Kochi lacks facility to dispose of septage
The Hindu
7th November 2012
Funds crunch is the main constraint for the government. Though Kochi is expanding in all directions, the city still lacks a proper system for disposing of and processing septic tank waste. The number of septic tanks in the city has gone up rapidly even as living spaces for households have shrunk. The thickly populated city and its suburbs need a sustainable disposal system for septic tank waste. Septic tanks are cleaned out probably once a year in big houses and once in five years in smaller ones. Even then, there are about 80 loads of septic tank waste that are to be disposed of every day in the district. As there is no proper place to dump this waste, it is surreptitiously let out into any water body under the cover of darkness. A tanker charges Rs.1,000 for the job. Every household pays the cost even though a tanker gets filled only after collecting waste from many septic tanks. The city has a sewerage network facility of only 4 sqkm provided by the Kerala Water Authority that has a treatment plant at Elamkulam. Other areas where sewage treatment plants are proposed are at Mundamveli and Port Trust. The government has allocated land for the Port Trust plant that will take care of the sewage from ships berthed there and also of the local area. A number of advanced technologies are available to deal with sewage and many private parties have evinced interest in setting up such plants, said M.S. Mythili, chief engineer, Pollution Control Board. However, lack of land is the main problem in this regard, she said. For the government, finances are the main constraint to bring in advanced technology that turns sewage into energy, she said. A common facility to collect sewage is a must in the city as the water table is high and septic tanks get filled up and overflow easily if not cleaned, said Ms. Mythili
Malaysians lose bid to halt rare earths plant
The Statesman
7th November, 2012
Kualalumpur, Malaysia — Malaysian activists lost a court battle Thursday to halt Australian miner Lynas Corp. from firing up a rare earths plant that has sparked health and safety concerns.
After months of delay, Lynas in September obtained the Malaysian government's approval to start processing rare earths, which are minerals crucial for manufacturing high-tech products.
But villagers and civic groups took the case to court, calling for the Australian company's operating license to be suspended until the court rules on whether it would permanently block production. Coalition leader Tan Bun Tet said the High Court refused Thursday to suspend Lynas' license before a final decision on the plant's fate is made."The court ruled that our fears are premature because the plant is not in operation yet. We are disappointed with the decision but we will appeal. We will fight to the end," Tan told The Associated Press. The court ruling paves the way for Lynas to start operations immediately but it can still face obstacles later on if the court rules in favor of the villagers. Lynas Malaysia managing director Mashal Ahmad told AP that the company plans to start operations "as soon as possible, definitely by this year." The 2.5 billion ringgit ($818 million) refinery in northern Pahang state is to be the first in years outside China, which has restrictions on rare earth exports. Rare earths are 17 minerals used in the manufacture of hybrid cars, weapons, flat-screen TVs, mobile phones, mercury-vapor lights, and camera lenses. China has about a third of the world's rare earth reserves but supplies about 90 percent of what is consumed. Residents living nearby the plant and civic groups have staged protests for months over fears of health and environmental risks posed by potential leaks of radioactive waste. Lynas has said its plant has state-of-the-art pollution control. Controversy over the project poses a headache to the government with general elections expected to be called by April. The Lynas plant is expected to meet nearly a third of world demand for rare earths, excluding China. It will refine ore from Australia. Lynas said output for the first phase has been sold out for the next decade. Malaysia's last rare earths refinery — operated by Japan's Mitsubishi group in northern Perak state — was closed in 1992 following protests and claims that it caused birth defects and leukemia among residents. It is one of Asia's largest radioactive waste cleanup sites.
Pollution perhaps linked to gas drilling vanishing
The Statesman
8th November, 2012
Pittsburg — Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University say a water quality problem in the Monongahela River that may have been linked to Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling is going away. Jeanne VanBriesen said Thursday that preliminary data from tests this year showed that levels of salty bromides in the river have declined significantly when compared to 2010 and 2011. In many cases the bromides were at undetectable levels this year, and in general they returned to normal levels. "These are very nice, low bromide levels, where we would like them to be," VanBriesen said of the 2012 test results, which were presented at a water quality conference in Pittsburgh. VanBriesen said the decline appears to coincide with a voluntary ban on disposing gas drilling wastewater that took effect in the spring of 2011. The wastewater contains large amounts of naturally occurring, ultra-salty bromides, and drillers had been taking millions of barrels of it to conventional wastewater treatment plants that discharge into the Monongahela River. But in early 2011, the state Department of Environmental Protection called on drillers to voluntarily stop using riverside plants to get rid of the wastewater, and major companies and industry groups agreed to the request. The state's request was made after VanBriesen and other researchers presented evidence that the discharges were altering river chemistry in a way that had the potential to affect drinking water, and operators of municipal water supplies grew concerned. Although not considered a pollutant by themselves, the bromides combine with the chlorine used in water treatment to produce compounds that can threaten public health, and levels had soared in 2009 and 2010. Bromide levels in the river declined somewhat in 2011, but not enough for researchers to say that the river had returned to normal levels. Another researcher at the conference said other Monongahela River water quality trends have been positive, too. Rose Reilly, a biologist at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has been doing conductivity tests on the Monongahela River. That helps scientists estimate the amount of dissolved material in the water, and lower readings are better. "There is a general downward trend" in conductivity levels for 2012, Reilly said.
Protest against dumping of waste
The Hindu
8th November
A tense situation prevailed at Paipad, near Thiruvalla, on Wednesday after a violent protest by the local people against the dumping of waste collected from a colony of migrant workers on the Kothachirappara-Paipad stretch of the Paipad-Kaviyur Road on Wednesday. The protesters, including women and children, blocked the road and flayed the alleged inaction on the part of the officials concerned to address the health risk posed by the “unhygienic” living conditions of migrant workers in and around Paipad. The waste was found dumped and littered along nearly 2.5-km stretch of the road on Wednesday morning. A group of protesters attacked the rented dwellings of the migrant workers. They also hurled stones at a private bus. The police and Revenue officials visited the place. The police were greeted with ‘go-back’ calls by the agitators. The villagers alleged that the Circle Inspector had even threatened action against them when they approached the Thrikkodithanam police station to lodge a complaint against the pollution menace posed by the “unauthorised” slum-like colonies of migrant workers at Paipad.
Notices issued on plea against blanket ban on plastic bags
The Hindu
7th November, 2012
Government, the three Municipal Corporations of Delhi and the Delhi Pollution Control Cmmittee on a petition by an association of plastic industries here challenging a Delhi Government notification putting a blanket ban on manufacture, sale and use of plastic bags in the Capital. Seeking replies from the respondents, a Division Bench of the Court comprising Justice Darmar Murugesan and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw asked them to respond to the petition by the All India Plastic Industries Association the next date of hearing on November 23. Challenging the competence of the Delhi Government to notify The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, a Central legislation, the petitioner submitted that the ban would affect the employment of lakhs of employees engaged in the plastic bags industry in the city as the business of the petitioner and its members would shut down. According to the notification issued on October 23 by the Delhi Government, nobody can manufacture, import, store, sell or transport any kind of plastic bags, even those used for covering magazines, books, invitation cards and for collecting garbage in the city. It will come into force from November 22. The notification further says no person, including shopkeepers, vendors, wholesalers, retailers and hawkers, will be allowed to sell, store or use plastic bags for supply of any goods. However, plastic bags used for packing food stuffs like milk, cooking oil, flour and plastic cups have been excluded from the ban.
HC raps Karnataka for not taking garbage crisis seriously
The Hindu
7th October, 2012
The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday pulled up the State government for its inaction over the garbage crisis in Bangalore even after the court has taken cognisance of the problem. “It is a matter of concern that the government has not yet looked into the problem [afflicting] Bangaloreans despite these proceedings,” observed a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice B.V. Nagarathna in its interim order while hearing public interest litigation petitions (PILs) on garbage. The Bench also directed the Secretary, Urban Development Department, and the Managing Director of the Karnataka Compost Development Corporation, to present themselves in court during next hearing on November 20.
Pollution board to track noise levels
The Hindu
7th November, 2012
A week head of Deepavali, they have begun measuring levels of noise and ambient air quality at five places in the city. Monitoring stations have been established in thickly-populated areas like Besant Nagar, T. Nagar, Sowcarpet, Nungambakkam and Triplicane to collect dust samples before, during and after the festival. According to an official, noise levels will be recorded for six hours every evening and pollution levels, every 24 hours from 6 a.m. “The Central Pollution Control Board has asked State bodies to collect data from across the country, beginning Tuesday. Apart from Chennai, pollution levels will be recorded at 10 district offices of the TNPCB — Madurai, Salem, Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Hosur, Vellore, Tirupur, Tiruchy, Dindigul and Tirunelveli,” said an official. TNPCB will also launch a campaign in the city and in other centres requesting residents to reduce bursting of firecrackers and bring down noise and air pollution levels. “We are asking residents to celebrate a green Deepavali. At the least, they must adhere to Supreme Court guidelines and not burst crackers between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.,” the official said.
Last year, level of respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) touched 1,423 microgram/cubic metre at Arumbakkam as against the permissible limit of 100 microgram/cubic metre. Noise levels had exceeded safe limits in the five places that were monitored. Ayanavaram, which recorded 85.2 decibels (dB), was the noisiest. As per norms, the permissible noise level in residential areas is 45 dB during night time and 55 dB during the day. In commercial areas, it is 55 dB during the night and 65 dB during the day. Sulphur dioxide levels varied from 29.5 microgram/cubic metre to 70.09 microgram/cubic metre against national ambient air quality (NAAQ) standards of 60 microgram/cubic metre. The level of nitrogen oxides was 86.42 microgram/cubic metre as against NAAQ standard of 50 microgram/cubic metre.
Take immediate steps to cut pollution: EPCA tells to 4 states
The Times of India
10th November, 2012
New Delhi: Taking a serious note of the drop in air quality and smog cover that has engulfed the city, a Supreme Court-appointed body today asked Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh governments to take immediate steps to cut pollution.
In a meeting, the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) headed by bureaucrat Bhure Lal told senior officials of the three governments to work in tandem to ensure improvement of air quality in Delhi and the two states.
Officials of all the three governments told EPCA that they will crack down on polluting vehicles, particularly the diesel vehicles, so that they cannot enter Delhi from neighbouring states.
The Supreme Court had on Tuesday expressed concern over the rising pollution and smog in the national capital. The EPCA, which called the meeting, asked Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab to restrain farmers from burning paddy stubbles. The Delhi government had blamed "massive" burning of farm wastes by farmers of Punjab, UP and Haryana for the smog.
The Delhi government on Friday had decided to punish those found burning leaves and garbage.
Officials present in the meeting said the EPCA asked Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to extend certain incentives to their farmers who refrain from burning of farm wastes. The EPCA told the states to encourage the farmers to compost their farm wastes. The EPCA has told the states that it will independently monitor compliance of its direction. Officials said vehicles coming from neighbouring states will be monitored at five entry points. Concerned over the smog cover, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had decided to seek intervention of the Union Environment Ministry to direct the neighbouring states to refrain their farmers from burning paddy stubbles.
Arsenic attack on Chittagong
Down to Earth
10th November, 2012
Driving across Bangladesh’s port city Chittagong, one sees red marks on several tubewells. A closer look reveals red and scaly patches all over the body of most people living in the vicinity of those tubewells. Common among the poor and those living in slums, the skin disorder is the initial symptom of arsenic poisoning. Arsenic is a heavy metal found naturally in the earth’s crust. At places, it mixes with groundwater, contaminating food crops and causing alarming threats to the health of humans and livestock. Prolonged ingestion of arsenic-contaminated water can result in health complications, ranging from gangrene to skin cancer. The concentration of arsenic is high in Chittagong’s shallow aquifers. As the city lies in the low-lying floodplains of Bangladesh, water remains stagnant here and the fine-grained silt and clay rich in arsenic gets deposited in the shallow aquifers, says Kazi Matin, professor of geology at Dhaka University. Two-thirds of the city’s 5.5 million population depend on groundwater. Seven of the 41 wards under the jurisdiction of the city corporation have high arsenic contamination (see graph), according to a study by Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) in association with Chittagong Engineers Institute and the Bangladesh Environment Forum.
According to the WHO guidelines, the permissible limit for arsenic in water is 0.01 ppm. Going by this standard, 60 of Bangaladesh’s 64 districts are arsenic contaminated. The country, like its neighbour India, has, however, set its standard at 0.05 ppm. The study by CUET found that arsenic contamination is high in several areas both by the standard of Bangladesh and WHO. The government authorities, however, deny the presence of arsenic in drinking water. Ezaz Rasul of WASA-Chittagong claimed that the authority provides water to 40 per cent of the city’s population. The water is extracted from deep aquifers and thus free from arsenic contamination. WASA is not concerned about the privately-dug tubewells, he says. The problem is not confined to Chittagong town. Groundwater in several other areas across the district are also tainted with the toxic heavy metal. The government is, however, taking slow steps to overcome this problem and protect its people from arsenic poisoning.
The government has meanwhile proposed installing deep tubewells and dugwells to extract water from the deep aquifer which is free of arsenic contamination. The Department of Public Health Engineering of Bangladesh has initiated workshops for capacity building and awareness generation among the local population about arsenic contamination and has even announced free health facilities to the affected people. But all these efforts may not be enough. Over-extraction of groundwater would anyway increase the concentration of arsenic in the aquifer. Therefore, Matin says, rainwater harvesting is an important solution to the problem. Reuse and storage of rainwater for potable and non-potable purposes can also provide some relief, he adds.
Yamuna just a drain in Delhi, says pollution board
Hindustan Times
10th November, 2012
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Friday told the Supreme Court what Delhiites have known and seen for years — the entire 22-kilometre stretch of the Yamuna in the Capital is a drain. Giving an update of the court-appointed committee’s preliminary inspection of sewage treatment plants in the Capital, CPCB counsel Vijay Panjwani said: “There is no fresh water in the Yamuna from Wazirabad to Okhla.” The two-member committee was appointed by a bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar. It includes a CPCB member and the Delhi Jal Board engineer-in-chief. The committee has to ascertain whether DJB’s sewage plants and central effluent treatment plants (CETPs) are functioning up to their optimum capacity or not. There are 15 sewage and 15 effluent treatment plants located on drains that merge with the Yamuna. The court is hearing a PIL pending since 1994. Panjwani said that though the Najafgarh drain discharges 2,064 million litres of wastewater per day (MLD), only 629 litres get treated. Panjwani told the court that the untreated sewage flowed into the Najafgarh drain along with the treated waste water. The bench gave three weeks to the committee to complete its inspection of all the treatment plants and fixed November 30 for a final report.
Yamuna like a drain, it’s pathetic: SC
The Indian Express
10th November, 2012
New Delhi : Underlining the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) submission that the Yamuna turns into a drain after traversing through certain areas of Delhi, the Supreme Court on Friday called for a collective effort by all stakeholders to rectify the “pathetic” situation. “It is stated that Delhi does not have a proper drainage system. Yamuna is merely a drain. It does not have fresh water after Wazirabad. Out of 30 Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), it is noted, that they are underutilised up to 37 per cent. It is reflected that the state of affairs is pathetic,” a bench of Justices Swatanter Kumar and S J Mukhopadhaya observed. The court made these remarks after going through a draft report submitted by CPCB counsel Vijay Panjwani. He told the bench that the Yamuna turns into a drain after Wazirabad since industrial and domestic effluents are indiscriminately dumped into it. According to the report, cumulative assessment of all parameters of water quality indicate that the Yamuna water fails to conform to desired levels of purity and it more or less resembles nothing but a drain, especially after Wazirabad. Panjwani expressed doubts that the river might not have any freshwater left owing to dumping of waste and other effluents into it. An improper drainage system, as per the report, has been a contributing factor in increasing the pollution of the river. “Only 63 per cent of the sewage treatment plants are operational at present in the region,” the CPCB said. Expressing concern over constant increase in contamination of the river, the bench asked the CPCB to complete joint inspection of all STPs within three weeks and file a final inspection report. It also invited different authorities to suggest measures for a proper drainage system in the city. The matter has been posted to November 30 for further hearing.
Pollution makes Delhi smog worse every year: CSE
Hindustan Times
12th November, 2012
Don’t dismiss the continuing smog as a mere weather phenomenon, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) warned in its latest report released on Tuesday. The CSE made light of the Delhi government’s attribution of the smog to the approaching winter and pointed out the real reason — manifold increase in pollution levels. It warned that whenever the smog lifts it will come back with renewed vigour, as the factors responsible continue to persist.“Every winter, the Capital faces smog, but this year, it’s particularly severe because of rising pollutions,” she said. “Other countries have prevented such severe pollution episodes through aggressive measures. Why can’t Delhi do the same?” said Anumita Roychowdhury, who is in-charge of the air pollution and transportation programme at CSE.According to the CSE report, Delhi has exhausted all its soft options. It has also lost the air quality gains accrued through the conversion of vehicles from diesel to CNG. “Against 550-odd new personal vehicles a day, Delhi adds 1,100 now. The market share of diesel cars is 60%...The next steps need to combat not only the rising pollution but also the high mixture of pollutants,” said Roychowdhury.
Authorities ‘sleep on’ dangerous chemicals in Diwali delights
The Times of India
12th November, 2012
Bhubaneswar: Whereas the nearly 10 lakh population in the city will be celebrating the festival with varieties of crackers, the regulatory authorities- State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and police - are yet to rise to the occasion to put restrictions on the sale of crackers made of dangerous chemicals, which can cause serious health hazards. DCP office is the final authority to give license to the traders. As per norm, the cracker traders, in order to sell the crackers, apply at the office of the city DCP. The application letters are sent to the BMC, which, after verifying gives no objection certificate.
We give license for the space used for selling crackers but we don't have the mechanism for testing the crackers, said Nitinjeet Singh, DCP, Bhubaneswar. "The license we give is meant for the private space they use. As far as testing the crackers, we don't have the technical know-how to test them," said the DCP. Senior environmental scientist of SPCB Dilip Kumar Behera said that use of chemicals like potassium nitrate, sulphur, aluminium powder, copper, cadmium, barium, calcium in crackers for both generating more sound and emitting light, leaves the ambient environment with tiny particle of less than 10 micron. He however said that the SPCB can't do anything except spreading awareness. "Particulate matters cause smoke generating high temperature. Once released to atmosphere especially in winter, it can't get dispersed easily. It is fixed with fog, which form smog. This is highly toxic," said Behera. He said either there should be curb on the selling of such crackers or people should be careful.
He said even after the festival, there are secondary reactions, which are caused by the garbage. He however said that Bhubaneswar being a green city, the ambient noise will be less thus minimizing permissible limit of 120 decibel sound. "Both air and sound pollution is checked if the area is surrounded by greenery. Bhubaneswar city is well covered with greenery to meet the pollution hazards," Behera explained. Srimanta Mishra, the officer-in-charge to give no objection certificate, said that seven applications out of 417 were rejected after verifications. "We received applications from DCP office and after verification, sent 410 applications to the DCP office. Now, it is the commissionerate police to decide," said Mishra.
Stay away from morning walks this Diwali
The Times of India
12th November, 2012
Kolkata: Environmentalists have sounded an alarm for the morning walkers during the Kali puja. As far as elderly people and children are concerned, the short-term enhancement of surface level ozone, coupled with high level of pollutants, might prove fatal, alerted the environmentalists.
"It is really bad for the people with heart and respiratory ailments," they said. Though detailed data is not available on little study has been carried out on surface ozone pollution during Diwali, sporadic studies show the sudden enhancement of surface level ozone during Diwali hits the lung functioning and makes it susceptible to pneumonia, influenza and asthma. The surface level ozone is produced by the photo oxidation of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons in the presence of adequate amount of Nitrogen Oxides (No and NO2) at low height. The massive increase of vehicular population and resultant emission only make the situation worse. As people light firecrackers, there is a sudden surge in ozone levels in between 8.40pm and 2.30am the next morning, the studies revealed. In case the present meteorological condition of lower temperature, coupled with stable atmosphere, prevails on the Diwali day, higher concentration of pollutant is expected and so is the enhancement of ozone pollution. Pollution from carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and suspended particulate matters due to ignition of fireworks during the festival is well-established. But the addition of surface level ozone pollution leads to real health hazards. Even the doctors have noticed a surge in the number of pneumonia and influenza cases, said environment scientist Sanghamitra Das. The Pollution Control Board (PCB) reports revealed that during Diwali last year, the surface level ozone was 30.69 and 36.42 microgram per cubic meter respectively at Rabindra Bharati and Victoria Memorial automatic stations. While on November 10, the reading of surface level ozone at Victoria Memorial was as low as .56 microgram per cubic meter. "Although surface ozone exhibits high natural variability throughout the year, there has been a pattern in its rise during Diwali, which is quite alarming," said a senior scientist with NEERI. Both the state and central pollution control boards will be monitoring the ambient air quality during and before Diwali. Even the CPCB officials admitted that compared to the normally-observed ozone levels, the ozone concentration was higher during Diwali. The ozone levels were found to be higher in 2011 compared to 2010, and exceeded the ambient air quality standard for three hours. The results were discussed in light of enhanced vehicular traffic and emission of ozone precursor gases from fireworks, transport of ozone and climatic conditions during festival of lights. Fireworks contain harmful chemicals such as potassium nitrate, carbon and sulphur apart from an array of chemicals like strontium, barium, sodium, titanium, zirconium, magnesium alloys, copper and aluminium powder to create the colourful effects. While burning, they release gases such as carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Because of this wintry chill, these pollutants refuse to escape in to the air. They stay longer than usual duration. So, it is better to walk in the afternoon or in the evening than in the morning, said Shankar Sinha, another scientist.
Slew of measures mooted to curb air pollution in Delhi
The Hindu
13th November, 2012
A slew of short and long-term measures including ban on entry of commercial vehicles not bound for Delhi, restriction on use of diesel generator sets during social functions, imposition of Rs.2,000 fine on polluting vehicles and expediting the construction of the eastern and western peripheral expressways and rapid increase in the public transport network have been suggested for ameliorating the air pollution situation in Delhi. The issue of air pollution in Delhi was discussed threadbare on the eve of Diwali by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit with chairman of Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority Bhure Lal, director of Centre for Science and Environment Sunital Narain in the presence of Chief Secretary P. K. Tripathi, Commissioner (Transport) Rajendra Kumar and Secretary (Environment) Sanjeev Kumar among others. At the meeting, Ms. Dikshit said in the wake of the recent smog, which had hung over Delhi for over a week, the Government has commissioned a study by IIT-Kanpur and the Meteorological Department to identify the reasons behind it. She said while there are certain natural causes, there are also the man-made ones which can be eliminated through strict implementation of the existing rules and incorporation of new provisions.Mr. Bhure Lal and Dr. Narain while supporting the view of the Chief Minister stressed the need for taking both short and long-term measures for combating air pollution.
It was suggested that Delhi Government should crack down on gross polluting vehicles and should instruct the Transport Department and Delhi Police to impose a heavy on the spot fine of Rs.2,000 on them. A proposal to the effect is expected to be brought before the Delhi Cabinet soon. It was also suggested that the increased fine should at least be charged during the next three winter months.
The meeting also suggested banning entry of commercial vehicles not destined for Delhi into the Capital for curbing the pollution here. It was pointed out that the Supreme Court had issued directions in this regard earlier.
Pollution level during Diwali goes up by 30%
The Times of India
13th November, 2012
Lucknow: Smog continued to prevail in Lucknow for the 11th consecutive day on Sunday, and is likely to intensify in the next few days due to bursting of fire crackers during Diwali festivities. Already, the air pollution level of the city is more than twice the permissible limit. The air pollution is rising because of increase in the number of vehicles and diesel generators as well as increase in the dust particles due to rise in construction activities and bad conditions of roads. Experts say that during Diwali, the air pollution level is likely to increase by 30%, which will not only be dangerous for those suffering from pulmonary diseases, but also cause breathing problem to others. The smog is a combination of fog and smoke or other air pollutants. It is created when moisture level is high in the atmosphere. It does not allow the tiny particles of pollutants to dissipate, and instead tiny water droplets carrying fine particles of pollutants and dust remain suspended in the atmosphere. At present the speed of the wind is very low. As a result, the smog is virtually hanging in the atmosphere, resulting in hazy conditions. The authorities are aware of the fact that the pollution level are alarming in the city and the fire crackers will increase it further, but no action has been taken so far. A recent survey conducted by Indian Institute of Toxicology Research reveals that the average values of PM10 in residential, commercial and industrial areas in the city are above the prescribed National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) of 100 g/m3. Particulate Matter (PM) is the term for solid and liquid particles in the air. The survey found that the average value of PM was 167.1g/m3, 230.9 g/m3 and 217.9 g/m3 respectively in residential, commercial and industrial areas. The noise levels during day and night in the residential and commercial areas were also found to be above the prescribed limit. Regional Officer, UP Pollution Control Board, SK Mishra said that data shows that pollution level during Diwali increases at least by 30%. Experts also said that the crackers contain elements like copper, cadmium, sulphur, aluminium, barium and various others that help in releasing vibrant colours after it is ignited. Once a cracker is burnt, it releases toxic chemicals that remain suspended for long time causing serious health aliments. The heavy metals remain in the atmosphere for long and then get oxidised before entering the food chain through vegetables.
City-based chest physician Dr Ashutosh Dubey said, "Gaseous air pollutants along with other toxic gases emitted due to burning of firecrackers aggravates the chance of attack among asthma Patients. The patients with heart disease, chronic bronchitis and low immune system are also at high risk." He added that while harmful smoke increase the chance of conjunctivitis, loud noise makes people's behaviour irritating. Besides, burn injuries are most common on the hands, eyes and face.
Obama vows climate push for 'future generations'
The Economic Times
15th November, 2012
Washington: US President Barack Obama on Wednesday vowed a new push for action on climate change, saying the United States had a duty to come together to curb emissions in the wake of megastorm Sandy. In his first news conference since his decisive re-election on November 6, Obama said he planned a "conversation across the country" in the coming months to find common ground after a failed effort on climate change at the start of his term. After Obama's first election, much of the rival Republican Party adamantly opposed proposals on climate change, saying they would hurt the economy. Some lawmakers took issue with the view of most scientists that industrial emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are causing the planet to warm. Climate change played little role in the election campaign until days before the vote, when massive storm Sandy tore through the East Coast and the Caribbean, killing more than 110 people in the United States alone.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an independent, made a last-minute endorsement of Obama due to his stance on climate change. Obama's Republican rival, Mitt Romney, had earlier mocked Obama for trying to "heal the planet." Obama declined to attribute Sandy to climate change, but noted that average temperatures were rising and Arctic ice was melting at rates that are even faster than predicted in recent years. "There have been an extraordinarily large number of severe weather events here in North America, but also around the globe," Obama said. Obama's top allies in Congress have backed calls on climate change. Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat in the House of Representatives, on Wednesday welcomed statements by Obama and called climate "a priority for me." With Democrats in control in 2009, the House approved the first nationwide "cap-and-trade" plan that, similar to a system in place in Europe and recently launched in California, would restrict carbon emissions and offer a market incentive for cuts. But the plan died in the Senate, even with Democrats in charge. Obama, who also vowed to fight climate change in his Election Day victory rally in Chicago, has not made clear his future initiatives. After the defeat of cap-and-trade, the Obama administration used regulatory power to tighten standards for power plants and vehicles, leading the White House to insist that the United States is on track to meet its pledges to a UN body to cut emissions by 17 percent by 2020 from 2005 levels.
Bio-remediation to be used for checking pollution during Kumbh
The Indian Express
13th November, 2012
Allahabad : Bio-remediation, a technology that is still in the initial testing phase, is likely to be a significant component for preventing untreated sewerage from flowing into River Ganga during Kumbh-2013. Bio-remediation technology uses naturally existing microbes in nature to treat the sewerage, breaking it down into carbon dioxide and water, besides lessening the odour. The authorities concerned are banking on bio-remediation technology for treating sewerage, even as they claim that the work of sewerage treatment plants (STPs) will be completed before Kumbh. However, the mela administration has been saying that STP projects were part of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). “We cannot be held responsible for STPs. We will be using bio-remediation technology to ensure that Ganga water remains clean, as far as possible,” said an officer of the mela administration. Following a couple of experiments that gave encouraging results, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, had last year decided to take up pilot projects on bio-remediation measures at several points in Ganga, as they are seen as simple and cost-effective method to treat sewage. The pilot projects were to help in standardising the norms and framing guidelines for its use.
One such project was awarded to a private company, at a cost of Rs 1.38 crore and was to be completed in 16 months, at Mori Gate drain here in Allahabad. But it is yet to take off. In-charge of CPCB’s Lucknow office M Q Ansari said: “The project has been awarded and some pre-requisites are yet to be completed.” Asked whether bio-remediation technology can be called untested, Ansari said: “The technology is not entirely untested. It has gone past the laboratory stage. The earlier experiment carried out at Mayur Vihar in Delhi was encouraging. These pilot projects will further help us.” As of now, an estimated 54 big and small drains in Allahabad take untreated sewage water and effluent to Ganga. “Major drains may be tapped by STPs. But there are several ‘smaller streams’, which flow into the river. So, how effective this technology will be is something to be seen. We are hoping that water quality will improve once water is released from Tehri dam,” said an official of the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board.
Less pollution, more benefits
The Hindu
16th November, 2012
Cities in the West are rediscovering bicycles. After nearly a century of motoring around their cities, the commuters are now being persuaded to take to bicycles for intra-city movement. Four years ago, Paris introduced a self-service, public bicycle transit system called “Velib.” But Paris is only the latest among several European capitals to set up such a system to provide bicycles for hire at a nominal cost to people for point-to-point movement within the city. Needing no fossil fuels, bicycles are inexpensive, non-polluting, less prone to accidents, claim less space on roads and less injurious to user if it does not involve an accident against an automobile. Having experimented with several alternatives for mass transit, city fathers all over Europe are almost unanimous that a public bicycle system could ensure the best last mile connectivity to individual commuters.
Since it was started in July 2007, Parisians and visitors alike are able to pick up and drop off bicycles throughout the city at 750 locations — offering a total of 20,600 bikes. A ‘Velib’ station has been set up after approximately every 900 ft. for a total of 1,451 locations. To hire the bikes, riders select a one-day card for one euro, a weekly card for five euros or an annual card for 29 euros. After the purchase of an access card, riding for the first half-hour is free and a supplement of one euro is charged for an additional half-hour, two euros for another 30 minutes and four euros for every addition half-hour after that. The original electronically managed model (‘Bikeabout’) was set up in Portsmouth University in the U.K. in 1996 from which entire Europe learned a lot of lessons. Copenhagen introduced the free bicycles programmes under ‘bicycklen cobenhavn,’ providing 1,300 free bikes chained to racks. It proved quite popular and locals took to it for being environmentally progressive. Today however, you need to pick up a bicycle by paying 20 Danish kroners, equivalent of $3.
It was a noisy fest in some Bangalore areas
The Hindu
17th November
Notwithstanding the 30 per cent decrease in the sale of firecrackers this year, noise levels shot up in four areas of the city, besides sparking a sharp increase in the particulate matter in the atmosphere. According to the statistics provided by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), which monitored the ambient noise levels in eight areas of the city on regular days and on Deepavali days, an increase of noise pollution was observed in four areas while there was a decrease in the remaining four areas. Ironically, the highest increase among the monitored areas was found around the Parisara Bhavana on Church Street, with a 26 per cent increase in the noise level compared to last year, KSPCB Chairperson Vaman Acharya told reporters earlier in the week. In terms monitoring of air pollution during Deepavali, there was a sharp increase in the particulate matter in the atmosphere. The City Railway Station area in Majestic registered an increase of 72 per cent in particulate matter while it was 48 per cent and 30 per cent in S.G. Halli near Basaveshwar Nagar and Peenya respectively. Mr. Acharya estimated that bursting of firecrackers had come done by at least 30 per cent compared to last year. He attributed it to the ban imposed on sale of crackers in thickly populated areas, rise in their prices and media reports on noise pollution.
Rs 1.4-crore green fee collected in Ladakh
The Tribune
18th November, 2012
An amount of Rs 1.4 crore has been generated as environment fee from tourists and non-state subjects who visited Ladakh till October end this year. The amount generated was given out during a review meeting held under the chairmanship of chief executive councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, Rigzin Spalbar at the conference hall yesterday. During the meeting, Assistant Director of the Tourism Department, Leh, Sonam Dorje said the revenue was generated from 47,000 domestic tourists and 14,000 foreign tourists who had applied for inner line permit to visit restricted areas of the district and 16,000 labourers.
The collection of Rs 300 from foreign tourists and Rs 200 from domestic tourists including all non-official visitors as environment fee started from May 5, 2012, as per the policy decision of the LAHDC to generate income for preservation of environment and creation of tourist convenience at tourists spots. “To collect the environment fee uniformly from all non-state subject visitors of Ladakh from the next tourism season, the Tourism Department is in touch with the Airport Authority of India. A counter will be set up at Khushok Bakula Rinpoche Airport, Leh, and contractual employees will be appointed to set up a collection centre at the entry point near Khalsti on the Leh-Srinagar National Highway and Upshi on the Leh-Manali highway,” said Dorje. Addressing the meeting, Spalbar said the environment fee will be used exclusively on the preservation of environment and creation of tourist convenience at tourists spots.
California sells out of first pollution permits
Economic Times
20th November, 2012
San Francisco: California sold out of the first pollution permits issued as part of a landmark offensive against greenhouse gases at an inaugural auction that regulators said on Monday went smoothly. The effort to curtail carbon emissions involved the sale of 23.1 million permits, each allowing for the release of one ton of carbon, for $10.09 apiece, the California Air Resources Board said. The permit sales last week opened the largest carbon marketplace in the nation and the second-biggest in the world after the European Union. The California air board will hold four such auctions a year. "By putting a price on carbon, we know we are beginning the process of breaking our dependence on fossil fuels," Mary Nichols, board chairman, said during a conference call with reporters. The board would not divulge specific figures on how many permits were bought by individual polluters covered under newly instituted caps on carbon emissions. The board does not comment on bidding activity to protect each polluter's strategy regarding use of the carbon market, Nichols said. However, a sampling of companies that are covered include utilities such as Pacific Gas & Electric Co., petroleum refiners such as Phillips 66 Co. and even food processing companies such as Saputo Cheese USA Inc. The permits are part of California's so-called "cap-and-trade" program, a central piece of the state's 2006 global warming regulations seeking to dramatically reduce emissions of heat-trapping gases.
Low oxygen level led to death of fish in Katraj lake
The Times of India
20th November, 2012
Pune: The low level of dissolved oxygen in the water led to the death of fish in Katraj lake on Friday, analyses of water samples by the PMC and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) show. Dissolved oxygen in water is vital for aquatic life. Ideally it should be more than 3 mg per litre, saidMangesh Dighe, environment officer of the PMC. On Friday, several fish were found dead in the lake. Consequently, the PMC collected water samples from 10 spots in the lake and adjoining nullahs, while the MPCB took samples from three locations to find out the exact cause of death of fish. Dighe told TOI that, "Out of the 10 samples tested in the PMC laboratory, six showed 'nil' dissolved oxygen level. The other four samples, collected from the entry points of the nullahs flowing into the lake, showed dissolved oxygen level of 0.5 to 2.5 milligrams per litre. This is not enough for aquatic life.''The water samples collected by the MPCB showed oxygen level of 0.3 mg per litre (Hatti dam), 1.4 mg per litre (MIDC boating point) and nil (Gava nullah). Anil D Mohekar, regional officer, MPCB, said that the water samples report showed that the dissolved oxygen level was low in the lake and this has led to the death of fish. Sandeep Joshi director, Shrishti Eco-Research Institute (SERI), said that dissolved oxygen is vital for aquatic life, especially for fish. One can find good fish biodiversity, if the oxygen level in water is more than 5 mg per litre. "In Katraj lake, the dissolved oxygen level is low due to high sewage content in the lake. The nullahs carry sewage to the lake. The sewage contamination leads to growth of water hyacinth also. In addition, as the rainfall was less this year, availability of fresh water was low. This also resulted in low dissolved oxygen level,'' Joshi said. "When water hyacinth comes into physical contact with water, the air is cut off. Water hyacinth produces copious amount of organic matter. This creates breeding ground for mosquitoes also. Weeds like water hyacinth can lead to the death of a lake. It can be controlled by undertaking ecological measures, Joshi added. An official from the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park said that lack of oxygen led to the death of fish in the lake. "Several snails were also found dead. The water hyacinth has covered the entire lake, which is now being cleared. Around 40 per cent work of clearing the water hyacinth and dead fish has been completed. The workers are manually clearing the water hyacinth for 10 hours a day. It will take a few more days. The lake is spread over 30 acre.''
GSPCB hearings: 4 industries to install pollution monitors
The Times of India
20th November, 2012
Panji: Four of 16 industries served show-cause notices for not complying with pollution-monitoring directions have informed the Goa state pollution control board (GSPCB) that they will comply with the directions. The online stack emission, effluent and ambient air quality monitoring system has been advised for industry by the Central Pollution Control Board. GSPCB, the directing authority, had scheduled the four industries' hearing on Monday. GSPCB chairman Jose Manuel Noronha told TOI, "A scientist of the board has been appointed the nodal officer to assist the companies with technical specifications for installing the monitoring system." The board also heard United Marine Product, a firm at the Cuncolim industrial estate, who was been served a show-cause notice for allegedly causing obnoxious smell and environmental pollution in the vicinity. "We have decided to send a team of officials to inspect the plant. They will collect samples of the discharge from the plant and once the report is ready, the board will decide what is to be done," said Noronha. In the hearing of the case on excess mining, filed by Goa Foundation, Noronha said the petitioner had sent a letter to GSPCB. In it the NGO has asked the board to conduct the hearing and that a representative of Goa Foundation need not be present for the same. On the request of mining firm Sesa Goa, the board handed over a copy of Goa Foundation's letter to the mining company, which was present for the hearing. The hearing has been postponed for December 7.
Gold’s toxic legacy: Mines release arsenic, contaminate water and soil
Down to Earth
22nd November, 2012
Everyone wants to horde gold these days. But the ever increasing demand of the precious metal seems to have put people living near the gold mines at risk. A study in Karnataka has indicated that even those areas where gold mines have been shut down are heavily contaminated with arsenic. The element causes cancer among other things. But the study has come as a warning. It shows high arsenic levels in water, soil and food samples from Kiradalli Tanda, a small village in Yadgir district. The village is 4 km south of Mukangavi gold mine and minerals containing arsenic have been found in the area. Gold mining in such areas has been known to release arsenic in the environment. The mine was operational from 1887 to 1913 and was reclaimed in 1980 to resume mining operations before being finally closed down in 1994.
Government surveys carried out in 2008 and 2010 have shown that drinking water in many areas of the state has high arsenic levels. The study, published online on October 10 in Journal of Hazardous Materials, has shown for the first time that people living in Kiradalli Tanda have high level of arsenic in hair and nails and show symptoms of arsenic poisoning. These include lesions and hardening of skin, dark spots and numbness and swelling in limbs. Lesions, if infected, pose a threat of gangrene. The symptoms were visible in 58.6 per cent of the 181 individuals who were screened. Long term arsenic exposure can also lead to different types of cancers like that of the skin. Cases of arsenic poisoning and cancers related to arsenic were first identified in the village in July 2009. Interviews by the researchers reveal the community first observed skin lesions around 15 years ago. Exposure could be through the deep bore wells dug in the area in 1984 to provide clean drinking water and control guinea worm disease. Even old dug wells have high arsenic levels. It is likely the ground water got contaminated when gold mines were flooded in 1994 and had to be abandoned.
The researchers tested water samples from 59 tubewells and found that 79 per cent had arsenic much above the permissible limit of 10 microgram per liter. Some wells had arcenic concentration as high as 300 microgram per litre. Of the 12 topsoil samples, six had over 2,000 mg arsenic per kilogram of soil, indicating an impact of mine tailings. “This is the first time a link between gold mining and arsenic poisoning has been indicated,” says Dipankar Chakraborti of School of Environmental Studies of Jadavpur University in Kolkata, the lead author of the study. “We have to carry out further studies to conclusively show that the arsenic is from the gold mine and not from natural geological factors,” he says. There are many amputees in the area; this is probably due to arsenic poisoning, says one of the researchers, Kusal K Das from Al Ameen Medical College and Hospital in Bijapur, Karnataka. “The people never realised they are suffering from arsenic poisoning,” he says. The study is the first scientific description of chronic human arsenic toxicity in areas with historic gold mining, say the researchers. Arsenic poisoning has traditionally been reported from West Bengal and the Indo Gangetic Plain. Prevalence of arsenical skin lesions in the village is comparable to that in other affected areas in South Asia. The study adds a new dimension to the impacts of environmental degradation on health, says Gopal Dabade, a public health expert in Karnataka. To establish a link between arsenic contamination and health, the government has to accept this as a public health issue, he adds. The good thing is that the Karnataka government has already started providing safe drinking water to the villages with high levels of arsenic in water.
Public hearing fails to resolve oil project impasse
The Times of India
23rd November, 2012
Manipur : A public hearing held on Wednesday at Sibapurikhal in Churachandpur district of Manipur on oil exploration in the state failed to clear the roadblock to a proposed project.
The public hearing was organised by the Manipur Pollution Control Board at the Sibapurikhal community hall where various social organizations representing the ethnic groups of the state opposed the proposed oil exploration programme by an overseas company. The hearing was organised with specific reference to seismic aspects of oil exploration and drilling in the state.
Jubilant Oil and Gas Pvt Ltd, based in the Netherlands, was offered exploration rights in two blocks of Manipur by the Union ministry of petroleum and natural gas in 2009 for 3,957 sq km in the Churachandpur, Tamenglong and Imphal East districts, sources said. Representatives of Joint Action Committee, All Rongmei Welfare Association, Jeme Human Rights Foundation, Hmar Inpui (Hmar Supreme House), Village Authority Association of Tipaimukh subdivision of Churachandpur district and other indigenous village organizations expressed their opposition to the proposed oil exploration and extraction. hey expressed their "serious concern with the manner in which oil and gas exploration projects have been pursued in vast areas of the state."
The organisations said they were not provided with prior information and, therefore, the proposed exploration did not bear the consent and knowledge of the indigenous people. They said the life of the people of the hills, the forests and rivers will be affected due to exploration. This is a new design by the authorities to pollute the virgin environment. They said the Manipur government had given permission to JOGPL for oil exploration and drilling on November 15, 2010. But it failed to take care of the concerns of the locals, the Autonomous District Council and the Manipur Hill Areas Committee, said Hmar Inpui chairman Laloilin Hmar. However, deputy commissioner (Churachandpur) Jacintha Lazarus during the public hearing ensured the villagers that the proposed exploration would not harm the environment of the region.
3 BP staff arraigned on Gulf oil spill charges
The Hindu
29th November 2012
Two BP rig supervisors and a former BP executive pleaded not guilty to criminal charges stemming from the deadly Deepwater Horizon rig explosion and the company’s response to the massive 2010 spill in the Gulf of Mexico. BP well site leaders Robert Kaluza and Donald Vidrine, along with former BP vice president of exploration for the Gulf David Rainey, remained free on bond Wednesday following their arraignments in federal court. Mr Kaluza and Mr Vidrine are charged with manslaughter in the deaths of 11 rig workers. They are accused of disregarding abnormally high pressure readings that should have been glaring indications of trouble just before the blowout of BP’s Macondo well. Mr Rainey was charged separately with concealing information from Congress about the amount of oil that was leaking from the well. Millions of gallons of crude oil spewed from BP’s well for months.
Mr Kaluza professed his innocence on his way into court, making his first public comments since the April 2010 explosion that killed his co-workers.
The case against Mr Kaluza and Mr Vidrine centres on their roles in supervising “negative testing,” which is designed to assess whether a cement barrier is effectively preventing oil or gas from flowing up the well. The indictment says they had “multiple indications” from the negative testing that the well wasn’t secure. Yet they allegedly failed to alert onshore engineers about the problems during the testing, accepted a “nonsensical explanation” for abnormal pressure readings and eventually decided to stop investigating. “It’s almost inconceivable to me that the government in the indictment makes a contrary allegation,” Mr Habans said.
BP announced earlier this month that it will plead guilty to manslaughter, obstruction of Congress and other charges and pay a record $4.5 billion in penalties to resolve a Justice Department probe of the disaster. Attorneys for BP and the Justice Department are scheduled to meet Dec. 11 with a federal judge to discuss a date for the company to plead guilty. The Deepwater Horizon oil rig, owned by Transocean Ltd. but operated on behalf of BP, was drilling in the Gulf of Mexico off the Louisiana coast on April 20, 2010, when it was rocked by an explosion. The bodies of 11 workers were never recovered.