Pollution in news on June 7

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and debates on pollution

Indian research can help cut nitrogen fertiliser waste

Indian scientists manage to identify phenotypes, visibly identifiable features that determine the efficiency with which cultivars use nitrogen

Maths, physics not compulsory to study engineering: Experts differ with AICTE

Some are critical, while others believe the idea is not a bad one

Badlapur gas leak: Locals reported breathlessness, situation under control

The cause of the leakage is believed to be overheating, according to media reports; no casualties reported

Climate crisis in North East India: An outlier in Arunachal, Upper Siang now experiences increased rainfall

Increased rainfall leads to decline in rice productivity: New diseases have emerged, pest attacks on the rise 

Sri Lanka’s inorganic transition to organic farming

Sri Lanka's decision to move to organic farming is not behind its food shortage given that a majority of the farmers have not even started the …

Food security policy formulation: What can India learn from other countries?

Food shortage, inflation, irrational polices: What not to do to avoid economic disasters 

NGT orders shut 15 chemical industrial units in Haryana for flouting norms

Experts express concern, point at state pollution control board for poor implementation

UNEA: Uruguay, Costa Rica back formation of science-policy panel to manage chemicals, waste

The proposed panel on chemicals and waste, is expected to fill the gap between science and policy  

Why India needs to bring back nature-positive farming

The pandemic showed that human interventions in natural processes can have disastrous consequences; we should now scale up natural-positive food …

Ground report from Gurrampanuku: This Andhra village ditched chemical fertilisers for cow urine

Ideation by an NGO, a little funding, collective labour help farmers in Vishakhapatnam go natural

CSE report flags poor state of organic fertilisers, biofertilisers sector in India

There is a widespread availability of inferior quality as well as spurious biofertiliser and organic fertiliser products across the country

Study blames chemical pollution for obesity pandemic

Obesogens are everywhere from water, dirt to food packaging, private hygiene products, house cleaners, furnishings electronics

Most pollution-related workplace deaths in countries with highest GDP: Lancet report

India fares better, ranks 40; United Kingdom worst-performing; United States occupies 18th position

How to replace chemical fertilisers with organic & bio-fertilisers 

Organic and bio-fertilisers should also be made suitable for application through micro-irrigation methods

AVRA Technology Award–2021 presented to Bharat Biotech chairman

Need to create an ecosystem where India innovates and not copies, says awardee Krishna M Ella