Climate Change and Bureaucracy

 

A recent study of the risk consultancy firm Versik Maplecroft says that “Out of the 100 cities that are at the greatest risk to environmental issues such as Air Pollution and natural disasters, 99 are in Asia and 43 in India”. The study covered 576 Cities on indices like Air and water quality, Water scarcity, heat stress, vulnerability to Natural disasters, and Climate change. Worryingly, our National Capital New Delhi comes second after the city of Jakarta.

Other than the Empirical evidence that we are seeing in terms of Cyclone, the poor quality of air, and the Pandemic, this is yet another study that warns India of the perils of the “Business as Usual” Approach. It is high time that we get serious about Climate Change and shift our focus to Action.

Good Quality Air, Water, and Food must be the priorities of India and not Mandir, Masjid, CAA, etc.

Our Environmental indices continue to be poor. Air Quality in Major cities in India is at Warning levels. Water is less conspicuous than air but the quality of Piped water supply in Urban India is much below acceptable standards. Many reports and studies have confirmed this.  

In post-Pandemic India, the focus of the government will be economic recovery and massive Economic Growth. It is desirable since millions have now been pushed into poverty.

However, This Economic progress may come at the cost of the environment. This is exactly what we have to avoid. Famous Broadcaster David Attenborough has warned that if we fail to act now, we will see “Irreversible damage to the natural world and collapse of societies”. He has also mentioned that we are running out of time and the only time to act is “NOW”.

So, what options do we have in India? We want a healthy, progressive nation to be breathing clean air, drinking pure water from the tap, and not be running cancer or oxygen express trains.

We have to adopt a multi-pronged approach if we have to reach our Lofty goals. Few on the policy front and few at the Action Front. 

First, the country must change its energy policy. The regulatory authorities must not be at the hands of retired bureaucrats who run it like government offices delaying Important policies. Technology is fast-changing and if governments don’t adapt to it, the country will lose. Take for example the rooftop solar program in India. The policy goes for revision every financial year-end and it takes 2 to 3 months for the new policy. Till the time no new projects are taken. Solar Energy is now much cheaper than the Grid. So, the Electricity distribution companies (DISCOMS) are incurring losses due to large offtake of rooftop solar projects. Now the DISCOMS are using regulatory authorities and Governments to delay policies, impose irrational duties on imports of solar components, put a cap on solar generation, and so on; so that their financial condition does not worsen. This is hurting both the economy as well as environment. Government must immediately restructure DISCOMS and Regulatory authorities so that both work with the industry and not against each other.

Second, we must bring accountability to the Water distribution system in major cities. Many studies have pointed out that the piped water quality in the city of Bangalore is below acceptable standards. Yet the Government-owned water distribution company is not accountable for it. This indirectly means pollution is unaccounted for. We must bring in strong laws to punish the government-owned bodies and boards when their service is counter to their policies and standards.

Third, Government must stop this subsidy business in promoting solar or bio-mass or any other renewable energy technologies. Technology is galloping. These technologies are affordable and scalable and do not need subsidies. The government is just hindering the offtake of these technologies by introducing subsidies thereby encouraging sub-standards products and technologies (To match their price). Bureaucrats are having merry in the name of subsidies. Subsidies have never done any good for the environment. In fact, Subsidies have harmed the environment. We have the classic example of subsidies on synthetic fertilizers which have ruined the soil and polluted the water.

Fourth, Forests and trees must be regarded as infrastructure. Indiscriminate cutting of trees and forests must be stopped immediately in the name of infrastructure development. Clearing of forests; if required, must be accompanied by a court-monitored action of making a bigger forest in a time-bound manner.

Fifth, Government must use its financial resources and CSR funds for growing forests. Exactly like how major works like highways are awarded, we have to award “Building forests” to private bodies. This will also boost the local Agro-economy and soil health. Growing forest must be regarded as infrastructure development.

Sixth, Cities must be made to pay for catchment management and maintenance. For example, In Bangalore, the water supply board (Or the citizens) does not contribute anything to the catchment development of its two major river basins Cauvery and Kabini. Protecting the pristine catchment of these two rivers is of primordial importance for the city. City water supply companies must take care of and be responsible for the catchment of its source.  

Seventh, Waste is a major problem in cities. The Municipal authorities are not able to handle it and rightly so. The magnitude is too large. Wet waste must be handled as locally as possible. Citizens must be encouraged to compost the wet waste in-house. Or the municipal authorities must make sure that the wet waste does not leave the ward. Centralized management will add a lot of methane to the city air.

Eighth, most cities receive annual rainfall to meet their water requirement and yet we spend plenty of energy and money in conveying water. The country has enough engineering capabilities to manage the city water needs within the city. Large amounts of money and energy can be saved by arresting the runoff from the city to meet its own needs. Many water bodies can be constructed which will cool the city and add to its bio-diversity.

Ninth, City planners must move ahead of setbacks, FAR, etc, and make it mandatory for every house/ society/ factory, etc to have a provision for at the least one tree. Bad Building by-laws coupled with rampant corruption have almost taken out the concept of gardening in the house. Many buildings have come up in the cities with ugly-looking stilt parking and multiple floors with no earth space for either a tree or the rainwater to percolate.

Tenth, At the individual level, we have to work on and quickly adopt local forestry, Rainwater harvesting, Rooftop solar, organic terrace farming, cycling etc. Environment and climate change studies must start with primary school and be continued to every branch of education till graduation.

At a larger level, governments must take all possible actions to reduce or ban plastics. Electric vehicles must be given a strong push. The scourge of corruption must be reduced if not eliminated.

Jargons must give way to actions. Conferences, Seminars, signing of agreements, Meetings, etc are of no avail anymore. What is required is action and action now. We have always regarded nature as God. The God-form of Nature is limited to only talks and self-boasting. In reality, we have abused nature and will soon see her wrath. If we don’t change now, perhaps we can never again.