INTRODUCTION ABOUT THIS ISSUE orsening ambient air quality Is Air Pollution a Disaster in Wdue rising air pollution levels is fast emerging as one the greatest Indian Cities? health risks faced by Indian citizens. According to a report published by he current development path huge price in the form of rising air the Lancet Commission on pollution Thas brought us to a situation pollution for this economic and health (2015), India accounted for where what once was free and prosperity. Perhaps the same level the highest number of premature clean is now limited and polluted: of innovation and inventiveness of deaths 92.5 million) due to air air. the cities will be required to address pollution. More recently, the World urban air pollution in an urgent Health Organization's (WHO) World Rapid decline in the quality of air manner. Global Ambient Air Quality Index as economic growth accelerates is has pointed out that 14 out of the 15 the reality of our development The rising risk of air pollution in most polluted cities in the world are path and development pace. More India's cities is nothing short of a in India. These figures highlight how and more cities are becoming full-fledged disaster. Disasters are air pollution is becoming a problem polluted and the air that is often perceived as cataclysmic events with catastrophic proportions for supposed to give us life in fact that suddenly appear to cause India and may soon become a part slowly but steadily reducing our immediate loss of life and property. of the veritable roster of hazards that routinely assail this country. life span in our cities. However, certain disasters are much more insidious but lead to the same This issue of Southasiadisasters.net is Air pollution can be defined as the sort of detrimental impacts. Air titled "Is Air Pollution a Disaster in presence of toxic chemicals or pollution is a slow onset disaster Indian Cities?" and takes a close look compounds (including those of that leads to a widespread loss and at the problem of air pollution in biological origin) in the air, at damage over an extended period of India. It not only highlights the levels that pose a health risk. In time. underlying causes of the problem of an even broader sense, air pollution air pollution but also discusses the means the presence of chemicals or As a result air pollution is not seen possible institutional and operational compounds in the air which are as a disaster, even when the citizens solutions to address this insidious usually not present and which find the quality of air which they risk. It is important to remember that lower the quality of the air or inhale on a daily basis to be poverty and pollution go hand in cause detrimental changes to the abysmally low and dangerous to hand. This poses a great challenge for quality of life (such as the their life, work, and living. a developing country like India damaging of the ozone layer or which has a large population. Two- causing global warming).1 Therefore, there is an urgent need thirds of India's population still lives to explore if air pollution can be outside of cities, and 80 percent of Air pollution in India is fast declared a disaster at least in some these households rely on biomass emerging to be a fatal problem. cities of India, and if National like wood and dung for cooking and The Lancet commission on Disaster Management Authority heating. Agricultural practices like burning crop stubble also remain pollution and health has estimated (NDMA) should start taking up even widespread. Couple this with weak that in 2015 (globally), air more and sustained vigilance of this enforcement of anti-pollution laws pollution was responsible for fast spreading hazard across Indian and regulations in India and a clearer nearly 9 million premature cities. picture of this crisis starts to emerge. deaths. More than 2.5 million of This issue also highlights success these deaths were in India, the The National Disaster Management stories in addressing air pollution most in any single country.2 Institute (NIDM) has qualified teams from different countries for. Most to take up not only the definition of importantly, it shows how the triple By being crucibles of new ideas poor quality of air as a disaster but challenges of governance, and innovation, cities have turned also start designing action learning technological innovation and into engines of economic growth. programmes with officials and behavioural change need to be However, cities have to pay a NGOs to address this rising risk in overcome for addressing the India. problem of air pollution in India effectively. – Kshitij Gupta 1 https://www.environmentalpollutioncenters.org/air/ 2 https://www.thelancet.com/commissions/pollution-and-health. 2 southasiadisasters.net July 2018 The pollution control boards at the China to develop ocean and and without which one more slow central and state levels are becoming cryosphere research indicates the onset of disaster will be inevitable more pro-active in addressing air quality of air is not likely to improve in Indian cities. pollution. But the pace at which these in coming decades. boards are changing and the pace at The above discussion does not mean which the air is becoming polluted Leading knowledge generators for that quality of air in rural areas is don't match. We pollute our air in development investment, such as better or is not alarming. In fact, cities far more rapidly than we clean investment made by Asian impact of quality of air on agriculture our air in cities. Development Bank for example, has produce and rural water bodies is yet not come up with numbers or yet to be well researched in India. As said by Mami Mizutori of United quality of air and economic growth: Nations Office for Disaster Risk how each shapes the other. The We do not know how democracy Reduction (UNISDR) at AMCDRR October 2015 Centre for Science and ends when citizens live in dangerous 2018 at Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia we Environment (CSE) report indicates living conditions but we do know need far more data on loss and that in the existing economic- that widespread disinterest of damage caused due to disasters and technology-emissions paradigm we citizens in quality of air they breathe loss and damage avoided due to risk cannot make our cities pollution free. will lead to end of many lives. reduction in Asia. This data need is AIDMI work with UNISDR in 15 cities even more urgent as far as India's in India indicates that the material, Deaths due to poor quality of air are quality of air related risks are energy, and emission intensive ways avoidable as was discussed at book concerned. of living in cities needs both, release, "Avoidable Deaths: A reduction and re-thinking. Systems Failure Approach to There is limited citizen-to-citizen or Disaster Risk Management" by Dr. city-to-city data exchange, leave Recent discussion of transboundary Nibedita S. Ray-Bennett, Programme aside learning or finding early warning system mainly Director for the MSc in Risk, Crisis and collaborative ways to improve focused on floods and possible Disaster Management of University quality of air. Natural Resources earthquake or cyclone in South Asia of Leicester, UK and Ambika Prasad Defense Council (NRDC) of the USA has started picking up on quality of Nanda, Head CSR Odisha of Tata with a range of Indian partners have air as a risk that needs greater Steel Limited in Bhubaneswar, taken a welcome initiative in scrutiny, to start with, in cities. Odisha on March 6, 2018, and the Ahmedabad, and several other cities. concept of avoidable deaths must be Without the above two, India cannot applied to cities in India facing rising Early indications from ongoing develop its air quality improvement air pollution crisis. process of IPCC author's meet in plan. Such a plan is an urgent need, – Mihir R. Bhatt
AIR POLLUTION AND URBAN RESILIENCE Air Pollution as a Disaster in Ahmedabad: A View
ith a recent WHO (World homes, offices and playgrounds. All cardiovascular diseases, chronic WHealth Organisation) report of these factors have made a sizeable respiratory diseases and lung cancer suggesting that 14 of the 15 most contribution to the increasing cases in 2012. Other important polluted cities in the world are in of NCDs (non-communicable environmental risks include second- India – pollution levels are touching diseases) – chronic respiratory and hand tobacco smoke, exposure to new heights and posing a greater cardiovascular problems. A 2017 chemicals." risk to the environment and human report suggests that over 61% deaths health. Industrial smoke, vehicular in India are caused by NCDs such as This, in turn, has added to the emissions, burning of dry leaves and cancers and diabetes. A WHO report increasing pressure on our kitchen waste along with the gives a global perspective: established medical infrastructure. rampant use of crackers during Residents of city slums, who are festivals and occasions such as "Ambient (outdoor) and household living on the pavements or near Diwali (despite certain restrictions) air pollution together caused more polluting industries, remain the has helped toxic air ooze into our than 6 million deaths from most vulnerable to lung disorders and chronic diseases. July 2018 southasiadisasters.net 3 workplace regulations, etc. must be taken to avoid the onset of such a situation.
We, the residents of the city must set aside our differences for once to clean the carbon sink we've drilled ourselves in. – Arindam Upmanyu, SLS'15, Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU), Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India References: 1. Preventing non–communicable diseases (NCDs) by reducing Air Pollution in Ahmedabad. environmental risk factors. Geneva: PM 2.5 and PM 10 – particulate these toxic particles. A number of World Health Organization; 2017 (WHO/FWC/EPE/17.1). Licence: matter finer than human hair, lives remain at risk consistently due CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. remain the most lethal pollutants in to the detrimental levels of 2. Non–communicable diseases cause the atmosphere. With diameters of pollutants in the air. Air pollution, 61% of deaths in India: WHO 2.5 and 10 microns respectively, without a doubt, is gradually report. D. Sushmi. September 20, these particles can easily travel becoming a deadly menace in the 2017. through the human nasal tract deep city. Is there a possible end in sight? https:// into the lungs. School-going children timesofindia.indiatimes.com /life- and the elderly of the city are the Action plans, policies, schemes and style/health-fitness/health-news/ non-communicable-diseasescause- most vulnerable to such pollutants. even penalties have so far failed to 61-of-deaths-in-india-who-report/ However, the 2009 notification of bring down the pollutant levels. So, articleshow/60761288.cms CPCB set up a few ambient air are face and surgical masks the only 3. Retrieved from: https:// quality standards. Furthermore, the possible immediate solution? Would gpcb.gov.in/ambient-air-quality- status of ambient Air Quality the population have to wear surgical monitoring-programme.htm monitoring project NAMP (National masks whenever they step out in the 4. Data retrieved from: http:// Air Quality Monitoring Programme) city? Prudent steps such as greater safar.tropmet.res.in/ ahmedabad.php?city_id=4&for= suggests that out of the seven sites use of public transport, effective current. charted in Ahmedabad alone, none policy implementation, stringent of them have the PM 10 measures under the prescribed level. The first Indian monitoring and early warning system for air pollution (SAFAR-System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research), which was launched on May 12, 2017 in Ahmedabad, consistently states 'very poor' level of PM 2.5 concentration in 9 of the 10 sites covered in the city (Airport, Satellite, Chandkheda, GIFT City, Lekhwada, Navrangpura, Rakhiyal, Bopal, Pirana and Raikhad).
These areas are some of the most lively places of the city, and is always bustling with activity. Several schools, hospitals, parks and other public places are flooded with
4 southasiadisasters.net July 2018 PREPAREDNESS AGAINST AIR POLLUTION Early Warning Systems for Poor Air Quality: Are Poor Included in Warning?
ccording to the World Health urban air pollution are often polluting factories, or reducing air AOrganisation (WHO), ambient neglected in designing and or urban transportation as (urban) air pollution represents the implementing the warning system. preventive procedures. Yet again, no biggest environmental risk to specific protocols are found to health, which causes around 3 Most early warning systems often prevent outdoor working class from million death each year. In addition, contain a hierarchy of categories for being excessively exposed in the there is a significant geographical different levels of air pollutions most toxic environment. Similarly, difference regarding the exposure to (either for PM2.5 or PM10 only, or a there is no request for employers to air pollution, as citizens in Africa, more comprehensive index of move their workers into safer Asia or the Middle East breathe pollutants). If air quality reaches environment or provide proper much higher levels of air pollutants high risk categories, prescriptions protection even during highest that those in living other parts of such as reducing outdoor activities pollution categories. There is hence the world. One of the key or taking precautionary actions are a pressing need of coordination instruments to reduce the health given to most susceptible groups of between environmental and labour impacts of air pollution is to people such as the elderly, children, rights regulators to reduce the health introduce an early warning system, or people with certain health damage to the low-income and many developed and symptoms (mostly heart, lung and communities. developing countries around the asthma problems). However, there world have such a system in place is rarely any specific Lastly, although forecast warning or are considering to implement recommendation for those who have are important for people to plan one. However, the key question is, to work outdoors during the heavy their (outdoor) activities sensibly, would low income communities, pollution days, who face real-time monitoring and reporting which are the most exposed group disproportional health risks as systems can be also crucial for in cities benefit from such a system. explained. There is a need of more people inevitably being exposed to specific instructions for people the air pollution. Nowadays, only It is increasingly clear that air working on the street regarding the advanced countries like UK and pollution affects the poor in urgency and proper protection via Japan have a combined the particular, who often have to work different communication channels. monitoring and forecasting system in outdoor atmospheres and lack that aim to guide people's long-term proper protective means. At the Relatedly, in the event of extreme and immediate reaction towards air outset, effective protection is costly, pollution scenario, some countries' pollution. such as high quality facial masks or warning system often include indoor air purifiers. Yet beside the protocols such as closing the schools In general, it is clear that the affordability issue, there is a notable to protect children or shutting down ultimate purpose for a warning knowledge and awareness gap system of air pollution is protecting among the low-income communities If air quality reaches high the citizens' health, and all the as many are not aware of the deadly measures and protocols need to be risk categories, prescriptions effect of the toxic air and correct designed to serve this purpose. Since protective means. Lastly, there is the such as reducing outdoor different groups have different issue of immobility, as poor people activities or taking exposure levels and protective will have a harder time in moving precautionary actions are capabilities, economically and away from working and living in socially disadvantaged groups given to most susceptible areas with high levels of air deserve more attention in designing pollution, than their wealthy groups of people such as the and implementing such a system. counterparts. However, these elderly, children, or people – Wei Shen, Research Fellow, affordability, knowledge, and with certain health symptoms. Institute of Development Studies, mobility inequalities associated with Brighton
July 2018 southasiadisasters.net 5 SUCCESS STORIES Early Warning System for Air Pollution in Chinese Cities: A View Source: http://699pic.com/tupian/wumai.html. The Forbidden City before and after haze pollution in Beijing.
n 2013, the State Council issued the Beijing–Tianjin-Hebei (BTH), to the most: level 4 (code blue), IAction Plan for Air Pollution Yangtze River Delta (YRD), and Pearl predicting heavy pollution in the Prevention and Control, calling for River Delta (PRD), have finished next day; level 3 (code yellow), "establishing a monitoring, early establishing the air quality early predicting serious pollution in the warning and emergency response warning center and started publicly next day; level 2 (code orange), system for heavy polluted weather", releasing air quality information, predicting heavy and serious and including heavy pollution which covers 48-hour air quality pollution in alternation for three weather into the emergency trend, urban air quality index, air days; and level 1 (code red), response management system. In the quality level, primary pollutants, predicting serious pollution for three same year, the Ministry of impact on human health, and days. When the orange alert is Environmental Protection (now the suggested countermeasures, etc. released, Beijing will stop the Ministry of Ecology and (Chen, 2016; Wang, 2018). In this earthwork and the demolition of Environment) formulated normative article, the author selected three buildings. Meanwhile, citywide documents to provide requirements representative cases of the early fireworks and outdoor barbecues and guidance for the formulation of warning system for air pollution – will be strictly prohibited. Besides emergency plans for heavy air two major cities and one urban these measures, Beijing will adopt pollution in cities nationwide. By the agglomeration – to generally show odd-even license plate rule (OELPR), end of 2014, 20 out of 34 provinces the recent progress in Chinese air forbid dust-raising transport vehicles, (autonomous regions, pollution control. and stop additional 30% official municipalities) and nearly two- vehicles based on the OELPR when thirds of prefecture-level cities have Beijing municipal government rated the red alert is issued. Kindergartens, prepared emergency plans for heavy air pollution into four warning primary and secondary schools will pollution. The three key regions, levels with severity from the least also be suspended.
6 southasiadisasters.net July 2018 Tianjin adopted three-level heavy pollution is defined when heavy/ reserved for emergency. All coal pollution warning system: level III, serious pollution simultaneously boilers that have not completed the predicting heavy pollution happens in no less than three cities. treatment task within deadline are (200
IMPLEMENTING NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN OF INDIA India's Next Urban Disaster: Air Pollution?
ir pollution should be added as Air pollution affects the health and It is smart for a city to alert Athe newest hazard in India's wellbeing of an entire city. It is National Disaster Management Plan citizens about air pollution. important for Indian cities to (NDMP). In November 2017, the Ahmedabad is leading Indian establish short-term and long-term Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation cities in this regard. targets for pollution control and to (AMC) had issued the first ever Red – Mihir R. Bhatt, AIDMI. support the agencies with Alert to its citizens on air pollution. regulations needed to attain these Ahmedabad has been selected to be production outsourcing, pollution targets. The Central Pollution one of the cities in Hundred Smart and pollution-related diseases have Control Board has Air Quality Index Cities mission of India with such become planetary problems. In which covers 30 cities. It is an scientific capacity and institutional 2015, air pollution caused over 9 important step to establish systems commitment to protect its citizen from million premature deaths, more to monitor pollution and its effects the negative impacts of air pollution. than 2.5 million of these deaths on citizens' health. Similarly, were from India. evaluating the success of Air pollution is indeed a major interventions, guiding enforcement, health hazard in cities. It is the It is high time to integrate air informing civil society and the greatest contributor for pollution- pollution prevention into state and public, and assessing progress related deaths globally (scientific city planning processes. Pollution toward targets are equally important study in the Lancet1). As a cannot be viewed as an isolated to move ahead from measuring to consequence of globalization and environmental issue. reducing and mitigating air pollution in Indian cities.
1 The Lancet Commission on pollution and health (2015), http://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140- 6736(17)32345-0.pdf.
July 2018 southasiadisasters.net 7 Vulnerability Scoping Study in Ahmedabad
Air pollution and climate change Improve end-use energy efficiency; use of non-combustion renewals. are closely linked and share increase combustion efficiency; The diagram is AIDMI’s approach common solutions. In terms of encourage fuel switching; increase on air quality. PM10 levels, 13 cities in India figured among the 20 most- AIDMI's Approach on Air Quality pulluted cities of the world (WHO 2016). The vulnerability scoping study is significant to integrate pollution challenges and control strategies into city planning processes. AIDMI is involved in the conducting vulnerability scoping study in Ahmedabad which led by IIT Delhi and University of Birmingham with partnership of Innovative Transport Solutions and Urban Management Centre. It is supported under the GCRF Networking Grant. The following four are the most common strategies (AR5, IPCC) for reducing GHG emissions of health- damaging air pollutants.
Multi sectoral and organizational Pirana; make the city kerosene free, care costs, and damage to urban partnerships for pollution control are ensuring all buses run on CNG; ecosystems. highly needed for urban intervention. cancelling registration of Government agencies, corporate commercial vehicles older than 15 AIDMI is integrating air quality risk sector, academic institutions, civil years; providing financial assistance in its school safety efforts and local society organizations, local, social and subsidies for the purchase of planning actions. It is essential to and economic institutions like commercial electric/ CNG vehicles; understand the perspectives of schools, hospitals, cooperatives, total ban of manufacturing of plastic vulnerable groups such as children, banks, etc., must act in coordination. bags that are less than 50 microns women, senior citizens, informal Key sectors like health, environment, thick; strict penalty and ban of businesses, traffic police, and casual finance, energy, agriculture, urban biomass burning and burning of labors on air pollution. The support development, and transport are plastic and other waste through of these groups is highly important essential to be involved for effective public discourse; wall to wall in reducing the impact of air long term intervention. Scientific carpeting of roads and build pollution. The schools, hospitals, research on pollution control and city pavements on unpaved roads. The banks, and local industries are an specific actions are needed to recent development of SAFAR app2 important groups to be involved to understand and control pollution in is another very important initiative strengthen precautionary steps, as India. of AMC with Indian Institute of well as reducing and mitigating air Public Health Gandhinagar (IIPHG) pollution at local levels. In addition to Delhi; many cities of and Natural Resources Defense India have high levels of air Council (NRDC) and other partners Though air pollution may not be pollution including Ahmedabad. to inform and encourage citizens of taken up as a disaster due to legal Recently the Ahmedabad Municipal Ahmedabad to take precautionary and technical reasons in India yet, Corporation (AMC), prepared the steps against air pollution. the time has come for National 'Action Plan for Control of Air Disaster Management Authority Pollution in Ahmedabad' over 18 NRDC points out that from a long- (NDMA) and Central Pollution month. The plan includes, converting term perspective, air pollution is Control Board to hold action waste to power on pilot base at very costly. It is responsible for oriented dialogue with citizens on losses in productivity, higher health air pollution in Indian cities. 2 http://safar.tropmet.res.in/ – Vishal Pathak, AIDMI
8 southasiadisasters.net July 2018 IMPLEMENTING NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN OF INDIA Air Pollution: How Clean is the Air you’re Breathing Right Now?
ir pollution has emerged to be (PM10) has degraded not only in plan has been created utilizing the Aone of the greatest industrial clusters like Vapi, recommendations and best practices environmental and public health risks Ankleshwar and Vatva, however has endorsed by civic experts, medical in the world. The World Health additionally in private and business practitioners and community leaders, Organization (WHO) estimates that zones of Surat, Vadodara, both national and international air pollution contributes to Ahmedabad and Rajkot. (Mexico City, Beijing and Los approximately 800,000 deaths and 4.6 Angeles). million lost life years annually.1 Similarly, the GPCB has also classified Ahmedabad (Gujarat's chief Consolidating the efforts of local The threat and impact of air pollution city) as one of the most polluted urban government, scientists and NGO's, is even more severe in developing centers in the world. The degradation eight new air quality checking countries like India. India's Central in Ahmedabad's air quality has destinations in Ahmedabad are Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has additionally brought about genuine creating a day by day Air Quality proclaimed Gujarat as the most health concerns, including Record (AQI) that is accessible to contaminated States in the nation. unexpected life losses, allergic effects, citizens through 11 LED screens Similarly, Gujarat also tops the list of fibrosis, microbial contamination across the city, as a feature of what is the seven states that account for 80% and increased emergency room visits known as the Air Information and of the aggregate waste in country for respiratory illness. All these Response (AIR) plan. followed by Maharashtra and Andhra adverse impacts have led to a serious Pradesh. demand for an air pollution response The Air Information and Response plan. Plan is one of its kind in India and Air pollution is a more critical issue, Ahmedabad is the first city that has especially for developing nations like Realizing the need to address the introduced the air action plan and has India. In highly industrialized states rising threat of air pollution in the taken a small but progressive step like Gujarat, there appears to be a city, the Ahmedabad Municipal towards mitigating the impacts of air critical increase in air pollution levels Corporation (AMC) has taken a pollution. This small step carries the in the recent years. As per the figures revolutionary step. The AMC has potential of saving millions of lives shared by Gujarat Pollution Control collaborated with many stakeholders from the adverse impacts of air Board (GPCB) in its annual report to unveil and implement the city's pollution. 2015-16, the ambient air quality Air Information and Response Plan. This "Cleaning up the air we breathe prevents non-communicable diseases as well as reduces disease risks among women and vulnerable groups, including children and the elderly," says Dr. Flavia Bustreo, WHO Assistant Director-General Family, Women and Children's Health.2 – AIDMI Team 1 World Health Organization, "World Health Report 2002: Reducing risk, Promoting healthy life", World Health Organization. Geneva, Switzerland. Available from www.who.int/whr/ 2002/en/ 2 http://www.who.int/mediacentre/ news/releases/2014/air-pollution/ en/ http://indiatogether.org/air-quality-index-colour-coding-in-india-cities-environment
July 2018 southasiadisasters.net 9 OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD AND AIR POLLUTION Addressing Risk in Thermal Power Stations
aking a serious note of the health risks associated with the several legal measures which are Toccupational health hazards manpower working in a thermal proposed and regulated by the associated with work in coal-fired power plant. government and other safety thermal power plants (CFTPPs) the organizations. These measures are Honorable Supreme Court of India Thermal power plant can cause essential to be followed up for safe has asked High Courts to examine – environmental impacts at all stages working operation and conditions. the safety standards, rules and of the process to society. It can also regulations with assistance of the causes various occupational diseases Some common safety rules and State Governments after calling for and injuries to the workers working. regulations that are essential in the necessary reports from CFTPPs Each occupational disease and injury power plant to follow up: situated in their respective States. has a major effect on economy due • Factories Act 1948 & M.P. /C.G. to loss of productive hour, man- Rules 1962; A thermal power plant uses coal as power losses, compensation to the • The Indian Boiler Act 1923 & fuel for their working. Coal after victims. Therefore, there is a need Regulations, 1950 (Amendment burning leaves ash. Disposal of this to address all occupational diseases, 2007) ash is also one important task. Ash injuries/fatalities through corrective • Water Act -1974 is then exposed to the open and preventive measures. • Hazardous Waste (Management environment and has an adverse & Handling) Rules, 1989. effect on health of living beings. There are several kinds of ailments • Indian Electrical Act 2003 & Rules And people working under such that were recorded in a thermal 1956 environments may suffer from power plant. These included allergic • IS Standards various health problems like skin reactions that interfered with • OSHA Standard 1970 diseases, breathing problems etc. breathing, asthma, emphysema, • Third Schedule (See section 89 and Thermal power stations are also chronic bronchitis, lung cancer, 90), List of Notifiable Diseases, prone to hazards and accidents while pneumonia, tuberculosis, wheezing, The factories Act, 1948. maintaining and operating large stroke, chest pain, shortness of scale machineries such as boiler, breath, cough, irregular heartbeat, Breaches of these laws and turbine, generator, and material swelling in legs and feet (not caused regulations generate hazards which handling, etc. This work emphasizes by walking), skin allergies, High B.P, can cause the harm by generating; on identification of various anxiety, eye irritation and fatigue. • Unsafe activities occupational hazards and injuries, In addressing the risk, there are • Unsafe conditions • Behavioural mishaps. Tackling the health burden of air pollution in South Asia. Tackling http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in
10 southasiadisasters.net July 2018 Following are suggestive causes of Plant Location Hazard and preventive measures: Sr. Plant Hazard Hazard Description Preventive Measures No. Location 1 Coal Handling Fire in coal Storage Regular inspection, water spray, isolation Plant from ignition sources Coal dust explosion in coal conveyer Proper ventilation, spark proof electrical bunker equipment Injury during coal handling like slip and trip Proper PPE's Respiratory problem due to coal dust Dust mask should be provided Catches on conveyer belt Catches on conveyer belt Rail line and other transport line Speed limit on plant area accidents Injury during maintenance on ball mill Training, proper supervision, PPE's Fall from the height during work on Safety belt, safety net should be conveyer belt, conveyer control room, etc. provided, training Struck by falling object Safety helmet, safety net 2 Demineralization Fire hazard Fire extinguisher, eliminate the possible (DM) Water ignition source Treatment Plants Chemical burn by Spillage of sulphuric Wash rinse exposed area, training, acid and caustic soda lye during maintenance, proper supervision unloading, overflow, Damage on storage tank or pipe line High noise level Ear plug, ear muff should provided 3 Boiler System Explosion in boiler due to over pressure Continuous monitoring, maintenance and temperature Explosion in boiler due to improper Regular inspection, maintenance combustion of Fuel Burn injury due to hot water and hot Inspection, maintenance steam pipeline leakage Exposure to the hot surface of pipeline or Regular inspection, maintenance machineries Water tube burst due to Failure in boiler Continuous monitoring, maintenance water level control Fire in diesel supply line Regular inspection, maintenance Burn injury by hot fly ash Maintenance, proper exhaust Catches on the moving part of the Proper fencing on the moving part of machinery like F.D. fans or motors turbine Burst of the equipment body due to over Regular inspection, maintenance pressure and over temperature Sleep, trip and from the height during Training, proper supervision, PPE's routine work, maintenance or inspection 4 Generator and Explosion in turbine due to cooling Regular inspection, Maintenance Turbine system failure Damage on generator due to lack of Regular inspection, Maintenance lubrication in coupling shaft Fire on cooling oil Proper storage, isolation from the ignition sources
References 1 http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in, http://nioh.org/ 2 Ruchi Shrivastava and Praveen Patel, "Hazards Identification and Risk Assessment in Thermal Power Plant" International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT), ISSN: 2278-0181, Vol. 3 Issue 4, April 2014. 3 http://environmentclearance.nic.in/writereaddata/online/RiskAssessment/300420158H81LXH0Annexure- documentofRiskAssessment.pdf – AIDMI Team
July 2018 southasiadisasters.net 11 CHOKING CITIES Air Pollution in Urban India: City Officers and Community Views Photo: AIDMI.
ntroduction namely Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Puri, and 12.3% from females. In the IAir pollution is a major global Chhatarpur, Bhubaneswar, Delhi, survey conducted to identify what public health risk in cities across the Mumbai, Bhuj and Rajkot in India population of the society is aware world. It is one of the highest– was conducted through survey on the ill effects of Air pollution, ranking environmental health forms with concerned community 93.8% of the respondents are aware challenges in the world, especially individuals randomly selected as about the effects. Whereas, only 6.1% in developing countries like India. well as key municipal officials. The constituted of people unaware about In the World Health Organization's survey consisted 10 questions on the impacts of air pollution. (WHO) 2014 urban air quality Effects of Air pollution, percentage assessment, 13 of the top 20 most Vulnerabilities due to air pollution The below two charts give an polluted cities for the worst fine and causes of air pollution in overall outline of vulnerabilities particulate air pollution, are located different cities of India, etc. faced due to air pollution and in India.3 The Indian government simultaneously what are Causes of found that in 2010, average Limitations air pollution in the cities. concentrations of particulate matter While conducting the survey, it was (PM) in the air of 180 Indian cities difficult for the team to approach the The graph–1 illustrates were about six times higher than respondents with the term Air vulnerabilities (Health Issues) WHO standards. High levels of Pollution, as not all of them were caused due to air pollution in pollution are taking a toll on public aware about it. Many explanations percentage. Highest number of health in India. A 2010 study by the were given on Air Pollution to guide people have suffered from irritation Institute for Health Metrics and the respondents to fill up the forms. of the eyes, nose and throat at 61.1%. Evaluation (IHME) estimated 695,000 Whereas, people suffering from deaths in India resulted from air Key Findings shortness of breath, respiratory pollution, with a loss of 18.2 million Total 324 Community individuals illness and cough are on average healthy years of life. and key municipal officials were with 24.6%, 25% and 49% noted from different cities of respectively. Methodology different age group and professions. A Survey on Air Pollution was Considering the gender aspect 87.6% The graph–2 explains the causes of conducted in nine cities across India, participation was noted by males air pollution in the city percentage
12 southasiadisasters.net July 2018 otherwise in waiting time, maintaining or servicing the vehicles properly, Proper maintenance of the vehicles should be done. PUC check should be done on regular basis. • Planting more trees and keeping the environment as green as possible. • Awareness on Air pollution at the larger and in depth level (beginning from school, may be through curriculum and pedagogy). • Stricter and a very transparent Graph-1. 'Environment Impact Assessment' wise according to the respondents. would enable a lot of marginalized of every industrial or related The highest of 64.5% is due to carbon communities to better equip development activity. emissions from vehicles, 59.7% is due themselves against air pollution. to road dust and 60.1% due to Conclusion smokes from industries. Rest other However, following are The survey was conducted as an causes have been noted to below recommendations suggested by the exercise to evaluate the community average percentage with emissions respondents to reduce Air pollution knowledge on Air pollution in the from diesel generator sets at 21.6%, and the adverse effects of air city, its effects and precautions. The dust from construction activities at pollution. analysis suggested that people are 31.1%, and emissions from power • By not burning the garbage and well aware about rise in air pollution plants at 18.8%. making others too aware about and also its impacts. But more the damage it can cause, not knowledge management is required Recommendations burning incense sticks, crackers, to generate awareness among the There is a need to create awareness etc. students and community. among the youth on sustained ways • Turning the vehicle off while – Vipul Nakum, AIDMI to the effects of Air Pollution. This waiting at traffic signals or Graph-2.
July 2018 southasiadisasters.net 13 EFFECTIVE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT Waste–to–Energy from Municipal Solid Waste: Need of the Hour
ackdrop for more virgin material (as dumping truck to fish out BIndia is the second most observed in Fig. 1). The soil loses its recyclables like paper, cardboard, populous country in the world. It fertility while the land is rendered milk packets, polythene, metal, glass accommodates over one-fifth of unfit for residential and commercial bottles and electronic items to be humanity on approximately 5% of applications for at least 1 km radius. sold to recyclers to earn a living. the world's total land and fresh Acids from batteries leach and They are highly vulnerable to water resources. This implies that contaminate groundwater aquifers disease causing pathogens there a huge pressure on the natural making it unsuitable for human proliferating in organic waste, while resources of the country. Generally, consumption. obnoxious gases evolving from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is landfill have potential for creating generated at the tune of Organic waste undergoes aerobic respiratory ailments. approximately 0.4 kg per person per decomposition initially when on top day which magnifies to 197 million layers and anaerobic as it is over- MSW: An Opportunity! metric tonnes per year for our nation. layered leading to biomethanation, Can these MSW serve as an These numbers are sure to create whereby the temperature of the heap opportunity to harness energy and worry for Government and citizens. increases and during daytime other possible resources? In order to The current article is an attempt to reaches to a level where it catches explore the answer to this question, understand this challenge, what the fire as methane evolves and burns let us understand the composition of possible solutions are and how they nearby material like rags, paper and typical MSW and associated calorific can be achieved. plastic. This process leads to value (MJ/kg). Typical MSW shall evolution of greenhouse gases like contain food wastes (variable, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW): A carbon dioxide and methane along subjected to biogas plant), paper (16), Challenge with sulphur dioxide, oxides of plastics (35), textiles (19), glass (0), The impacts .of MSW can be nitrogen and particulate matter, metals (0), ashes, special wastes (e.g. perceived by pollution of land, air where the latter creates a thick layer bulky items, consumer electronics, and water; along with loss of of smog in winters. batteries, oil, tyres) (not subjected to resources and health impacts. For WTE plants), household hazardous instance, MSW dumping at landfill Informal sector comprising of rag wastes, and other non-segregable site leads to loss of resources like pickers work at landfill sites as the material (11) (ISWA, 2013). Thus, if paper and plastic leading to demand waste is being unloaded by the the MSW of desired quality is prepared from incoming raw MSW, it holds potential for energy generation through application of different technologies.
Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Technologies WTE technologies consist of any waste treatment process aimed at reducing the amount of waste going to the landfill and generate energy in the form of electricity, heat or transport fuels. The selection of technology will be governed by the quality and the quantity of the waste for a given site. Moreover, the technologies are evaluated based on net conversion efficiency, Fig. 1. Municipal Solid Waste dumped at Landfill Site. environmental concerns and
14 southasiadisasters.net July 2018 economic feasibility before their biodegradable waste through Timarpur–Okhla Waste implementation. processes viz. anaerobic digestion, Management Co. Pvt. Ltd. landfill with gas capture, (TOWMCL) is an initiative of M/s. WTE technologies can be broadly composting, microbial fuel cells and Jindal ITF (JITF). It is an incineration classified in to thermochemical and fermentation. plant established with processing biochemical technologies. capacity of 2000 tonnes per day Technologies relevant for Indian Anaerobic Digestion is a process (TPD) to generate 16 MW in a public context have been briefly described employing microorganisms to break private partnership with Delhi here. Thermochemical technologies organic matter in absence of oxygen Government in January 2012. It is are employed to recover energy by to produce biogas, a methane-rich first and largest integrated waste using or involving high gas used as fuel, and digestate, a management project established in temperatures viz. incineration, source of nutrients as fertilizer. India. The project is CDM (Clean gasification and pyrolysis. The major Development Mechanism) registered difference in these technologies is the Landfills are significant source of with United Nations Framework amount of air used, temperature greenhouse gas emissions, and Convention on Climate Change prevalent and the output in terms of methane in particular can be (UNFCCC) for earning carbon carbon dioxide and water, or syngas captured and utilized as source of credits. and hydrogen. energy for further applications. The organic matter dumped at landfill Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Combustion is complete oxidation undergoes decomposition and has set-up a 5 TPD biogas plant that of combustible materials and is roughly yields 50% each of carbon decomposes organic waste - highly exothermic in nature dioxide and methane, called landfill vegetables, fruit rejects and stale producing flue gas, ash and heat. The gas (LFG). LFG can be used in boilers, food and converting them into heat produced is employed for thermal uses in kilns (cement, pottery, methane. The gas is injected in generation of a high-pressure bricks), sludge dryers, blacksmith generator to produce 375 units of superheated steam from water that forges, leachate evaporation and electricity to power 250 streetlights. can be either utilized in a steam electricity generation. The digested slurry serves as turbine that is coupled with excellent manure and is used in generator to produce electricity, or Composting is the biological PMC gardens. Based on the success, used to provide process steam. The decomposition of the biodegradable PMC has commissioned 20 biogas ash after removal of ferrous and organic fraction of MSW under plants. PMC has employed non-ferrous metals can be used for controlled conditions to a state combination of technologies viz. road construction and buildings. sufficiently stable for nuisance-free composting, biogas plant, RDF and storage and handling and for safe use gasification to tackle the incoming Gasification is partial oxidation of in land applications. It is one of the MSW of the Pune city. waste in presence of lower amount most commonly used technologies of oxidant than that is required for in Indian context. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation stoichiometric combustion. The (AMC) has facilitated the products include carbon monoxide, Success Stories establishment of windrow hydrogen and carbon dioxide, also In this section, .an attempt to capture composting of 250 TPD of MSW by known as syngas that can be used success stories for few technologies Excel Industries. It produces rich for various applications after syngas viz. gasification, biomethanation and organic manure branded Celrich. cleaning process. It can be used to composting of MSW have been AMC has also entered into an generate high quality fuels, made. The objective was to agreement with Bharuch Enviro chemicals or synthetic natural gas; showcase that different components Engineers Ltd. (UPL Djai Power Ltd.) or can be used in gas turbines and/ of MSW like plastic, paper, rags, for processing of 250 tons of MSW or internal combustion engines or wood and rubber are suitable to be per day into compost and RDF/ can be burned in conventional subjected to incineration/ Pellets & Fluff for 25 years. RDF will burner connected to boiler and gasification based technologies; be used as a fuel in cement industries' steam turbine. biodegradable waste is good boiler. substrate for biogas plant while the Biochemical conversion technologies inert or inseparable debris below 10 Gaps employ microorganisms or their mm serve as feedstock for The incoming quality of MSW is products to transform only composting technology. very critical as the calorific value
July 2018 southasiadisasters.net 15 Epilogue Government is keen on supporting the cleanliness of our cities through initiatives taken by different Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). However, a lot needs to be done. The first step is awareness. Second major initiative is segregation of waste at home in wet and dry waste, thereby decreasing the efforts required at landfill site to subject it to relevant technologies. Third intervention shall be required by ULBs promoting public private partnership and CERC supporting the tariff for power purchase to establish a sustainable WTE plants. Henceforth, the time has come to initiate a chain reaction of creating sustainable WTE plants across the nation and we are poised to create it as we work in consensus. – Dr. Kunal N. Shah, Renewable Fig. 2. Segregation of Waste at Source is the key step for ensuring success of Energy, Environment and Energy WTE Plants. Efficiency (RE4) Research Wing, Gujarat Energy Research and from waste should be at least of Thus, the most important step we Management Institute (GERMI), threshold value to feed in the need to take is segregate waste at Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India proposed thermo-chemical WTE our home or premises before References technology. While dedicated vehicles discarding. This is promoted at 1. International Solid Waste are required for collection of several government infrastructures Association (2013) Guidelines: Waste-to-energy in low and middle biodegradable waste from like Secretariat, Railway Stations, Bus income countries. www.iswa.org restaurants and organizational Stations, and Airports in order to 2. World Energy Council. (2016) kitchens to feed into biogas plants. create awareness among the citizens. World Energy Resources.
Editorial Advisors: Denis Nkala Madhavi Malalgoda Ariyabandu Regional Coordinator, South-South Cooperation Sub-Regional Coordinator, Central Asia & South and Country Support (Asia-Pacific), United Caucasus, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Nations Development Programme, New York Reduction (UNISDR), Kazakhstan
Ian Davis Mihir R. Bhatt Visiting Professor in Disaster Risk Management in All India Disaster Mitigation Institute, India Copenhagen, Lund, Kyoto and Oxford Brookes Dr. Satchit Balsari, MD, MPH Universities The University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell, New York, USA Dr. John Twigg Senior Research Fellow in the Risk and Resilience T. Nanda Kumar programme, Overseas Development Institute Former Chairman, Institute of Rural Management (ODI), London Anand (IRMA), Anand, Gujarat, India
ALL INDIA DISASTER MITIGATION INSTITUTE 411 Sakar Five, Behind Old Natraj Cinema, Near Mithakhali Railway Crossing, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad–380 009 India. Tele/Fax: +91-79-2658 2962 16 E-mail: [email protected], Website: southasiadisasters.nethttp://www.aidmi.org, www.southasiadisasters.net July 2018