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Environment
Clearing the air: Do India’s crop burning bans really work?
In December 2015, the National Green Tribunal instituted a ban on crop residue burning across five states. Utilising satellite data on crop fires and administrative data on fines levied, this article examines the efficacy of the ban. It finds that the ban did have a sizeable downward impact on fire counts – but with a lag of a year, and effects lasting for at most two years.
Yamuna River pollution: Problem of governance, not infrastructure
Despite decades of efforts to clean Delhi’s Yamuna, the river remains severely polluted. In this post, Naina Sharma contends that the situation is reflective of gaps in governance, rather than technical shortcomings. Outlining the problems with sewage management in the capital city and weak enforcement of applicable norms, she emphasises the rationalisation of institutional framework and collective public action to address the issues.
Climate Change: An unfolding public health crisis
Climate change is no longer merely an environmental issue; it is emerging as a profound threat to human health and well-being. In this post, Chandra, Sen Gupta, and Zheng discuss the diverse and complex pathways through which climate change affects health. They contend that by investing in infrastructure, empowering vulnerable populations, and implementing evidence-based policies, we can mitigate the health risks posed by a changing climate.
Addressing water scarcity in Maharashtra: Need for a policy shift
In the 1980s, Maharashtra played a pioneering role in promoting integrated watershed development to address water scarcity. In this post, Tiwale and Sankar contend that in recent years, the state has shifted to technocratic, quick-fix, and fragmented approaches to water management. They discuss two schemes – the Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan and Farm Pond on Demand – and recommend an integrated, bottom-up approach with science-based solutions, demand-side measures and appropriate institutional arrangements
Grain procurement and seasonal air pollution
To provide farmers with stable remunerative prices for their produce, the government commits to buy all surplus grain at minimum support prices. This article demonstrates that when procurement prices are higher, farmers are encouraged to specialise and produce more rice, leading to an increase in crop-residue burning and air pollution. The mortality costs of pollution are estimated to be larger than gains to producers from higher prices
Third Ashok Kotwal Memorial Lecture: Voluntary Carbon Markets: Challenges and Opportunities in Developing Economies
The Ashok Kotwal Memorial Lecture was instituted in 2022, in memory of our founding Editor-in-Chief, as an annual lecture on key issues in development. For the third edition on 11 December 2024, Professor Rohini Pande spoke about voluntary carbon markets, and the associated challenges and opportunities in developing economies. A recording of the lecture is now available to view.
Construction sector and air pollution: Evidence from India
The construction sector has emerged as a significant yet often overlooked contributor to worsening air quality in India. Exploring the link between construction activities and air pollution, this article shows that heavy-duty diesel equipment used on construction sites lead to NO₂ emissions. This highlights the need to incorporate NO₂ reduction targets into national policies, which currently mainly focus on particulate matterThe construction sector has emerged as a significant yet often overlooked contributor to worsening air quality in India. Exploring the link between construction activities and air pollution, this article shows that heavy-duty diesel equipment used on construction sites lead to NO₂ emissions. This highlights the need to incorporate NO₂ reduction targets into national policies, which currently mainly focus on particulate matter.
Does industrial water pollution harm agricultural production?
While toxic foam regularly appears on lakes and rivers in major Indian cities, water pollution has not received as much attention as air pollution. Examining the impact of industrial water pollution on agriculture, this article demonstrates that there is a large, sudden rise in pollutant concentrations in nearby rivers downstream of industrial sites. Despite this, there is no significant impact on crop yields.
Female legislators and forest conservation
While women are known to be more concerned about the environment than men, do these preferences translate into action when women hold political power? This article shows that in constituencies reserved for historically marginalised communities, when female politicians win close races against male candidates, there is an immediate positive effect on forest conservation efforts. In other constituencies, the benefits accumulate over time.
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