Daily PIB Analysis For UPSC/IAS | Free PDF Download- 24th October 2018 -

Table of Contents

Controlling pollution Chinese way

Delhi and Beijing competed with each other for the infamous tag of being the world’s most polluted city. • While the air quality in Beijing began to improve steadily, pollution levels in Delhi kept rising.
2017: the yearly average concentration of PM2.5 (particulate matter with a size of 2.5 microns or less) touched 58 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) in Beijing.
The average concentration of PM2.5 in Delhi in 2017 was 130 µg/m3.
In the same year, the number of “very unhealthy” days (when the pollution levels were very high) in Delhi was 4 times that of Beijing.
The term “airpocalypse” was coined during the great smog that hit the central, northern and eastern China in January 2013.
For nearly a month, an extremely severe haze with record breaking PM2.5 levels engulfed an area housing around 800 million people.
Interestingly, Delhi, too, experienced one of its worst smogs in the winter of 2012
September 12, 2013 China’s State Council: passed the ‘Action Plan on Prevention and Control of Air Pollution’
This Action Plan had clear targets and well thought-out measures to achieve them.
The three key regions identified for priority action were the Beijing– Tianjin–Hebei, the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta.
It set specific pollution reduction targets for these regions. For instance, the PM2.5 reduction target (by 2017) for Beijing–Tianjin– Hebei was set 25% below 2012 levels.
Specifically for Beijing, the Action Plan required that annual average PM2.5 concentration be within 60 µg/m3 by 2017.
Finally, to achieve these targets, the Action Plan defined “10 measures” to guide the development of regional action plans.

the development of integrated control efforts for reducing multiple pollutants;
establishing regional coordination mechanisms;
improving environmental regulations and enforcement;
establishing monitoring, warning and emergency response systems;
clarifying responsibilities of different organs of the government;
accelerating technological transformation;
promotion of energy-saving
environment-friendly technologies;
upgradation of industrial technology;
10.shifting of industries

Based on the ten measures, implementation rules for the ‘Action Plan on Prevention and Control of Air Pollution in Beijing– Tianjin–Hebei region and surrounding area’ were issued by China’s ministry of environmental protection on September 17, 2013.
Beijing is implementing these measures quite seriously.
For instance, in 2017, the quota of new vehicles was fixed at 150,000 cars, with 60,000 allotted only to fuel-efficient cars. In 2018, this quota was reduced to 100,000 annually.
Similarly, in 2017, Beijing retired 300,000 high-polluting old vehicles.
Control on pollution from coal: Beijing has set a target to reduce coal consumption from 23 million tonnes in 2013 to five million tonnes by 2020.
By 2017, it had already been reduced to 11 million tonnes.
To achieve this target, Beijing has closed all four of its big coal-fired power stations and replaced them with natural gas-fired power plants and renewable energy.
Beijing has set some of the most stringent norms for controlling industrial pollution and has strengthened regulatory authorities to enforce them.
In 2016, Beijing’s environmental watchdog handled 13,127 environment-related cases and imposed fines totalling $21.8 million (`150 crore). In 2017, Beijing plans to close or upgrade 2,570 polluting factories.
Beijing has undertaken a massive greening programme. During the past five years, a total of 4,022 hectares of urban green space have been created, including 150 urban leisure parks.
In 2018, Beijing will build five urban forests, 21 small green spaces, 10 leisure parks and 100 km of healthy greenways.
Joint action included retirement of small coal-fired boilers, pollution control in key industries, management of urban transport, control on number of vehicles, improvement in fuel quality, retirement of old vehicles, enhancement of vehicle emission standards, relocation of industries, strict enforcement of standards, clean energy supply, ecological restoration, etc.
The combination of Beijing’s own Action Plan and those of its surrounding regions has paid off. In a short period of four years, the city’s air quality has improved significantly.
In 2017, Beijing recorded 226 blue sky days (good air quality), compared to just 176 in 2013.
In the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, PM2.5 levels have decreased by about 30% between 2013 and 2017. Most importantly, Beijing met the air pollution target it had set for itself in 2013. So, what lessons can Delhi learn from Beijing?

HM

Rajnath Singh today appealed to the people of Kashmir, particularly youth to stay away from gunfight sites during counter- terrorist operations to avoid loss of civilian lives.
He also appealed to the people to participate with fervour in forthcoming Panchayati elections to strengthen democracy and governance at grassroots level.
The Home Minister complimented people of the State for participation in the Municipal Elections. He appealed to all political parties to participate in Panchayati elections.
Mr Rajnath Singh reviewed overall security situation in the Valley and also at LoC and borders with neighbouring country Pakistan at a high level meeting in Srinagar.

SC

Refused to impose a blanket ban on sale and manufacture of firecrackers.
The court however, permitted sale and manufacture of green crackers with low emissions, across the country.
The apex court also fixed the 8 pm to 10 pm time period for bursting of firecrackers on Diwali and other festivals.
The apex court’s order came on a plea seeking a ban on manufacture and sale of firecrackers across the country to curb air pollution.
Refusing to impose a nationwide blanket ban, the court said, firecrackers with only permissible decibel sound limits would be allowed to be sold in the market.
The court also restrained e-commerce websites like Flipkart and Amazon from selling firecrackers which are beyond the permissible limit.
The court asked the Centre to encourage community cracker bursting during Diwali and other festivals in Delhi-NCR.
Meanwhile, the Environment Ministry has launched the Harit Diwali, Swasth Diwali campaign to minimise bursting of crackers.
The campaign has been merged with Green Good Deeds, a movement launched to protect environment and promote good living in the country.

WB Stempede

At least fourteen people were injured, while two persons succumbed to injuries in a stampede in West Bengal’s Howrah on Tuesday following heavy rush of passengers on a footbridge.
The incident was reported at 6 pm, at the Santragachhi junction, confirmed CPRO South Eastern Railways Soumitra Majumdar.
As per the reports, passengers from three trains had crowded over the bridge, which led to the incident.

PMO

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with IT and electronic manufacturing professionals and key industry leaders from across the country in New Delhi tomorrow.
Professionals from about 100 locations across India, are expected to join the event through video-conference.
Mr Modi will also address the gathering. The Prime Minister will launch the “Main Nahin Hum” Portal and App on the occasion.
The portal based on the theme “Self for Society” will enable IT professionals and organizations to bring together their efforts towards social causes, and service to society, on one platform.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, yesterday discussed further advancing of the historical and strategic friendship ties between the two counties.
Over a phone call yesterday, the two leaders reaffirmed their robust strategic partnerships and their determination to develop their bilateral relations to the higher good of their people.
The Emirates News Agency reported last night that the two leaders exchanged insights over an array of international and regional issues, with emphasis on the latest developments in the Middle East region.
The Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition, or the WETEX 2018 kicked off in Dubai yesterday.
Indian pavilion at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre was inaugurated by Consul Economic Affairs, Rahul Srivastava.
The 3 day Exhibition is dubbed as the world’s leading sustainability Fair in the region.
More than 40 Indian exhibitors having expertise in the field of water, solar and renewable energy, electrical, oil and gas, wire and cables etc.
The India Pavilion at WETX 2018 ,set up by the Indian Chamber of Commerce with support of the Consulate General of India, Dubai and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is in line with the vision and commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to have sustainable and inclusive growth for all with access to clean water, electricity and housing.