air pollution

While the big focus is on mobility, the ramifications of the Char Dham project on urban ecology of the several small towns situated on the highway deserve more scrutiny.

The issue around firecrackers is not a religious, cultural or legal one. It is one that concerns every one of us individually, our health and that of our children.

Delhiites, by and large, have welcomed the idea of a cracker-free Diwali amid rising fears of poor air quality accelerating the COVID-19 spread.

With Diwali approaching, many states have chosen to ban crackers. The NGT has also issued a ban in cities with poor air quality. Where does your state stand?

Uncontrolled pollution leads to severe respiratory problems, which could worsen the COVID-19 situation. Can the government’s response plan, with its 10-member high-tech war room, prevent that?

90% of the cities that have made plans under the National Clean Air Programme have no budgetary support. None, except Delhi, have a legal mandate to implement those either.

The lockdown period helped researchers understand the effects of human-generated emissions; this could tell policy-makers how they may achieve what the NCAP has targetted in the coming four years.

Over 90 Indian cities showed minimal air pollution since they were locked down, with many recording their best AQI in months. A briefing paper that examines the impact of COVID lockdown on background pollution across cities and industrial clusters concludes that informed measures and stricter rules can enable cities to achieve their clean air goals.

A lot has been done to get our cities and landmarks ready for the visit of the US President, but would any of it have been necessary if there were better systems and governance in place?

United Residents Joint Action (URJA), an apex body of 2500 residential welfare associations in the capital, has released ‘People’s Green Manifesto 2020’, which presents 10 key demands of Delhiites to manage air, water and solid waste pollution. But are the contesting parties even in sync?

A study suggests that a cocktail of natural and man-made pollutants wafting in the air is tinkering with the rainwater quality in Guwahati.

One diesel SUV accounts for the emissions of about 25-65 petrol cars! And yet cities, where vehicle emissions are the biggest cause of particulate matter pollution, have not been able to shun them. Can we take the steps needed to mitigate the diesel threat or will citizens and environment continue to pay a heavy price?