India’s Environment-for-Economy Trade-off
At Sunder Nursery Park, New Delhi, a 5.5 meter tall pillar with a geometric face adorns the site. But its purpose is not only to appeal to beauty. It is called “I am changing,” is a storm of air pollution, filtering 600,000 cubic meters of air every day. Installed in 2019, the filter worked so well that its developers were eyeing a government contract for mass use. However, as of now, it is the only one of its kind, standing alone in New Delhi as the Air Quality Index passes. 400 (anything below 50 is considered “healthy”; anything above 151 is unhealthy.)
Amidst these dangerous conditions, the government decided to loosen its pollution controls. On November 12, it released a take care freeing “White” group industries from two pollution permits. On November 14, another notice said that these industries are also exempted from obtaining national pollution permits. All of these industries were to be brought under a joint environmental cleanup system, which the government said was necessary to streamline regulations and make business easier.
Since these pollution permits have been revoked and there is no clear date on when the integrated operation will begin, these small industries do not really have control over their environmental impact. What does it mean for India’s climate action, and its position in global efforts?
“White” industries are among the four categories of industries that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), and the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) have highlighted in 2016. The group is a publication the newest, led by Red, Orange, and Green. White industries include factories manufacturing goods such as biscuit trays, cotton and woolen hosiery, electric lighting and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). According to the guidelines, these industries have a pollution index of less than 20 on a scale of 100.
However, the pollution index itself has other specifics. For example, the index comes from a “mind-boggling time series” among specified boards. The index calculation chart has three levels, and is based on the emission of air and water pollutants as well as hazardous waste. The first two categories (air and water pollution) have 40 marks each, with 20 marks for the third (hazardous waste).
However, apart from monitoring air pollution in the 344 cities and towns under NAMP (National Air Quality Assessment) project, there is no way to monitor all types of pollution for 10 million and more small industry units across the country. It must be noted at this point, that among these groups, 324,006 are reported to be using coal, 595,817 are working on oil, and 62,459 on LPG. About 90 percent of these small firms fall under the heading of “unregistered”. Under these conditions, the value of the index for monitoring all types of pollution is in serious question, especially when most of the sectors have not registered.
The assumption that a lack of data equals a lack of pollution has troubling implications. For example, the MSME report from 2020-2021 he strongly stated that CFL production does not produce any pollution and hence does not require pollution control permit. However, findings from the European Union’s Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risk (SCHER) and go Indo-Germanic Action Research the group has shown that traces of mercury can be found in CFL bulbs. A joint Indo-German team has conducted research in Delhi and Kolkata, and has suggested that improper and improper handling of such lights can cause serious health risks.
As for the cotton industry, apart from soil pollution and water pollution due to pesticides, chrome composite leather-clad (CCLC) rollers commonly used in cotton ginning result in pollution and chromium contamination. The insistence of rollers such as knives, necessary for ginning (that is, separating the cotton fibers from the seeds), produces 17 to 250mg/kg (ppm) of chromium, which adheres to the fibers. Chromium is a carcinogenic element that must remain below 0.1 mg/kg (ppm) according to government health standards. Non-toxic rollers are available, but their application in cotton factories is not common.
These examples cover only two of the “White” industries; 34 other industries have similar, if not worse, environmental impacts. The reduction of environmental approvals for all these industries points to a serious problem. And ineffective regulation at home poses risks to curbing India’s climate change abroad.
India’s bids at COP28 last year they were eager for the economic status of the country. Although a developing country, India has made similar demands as developed countries, including the “Panchamrit” pledge to achieve zero emissions by 2070. Other pledges include the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), sustainable river development and transmission. of low carbon technology for industries highlighted India’s position in the event.
However, India faced questions due to the lack of clear methods and funds to achieve such goals, for which New Delhi did not have a clear answer. India also faced pressure to reduce the use of coal power but he showed strong opposition to the idea.
In terms of river protection and inter-river development, in 2023 it was reported that industries in 25 areas for development under the Master Plan for Delhi 2021 were still unconnected. Conventional Liquid Treatment Plants (CEPTs). Industries were dumping untreated sewage into the Yamuna River. They are still very concerned, and recent photos of nine deposits On the Yamuna River it refers to the financial and infrastructure deficits that India is facing, which is hindering the fulfillment of its commitments made at COP28.
When considering this implementation gap, we cannot ignore the economic factor. The national economy of India, has been hit by growing slowly after the negative effects of demonic activity, COVID-19, and recent world events, it is trying to revive to become a “$7 trillion economy” by 2030. In this race, the best game of India is the stimulation and growth of small scale industries, which. contribute to approx 40 percent of total industry value added to the Indian economy. The “White” category mainly includes many of these small industries. From an economic perspective, it is understandable why India would want to relieve these industries of the regulatory burden. However, there are no government reports on the pollution that the industries of the “White” group contribute to, which means that there is little explanation of how removing the pollution permit can affect the environment.
In a global sense, world trade has collapsed Donald Trump’s victory in the American presidential election. Since the US is expected to maintain strong protectionism, a large production is the call of the hour. This revives the Global North-South debate on climate concerns again, where the Global North uses the resources of the Global South, both material and human, for their own economic benefit, and leaves the South deprived of resources. theirs. Furthermore, due to the dominance of the Global North in the global economic framework, the Global South is in a constant race against time for its supply and growth. This often forces developing countries to make decisions that can have a negative impact on people and the environment.
India is not the only one at risk of environmental degradation for the opportunity to grow its economy. Neighboring Bangladesh is also facing a similar situation. The textile industry in Bangladeshwhich supports the economy of Bangladesh by dressing the Global North, is one of the main concerns due to the lack of water in the Jamuna, as well as air pollution and soil degradation due to the untouchable rich. Pakistan is facing a similar problem. The most recent one AQI of Lahore it arrived in 1600, and the reasons are exactly the same.
Regarding India, the decision to release “White” industries from environmental management brought different opinions to climate activists based in India, which they see as “prioritizing short-term economic benefits over long-term stability and social welfare.” Knowing that India is not alone in making such a choice is cold comfort indeed.
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