Down To Earth Magazine

1-15 FEBRUARY, 2024
FORTNIGHTLY ON POLITICS OFFORTNIGHTLY

SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH Subscriber copy, not for resale `80.00
RANDOM +
GROUNDWATER
Haryana’s scheme
SPRAWL In absence of carrying capacity

to dissuade paddy
cultivation
P16
ECONOMY
SBI attempts to debunk
assessments, the unplanned growth of
claims of India’s
Himalayan towns is only making them unequal growth
more vulnerable to disasters P58
SCHOOL OF WATER AND WASTE
AAETI
TRAINING PROGRAMME
RAINWATER HARVESTING AND STORMWATER

MANAGEMENT FOR CLIMATE-RESILIENT RIVER CITIES
ONLINE AND ONSITE
A two-part training programme that teaches you to reinvent water management in cities
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) invites nominations/applications for a two-part training programme, which is a
part of the three-year CSE sub-programme supported by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), aimed at building
capacity of cities in the Ganga basin and making them water-sensitive. It is a part of the ongoing efforts by NMCG for
ensuring convergence of Namami Gange with other national missions such as AMRUT 2.0, Smart Cities and SBM 2.0.
PART A (ONLINE) PART B (ONSITE)

January 29-February 14, 2024 February 21-23, 2024
Open to Indian and foreign participants Open only to Indian participants
Part A of this training programme – which will be Part B of the training programme will be held at the Anil Agarwal Environment
delivered online – will familiarise the participants Training Institute (AAETI) in Nimli. It will offer the participants advanced
with the fundamental concepts concepts and learnings, and will focus on:
and learnings. It will focus on: • Challenges of managing stormwater in cities: Anthropogenic and natural
• Overview of changing rainfall patterns in today’s factors, urban planning and drainage disruption, density of built-up area and
climate-risked world run-off, and rainfall intensity and climate change
• Introduction to urban flooding: Why urban India • Engineering (stormwater drainage systems) and spatial planning challenges
floods • Planning and designing of rainwater harvesting systems using stormwater
• Basics of designing stormwater drains in cities drains: Maintenance and monitoring the system for improved groundwater
• Ways to collect, divert and recharge recharge
groundwater through rainwater harvesting Venue: Anil Agarwal Environment Training Institute (AAETI), Neemli,
structures Rajasthan.
Central/ state/ municipal functionaries (decision makers/ managers and regulators); any other
WHO WILL BENEFIT functionaries dealing with AMRUT, Smart Cities Mission, Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban), Swachh
FROM THE TRAINING Bharat Mission (U), Atal Bhujal Mission and Namami Gange; officials with water utilities; engineers/
architects/planners/researchers/academicians
TRAINING FEES For the rest:

No training fee will be charged Part A Part B
from nominated government Registration Closed Rs 28,000 (single occupancy accommodation);
employees from India. Rs 25,600 (double occupancy accommodation)
Last Date of Registration: 12 February 2024 Please get in touch with the training
Two or more participants coming from the same organ isation can avail a total discount of 20 per cent. coordinator before fixing your travel itineraries.
TRAINING COORDINATOR
Pradeep Kumar Mishra, Programme Officer, Water Programme, CSE
+91-8085443793 /+91-7903143870 | pradeep.mishra@cseindia.org
SUNITA NARAIN \ EDIT
Let's build for green future
W
ORLD OVER, the cement industry is known The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has notified
to be part of the “hard to abate” sectors. It is standards for another category called composite cement
critical for economic growth, but has a high (CC), in which fly ash and slag can substitute limestone
carbon intensity—accounting for 7 per cent of the carbon use by as much as 60 per cent. Why does this matter?
dioxide (CO2) emitted globally. Emissions are intrinsic to Quite simply because the more limestone is reduced
the manufacturing of cement. The raw material for in the manufacture of cement, the less it will pollute. So,
cement is limestone; and to manufacture the product, while OPC with 95 per cent limestone emits 0.84 tonnes
carbon must be removed from limestone. This adds to ce- of CO2 for each tonne of cement produced, it goes down to
ment’s emission intensity. The process, known as less than half in the case of PSC, which substitutes
calcination, requires very high temperatures in the limestone by using waste slag by over 55 per cent.
kiln—up to 1,450oC—which requires fuel to burn. More Currently, PPC, which has lower emissions, dominates
than 50 per cent of the industry’s greenhouse gas with 65 per cent market share, but the country is still
footprint comes from process emissions—the reduction producing OPC—roughly 30 per cent of the total cement.
of limestone and the release of CO2—and the remaining CSE’s decarbonisation roadmap for the cement sector
mainly from combustion in the furnace. So, “greening” recommends that the production of OPC should be
this industry is tough going, but not impossible. controlled; brought down to less than
My colleagues at the Centre for Science and Environ- 10 per cent. And there should be
ment (CSE) have deep dived into the Indian cement targets for increased share of
industry to set a road map for the future. Our analysis blended cement by 2030. It also says
shows much can be done to decarbonise India’s cement fly ash use in PPC should be in-
sector and if done well, the efforts could work to set right creased from the current up to 35
the other sectors. This is not to say that you can manu- per cent to 45 per cent, which in turn
facture cement with no emissions, but you can make it will reduce emission intensity even
as green as possible. as the consumption increases.
According to the Union environment ministry, India’s The second decarbonisation To read this
cement industry contributed 5.63 per cent of the total pathway—to replace fuel for combus- report, scan
this QR code
emissions in 2016 and 5.72 per cent in 2019. This is even tion—has opportunities for waste
as the industry is growing, as it will, with the much management. Currently, the cement
needed and massive investments to build the infrastruc- industry is mainly dependent on
ture needed for economic growth. coal, lignite or pet coke as fuel—re-
India’s cement industry has had a head start over its placing this would bring down the
global counterparts on reducing carbon intensity by emission intensity of the product.
doing two critical things. One, it has substituted to some Many cement companies are today
extent the use of limestone with fly ash—a waste taking municipal solid waste for incineration in the kiln.
product from the burning of coal in thermal power But this is not happening at the scale that is possible.
plants—and two, it has improved its energy efficiency This is also because the quality of waste—mixed plastic
because it could reduce the cost of fuel. These measures, and low-grade materials that cities send—are not
done for long to improve the cost-competitiveness of the cement-grade refuse-derived fuel (RDF). This is where the
industry, signal to what more can be done in the future. opportunity is: to take the garbage and process it so that
This is why consumers of cement count. it makes a fuel that can be used as a substitute for coal.
The carbon intensity of the product is partly in the CSE recommends that the country should define green
type of materials used for its manufacture. We need to and low-carbon cement—that has replaced the use of
understand the types of cement and why this matters to limestone by over 50 per cent and displaced the use of
saving the climate. There are broadly three types of coal by 50 per cent by using RDF or renewable energy. By
cement—Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), which uses doing this, India’s cement industry could halve its CO2
limestone to make cement; Pozzolana Portland Cement emissions even as it doubles its production by 2030. This
(PPC), which uses fly ash to partially replace limestone; green cement should get the advantage of a lowered GST.
and Portland Slag Cement (PSC) in which slag, a waste It's a win-win strategy. But it needs everyone to contrib-
product from steel plants partially, replaces limestone. ute to this “building” of green India. D T E @sunitanar
DOWNTOEARTH.ORG.IN 1-15 FEBRUARY 2024 DOWN TO EARTH 3

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Healthcare professional in Kerala has
44 Factsheet
Exceptional drought in over 600
conserved 200 wild orchid species districts in the decade till 2021
16 Incentive against paddy

Haryana promotes a shift from the
46 Patently absurd
How Mahatma Gandhi, Martin
crop to save groundwater, soil fertility Luther King Jr dealt with copyright
1-15 FEBRUARY, 2024
FORTNIGHTLY ON POLITICS OFFORTNIGHTLY

SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH Subscriber copy, not for resale
+
`80.00
24 Snowless Himalayas
Poor precipitation in Himalayan states
58 Civil Lines
SBI's feeble attempt to debunk
RANDOM GROUNDWATER
due to weak western disturbances

Haryana’s scheme
SPRAWL In absence of carrying capacity

to dissuade paddy
cultivation
P16
ECONOMY
claims of India's unequal growth
SBI attempts to debunk
assessments, the unplanned growth of
claims of India’s
Himalayan towns is only making them unequal growth
more vulnerable to disasters P58
Cover design: Ajit Bajaj
Down To Earth does not endorse the content of advertisements printed in the magazine. All disputes are
subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Delhi/New Delhi only.
Contents
20
Tiger reserves
translocating
herbivores to
augment prey base
for the wild cats
50
There is a
systematic problem
in the way we
measure economic
success or impacts
of agriculture, says
Alexander Müller
54
How artificial
intelligence will
change humans'
relationship with
the art of writing
56
Versatile,
protein-packed
peanuts find
many uses
SCHOOL OF HABITAT
RESIDENTIAL TRAINING PROGRAMME
SAFEGUARDING THE FUTURE

BALANCING CIRCULARITY AND EFFICIENCY IN BUILT ENVIRONMENT
DATES: February 13-16, 2024
COURSE FEES
Institute (AAETI), Tijara, Rajasthan
VENUE: Anil Agarwal Environment Training ฀28,000 (sponsorships and
LAST DATE TO APPLY: February 6, 2024 discounts available subject to
satisfactory fulfilment of
application form)*
India has committed to a net zero carbon designs, and climate-proofing for the built *Course fee includes tuition fee,
emission target by 2070. The role of the built environment, among others. Future built external expert lecture sessions,
environment in achieving this target cannot be environment will need to ensure that it training materials, boarding and
ignored, as it accounts for around 39 per cent consumes minimal resources while maintaining lodging, and transport from New
of global energy-related carbon emissions. At circularity in material flow. A resilient, energy- Delhi to AAETI and back.
present, the built environment is characterised efficient and resource-efficient built sector could
by low efficiency, high emissions and a non- be a key contributor in achieving India’s national WHO CAN APPLY
circular resource-intensive consumption pattern. goals of reducing the emission intensity of Officials from urban local
According to the Circularity Gap Report 2023, India’s GDP by 45 per cent below 2005 levels by bodies, planners, architects,
only 7.2 per cent of the world economy is 2030, and achieving net zero. academicians, professionals
circular, indicating that more than 90 per cent CSE’s Anil Agarwal Environment Training
from the building industry, and
of materials are either wasted, lost or remain Institute (AAETI) is offering a residential
anyone enthusiastic to learn
unavailable for reuse. Amidst all this, challenges course to provide the participants with holistic
posed by climate change exacerbate the knowledge for designing climate-resilient and
about sustainable built
difficulties and present newer ones. resource-efficient built environments. The course environment.
India -- the world’s fifth largest economy will be conducted at AAETI, a sustainable, state-
-- is rapidly urbanising; emissions are expected of-the-art campus which acts as a learning tool
Sponsorships
to increase seven times in future. To address for building design practices and understanding and discounts
these challenges, it is essential to implement of sustainable building concepts. available
techniques and innovative approaches such TRAINING METHODOLOGY
as greening the construction sector, promoting Classroom lectures, case studies, class exercises,
material circularity, adopting climate-resilient discussions, and field visit. COURSE COORDINATOR
DR NIMISH GUPTA
Deputy Programme Manager,
TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS
Sustainable Habitat Programme,
o Cities and climate change: Policy levers and offsite waste reduction/recycling CSE, 9056225889,
opportunities o Impact assessment and self-declaration nimish.gupta@cseindia.org
o Understanding the drivers of heat gains, responsibilities for the construction sector
COURSE DIRECTOR
reductions, sources and sinks in an urban form o Effective construction management at sites
o Resource prudent designing for circularity for mitigation of dust/air pollution and waste RAJNEESH SAREEN
o Upcoming construction technologies and their management Programme Director, Sustainable
effect on efficiency and circularity o Good practices from Indian cities working on Habitat Programme, CSE,
o Technology and techniques for onsite and C&D waste and dust control rajneesh.sareen@cseindia.org
Engage
components, trap cropping (a cropping
pattern where a subsidiary crop with the
ability to divert and attract the insects
and pests from the main crop is grown),
spraying neem oil to keep pests at bay,
are some of the traditional methods that
were followed from the ancient times but
have lost parlance. Today, we are not
ready to wait to obtain the best results
but want instant results, with the highest
outcome. To eliminate problems caused
by GM crops and their vulnerability to
pests and insects, technology should be
fused with traditional methods of
farming. This alone provides food
security, promising food to every person
on the earth.
VIVEKA VARDHAN NAIDU BHYRIPUDI
VIA EMAIL
Please provide
source
Need to mix traditional This is with reference to the article
“Hunger strikes forest” (1-15 January,
methods and science 2024). On page 45, it is written that

the tiger population in Kerala has
This is with reference to the article “Bt’s Takedown” (1-15 November, 2023). shrunk by 30 per cent between 2018
Progress leads to overdependence on technology. This was the case with and 2023. As per the tiger census, the
high-yielding varieties introduced during the Green Revolution and is true for tiger population in Kerala has increased
genetically modified (GM) crops being introduced at present. While high- from 190 to 213 between 2018 and
yielding varieties are one of the reasons for depletion of underground water 2023. It would be great if you could
levels, GM crops have resulted in damaging crop diversity. clarify if the magazine was relying on
The crops were used to meet the needs of a growing population and to some other source to make the claim
attain food security. GM crops have characteristics like pest resistance, high or if the figure is incorrect.
AQUIB JAMAL
yield and do not necessitate use of insecticides or pesticides, which played a VIA EMAIL
crucial role in attracting farmers to such crops.
P H OTO G R A P H : V I K A S C H O U D H A R Y / C S E
Though these crops helped farmers maintain economic stability, there

was a lack of foresight about their effects. Vast lands were brought under DTE responds
GM crops, reducing the space for other food crops or commercial crops. The figure 30 per cent is not for the entire
Pests and insects, which could not damage the GM crops in the initial days, state, but only for the Wayanad landscape,
slowly gained resistance and capacity to withstand the GM traits. where the number of tigers has reduced
Our predecessors had found solutions to most agrarian problems they from 120 in 2018 to 84 in 2023.This is
faced. And they did pass on these solutions through the generations. But as per the July 2023 estimation by the
sadly, we have failed to appreciate the importance of old-age practices that Kerala forest department. We regret the
help protect crops from insects and pest attacks. Treating seeds with cow error.The information has been corrected
dung and sesame ash for better germination, fumigation using biotic in the online version of the article.

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8 DOWN TO EARTH 1-15 FEBRUARY 2024 DOWNTOEARTH.ORG.IN

Digest
WHAT’S INSIDE
An initiative to conserve wild Farmers protest against Birds in northeastern India

orchids in Western Ghats P10 governments in Europe P11 moving to higher elevations P12
1,000 WORDS VIKAS CHOUDHARY
A flock of egrets scavenge littered plastic bags on a canal near the Ghazipur landfill on the Delhi-Ghaziabad border.
More than a year after the country banned the sale of some single-use plastic items due to their environmental impacts,
they appear to still be available in the capital. According to media reports, the Delhi government is in the process of
conducting a study to understand the benefits and potential barriers in implementing the ban.
FOR MORE PHOTOS, SCAN

Digest/IN FRONT
Rewilding orchids
EVERY WEEKEND, V U Sabu from A healthcare including 16 endangered varieties such
Ambalavayal village in Wayanad district, as Acampe rigida and Bulbophyllum
Kerala, embarks on a journey to the professional from careyanum that are part of the Red List of
Western Ghats, not for leisure but with a the International Union for Conservation of
mission to safeguard wild orchids. Known Kerala has Nature (IUCN). He has also planted 4,000
for their beauty, wild orchids possess a conserved 200 wild commercial orchid plants in three poly
pleasant aroma and hold significant value houses covering 750 sq m.
in medicine and horticulture. orchids from the Protecting wild orchids is challenging
Sabu's passion for these plants as they grow in specific conditions that
blossomed while completing higher
Western Ghats Sabu needed to recreate in his garden.
studies in healthcare management. RAJIT SENGUPTA "Almost 40 per cent of the wild orchids I
"I started reading up on wild orchids have collected grow on trees and need
and realised that they play a crucial protection from harsh sunlight and heavy
role in climate control and biodiversity rain. I mount them on a coconut tree that
maintenance. Their flowers are indicators I call the 'crown tree'. The rest—collected
of ecosystem health and they do not near waterbodies or under rocks—are
thrive in polluted air. I also found that grown in pots," he says. Propagating these
the population of wild orchids in the wild orchids in the garden take eight
hilly terrains of the Western Ghats has months to two years.“Once I replant these
witnessed a decline in the past decades," orchids in the wild, I monitor their growth
says Sabu, who works as a senior manager in the wild for at least six months to
in operations at Dr Moopen's Medical ensure they are healthy,” he says, adding
College Healthcare in Wayanad. that there is a 90 per cent survival rate of
In 2016, he decided to pursue the restored orchids.
conservation as a hobby, venturing into the Talking about the importance of the
forest to collect and protect wild orchids. initiative, Safia Ibrahim, head programme
Despite lacking agricultural expertise, coordinator, Krishi Vigyan Kendra,
he initiated his own approach to collect, Wayanad, says Sabu is regularly invited to
conserve and augment these plants. train farmers who practice floriculture in
His method involves collecting wild the district. "Wayanad is a tourism district,
orchids from tree trunks, water streams, so we promote floriculture. He is our go-to
rocks and fissures, understanding their person for any information on orchids,"
growth requirements, nurturing and says Ibrahim.
propagating them at his home garden, "Over time, I have developed a map
and eventually replanting them near the of wild orchids in the Western Ghats,
mother plant without causing harm. He along with a database of that I share with
meticulously documents the plant's growth. agricultural institutes and researchers," he
Sabu says that he has so far says. Sabu's home has become a haven
successfully replanted around 200 wild for over 5,000 research students and
orchid varieties in the Western Ghats, botanists from over 20 institutions, eager
to study wild orchids.
V U Sabu at his orchid farm
in Ambalavayal village,
Wayanad district
SPOTLIGHT / Digest
AGRICULTURE
Farmers take to streets in Europe

FARMERS BLOCKED the the agenda of Romanian
streets of Berlin, farmers, who blocked
Germany with their roads in early January.
tractors on January 15, In France, farmers held
in protest against the demonstrations against
government's plan to poor earnings on January
scrap tax breaks on the 16, by dumping manure
diesel that they use. The on the roads and setting
demonstration followed hay on fire in two cities.
a week of farmers The latest protests
blocking highways and add to the recent trend
slowing down traffic of farmer unrest across
across the country. the coming year. Farm- abandoned entirely. countries, primarily due
In December, the ers protested against the Farmers in France to impacts of climate and
German government had move, prompting the and Romania too initi- geopolitical crises on agri-
announced the rollback government to water ated protests during the culture (see 'Farmer con-
of the diesel tax break as down the proposal in ear- month. High taxes and cerns gain prominence in
part of its measures to ly January. Now, farmers diesel prices, and low elections', Down To Earth
fill gaps in its budget for demand that the plan be compensation, were on 16-30 November, 2023).
INFLATION CLIMATE
Food prices in urban areas Freezing January for

up by 10.4% in December Northern Hemisphere
PROPELLED BY a 9.5 per cent surge in nationwide food THE NORTH American countries of US and Canada saw
prices, India ended 2023 with retail inflation of temperatures drop drastically in January due to an
5.7 per cent, the highest in four months, says the All Arctic chill, which is a blast of extremely cold air that
India Consumer Price Index for December, released travels far and fast from the Arctic region. In the
by the Union Ministry of Statistics and Program US, the blast brought freezing rain and snow across
Implementation. Pulses (20.73 per cent), vegetables states, with some cities reporting temperatures as
(27.6 per cent), fruits (11.14 per cent) and sugar (7.14 low as -20oC to -51oC, according to space agency NASA.
per cent) saw significant inflation, while cereals and Earlier in December, many US states had reported
spices maintained high rates of 9.9 per cent and 19.7 that this winter season was unusually warm with
per cent, respectively. Though food inflation persisted little to no snowfall for the second year in a row, due
at a higher rate in urban areas (10.42 per cent) than to a strong El Niño event. El Niño is the warm phase
in rural areas (8.97 per cent), there was a reversal in of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) climate
overall inflation. Rural areas saw overall inflation at pattern, characterised by unusual warming of
5.93 per cent and urban areas at 5.46 per cent. Seven surface waters in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean. Also
states recorded overall inflation of over 6 per cent, in January, blasts of cold Arctic air were seen across
surpassing the Reserve Bank of India's threshold. European countries, dropping mercury levels in the
Odisha led with 8.7 per cent, followed by Gujarat (7.1 UK, Germany, Sweden and France. As the sudden,
per cent), Rajasthan (6.95 per cent), Haryana (6.7 per record-breaking temperatures disrupted travel,
cent), Karnataka and Telangana (6.65 per cent) and countries' meteorological institutes predicted
Maharashtra at 6.1 per cent. Apart from food, most freezing rain and heavy snowfall until the end of
items saw lower inflation than in November. the month.

Digest/SNIPPETS
QUERY BITS GLOBAL
Birds moving leaved forest located in

Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctu-
The World Health Organization (WHO) has
certified Cabo Verde (also known as Cape
up in Northeast ary in Arunachal Pradesh. Verde) a malaria-free country, the global
Tropical montane forests can health organisation announced on January
1
What is happening start at about 150-200 m and 12. Cabo Verde is the third country to acquire
to birds in the reach up to 3,500 m in eleva- this status in WHO's African region, joining
Northeast? tion. The density of larger bird Mauritius and Algeria, who were certified in
Bird species in species seemed to be showing 1973 and 2019, respectively.Africa has the
northeastern India have increasing presence in the highest malaria burden and accounted for
started shifting to higher primary forests, while birds roughly 95 per cent of global malaria cases
with smaller sizes colonised and 96 per cent of related deaths in 2021.
elevations due to increasing
logged forests better because of
temperatures owing to
their ability to tolerate higher
deforestation, according to a temperatures. The scientists
new study by researchers from explained that explained that
the Indian Institute of Science. this shift could be due to the
Above-average temperatures lack of resource availability in
in deforested areas and low logged forests.
humidity as against primary
3
(undisturbed) forests hastens What other insights
are provided?
the transition, they say.
The study highlights
2
How do they deter- the need to safeguard
mine this shift? primary forests to The ocean heat content, or the amount of
The researchers mitigate the effects of climate heat stored in the upper 2,000 metres of the
studied birds in change on avian populations global oceans, reached 286 Zetajoules (ZJ)
a montane broad- and avoid mass extinction. in 2023 relative to the 1981-2010 average,
according to a study published in Advances
in Atmospheric Sciences on January 11. This
TRACKER was 15 ZJ more than the preceding year,
which is enough energy to boil 2.3 billion
On all 365 days of 2023, the world recorded temperatures at least 1oC
Olympic-sized swimming pools.This makes
higher than those in the pre-industrial period (1850-1900). In half of the 2023 one of the five hottest years for the
days, the temperature difference was 1.5oC or more. On two days in world’s oceans since 1955, says the
November 2023, the temperature crossed 2°C recent study.
Number of days with temperature increase above pre-industrial level (1850-1900) remained
1 to 1.25ºC 1.25 to 1.5ºC 1.5ºC or more Some 1,000 tourists were trapped for a
365 days week in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous
350 Region amid avalanches in mid January.
Roads to the remote skiing area were blocked
300
off, leaving local residents and visitors
Year-wise number of days
250 stranded, said news reports.Around the same

time, the Davao Region in the Philippines
200 also saw massive landslides and flooding,
affecting 187,000 people.
150
The European Parliament on January 16
100 passed a regulation to phase out fluorinated
gases to near zero by 2030.These gases
50
are refrigerants introduced in the 1990s to
0 replace ozone-depleting compounds, but they
1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 are 140 to 23,500 times more harmful than
carbon dioxide for the climate.The regulation
Source:" Global Climate Highlights 2023",Copernicus Climate Change Service will become a law later this year.

BITS INDIA POLICY FRAMEWORKS
Total horticulture crop production in n The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has amended the
the country for 2022-23 may be 355.25 Ash Utilization Notification to Promote Eco-Friendly Practices to
million tonnes, according to the third advance encourage the use of ash for environmentally sustainable purposes, particularly in the
estimates released by the Union Ministry of production of ash-based products by micro and small enterprises.
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on January
17.The estimates are a 2.32 per cent increase n The Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has announced the
over the final production for 2021-22, Coastal Aquaculture Authority Rules, 2024.These rules have replaced the
suggests the data.Area under horticultural Coastal Aquaculture Authority Rules, 2005.The new rules introduce comprehensive
crops too, saw a marginal rise to 28.34 million guidelines and procedures for regulation of coastal aquaculture units and activities.
hectares in 2022-23 from 28.04 million n The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (for the State of Goa and Union
hectares in 2021-22. Territories) has issued the Draft JERC (Procurement of Renewable
The Jhelum basin in the Kashmir Himalayas Energy) (Fifth Amendment) Regulations, 2024.The proposed draft aims
has over 100 active rock glaciers with moving or to modify the regulations regarding the procurement of renewable energy and the
melting permafrost, says a study by researchers obligations of entities in Goa and other Union Territories.
in India and the UK, published in the journal
Earth and Space Science in early January.
Rock glaciers typically form in mountainous IN COURT
regions with a combination of permafrost, rock
debris, and ice. Melting permafrost makes these NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL SUPREME COURT
areas unstable.These permafrost structures nTaking suo motu cognisance of a n Hearing an appeal by Union
particularly increase the risk of glacial lake news report on dumping of garbage Ministry of Environment, Forest and
outburst floods (GLOFs) and landslides in the in Dardha river, Jahanabad, Bihar, the Climate Change, the Supreme Court
Jhelum basin region, warns the study. National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued told the Central Pollution Control
a notice to the state environment and Board to submit a report on pollution
pollution authorities on the claims. by stone crushing units and whether
they should be mandated to obtain
n In a case on rejuvenation of the environmental clearance.
Yamuna, NGT said that reports filed
by Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh SUPREME COURT
n The High Court of Delhi asked the
were "deficient". Noting that the
reports mentioned untapped drains government whether encroachments
and improper sewage management, have been removed from Asola
the tribunal told the authorities to file Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary and Central
fresh reports by February. Ridge areas. The court was hearing
India's oldest tigress, Rajmata (ST-2) of a case on air pollution, in which it
Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, died at was pointed out that over 700 illegal
n In a case on violation of colonies exist in the areas.
the age of 19. Known for revitalising the
once-barren reserve, Rajmata succumbed environmental norms along pilgrim
to injuries and illness after three months tracks in Uttarakhand, NGT noted
that the state reports did not have n Following reports of fire in a hotel in
of medical care. Born to Machli of Sabarimala due to gas leak, the High
Ranthambore, she played a pivotal role in information on carrying capacities.
The tribunal ordered this assessment Court of Kerala directed authorities to
repopulating Sariska by giving birth to 25 cubs conduct fire audit at hotels and other
after rampant poaching wiped out its big cat to be conducted within two months
from January 5. places in the pilgrimage site.
population.
The Kerala Drug Control Department
launched Operation AMRITH (Antimicrobial So far... NATIONAL SUPREME HIGH
Resistance Intervention For Total Health) in Number of cases on GREEN COURT COURTS
TRIBUNAL
the first week of January to prevent overuse of environment and development
antibiotics. Under this initiative, pharmacies
must keep accurate records of antibiotic sales
and make consumers aware that antibiotics
tracked from January 1 to
January 15, 2024 24 6 6
would not be sold without a prescription. FOR DETAILED VERDICTS, SCAN
Digest/CARTOON
CROSS HAIRS SORIT GUPTO
BIG NUMBER V E R B AT I M
2 million
more workers around the world will
"ENSURING WOMEN HAVE ACCESS TO
INNOVATIONS IN HEALTHCARE IS ONE
seek employment in 2024, as the global OF THE BEST INVESTMENTS THAT
unemployment rate is expected to rise COUNTRIES CAN MAKE"
from 5.1 per cent in 2023 to SHYAM BISHEN
5.2 per cent this year. Head, Centre for Health and Healthcare, World Economic
Forum (WEF). At its 2024 annual meeting in Davos-
Klosters, Switzerland, WEF launched the "Closing the
Source: " World Employment and Social Outlook Trends Women’s Health Gap: A $1 Trillion Opportunity to Improve
2024 report", International Labour Organization Lives and Economies" report that says better healthcare
access for women could improve over 3.9 billion lives
By Snigdha Das, Rajit Sengupta, KM Sheeja, Susan Chacko and Dakshiani Palicha

ADVERTORIAL
GOVERNANCE /GROUNDWATER LEVEL
LEAVE IT FALLOW
J
AGMENDER SINGH has bid paddy covers nearly 80 per cent of
Haryana’s scheme
adieu to paddy cultivation. Birdhana’s farmlands during the
to dissuade farmers Last year, he left over three- kharif season. “But the soil here is
from growing fourths of his 15-hectare (ha) farm such that the irrigation water does
uncultivated, which would have not percolate down. Repeated water-
paddy can not only otherwise been under the crop. “I logging due to paddy cultivation has
arrest groundwater could have earned lakhs of rupees left a white layer of salt on the soil
depletion but also by growing it, but paddy was and reduced its fertility,” says Jag-
destroying the soil. I am hopeful of mender. “If farmers do not stop
prevent soil getting some financial incentive growing paddy, the soil will become
P H OTO G R A P H S: P R A B H AT K U M A R
degradation from the government for leaving my completely infertile,” says Ishwar
land fallow,” he says. Singh Jakhar, technical officer at
RAJU SAJWAN Jagmender is a farmer based in the agriculture department, Jhajjar.
JHAJJAR, KURUKSHETRA Birdhana village of Jhajjar district, What came to the rescue of farm-
AND KARNAL, HARYANA Haryana, and has grown paddy for ers of the village is a state govern-
years, like the rest of the farmers in ment scheme—Mera Pani Meri
his village. A water-intensive crop, Virasat—launched in 2020. Under
the scheme, farmers get R7,000 per
acre (1 acre equals 0.4 ha) for grow-
ing a crop other than paddy in a field
that was previously under paddy. DOMINANT VARIANT
Ironically, the scheme was aimed to A water-guzzling paddy variety has ruled Punjab’s farms for
help farmers facing the problem of three decades despite calls for its discontinuation
falling groundwater levels, which is
quite common in Haryana.
VIVEK MISHRA from Patiala, Sangrur and Barnala
A total of 4,628 of the state’s LIKE HARYANA, Punjab faces a problem of falling groundwater level. Experts say
6,885 villages (67 per cent) have a paddy variety—PUSA-44—is partly to blame for this. The 160-day variety (30
declining groundwater levels; 1,261 days in nursery and 130 days as standing crop) was launched in 1994 by the
villages (18 per cent) have ground- Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Indian Agricultural Research Institute
water in safe levels, while 996 (ICAR-IARI). It became quite popular due to its high yield, and at one point
villages (15 per cent) are seeing a occupied three-fourths of the state’s farmlands, say some estimates. But it has
rise in groundwater levels. This was been a big drain on the state’s water resources.
the find of a survey by Haryana Wa- In 2017, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, declared it non-
ter Resources (Conservation, Regu- recommended and appealed to the Union Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’
Welfare to de-notify it. In 2019, a Union government-led panel, with members
lation and Management) Authority
from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, also partly blamed it for air
(HWRA), which was constituted by
pollution in north India during winters because the variety leaves a huge volume
the state government in 2020 to
of crop residue. Consequently, last year, the Punjab chief minister announced
curb the fall in groundwater levels. that the variety would be banned in the state from 2024.
In 2020, crops recommended However, a Right To Information investigation by Down To Earth (DTE) finds
under the Mera Pani Meri Virasat that the variety has not yet been de-notified, which means that it can still be
scheme included maize, cotton, used by the farmers. The query was filed with the Union Ministry of Agriculture &
pearl millet, pulses, vegetables and Farmers’ Welfare in November 2023, and the response was received from
fruits. In 2021, the scheme was ICAR-IARI’s genetics department on January 9, 2024.
PAU’s data on crop area in Punjab under PUSA-44, accessed by DTE, shows
an overall decline of 26 per cent between 2019-20 and 2023-24. However, in
three of the 12-odd districts in the state’s Malwa region, where the fall in
groundwater level is more severe, PUSA-44’s acreage has increased. These
districts are Firozepur (82 per cent), Barnala (67 per cent) and Patiala (21 per
cent). In Bathinda (-7 per cent) and Sangrur (-16 per cent) districts, the decline in
PUSA-44’s acreage is nominal.
DTE visited Patiala, Sangrur and Barnala to understand why farmers still
prefer PUSA-44. Farmers provided three primary reasons. “PUSA-44 gives a yield
of 4 tonnes per acre (1 acre equals 0.4 hectare), while PR-126 (a 120-day
variety that PAU is promoting and distributing free in Malwa) yields
3-3.5 tonnes,” says Tejpal, a farmer from Kakrala village of Patiala. “The grains
of PUSA-44 are quite sturdy, while that of PR-126 break easily, which reduces its
saleability,” Tejpal cites as the second reason. Third, “it is the 3,500-odd rice
mills in Punjab that decide the variety we sow. Since they want PUSA-44, we sow
it,” says Nazar Singh, a farmer based in Barnala.
It is quite remarkable that PUSA-44 has retained its prime position for three
decades. “ICAR recommends that a variety should be changed in a decade,
because it undergoes genetic degradation. But farmers continue to prefer
PUSA-44 because it has an assured market. The government buys it at minimum
Constant waterlogging from paddy
support price and uses in its public distribution system,” says Prahalad Singh
cultivation has led to accumulation of a layer Tanwar, head of Kisan Vigyan Kendra, Barnala.
of salt on the soil and reduced its fertility, says
Jagmender Singh, a farmer from Haryana’s
Jhajjar district

GOVERNANCE /GROUNDWATER LEVEL
TRACK
CHANGE 2010
Groundwater levels in Haryana
have altered significantly
between 2010 and 2020
Hills
Water level in June 2020
0.0-1.5 m (Severely waterlogged
area: 131.07 sq km)
1.51-3 m (Potential waterlogged
area: 2,297.21 sq km)
3.01-5 m (Buffer zone for waterlogging
area: 4,501.28 sq km)
5.01-10 m (Good groundwater potential
area: 7,357.27 sq km)
10.01-20 m (Potential groundwater
stressed area: 12,839.86 sq km)
20.01-30 m (Moderately groundwater
30.01 m or more (Severely groundwater
Source: Haryana Water Resources (Conservation,
Regulation and Management) Authority
broadened to include more crops— 38,000 ha, of which 23,500 ha have his over 10 ha farm. “I earned much
oilseeds, onion, peanut, castor bean been found eligible, states Economic less than what paddy would have
and soya bean—and was even of- Survey of Haryana 2022-23. fetched, but I need to quit paddy be-
fered if the fields previously under One such farmer awaiting the cause it depletes the groundwater.
paddy were left uncultivated. As per incentive is Satpal Arya of Mehra If the government sets minimum
a Right To Information reply from village in Kurukshetra district. support price for vegetables, more
the state’s agriculture department, Satpal cultivated cauliflower on 0.4 farmers would be incentivised to
2,061 farmers left their fields fallow ha of his 5 ha farm instead of paddy. quit paddy,” he suggests. However,
in 2021 and 2,185 farmers in 2022. “I made a decent earning from the Wazir Singh, deputy director, agri-
As a result, 25,600 ha of paddy vegetable. I have also applied for the culture department, Karnal, says
fields came under other crops in scheme, expecting to receive the inc- that the government does buy crops
2020, and 20,750 ha in 2021, as per entive for avoiding paddy,” he says. grown under the Mera Pani Meri
the state’s economic surveys. The However, Satpal’s reason for Virasat scheme from the farmers at
money distributed under the quitting paddy is quite different minimum support price; else, the
scheme in 2020 and 2021 stood at from Jagmender’s. His village is farmers are paid the difference of
R45 crore and R31 crore respectively. facing a rapidly declining ground- the rate at which they have sold
In the following year, 2022, water—from 29 m to 41 m between and the prevalent market price.
agroforestry crops, such as poplar 2010 and 2020, as per HWRA data. However, Sandeep Singroha,
and eucalyptus, were brought Falling groundwater also made state head (IT cell) of Bhartiya
under the scheme and a target area Surendra Singh Lather of Kachhwa Kisan Union (Chadhuni), is not
of 40,000 ha was set. The govern- village, Kurukshetra, replace happy with the implementation of
ment received claims for nearly paddy with bitter gourd on 2.5 ha of the scheme. “While the government

fields to curb groundwater usage—
one, he has replaced paddy with
2020 water-efficient jowar (sorghum) on
0.4 ha. And, two, he has began culti-
vating DSR on 0.4 ha. Isham Singh of
Karnal also says that he has been
using DSR for the past two years. “I
have not faced any loss in yield or in-
come, and my water use has nearly
halved,” he says. Sadhu Singh of
Kurukshetra says most farmers in
his village, Gudha, have been using
DSR for the past three years and
groundwater depletion has stopped.
As per a 2023 Haryana govern-
ment press release, DSR cultivation
on nearly 30,000 ha saved some
315,000 million litres of water in
2022. The government distributed
R29.16 crore as incentive for this. In
the 2023 budget speech, the chief
minister has set a target to get over
80,000 ha under DSR in 2023-24.
But Virender Singh Lather
advises caution. “Farmers will not
leave paddy because income from
the crop is twice of what they get
has taken steps to conserve water, being uprooted and transplanted from other kharif crops like maize
not much has happened on the into waterlogged fields. The state and bajra. Instead of giving money
ground. Farmers in my village government also gives an incentive to switch to other crops or to leave
replaced paddy with maize three of R4,000 per acre to farmers for the field fallow, the government can
years ago, but sold it at poor rates using DSR. give R7,000 per acre to farmers who
since there was not much demand “Reports from the UN Food and use DSR,” he suggests, adding that
for it,” he says. “Though I have left Agriculture Organization say that DSR also has the capacity to meet
my land fallow last year and have DSR was the traditional way of grow- the state’s water shortage.
applied at appropriate forums, I am ing paddy. The promotion of the As per the Integrated Water
yet to receive the incentive,” com- sapling transplant technique during Resources Action Plan 2023-25,
plains Jagmender. the Green Revolution was a huge published by Haryana in February
drain on natural resources,” says 2023, the state had 30,572,980 mil-
DIRECT SEEDING SOLUTION Virender Singh Lather, former prin- lion litres of water available against
Another method that can be an al- cipal scientist (genetics and cytoge- a demand of 44,599,760 million
ternative to paddy is direct seeded netics) at the Indian Council of litres. This means a shortage of
rice (DSR). In DSR, seeds are distrib- Agricultural Research-Indian Agri- 14,026,780 million litres.
uted in fields like in any other crop. cultural Research Institute, Delhi. “Since DSR gets ready 10 days ear-
On average, DSR requires 40 per “DSR has certainly helped me lier than sapling transplanted rice, it
cent less water than the commonly- reduce water use without losing gives farmers more time to dispose
used sapling transplant system, in income,” says Mahendra Singh of of the residue. This will also be a big
which seedlings are grown in a Pundrak village in Karnal district. help in dealing with crop burning,”
nursery for about a month before He has taken two new steps in his Lather adds. D T E @down2earthindia

WILDLIFE/CONSERVATION
Assisted S
INCE OCTOBER 2023, there has been a flurry
of activity at the Palamu Tiger Reserve in
Jharkhand. The officials have undergone train-
ing from the Madhya Pradesh forest department and a
hunting
customised transport vehicle has been arranged to
bring 300 herbivores from the Bhagwan Birsa Biologi-
cal Park in Ormanjhi village, Ranchi, 192 km away. All
that is awaited is approval from the Central Zoo Au-
thority to bring the 250 spotted deer, 20 black bucks, 10
States are increasingly barking deer, 10 sambar and 10 nilgai, says Kumar
Ashish, deputy director, Palamu Tiger Reserve (South).
translocating herbivores and The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
ungulates to reserves to ensure has already approved this plan, a first for Jharkhand.
Ashish says the herbivores will first be moved to a
adequate prey base for tigers. fenced enclosure at Palamu, so they can acclimatise to
But this strategy may not prove the area and officials can monitor their health. After a
month, they will be released as tiger prey.
sustainable for long The prey base, or the animals that serve as food for
HIMANSHU N predators, for tigers includes spotted deer, gaur, wild
DELHI boar, nilgai and sambar. “In the eight ranges of Pala-
mu, only one has 5,000 deer while the rest have 100-
200 deer each, along with other animals. The reserve
has three tigers. A tiger consumes about 50 chital-sized
animals in a year, and so requires 500-600 deer that
continually reproduce,” Ashish explains. “Prey density,
or the number of available prey per square kilometre,
for tigers should be around 25. Currently, it is four,” he
P H OTO G R A P H : D H A R M E N D R A K H A N DA L
adds. The reserve plans to raise its
tiger numbers to 15-20, necessitat-
Prey distribution drive
ing 25,000 deer. Herbivores and ungulates are increasingly being translocated from
zoological and national parks to boost prey base in tiger reserves
INADEQUATE NUMBERS
STATE WILDLIFE ANIMALS ANIMALS DISTANCE
Translocation of prey may be
SANCUTARY/ RECEIVED FROM RECEIVED TRAVELLED
planned in Jharkhand for the first RESERVE
time, but states like Madhya
Eturnagaram Kakatiya 111 km
Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra
Wildlife Zoological Park
and Telangana have been reporting (in 2023)
Sanctuary
such exercises over the last decade.
“It has increased in recent years,” Amrabad Tiger Nehru Zoological 153 km
says Hemant Singh, Assistant In- Reserve Park (in 2023)
Spotted deer,
spector General of Forests at NTCA. Telangana Kawal Tiger Mahavir Harina sambar,
Forest officials say that the reason Reserve, Vanasthali peafowl
for this is shortage of food for tigers Kinnerasani National Park*
and other predators. The prey base Wildlife (in 2023)
is depleted due to habitat destruc- Sanctuary,
tion, poaching and hunting for Pakhal Wildlife
Sanctuary*
bushmeat and encroachment.
As per the “Status of Tigers— Sagareshwar 92 km
co-predators and prey in India, Wildlife Sanctuary
Sahyadri Tiger (in 2019)
2022” report by NTCA, India has Sambar,
Maharashtra Reserve
3,682 tigers in 53 reserves across Rajiv Gandhi spotted deer 146.8 km
18 states, an increase from 2,967 Zoological Park
tigers in 2018. While numbers for (in 2019)
prey in 2022 are not available, ear- Sanjay-Dubri Bandhavgarh
lier estimates suggest disparities National Park National Park,
across reserves. As of 2018, Ranth- and Tiger Pench Tiger
ambore, Rajasthan had 55 tigers.
Reserve, Reserve*
Nauradehi (in 2020)
Individual density (occurrence of Wildlife
individual species) of chital was Madhya Sanctuary, Spotted deer,
21.62 per sq km and sambar was Pradesh Satpura Tiger barasingha
13.95 per sq km. The state’s Reserve*
Mukundara Tiger Reserve had no Bandhavgarh Kanha National 215 km
chital density, but individual densi- National Park Park (in 2023)
ty of nilgai was 3.59 per sq km and Satpura Tiger Kanha National 245 km
chinkara was 2.05 per sq km. Reserve Park (in 2015)
Ashish explains that on aver-
Sri 503 km
age, a male tiger needs a territorial Chamarajendra
area of 30 sq km and a female needs Kali Tiger Sambar,
Karnataka Zoological
10 sq km. However, territories can Reserve chital
Gardens (Mysuru
differ due to geographic location, Zoo) (in 2022)
vegetation and available prey den- Bhagwan Birsa Spotted deer, 192 km
sity. If the prey density is smaller, Biological Park (in black buck,
Palamu Tiger
the tiger will travel farther in Jharkhand# 2024, tentatively) barking deer,
Reserve
search of food. “It may venture into sambar,
human habitations, increasing the nilgai
Note: This list is compiled based on publicly available data and may not be exhaustive. *Some translocations are
possibility of human-tiger conflict,” between multiple locations, hence a definite distance cannot be determined #Jharkhand’s translocation plan is yet
he says. So, human intervention is get final approval Source: Based on reported initiatives and conversations with forest officials

WILDLIFE /CONSERVATION
conservation biologist with Tiger
Watch in Ranthambore, “These
herbivores will face difficulties in
DO CHEETAHS HAVE PREY finding safer zones.” Artificial prey
AVAILABILITY OF prey is not just a concern for wild tigers in India, but also for augmentation is not conservation,
the group of African cheetahs introduced at the Kuno National Park in Madhya but population sustenance and
Pradesh since 2022, to revive populations of the big cat in the country. management, he says.
Cheetahs commonly prey upon ungulates and herbivores such as deer Ravi Chellam, chief executive of
species and hares. The “Action Plan for Introduction of Cheetah in India” report, Metastring Foundation, Bengaluru,
released in January 2022 by the Wildlife Institute of India, the National Tiger and coordinator of Biodiversity Col-
Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Madhya Pradesh forest department, says laborative, says the approach for
that Kuno has an overall potential prey species density of 51.58 individuals augmenting prey base is expensive
per sq km, including a prey density of 38.48 chital per sq km. and flawed. “It is not about feeding
However, on October 27, 2023, the Cheetah Project Steering Committee the tigers with excess prey bred in
constituted by NTCA to review the initiative, revealed that no cheetahs will be captivity. Translocation must be
released in the wild unless the prey base is increased to 35 individuals per sq carefully implemented considering
km and must ideally be 50 individuals per sq km. This highlighted concerns on factors such as how long the animals
the potential scarcity of prey at the national park. Negating such claims, Uttam have been in the park or reserve, sex
Sharma, chief conservator of forests at Kuno, tells Down To Earth that there have
ratio, age group and size,” he says.
been no issues with the prey base at Kuno. A prey base assessment is carried
K Ullas Karanth, director of the
out regularly, he says.
non-profit Wildlife Conservation
Society’s India Programme and a
tiger expert, says protecting habi-
needed to augment prey base. Translocation helps the zoologi- tats from encroachments and deg-
At the Satpura Tiger reserve in cal parks as well. “Herbivores breed radation will allow prey densities to
Madhya Pradesh, the individual in abundance in zoological parks, in increase with time. “We are feeding
density of chital is 4.24 per sq km, the absence of any natural preda- these tigers in a national park
barking deer is 2.49 sq km, sambar tor. Moving these animals in the rather than in a zoo. Such attempts,
is 6.48 per sq km and nilgai is 2.56 wild becomes imperative to avoid along with speeding up natural re-
per sq km, say the 2018 estimates. conflict and inbreeding,” says a for- covery or raising tiger and prey
L Krishnamurthy, field director at est department official from Telan- densities above natural levels are
the reserve, says the low prey base gana, on the condition of anonymity. unscientific and often the cause of
could be due to increasing biotic increase in human wildlife-conflict.
pressures like grazing, collection of UNNATURAL MOVE They can also have deleterious im-
fuel, small timber, minor forest pro- Though prey translocation has pact on other forms of biodiversity.
duce, drawdown agriculture in the proven useful, experts say it is There is no research to support the
backwaters and fishing. counterproductive to scientific con- need for such actions,” he says.
Apart from the basic objective of servation. Y V Jhala, former dean “About 75 per cent of potential
feeding the big cats, prey augmenta- at the Wildlife Institute of India, tiger habitats—for example, all of
tion also helps conserve biodiversity. Dehradun, says, “With the boma Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattis-
“Satpura has good population den- technique adopted from South Af- garh—do not have tiger populations
sity of gaur, sambar, nilgai and wild rica, which has no tranquilisation, at reasonable natural density,” he
pigs, but less chital. Having animals there is less mortality. This has led adds. As per the 2022 NTCA report,
of different species helps maintain to a more than 90 per cent success 11 reserves recorded one or no tiger.
the food chain and encourages habi- rate in translocation.” However, he “On the other hand, reserves such
tat conservation,” he says, adding, highlights that herbivores and un- as Bandipur, Nagarhole and Tadoba
“Hence, sometimes animals are gulates translocated from parks have high tiger density. Artificially
moved from high-density areas to have never lived in the wild and adding prey could lead to conflicts
low-density regions to maintain their anti-predatory responses are between tigers,” he says. D T E
prey base and population density.” weak. Adds Dharmendra Khandal, @down2earthindia

CLIMATE CHANGE /HIMALAYAS
WHERE IS THE SNOW

The dry winter in the VERY DECEMBER, Zaman This winter has been dry for the
E
Himalayan states
also spells disaster
Bhat, an information technol-
ogy (IT) professional travels
from Bengaluru to Gulmarg in
entire Indian Himalayan region.
Apart from the lack of snow, it has
also seen little to no rainfall, as per
Jammu and Kashmir. An ace snow- the India Meteorological Depart-
for the region’s boarder, Bhat makes this journey ment (IMD). “Western Himalayan
ecology and crop with his friends to practise his Region has received very less pre-
skills. However, when the group ar- cipitation (rain/snow) during the
production
rived in Srinagar on December 27, month of December which is rough-
2023, there was no snow. Gulmarg, ly about -80% departure from nor-
RAJA MUZAFFAR nestled 2,650 m above sea level, was mal over the region,” says a
BHAT IN SRINAGAR, also unusually dry. “For the first January 18 note by IMD scientists
time, I saw Gulmarg without snow Krishna Mishra, Naresh Kumar
ROHIT PRASHAR IN
in mid-January. The landscape and RK Jenamani. “Similarly, in
SHIMLA AND looks dull and frightening,” he the month of January till 17th Janu-
PULAHA ROY IN DELHI told Down To Earth, as he left for ary there is almost no precipitation
Kazakhstan to snowboard. over the region,” it adds.
January 11, 2024
CHINA
Gangotri
Badrinath
Kedarnath
Joshimath
UTTARAKHAND
M A P S: P U L A H A R OY V/ C S E
Losing cover Munsyari

Weak western disturbances may
have reduced snow and rainfall
in the Indian Himalayan region

“Preliminary assessments indi- January. But this winter, only one as against 296 incidents in the
cate that broader meteorological event was recorded in each month, same period of the previous year.
patterns linked to global-scale and the impact was mainly con- The lack of rain and snow has
climate phenomena may be respon- fined to Gujarat, northern Maha- reduced the water levels of rivers
sible for this dry spell,” says rashtra, eastern Rajasthan and that originate in or flow through
Arun Bhakta Shrestha, regional Madhya Pradesh, it says. Himachal Pradesh to the plains be-
programme manager, river basins “The implications of a dry win- low, shows data from the Central
and cryosphere programme, Inter- ter are substantial, particularly for Water Commission. Reservoirs in
national Centre for Integrated highland agriculture, water re- Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and
Mountain Development (ICIMOD), an sources, ecosystems, and the liveli- Rajasthan had reached half of their
international research organisa- hoods of mountain communities,” capacity as of January 18.
tion that caters to the eight Hindu says Shrestha. For instance, the This also risks horticultural
Kush Himalayan countries. dry forests see an increase in wild- production. S P Bhardwaj, former
Weakening of western distur- fires in Himachal Pradesh, Uttara- joint director at Dr Y S Parmar
bances, or extratropical storms khand and Jammu and Kashmir, University of Horticulture and For-
that travel from the Mediterrane- among other states, says the Forest estry in Nauni, Solan, says “Apple
an region to bring precipitation to Survey of India (FSI). According to production will suffer greatly as a
India, may be the reason for the data with its dashboard, the Forest result of the prolonged drought and
lack of snow and rain. The IMD note Fire Alerts System 3.0, Himachal lack of snow. The dry spell has also
says that typically, five-seven west- Pradesh alone recorded 2,050 inci- caused problems for horticultural
ern disturbances impact North- dents of forest fires between Octo- farmers who were planning to plant
west India from December to ber 16, 2023 and January 16, 2024, new orchards.” D T E @down2earthindia
January 6, 2023
CHINA
Gangotri
Badrinath
Kedarnath
Joshimath
UTTARAKHAND
Munsyari
Source: Copernicus Sentinel 2 satellite

All landscapes have a
threshold capacity to sustain
populations and buildings,
beyond which they lose their
character or degrade. This is
especially true of the fragile
Himalayan region, whose
geological and ecological
restrains make it prone to
disasters. As the Himalayan
towns continue to grow
haphazardly without
development plans
and carrying capacity
assessment, how does one
secure their future?
A report by VIVEK MISHRA,
RAJU SAJWAN,
ZUMBISH, JAYANTA
BASU AND RAJA
MUZAFFAR BHAT
CLEAR AND
PRESENT
DANGER
Joshimath in
Uttarakhand reported
large-scale subsidence
in 2023, putting homes
and infrastructure at risk.
Rampant development
in and around the region,
known to be ecologically
fragile, has often been
criticised for adding to
the fragility of the terrain
COVER STORY /TOWN PLANNING
T
HE SUPREME Court on January controversy since it was published for public
11, 2024, gave approval to comments in February 2022. In April that
Shimla’s first development plan year, Yogendra Mohan Sengupta, a
in over four decades. Prepared by septuagenarian environmental activist from
the Town and Country Planning Shimla, moved the National Green Tribunal
Department of Himachal Pra- (NGT), saying that the “plan is contrary to the
desh, the Shimla Development Plan 2041 sustainable development principle and
lays out blueprint for sustainable growth of destructive of environment and public
the Himalayan city and its fringes, also safety”. The NGT termed the plan “illegal”,
known as Shimla Planning Area, over the and ordered a stay on its implementation.
next two decades. The plan has been The Town and Country Planning
prepared based on the city’s potential of Department moved the apex court against
tourist destination and its capacity to the stay order of NGT. In its January 11
accommodate future residents and floating verdict the court has quashed the NGT orders
populations. The document estimates that More than
and stated that the Shimla Development
by 2041, Shimla will be home to 498,000 800 houses Plan 2041 appears to have “sufficient
in Joshimath,
people and host another 127,000 floating Uttarakhand safeguards to balance the need for
population, mostly tourists—this is a 60 per have developed development while taking care of and
cracks due to
cent jump from the total population staying subsidence. addressing the environmental and ecological
and visiting the city in 2021. Several families concerns”. Reacting to the verdict, Sengupta
were relocated,
Analysts say the development plan is impacting lives says, “Shimla is already facing destruction.
and livelihoods
flawed. The document has been mired in So this decision of the Supreme Court will
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Above national average create even more trouble for the city.”
At the heart of this controversy is the
Most of the major cities in India’s Himalayan increasing vulnerability of Shimla to
states have seen their population rise at a hazards and disasters. Just last year, three
higher clip than the national rate; many lack days of incessant rain during August 14-17,
a master plan to chart their development resulted in flash floods and the collapse of a
temple, reportedly claiming more than 20
lives. Nine buildings and a section of the
Population change (in %) since the preceding census Kalka-Shimla railway track also collapsed.
INDIA Draft master plan A landslide led to the destruction of buildings
in Krishnanagar area and left two dead. In
ITANAGAR (ARUNACHAL PRADESH) Yes
2022, the region recorded 15 major landslides
160
NA and the year before, an eight-storey building
158.27 111.68
120 collapsed after heavy rains triggered a
69.86 landslide. Local residents say landslides are
80
on a constant rise in recent years. Because of
40 24.66 23.87 21.54 17.70 acute shortage in water supply and
insufficient sewerage infrastructure, Shimla
0 reported jaundice outbreaks almost every
1981 1991 2001 2011
year between 2007 and 2016; in 2016 alone,
DIBRUGARH (ASSAM) No more than 9,000 people tested positive for
32 the disease and over 30 succumbed to it.
Experts say these disasters are glaring
24
consequences of a city that is at a high risk
16 of earthquake and landslides and has grown
9.54 12.08
haphazardly in the absence of a master plan
8 or comprehensive development guidelines.
NA NA Until now, Shimla has largely been guided
0
1981 1991 2001 2011 by an interim plan, notified in 1979. Though
the interim plan was to end in 2001, its
SHIMLA (HIMACHAL PRADESH) Yes* provisions were in force with amendments
64 from time to time until the apex court gave
51.17
the go-ahead to the new plan.
48
27.36 31.37
32 18.39 SYSTEMATIC DILUTION
In 2014, Sengupta approached the NGT
16 against non-forest activities and land-use
0 changes in forested or green belt areas. The
1981 1991 2001 2011 NGT restrained construction activities in the
areas and in 2015, set up an Expert
AGARTALA (TRIPURA) No Committee to submit a comprehensive
60 report on the matter. The findings of the
50.03 48.43 Expert Committee were alarming. “This
45 35.89
31.84 city...has been surviving on the crutches of
30 Interim Development Plan since 1979.
Authorities and all successive governments
15 found an easy way to play with bylaws by
0 resorting to an easier Interim Development
1981 1991 2001 2011 Plan route where an amendment can be
NA: Data not available *Shimla Development Plan 2041approved by made without calling for any objections/
Supreme Court in January 2024

Counting tourists
suggestions of general public whereas on the There’s an acute need to estimate carrying
contrary, development plan requires a full- capacities of each tourist destination
fledged public hearing before proposing any RAVINDER JANGRA
change,” states the NGT in its 2017 order. As
many as 18 amendments have been made to THE UN World Tourism Organization defines tourism carrying
the interim development plan between 1979 capacity as “the maximum number of people that may visit a
and 2016, which shows adhocism, anarchy tourist destination at the same time, without destroying the
and arbitrariness in functioning and physical, economic, socio cultural environment and an
decision making, it adds. unacceptable decrease in the quality of visitors satisfaction”.
NGT’s 2017 order further states that Studies show there are five major components of carrying
amendments were made to dilute regulatory capacity: First, physical carrying capacity is the maximum
regime and building bye-laws with respect number of people at any destination. Second, social carrying
to height, number of storeys and maximum capacity is the perceptual, psychological or behavioral capacity
floor-area ratio (FAR). Frequent changes in of a place. Third, infrastructure carrying capacity describes
facility capacity as those human-made improvements intended
by-laws have affected the safety of buildings
to handle visitors or people’s needs, including parking lots,
adversely in Shimla. Through the
restrooms and administrative personnel. Fourth, environmental
amendments the authorities have also
carrying capacity is the number of people who can undertake
allowed constructions in the 17 locations
activities on a site without causing degradation of the natural
identified as forest areas or green belts,
environment. Last, economic carrying capacity relates to the
which is in direct conflict with the National
level of acceptable changes within the local economy of a
Forest Policy, 1988. NGT’s 2017 order thus tourist destination.
prohibited new construction of any kind in In the region of Asia and the Pacific, India accounted for
any part of the core and green or forest area 28.23 per cent of total tourist arrivals in 2021. Mountains have
of the Shimla Planning Area. the most significant tourism development potential. Though
The order further states that the hills tourism is a vehicle for sustainable poverty reduction,
having gradient of more than 40o and having unplanned exploitation of resources is destroying the basic
plantation on it were cut into flat land. Then functionalities of the ecosystem, risking loss of the destination’s
the plans for construction were submitted, recovery capacities. All these issues are associated with the
additional floor were constructed and in “magic number” of tourists that visit certain destinations. This
some cases excess construction was also approach is essential to regulate and manage tourism. A few
raised for such areas without submission of years ago, the Archaeological Survey of India began restricting
an application for sanction of plans. “From a the number of tourists visiting the Taj Mahal to 40,000 daily.
disaster risk management perspective, Mass tourism affects the natural cycles of destinations and
Shimla has far exceeded its carrying can worsen the impacts of climate change, such as the melting
capacity,” said the NGT, while recommending of glaciers. To address this issue, estimate the specific tourism
a slew of measures for sustainable carrying capacity for each destination that has the potential to
development of the town. It also directed the emerge as a tourist hub.
state government to finalise the development (Ravinder Jangra is assistant professor at Kurukshetra
University, Haryana)
plan within three months.
MASTER PLAN TO CONGEST

The Himachal Pradesh government was
ready with the Shimla Development Plan SHIMLA IS ALREADY FACING
2041 by February 2022. However, the plan DESTRUCTION. SO THIS
was not in accordance with the NGT recom-
DECISION OF THE SUPREME
mendations for which the tribunal declared
the development plan “illegal”.
COURT TWILL CREATE EVEN MORE
For instance, the development plan TROUBLE FOR THE CITY
permits two storeys with attic in the core YOGENDRA MOHAN SENGUPTA
area of the Shimla Planning Area and three Environmental activist

COVER STORY /TOWN PLANNING 1 2
Leh, Kullu,
Ladakh Himachal Pradesh
Leh has seen flash floods The 2023 incessant monsoon
nearly every year since 2017 due rainfall also had major impacts
to incessant rainfall. In 2017, on Kullu, which saw 2,600
heavy rainfall and landslides landslides, 12 cloudburst and
created an artificial lake, 20 flash floods by July
leading to more
1 3
flooding
Shimla,
Himachal Pradesh
During the 2021 and 2022
monsoon season, Shimla saw 26
and 18 landslides, respectively.
2 Incessant rainfall in 2023 led
to nearly 2,000 landslides,
killing at least 20 4
people
3 Dehradun,
Uttarakhand
In August 2021, heavy rainfall
4 6 caused the collapse of the
Dehradun-Rishikesh bridge near
Rani Pokhari village. In 2023,
5 landslides flattened Jakhan
village 50 km from
Dehradun
CLIFFHANGER
A landslide map of India’s 13 Himalayan states,
UTs prepared by Down To Earth shows that many
tourist destinations lie in very high susceptibility
zones.The map overlays factors such as rainfall,
deforestation, presence of roads, strength of
bedrock and soils, and tectonic faults, with the
building density in the region. It shows that 201
all regions across the Himalayas are prone LANDSLIDE
LANDSLIDE
to high and severe landslides. Kullu, Shimla, NUMBERS
NUMBERS
IN 156
Chamoli, Gangtok and Darjeeling have very high IN 13
13
susceptibility to landslides. HIMALAYAN
HIMALAYAN
STATES,
STATES, 122
UNION
UNION
Landslide susceptibility due to extreme rainfall TERRITORIES
TERRITORIES
Very low Low Moderate High Very high
64
Building density 52
(each black dot is a building structure)
41 39
Seismic zone 4 Seismic zone 5
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
8
6
5
Dibrugarh,
Chamoli, Assam
Nainital,
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand From May to October 2020, a
In 2021, over 200 people died massive 73,259 people were
In October 2021, Nainital or went missing in Chamoli impacted by floods in Dibrugarh.
received its all-time highest villages as a rock and ice The disaster also hit Dibrugarh
rainfall, which caused a avalanche caused floods from April to October 2022,
major flash flood in the rivers Rishiganga, affecting 26,450
7 Dhauliganga and 9 people
Alaknanda
Tawang, Kohima,
Arunachal Pradesh Nagaland
In July 2018, major roads
In April 2021, a 6.4-magnitude
were cut-off by massive
quake and aftershocks destroyed
landslides. National Highway 29,
22 houses and partially dam-
which connects to Manipur, was
aged 15 others. In 2023, land-
cut off, putting the survival of
slides cut off road access
the two states at stake
and communication 11
10 lines 12
Aizawl,
Ukhrul, Mizoram Darjeeling,
Manipur Between 2015 and 2019, some
West Bengal
In September 2022 residents of 29 families in Hunthar, Aizawl Darjeeling is highly prone to
this region reported, for the first were evacuated due to recurrent landslides, recording multiple
time, a flash flood in the wee landslides. In 2023, too, heavy events every year during the
hours of the day due to inces- rains and landslides led to monsoon season. The disas-
sant rainfall that destroyed eight deaths ters cut off road access
large areas of paddy and communication
fields lines
8
7
12
185
9
178
10
Source:“A heuristic
approach to global
landslide susceptibility
96 mapping”, Natural
hazards, February
11 2017; Google Open
Buildings; NASA
65 Landslide Reporter;
reports from state
disaster management
authorities, government
departments and media
2014
2015
2016
2017
storeys with attic in non-core areas. In the The 2023

population density will not exceed the
green belts lying between constructed areas, southwest carrying capacity of Shimla”.
monsoon
single storey with attic is permissible. brought Singh identifies another gap in the
NGT’s 2017 order banned new construction record rainfall development plan. “In a warming world,
in Himachal
in the green or forest areas as well as in the Pradesh. cities need climate resilient master plans.
core areas. In non-core areas, it allowed only According to the They need to integrate adaptive and
state disaster
two storeys with attic, with the exception of management mitigative measures in their development
public utility buildings like hospitals and authority, the vision. The plan falls short on this, she adds.
loss of human
schools. The order was overturned by the lives, property, Shimla’s former deputy mayor and
agriculture and
Supreme Court’s January 11 judgement. infrastructure
member of Kerala Urban Commission
Mitashi Singh, programme manager, adds up to more Tikender Singh Panwar says the
than R9,900 crore
sustainable habitat team at the Centre for development plan is not suitable for the hill
Science and Environment, Delhi, highlights town. “The very premise of the plan is
that the new floor-area ratio (FAR) guideline flawed. It categorises Shimla into core, non-
in the Shimla Development Plan 2041, has a core, green and sinking areas. Whereas,
higher base FAR, which will lead to more being a mountainous region, the zonation
construction in the already congested areas. should be made from the perspective of
FAR is the most important component of geology.” Shimla is a cone-shaped
building by-laws, because it directly topography. In the southeast part, the rocks
determines the dwelling density, household tend to be stronger and therefore, most
density as well as population density in a British bungalows were constructed in the
city. Currently the FAR in core and non-core southeast part of Shimla. Given the fragility
area of Shimla is 1.5 and 1.75. But the of the region, the authorities should have
development plan aims to keep the base FAR created just construction and no-
at 1.75, saying that even at this rate “the construction zones, Panwar says.

Advertisement
2024, only eight cities have their draft
WHAT AILS master plans ready under the Union

government’s Atal Mission for Rejuvenation
and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme.
THE HILLS
Himalaya’s towns urgently need
These include Kargil and Leh in Ladakh,
Kullu (Himachal Pradesh), Shillong
(Meghalaya), Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh),
Kohima and Dimapur (Nagaland), Imphal
carrying capacity-based (Manipur) and Aizawl in Mizoram.
In Nanital, for instance, development
development plans works are still being guided by a master
plan that was to end in 2011. This hill
S
HIMLA SHOWS how in the absence of station, set around Naini lake at an elevation
comprehensive development plans, of roughly 2,000 m, got its first district-level
Himalayan towns are crumbling development authority only in 2017. This is
under their own weight or wallowing in despite the fact that Nanital’s geology makes
their waste. it one of the most landslide-prone areas in
A Down To Earth analysis of data with Uttarakhand.
the Town and Country Planning So, panic gripped the residents of
Organisation (TCPO), under the Union There has been Chartan lodge area on September 23, 2023,
large-scale
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, construction when a two-storey building collapsed due to
near the Naini
shows that none of the tier 1 cities (with a lake, the only
a landslide. Although no casualties were
population of over 0.1 million as per the source of water reported, the administration evacuated a
for Naintal in
Census 2001) or metro cities (with a Uttarakhand.
dozen adjacent buildings and declared them
population of more than 1 million) in the 13 Over the past few unsafe. The lodge area is located on the
years,the lake
Himalayan states have master plans to has been steep slope of Alma Hill, a part of the Sher
regulate development. As on January 22, drying up Ka Danda Ridge that overlooks the Naini

lake and is prone to landslides. SRINAGAR (JAMMU AND KASHMIR) No
The first massive landslide on the hill 48
42.84
was reported in 1880, during the colonial
rule. The British had then banned 36
27.93
construction on the hill and created a 79-km 24
drainage system, a network of canals and
nullahs built across the town, for safe 12
NA NA
disposal of precipitation and thereby reduce
0
the risk of landslides. “Over the years, more 1981 1991 2001 2011
than 10,000 houses have mushroomed
across the hill. Houses have also been built LEH (LADAKH) Yes
over the drainage system,” says Vishal 60
57.96
Singh, research coordinator at the Centre
45
for Ecology Development And Research
(CEDAR), a non-profit in Dehradun. 30
In 2016, P C Tiwari, geography professor
at Kumaun University, Nainital, conducted 15
NA NA 7.79
a study and found that between 2005 and 0
2015, the built-up area has increased by 1981 1991 2001 2011
about 50 per cent in places where
construction is banned, while the increase
IMPHAL (MANIPUR) Yes
was only 34 per cent in other parts of the 80
town. To provide facilities to millions of 78.54
tourists who come here every year, there is a 60
continuous increase in construction, which 41.35
40 32.42
is proving dangerous for the city. A report by 24.85
the Uttarakhand Disaster Mitigation and 20
Management Center states that the built-up
0
area around Naini Lake was 630,000 sq m 1981 1991 2001 2011
in 2005, which increased by about 33.88 per
cent in 2010. Increasing concrete
construction around the lake has affected its SHILLONG (MEGHALAYA) Yes
48
recharge and water quality. In 2017, the
42.32
high court had asked National Environ- 36 32.54
27.85
mental Engineering Research Institute
(NEERI) to study the carrying capacity of 24
Nainital. The project is still going on. 12 19.83
NORMS REMAIN ON PAPER 0

1981 1991 2001 2011
In 2021, severe cyclone Yaas and heavy rain-
fall during the monsoon season caused land-
slides and water logging at 270 sites in Dar- AIZAWL (MIZORAM) Yes
jeeling. Between 2018 and 2020, the hill 160
town in West Bengal recorded 138 disasters, 134.70
120 108.40
including 100 landslides, cyclones and
storms. Earlier in 2015, a series of landslides 80
killed 38 people and injured many more. 47.05
“Darjeeling receives one of the highest 40 28.53
amounts of rainfall in country, while its soil
0
has extremely low water retention ability. 1981 1991 2001 2011

This makes the region conducive for
GANGTOK (SIKKIM) No
210
landslides,” says Tapas Ghatak, geophysicist
176.13 and former expert at Geological Survey of
140 129.43
India and the Calcutta Metropolitan
74.68 Development Authority. In 2000, Ghatak
70
was a member of a state government-
0 appointed expert committee that prepared
-31.90
housing norms to minimise loss and damage
-70 from landslides. But these mostly remained
1981 1991 2001 2011
in files. “Now high-rise buildings can be
DIMAPUR (NAGALAND) Yes seen even on 65o slope, Ghatak says. “High-
200 rise buildings have come up everywhere,
165.69 blocking water streams and increasing the
150 risk of landslides in Darjeeling,” says
100 Animesh Bose of non-profit Himalayan
73.92 71.55 Nature and Adventure Foundation (HNAF),
50 25.22 Siliguri.
“There has been little improvement in
0
1981 1991 2001 2011 the infrastructure since Independence and
the city is almost choking on waste. We
DEHRADUN (UTTARAKHAND) No are trying to create a new Darjeeling by
48 planning and expanding tourism
infrastructure because tourism is our main
36 32.84 33.16
44.07 source of income,” says Anit Thapa, chief
25.61
24 executive of Gorkhaland Territorial
Administration (GTA), a semi-autonomous
12 council for the Darjeeling and Kalimpong
0 districts of West Bengal. Thapa claims that
1981 1991 2001 2011 since coming to power, he has stopped giving
permission for high-rise buildings in the
NAINITAL (UTTARAKHAND) No region.
60
52.50
48.07 46.07 DAMAGED BY FAULTY PLAN
45
34.79 In 2010, the Pahalgam Peoples Welfare Or-
30 ganisation (PPWO) filed a public interest peti-
tion in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court
15 challenging the Pahalgam Master Plan
0 2005-2025. In 2014, the Pahalgam Develop-
1981 1991 2001 2011 ment Authority revised the master plan for
the town in Jammu and Kashmir. The
DARJEELING (WEST BENGAL) No revised master plan admits that the old
48 master plan was faulty on many grounds.
34.36 Apart from basic planning errors, poor im-
36 46.72
26.84 plementation and lack of enforcement, the
21.64 master plan lacked in unbiased vision and
24
sensitivity among Town Planners other-
12 wise required for such a fragile area. One
0 of the major fallacies of the Master Plan-
1981 1991 2001 2011 2025 was the unwarranted land use change
Source:“Towns and urban agglomerations classified by population size class of existing village settlements into “green
in 2011 with variation between 1901 and 2011”, Census of India

Fix sanitation
areas” without even respecting the legal and Most Himalayan towns do not have proper
natural rights of communities. There were sewerage or waste water disposal systems
also inconsistency in the land use proposals SWATI BHATIA
for the development of tourism infrastruc-
ture. “This faulty master plan allowed sev- HIMALAYAN TOWNS attract several thousand visitors. For instance,
eral illegal constructions between 2005 and Bhimtal in Uttarakhand has a floating population of 200,000 people
2014,” says Mushtaq Pahalgami, one of the every year, compared to its resident population of a little less than
petitioners. 15,000, says a 2020 report by the National Institute of Urban Affairs.
Even the Pahalgam Master Plan 2014- Such a large influx does not just destabilise the fragile area but also
2032, is not without problems. Activists say raise pressure on natural resources and public infrastructure such as
it does not cover all the areas of Pahalgam sanitation systems.
valley. It particularly does not cover the An analysis by Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and
western side where more than 300 hotels, Environment (CSE) shows that most hill towns with a high influx of
resorts and guest houses have come up visitors do not have proper sewer systems in place. In Shimla, Himachal
during the last 10 to 15 years alone. The Pradesh, for example, only 68 per cent of the residential population are
waste from these hotels pollutes the Lidder connected to the sewage network, while the rest use septic tanks or
discharge grey water (dirty water from the bathroom and kitchen)
stream and has impacted the surrounding
directly into open drains. In Hamirpur,grey water is dumped in soak pits
forest areas,” says Mushtaq Ahmad Lone, a
and ultimately seeps into the ground. This could increase the soil
Right To Information activist.
moisture and groundwater reserves, but can also make the soil brittle.
Most towns analysed by CSE show loose soil or weak rock types like
ASSESS CARRYING CAPACITY clay, loam or metamorphic schist, phyllites and gneiss.
“Basic aim of hill area development should In Uttarakhand, only 31.7 per cent of the population is connected
be to arrest further damage to the fragile to the sewer system, with the rest using on-site sanitation systems.
ecosystems and to promote development The sewerage system in Joshimath, which has recorded land
without destruction,” writes D S Meshram, subsidence in recent times, only covers 50 per cent of its population,
former chief planner, TCPO, and president of with the rest using septic tanks and soak pits. This means large
the Institute of Town Planners, in the quantities of dirty water could seep into the ground, further
January-March 2017 edition of Journal of weakening the topsoil.
ITPI. This is difficult to achieve if the Lack of proper systems spell other problems. Dirty water from
development happens in an unregulated faulty toilets (black water) seeps into and flows to springs and
manner. Such haphazard sprawl is a cause waterfalls, which are an important source of water in hill regions.
of worry for another reason. Most Himalayan With the increase in urbanisation and mushrooming of hotels, more
towns are unaware of their load-bearing dirty water may flow unabated.
capacity or carrying capacity, and influx of Therefore, Himalayan towns need to take definite steps to improve
tourists and unregulated construction their sewerage and sanitation networks, manage dirty water and
activities make them even more vulnerable build appropriate infrastructure based on the stability of the region.
to disasters. (Swati Bhatia is deputy programme manager, water programme,
In August 2023, frequent landslips Centre for Science and Environment, Delhi)
leading to deaths and destruction made the
Supreme Court to moot a re-evaluation of
the load-carrying capacity of hill towns and
cities. The Centre has proposed forming a
13-member technical committee to evaluate STUDYING THE CARRYING
the “carrying capacity” of 13 Himalayan CAPACITY OF MOUNTAINS IS A
States. While the committee had not been BIG EXERCISE. THERE IS A HUGE
set up till the magazine went to print,
experts and policymakers are already
SHORTAGE OF TRAINED MANPOWER
taking steps to ensure that planning AND ENGINEERS FOR THIS WORK
development or post-disaster rehabilitation ANUP KARANTH
works are commensurate with carrying Senior disaster risk management specialist, World Bank
Sound planning capacity of the region.
Aspects to consider while determining carrying The trend has particularly become
capacity, development of Himalayan towns apparent in the aftermath of land subsidence
RAJNEESH SAREEN AND MITASHI SINGH crisis in Joshimath.
The pilgrim town in Chamoli district of
CONVENTIONAL PLANNING strategies and solutions cannot Uttarakhand has been gradually sinking
adequately address the challenges faced by hill towns in the wake of for several years. However, cracks started
the changing climate. In August 2023, the Supreme Court mooted a appearing in houses in 2021. Between April
re-evaluation of the load-carrying capacity of hill towns and cities, and November 2022, Joshimath sank by
for which the Centre has proposed forming a 13-member technical 8.9 cm and over a large area. Soon wide
committee. Here is a five-point agenda to consider while determining cracks appeared in hundreds of houses,
carrying capacity and development of hilly areas. forcing the local authorities to order
First, there is a need to understand the effect of slope, drainage evacuation. A multi-institutional team,
and cover (high vegetation and forest land) on the stress that an comprising experts from the Central
area can take, based on which authorities must declare zones and
Building Research Institute (CBRI),
sub-zones fit or unfit for construction. Traditionally, people built on
Geological Survey of India (GSI), Wadia
stable terrain and determined land suitability with these parameters.
Institute of Himalayan Geology, National
However, due to limited land availability, more construction occurs
Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI),
on slopes, natural drainage paths and on loose soil. Next, with rise in
Central Ground Water Board, Indian
extreme weather events like floods and landslides, the scale of loss
Institute of Remote Sensing, National
and damage is high in Himalayan states. Projections and simulations
are needed to gauge climate exposure and map vulnerable areas. Institute of Hydrology and Indian Institute
Third, development works like hydropower projects are soaring in of Technology Roorkee, arrived in Joshimath
Himalayan states. These have impacts such as forest fragmentation, to ascertain the causes of subsidence and
change in river course and sediment load, disappearance of suggest remedial measures.
underground springs and biodiversity loss. Development regulations The scientists submitted their
in hilly areas must take these into consideration, by mainstreaming preliminary reports to the National Disaster
risk-likelihood and cumulative impact assessments. Management Authority (NDMA) by January-
Fourth, as the populations of hill towns increase, their capacity end 2023 but they were made public only in
to adapt to climate change shrinks, due to challenges like water September 2023. The NDMA in its Post
scarcity, sewage management, limited livelihoods, reduction in Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA) states:
agricultural yield, inadequate infrastructure and increase in Joshimath exceeded its carrying capacity,
vulnerable population. Their adaptive capacity can be improved by far beyond its capacity, and the area must be
augmenting services and infrastructure, while prioritising solutions declared as a no new construction zone.
with lesser environmental footprint, and by roping in communities. The report by the NGRI, Hyderabad states
Finally, with hilly areas seeing a large influx of floating that “evidence of land submergence has been
populations, there is a need for sound tourism and resource found in Joshimath up to a depth of 20 to 50
management strategies, including for traffic, water and waste. metres.” The surface conditions observed
(Rajneesh Sareen is programme director and Mitashi Singh is there have been found to be up to a depth of
programme manager, sustainable habitat programme, Centre for
50 meters in many places. The main reasons
Science and Environment, Delhi)
for land submergence include the
construction of buildings beyond the ‘load-
bearing capacity’ of the city, lack of drainage,
deforestation, obstruction of paths of natural
BASIC AIM OF HILL AREA water sources, and expansion of buildings.
DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE The Wadia Institute of Himalayan
TO ARREST FURTHER DAMAGE Geology in its report describes the soil
TO THE FRAGILE ECOSYSTEMS structure of Joshimath and says that it is a
D S MESHRAM complex mixture of boulders, gravel, and
Former chief planner, clay, the boulders here also made of gravel
Town and Country Planning Organisation and clay brought from glaciers, which is a

major reason for their slipping. The Badrinath announced to conduct a carrying capacity
The GSI report observed that cracks were highway near assessment of hill towns, where geological
Joshimath in
more prominent in densely populated areas Uttarakhand instability aggravates.
and places with multistorey buildings. “The caved in 2023 as In fact, In July 2018, the NGT directed the
land subsidence
heavy load exerted by a dense construction was reported Union Ministry of Urban Development and
of towering structures over the heterogenous in the town. Union Environment Ministry to initiate
Work has been
colluvium debris mass, which is saturated undertaken to steps to undertake carrying capacity studies
repair the road
with shallow subsurface water, only in all states and Union Territories, which
accentuated the shear stress on the slope, would assess the burden on eco-sensitive
thus increasing subsidence in these areas.” zones in terms of air, water, habitat,
After a detailed safety assessment of biodiversity, land, noise and tourism.
2,364 buildings in Joshimath, the CBRI Compliance from states has been poor so far.
declared 20 per cent of the houses “unusable”, So far, Aizawl is among the few to have
42 per cent requiring “further assessment”, prepared carrying capacity assessment. It
37 per cent “usable” and 1 per cent as “needs has accordingly planned future distribution
to be demolished”. The NGRI report states of population, phasing of development over
that drain water is continuously seeping 10 planning zones and land use in its
into the ground which has increased the development plan 2030.
level of damage due to excessive rainfall Anup Karanth, senior disaster risk
over the past 10 years. management specialist associated with the
Following the Joshimath crisis, the NGT World Bank, tells Down to Earth that
appointed committees to study the carrying studying the carrying capacity of mountains
capacities of Mussoorie and Shimla. In both is a big exercise. Such studies are done at the
the cases, the committees found that the physical level, however, there is a huge
towns have exceeded their carrying capacity. shortage of trained manpower and engineers
In January 2023, Uttarakhand chief for this work who can do this entire study. D T E
minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had also @down2earthindia
AGRICULTURE /INITIATIVE
The fortunes of the 42 families in Odisha’s Rantal village changed after they collectively moved to organic farming in 2018
From invisibility W E WERE forced to

migrate with our families
to work as farm labourers
in Odisha in 1980, after the Bihar
to identity government took over our forests for

mining and developmental projects.
Today, we are a thriving organic
village,” says 70-year-old Dasa
Displaced from Bihar in 1980, a Barla of Rantal village, situated in
P H OTO G R A P H : P R I YA R A N J A N S A H U
group of 42 families from the Munda the buffer area of Jujumura forests
in Odisha’s Sambalpur district.
tribe have collectively established The 42 families in Rantal,
an organic village in Odisha belonging to the Munda tribe of
Jharkhand (carved out of Bihar in
PRIYA RANJAN SAHU 2000), now live in a picturesque
SAMBALPUR, ODISHA setting—greenery all around,
clean roads, well-maintained open

wells, along with four water stead and roughly 2 hectares of at least 20 vermicompost pits to
harvesting structures and two land for farming. produce organic manure and
solar-powered drinking water “While we were traditionally pesticide for their crops and planted
supply systems. growing pulses and vegetables thousands of jackfruit, guava,
Every household has a kitchen without any pesticides for mango, custard apple, pomegranate
garden with fruit trees. The household consumption, we relied and other varieties of fruit trees in
residents practice organic farming, on the state government for paddy the common areas of the village.
goat rearing and poultry. “This seeds that required chemical They have built village roads
was unimaginable four decades fertilisers to grow,” says Pramila and even a hockey stadium that is
ago when we came to Rantal,” says Tappo from the village. lined with mango trees sourced
Rezina Kandulana. She says that In 2018, the residents decided from the horticulture department.
without basic amenities such as to go completely organic. They ap- The village now organises an
drinking water and electricity, proached the transition through annual hockey competition that
surviving in the Jujumura forest in two steps: undertaking training on sees participation from over
the 1980s was not easy. “While organic farming from Patang and 45 neighbouring villages and has
toiling in the fields of farmers in utilising the Mahatma Gandhi become a major income source for
neighbouring villages, we began National Rural Employment Guar- the community.
cultivating millets and vegetables antee Scheme (MGNREGS) to create “The money from the hockey
in small patches of forestland common structures that support tournament, along with the income
during the rainy season, organic farming. “During the generated from community assets
supplementing our sustenance training, we learnt how to prepare like fruit trees, ponds and collective
with minor forest produce,” says
Rezina, recalling that the residents
AFTER PROCURING LAND RIGHTS IN 2016, RANTAL
used to travel over 3 km each day to
collect drinking water.
RESIDENTS TRANSITIONED TO ORGANIC FARMING
The transformation started BY SETTING UP A SEED BANK OF INDIGENOUS PADDY
in 2009, when the residents VARIETIES AND CREATING COMMON WATER
approached the district admin- STRUCTURES UNDER MGNREGS
istration to seek land rights over
nearby agricultural lands. Their organic pesticides using medicinal fishing, is kept in a community
petition initially got lost in the leaves like neem, cow urine and fund. The money is spent on the
administrative maze. “We were dung,” says Tappo. In the same development of the village and also
trying to change our fortunes by year, the residents brought indige- used to provide assistance to any
becoming farmers from farm nous paddy seeds from the nearby family facing health crisis,” says
labourers but needed land rights as Nuapada district and planted them Ajay Dang, a Rantal resident and
the administration would regularly in their fields and formed a seed the naib sarpanch of Meghpal
deem our farms illegal and arrest bank, which now has 25 indigenous gram panchayat.
us,” says James Kandulana, an paddy varieties sourced from dif- Riding on the success, Rantal
elderly resident from the village. ferent parts of the state. The paddy residents have helped other Sam-
In 2012, the residents, along varieties in the bank, say Rantal balpur villages such as Magangba-
with help from Odisha-based non- residents, are water efficient and hal, Jarang and Taljhora to take up
profit Patang, applied for individu- more resilient than the hybrid vari- organic farming. “We encourage
al land rights under the Scheduled eties used in the area. farmers from other villages to
Tribes and Other Traditional Using MGNREGS, the village create their own seed banks
Forest Dwellers (Recognition of created open wells, pooled in labour because they need control over seeds
Forest Rights) Act, 2006, common- to prepare individual croplands to become organic,” says Dang.
ly known as the Forest Rights Act. and built artificial ponds and katas “From being uprooted in 1980,
After a protracted struggle of four (large water structures) where they organic farming has given us a col-
years, in 2016, all the families were practice collective fishing. They lective identity today,” he adds. D T E
awarded rights over their home- have also used the scheme to create @down2earthindia

FACTSHEET /DROUGHT
DRY 1901-1910
SPREAD
Exceptional drought was observed
No states/UTs in which
all districts reported
exceptional drought in
at least one month
in 658 districts across the country

between 2012 and 2021. The
Deccan region and the Northeast
recorded the highest frequency
of exceptional drought during
this period
PULAHA ROY
While the India Meteorological Department monitors drought using

the Standardised Precipitation Index, this analysis utilises the
Standardised Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) to
evaluate drought intensity. SPEI, which looks at all processes by
which water moves from the land surface to the atmosphere, is
particularly well-suited for studying the impact of global warming
on the severity of drought conditions.
A positive SPEI value indicates wetter conditions, whereas a negative
value below -0.5 signifies drought, and a value below -2 represents
exceptional drought, the most severe form of drought. In this
analysis, SPEI data for each month is used to show frequency of
short-term exceptional drought.
Decade-wise number of districts that reported

000 at least one month with exceptional drought
244 378 209 161 262 554

districts districts districts districts districts districts
Number of districts that reported at least one
month with exceptional drought
1901-1910 1911-1920 1921-1930 1931-1940 1941-1950 1951-1960

14 states/UTs in which Number of months with exceptional drought
all districts reported in a decade
exceptional drought in 0 4 10 20 30
Ladakh
at least one month
2012-2021
Arunachal
Pradesh Nagaland
Delhi Uttarakhand Sikkim
Assam
Manipur
Tripura
Meghalaya
Chhattisgarh
Maharashtra
Telangana
Goa
Andhra Pradesh
Karnataka
Source: Chuphal, D. S.,

Kushwaha, A. P., Aadhar, S.,
Kerala & Mishra, V. (2024). Drought
Atlas of India, 1901–2020.
Scientific Data, 11(1), 7.
https://doi.org/10.1038/
s41597-023-02856-y
669 645 693 699 701 660

districts
districts districts districts districts districts (11 years)
1961-1970 1971-1980 1981-1990 1991-2000 2001-2010 2011-2021

PATENTLY ABSURD /LATHA JISHNU
Copyright legacy
of the great
Mahatma Gandhi’s works have been available freely thanks to his
copyright philosophy, but not those of Martin Luther King Jr
J
ANUARY IS a bleak month in Delhi. At embarked on his final fast in Birla House (now
least for some of us. There is the damp, Gandhi Smriti) to end the communal
grey and foggy weather, for one, and for bloodletting in the capital, I was able to quickly
another, the memory of the cold-blooded to find what I wanted on the internet. The talks
assassination of a revered figure that hangs that Gandhi gave at the daily prayer meetings
over the city. It is a memory that still haunts he held at Birla House hold vitally needed
the nation, increasingly faintly, perhaps, as it messages on decency, humanitarian values and
pulses to a new beat. The Republic Day secularism even now. But this column is not
celebrations that overshadow all else in this about the sage advice he gave his violence-prone
month are held not far from where Mahatma countrymen 76 years ago; it is about the ease
Gandhi was shot dead by a right-wing Hindu with which one is able to lay one’s hands on his
fanatic on January 30, 1948, for trying to heal writings and speeches books if only we wanted
the bleeding wounds of a nation torn apart. to understand our freedom struggle, Partition-
That was less than six months after he had related history and ourselves.
brought independence to India. The focus here is on the copyright law and
Searching for Gandhi’s last speeches as he its impact on the works of two great men in
different countries and of different generations:
Gandhi and US civil rights campaigner Martin
Luther King Jr, who fought for the rights of
African Americans. There were strong links
between the two. King was deeply
influenced by Gandhi’s non-violent
struggle against forces of oppression
and hate, calling him the guiding
light of his technique of social change.
Sadly, the other similarity is tragic.
The Black rights leader was also
assassinated, five years after he made
the momentous “I have a dream” speech
during the March on Washington in
I L L U S T R AT I O N : YO G E N D R A A N A N D / C S E
1963. There is a January link here, too,

as the US commemorates January 15, his
birthday, as Martin Luther King Jr Day.
There is, however, a sharp divergence in
the way the two iconic leaders dealt with
copyright. Gandhi, being a lawyer, had clear
understanding of the abstractions of the
copyright law, but he applied a contextual
frame to this understanding to arrive at a

practical solutions to how it affected his works money for the copyright and using it for the
as a writer and publisher. It is a subject that charkha propaganda or the uplift of the
has been rarely highlighted, much less suppressed classes.” And there was also the
researched. The exception is Shyamkrishna added advantage of his message reaching a
Balganesh of the Columbia Law School, who wider public through a well-known publisher.
has written an absorbing research paper on Eventually, Gandhi bequeathed the
this rather recondite aspect titled "Gandhi and copyright in his works, comprising thousands of
Copyright Pragmatism". The development of articles and several books of which the
Gandhi’s views on copyright, says Balganesh, autobiography is a bestseller, to a trust that he
shows that he anticipated several of today’s had helped establish, the Navjivan Trust. In
critical debates on copyright concerns and 2009, some 60 years after the death of Gandhi,
developed what he describes as “copyright the works came into the public domain despite a
pragmatism.” This means engaging critically strong campaign by Gandhi scholars that
with what copyright laws prescribe but also Navjivan should retain it. Their argument was
keeping in mind how it works contextually by that once such works came into the public
weighing the various costs and benefits. domain, commercial entities would profiteer
Gandhi’s initial stand on copyrighting his from them and not maintain their purity. A
works was a firm rejection. In similar ruckus erupted in
1926, Gandhi began There are strong links 2001, when Vishwa Bharathi
publishing instalments of his between the two iconic University lost the copyright on
autobiography, titled The leaders, but they Rabindranath Tagore’s works
Story of My Experiments with diverge sharply in how and sought an extension of 10
Truth, in two journals that he they dealt with years. At the time, the
edited: Navjivan, which was in copyrighting government said that it had to
his native Gujarati language keep the public interest in
and featured the original chapters; and Young mind since the advantages of putting the works
India, which ran the English translations of the in the public domain outweighed those of
work. Gandhi’s autobiography was hugely keeping the rights with the university.
popular with readers, and he allowed other In the case of King, public access has not
newspapers to reproduce the chapters without mattered so far in a copyright battle that has
his permission. Although his supporters turned ugly. His epochal "I have a dream
advised Gandhi to exercise his copyright to stop speech" is not in the public domain as the
the exploitation by commercial newspapers, he copyright continues to be with his estate, which
was dead set against the idea. “Writings in the enforces it strictly and seeks extortionate fees
journals which I have the privilege of editing for licensing it. King took out a copyright on the
must be common property. Copyright is not a speech in 1963, and under US law, what was
natural thing. It is a modern institution, then a 56-year copyright has been turned into a
perhaps desirable to a certain extent. But I 95-year run. This is a pity, because it means the
have no wish to inflate the circulation of Young American public seldom sees more than
India or Navjivan by forbidding newspapers to snippets of one of the most significant speeches
copy the chapters of the autobiography.” in its history. Experts point out that this has
Gradually, though, Gandhi was forced to undermined the fair use doctrine because even
acknowledge the value of copyright, starting those users that might have a plausible right
with the time when the US publisher of his under this rule have either dropped their plans
autobiography, Macmillan, demanded that he or been forced to pay stiff licence fees to the
assign all rights in the work to the publisher. In King Estate or the commercial entity with
order to do so, Gandhi had to first assert and which they have tied up.
claim them under copyright law, which was What a tragedy this. Visionary leaders such
against his principles. But he yielded because “I as Gandhi and King belong to the ages and so
felt that there might be no harm in my getting do their works. D T E @ljishnu

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Palette
WHAT’S INSIDE
Alexander Müller on estimating How artificial intelligence will Protein-rich peanuts can
hidden costs of agrifood systems P50 impact the future of writing P54 be used in many ways P56
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Watch his journey on streaming platform
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The world’s seafloor contains many secrets related to evolution, Climate science and politics are getting closer, with countries no
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the history and workings of the planet. In Mysteries of the Deep: How the implications. Ajay Singh Chaudhary, executive director of New
Seafloor Drilling Expeditions Revolutionized Our Understanding of York-based Brooklyn Institute for Social Research, outlines what
Earth History, Geologist James Lawrence Powell chronicles all that is needed for the survival of the drained planet and people in The
we have learnt so far. Exhausted of the Earth: Politics in a Burning World.

Palette / INTERVIEW
‘FAO acknowledges that

it neglected costs of food
systems in its accounting’
In November 2023, the Food and The report is a first such attempt of a
Agriculture Organization (FAO) national-level assessment. Can you
released its annual flagship report, elaborate on its importance?
We have a systematic problem in the way we
“The State of Food and Agriculture” measure the success or the impacts of our
(SOFA), covering 154 nations. The economic activities, including agriculture. All
of our economic activities have externalities—
report introduces the concept of
unintended and uncompensated (negative or
the “hidden cost” of food systems, positive) effects of economic activities on others.
which includes environmental costs The way we are accounting for the outcomes of
from greenhouse gas emissions,
water use, land-use change;
health hidden costs from losses
in productivity due to unhealthy
dietary patterns; and social
hidden costs due to poverty and
labour productivity. The report
proposes true cost accounting
(TCA) approach to assess the
hidden costs. SHAGUN speaks
to ALEXANDER MÜLLER, former
FAO assistant director-general
who was in the panel of external
experts involved with the report and
currently the managing director and
co-owner of Germany-based
TMG–Think Tank for Sustainability.
The company developed the
Economics of Ecosystems and
Biodiversity (TEEB) agrifood
framework, which FAO has
used to make the SOFA
report. Excerpts:

our economic activities is THIS IS THE FIRST developed TEEB agrifood framework
systematically neglecting positive and TIME FAO HAS over the last years, where we try to
negative externalities. The most capture in a comprehensive way all
important example is how we have
TRIED TO CREATE negative and positive externalities
ignored the cost of carbon dioxide A MODEL TO which are real but not captured by the
emissions from the fossil fuel industry LOOK AT THE current economic system. This
over the last 150 years. We did not EXTERNALITIES framework is the basis of SOFA 2023.
account for them but now we see the COUNTRY BY
high costs. The SOFA 2023 report is the COUNTRY AND The report shows that China, US
first authoritative publication of an and India were the top three
international organisation being
NOT JUST AT A contributors to hidden costs,
responsible for food and agriculture, GLOBAL SCALE. and that unhealthy dietary
looking at all costs of our agriculture THIS IS THE START patterns form the largest share
systems. The report acknowledges OF A DEBATE ON among these costs. How
that the 193 members of the UN have HOW TO MAKE prominent is the trend in health-
neglected important impacts and AGRICULTURE related costs globally?
associated costs of the food systems in
their accounting. This is the first time
SYSTEMS It is not a surprise that China, India
FAO has tried to create a model to look SUSTAINABLE and the US have the highest costs
at the externalities country by because they are accounting for a
country, and not just at a global scale. This is the huge population. What we can see is that cheap
start of an intensive debate on how to make our food is very often very expensive because of its
agriculture systems sustainable, how to decrease high negative costs. We see a trend that we are
the negative externalities and how to increase trying to make food even cheaper but it is increas-
positive externalities. ing the health costs. Highly processed industri-
alised food at supermarkets is cheap but the hidden
What were organisations like FAO doing cost is very high due to rising healthcare costs, for
wrong till now? example for the treatment of diabetes type 2.
FAO was following the standard reporting schemes Therefore, we need TCA.
of economic success. However, our economic
activities and their additional effects are not Consumption of these highly-processed
accounted for in an appropriate way. These are not foods is also increasing in peri-urban and
included in the cost of agricultural production and rural areas. How significant is this for a
malnutrition. We are ignoring the impacts and cost middle- or low-income country where the
of natural capital and the cost of social affairs, and hidden costs can lead to high disease
we are wrongly accounting health-related cost. For burden and low labour productivity?
example, currently what is accounted for is the cost I would like to put the costs of unsustainable food
we pay for food in the supermarket. That is for systems in relation to gross domestic product (GDP).
example, the cost of labour, machinery, petrol and At the global level, that cost is about 10 per cent of
energy. But what is not accounted for is the damage global GDP. In least developed countries, it accounts
done to nature (natural capital), such as the costs of for up to 27 per cent of the countries’ GDP. So, you
the degraded land that has to be restored, the cost can see that least developed countries pay, relative-
of climate change and our health bill due to air ly, a higher price for seemingly cheap food and
pollution. Therefore, we are paying through four carry the highest costs, mainly in the form of
different wallets but accounting only wallet number poverty and productivity losses from undernourish-
1—the price we are paying at supermarkets. From ment. Therefore, providing unhealthy food is a
the other wallets we are paying for degradation of barrier to development.
the environment, for bad human health coming
from malnutrition and we are destroying How can governments influence
social cohesion in rural areas. production and consumption choices?
Now the UN, with a global commu- There is a whole chain that goes from
nity of researchers, including TMG, has producers to retailers to consumers.

First of all, we have to recognise that the way we In terms of accounting, how challenging is
are measuring success of our economic activities is it to integrate these hidden environmental
incomplete. It is not reflecting the true cost of our costs into policy making and where should
activities. We know that GDP is the most important governments begin?
figure in the world. Every government says that it We have a global system of accounting that is
has increased its GDP. But we are measuring it in heavily influenced by industrialised countries.
the wrong way. GDP is a social construct and we Therefore, all countries of the world have to
have to change the way we measure success. change their accounting. This is a long and
We also have to change the way big companies winding road, but this is, from my perspective,
do standard reporting and accounting because they the only answer to avoiding the situation where
are measuring business impacts in an incomplete multinational companies from industrialised
way and damaging the environment in the process. countries will earn the profits and developing
They are presenting the results of their economic countries will have to pay the health bill. So,
activities in a way which is not reflecting reality. changing the accounting is also a question of
This is a political debate which goes beyond agricul- equity. This is a big political debate. Every
ture and is true for all economic sectors. Of course, country can start with doing shadow reporting.
for many developing countries, agriculture is the The countries will have to do the standard
most important economic activity. So, let us start accounting for international purposes, but they
with measuring what is the true can start with shadow accounting
value at the government level (macro THERE IS A NEED and say that they are looking in a
level), but also introduce it into the different way to manage our natural
TO CHANGE THE
standard accounting of the private resources. Why should developing
sector (micro level). It is also in best WAY BIG countries produce cheap
interests of these companies to look at COMPANIES DO commodities, paying a high price for
their negative externalities. If an REPORTING AND natural capital, and export the
agricultural producer is degrading ACCOUNTING, commodities at low prices to other
land on a large scale, then it is SINCE THEY ARE countries? In such a situation, the
undermining the ability to continue profits will be in developed countries
MEASURING IN
the business. Maybe in 20 or 30 years and developing countries will pay for
this company will have to pay a lot for AN INCOMPLETE depletion of natural resources.
restoration. There is a need to change WAY AND
accounting in companies as a tool for DAMAGING THE What can be the
risk management since it allows the ENVIRONMENT methodological approach?
companies to know the hidden costs With the current report and the
and how much will these hidden costs affect their TEEB agrifood framework, the statistical offices in
ability to continue to produce in the future. all countries have new homework to do. They
Again, the fossil fuel industry is a good example. have to track what they are ignoring and how
Emissions do not have any cost in the accounting can they translate it into statistical evidence.
system, but they have costs in reality. And now we The first homework the politicians can give to
find that cheap fossil fuels are incredibly expensive. statistical offices is to do TCA for their country. It
People have to pay for it for mitigating climate is also a task for the private sector. My company
change and adapt to a changing climate. Future has developed a handbook where the private
generations have to pay for it. Therefore, the first sector could start looking at externalities. We
and most important thing is a change of mindset have tested it with 20 different products from
and how we measure success. When we look at food companies. This handbook is available for
agriculture, we find that the costs of providing free. Companies can use it and check how high
unhealthy food to poor people have to be covered are their negative impacts and how high are
somewhere: either by less economic activity because positive externalities. The next report of FAO in
people are sick or by the health system. Therefore, 2024 will deal with case studies looking, from
we were building up a debt for the future with different perspectives, at the true cost of our food
people with type 2 diabetes and malnourished systems, to move from a highly scientific and
population. This report now provides instruments theoretical level to the real life. D T E
for changing the way we are deciding food systems. @down2earthindia

Advertisement
Palette / BOOK EXCERPTS
Machine W
HO WROTE This? is a book about
where human writers and AI
language processing meet: to
challenge the other’s existence, provide
language
mutual support, or go their separate ways.
The technology has evolved unimaginably
since the 1950s, especially in the last decade.
What began as awkward slot-and-filler
productions blossomed into writing that can
be mistaken for human. As one participant
The past few years have seen a spurt in in a research study put it when asked to
artificial intelligence tools that can write. judge if a passage was written by a person or
The tools are so good that it is quite difficult machine, “I have no idea if a human wrote
anything these days. No idea at all.”
to discern that the writing is by a machine.
The situation’s not hopeless, if you know
Their algorithms can browse through a where to look. Often there are telltale signs
of the machine’s hand, like repetition and
gazillion web pages to frame sentences lack of factual accuracy, especially for longer
that are freakishly cogent and human. The stretches of text. And there are other kinds
of clues, as revealed in an obvious though
development of these devices has raised
ingenious experiment. Four professors were
some critical questions—on writing as an asked to grade and comment on two sets of
evolutionary trait, what makes writing a writing assignments. The first were
produced by humans and the second by
trademark human quality, will future books
be composed by computers and how
does this development threaten jobs.
Who Wrote This? explores these questions
and more. Excerpts:
Who Wrote This?: How AI

and the Lure of Efficiency
Threaten Human Writing
by Naomi S Baron
Publisher: Stanford
University Press
MRP: US $30 | Pages: 344

GPT-3, though the judges weren’t the senses gave me pause—and IMAGINE IF COMPUTERS
clued in about the AI. The authors made me think of Nancy. COULD RELIABLY
(including GPT-3) were asked to It was the start of our
PRODUCE WRITTEN
write a couple of essays, plus do sophomore year in college, and
some creative writing. Nancy was my new roommate. As LANGUAGE THAT WAS
First, the grades. For most of was common back then, we trek- AS GOOD AS—PERHAPS
the essays, GPT-3 got passing ked to the local department store to BETTER THAN—WHAT
marks. And theprofessors’ written buy bedspreads and other décor to HUMANS MIGHT WRITE.
comments on the human and spruce up our room. On the walk WOULD IT MATTER?
computer-generated assignments over, we talked about what color
WOULD WE WELCOME
were similar. spreads to get. Nancy kept
The creative writing suggesting—no, insisting on— THE DEVELOPMENT?
assignment was different. One green. I wondered at her adamance. SHOULD WE?
professor gave GPT-3’s efforts a D+ You see, Nancy had been blind
and another, an F. Some comments since infancy. Months later, I we’ll have to figure out how to
from the judge giving the F: discovered that her mother was assign meaningful written work.
“These sentences sound a fond of green and had instilled The challenge doesn’t end with
bit cliché.” this preference in her daughter, students. Swedish researcher
“The submission... seemed to sight unseen. Almira Osmanovic Thunström set
lack sentence variety/structure Which brings us back to the GPT-3 to writing a scientific paper
and imagery.” professor’s recommendation that about GPT-3. With just minimal
“Use your five senses to put the the author of that creative writing human tweaking, AI produced a
reader in your place.” piece “use your five senses.” If surprisingly coherent piece,
The first two aren’t surprising. Nancy had no sense of sight, AI complete with references.
After all, large has no senses at all. But like Accelerated evolution in who—
language models like Nancy cultivating a vicarious or what—is doing the writing calls
GPT-3 regurgitate fondness for green, it’s hardly a for us to take stock. Humans
words and pieces of stretch to envision GPT-3 being labored for millennia to develop
sentences from the fine-tuned to bring forth ersatz writing systems. Everyone able to
data they’ve been impressions about sight, sound, read this book invested
fed, including touch, taste, and smell. innumerable hours honing their
other writers’ Imagine if computers could writing skills. Literacy tools make
clichés. But the reliably produce written language possible self-expression and
comment about that was as good as—perhaps interpersonal communication that
better than—what humans might leaves lasting records. With AI
write. Would it matter? Would language generation, it’s unclear
we welcome the development? whose records these are.
Should we? We need to come to grips with
These aren’t questions about a the real possibility that AI could
someday possible world. AI has render our human skills largely
already burrowed its way into obsolete, like those of the elevator
word processing and email or switchboard operator. Will a
technology, newspapers and blogs. future relative of GPT-3 be writing
Writers invoke it for inspiration my next book instead of me? D T E
and collaboration. At stake isn’t @down2earthindia
just our future writing ability (Excerpted from Who Wrote
but what human jobs might still This? How AI and the Lure of
be available. Efficiency Threaten Human
Then think about school Writing by Naomi S. Baron,
writing assignments. If we don’t published by Stanford University
know whether George or GPT-3 Press, ©2023 by Naomi S Baron.
wrote that essay or term paper, All Rights Reserved)

Palette / FOOD
Peanuts are used

in many traditional
recipes, such as this
chutney to eat with
breakfast staples
PERKS OF PEANUT
The versatile groundnut is a protein-packed addition to diet
VIBHA VARSHNEY
P H OTO G R A P H : V I B H A VA R S H N E Y / C S E
N DELHI, during the bitterly local trains, as a way to pass the also known as peanut, is not just
I cold winter winds experienced

in December and January, one
can find vendors selling groundnut
time while travelling. They are
consumed as they, seasoned with
just salt, or with salt and green
used as a snack but finds use in
traditional recipes across states. In
Andhra Pradesh, the seeds are
pods on pavements next to bus chillies. Another favourite winter boiled and served for breakfast
stops. Commuters buy the hot snack is the chikki or groundnut while in Maharashtra, coarsely
seeds, roasted in sand or salt, to brittle, made with the roasted nuts ground peanuts are added to
munch on while waiting for a bus. and molten jaggery. sabudana khichdi, a dish made
The pods are equally popular in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), with sago or tapioca pearls. In

Madhya Pradesh, these seeds are PRODUCTION ENIGMA RECIPE PEANUT CHUTNEY
used in poha and in Gujarat, a pea- Groundnut has a fascinating life
nut chutney is relished with cycle. The plant's yellow flowers INGREDIENTS
breakfast staples such as khakhra emerge around the lower portion, Groundnut seeds: 1 cup
(see recipe). In the South, a dry and after pollination the fertilised Green chillies: 5-6
chutney or podi made of ground- ovary begins to form a “peg” that Turmeric powder: 1/4 tsp
nuts is consumed with idlis and grows downward into the soil. The Jaggery: 1/2 tsp
dosas and also added to dal. embryo at the tip of the peg Peanut oil: 1 tbsp
Groundnut is rich in protein, matures to form the pods below the Lemon juice: 4 tbsp
which makes up 26-28 per cent of soil. A leguminous plant, peanut Salt to taste
its nutrient content. This is higher fixes atmospheric nitrogen and
than in eggs, dairy products and adds 100-120 kg of nitrogen in the METHOD
meats; a 28 g serving of ground- field per hectare (ha) per season. Soak the seeds overnight in water.
nuts can provide as much as 12 per Unlike mustard and sesame, Remove the water and the outer
cent of recommended daily protein which archaeological sites suggest pink skin. Put the seeds in a blender,
allowance. The seeds are also rich have been used in India since add the other ingredients and grind
in minerals like calcium, iron and prehistoric times, groundnut has coarsely. Adjust the consistency
vitamins A and B. been introduced more recently— with a little water if needed.The
The seeds are 48-50 per cent sometime in the 1600s, according chutney is ready and can be stored
oil, most of which is good fat. Some to a 2004 report, "Peanut in India: for a week in the refrigerator.
50 per cent of the oil is monoun- History, Production, and Utiliza-
saturated fatty acid (MUFA) and tion" by Shankarappa Talawar of
30 per cent polyunsaturated fatty the University of Georgia, US. Karnataka (6 per cent).
acid (PUFA), which help lower Brazil is likely to be its centre of However, data from recent
cholesterol and are good for heart origin, as the majority of its species years suggests that groundnut
health. In India, most of the are found here. There is not much cultivation is decreasing in many
groundnut produced is used to clarity on how the pod reached states. For example, in Gujarat
extract oil and around 5 per cent is India. The 2004 report lists some area under peanut dipped from
consumed as a snack or in recipes. theories—that it was introduced by 1.7 million ha in 2016-17 to 1.6
There are efforts to improve the the Jesuit fathers who followed million ha in 2019-20, says minis-
nutrition of the nut. In 2019, Vasco de Gama, or that it came try data. Though this increased to
researchers under the All-India from China or African colonies. Yet 1.9 million ha in 2021-22, uncer-
Co-ordinated Research Project on another belief is that the nut was tainty in weather and irrigation
Groundnut identified two peanut introduced via the Philippines— could be an issue in the future,
lines with about 80 per cent oleic this may be why in the erstwhile says a January 2023 study in the
acid, which is a MUFA that can help Madras presidency’s South Arcot journal Mausam. The crop requires
reduce the risk of cardiovascular district, it was known as manila- stringent water management and
diseases. These varieties can be kottai or "nut from Manila". is susceptible to climate change.
used to prepare healthier oil with Now, India is the second largest Rise in temperature and rainfall in
longer shelf life. producer of this protein-rich groundnut-growing areas like
The oil also has commercial legume as well as a major exporter, Gujarat could reduce production by
uses other than food and is an sending it to 65 countries. As per 32 per cent in 2071-2100 as against
ingredient in soaps, beauty advance estimates of kharif 1961-1990, says the study by
creams, medical ointments and production released by the Union Gujarat researchers.
creams, paints and lubricants. Ministry of Agriculture and Peanuts are now a high-value
Groundnut oil cake is used as Farmers Welfare in October 2023, commodity. At Safal, the fruit and
animal and poultry feed as well as some 7.82 million tonnes of ground- vegetable store under milk coop-
an organic fertiliser. nut may be produced in 2023-24. erative Mother Dairy, a 400 g bag
In addition, groundnut leaves Gujarat is the largest producer of peanuts is R65. The store sells
serve as a rich source of cattle feed, with 42 per cent of the total chana dal at R51 for 500g. Soon,
which the shell is used in manufac- production, followed by Rajasthan the phrase “paid in peanuts” may
turing industrial products like (17 per cent), Tamil Nadu (11 per not be apt to refer to receiving less
cardboard and also as fuel. cent), Andhra Pradesh (9 per cent), money. D T E @vibhavarshney

CIVIL LINES /RICHARD MAHAPATRA
Far from
reality The report's biggest assertion is a reduction in
inequality within India, citing a decline in the Gini
coefficient of taxable income from 0.472 to 0.402
T
HE ECONOMIC Research Department of the between financial year (FY) 14 and FY22. This
State Bank of India (SBI) recently released a conclusion, though, is based on taxable income,
study titled "Debunking K-shaped Recovery," representing only about 5 per cent of the total
addressing the prevalent notion that India's post- population—those who pay income tax and are
pandemic economic revival has followed a K-shaped typically well-employed. This limited sample size may
trajectory, which suggests a scenario where certain not be sufficient to render a comprehensive verdict on
sectors experience recovery while others languish, income equality in a predominantly informal
leading to a divided economic landscape. The debate workforce and economy.
surrounding this phenomenon is closely intertwined Furthermore, the report uses unconventional
with the widening economic inequality in the country. proxies, such as Zomato food orders from semi-urban
The SBI research endeavours to challenge this areas, to support claims of reduced distress among
belief in a rather provocative manner. The core the populace. However, this method may not
message of the report implies a perceived accurately capture the broader economic landscape.
"conspiracy" against India's growth. However, caution In essence, the SBI research seems to focus on the
is warranted when an economic assessment dabbles in "privileged" formal sector, neglecting the majority in
assertions that could cast doubt on its credibility or the informal sector that may not be experiencing the
intentions. The report’s key message reads, “The oft same level of growth. This discrepancy underscores
repeated conundrum debating a K-shaped recovery the core issue of the
post-pandemic seems at best flawed, prejudiced,
Using selective inequality debate—the
parameters, SBI
ill-concocted and fanning interests of select quarters disparity between those left
makes a feeble
to whom India’s remarkable ascendance, signalling out of economic growth and
attempt to
more the renaissance of the new global south, is those already positioned
debunk claims
quite unpalatable.” higher on the income scale,
that India is
Further, the report junks traditional economic witnessing an reporting exponential
well-being parameters, when it says, “The patterns unequal growth growth.
emanating from income (and, its disposable part), In contrast, a 2022
savings, consumption, expenditure and policy report titled "The State of
measures aimed at empowering the masses through Inequality in India," commissioned by the Economic
phygital (“use of technology to bridge the digital Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, presents an
world with the physical world to provide a unique analysis highlighting the escalating inequality in the
interactive experiences for the user”) means and country. It points out that an individual earning a
support systems by way of a host of enablers, from monthly wage of `25,000 was considered among the
food security and money transfer through direct top 10 per cent of earners, emphasising the stark
benefit transfer to multiverse of welfare schemes contrast in income distribution. It says, “If an amount
(such as Ujjwala and Ayushman Bharat) question the like this comes in the top 10 percentile, then the
efficacy of using ages-old proxies like low 2-wheeler bottom-most condition cannot be imagined.” When
sales or fragmented land holdings to support some one cannot imagine, one tends to re-imagine. The SBI
pre-destined narratives of India not doing well.” report is just the perfect example of it.
In a time of heightened polarisation and India's Ultimately, the report, in its reliance on specific
ascent to becoming one of the largest economies, the indicators, raises questions about its representative-
report's language, featuring terms like "fanning ness of the economy. This scepticism is compounded
interests," "remarkable ascendance," and the by the absence of a consumption expenditure survey
"renaissance of the new global south," appears to since 2011, further emphasising the need for a more
align with prevailing political narratives, potentially holistic approach to assess the true state of economic
shaping a newly crafted storyline. affairs in India. D T E @richiemaha

SCHOOL FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
RESIDENTIAL TRAINING
COMPRESSED BIOGAS (CBG)

POTENTIAL, TECHNOLOGY, POLICY,
OPERATIONS AND ECONOMICS
Venue
Date Last date to apply ANIL AGARWAL ENVIRONMENT
MARCH 20-22, FEBRUARY 29, TRAINING INSTITUTE (AAETI),
2024 2024
NIMLI, RAJASTHAN
The Indian government has set a target to raise the share of gas in the energy
mix: 15 per cent by 2030 from the current 6.5 per cent. This move aims to HIGHLIGHTS
transform India into a gas-oriented economy. Presently, India produces 34,000
million standard cubic meter of gas (MMSCM) but consumes 64,000 MMSCM,
resulting in a substantial shortfall of 30,000 MMSCM. This deficit accounts THE PROGRAMME IS OPEN TO
for 47 per cent of the total consumption, which is fulfilled through imports.
Government officials,
Compressed Biogas (CBG) as a domestic energy source can play a key role in
regulators, renewable energy
addressing this gap and helping the nation achieve its clean energy goals.
nodal agencies, urban
The CBG production potential in India is estimated at around 62 million development authorities, civil
metric tonne, as per the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). society organizations, start-ups,
The Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) scheme professors, researchers, private
aims to tap 15 million metric tonne of this. In the 2023-24 Union Budget, sector consultants, individual
finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has earmarked Rs 10,000 crore for the practitioners, and international
establishment of 200 CBG plants and 300 community and cluster-based plants. participants.professionals
In addition to this budgetary allocation, the government has introduced several
policies and initiatives to accelerate the implementation of CBG projects
COURSE FEE
in India. These measures include MNRE’s Waste to Energy programme, the
Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), and the Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources » Government Officials:
(GOBAR)-DHAN scheme. However, despite these policy efforts, the number of Registration fee is waived
CBG plants currently installed on the ground is only 46. This slow progress can for Central and State
be attributed to the limited dissemination of CBG-related information among Government officials*
potential investors.
» Indian Participants: R21,000
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) is offering a tailor-made
» Foreign Participants: US $300
three-day residential training programme on ‘CBG: Potential, Technology,
Policy, Operation and Economics’. The high-impact training has been *Cost of travel to Delhi and back for
conceived to provide an end-to-end solution to design and install a CBG the nominated officials to be borne by
plant that aligns with the principles of circular economy, energy transition, and the nominating government authority
sustainable development.
The course fee is inclusive of
FOR FURTHER DETAILS, PLEASE CONTACT THE COURSE COORDINATOR travel from Delhi to the training
RAHUL JAIN, institute, accommodation,
Deputy Programme Manager, School for Sustainable Energy, AAETI, food, resource person, and
Renewable Energy Unit, CSE training kit.
Mobile: +91 8901448131 Email: rahul.jain@cseindia.org
R.N.I. NO. 53588/92 POSTAL REGN. NO. DL(S)-17/3109/2024-2026
ISSN 0971-8079. Licensed to Post at Lodhi Road HO, New Delhi-110003. Published on
1st of every month. POSTED ON: 2-3 of the same fortnight, Total pages: 60
SCHOOL OF WATER AND WASTE
AAETI
RESIDENTIAL TRAINING
Planning and Designing Faecal Sludge
and Septage Management Systems
Date Last date to apply Venue
FEBRUARY 20-23, FEBRUARY 10, ANIL AGARWAL ENVIRONMENT TRAINING
2024 2024 INSTITUTE (AAETI), NIMLI, RAJASTHAN
Despite reaching 800+ FSTPs, many FSTPs in India are still facing operational
challenges due to its improper planning and design. Hence, to strengthen WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM
the knowledge of practitioners/officials on planning and designing aspects THIS TRAINING?
of Faecal Sludge and Septage Management (FSSM), CSE is organising
a four-day residential training programme, with the aim of equipping » Engineers, planners and decision
practitioners and government officials with: makers from government and
• A core understanding of city sanitation systems and their planning non-government institutions
• How to plan FSM systems for small and medium towns » PMUs assisting the government
• How to design FSTPs and co-treatment infrastructure sanitation sector
» Individual consultants and
researchers working in the water and
LEARNING OBJECTIVES TRAINING METHODOLOGY
sanitation sector
• Onsite and offsite sanitation systems The training is based on the Harvard
TRAINING FEES
• FSM Tools and Approaches- Shit Flow Case Method, emphasizing interactive
For Indian participants:
Diagram sessions, practical exercises, group
• R25,600 / R28,000 (for double / single
interactions, expert engagement, field
• FSM Planning and Designing of occupancy accommodation)
visits, and documentary films to convey For international participants:
treatment systems considering
management concepts. It prioritizes • US $590 / $760 (for double / single
circularity aspect
experiential learning through occupancy accommodation)
• Institutional, policy, and regulatory discussions on existing case studies,
frameworks in FSSM showcasing recommended actions for SPECIAL OFFERS
• Case studies sustainable sanitation management. » 50% off for college students and
registered NGOs
FOR FURTHER DETAILS, PLEASE CONTACT » 25% off for industry consultants, and
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TRAINING COORDINATOR
ANURAG NAIDU, Note: No training fee will be charged for
nominated government officials. They only need
Programme Officer- Water Programme, to make their transportation arrangement to
Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi, India and from the CSE Head Office, New Delhi.
email: anurag.naidu@cseindia.org | Mob No: +91 7276497968

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1-15 FEBRUARY, 2024

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NORMS REMAIN ON PAPER 0

DOWNTOEARTH.ORG.IN 1-15 FEBRUARY 2024 DOWN TO EARTH 37

38 DOWN TO EARTH 1-15 FEBRUARY 2024 DOWNTOEARTH.ORG.IN

40 DOWN TO EARTH 1-15 FEBRUARY 2024 DOWNTOEARTH.ORG.IN

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to identity government took over our forests for