Nature & India : News, Views and Discussions

Five Years After Launch Of Namami Gange: Nearly 50 Per Cent Of Ganga Has High Biodiversity Levels, Indicates Reducing Pollution Levels​

The Narendra Modi government had introduced the Namami Gange programme, aimed at making the Ganga nirmal and aviral, in 2015Five years later, there are signs that the effort has yielded some tangible results.
 

Mithi River Rejuvenation plan: BMC gives go-ahead to projects worth Rs 569 crore​

The Shiv Sena-led Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is going to spend Rs 569.02 crore on various projects related to cleaning up the Mithi river in the city. According to an Indian Express report, under the corporation’s ‘Mithi River Rejuvenation’ plan, widening and deepening channel of the river and related works will also be carried out. The standing committee of the BMC has cleared as many as four proposals related to the projects on the Mithi river this week.

Among the works being planned on the river are laying along a sewer line into the river which would carry all the sewage which at present gets leaked into the river. The widening and deepening of the river channel has also been proposed in one of the projects, which would ensure a healthy flow of the river. The stretch of the river where these works have been planned to be carried out include the airport taxiway bridge in Kurla, Ashok Nagar in Andheri, Filterpada at the Powai stretch of the river and MTNL Junction at BKC.

Discharge of harmful sewage into the river after the setting up of industries and slums on the banks of the rivers is one of the prime reasons for the battered water quality of the river. Only last year, the amount of fecal coliform bacteria in the Mithi river was found to be 15 times more than the standard limits.

Originating from the Virar lake, the over 17-km long Mithi river drains into the Arabian sea at Mahim creek and is considered to be the lifeline of Mumbai’s environment by many environmental activists. While about a 12-km stretch of the river comes under the civic body BMC, the rest of it comes under the control of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority. According to a report by The Indian Express, more than Rs 1,400 crore of funds has been spent on the restoration of the Mithi river to its natural flow in the past 13 years. However, not much has been achieved by the civic body in these years. The critical role the river plays in the ecosystem of the city came to light in 2005, when the fact-finding commission set up after the 2005 floods blamed encroachment on the bank of the Mithi river as a major reason for the deluge.

Interestingly, the efforts of the civic body appear to be sincere as the BMC is paying the four companies which have bagged the projects more than its estimated budget. All the four companies which have grabbed the contract for these projects will be paid about 17 to 22 per cent more than the estimated budget which was prepared by the stormwater department, the officials related to the project told The Indian Express. The officials also said that the budget was allowed to go overboard as the work will be carried out in adverse circumstances and locations.

Mithi River Rejuvenation plan: BMC gives go-ahead to projects worth Rs 569 crore​

The Shiv Sena-led Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is going to spend Rs 569.02 crore on various projects related to cleaning up the Mithi river in the city. According to an Indian Express report, under the corporation’s ‘Mithi River Rejuvenation’ plan, widening and deepening channel of the river and related works will also be carried out. The standing committee of the BMC has cleared as many as four proposals related to the projects on the Mithi river this week.

Among the works being planned on the river are laying along a sewer line into the river which would carry all the sewage which at present gets leaked into the river. The widening and deepening of the river channel has also been proposed in one of the projects, which would ensure a healthy flow of the river. The stretch of the river where these works have been planned to be carried out include the airport taxiway bridge in Kurla, Ashok Nagar in Andheri, Filterpada at the Powai stretch of the river and MTNL Junction at BKC.

Discharge of harmful sewage into the river after the setting up of industries and slums on the banks of the rivers is one of the prime reasons for the battered water quality of the river. Only last year, the amount of fecal coliform bacteria in the Mithi river was found to be 15 times more than the standard limits.

Originating from the Virar lake, the over 17-km long Mithi river drains into the Arabian sea at Mahim creek and is considered to be the lifeline of Mumbai’s environment by many environmental activists. While about a 12-km stretch of the river comes under the civic body BMC, the rest of it comes under the control of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority. According to a report by The Indian Express, more than Rs 1,400 crore of funds has been spent on the restoration of the Mithi river to its natural flow in the past 13 years. However, not much has been achieved by the civic body in these years. The critical role the river plays in the ecosystem of the city came to light in 2005, when the fact-finding commission set up after the 2005 floods blamed encroachment on the bank of the Mithi river as a major reason for the deluge.

Interestingly, the efforts of the civic body appear to be sincere as the BMC is paying the four companies which have bagged the projects more than its estimated budget. All the four companies which have grabbed the contract for these projects will be paid about 17 to 22 per cent more than the estimated budget which was prepared by the stormwater department, the officials related to the project told The Indian Express. The officials also said that the budget was allowed to go overboard as the work will be carried out in adverse circumstances and locations.
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Carbon emissions in India show third-highest drop after US and Europe in 2020 — thanks to COVID-19 lockdowns​

The planet was able to breathe a little easier with the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown around the world keeping people off roads. The Global Carbon Project’s Carbon Budget report for 2020 estimates that this has led to the largest-ever dip in carbon emissions from fossil fuels in history of 7%.


Carbon emissions in India show third-highest drop after US and Europe in 2020 — thanks to COVID-19 lockdowns
Projected global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels for 2020Global Carbon Project

The gains will be even higher for India, with an average estimated 8.2% drop in fossil carbon emissions projected for 2020. The only two nations expected to see a larger drop are the US and the European Union (EU).


Carbon emissions in India show third-highest drop after US and Europe in 2020 — thanks to COVID-19 lockdowns
Likely decline of emissions by countryGlobal Carbon Project

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In fact, even before the pandemic hit, the country’s carbon emissions were already lower than average in late 2019. The report cites economic turmoil and strong hydropower generation as the primary reasons.

The outbreak of COVID-19 only potentially ‘superimposed’ on this changing trend. The largest dip in emissions is seen from the cement sector, followed by oil and coal. The gas industry is expected to bear the least impact.


Carbon emissions in India show third-highest drop after US and Europe in 2020 — thanks to COVID-19 lockdowns
India's carbon emissions across industriesGlobal Carbon Project

Decrease in emissions has barely made an impact on overall carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Despite the dramatic effect of COVID-19, the decrease has hardly made a dent in the overall carbon dioxide level within the Earth’s atmosphere. Last year, carbon dioxide concentration was at 36.4 billion tonnes. This year it’s 34 billion tonnes — a contraction of only 2.4 billion tonnes.
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Carbon emissions in India show third-highest drop after US and Europe in 2020 — thanks to COVID-19 lockdowns
The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide in 2020 compared to 2019Global Carbon Project

To make matters worse, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on carbon dioxide emissions is temporary. The report estimates that the levels of emissions and the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are mostly likely to rebound in 2021. The question is by how much.

"All elements are not yet in place for sustained decreases in global emission, and emissions are slowly edging back to 2019 levels,” said Corinne Le Quere from UEA's School of Environmental Sciences, one of the researchers who contributed to the study.
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Carbon emissions in India show third-highest drop after US and Europe in 2020 — thanks to COVID-19 lockdowns
Distribution of decrease in carbon dioxide emissions decrease due to COVID-19 lockdownsGlobal Carbon Project

The largest share of the decrease in carbon emissions in 2020 can be accounted for by road transport followed by industry. Both of which are already making a comeback.
 
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