Lack of green spaces and long-term exposure to air pollution increase the risk of hospitalisation for respiratory conditions, a new study has said. Traffic-related air pollution is also strongly linked to the progression from asthma to asthma-COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), according to a second study presented at the ERS Congress the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Vienna, Austria. The first study was presented by Shanshan Xu from the Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Norway. The study evaluated the association between respiratory health and long-term exposure (between 1990 and 2000) to particulate matter, black carbon, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and greenness (the amount and health of vegetation surrounding a person’s home). “Specifically, we observed that for each interquartile range increase in these pollutants, the risk of hospitalisation rises by approximately 30 to 45 per cent, depending on the pollutant. Greenness, on the other hand, contributed to a reduced risk of respiratory hospitalisation,” said Xu. But while greenness was associated with a decreased risk of respiratory hospitalisations, it was also linked to an increased number of respiratory emergency room visits, particularly when looking at the co-presence of hay fever. The second study was presented by Dr Samuel Cai from the Centre for Environmental Health and Sustainability at the University of Leicester, UK. Levels of two main air pollutants – particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide – were estimated at each participant’s home address, and a genetic risk score. The team found that for every 10 micrograms per metre cubed higher exposure to particulate matter, the risk of developing COPD was 56 per cent higher among asthmatic patients. “We also found that higher exposure to nitrogen dioxide increases the risk. In addition, if individuals carry a medium-to-high genetic risk score, the risk of increased nitrogen dioxide exposure causing asthma to progress to COPD is even higher,” Dr Cai explained. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
08 September,2024 03:42 PM IST | London | IANS
The stunning hill station, Wayanad, which was one of the picturesque tourist spots, has been toppled like a house of cards. Guwahati, the vibrant northeast city of Assam, which was known for lush greenery and breath of fresh air and a wildlife haven, has been engulfed by the destructive tide. Shahjahanpur, a district situated in the heart of Uttar Pradesh, has been wrecked by a husky push of the flooded rivers. All these events have one thing in common, i.e., earth’s ruthless devastation - a nature’s cry seeking for abrupt aid, wanting to be saved and protected before another chaos hits urban cities. It’s very obvious that when monsoon strikes cities that are already propped up with rivers and seas, they end up surrendering to the escalating water levels, facing the worst nightmare in nature's playground. The ongoing monsoon crisis in several cities across India requires swift aid. Lakhs of people were adversely affected due to these merciless catastrophic floods. If there’s anything that we need to take from the recent disasters in India, it’s that people must and should educate themselves about climate change. A sharp blow by the surging sea levels, a hillside angry descent by destructive landslides, and submerging regions that were sunk like a stone due to the crushing tides of devastation - all these are climate change ravaging, giving warning messages to act before it’s too late. If there's one lesson we must take from nature’s fierce and unforgiving struggle, it’s that we need to educate ourselves about climate change. The storms, fires, and rising seas are not just random acts—they are warnings. Nature is sending us a message, and it’s up to us to listen, learn, and act before it’s too late. So, how did it all happen? To what extent did the chaos shatter the urban cities? On 12th July 2024, the UP’s state relief department stated that 732 villages in 17 districts were fully flooded. In one day’s span, 11 death cases were reported by the state officials as a result of UP floods. The NH24, Lucknow-Delhi Highway, was entirely flooded due to the rising water levels in the Garra and Khannaut Rivers, in Shahjahanpur, obstructing the traffic in the surrounding regions. Mumbai rainfall: The financial city drenched in flood waters For the last few decades until now, India has been witnessing a surge in flooding levels. Mumbai has faced awful destruction, posed by frequent climate changes and extreme shifts in weather conditions, despite the development of corridors and passage channels built in and around the rainfall-sensitive areas. Dating back to July 26, 2005, Mumbai faced a cataclysmic rainfall of 944 mm and flash floods, that submerged the city in deep waters, leaving both the locals and the government in a total mess. This event was an unforgettable one for Mumbaikars and the whole of India, as the city was in shambles, killing 1,094 human lives and several animals. The rainfall has posed an absolute mayhem, destroying the local infrastructure and the surrounding houses. Even the entire transport system, including the local train services, was halted due to the wreckage and havoc caused by the rainfall. As per multiple sources, this event led to damaging 4,000 cabs, 900 BEST buses, and 37,000 auto rickshaws. The surge in water logging only made the situation worse for Mumbaikars and hapless animal deaths engulfed in the deep floods expressed worries on the risk of disease emergence. Five years back from now, i.e., 2020, till 2024, the current period, the Mumbai rainfall has increased the difficulties for the locals, government, BMC, and other officials. While the geographic location is an exception, the city has not done much yet, concerning building proper channels that would give direction for excess flooding-prone areas to survive. The lack of proper infrastructure and disaster management systems in place are leading to harsh weather threats in Mumbai, which is something that needs immediate attention from the government and local bodies. On August 6, 2020, Mumbai faced a heavy rainfall of 293.8 mm within 12 hours. This was a record-setting August rain in a 24-hour window since 1974. The wind speed touched 106 km/hr as against the normal monsoon wind speed range of 10-15 km/hr. This calamity destroyed the nature imbalance, collapsing hospital infrastructure, posing short circuits and power outages in multiple parts of the city, and stranding the train services. This is the same year the deadly pandemic struck the world, putting mandate distancing rules in place. During this period, a rainfall like this made everything impossible and vexing to operate and resolve the flooding crisis in Mumbai. Despite several alerts from the meteorological department, the BMC failed to take swift preventive measures, which left trials of destruction and disorder in the financial city. On July 18, 2021, Mumbai encountered another catastrophic rainfall of 235 mm in 24 hours. All the roads were clogged and jammed with water touching to the neck level, especially the Santacruz–Chembur Link Road. As per the IMD reports, the July month surpassed 1000 mm rainfall rather than the normal rainfall of 827 mm in Mumbai. In the same month, the city also faced two thunderstorms which led to 500 mm rainfall, drenching the entire city. The city received rainfall above and beyond 2,000-mm in July alone, carrying a similar pace since June 1 - the start of monsoons in India. Due to heavy rains in July month, the city also succumbed to fatal landslides in the suburbs of Chembur and Vikhroli, resulting in 32 deaths. On July 1, 2022, the financial city was again drowned in wet, facing severe rains of 250 mm within 12 hours, resulting in flash floods in central Mumbai, posing 19 deaths. The city received above 4000 mm rainfall during the entire year, transcending the previous year’s record. The BMC’s improper management and lack of drainage system upgrades failed to meet the spiking flooding challenges in Mumbai. Moving forward to 2024, the monsoon season moved towards the extreme side, as the Mumbai city’s tagline “the city that never sleeps”, continues to remain sleepless due to the rising rainfall and flood concerns. On July 7-8, 2024, the financial city received 300 mm rainfall, one of the extreme ones in the year so far. Due to this extreme weather event, certain places were waterlogged, hence several buses were rerouted to other directions by BEST. "Heavy rains in some low-lying areas led to waterlogging and disruption of suburban train services," said the BMC. Further, the BMC declared a holiday in the first half of the day for all the schools and colleges, both government and private ones, respectively. “Train services are affected at Sion and between Bhandup and Nahur stations. Rainwater was above the tracks, so trains were stopped for nearly one hour. Now water has receded a bit, so trains are restarting but services are still affected,”said the Central Railway Public Relations Officer (CRPO). Reports claim 5 fatalities due to drowning and electrocution. The city faced a loss of hundreds of crores due to extreme rainfall and floods, resulting in property destructions, business shutdowns, transport immobility, etc. According to the BMC reports, the eastern suburbs of Mumbai, particularly Vikhroli received a record rainfall of 315.6 mm (Automatic Weather System) in between 1 am to 7 am, Powai received 314.5 mm of rainfall, Andheri East recorded 292 mm, Chakala with 272 mm, and Aarey recording 259 mm, individually. The July 2024 rainfall was considered to be extreme, surpassing any July rainfall rainfall in the last 5 years. In a sit-down with Sunil Kamble, a Senior India Meteorological Department (IMD) official, our conversation revolved around severe landslides, unpredictable monsoons, and floods that ravaged several states for decades, including the past two months. With regards to monitoring and predicting rainfall patterns in regions prone to landslides and floods, Sunil Kamble said, “We have surface observational networks all over India. We release the air balloons for taking upper air observations. We have a network of automatic weather stations. We have more than 40 radars in India which take observations every 10 minutes. We have satellite images, the Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) model, the Global Forecast System (GFS) model, and ECMWF model. Additionally, we got ship observations of those who are in the oceans and aircraft observations. We monitor and take all the aforementioned observational network data every three hours, and analyze the whole of India and surrounding countries weather changes. The model predictions depend on the season and weather conditions. Apart from that, the IMD also conducts manual observations every three hours. Every half an hour satellite image observations are taken. The radar takes observations every 10 minutes. The automatic weather stations also give recent updates on weather activities every 15 minutes. We have lightning detectors set across regions to know where the thunderstorm activities are taking place. This cumulative data is taken into consideration before giving the final prediction of the rainfall or heatwave or cold wave activities.” In 2022, the BMC launched the Mumbai Climate Action Plan ( MCAP) to address the rising climate change hassles in Mumbai over the last few years. The aim of MCAP is to focus on the ground reality problems of vulnerable regions in Mumbai city. As per the MCAP 2022 report, Mumbai stands in the 5th position among the world’s cities most at risk of flooding, resulting in USD 284 million monetary loss annually. The 2005 Mumbai flooding event alone posed a USD 690 million loss for the city. Studies claim that, by 2050, such extreme weather events, like floods and rains, will spike the annual monetary losses up to USD 6.1 billion per year. The IMD uses the latest technologies like Doppler Radar, Satellite Imaging, and Numerical Weather Prediction models to enhance the weather forecasts. Kamble, the IMD official said, “We get data updates of weather after every 10 minutes with the aid of radar. The scanning capacity and range of one radar is almost 500 kms in and around. With the help of this radar, we get to know the water content in the clouds, moving direction of the clouds, and where it can reach in 30 min. We also get to know the vertical profile of the wind from the ground to 8 to 10 kms, along with changes in the wind patterns.” As they say, it’s never too late to mend, the MCAP has got everything planned for Mumbai to make it a greener economy. Some of the MCAP 2020 strategies include the creation of an EV cell, 100% electric freight with a shift to rail and water by 2050, 100% electrification of buses by 2050, etc. The C40 Cities Cities Climate Leadership Group has launched a Climate Budget Program in collaboration with the City of Oslo, to aid and assist in building climate friendly cities, and Mumbai is a part of this program among others. To enhance the weather forecasting, the IMD has been working constantly to widen their reach. “We have increased the observational network. Earlier, we used to have only 25 radars, now we have increased the radar by 40, and expect to increase them by 65-70. We are trying to increase the automatic weather stations and observational network. No weather event should go undetected, so with the help of the latest technologies. We are trying to increase the observational network in inaccessible areas, so that we can get the data of those areas like hilly regions,” says Kamble, the IMD Official. According to the BMC FY 20224-25 report, they have allocated INR 31,774.59 crores for capital expenditure. The BMC has a set budget of INR 10,224.24 crores for the activities related to climate change, INR 2,163.8 crores budget has been set for MCAP activities such as plantations/landscaping, rooftop solar, electrification works, and sewage treatment plants in new constructions. The monsoons affect the country from June-September, however, the rainfall pattern has not met the seasonal expectations. The IMD official, Sunil Kamble, said, “Because of climate change, we are not getting the rainfall pattern like before. Earlier, we used to get continuous rainfall for a long period and that’s not happening nowadays. In the month of July, we are getting excess rain, in the month of August, we are not getting as much rain as expected. With the rise of urbanization, the earth’s temperature levels are increasing simultaneously, posing climate change threats - a factor that’s causing floods in the urban cities.” The BMC allocated a budget of INR 10,22,42,430 spanning across 6 sectors. The Urban Flooding & Water Resource Management sector has been allocated INR 9,70,79,774, accounting for 30.55% share of the total capital expenditure. On July 18-19, 2024, Mumbai was again all wet, and got knocked down with 250 mm rainfall, submerging the part of the city, all with flooded waters. Raigad, Navi Mumbai, Konkan, Gandhi Market, Marathwada, and Vidarbha were some of the Mumbai regions that were given heavy rainfall alerts by the IMD. Kamble commented, “We are giving updates 24 hours in advance for flash floods and extreme rainfall warnings. With the aid of radars, we get to know in which area how much quantity of rainfall is likely to take place within the next 3-4 hours. We do NOWCAST, where we make predictions in advance, like in which area there will be a cloudburst or extreme weather situation. Moreover, we send SMS-es to disaster management authorities in every district of India.” The IMD official further added, “Monsoon prediction is always a challenge, especially the rainfall, but still we have the latest technologies compared to developed nations. A tropical weather phenomenon takes place because of convective activities. All the district disaster management authorities should take care of their respective districts. We are giving the district forecast for the next 5 days in advance along with timely updates. The disaster management authorities, district collectors, and local government authorities have to take a call for their district and convey whether it’s orange alert or yellow alert or red alert. Extreme weather events are increasing nowadays. Earlier, we used to face very little extreme weather events but today we are witnessing rainfall of beyond 200 mm in less than 24 hours. Because of climate change and global warming, the monsoon patterns are changing frequently. Hence, all the reports are revised the following day, everyday at 12 to 12 in the afternoon. Plus, we are updating the weather report for the next 5 days twice to keep everyone abreast of the weather forecast.” Landslides in India: A trip down memory lane Landslides, another climate change disaster that wiped several cities and villages in the past in India. The common cause behind recurrent landslides is prolonged rainfall for long hours and the inherent lack of vegetation in the upper regions of the catchment areas. India has a long history of landslide disasters for the last 8 decades and so, and still continues to create a massacre through the brutal force of nature. Tracing back to the previous years, the first worst landslide happened in Guwahati on September 18, 1948. The severity of the event was devastating and tumultuous, claiming more than 500 lives and left the entire village trapped under landslide detritus, as per the report. Another worst landslide took place in the heart of Darjeeling-Sikkim region on October 4, 1968. This region received prolonged ceaseless rainfall for 4 days, which triggered 100s of landslides, swallowing homes and bridges in its fury, smothered the region by the landslide remnants, leading to a loss of 1000 innocent lives. The next worst landslide occurred in Malpa, Uttarakhand, India, on 11th August and 17th August, 1998, in Malpa, resulting in a massive wreck and crimson drops of heartbreak in and around the village. Woefully, the deadly disaster didn’t pose any sign of alert for the people to escape or prepare for sheltering. As per the International Journal of Applied Research 2002, this landslide killed 380 people in the Malpa village. On July 12, 2000, the suburbs of Mumbai was hit by a striking landslide due to heavy rainfall and land erosion, claiming 67 souls. Amboori Landslide in Kerala was the next chaotic one in the climate disaster list. The event took place on November 9, 2001, where nearly 40 people lost their lives due to this landslide disaster. The incessant rains of 82.4 mm slamming into the earth’s soil with mighty force, has caused the landslide to plummet. Another brutal landslide happened in Uttarakhand, called the Kedarnath Landslide, on June 1, 2013. This event happened due to cloudbursts, rapid melting of the Chorabari Glacier, and heavy rains, taking more than 5700 lives. This event was caused by rainfall and floods, dismantling 4200+ villages, and highlighting the lack of proper protection and the vulnerability of Himalayan regions to climate change. If a landslide happens in a remote location, it feels like being trapped in a maze where every exit leads to more torment. This is exactly what happened on July 30, 2014, when a destructive landslide buried Malin village under nature’s unforgiving wrath. This whirlwind of meteorological mayhem has led to a loss of 151 people and 100 people missing, as per several reports. This disastrous event happened due to steep terrain, deforestation, and human activities like quarrying. In 2018, India witnessed another major landslide in Kodagu, Karnataka. This disaster happened between August 10 and 17, claiming 53 souls and destroying 4,056 houses. The landslide was caused due to heavy rainfall, poor management, and deforestation activities. As per the reports, 18,000 people were evacuated from Kodagu due to this landslide. Any slope above and beyond 20° is prone to landslide disasters, and that’s what happened in Pettimudi, Idukki district. This landslide took place on August 6, 2020, at Pettimudi in Rajamala. This disaster event was caused due to relentless monsoon downpour, and the steep terrains carried the victims into nearby streams, making the rescue operations much more arduous. Knowing about the Idukki landslide, two NDRF teams were immediately sent to the disaster place for searching and rescue operations. Even other agencies were tagged along to quicken the rescue search. As per the NDRF report, 65 dead bodies were recovered after a 22-day prolonged rescue search. Some post-landslide event reports state that only 12 people survived and 70 were dead. These unusual disasters are triggered by the effects of global climate change that were primarily driven by irregulated human activities like deforestation, burning fossil fuels, poor construction, etc. Manipur is another state that gets affected due to frequent landslides due to extreme rainfall conditions. In 2022, the Tupul Railway station area got hit by a massive landslide in Manipur, leaving a spree of 61 dead bodies and 18 injured people. In 2023, another landslide devastated the natural balance of Manipur, as this event ravaged the Imphal-Silchar highway resulting in obstructing 500 goods vehicles for drawn-out hours. These frequent landslides in the western Manipur region are due to several reasons such as heavy rains, poor maintenance of hilly slopes, deforestation, lack of proper passages for debris and Ijei river, etc. Wayanad landslide: City revival in progress 2024 hasn’t been the best year for India, as the nation is drowning in debris, floods, and landslides. On July 30, 2024, a stunning evergreen district of Kerala, Wayanad, took a huge landslide blow, driving the whole state upside down like never before. The district faced 570 mm rainfall, which was beyond control for nonstop 48 hours, annihilating everything sparing not even a whisper of what once was. As per several reports, this massive landslide event resulted in over 420 deaths of innocent souls and 397 injured people. Due to incessant rainfall for a prolonged period and extensive deforestation, this landslide event exterminated the lives of several people. Chooralmala, Mundakkai, and Punjirimattom are the three surrounding areas of Wayanad that were adversely impacted by the landslide. Though the official data regarding the deaths and other aspects of the disaster were released, there are some missing details that are still under the search radar of the rescue officials. This event has triggered the government, climate experts and activists, and native locals in particular, highlighting how climate change can turn an entire region or state into a graveyard of shattered dreams. The Gadgil Report, formally known as the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) Report, was headed and chaired by Dr. Madhav Gadgil. The prime reason for this report is to identify and address the key issues of highly sensitive areas in the Western Ghats. Home to a rich tapestry of species, the Western Ghats are recognized as one of the world’s eight premier biodiversity hotspots, as per the UNESCO World Heritage Center. The Gadgil report categorized Western Ghats into Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZs) and ranked them accordingly. The ESZ-1 is considered as highly sensitive and the ESZ-3 labeled as the highly less sensitive ones. To conserve the precious ecosystem, the report recommended stringent regulations on development activities, such as mining, construction, and large-scale industrial projects, and suggested involving local communities for any future decision-making. As far as urban planning is concerned, IMD official, Sunil Kamble, said, “Generally, whenever they plan for drainage or extended corridors for excessive water passage due to floods, they do consider how much rainfall does occur in a particular city. The projections are made based on the urban planning reports of the last 2-3 decades. When rainfall happens more than 100 mm in an hour or in 24 hours, we get flash floods type of situations. So, the planning is done accordingly to ensure less flooding in risk-prone areas during heavy rainfall events.” The Gadgil report has classified the ecologically sensitive areas, however, the government wasn’t happy with the recommendations, claiming that this move would hamper economic progress in states like Kerala, Karnataka, and Goa. Hence, the government brought in a new committee with a new chair head Dr. K. Kasturirangan. After the full review of the report, the new committee eliminated key areas that were once considered ecologically sensitive by the previous committee. As they say, “every action has an equal and opposite reaction”, and the Wayanad Landslide event is a classic case manifesting the failure of implementing the initial Gadgil report recommendations. The government’s poor decision-making led to a huge downfall of what was once known as the verdant paradise for every tourist who visited Kerala. Instead of focusing on protecting the environment that’s prone to dangerous landslides, the government extended the areas for economic development by turning a blind eye to unforeseen future consequences and repercussions. This resulted in the Wayanad tragedy. The report recommended that regions falling under the ESZ-1 category should be properly regulated, asking to limit the human interventions to secure the surroundings and reduce the chances of disasters. All those stern rules were not properly implemented by the government, which led to increased vulnerability to landslides in Wayanad and the bordering regions. This thereby heightened disaster risk in ecologically sensitive regions like the Western Ghats. Commenting on the Wayand case, Kamble said, “IMD has a separate R&D wing to research in diverse areas like agriculture, telecommunication, NWP products, etc. Many research papers were published on extreme weather events such as cyclones, rainfalls, and landslides. For the Himalayan regions, we are trying to have more Doppler Radars, so that one radar can see at least 200 kms in and around the hilly areas, so that no weather events get undetected.” The IMD collaborated with other government bodies like the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to ensure timely dissemination of weather warnings. With regards to the Wayand situation, the IMD official stated, “Whenever there’s a cyclone or thunderstorm threat, the IMD sends SMS alerts and warnings to NDMA of all the cities and regions across India. The NOWCAST report is also sent in advance to the disaster management authorities, railways, district collectors, shipping corporations, power grids, etc.” Funding aid for Wayanad's reconstruction The Wayanad hazard led to considerable chaos and mayhem in and around the region. The district faced a major loss, causing severe injuries and claiming several lives. The seasonal factors play a key role in determining the risk of landslides in specific regions of India. The IMD official, Sunil Kamble, asserted that “Basically, it’s very difficult to make a decision or inform about landslides but in hilly areas when the rainfall quantity is more than 200 mm or extreme rainfall occurs for 2-3 days in hilly areas, the soil gets loose and the possibility for landslides is higher.” To aid the landslide victims and revive the state back to normal condition, various private and government organizations came forward to do their bit. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that the state government would help the families who suffered due to this landslide. The CM announced INR 6,000 for landslide survivors who are staying under the roof of their relatives and INR 6 Lakh for the closest living relative of the deceased person. The initial INR 4 lakh of the total INR 6 lakh compensation will be given from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), and the rest will be sourced from the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF). CM Vijayan stated siblings of the deceased person should prove their blood relation to claim the ex-gratia payment. Additionally, the government announced monetary aid of INR 75,000 to survivors who became physically disabled due to the landslide. The Kerala government sought the center for disaster aid of INR 900 crores to fund the rehabilitated groups and for recovery operations of the landslide affected regions. Moreover, some celebrities and non-profit organizations also showed their support in terms of donations and volunteering assistance. Mamootty and his son Dulquer Salmaan have donated INR 20 Lakh and 15 Lakh, respectively. Apart from that, the duo father-son, also supplied food, meds, ambulances and other important necessities through the Mammootty Care Foundation. Tamil actor Vikram contributed a generous sum of INR 20 lakh to the Wayanad disaster. Yuvraaj, Vikram’s manager, took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, “Pained by the sad news of the devastation caused by the recent landslide in Kerala’s #Wayanad district that left over 150 people dead, 197 injured and several others missing, Actor @chiyaan today donated a sum of ₹20 lakhs to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund.” Actress Rashmika Mandanna showed her extended support to the landslide victims by donating INR 10 Lakhs to the Kerala Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF). The Chiranjeevi family gave a handsome donation to the Kerala Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF). Actor Allu Arjun made a noble donation of INR 25 Lakh to help with the rehabilitation operations in Wayanad. The stylish star took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, “I am deeply saddened by the recent landslide in Wayanad. Kerala has always given me so much love, and I want to do my bit by donating ₹25 lakh to the Kerala CM Relief Fund to support the rehabilitation work. Praying for your safety and strength.” Chiranjeevi and his son Ram Charan, the father-son duo and acclaimed actors, also extended their financial support by contributing a sum of INR 1 Crore to the Kerala Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF). Chiranjeevi took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, “Deeply distressed by the devastation and loss of hundreds of precious lives in Kerala due to nature’s fury in the last few days. My heart goes out to the victims of the Wayanad tragedy. Charan and I together are contributing Rs 1 Crore to the Kerala CM Relief Fund as a token of our support to the victims. My prayers for the recovery of all those in pain.” The rebel star and actor, Prabhas, also joined the Telugu stars club, to help the Wayanad Landslide issue, by making an enormous donation of INR 2 crore. Tamil Movie Actors Suriya, Karthi, and Jyothika together made a substantial donation of INR 50 lakh to the Kerala issue. Fahadh Faasil and Nazriya Nazim collectively made a donation of INR 25 Lakh. Actor Kamal Haasan made a considerable donation of INR 25 Lakh to the Kerala Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF). The duo-couple, Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan, also contributed their share of INR 20 Lakh, to bolster the ongoing operations. Stay updated on weather forecasts Being a step ahead on the weather information can save you from becoming prey to any unforeseen disaster. The IMD official, Kamble, stated, “The IMD is informing all the government bodies from NDMA to chief secretaries during climatic changes to take proper precautions. The IMD is always connected with the WMO (World Meteorological Organization). Whatever we are doing here, the technology we are adapting, all activities are at par with the WMO.” The IMD has three weather apps, namely, Mausam, Damini, and Meghdoot. The Mausam app conveys local weather info, the Damini app informs about the lightning and thunderstorms that are likely to take place, and finally, the Meghdoot app, designed particularly for farmers, delivers tailored crop management advice based on the latest weather trends. All three apps are available on both Android and Apple stores for download. “We have Whatsapp groups of concerned agencies. We send weather forecast emails and SMS-es. We have hotline connectivity with all the district disaster management authorities. IMD does a lot of media workshops, general public workshops, and outreach programs for fishermen and farmers. So that all the information is reached to every user,” added Kamble on educating the masses and widening the reach of information. Since the fake news saga continues in the evolving digital world, the IMD official mentioned a note: “I request that any WhatsApp message or misleading messages are there, you need to go to the IMD official website of the government of India and get the authentic info.” Also Read: How India is combating climate change amid unbearable temperatures
27 August,2024 11:07 AM IST | Mumbai | Krishna PrasadThe words 'wanderlust' and 'avid traveller' are often thrown around among groups of friends, family and on social media bios. While we may boast of our travels, how many of us are really concerned about travelling responsibly on the trip? Now, many may say they throw their garbage in bins, even advise others about it, and use reusable cutlery too. However, eco-conscious tourism doesn't stop there. It is probably the most basic habit you can cultivate to help you on a trip and you are expected to do more. However, what people don't realise is that travelling responsibly also extends to the time when we particularly go sight-seeing and indulge in activities that involve animals, especially because they most often than not, are ill-treated. Every year, August 12 is celebrated as World Elephant Day. While many find the tuskers cute and even share videos of them on social media, it is known that elephant rides are really popular among tourists. Unfortunately, what many people don't know is that most often than not, these animals are kept in unlivable conditions, ill-treated and even chained for long hours, making their life very difficult. India is no stranger to these practices, which are carried out in many parts of the country for religious reasons. As eco-tourism gains momentum around the world, there are many different ways to be careful while travelling to destinations, as a tourist. While people should definitely avoid elephant rides, they can surely participate in conservation of the animals because not only are they one of the most majestic animals on the planet but are also unfortunately endangered species. Patricia Sims, co-founder, World Elephant Day, emphasising on the need to protect elephants, explains, "Who could ever imagine a world without elephants? We love elephants and want to protect them for many reasons including the ancient relationship that exists between them and us. In Asia, in particular they have a long history of domestic use, making them akin to our canine friends in this regard. But even though we have had this long history living with elephants it is important to note that elephants are not a domestic species - they are wild animals living in captivity." They have been our allies in times of need, reminds Sims, because humans have used them in battle or to profit from major economic endeavors such as logging. "In many Asian countries in particular they are and have been revered for their spiritual/religious associations throughout history. Unfortunately, down through time they've also been exploited for money (in this religious and other capacities), but hopefully, with increased awareness building, this is beginning to change." While there are many reasons to care about elephants, the Canadian filmmaker and conservationist, highlights one aspect that will help humans tackle the future. "Elephants are climate change mitigators in many ways. This includes their proclivity to graze on young trees, thereby enhancing carbon capture by the older remaining trees. It's also been found that African elephants are responsible for storing more carbon per unit than does the Amazon rainforest. With runaway climate change all over the world, we need all the help we can get in bringing carbon levels down, and the elephants can be a major ally in this fight." Interestingly, she adds that ongoing studies have pointed out that the animals are resilient to cancer. "By applying these findings, scientists hope to learn how humans may become cancer-resistant, too," she shares. Patricia Sims shares some tips to help in the conservation of elephants Research about the elephant sanctuary you are visiting From the tourism perspective, Sims says it is important to do your homework before you visit an elephant sanctuary as many of them are not ethically run. For instance, the conservationist says the facilities might not be adequate in meeting the many needs of these very large creatures. She explains, "The facilities might also feature such practices as forcing elephants to "paint" pictures (which are then sold to tourists), fostering elephant rides (one should never ride an elephant), and making the elephants perform various tricks for an audience of tourists. Too often the elephants have learned these tricks under extreme duress." Avoid the use of elephants in temple practices In India especially, elephants are still being used in religious ceremonies and festivals. During this time, Sims says, they frequently suffer from the extreme heat, loud noises of firecrackers overhead, lack of adequate food and water, cramped living spaces and more. "The use of elephants in temple practices needs to be phased out. Indian elephant activist Sangita Iyer is doing great work in this regard," she adds. Avoid taking selfies Sims says another practice to avoid is the taking of selfies with elephants because it may not end well. Plant fodder crops If you are a small farmer, plant fodder crops for the elephants so they won't munch on garden plants. If there is an open ground well in your community, work collectively to see that it is covered over. Too many elephants, and other animals also, are falling into these open wells, which are all over India, and perishing in a slow and miserable manner. This year, World Elephant Society, the non-profit organisation that coordinates the activities for the day will be taking a break as they are currently restructuring to spread their message in a bigger and better way. However, they will be actively promoting their message through social media. However, Sims says people can always watch her documentaries, When Elephants Were Young and Return to the Forest, which are available to rent or watch. People can also donate to the organisations of their choice to help them sustain the protection of elephants. Also read: Elephant Day 2022: ‘As policies improve, human-elephant conflict worsens'
12 August,2024 12:01 PM IST | Mumbai | Nascimento PintoThe Southern Railway has decided to sensitise people and create awareness among commuters to not drop food leftovers and garbage on rail tracks, for the safety of elephants A study conducted by Kerala's retired Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, K. Harikumar, has shown that elephants and other wild animals get attracted to the railway tracks by the smell of food leftovers dropped by the passengers. Several NGOs in Coimbatore and Podannur area had already complained to the Railways about elephants getting killed by speeding trains near Tamil Nadu's Madhukkarai. These NGOs, which study wildlife, have found that one of the reasons for the elephants and other wild animals getting hit by speeding trains is the smell of food leftovers dumped by commuters, that attract them to the tracks. They have, therefore, recommended the Railways to create awareness among passengers on this. K. Kalidas of Osai Environmental Organisation, which studies wildlife, told IANS: "Passengers are knowingly or unknowingly throwing away food waste and garbage on the railway tracks and it is rampant between Palakkad and Podanur where the Madukkarai area falls. Several elephants and other wild animals got killed by speeding trains and lost their lives due to this and we found that most of the wild animals are reaching the tracks at the smell of food waste." However, noting that passengers are compelled to throw their waste itmes on the rail track, as dustbins in the train compartments are often overflowing, he said that the Railways must build specific points in railway stations for waste disposal and ensure that there are proper bins in every train compartment. Elephants are spotted in the reserve forest area in a two-km stretch of track A and a three km stretch of track B. Railway officials said that the number of staff deployed to clear the track during the day and at night will also be increased to prevent elephants and other wild animals from reaching the track. In November 2021, three elephants including a calf, had lost their lives after being run over by a speeding Mangalore-Chennai mail train. An arguments had erupted between the Tamil Nadu Forest Department and the Railway officials in Palakkad over this issue and the forest officials were even gheraoed by the Railway staff. A senior Railway official said that announcements are being made now at Palakkad railway station to educate people not to throw waste in forest area as it could attract wild animals including elephants to the track thereby endangering their lives. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
12 August,2024 10:50 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSPrime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of World Elephant Day appreciated the wide range of community efforts to protect the large mammal and reaffirmed the commitment to doing everything possible to ensure that elephants get a conducive habitat. PM Modi also expressed his happiness over the increased numbers of elephants over the last few years. "World Elephant Day is an occasion to appreciate the wide range of community efforts to protect elephants. At the same time, we reaffirm our commitment to doing everything possible to ensure elephants get a conducive habitat where they can thrive. For us in India, the elephant is linked to our culture and history, too. And it's gladdening that over the last few years, their numbers have been on the rise," the Prime Minister said in a post on X. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav expressed pride over the increased number of elephant reserves in the last 10 years. "On #WorldElephantDay, India stands proud for being the home to about 60 percent of all Asian elephants. They embody majestic beauty, hold deep religious and cultural significance, and play a vital role in our ecosystem. Proud that the number of elephant reserves has risen in the last 10 years. Let us celebrate our jumbos and the strong bond we share with them," the Union Minister wrote on X. Every year August 12, is celebrated as World Elephant Day across the globe to reaffirm mankind's collective pledge to conserve one of the most iconic species on the planet. In India, elephants are regarded as National Heritage animals and are deeply ingrained in our culture, a press release issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change mentioned. This year's theme for World Elephant Day is personifying prehistoric beauty, theological relevance and environmental importance. This theme highlights the crucial need to preserve these majestic animals in order to maintain the environmental equilibrium. Back in 2012, this day became the first occasion when this mission was launched to bring attention to the plight of Asian and African elephants. Also read: Elephant Day 2023: ‘As policies improve, human-elephant conflict worsens'
12 August,2024 10:43 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIA white tigress named Meera has given birth to three cubs at Gandhi Zoological Park (Gwalior Zoo) located in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior district, Zoo in charge Upendra Yadav said on Monday. Of these cubs, two are white tigers and one is yellow. Both the tigress and cubs are completely healthy. They are under the supervision of the zoo management and veterinarians. These cubs are born on Sunday night at around 9 pm, he added. "A white tigress Meera gave birth to three cubs in the Gwalior zoo, which includes two white and one yellow cubs last night at around 9 pm. It is great news for Gwalior. They have been kept in isolation right now and will be brought out for the general public after 40 days," Yadav told us. Earlier, around 40 days ago, a yellow tiger Durga had also given birth to three cubs on intervening night of June 28 and June 29, out of which two were yellow and one was white. They have been named today and brought out for the general public. Now, the people visiting the Zoo will be able to see the tiger cubs, he added. "Meera is a white tiger and the male tiger which is the father of the newly born cubs is a yellow tiger named 'Lav'. With these cubs, the number of white tigers has increased to five and yellow tigers to seven in the Gwalior zoo. We have a total of 12 tigers. Currently, Gwalior has a good number of tigers and the maximum number of tigers in the state is in Gwalior Gandhi Zoological Park," the zoo in-charge said. Gwalior Zoo was established by the royal family Madhao Rao Scindia back in 1922, the Gandhi Zoo is actually a section of a larger garden known as Phool Bagh and houses various rare species of animals. The Gwalior Zoo makes for a pleasant outing with family, especially for kids. It is also an attractive destination for enthusiasts who would like to see wildlife in the city, including rare and protected species such as the white tiger. Also read: Gory sight as bodies and body parts continue to be fished out from Kerala This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 August,2024 05:57 PM IST | Mumbai | ANIIt has been a nightmare for people living on the banks of the Chaliyar river in Kerala's Malappuram as ever since the disaster in Wayanad early on Tuesday, bodies and body parts have been found floating in the water and are being removed by the police, and disaster relief personnel, as well as by local people. By now, around two dozen bodies and several body parts have been found and the sight of those engaged in collecting the remains and placing them in plastic covers is heart-breaking. Malappuram's Superintendent of Police S. Sasidharan said it is really sad to see what is happening in the Chaliyar river as for the past three days, dead bodies are being fished out. "It is just not bodies alone but various body parts of men, women, and children. There are two big teams engaged in doing this and they are reaching several areas through which the river flows. Now since it’s three days, chances are that if any bodies are stuck in the mud, they could now start floating," he said. The Chaliyar River originates from Wayanad where the landslide took place and flows on into Malappuram district, located around 80 to 100 km from the place of the disaster. The massive rescue operation involving officials from various defence, police, fire service and disaster relief bodies, besides locals, is currently on at the four worst-affected landslide areas of Wayanad district -- Churalpara, Velarimala, Mundakayil, and Pothukalu. Thousands of people were caught unaware when two landslides took place early on Tuesday. The toll has now touched 283 and around 200 people continue to remain missing as distraught relatives are running from hospitals to sites where recovered bodies are being kept. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who arrived at Wayanad and inspected some of the affected areas and relief camps, said that the authorities will conduct DNA tests on the bodies and body parts recovered from the Chaliyar river. Also read: Overcrowding, mishaps, tech glitch: What’s the solution to Mumbai commuter woes? This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
02 August,2024 10:21 AM IST | Mumbai | IANS
The city of dreams, the commercial capital of the country, the metropolitan hub that attracts people from across the country – with these tags and more, Mumbai has become a symbol of urban development. In the process, it has become a concrete jungle in constant need of infrastructural growth. However, the nature-rich areas that the Maximum City harbours have often been at odds with said development. Mumbai has seen its fair share of environmental movements and campaigns, all aimed at conserving the rich biodiversity that exists within the city. How have nature and wildlife conservation efforts taken shape in a place whose reputation hinges on development and urban planning? We take a look at some of them and speak to people involved in such movements about resolving the constant debate between development and conservation. Saving Aarey While the fight to save trees and homes of Adivasi villagers in Aarey colony has gained limelight in the past few years due to the contentious construction of the metro car shed, the struggle to protect the area from being destroyed has been going on for long. “It has been around 20 years that I have been following all the insidious ways in which the politician-developer nexus has been sabotaging the dairy industry and other natural resources in Aarey colony,” says Rishi Aggarwal, an environmentalist and author associated with the movement. “I have been working with saving mangroves and other development plans for 25 years now. That’s how I came to be associated with the Aarey movement,” he informs, adding, “In fact, in April 2012, when MMRDA called for a public meeting, I was the only one who objected to the car shed being situated in Aarey.” Despite activists protesting against the construction of the metro car shed, the Bombay High Court denied granting forest status to Aarey colony in 2019 and the Supreme Court allowed MMRCL to seek permission for cutting trees from the Tree Authority of India. Now that the project is in place, Aarey residents and activists are still fighting to save the area. “If you are not going to be able to make your MP or MLA lose the election over Aarey, activities like coming out on a rainy day and protesting, hugging trees, making human chains, etc. have questionable outcomes. There’s a need to fight these politically,” believes Aggarwal, whose book ‘Saving Aarey: The Undoing of an Environmental Campaign’ further dwells on the challenges facing the campaign. “We need to have a clear-cut vision plan for Aarey. Just protesting is not enough. Working and fighting for what it is that you exactly want Aarey to look like is the way forward. Do we want tourism? Do we want it as an urban recreation area? Do we want cultural activities to happen here? How do we enhance the ecology, which is in a bad state right now? All this needs to be thought of. If we just keep protesting, after a point, fatigue sets in even within the people of the city,” he adds. Saving Navi Mumbai wetlands Away from the famous Aarey area, another environmental movement has been building up in Navi Mumbai. Residents of the area are stepping up to protect the wetlands in their vicinity, which are also home to the majestic flamingos and other species. “We were walking in the NRI wetland area and saw people hacking the mangroves. We took a video and enquired further. They said the local municipality had sent them to cut the trees. As soon as we started taking the video, they ran away, which in itself means that they were doing something wrong,” informs Shruti Agarwal, who along with her husband Sunil Agarwal, has been a key person in fighting wetland destruction in the area. “Normally, nobody questions. They think everything is right. That is the biggest problem here. But we filed an FIR that day. And that’s how the whole journey for saving the wetlands started,” she states. Navi Mumbai wetlands were going to be used for the construction of a golf course and other residential projects. “They were trying to destroy the wetlands for construction. We found that the entire land was sold. Then we had to file RTIs, collect documents, etc. In 2018, we won in the high court. But the developers filed a Special Leave Petition,” Agarwal further informs. “We are currently fighting for about 80 hectares of land. Navi Mumbai was supposed to be a planned city. You need to consider why an area is allocated for something. You cannot touch a CRZ area. We, as citizens, have to be super active and question things. Our fight has been on for almost 10 years now,” she adds. Will the fight ever end? “Every day we have been able to save the wetland, we count it as a win. It could have been destroyed that day itself. It has been 4-5 years that the SC hearing has not come up. But it’s a win for us to have been able to save it for this long,” she says hopefully. Saving Mumbai wildlife Apart from the development-nature conflict, the city has also been a witness to several instances of human-animal conflicts. Mumbai is home to diverse wildlife including migratory birds and wild animals. There have been instances of leopards venturing into residential areas near Sanjay Gandhi National Park or flamingoes facing a threat due to human activities. In such instances, wildlife conservation becomes important. “My family has been animal-loving for decades and my childhood was spent around community animals and pets. I started getting injured and distressed animals treated since my early school days. I gradually started rescuing birds and snakes in my teenage and since then it has been an ongoing journey with thousands of animals and hundreds of different species,” says Pawan Sharma, founder of Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW), Mumbai. “We have independently and jointly conducted several complex wildlife rescue operations and they all had their own unique set of challenges. One such rescue operation was of an 11-foot-long crocodile which was displaced from its natural habitat during heavy rains in 2015. Another one was safely rescuing a leopard that entered and got trapped in a school in 2012,” he informs. When asked about the biggest challenge that Mumbai’s wildlife faces at present, he is quick to say, “There are various factors like increasing human population leading to increase in development and infrastructure, which in turn leads to more negative human interactions resulting in conflicts. Shrinking open spaces which were crucial urban wildlife habitats form another set of challenges for many species. Increasing light, sound, air, water and soil pollution is also impacting several species and overall biodiversity as a whole.” Navigating human-animal conflict “When we buy forest-facing houses, we get things in a package. As with the mountains, we get trees and fresh oxygen, we need to understand that we will be witnessing the presence of animals that live in the forests leading to interactions with them in day-to-day life,” advises Sharma. “Animals do not understand man-made boundaries and in urban wildlife habitats like Mumbai, sharing space and learning how to deal with them is very important. People need to know and follow basic dos and don’ts to avoid conflicts, accept and respect their presence and evolve together,” he adds. When we destroy their habitat to build ours, they are bound to act in some way. Development vs Nature Given development often forms the core reason for nature and wildlife destruction in the city, it is important to understand ways to navigate this dilemma. In a city whose functioning relies on infrastructural growth, is it easy to let go of development to conserve nature? “We need to see what’s important. There’s no end to development. Of course, if it’s a necessity, there needs to be development. But if it’s a luxurious project, there’s no end to that. Building a golf course by destroying wetlands is not important. Development needs to happen but detailed analysis and evaluation is necessary,” states Agarwal. “If blind development continues, there will be nothing left. We used to make sceneries back in school consisting of mountains, rivers, etc. That’s all we’ll have to show. Once upon a time, there used to be a mountain here. Once upon a time, there was a river, etc.,” she adds. On cutting trees and planting saplings elsewhere to compensate for the same, she says, “If there’s a mangrove in a particular area, cutting it and planting saplings in another area won’t help. It’s like it’s raining in Mumbai but you’re asking someone in UP to wear a raincoat. There’s a purpose the mangrove is here.” Aggarwal, on the other hand, states that people themselves choose development over nature. “The politics of a particular time end up representing the wisdom or lack of wisdom of the masses. What people want is lifestyle and not nature. Everyone is catering to their lifestyle – my house interiors, my car, my European vacation. People might suffer the consequences and complain about the spirit of Mumbai and quality of life going down, but the fact of the matter is nobody is showing their distinct desire for a better environment,” he comments. “There are kids who are talking about climate change and big stuff at the UN. But if you were to ask them to confront their MLA or MP, would they be able to do that?” he questions. “We talk very idealistically or theoretically. But you have to think pragmatically. Do the observations in your street add up? They don’t,” he concludes. Also Read: Dharavi rehabilitation: ‘This is our last peaceful protest,' Mulund residents say
02 August,2024 09:30 AM IST | Mumbai | Raaina JainContinuing greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental concerns are leading to global warming and climate change across the world, including India. Increasing global temperatures are also accelerating melting of glaciers and mountains causing an increase in sea levels. According to a new study, several coastal cities in India are at risk of inundation by 2040 due to climate change-induced sea-level rise. The study by Bengaluru-based think tank Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) said more than 10 per cent of the land in Mumbai and up to 10 per cent in Panaji and Chennai is at risk of inundation by 2040. It also stated that up to 5 per cent of land in Kochi, Mangalore, Visakhapatnam, Udupi and Puri can be submerged due to rising sea levels. The report titled "Sea level rise scenarios and inundation maps for selected Indian coastal cities" examined sea-level change under historical and future climate scenarios in 15 Indian coastal cities and towns -- Chennai, Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Mangalore, Visakhapatnam, Kozhikode, and Haldia, Kanyakumari, Panaji, Puri, Udupi, Paradip, Thoothukudi and Yanam. Mumbai has experienced the maximum rise in sea levels (4.440 cm), followed by Haldia (2.726 cm), Visakhapatnam (2.381 cm), Kochi (2.213 cm), Paradip (0.717 cm), and Chennai (0.679 cm) from 1987 to 2021, the study revealed. Also Read: From Aarey to Navi Mumbai: Mumbai’s ongoing battle to preserve its green spaces in an urban hub "Further, the rise in sea levels will continue until the end of the century under all IPCC shared socioeconomic pathway scenarios in all 15 cities and towns, with the highest rise predicted for Mumbai," it said. Shared socioeconomic pathways are climate change scenarios of projected socioeconomic global changes up to 2100. By 2100, sea levels would rise by 76.2 cm in Mumbai, 75.5 cm in Panaji, 75.3 cm in Udupi, 75.2 cm in Mangalore, 75.1 cm in Kozhikode, 74.9 cm in Kochi, 74.7 cm in Thiruvananthapuram, and 74.7 cm in Kanyakumari even under the medium-emission scenario. CSTEP said that more than 10 per cent of the land in Mumbai, Yanam, and Thoothukudi; 5-10 per cent in Panaji and Chennai; and 1-5 per cent in Kochi, Mangaluru, Visakhapatnam, Haldia, Udupi, Paradip and Puri would be submerged due to rise in sea levels by 2040. Land submergence would be higher in 2100 in Mangalore, Haldia, Paradip, Thoothukudi and Yanam than in Mumbai and Chennai under the high-emission scenario. With flooding events already happening quite frequently in Indian cities, these statistics present a worrisome picture. According to the study, key sectors that will be impacted include water, agriculture, forest and biodiversity, and health. The beaches, backwaters and mangrove forests are particularly at risk, impacting biodiversity and tourism. Haldia, Udupi, Panaji and Yanam -- having significant agricultural areas, wetlands, and waterbodies -- will face inundation due to rising sea levels. (With inputs from PTI)
31 July,2024 10:35 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAfter cancelling the first day of the triathlon, Olympic organisers cancelled the second day of triathlon training in the river Seine planned for Monday after weekend downpours in Paris polluted the waterway but said they were "confident" the medal events would be held this week. In a joint statement, Paris 2024 organisers and World Triathlon said they had taken the decision to cancel Monday's swimming training session because "water quality levels do not present sufficient guarantees" to allow it to take place. The triathlon is the first Olympic event due to be held in the Seine, before marathon swimming in the second week of the Games. A swimming training session slated for Sunday was also cancelled due to the pollution levels. The men's individual triathlon is scheduled to start on Tuesday at 8:00 am (06000 GMT), with the women's individual event to be held on Wednesday. The quality of the Seine's water is dependent on the amount of rain that falls in and around Paris. Heavy downpours of the sort seen on Friday during the sodden opening ceremony of the Games overwhelm the city's sewage system, leading to discharges of untreated effluent into the waterway. The Paris 2024 organisers and World Triathlon, however, said they were "confident" that water quality would improve sufficiently before the start of competition on Tuesday, taking into account the weather forecast for the next 48 hours. After downpours on Friday and Saturday, the sun has returned to the French capital since Sunday morning. Due to an exceptionally wet spring and start to summer, the Seine had been consistently failing water tests until the start of July. Levels of the E.Coli bacteria -- an indicator of faecal matter -- were sometimes 10 times higher than authorised limits. Paris 2024 organisers have the ability to delay the outdoor swimming events by several days in the event of rain. As a last resort, they have said they will cancel the swimming leg of the triathlon and move the marathon swimming to Vaires-sur-Marne, on the Marne river east of Paris. French authorities have invested 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) over the last decade to clean up the Seine. On July 17, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo swam in the Seine along with Paris 2024 chief organiser Tony Estanguet to demonstrate it was ready for the Olympics. Also read: Mumbai’s ongoing battle to preserve its green spaces in an urban hub This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
29 July,2024 10:50 AM IST | Mumbai | AFPThe first training session for triathletes at the Paris Olympics was scrapped Sunday due to pollution in the River Seine, organisers said. Following a meeting "on the water quality" and tests, "a joint decision was taken to cancel the swimming part of the triathlon orientation," a Paris 2024 and World Triathlon statement said. The River Seine was declared clean enough for swimming in tests from mid-July, but doubts remained as to whether the waters would be fit for competition. "Paris 2024 and World Triathlon reiterate that the priority is the health of the athletes. The analysis carried out yesterday in the Seine showed water quality levels that... do not present sufficient guarantees to allow the event to take place," the statement said. Organisers blamed rain in recent days and said they were "confident" water quality would improve enough before the triathlon competition is due to start on July 30. In the event of heavy rain, untreated sewage can be washed into the river. If the quality is below standards a "Plan B" involves postponing the events for a few days or moving the marathon swimming to Vaires-sur-Marne, on the Marne river east of Paris. On July 17, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo swam in the Seine along with Paris 2024 chief organiser Tony Estanguet. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
28 July,2024 12:14 PM IST | Paris | AFPADVERTISEMENT
