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Mint
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Mint
EVs versus hybrids: Niti Aayog enters the chat
Federal think tank Niti Aayog is examining the lifecycle emissions of electric, hybrid and conventional vehicles to determine which technology is the cleanest, two people aware of the matter said. The move comes at a time when automakers have crossed swords on providing hybrids the same incentives as pure EVs. The study, which began earlier this month, is likely to be completed over the next few months, the people cited above said on the condition of anonymity. Varying incentives for EVs and hybrids across states have sparked an intense lobbying in state capitals, even as the Centre remains neutral to technologies in the quest for clean mobility. 'The need for such a study arose as contrasting claims emerged after some studies claimed EVs are more harmful when the entire supply chain and recycling are taken into account," one of the two people cited above said on the condition of anonymity. Green tussle While Maruti Suzuki India and Toyota Kirloskar, which manufacture hybrid models, say they deserve clean mobility incentives, Tata Motors and Mahindra and Mahindra say they should be reserved for the zero-emission EVs they make. EVs have no tailpipe emissions; however, in 2023, a study by the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, showed that their manufacturing, usage and scrapping emit more greenhouse gases than the same processes for hybrid or fossil fuel-based study also said EV charging required coal-fuelled power, adding to EVs' overall carbon vehicles run on a mix of fossil fuels and a battery, and strong hybrids do not have a charging port like EVs and plug-in hybrids. The Niti Aayog study will take into consideration the full life-cycle analysis (LCA) for all types of vehicles. 'That means all vehicles – two wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheelers, public and cargo transport, everything – and it will also look at all fuel powertrains," said the first person cited above. State moves The Union environment ministry is assisting the study by holding meetings with various stakeholders, the second person added. Email queries to the NITI Aayog and the environment ministry went unanswered. Mint reported on 22 July that while the Centre has maintained its stance of supporting all forms of clean mobility, some states have put their weight solely behind EVs. In a recent amendment to its state EV policy, Chhattisgarh removed incentives for hybrid vehicles. On 22 July, the Delhi government also deferred the enforcement of its controversial EV policy to March 2026, according to a report by news agency PTI, citing transport minister Pankaj Singh. An earlier draft of the Delhi EV policy had proposed equal incentives for hybrids and electric vehicles. 'Analysing use cases of vehicles, as well as the location of the vehicles is critical in an LCA,"said Gurudas Nulkar, professor and director, Centre for Sustainable Development, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics. 'The results from an LCA of a vehicle in Delhi will be very different from that in, say, Pune. That is because of the location of the two cities—w dDelhi is located in a flat region, while Pune is at the foothills of the Western Ghats. These diverse geographies will impact fuel efficiency." Lifecycle emissions Experts also said an LCA includes the emissions of extraction and transport of crude oil in the case of fossil fuel vehicles, as well as emissions in mining of critical minerals for hybrid and electric vehicles. The LCA of a vehicle where its components are imported will be different from that of a vehicle where parts are sourced locally, said Nulkar, an expert in industrial sustainability and environmental management. 'Similarly, different use cases for vehicles will yield varying results. There may be some cases with hybrids coming on top, and some with electric vehicles coming on top. The data used for most LCAs is secondary data, but it is very important to vet that data with physical visits, for instance, to manufacturing locations."
Indian Express
23-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
As monsoon and wildlife cause damages, how the government can protect farmer incomes
Written by Gurudas Nulkar and Milind Watve As farmers across India grapple with unpredictable monsoons and fluctuating market prices, a silent predator is devouring their livelihoods, one crop at a time. Fleeting blackbucks and dancing peacocks might charm city folk, but are turning into a nightmare for farmers. Since the beginning of settled agriculture, wild animals have been known to trample farms and raid crops. Human attacks by carnivores, particularly tigers, are newsworthy, but financial losses inflicted by wild herbivore raids are often underreported. At the Centre for Sustainable Development at the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune, we surveyed over 1,200 affected farmers from the different agro-climatic regions of Maharashtra and conducted in-depth interviews of farmers in the coastal belt of Konkan. Using a mixed-method approach that integrated qualitative and quantitative data, we accessed multiple data sources and used Fermi estimates. Our study noted crop damages by macaques, langurs, blackbucks, chinkaras, Indian gaur, deer, nilgai, sambar, wild boars, giant squirrels, porcupines, elephants, peacocks, and parakeets. Most earlier studies employed a visual inspection to estimate crop damages, but the losses extend beyond that. Farmers face increased expenses for protective measures such as guarding and fencing, and seasonal delays can inflict losses. Indirect impacts include farmers abandoning agriculture or specific crops, shifting to suboptimal farming patterns, and reducing expenses in better agricultural practices due to the impending risk. Even the traditional practice of cultivating kitchen gardens, a vital source of food for many rural families, has been significantly curtailed in regions like Konkan due to wildlife raids, forcing families to incur additional expenses by purchasing vegetables from markets. Then there are losses to society. Farms employ labour, which is a crucial source of income for landless and land-owning individuals. When a crop is destroyed in mid-season, labourers and other downstream stakeholders also face a loss of income. Using these data, we arrived at reasonably fair estimates of net farmer income losses. By accounting for invisible damages and protection costs incurred by the farmers, our study estimates the net agricultural loss in Maharashtra due to wildlife raids to be between Rs 10,000 and 40,000 crore per year. Compared to this, in the period 2020-24, the forest department disbursed a total compensation of Rs 210 crores. Lack of standardisation of damage assessment procedures, farmers' ignorance of protocols, complex bureaucratic procedures, and the fact that compensation covers only conspicuously visible damages while neglecting the indirect losses. The government compensation is a fraction of the actual loss, and the amount does not reveal the enormity of the problem in the state. We studied the Maharashtra Payment of Compensation for Loss, Injury, or Damage Caused by Wild Animals Act, 2023, Government Resolution (GR), and the compensation protocol. For claiming compensation, the GR requires a panchnama in the presence of one official each from the departments of forest, revenue, and agriculture. This is neither easy nor timely, as the procedure sets a 14-day timeline for the panchnama. There is poor awareness among farmers, especially the illiterate ones, and some farmers are hesitant to indulge in the time-consuming bureaucratic claim procedures. Government data between 2020 and 2024 shows that only 48 per cent of the claims were accepted and 37 per cent were paid. The affected farmers were highly dissatisfied with the compensation protocol of the Forest Department of Maharashtra and stated that the damages are often undervalued, and in some instances, the amount recorded on the panchnama is also not fully reimbursed. Some other findings from this study are noteworthy. Among the 1,200 respondents, 24 per cent said that wildlife crop raids are the primary reason for their income loss, while 54 per cent reported discontinuation of at least one crop. In the Konkan survey, our estimates suggest an annual loss of between ₹1,17,000 and ₹1,33,000 per hectare is inflicted upon farmers. When we include damages to kitchen gardens, the combined annual losses in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts are estimated at ₹5,677 crore per annum. Studies from around the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve suggest that crop yields could nearly double at a distance of 5 km from the forest boundary compared to those closer to it. Even with active guarding, there is a 50 per cent loss due to wild animals. Experiments by Watve and his team using his 'support cum reward' method showed that agricultural output near protected areas could increase by 2.5 to 4 times with appropriate support and incentives. As the government confronts the challenge of doubling farmer incomes, a fair, simple, and timely compensation protocol can lead to significant improvement in farmer incomes. Moreover, as three departments are involved in the compensation process, it needs more accountability. Innovative approaches like the 'support cum reward' method can reduce the load on the officials of the forest department. There is an urgent need for empirical research to find the root causes of herbivore raids and assess long-term mitigation measures. India is a megadiverse country. Formulating a clear policy for human-wildlife coexistence and establishing a practical management system are critical for wildlife conservation and securing farmers' future. Every wildlife conflict weakens the trust between farmers and forest officials. This is not a clash between economics and ecology, but rather a call for integrated conservation policies that holistically alleviate the burden borne by farming communities. Successful conservation and coexistence necessitate a balanced economic perspective to ensure justice for those who suffer. Our experience shows that farmers are willing to participate in resolving the conflict and finding long-term solutions, and the forest department will be happy to reduce their administrative work of handling conflict issues, which leaves them more time for conservation. Nulkar is director, Centre for Sustainable Development, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics and Watve is retired professor, IISER Pune, and an independent researcher
Indian Express
04-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Working out of a historic address, a bunch of experts are healing the planet one project at a time
A new village, named Mandede, will soon emerge in Mulshi as a postcard to the future — it is a Net-Zero Climate Resilient Village Project. If the Pune Metropolitan Region achieves sustainable and efficient water usage, a part of the credit would go to a project called Jal-mulya, whose model promotes a cost-price approach to strengthen water security. These are among the many initiatives that are taking shape at an unobtrusive cottage that houses the Centre for Sustainable Development (CSD) at the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE) in Pune. While GIPE has been generating controversies for more than a year, CSD has kept its head down and worked. CSD is one of the core areas of the country where real-world ecological challenges are taken up as projects and worked on by multidisciplinary teams, made up of economists, botanists and energy engineers, among others. CSD's mandate is to engage in research that leads to workable solutions that ensure equitable, inclusive and sustainable growth. It is symbolic that the entrance to CSD is past a butterfly garden that is visited by more than 14 species of butterflies. It is an equally powerful statement that the staff at CSD is 60 per cent women. And that at least five members of the staff cycle to work. Four Steps Ahead One of the successful projects at CSD is Mission Sahyadri. Even the chief minister is interested. The project confronts the crisis in the Northern Western Ghats where mining, tourism, dairy and timber and non-timber industries have depleted natural resources, caused biodiversity loss and degraded the ecosystem. Young people have migrated towards Mumbai for jobs in such numbers that the weaker demographic, such as the elderly, children and women, are bearing the socioeconomic burden. CSD used a range of strategies — from economics to emotions — and after roping in administrators — from the sarpanch to the Collector — have worked out a pathway that not only doubles farmer income and turns back distress migration but also ensures a rejuvenation of the landscape and ecosystem. 'Our theory of change is that what we see are essentially symptoms of something going wrong. We try to delve into the root causes of the symptoms. Every root cause has got some lever of change. We try to engage with that lever,' says Prof Gurudas Nulkar. He is a widely respected expert, with many leadership roles, including being in the Committee on Implementing Green Hydrogen of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. One of Nulkar's books won the CD Deshmukh Award in Economic Literature for 2019 and another received the 2022 Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad Award. Nulkar, one of the cyclists in the team, is quick to add that he does not function alone. CSD is made up of Senior Research Associates Aditi Deodhar, who is also a Founder-Director of Jeevitnadi, a Pune organisation that is working for river revival; Komal Dhiwar, whose areas of interest include Development Economics, Environmental Economics and Circular Economy in the Indian Fashion Industry; Hrushikesh Barve, an engineer, who is passionate about clean energy & sustainable development; and Soomrit Chattopadhyay, whose post-graduation was on Water Policy and Governance. The Research Assistants Pooja Sathe, Shruti Ghag, Nikhil Atak and Vaidehi Dandekar, cover a wide range of interests while Nitin Raut, a project coordinator, is making a transition into the sustainability field after a decade working on government and telecommunications related projects. The staff is split into teams that work in four thematic areas — biomass-based renewable energy, climate-resilient rural development, circular economy and urban challenges. The segment on biomass-based renewable energy involves 'a business model for making uncultivated and degraded lands useful for the production of biomass for India's hydrogen revolution'. CSD is working with Union ministries to deploy this model across India. New beginnings in a new year CSD came into being on January 1, 2023, thanks to two funders, Praj Industries and Ravi Pandit, the chairman and co-founder of KPIT. Nulkar, who had earlier headed the Symbiosis Centre of a Climate Change, saw potential when GIPE approached him. 'The donors had agreed to fund the centre for three years, after which we are supposed to be self-reliant,' says Nulkar. CSD initially worked out of a small room before the team came up at the present address, which was packed with history as Mahatma Gandhi and Md Ali Jinah had stayed here pre-Independence. 'When I was shown this place, I said, 'Yes, this is a place I want,'' says Nulkar. As he and the team immerse into yet another problem, it is evident that their greatest challenge will be apathy or even climate denial from powerful people, such as Donald Trump. 'One can't argue with stupidity. If anybody talks science, that can be argued, but I can't counter a stupid person,' says Nulkar. Dipanita Nath is interested in the climate crisis and sustainability. She has written extensively on social trends, heritage, theatre and startups. She has worked with major news organizations such as Hindustan Times, The Times of India and Mint. ... Read More
