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Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Water credits: A solution to India's urban water crisis
As India continues its rapid urban expansion, one critical issue has emerged as both urgent and inescapable—water scarcity. With over 35% of the country's population now residing in cities, the pressure on freshwater resources is intensifying. The situation is further exacerbated by shifting land use patterns, climate extremes, and ageing infrastructure. Major cities like Bengaluru and Delhi face routine water rationing, Chennai has experienced entire reservoirs running dry during summers, and many Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are urbanising faster than their water systems can support. Water (Photo by DIPTENDU DUTTA / AFP) / TO GO WITH Asia-environment-river-India-climate,SCENE by Abhaya Srivastava (AFP) By 2050, the crisis is expected to deepen significantly. Between one-third to nearly half of the global urban population is projected to face water scarcity—with India likely to be among the most severely affected. In fact, the number of large cities, including 10–20 megacities, exposed to water stress is anticipated to reach 284. Surging demand and deteriorating supply infrastructure threaten not just the sustainability of urbanisation but also public health, social equity, and economic growth. In this context, traditional supply-side interventions—digging deeper wells or transporting water from distant sources—are not only unsustainable but also insufficient. This is precisely where water credits emerge as a transformative, market-driven solution. Much like carbon credits, water credits assign a tangible economic value to every litre of water saved, reused, or replenished. This incentivises a shift from unchecked consumption to conservation. Developers, industries, and even households can earn credits by adopting sustainable practices—such as greywater recycling, rainwater harvesting, or water-efficient plumbing—and trade these credits with entities that exceed their usage thresholds. The system introduces a market mechanism into what has long been a regulatory domain, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem around water conservation. In India's context, this mechanism holds significant promise. For the real estate and urban development sectors, water credits offer the best of both worlds: flexibility and sustainability. Developers can earn credits by integrating water-positive infrastructure into their projects and use these credits for regulatory compliance. Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) can set thresholds for per square metre water use in new constructions and allow excess usage to be offset through the purchase of water credits. This not only ensures compliance but also promotes innovation and avoids bottlenecks in development permissions. Moreover, water credits align well with recent policy frameworks. India's Green Credit Programme, launched in June 2023, and specifically lists water conservation among the activities qualifying for green credits, paving the way for broader adoption. Further, the Power Tariff Policy of 2016 mandates power plants to use treated sewage water (STP water) within a 50-kilometre radius an existing regulation that could be synergised with Water Credits to monetise such compliance and incentivise industries to invest in water reuse. Similarly, companies implementing Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) technologies critical in curbing industrial wastewater discharge could be offered easier access to loans and green financing if linked to credit-generating frameworks, thereby mainstreaming water accountability in industrial growth. On the global stage, California's Onsite Water Reuse Program serves as a compelling case study. By encouraging buildings to treat and reuse water on-site, the state has successfully integrated market incentives with regulatory frameworks to accelerate investment in decentralised treatment solutions. Water credits could also catalyse an entirely new segment of economic activity. Startups, NGOs, and water-tech innovators focused on groundwater recharge, IoT-enabled monitoring, or decentralised water treatment can now monetise their impact by generating and selling credits. This makes water innovation commercially viable, reducing its dependency on government grants or philanthropic support. It also decentralises water resilience when neighbourhoods begin managing their own water cycles, it reduces reliance on overstressed municipal systems and enhances urban resilience during supply shocks or extreme weather events. A new area of exploration could be green water credits, which integrate environmental co-benefits like improved groundwater recharge, reduced pollution loads, and biodiversity restoration into the water credit framework. This intersection between water conservation and ecosystem services would help enhance the environmental impact of credit-based systems and open up new financing channels via climate and resilience-linked funds. Yet, for all their promise, implementing water credits in India will require robust groundwork. A key challenge lies in standardising what qualifies as a credit and establishing mechanisms for credible measurement, verification, and reporting. Without technical rigour and regulatory oversight, the credibility of the system could erode. Coordination across central, state, and municipal governments will be essential to scale adoption, enforce standards, and promote transparency. Equally critical is stakeholder awareness. Developers, planners, utilities, and citizens must be educated on the value of Water Credits not merely as a compliance tool, but as a long-term investment in urban sustainability. Overall, water credits represent more than just an environmental policy they offer a scalable economic instrument to rebalance demand, reward stewardship, and future-proof India's cities. By embedding water conservation into the very economics of growth, they enable a shift from reactive crisis management to proactive resilience building. If adopted and implemented thoughtfully, Water Credits along with existing initiatives like the Power Tariff Policy, ZLD incentives, and green water credit frameworks could be one of the most important levers in securing a water-secure urban future for India. This article is authored by YR Nagaraja, managing director, Ramky Infrastructure.
Express Tribune
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Express Tribune
Citizens switching to e-bikes offered Rs100k
The Punjab government has launched financial incentives under the Chief Minister's Green Credit Programme for citizens to switch from petrol to electric motorbikes. Eligible individuals can earn up to Rs100,000 by participating in the initiative aimed at reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable transportation. According to the programme head, Rizwana Anjum, the scheme offers a green credit of up to Rs100,000 for those who purchase electric motorcycles and register on the Chief Minister Punjab Green Credit Programme web portal. She shared that the government aims to convert 2,000 petrol motorcycles and 250 other vehicles to electric alternatives during the current fiscal year. This shift is expected to reduce annual carbon emissions by 8,000 tonnes. The broader goal is to cut transport emissions by 20 per cent by 2030, by transitioning 30% of the province's transport fleet to electric vehicles. The official revealed that the programme comprises 35 citizen-driven initiatives through which they could contribute to reducing carbon emissions and earn credits in return. The initiatives include everyday practices that support environmental sustainability. "Under Pakistan's international climate commitments, 30% of the transport sector must transition to electric vehicles by 2030," she said. "To support this, citizens still using petrol motorcycles are being offered incentives to switch to electric bikes and earn rewards." Explaining the process, Rizwana Anjum said citizens who have purchased an electric bike after December 2024 can register on the portal. They are required to submit information including the bike's purchase date, company and model, registration number, chassis number, a copy of the registration book, and photographs of the vehicle. A programme representative will visit the applicant for verification, following which beneficiary will receive an initial payment of Rs50,000. An additional Rs50,000 can be obtained by linking the electric bike with the Green Credit mobile application. Riders who complete 6,000 kilometres travel within six months of registration will be eligible for the second installment. Officials at the Punjab Environment Protection Agency (EPA) clarified that retrofitting old petrol bikes with electric motors or batteries did not qualify for the programme. Only citizens who purchase a new electric motorcycle and register it through the programme are eligible for the financial incentive. Central Asian tour A 15-member group of bikers has set off on a tourism and cultural expedition to Central Asia to strengthen tourist ties among Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The bikers were seen off by Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) Managing Director Dr Nasir Mehmood from Gaddafi Stadium. Group leader Mukarram Tareen said the journey will span 23 days and cover approximately 5,000 kilometres, traversing historic, cultural and natural landmarks across Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. "Our route will take us from Islamabad to Kabul, Kandahar, Samarkand, Bukhara and Tashkent. We plan to stay in these cities and engage with local communities. The core objective of this expedition is to promote peaceful relations, regional friendship and cultural harmony," Tareen stated. A group member, Nazar Saeed Khan, highlighted that the overland route to Central Asian republics has long remained inactive. "We aim to reconnect with bikers' clubs in Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and invite them to visit Pakistan. Such exchanges can boost tourism and provide opportunities to experience each other's cultures firsthand," he added.
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Green fuels, clean tech, and climate finance on agenda as India gathers for ET India Net Zero Forum 2025
New Delhi: With India targeting net zero emissions by 2070, over 50 senior policymakers, public sector heads, global climate experts and industry leaders will gather in Delhi on June 18 to deliberate on the country's transition towards a low-carbon economy at the ET India Net Zero Forum 2025 . The day-long event will be held at Hyatt Regency, bringing together voices from energy, environment, finance, and manufacturing sectors. The event is being organised by ET Energyworld in partnership with SAEL, Pipeline Infrastructure Ltd (PIL), Trualt Bioenergy, GoodEnough Energy, SKF, and others. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav will deliver the keynote address, setting the tone for high-level deliberations on climate policy, energy transition, and clean technology innovation. The forum will also feature top officials such as NABARD Chairman Shaji KV, UN Resident Coordinator Shombi Sharp, and European Union Ambassador to India Hervé Delphin. The event will serve as a platform for government agencies, PSUs, global organisations, financiers and corporates to explore how to accelerate India's green goals while ensuring sustainable economic growth. The conference comes against the backdrop of India's updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs), which include achieving 50 per cent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy sources by 2030. Key sessions will explore sector-specific decarbonisation strategies for industries such as cement, steel, power, transport, and agriculture. With the industry sector accounting for around 30 per cent of India's emissions, the forum will examine how hard-to-abate sectors can transition through cleaner technologies, carbon capture, electrification, and alternative fuels like ethanol and green hydrogen. Public sector heads from Indian Oil, NHPC, ONGC Green, NLC India and SAEL Industries will present their decarbonisation roadmaps, touching upon their green hydrogen, bioenergy, and renewables-based projects. A dedicated panel led by NITI Aayog will review India's progress on its net zero by 2070 goal and the institutional support required to scale up climate investments. The forum will also include a focused dialogue on transforming agricultural residues into renewable energy , highlighting the role of waste-to-energy in tackling air pollution and enhancing farmer incomes. This session will be anchored by SAEL Industries, which has developed India's largest network of biomass power plants. In another session, CMDs of state-run energy firms will outline strategies for transitioning from fossil fuels to a diversified energy mix. The discussions will also cover recent policy initiatives such as the Green Credit Programme, carbon markets, and renewable energy procurement mechanisms that are shaping India's energy future. A strong private sector presence will see participation from sustainability heads and CXOs of Mahindra Group, Apollo Tyres, Fortis Healthcare, Godrej Industries, JK Cement, Nestlé India, and more. These sessions will focus on ESG implementation, energy efficiency, digitalisation for climate action, and aligning business models with climate goals. In the closing session, former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu will offer a long-term perspective on climate diplomacy and the future of sustainable infrastructure development in India. A special address by the Department of Atomic Energy will spotlight the role of nuclear energy in India's clean energy transition. With India's energy needs projected to double by 2040 and the global pressure mounting to align national actions with the Paris Agreement goals, the ET India Net Zero Forum aims to act as a bridge between intent and implementation.
New Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Environmentalists urge MoEFCC to reconsider implementation of Aravalli green wall project
Environmentalists are urging the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to reconsider the implementation of the Aravalli Green Wall Project, warning that the plan poses significant risks to India's oldest mountain range. The statement was made by the 'People for Aravallis' group shortly after Union Minister Bhupender Yadav announced during a national workshop in Rajasthan on 22 May 2025 that the project would enhance green cover and biodiversity in the Aravalli range. Neelam Ahluwalia, a founding member of the non-profit People for Aravallis, expressed concern about the project's implementation through the 'Green Credit Programme' for eco-restoration work in the Aravalli landscape. Additionally, a legal petition is currently pending in the Supreme Court, filed in early March 2025 by People for Aravallis and the Goa-based group 'Rainbow Warriors'. This petition challenges the existing Green Credit Rules (GCR), emphasising that the rules inadequately address the responsibility of the entity seeking green credits. Specifically, the GCR focuses only on the initial planting of trees and does not ensure the long-term survival of those trees. Further, the GCR allows the plantation of 1,100 trees per hectare without any scientific study and permits plantations in fragile ecosystems such as open forests, scrublands, wastelands and catchment areas.
