Nov. 06, 2000
31 paise extra is mere pittance to pay against Rs 2-3 lakhs that is spent on an average on cancer treatment per person in Delhi. Benzene is one of the most lethal carcinogens in Delhi’s air and according to the WHO there is no safe level for benzene. While CSE welcomes lowering of benzene to below 1 per cent level it is appalled at the reported level of the total aromatics in petrol which is as high as 48-52 per cent against the worlds’ best of 25 per cent. If aromatic level is not capped along with benzene levels then the benzene emissions will continue to remain a problem as the benzene emissions from other aromatics in petrol can still be very high

Sept. 22, 2000
After debating over two years on a suitable action plan to curb Delhi’s air pollution all that the Delhi government plans to do is train its gun on old two- wheelers to help automobile industry make more money. If the government cannot take composite and proactive steps, let it abdicate its authority to the judiciary once and for all in the matters of pollution control.

Sept. 18, 2000
India will soon be squeezed to the last drop, if water is not captured where it falls. To inform about solutions to the looming water crisis in India, the Centre for Science and Environment is holding an exhibition in Water Asia 2000 at Hall 7 G, Stall number B 126 to show how communities of India have perfected the technique of collecting and conserving water where it falls, wherever it falls

Aug. 09, 2000
CSE DEMANDS THAT THE USE OF MTBE BE BANNED IN INDIA AS AN ADDITIVE TO PETROL

Aug. 10, 2000
CSE accuses DTC of fooling people about having chanced upon a technique of reducing particulate emissions from diesel buses substantially that may render moving to CNG unnecessary. DTC is bent upon diverting public attention from CNG by initiating a pilot project on diesel buses instead of focussing on the implementation of the Supreme Court order on CNG just 8 months before the deadline expires. Without paying any heed to the urgent need for drastic cut in particulate matter pollution in the city and the Supreme Court directive to give an undertaking on the implementation schedule of the CNG order, DTC carries on with a disinformation campaign on CNG

July 18, 2000
Centre for Science and Environment accuses the Delhi government of trying to sabotage Supreme Court orders to move diesel buses to CNG to reduce the high levels of particulate pollution in Delhi which kills more than 10,000 people every year in Delhi. The Delhi government, influenced by the diesel lobby, is citing selective literature from USA to argue that moving to CNG is difficult.

May 04, 2000
HOW CARCINOGENIC IS YOUR CAR?
New Swedish study conducted for the Centre for Science and Environment states that scientists can even measure the cancer potency levels of the cars we ride. But think twice before you buy a diesel car over a petrol car. The new study has found cancer potency levels of diesel exhaust from Indian cars to be more than twice that from petrol. Meanwhile, a German government study finds diesel cars to be even worse

April 22, 2000
ENVIRONMENTALISTS ANIL AGARWAL (INDIA) AND EARTH DAY FOUNDER DENIS HAYES (usa) WIN THE GEF’s YEAR 2000 GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP AWARD

April 13, 2000
After the Delhi government’s disastrous efforts at meeting the July 1998 Supreme Court directive, it wants to wriggle out of its own mess by trying to get diesel with 0.05 per cent sulphur content accepted as clean fuel. Any such dilution of the Court order on clean fuel would defeat the purpose of reducing risk to public health

April 12, 2000
Automobile industry’s new ‘road map to future emission norms’ promises too little -- too late
Centre for Science and Environment condemns the new schedule proposed by the automobile industry to phase in tighter emission norms for vehicles in the next ten years. What has been ostensibly presented as a "proactive" agenda by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), essentially seems like an attempt to preclude the possibility of getting caught unawares by Court rulings slapping tight deadlines on them. The Supreme Court has made car industry revise the emission standards twice -- Euro I in June 1999 and Euro II in April 2000, within a span of nine months. Despite the proof that the industry can be pushed to get their act together fast their own agenda for action lacks the sense of urgency and is extremely lax

March 31, 2000
"Shut your shop, we cannot put the citizens at risk" tells the Supreme Court to DTC as they fail to meet the deadline to convert all buses over 8-years old to CNG. The Chief Justice bench in the Supreme Court rejects Delhi Transport Corporation’s plea for extension of the deadline to convert 8 year old buses to CNG by March 31, 2000. The ruling further squashed all demands to buy Euro II diesel buses to replace old buses. The Supreme Court will entertain a new schedule for conversion only if the Delhi government gives an undertaking in writing that it will abide by the new commitment, acceptable to the Court, and accordingly fix responsibility

March 28, 2000
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 50 YEARS, THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA VISITS A VILLAGE TO HONOUR ITt
"While it is the responsibility of the government to create a situation where people can develop, it is up to the people themselves to work for achievement of true Gram Swaraj. Village Bhaonta-Kolyala and its surrounding villages have shown how people can do this on their own," said the Hon’ble President of India, Shri K. R. Narayanan, after presenting the "DOWN TO EARTH-JOSEPH C JOHN AWARD" for India’s most outstanding environmental community to Bhaonta-Kolyala village of Thanagazi Block, Alwar District, Rajasthan, here today. The award carries a citation and a cash award of Rs. 1,00,000

March 24, 2000
ENERGY AGREEMENT PRODUCT OF IMMENSE PRESSURE ON INDIAN GOVERNMENT
The US government is using energy projects to break Indian resistance to emissions trading. The Indian government has admirably staved off pressure so far, but the next 8 months will be their real test of fire

March 23, 2000
DON’T PASS THE BUCK TO THE POOR, MR CLINTON
The US is seeking India’s cooperation in energy projects to buy its way cheaply out of international commitments to reduce greenhouse gases, but such cooperation will cost us our future rights to development

March 02, 2000
Centre for Science and Environment expresses strong displeasure at the way the Union Budget of the BJP government this time has shed even the pretence of greening of the Indian economy or setting some sustainable limit for its economic growth. Except four dismissive lines on promises of more funds for afforestation and ecotourism programmes, and improvement of coastal mangroves in his speech Yashwant Sinha has nothing in terms of hard fiscal decisions to push for sustainable growth

March 01, 2000
REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL GREEN POLITICS VITAL, SAYS PRESIDENT
The President of India, His Excellency Shri. K R Narayanan, was presented a copy ofthe Centre for Science and Environment’s latest publication, Green Politics: Global Environmental Negotiations –1, at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan today. "This is avital book," he said, adding that it would go a long way in protecting India’s interest,and those of the third world, in the international forum.

Feb. 03, 2000
GLOBAL WARMING VS. URBAN SMOG
Centre for Science and Environment is shocked by the `expert’ views reported in the media that question the move to replace diesel with CNG, in the name of global warming. This is an attempt to divert attention from the more immediate problem of particulate pollution, which kills 1 person per hour in Delhi

Jan. 2000
'WE SHALL OVERCOME' CLAIMS DELHI CHIEF MINISTER
Addressing visitors to the CSE exhibition on air pollution at the Auto Expo at Pragati Maidan, Delhi’s chief minister expressed optimism that the problem would be solved