time during which samples will be collected from a given lot. This compromises independent and impartial testing. Legal procedures for the MoRTH to issue mandatory recalls or levy fines have not been established yet. Moreover, there is no system post-sales (as in the US) to allow testing agencies to select any vehicle, anywhere, and at any time, without prior notice to the manufacturer. India urgently needs rules for the government and manufacturers to remove non-compliant vehicles. A mandatory recall policy for non-compliant vehicles is needed to ensure that manufacturers design vehicles to comply with emission standards for the duration of their useful life. In fact, China has taken steps to move in this direction. China has recently revised its programmes to allow the selection of vehicles at random without any prior notice. Furthermore, COP testing in China is now corroborated through inter-laboratory round-robin testing, which adds an additional level of scrutiny.

Vehicles and their carbon footprint

As in 2019

See graphic:

Vehicles and their carbon footprint, As in 2019

Where the problem is the gravest

Bus travellers inhale less soot than those in cars

Jayashree Nandi, City bus travellers inhale less soot than those in cars: Study, April 4, 2017: The Times of India

Commuting by bus in Delhi exposes you to the lowest concentrations of fine-particle pollutants called black carbon, or soot, as compared with other modes of transport -even lower than the exposure you are likely to get travelling in a car, a study reveals.

The study , published in Elsevier journal on environmental research, assessed people's personal exposure to pollution in Delhi. For outdoor exposure, it considered commuters in cars, buses and autorickshaws.

Travellers in autorickshaws were found to be at the highest risk of inhaling soot, a product of incomplete fuel combustion with harmful impacts on the lungs and heart.

“Exposure to particles is lower in cars than on two-wheelers and autorickshaws, but driving a car with open windows could lead to similar levels (of exposure) as in an auto,“ said Pallavi Pant, lead author of the study . Pant admitted that the find ings on exposure to pollu tion inside a car was surprising. “From the current analyses, black carbon concentrations in buses seem to be lower in comparison to other modes, but more research is needed to confirm this, both in Delhi and other cities. AC use can help reduce exposure in cars,“ she said.

It's not only being out on the roads that exposes you to respirable pollution particles.Your home, especially the kitchen, could be enveloping you in PM2.5 pollutants too, the study said.

It found high exposure to PM 2.5 pollutants in indoor activities such as cleaning or cooking. However, the nature of pollution indoors differs from that outdoors. According to Pant, exhaust emissions on the roads could be far more toxic than say pollutants arising from cooking or cleaning.“Cooking emissions often comprise ultrafine particles that can be harmful,“ Pant said. “Research on ultrafine particles is ongoing, but so far we know they can have several adverse health effects.“ Pant suggested opening the windows and using exhaust fans during cooking or cleaning to avoid accumulation of such pollutants.

Buses, because they use CNG as fuel in Delhi, do not emit soot and are safer. Also, bus passengers sit at an elevated height compared with autorickshaws and cars and avoid the denser pollution layer near the road surface. In cities where buses run on diesel, they may , however, show higher levels of black carbon. An in-depth analysis is required to confirm this.

The authors, from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, IIT Delhi and University of Washington, have suggested more studies on in-vehicle exposure. “Future studies should look at in-vehicle exposure with respect to land use and traffic characteristics, and personal exposure data should be used as an input for land use zoning and urban transportation planning,“ the study concluded.

The researchers worked with healthy volunteers, men and women, aged 18 to 60 years.Their individual exposure to pollution was sampled using portable sampling devices.Commute exposure was recorded on a 22km sampling route, including a section of the busy Mathura Road-National Highway 2, during peak hours (8­10am and 6­8pm) and offpeak times (12 noon-2pm). Most volunteers were non-smokers and all used LPG as cooking medium at home. They spent 40-90 minutes commuting daily and 8 to 10 hours at work.

The study also reported that pollution risk is higher in winter than in summer. “The pattern for personal exposure to particles is similar to ambient air quality , and can be as much as six times higher than the national air quality standard in winter,“ said Pant.

See also

Air pollution: South Asia

Air pollution: India

Air pollution: Delhi

Air pollution: Mumbai

Cities of India: the best and the worst

Greenhouse gases: India