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New Delhi, 3 June, 2013: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) released the results of Environmental Survey 2013. The survey was carried out in six major cities of India namely- Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai. This survey highlighted some of the key findings on the different environment domains such as overall environment, air quality, water quality, waste and waste management, climate change and green cover.
“Our purpose is to see that issues related to environment and development get embedded in the consciousness of the people, and if we carry out an assessment of people’s attitude and how they view these issues, then clearly we are also creating awareness on the major changes that are required to ensure we move on the path of sustainable development”, said Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Director General, TERI.
He further added that “TERI Environmental Survey 2013 provides a useful basis for initiatives that can bring about effective action on the part of the public, driven by appropriate attitudes and values. The survey is an accurate indicator of current attitudes and values”.
"In order to bring about any improvements in environmental quality in metros, we need to align different interest groups – civil society, government, business. Understanding how people of a city perceive the environment and its quality is key to building such alliances, knowledge networks and specific action points", said Dr. Ligia Noronha, Executive Director, TERI.
The survey revealed that the air quality in the six cities has become worse in the last five years or seen no change. In terms of drinking water quality and its availability, there is a perception that it has improved in all cities except for Hyderabad, where the respondents felt it has worsened. Respondents from Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi and Hyderabad claimed worsening of waste management in their city, while respondents from Kolkata and Mumbai have witnessed an improvement.
Delhi showed dismal performance in terms of awareness in all domains of environment with 70 - 80 per cent of the respondents being unaware of policies on air & water pollution, water availability, waste management, forest conservation and climate change.
The survey indicated that respondents from Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, and Mumbai expressed that the responsibility for improving the state of the environment in the city rested with the government followed by business sector.
The result varied on maintaining a balance between environment protection and development. On the balance between environment protection and development, 30 per cent of the respondents from Chennai prioritised environment protection, while an equal number of respondents said that protection and development should go hand in hand. About 59 per cent respondents from Delhi and 34 per cent respondents from Mumbai also agreed to the latter. Nearly 65 per cent respondents from Kolkata felt that environment protection should be given priority. However, 85 per cent of the respondents from Hyderabad felt that environment protection and development should be treated differently, with almost 50 per cent giving priority to development.
The survey revealed that air pollution is seen to be a big concern in all cities. Transportation is the major source of air pollution, followed by factories in Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai, according to the survey responses. Whereas in Bengaluru, factories were identified as the source of maximum air pollution followed by transportation. Respondents in Hyderabad cited construction activities as a primary source of air pollution.
An overall deterioration was reflected from the responses with respect to forest and green cover . Eighty per cent respondents from Delhi and nearly half the respondents from Bengaluru and Chennai felt that there has been a decline in forest and green cover. While in Mumbai, respondents witnessed no change.
The perception of whether or not climate change was occurring varied across the cities. It ranged from 99 per cent in Kolkata to 41 per cent in Chennai. Temperature variations were experienced in most cities, followed by extreme events and precipitation. Mumbai respondents noted significant changes in rainfall pattern.
Eighty per cent of the respondents from Delhi, 53 per cent Bengaluru, 33 per cent Hyderabad and 23 per cent Chennai felt that waste disposal and waste management has deteriorated. Whereas 53 per cent of the respondents from Kolkata and 46 per cent in Mumbai claimed that the situation has improved. Respondents from Bengaluru, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai felt that impacts of improper waste management on human health is very severe. Respondents from Hyderabad said that these impacts were severe, and an equal number of respondents from Chennai felt these impacts were moderate or severe.
Respondents from Bangalore, Delhi and Kolkata suggested that declaration of protected areas was the best strategy for the improvement of forest and green cover. While respondents from Chennai, suggested for reclamation of wasteland for parks and other such green zones. However, the respondents from Hyderabad and Mumbai felt that the government needs new and improved policies to improve its forest and green cover. To manage solid waste, respondents opted for segregation of waste at the source followed by recycling and reducing the generation of waste as the best strategy.
The total sample of 4039 was divided as a proportion of the total population of the six cities with 401 from Bengaluru, 431 Chennai, 1114 Delhi, 379 Hyderabad, 704 Kolkata and 1010 Mumbai.
(To view the full report, please click:http://www.teriin.org/pdf/Environmental-Survey.pdf)
