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Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
DPCC to revive study on source of pollution in Delhi
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has decided to revive its 'super-site' for real-time source apportionment studies in the Capital — this time in partnership with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune — nearly nine months after it ended the collaboration with IIT-Kanpur. Officials said the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which was approached for guidance, has submitted a pilot study on the tower to the Supreme Court and is awaiting further directions (HT Archive) The decision was taken in DPCC's latest board meeting July 18, which also discussed conducting detailed audits of five-star hotels in the city to assess their groundwater consumption and reuse of treated water. Set up near Rouse Avenue in 2021, the super-site had been managed by IIT-Kanpur under a Delhi government MoU until November 2023. After the collaboration ended, officials said the government chose not to renew the partnership, citing dissatisfaction with the institute's 'methodology'. Since then, the infrastructure — including high-end equipment such as state-of-the-art air analysers, forecasting models and data dashboard and even a mobile van — has remained idle while DPCC searched for a new institutional partner. Delhi has long struggled to accurately pinpoint what is polluting its air and where it's coming from. Source-apportionment studies by IIT Kanpur in 2016 and by the The Energy and Resources Institute in 2018 are outdated, while the Decision Support System (DSS) -- which gives estimated contribution, too relies on an outdated emissions inventory. Despite multiple efforts by different agencies, including a city-specific source apportionment model by IIT-Kanpur and a broader Decision Support System (DSS) by IITM and the Centre's ministry of earth sciences, pollution control measures continue to rely on reactive strategies instead of real-time, localised data. 'The board had earlier directed that CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management) be pursued to develop a well-validated methodology through national-level experts. The board desired that the environment department be kept informed about the progress. It was decided that the running of the super-site and mobile lab be expedited in consultation with all at the earliest,' the DPCC's board minutes dated July 31 stated. The minutes further note that DPCC is now in the process of formally collaborating with IITM Pune to operate the supersite and restart source apportionment studies. To be sure, IITM is already a key player in Delhi's pollution forecasting ecosystem. It operates the DSS — which estimates the sources of pollution in NCR on a near-real-time basis — and the Early Warning System (EWS), which predicts AQI levels in the coming days. The meeting also touched on the fate of the 'smog tower' installed at Baba Kharak Singh Marg in 2020, following a Supreme Court directive. Operational through 2021 and 2022, the tower has remained shut since the winter of 2023. Officials said the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which was approached for guidance, has submitted a pilot study on the tower to the Supreme Court and is awaiting further directions. 'It is informed that the CPCB has filed an IIT pilot study report on the smog tower before the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India… and their (SC's) decision is awaited,' the minutes noted. Meanwhile, DPCC will also initiate on-ground verification of how five-star hotels in Delhi are using water — especially whether they have separate pipelines for treated and fresh water. In a February meeting, 40 hotels were asked to submit self-declared water mass balance statements. The data showed that 760 kilolitres per day (KLD) of treated water was being discharged into sewers, while the rest was being used for non-potable purposes like flushing and horticulture. Over half (54%) of their total water demand was being met by fresh groundwater. 'Ground reality needs to be verified by the DPCC. Hotels may not have separate pipelines for flushing, etc., which need to be checked during inspection. A proper report needs to be prepared for the analysis of water consumption. It was decided that a few hotels be audited in detail for the purpose of study (not for regulatory purposes),' the board minutes stated.
Hindustan Times
23-07-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
IITM's WiFEX-II to expand fog prediction to North and Northeast India
PUNE: After a decade of successful operations at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) on Tuesday launched the second phase of the Winter Fog Experiment (WiFEX-II). The expanded project will offer localized, runway-specific fog forecasts to several more airports in North and Northeast India, including the upcoming Noida International Airport at Jewar, Hisar Airport in Haryana, and Guwahati Airport in Assam. IITM's WiFEX-II to expand fog prediction to North and Northeast India The WiFEX initiative was launched in the winter of 2015 by IITM under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), in collaboration with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF). It is among the world's few long-term field experiments focused exclusively on fog—an often unpredictable hazard that frequently disrupts air, rail, and road traffic across the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Over the past ten years, WiFEX scientists have used advanced instruments such as micrometeorology towers, ceilometers, and high-frequency sensors to gather granular data on temperature gradients, humidity, wind speed, turbulence, soil heat, and aerosols. This extensive dataset has enabled the development of a high-resolution (3 km) probabilistic fog forecast model, capable of predicting fog onset, intensity, duration, and dissipation with over 85% accuracy for very dense fog (visibility below 200 meters). 'This has not only improved flight safety but also significantly reduced diversions and delays, saving time and money while minimizing inconvenience to passengers,' said M Ravichandran, Secretary, MoES, who launched WiFEX-II in Pune on Tuesday. Beyond forecasting, WiFEX has also deepened scientific understanding of fog formation, revealing the influence of urban heat islands, land-use changes, pollution levels, and airborne particles on fog density and persistence. 'The findings are already informing air quality policies and improving early warning systems,' said Dr. Sachin Ghude, senior scientist at IITM and project lead for WiFEX. Under WiFEX-II, dedicated sensors will be installed at additional airport sites. These sensors will feed real-time data into forecasting systems, enabling airport authorities to make timely operational decisions during fog episodes. The WiFEX-II launch event was attended by IITM Director Dr. Suryachandra Rao, Dr. Ghude, and other senior scientists. On the same occasion, a new State-of-the-Art Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratory was also inaugurated at IITM by Dr. Ravichandran. BOX: Coming Soon: Pune and Mumbai to Get Decision Support System for air quality The Decision Support System (DSS), developed by IITM as an advanced layer of its Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS), is soon set to be launched in Mumbai and Pune. Currently operational only in Delhi, DSS provides 120-hour air quality forecasts at a 10 km resolution and helps policymakers identify the precise sources of pollution during critical air-quality episodes. 'We are in discussions with the Pune Municipal Corporation and are in the final stage of approvals. We expect Pune to get the system within a year,' said Dr. Sachin Ghude. The system will empower civic authorities with actionable insights, enabling more effective and targeted air pollution control measures.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
PIL challenges state's move on tiger corridors in Vidarbha
Nagpur: A PIL was filed before the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court recently to challenge the Maharashtra State Wildlife Board's (SWLB) April 17 decision to grant permission for non-forest activities in tiger corridors in Vidarbha. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The petition alleges the decision was made without consulting national authorities and based solely on outdated data, potentially endangering tiger habitats not just in Maharashtra but also in adjoining states. A division bench of justices Nitin Sambre and Sachin Deshmukh heard preliminary arguments on Wednesday and issued notices to the State Wildlife Board, principal chief conservator of forests, additional chief secretary (forests), National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), and National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), directing them to file replies within five weeks. Environmentalits Sheetal Kolhe and Udayan Patil, the petitioners, argued that the decision relied only on maps from a 2014 report titled 'Connecting Tiger Populations for Long-Term Conservation' and the Decision Support System (DSS) of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), ignoring newer scientific studies and mandatory guidelines. According to the plea filed through counsel Nikhil Padhye, the SWLB overlooked NTCA's February 7, 2023 directive, which identified six officially recognised data sources to define tiger corridors. The petition notes that these were not consulted during the board's 24th meeting, which finalised the corridor using just one report and DSS inputs. "This arbitrary decision bypasses inputs from both, NTCA and NBWL, whose roles are central to national-level tiger conservation planning," the petition states. It further claims that the board's decision may adversely impact wildlife connectivity across multiple states, including Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Telangana, and Karnataka. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It warns that unilateral demarcation of corridors could disrupt tiger migration, breeding patterns, biodiversity, and long-term ecosystem integrity. Calling the decision a case of overreach, the PIL argues that the SWLB acted outside its jurisdiction by bypassing the NTCA and NBWL. It has sought the quashing of the April 17 resolution and urged the court to direct the state govt to follow NTCA's February 2023 guidelines before finalising any tiger corridor.
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
UP's first integrated urban flood control sys in Gorakhpu soon
Gorakhpur: In a major stride toward urban climate resilience, Gorakhpur is set to become the first city in Uttar Pradesh to implement a fully integrated urban flood control system, blending real-time technology with on-ground execution. According to Municipal Commissioner Gaurav Singh Sogarwal, the project, spearheaded by Urban Flood Management Cell (UFMC) of Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation (GMC), will be officially launched by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in July. Funded by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), this is the second such project in the country after Chennai. However, unlike Chennai's information-focused model, Gorakhpur's system is the first in India to combine real-time monitoring with active execution, said Sogarwal. Significant improvements are already visible—average response time to waterlogging has dropped to under 8 hours, and pump downtime has been reduced by over 60%. Additionally, pre-monsoon drain cleaning has reached over 95% completion across all five city zones. The city's strategy integrates technology, upgraded infrastructure, and citizen participation. A digitally mapped and Google-integrated drainage network now facilitates real-time coordination during rainfall. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Besides, 21 pumping stations have been automated and equipped with power backups. The infrastructure boost also includes new sump wells, mobile pumps, and 330 km of remodeled drains to improve stormwater handling. To ensure targeted intervention, the city has identified 28 waterlogging hotspots and 84 points of interest. A major highlight is the Early Warning System, powered by 103 Automated Water Level Recorders (AWLRs). These feed into a 24x7 Emergency Control Room and a Decision Support System (DSS), which uses a Hydrologic-Hydraulic model to guide timely responses. Residents are also actively involved through a mobile app that allows them to report waterlogging issues. This is integrated with an auto-escalation grievance redressal system. Key performance indicators such as pump uptime and response time are being used to track system efficiency and ensure accountability. With this pioneering model, Gorakhpur is positioning itself as a national leader in flood-resilient urban planning.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
62% cut in PM2.5 needed to meet national standards
New Delhi: Delhi requires another 62% cut in PM2.5 levels to meet the national clean air standards, reveals a new report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) released on Thursday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The air quality trend since 2018, when most of the monitoring stations were set up, shows that the average annual PM2.5 levels (based on 38 stations) show a 10% increase since 2018 overall. However, after the pandemic year of 2020–21, the levels increased, stayed elevated, and the curve turned upward in 2023–24. "The maximum values in 2024 were the highest in the past few years. Delhi requires as much as a 62% reduction in its annual PM2.5 average level to meet the national ambient air quality standard," the report says. Anumita Roychowdhury, CSE's executive director, said: "What is needed here is more aggressive upscaling of mobility strategies, zero-emission vehicle transition, robust waste management, action on unregulated industry and the use of solid fuels in households, and regional airshed level interventions." The report highlighted that though Delhi has a large number of air quality monitoring stations, these are not well distributed to cover the population in all land uses, and there are still some "shadow zones" with low station density. "Currently, the monitoring stations in Delhi are mainly centred in and around the southern and central parts of Delhi. The southwest and northwest peripheries have minimal monitoring stations, leading to gaps in air quality monitoring. The stretch between Mundka, Bawana and Narela should have more monitoring stations as these are the areas that record some of the highest PM2.5 levels," the report said. CSE, which analysed the data of the Decision Support System (DSS), which is the dynamic forecasting of IITM, identified the top concerns among local sources as vehicles, industries in Delhi and its periphery, construction, waste burning and residential fuel. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Post crop burning season, the share of crop fire is less than 1%, the share of NCR and other districts is 64%, and the contribution of local pollution sources in Delhi increases further to 36.54%. At 30%, the contribution of local sources is significant, especially when it is considered that the city needs to reduce PM2.5 levels by 62% from a very high annual level of 105 micrograms per cubic metre," the report said. CSE said that between 2019–20 and 2024–25 financial years, Delhi received Rs 42.69 crore under the NCAP programme of the ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC), out of which Rs 13.94 crore or 32.64% was spent.
