Water shortage in recent times has become a major concern for our agriculture

and economy as summers stroll in. The beginning of summer dryness this year
is a bit early with drought in several states, including Maharashtra, which in fact
sends chills down the spines of millions of farmers across the country. What a
paradox it is for our countrys agriculture which suffers losses when India has an
untapped resource of 4 trillion cubic metres of water(through rainfall) which
means sufficient drinking water being available for every person daily
throughout the year. We suffer a dire shortage of water since a lot of the
available surface water is wasted in India due to lack of prudent management.
The drought condition of Maharashtra is a result of a poor water
management system that includes poor water reservoirs, irrigation, and
rainwater harvesting. It is inefficiency, and lack of social responsibility that have
led Maharashtra and other drought affected areas to such extremes.

Governments Role
The implementation of schemes and agricultural assistance alone cannot suffice.
Educating the multitude of farmers, awareness campaigns, sustainable
development, and good governance is what the government needs to do.
Every government must consider providing sufficient water for farmers since
many are not acquainted with systematic methods to battle extreme conditions.
Almost every poor farmer relies on the government for it is the leaders who
form the government who promise to elevate them from the pathetic condition
in every election. But providing facilities for the farmer without prudent
governance to administer the system will simply not lead to any progress for our
farmers.
The government should keep a strict watch on construction and other activities
as they can disrupt and paralyse the underground water networks. Despite
repeated warnings, the damage caused is irreversible. Nominal GDP cannot
impress the nation. Jobs created by destroying natural resources, wiping clean
our forests, will not elevate the destitute. Real growth can only be achieved
when the production is high but at a low cost. Environmental degradation has
introduced us to many challenges. Poor farmers and village dwellers should in

fact be awarded for protecting forest resources and for their concern to
safeguard the natural habitat from exploitation by multinational companies.
The government can perform better by focusing on the significance of proper
maintenance of dams, lakes when they go dry, strengthening embankments,
deepening of reservoirs to augment storage capacity and productivity.
Respective state governments must be ever prepared to battle extreme
conditions when drought, soil erosion, and disaster hit the region. Each drop of
rainwater counts and must be saved and harvested. Sustenance in future
depends on prudential management in the present. Tens of thousands of tanks,
irrigation canals, watersheds, reservoirs, and ponds need to be constructed in
water-starved areas like Latur to harvest the rainwater and save it, which, in the
longer run, would augment the ground water in the area.

A Tale Of Dryness
The spectre of fresh water crisis looms not only in Maharashtra but has also
appeared in Odisha. Water has become a scarce commodity in rural areas of
Odisha, where women trek a long distance to fetch safe water. In Paniachachu
village, a tribal-dominated district in Nabarangpur, Odisha, women walk a
distance of five kilometres only to bring water to their homes. In this period of
scarcity, people have to bring water from irrigation ponds and wells. Among
children, it is mostly girls who fetch water. They have to walk a long distance
and, as a consequence of this, they face various health problems.
Tribes in Nabarangpur praying to Mother Earth for a better rainy season.Tribes in
Nabarangpur praying to Mother Earth for a better rainy season.
In my village (Gudra, 100 kilometres away from Jagdalpur, Bastar), as many as
500 people queue up at a well to get drinking water. For water for bathing and
other day-to-day purposes, my people depend entirely on ponds. Every day, 500
fight to get a sip of life. And what is more ghastly is that poor people who cant
afford to buy safe water for daily use are compelled to sustain themselves with
unsafe water that can breed diseases.
Nabarangpur district receives an average rainfall of 1,570 mm annually
which can actually suffice. But people still suffer from an acute shortage of water

due to neglect in maintenance. The present drought condition should convince

us that the water shortage in India is neither natural nor due to lack of
resources. It is a manmade problem. According to news reports, due to the
intense heatwave, 59 deaths have been reported so far only in Odisha allegedly
due to sunstroke. Despite all this, as some have claimed, several regions in
Odisha are yet to receive proper relief from the government.
Fresh water scarcity needs to be mitigated quickly before it turns into a water
war. A water abundant state should render assistance and educate the people in
preparing for such disasters. History shows that humans have the amazing
ability to conquer difficulties. So, it is time to improve water conservation
management and technologies. Countries like Singapore recycle water to cut
imports. Countries in the Middle East also use such methods to slake their
thirst. Desalination has also been an effective solution for water crises.
An important source of water, the rain, is not harvested. India should revive
the ancient rainwater harvesting systems giving them a modern touch.
Worldwide, more than 70 percent of the freshwater is used for agricultural
purposes. The state can close the supply and demand gap by improving
irrigation facilities.
Destruction of forests on a mass scale has resulted in climate change, irregular
rainfall, and soil erosion in some places and drought in other areas. So, it would
be apt to mention here that deforestation is not only a major factor in the
reduction and uncertainty of rainfall but it also leads to soil erosion, which
reduces biomass availability. This can result in lower agricultural productivity.
Owing to irregular and insufficient rainfall, insecurity of drinking water prevails
throughout the year. Rapid felling of trees/scrubs and overgrazing have only
intensified and added to the problems of excessive run-off and soil erosion.
So, let us all join hands to reverse the situation. Every child in the family should
be taught about the value of natural greenery, vegetation and tree planting. Let
us teach our children the benefits of simple living in a time of scarcity and
adversity.

It took 60,000 farm suicides for us to realise that the cause behind the drought
in Maharashtra isnt something as basic as scanty rainfall. The drought, which

started around 2014, has become so grave that only 3% of water is left in 11
major dams of Marathwada, the focal point of the situation.
Statistics from a reputed organisation have helped us reach the conclusion that
unmonitored cultivation of sugarcane, a commercial water-thirsty crop, is the
main culprit behind most of Maharashtras water problems.
But there are still some aspects that dont add up How did we not reach this
conclusion earlier? How is a region as dry as Rajasthan able to cope with the
calamity better than the richest state of the country? How come the data on all
government websites regarding rainfall vary from each other? Weve tried
to put all the puzzle pieces together and give you a more holistic view of the
situation.

How Is Sugar Cultivation Related To The Water Crisis?

The sugarcane crop is a water guzzler, but also extremely profitable. India has
the largest area under sugar production in the world and is second only to Brazil
in terms of productivity.
According to the Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, in Maharashtra the
state which produces close to 34% of sugar in India 2,450 litres of water goes
into producing one kilogram of sugar. Around 70% of the water available in
the state for farming purposes is taken by sugarcane cultivators and, sadly, 80%
of that water is invested in areas known for water-deficiency, i.e., unsuitable for
sugar cultivation.
South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) has drawn
another relation with the available figures if 50% of the water being used to
cultivate sugarcane in the region was diverted to production of pulses, it would
mean livelihood security to over 21 lakh farmers as against 1.1 lakh sugarcane
farmers supported now.

Why Sugarcane? Why Not Other Crops?

Due to politicians being a part of the business ever since the first sugar mill was
set up in the 1950s, the sugar industry has had quite a robust and stable past. Its
vices have always been ignored, therefore, farmers think of the sugarcane

industry as a safe bet as far as remuneration is considered. Moreover, its

comparatively easier to cultivate and isnt prone to pests and diseases.

Comparison With Other States

According to the Indian Sugar Industry, comparison of crop rotation basis for
a year per hectare of land, Maharashtra consumes 2800mm of rainfall per
hectare of land, while Tamil Nadu consumes 1400mm and Karnataka consumes
1550mm. Not only that, the states average rainfall last year was more than the
national average rainfall by almost 200mm.

How Come Maharashtra Is Consuming More Water

Than Other States For The Same Area?
Much like every other tragedy in India, Marathwadas crisis is a result of gross
neglect. The current situation had been foreseen by an expert panel set up in
1999. Ignoring the panels recommendations and findings, 20 new sugar mills
were still set up in the year 2012. Marathwada was still not exposed to the idea
of conserving water and as a result flood irrigation is employed in most areas.
No policies to shift sugar cultivation to viable regions were considered.

Relief
Action is finally being taken and a 5-year ban on setting up new sugar factories is
in place in Marathwada. According to the Indian Sugar Mills Association, this
wont affect the sugar industry much, though UP might overtake Maharashtra
in terms of production. Shutting down more mills at this point would result in
more unemployment and indebted farmers. The Government is also considering
making it mandatory to use recycled water compulsory for all industries and
aiming to finish pending irrigation projects. Maharashtras 28 irrigation
projects are included in the AIBP (Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme)
scheme.
The Centre has allotted Rs. 19,551 crore under MNREGA which isnt
considered the best move as there are regular complaints about delayed
compensation and less accessibility to the scheme. Regular water trains have

started reaching the worst affected areas. National Drought Relief Fund and
State Disaster Relief Fund have both made hefty contributions as well.
Relief funds are definitely the need of the hour but, for long-term solutions, we
need to adopt a multi-pronged approach expand production to other crops,
educate farmers about water conservation, make sure that most policies dont
centre around western Maharashtra, the most economically stable region of the
state. As measures are finally being taken, one can expect that Maharashtra, and
all other drought-affected states, come out of the crisis soon and that too as
more thriving and self-reliant than ever before.

Case 3
Of the 62 million tonnes of waste generated every year in India, 45 million goes
unattended straight to the landfill. The waste is only going to escalate as India
is estimated to produce 165 million tonnes of waste by the year 2031 and 436
million tonnes by 2050 if the trends continue unnoticed.
India stands third, after China and US, in the world, regarding the quantity of
waste produced. However in its attitude towards Solid Waste Management, it
even lags behind Sri Lanka and Bhutan. Indias seriousness is also exposed
looking at the number of waste-to-energy (WTE) plantsproducing electricity,
recycling goods, and creating compost. While the European Union operates
445, China has about 150, USA a little over 86 and India only 13. Of these
thirteen none are operating at their full capacity and the area around these
plants has also turned into a landfill.
Now even if we assume that setting up of WTE plants is quite difficult, it is hardly
irrefutable that the government has failed to utilize its most abundant resource
the people. Chintan, an NGO claims that in India all the 20-25% of
recycling that happens, becomes possible only because of the segregation done
by waste pickers. Chintan along with Safai Sena, a registered organization of
waste pickers and recyclers, run a recycling unit in Bhopura, near the Delhi-Uttar
Pradesh border, where 70 waste pickers hired to segregate, recycle, and

compost the dry and wet litter work with a success rate of about 85-90%. They
have asked the government to follow in their footsteps but to no avail.
With such scandalous figures to its name and such lackadaisical attitude in
matters pertaining to Solid Waste Management, Indias hopes of becoming a
Swachh Bharat lie pretty deep in the trash can.
However, on other side of the spectrum, we have something quite astonishing.
Sweden, a small country in the EU is undergoing a recycling revolution. While
India is still struggling to wriggle out of the mess it has accumulated, Sweden has
become 99% waste free. With its 32 WTE plants it not only recycles all the waste
they generate but alsoimports 800,000 thousand tonnes of waste from U.K,
Italy, and Norway for energy production.
Now, as quickly as you may believe that Indians are a hopeless lot ever to
achieve anything like Sweden, let me tell you theres still some light at the end of
the tunnel. This time, it shines from one of the poorest states in India,
Chattisgarh, which has shown that it does care.
The Darra Panchayat of Balod district has banned the use of plastics and
disposables in wedding and funeral ceremonies. They have advised people to
bring their cutlery and utensils when attending the ceremony. They have also
banned the offering of kafan (shroud for the deceased, which is later burnt)
asking people to donate the money of the kafan to the family of the deceased
which can be used for the cremation ceremony.
Jalmala village has even banned Holika and Ravan Dahan to save wood and
environment. The priests and temple committee of the Ganga Maiya Temple in
the village have also managed to curb the use of polybags thus making it one of
the cleanest temples even after a footfall of 10,000 every day during Navratri.
Ambikapur, another district in Chattisgarh, has achieved something remarkably
significant. It has earned its badge of becoming the first dustbin-free municipal
corporation in the country. By digitizing their garbage management along with
segregation of waste at the source by distributing red boxes (for inorganic) and
green ones (for organic) to residents, theyve successfully implemented the idea
of converting garbage to gold; making Ambikapur Indias little Swedenwhich
doesnt need a dumping ground.

Most of this achievement is attributed to the people of Chattisgarh who have

positively responded to such initiatives rather than being a spoil sport by saying
why should only I do it? Maybe theyre privy to the fact that if they dontno
one would. A pretty civilized lesson from a state with 65.18% literacy dont you
think? But what will this entail for the rest of India? Well have to wait and watch.
Or, should we do something about it? I think its high time we should.

Why I Think Its Ridiculous That The Govt Has Alloted $6 Billion To Create
New Forests In India
May 06, 2016No Comments

By Amit Ranat:
Uttarakhand is a state which seems to be perpetually in the news because
of horrific natural disasters. A couple of years back, in 2013 to be precise,
the mad fury of the floods at Kedarnath killed thousands and amounted to
a massive loss of property and infrastructure. The chaos was beyond
human control and the armys herculean efforts to save those who were
stuck in the region was widely broadcasted on TV. Many pilgrims who had
gone seeking the blessings of Shiva never returned again.
If that wasnt enough, the hills of Uttarakhand had more misery stocked
amidst their breezy trees. And that has come to be one of the most
discussed events of this year so far. A huge forest fire charred acres and
acres of forest land across the state while the government and local
authorities watched with alarm.
Three of Uttarakhands National Parks also, received considerable damage
in the last few months, as nearly 198 hectares in Corbett National Park, 60
hectares in the Kedarnath musk deer sanctuary and 70 hectares in the
Rajaji National Park and tiger reserve were gutted.
However, on the other hand, our Indian Government is now planning to
spend around $6 billion to create new forests in India! I am shocked and
quite surprised as to why our Government feels the need to set aside such

a huge chunk of money to create better forest coverage in a country like

India where almost 23.4% of the total geographical area is already
forested. And obviously, the next question that follows is, how come the
government doesnt think its important to allot this money to save the
already existing forests of our country?
Tree chopping has become a commonplace incidence. Tribals in Orissa
are fighting big corporates to save their hills and the flora and fauna that
surround it; cities across India are getting lesser and lesser green
coverage as multi-storied building define new skylines, and the
Uttarakhand forest fires are an annual event shrouded in much mystery
involving hush-hush words like wood mafia and corrupt admins and village
panchayats.
If only the Government would take initiatives to implement better
resources and manpower to combat such tragedies as has befallen
Uttarakhand this year, with the state struggling to douse hectares of
flaming forests with just two (yes two) helicopters, maybe Narendra Modi
wouldnt have to announce such ridiculous relief funds for the poor Indian
forests anymore.

Case 5
Some of the major issues India is facing in 2016 are the dangerous levels of
water scarcity and the rapidly rising temperature with heat waves already
claiming lives across the country. In some villages, theres not even a single drop
of water available and as reports have shown some are even thriving on aid
provided by neighbouring states. A majority of this environmental chaos can
be attributed to the lack of rainfalls last year.
This is not surprising because our governments are on a selfish and blinded
spree of development. About30% of forests trees have been cut in the name of
development under various Yojnas and for constructing highways. Now, one can
even refer to the Uttarakhand debacle.

A local daily of Surat reported that a total of 1,264 trees had been
uprooted for the BRTs project in the town by the local municipality in the last
one year alone. Not only did this plan fail in Delhi but might also flop in Surat,
thereby not generating profits but causing a huge environmental loss.
In an RTI I submitted last year, I enquired about this very concern, asking
authorities how many trees they had cut and how many they had planted. From
the data they offered me, of course, the number of newly planted trees were
less as compared to the number of trees they had cut. I even raised the
following point with the Municipality Commissioner: It is good to plant new trees
but destroying old trees which are giving more benefits to the environment isnt
a good idea. Newly planted trees would take years to branch out and show
benefits to the environment.
After countless tries I was unable to save 1000s of trees that were destroyed by
the BRTS project despite writing many letters, sending out RTI appeals etc. No
one seems to care about nature and environment any longer. This also shows a
lack of empathy and awareness on the part of engineers and city planners who
are involved with such projects. This same thing is happening in many Indian
cities where environment awareness is nil.
Maybe all this combined resulted in the lack of rains in 2015 and the current
water scarcity. If such attitudes will persist, that day is not far where we have to
search for water and have to pay high prices for the most basic resources that
life intends to offer free of cost to us.

Rainwater harvesting
Water is an essential life-sustaining resource that underpins the fabric of human
development. Being a renewable resource, water enables all living beings to
survive and flourish. However, men, women, and even school-going children
have to wait hours in line at the traditional stone water taps for a few buckets to
sustain their lives. Such is the grim reality of Kathmandu, the capital city of
Nepal. With rapidly growing population, improper planning and management,
and pollution of nearby rivers, Kathmandu is faced with a severe water crisis. To

fulfill their daily water needs, the people have over-exploited underground water
reserves, resulting in the sinking of the water table at an alarming rate of 2.5
meters annually.
Water withdrawal from groundwater sources has increased five folds since
1950 and is expected to double in the next decade. If the withdrawal rate of an
underground resource exceeds its natural recharge rate, the water table around
the withdrawal well would be lowered, creating a water-less volume known as
the cone of depression. Any pollution discharged onto the land above will be
pulled directly into the cone polluting water in wells and other such reservoirs.
Poor management of water resources and infrastructure is a reason for south
Asia to face water scarcity. There is no shortage of water in the world, but
there is a crisis of management of water supplies, says Asit Bitwas, head
of the Third World Centre for Water Management.
Adaptation measures required for reducing vulnerability to changing water
regimes at community level are good practice of sustainable development and
disaster risk reduction. The challenge lies in getting the people accustomed with
the risks that they were unaware of and providing measures that will benefit
them. Local watershed management would ensure proper accountability in
these communities. Awareness should be raised among the youth and also
about the links between climate change and the impacts that it will have on the
community.
Rainwater harvesting can ease the desperate situation by contributing
significantly towards the fulfillment of the domestic water demand while also
reducing the burden on groundwater. However, significant research on
rainwater harvesting has not been conducted, and very few have adopted this
new process.
In order to obtain recent and reliable information on the situation of water
supply and rainwater harvesting in Kathmandu, an elaborate questionnaire was
prepared, and a survey was conducted among an economically and socially
diverse group of 120 youths from different school in Kathmandu. The survey
reflected the desperate situation, showing that 51% of the people were facing
an acute water shortage. Though 82% of the people were aware of rainwater

harvesting, only 39% of them had implemented it, revealing the need to
convince the youth of its feasibility and associated benefits through community
projects and demonstration sites. Making the youth aware of such a process
expanded their knowledge as well as made them aware of another alternative
that could be used. Making the youth aware and also educating them about the
implementation and management of rainwater harvesting will lead to desired
results.
Thus, rainwater harvesting can become a genuine solution for the water crisis. It
is pure enough for all domestic purposes and is simple and inexpensive enough
to be considered in the community level as well as the household level. If
properly managed and widely implemented, rainwater harvesting could rescue
the cities from a serious water crisis and to do this it is essential for the youth to
play a role.

Mars
The surface of Mars is a cold desert. Scars in the landscape point to a history of
flowing rivers, standing lakes and possibly even planetary oceans. Yet
the current Martian atmosphere has a density thats around 0.6% of Earths,
making it far too thin to support liquid water or life on the barren surface.
At some point in the planets history, however, there must have been a thicker,
denser atmosphere, probably dominated by carbon dioxide (CO2). And working
out what happened to all that CO2 could help us deal with the increasing
amount of the gas in our own atmosphere, which is pushing us towards
dangerous climate change.
So, where did the Martian atmosphere go? A large amount was lost to space,
stripped away by the solar wind. Some has been stored as CO2 ice at the poles,
where it remains today. But part of the atmosphere was transformed into
carbonate minerals and preserved through the millennia. Using a
combination of satellites and rovers, as well as evidence from meteorites that
have been ejected from Mars and landed on Earth, we are beginning to
understand how this process of mineral carbonation can change an entire
planets atmosphere.

Humanity has actually become very good at capturing CO2 from the
atmosphere through a wide variety of techniques. Once captured, the CO2 is
usually compressed into a dense liquid. The problem comes in storing this liquid
safely and stably, over millions of years. One exciting new development is
called mineral carbon sequestration. This is the process of transforming
CO2 gas into a stable mineral called carbonate.
Filling the cracks. Author provided.

Turning CO2 Into Rock

How does CO2 gas become solid rock? If CO2 gas dissolves in water it produces
a weak acid, called carbonic acid. When this acidic fluid comes into contact with
rocks known as basalts and peridotites, which contain lots of the minerals olivine
and pyroxene, they release charged particles of elements such as magnesium,
iron and calcium into the fluid.
More chemical reactions between the rocks and carbonic fluid produce the solid,
carbon-rich mineral carbonate, which fills cracks and pore spaces in the rocks.
The carbon goes from being an atmospheric gas to a mineral deposit. During
this process of alteration, the original rock minerals absorb huge amounts of
water into their structure. This hydration causes the rocks to expand and crack,
exposing fresh rocks that can also react with the water.
This process of mineral carbon sequestration happens naturally on Earth,
particularly in ophiolites, pieces of oceanic crust that have been transported and
pushed up onto continental plates. The natural reaction proceeds very slowly,
over hundreds of thousands of years, and the carbon extracted from the
atmosphere is an important sink for carbon ejected by volcanic eruptions.
Iceland is experimenting with carbon mineralisation. PROThinkGeoEnergy/Flickr.
But if we can artificially recreate this process, making it proceed at a faster rate,
we can more safely store the CO2 we remove from the atmosphere. This kind of
mineral carbon storage geoengineering is now being experimented with at a
number of pilot projects including Iceland, Norway, and the United States.
Researchers in these countries have discovered that the reaction happens much
more quickly if the fluid temperature is raised to around 185C. This heated fluid
is injected down a borehole to the desired rock formation, where it stays hot

because of the natural warmth below the Earths surface and because the
reaction itself produces heat.
However, many questions need answering before the technique can be carried
out on a large enough scale to be useful against global climate change. Ideally,
we will need many hundreds of carbon injection sites, such asthe CarbFix
facility, dotted across Earths vast basalt wilderness regions. The challenges
include fully understanding the chemical reactions between the rock and water,
learning how to deploy these reactions fast enough, and more accurately
estimating how quickly the CO2 will mineralise and the space it will take up.
Fighting climate change on another planet. NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS.

Marss Loss, Earths Gain

This is where we can learn from Mars. There is a near-endless variety of ways
that unpicking the chemical evolution of one planet might better inform
geoengineering actions on our own. For example, understanding the long-term
fate of Martian carbonates and how they interact with the atmosphere and
hydrosphere, will teach us how effective this form of carbon storage might be on
Earth.
Analysing the carbonates found on Mars, the way reactions have taken place,
and how carbon concentrations have changed across the planet, may help us to
better understand the process of mineral carbon sequestration. New carbonate
types might be discovered that provide clues about carbon-based minerals we
think exist but havent yet been found on Earth.
The problem is there this is surprisingly little communication between Mars
scientists and Earth climate change specialists. By combining the knowledge of
these two groups, we may be able to control our global climate problems by
using the planets rocky crust. Mars atmosphere loss may eventually become
Earths climate change saviour.
What is extremely tragic about the whole issue is that the governments, the
media, and we, the people, dont seem to care. Before this Facebook post was
shared widely, there were only two to three newspaper clippings on the issue in
the Hindustan Times. Most of the big names in the media seemed least
interested in this tragedy, and what could perhaps be smugglers or forest mafia

operating in the garb of forest fires. Finally, when the Facebook post was shared
enough times, and many on social media started questioning why this issue
wasnt given priority, bigger news channels started covering it. In the last few
days, it seems that the mainstream media has woken up to the disaster taking
place in Uttarakhand.
This is yet another episode of selective reporting that news channels seek to
conform to more and more. They present and replay things which get them TRP,
with seemingly little concern for what the nation wants to know.
After what happened there in 2013, we should have known better. Not only are
these forests responsible for holding the land in the hills together, but they also
help balance the extremely polluted areas in near vicinity (such as the Delhi
NCR).
The forests are providers of livelihood, and a central aspect of the life of villagers
who live around them. This is a great reminder of why we need to look away
from conventional media every once in a while and look at such grave issues at
hand ourselves. Let us not allow our media and the government to look the
other way as Uttarakhand goes up in flames.

How can we speak to those who live in villages and in slums about
keeping the oceans, the rivers, and the air clean when their own lives are
contaminated at the source? asked Indira Gandhi in her address in the UN
conference on Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden in 1972. The powerful
statement formed the basis of arguments of developing countries which tread a
fine line between poverty alleviation and environmental concerns. The
industrialized countries cannot thrust strict environmental regulations upon the
developing countries as it would prevent all measures that address social
problems in the country.
The consensus among developing countries around the Paris agreement shows
a change in the scenario. Developing countries like India have a lot more at stake
due to climate change and it is reflected in urgency for such an agreement. India,
China and most of the developing nations are large pollutants. For any measure

to keep global temperature below limits, it is important for these countries to

switch from fossil fuels to renewables. In addition to the international
commitments, there are several issues that India can address by adopting
renewable energy. Some of the pressing reasons for India to ditch fossil fuels
are concerned with the protection its vulnerable communities. Hence here are 5
such reasons for India to adopt a Swachh Energy mission.

With increasing pollution, there is increase in health

issues
A study in 2015 showed that there was a 30% increase in cases of acute
respiratory infection in the country since 2010. The high levels of pollution in
Delhi caused a nationwide furore owing to the imminent health
effects. Reports suggested that about 2 million children in the capital would
never attain full lung capacity. 13 of the worlds 20 most polluted cities are in
India and with the increasing urbanisation, same trends can be seen in semiurban regions of the country as well. Pollution at such alarming levels is caused
prominently by fossil fuel usage in vehicles and power plants. The increasing
health hazards also take a toll on the health expenditure which could further
denigrate the growth rate.

2. Untapped coal reserves are under some of the

densest forests
A study shows that majority of the untapped coal reserves are in the Central
Indian Landscape. The landscape is home to some of the densest forests in the
country and houses about 30 % of the world tiger population. India currently
uses open cast mining to extract coal which is the least expensive and requires
low-level technology. Destruction of such forests comes with costs of destruction
of forest cover, mass migration of people dependent on the forests and
subsequent poverty and unemployment and increase in human-animal conflict.

3. Natural disasters could be worse; especially in the

urban setting

There is ample scientific evidence to show that natural disasters have

increased in frequency and intensity due to human activities. The imminent
effects of climate change are being felt every day in cities like Chennai that saw
unprecedented rains that crippled the city and killed hundreds, in Hyderabad
where heat wave claims lives every year and Delhi where the cold winters kill
several on the streets. The urban governments in general lag behind in providing
required infrastructure for the low-income groups of the city which makes them
more vulnerable to such incidents. Corruption, Flouting of norms and
Regularisation puts thousands at risk since the population density is high.

4. Haphazard rainfall patterns deter food security

About 50% of the countrys workforce is dependent on Agriculture and
agriculture is largely dependent on rainfall. Uncertainty in rainfall can
impoverish thousands across the country. Moreover, failed rainfalls have been
associated with an increase in farmer suicides and drop in food production. One
failed monsoon in 2009has led to a drop in rice production by 15 million tons.
India cannot achieve food security nor realise its demographic potential if half of
the workforce is put out of work for a year. In the contrary, unexpected rains in
the harvest season can destroy crops.

5. Environment-induced migrations and displacement

exemplify all the problems
Migration to urban areas is on the rise over the years and the issues discussed
previously is poised to displace more people. A Greenpeace study in 2009
showed a possible increase in migrations due to sea level rise along the Indian
coast. This further increases the load on resources especially in urban areas
which has been witnessing high population density. Any increase beyond the
carrying capacity of the supporting ecosystem would lead to severe scarcity of
essential resources like water which is being seen in cities like Bangalore.

Mumbai garbage fire

A fire so large it could be seen from space engulfed parts of Mumbais biggest landfill site in
recent days, forcing schools to shut and raising questions about the citys waste-management
practises.
The cause of the blaze in the Deonar garbage dumpwhere waste is piled 30 meters high in
partsis so far unknown.
The fire began on Jan. 27, producing a plume of smoke that was captured by a camera aboard
a satellite belonging to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Fourteen fire trucks and eight bulldozers worked for four days and nights to bring the fire
under control. Parts of the landfill site that stretches over 111 hectares still smoldered
Tuesday.
Rais Shaikh, a municipal official for the suburb of Govandi next to Deonar said local
residents had suffered as the smoke billowed over their homes.
There have been lots of cases of breathlessness and suffocation, he said. Local schools
have been shut for two days.
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Air quality monitors near the site registered a steep increase in hazardous particulate matter in
the days during the blaze. In one case closest to the dump, levels of fine particulate matter
measuring 2.5 micrometers or less, doubled between Jan. 25 and Feb. 1. Such small particles
are able to penetrate the lungs and are linked to respiratory diseases.
Deonar landfill is estimated to receive anywhere between one third to almost three quarters of
the trash generated in the city, which is home to around 21 million people.
The fire threw attention on the management of waste at the site, which currently lacks a
proper garbage-treatment center.
Officials at the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai that administers the site did not
respond to repeated requests for comment.

Experts say the landfill needs an underlying layer of clay to prevent toxic materials seeping
into the soil and polluting the groundwater. The waste also needs to be alternated with a layer
of soil to allow it to decompose properly.
Tatva Global Deonar Environment Ltd., the contractor in charge of the Deonar dump said
MCGM had not provided the material necessary despite agreeing to do so.
The municipal body also dumped more than 6,000 tons of waste a day in the landfill more
than double the agreed amount, a spokesman for the contractor said in an email.
Due to MCGMs non-compliance and major breaches of the Concession Agreement, we
have not been able to set up the processing plant, the spokesman said.
We were therefore forced to just receive the waste and spread it in a methodical manner
without any scientific treatment, he said.
The MCGM canceled the contract with Tatva Global on Jan. 31 citing the contractors failure
to set up a treatment plant, according to Tatva Global.
The company says it is challenging the termination in court.

Latur
This newspaper has highlighted the acute water crisis under which Latur in the
Marathwada region of Maharashtra has been reeling for some time now. The situation in
the city is alarming to say the least. Everyday thousands of people queue up in front of
public hydrants leading to fights. But for the imposition of Section 144 of the IPC
preventing large gatherings, there could have been riots. Those, who can afford, have
already left the city in search of greener pastures. The authorities concerned have been
unable to provide drinking water in the promised quantities. As everywhere, it is the poor
who are suffering the most.
If the rain God does not answer peoples prayers, a day will soon come when Latur will
become a ghost city. The Maharashtra government seems to believe that it has done its
duty by declaring 12,000 villages in the state as drought-affected. Such a declaration
may help some get the benefits of government subsidies but it will hardly meet the
drinking water needs of the people of Latur. Everyone knows the reasons for the

drought. The locals have told this newspaper about the shrunken area of forest in the
district. They have also pointed at the presence of factories which excessively draw
ground water. Wrong agricultural practices too have adversely affected the ground water
resources. While the city has been growing exponentially, adequate attention has not
been paid to its infrastructural needs. Latur is not an isolated case. There are many
towns in the Marathwada region itself where the situation is only marginally better. The
city is an example of everything that is wrong about urban planning.
Sooner than later, similar situations can arise in many cities, even in southern India.
Alas, no attention is being paid to meet their long-term needs. For instance, there can be
no two opinions on the need to harvest rainwater. At present, most of the rain water is
allowed to flow into rivers and from there into the sea. There is a need to collect rain
water in ponds, tanks and reservoirs to both let the water seep into the earth to raise the
groundwater level and to be drawn when the rains are over. Similarly, encroachments
are a major problem. While tackling this issue, the authorities should also create public
awareness on water saving techniques.

eet Balbir Singh Seechewal, one of the most renowned environmentalists from Punjab

who is also known as Eco Baba. In the 2000, Balbir Singh decided that something had to be
done about the domestic and industrial waste that was killing the Kali Bein river 160 km
long tributary of Beas in Doaba region of Punjab. The river, which is considered sacred by
many in the state, had reduced to nothing but a drain because of all the waste that was
being discarded in it. Some portions of the river had even dried up, resulting in immense
water problems in the neighbouring farms.

Balbir Singh Seechewal gathered an army of volunteers and started work.

They began by teaching local people the importance of cleaning the river, enlisting more
volunteers, and raising funds with the help of contributions by the residents of more
than 24 villages to purchase equipment required for cleaning.
Together, they cleared the hyacinth and silt from the entire river bed.

Not only this, the team also worked on the beautification of the river bank with trees,
bathing ghats, and roads.

Eco Baba also started a public awareness campaign, urging villagers to dispose
sewage somewhere else and not in the river. With a clean riverbed, natural springs
were restored and the river started to fill up once again.

We have proved that it is possible to restore our rivers to a pristine condition if we all come
together. It is time to do that on a bigger scale, he had told Timemagazine.
Following this, Balbir Singh developed an underground sewerage system model with
the help of the Punjab government. It is a low cost model that collects sewage water
from ponds and treats it in a natural way so it can be used for agriculture and irrigation
purposes.
His work throughout the years has been praised by many in the country and abroad.
Other than working towards the conservation of environment, Balbir Singh has also
established schools and colleges at different places. In February this year, he came up
with a solution to treat solid waste with a machine developed in the Sant Avtar Singh
Yadgari Technical Research Centre under his guidance. The machine can help separate
heavy particles like polythene, glass, and iron from the garbage. It can be cheaply
manufactured and is being tested for further improvements.