This podcast, ‘Paryavaran Aaj’ the Ground Report’s Daily Morning Podcast, focuses on environmental news and crucial updates from across India for Thursday, October 17.
Host: Shishir Agrawal | Production: Himanshu Narware | Episode: 43
Podcast Overview
Intro (परिचय)
English: The podcast is the “Ground Report Card Daily Morning Podcast,” hosted by Shishir, broadcast on Thursday, October 17. The focus of the program is on important news related to the environment.
Hello, I’m Shishir, and you’re listening to the Ground Report Daily Morning Podcast.
We bring you key updates on environmental issues.
Today is Friday, October 17.
Headlines:
Heavy rains in Mexico have broken a 73-year-old record, triggering landslides that have killed at least 64 people, while 65 remain missing.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reports that atmospheric CO₂ levels reached record highs in 2024, increasing greenhouse gas concentrations.
The Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD) reports that the Ghazipur landfill receives 24,000–26,000 metric tons of waste daily, but 15,000–16,000 tons remain unprocessed.
In Bhopal, temperatures rose to 32°C after 12 days, but air pollution doubled from an AQI of 114 to 235.
Indore witnessed a tragic incident where 24 members of the transgender community attempted mass suicide due to internal disputes.
The central government has proposed partial privatization of state electricity distribution companies, warning that grants will be withheld from states that refuse.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered a halt to illegal sand mining in Balaghat’s Bawanthadi River, citing environmental violations.
Jammu and Kashmir’s “Darbar Move” Returns
Shishir: I recently learned Jammu and Kashmir once had two capitals, Srinagar in summer and Jammu in winter. Wahid, can you explain this dual-capital practice?
Wahid (Correspondent):
When the digital system is working in both regions, why spend millions of rupees and shift thousands of employees just for moving?. And was this decision taken in the interest of the people or for political symbolism?. Because let me tell you, Darbar Move was not just an administrative routine. If we talk about old times, it was established based on environment and geography. It was a proper system because it balanced governance between extreme cold and extreme heat. But today, when technology is everywhere, this decision raises a big question about the logic given regarding the environment. Especially, as I was saying, Jammu and Kashmir both fall into extreme weather zones. Jammu, particularly in summer, sees temperatures exceeding 40 degrees. Whereas in Kashmir, temperatures drop to a minimum of 15 degrees Celsius in winter. That is why Maharaja Ranbir Singh started this system in the 19th century. The purpose was to run the government according to the weather. Because in those days, there was no technology. We didn’t have heating systems, cooling systems, or digital communication. So people adjusted to the environment. And governance had to run according to the rhythm of nature. We can also understand Darbar Move as a model of climate adaptation. When the heat in the plains becomes unbearable, the government shifts to Srinagar. Similarly, when the cold becomes unbearable, they shift to Jammu. But people are asking the same question: a lot has changed now. Climatic conditions have changed. So why spend millions of rupees every year when you have already implemented e-files and e-documentation?. This is the whole matter.
Shishir. Could you tell me a little about the difference in weather and temperature between Jammu and Srinagar during this month of October-November?. Because most of us haven’t lived there, aside from visiting as tourists, and many haven’t even visited. So for their benefit, I would like to know how different it is.
[Wahid] Absolutely, Shishir, this is an important question. Especially if we talk about October and November, the temperature in Kashmir, specifically Srinagar, used to be around 12 to 14 degrees during the day. By night, it would reach 2 or 3 degrees. But it is slightly different in Jammu. The temperature there remains around 25 to 27 degrees. And that is why, even in winter, most people from Kashmir used to shift to Jammu because the weather is better for them in Jammu. It’s not that cold, and there is no snow in the plains, so it is easy for them to work and live there. So, this is the whole matter, especially regarding the weather.
[Shishir] Thank you so much, Wahid, for explaining this. This is also new information for me that such a system exists. It is possible that a similar or related system exists in other parts of the country. If I come across any such information, I will definitely mention it later in the podcast. But for now, I don’t know about it. Now, I move on.
Many things related to electricity keep happening in the country and the world. And when talking about electricity in India, there has been a lot of discussion about Adani Power Plants in the past few years. We see the NGT proceedings, and Adani is constantly mentioned. There is news related to this, which I want to know about in detail from my colleague Pallav. Pallav, please explain the whole matter I am referring to.
Adani Power and Policy Changes
Shishir: Let’s turn to another major issue, electricity and the Adani power plants. Pallav, tell us more.
Pallav (Correspondent):
The case involves Adani Power’s Godda Thermal Power Plant in Jharkhand, a 1,600 MW facility burning coal imported from Adani’s Carmichael mine in Australia.
Declared a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in 2019, it supplied all electricity to Bangladesh.
After regime change in Bangladesh, demand dropped. A week after Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India, the Indian government amended electricity export-import guidelines (August 12, 2024), allowing Adani to sell power within India.
Critics allege that these policy changes favor Adani.
Reports by The New York Times and Indian Express claim India eased duties, taxes, and domestic supply obligations to support the project. Only 25% of power was supposed to serve local needs, but Adani was exempted.
Funding came largely from India’s state-run Power Finance Corporation and Rural Electrification Corporation.
Opposition parties question why government rules are repeatedly altered to benefit a single conglomerate.
Segment: Privatization and Public Welfare
Shishir: I’m worried that essential sectors like power are shifting to private hands. The central government has pushed states to privatize distribution companies, even threatening to halt grants. Madhya Pradesh has declared power supply an essential service until January 2026 to prevent worker strikes over pay disparities.
Are we losing the welfare-state spirit?
Pallav:
Privatization may boost infrastructure, but concerns about higher tariffs remain. People report inflated bills after installing Adani smart meters. The government must balance private participation with consumer protection.
Closing Segment:
Shishir: Before ending, one more key report, Between 2024–25, 15 million people in India were affected by forest fires, mostly in Uttar Pradesh. These fires also worsened Delhi’s smog last November. That’s all for today’s podcast.
English Summary
The podcast covers several critical national and international developments. Key environmental news includes Mexico breaking a 73-year rainfall record, leading to 64 deaths, and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reporting that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels hit a record high in 2024, exacerbating extreme weather events globally. Domestically, Delhi’s Ghazipur landfill remains overwhelmed, with 15,000 to 16,000 tons of waste unprocessed daily, despite government efforts to eliminate landfills. Meanwhile, Bhopal recorded a sharp increase in Air Quality Index (AQI), doubling to 235, attributed to fireworks and dust from road repairs. A tragic incident was reported in Indore where 24 members of the transgender community attempted mass suicide due to internal conflict.
The discussion pivots to governance and policy:
1. Jammu & Kashmir Darbar Move Restoration: Despite being halted in 2021 by LG Manoj Sinha citing financial waste and the move towards paperless e-governance, the J&K government issued an order (Order No. 1357 on October 16, 2025) to restore the costly Darbar Move practice where the capital shifts between Srinagar (Summer) and Jammu (Winter). The practice, which began in 1872 due to extreme weather conditions, is now being questioned by the public as digital systems are operational.
2. Adani Power Plant Controversy: The Godda Power Plant in Jharkhand (1600 MW, initially an SEZ supplying only Bangladesh) came under scrutiny after the Indian government amended cross-border electricity guidelines on August 12, 2024. This rule change allows Adani to supply the generated power to the Indian grid, despite the plant being highly controversial for supplying expensive electricity to Bangladesh and for receiving huge exemptions (custom duties, 100% supply waiver for the host state) and financing (72% from two Indian government corporations). Critics allege the government changed rules to rescue the industrialist after Bangladesh reduced demand.
3. Electricity Privatization: The Central Government is pressuring states to privatize electricity distribution companies, threatening to cut grants if they fail to choose one of the three proposed options (including selling 26-51% stake or SEBI listing). Madhya Pradesh implemented the Essential Services Maintenance Act on its power companies until January 15, 2026, preventing employee strikes related to demands like equal pay. The conversation concludes with concerns about the burden of rising electricity bills (linked to smart meters) on the middle class and the future of the welfare state model.
4. Forest Fires: Finally, the impact of forest fires is highlighted, affecting 15 million people in India in 2024-25, with UP being the worst-hit state.
For feedback, write to me at shishiragrwal007@gmail.com or message me on Twitter @shishiragrwal or Facebook (Shishir Basant). We’ll be back tomorrow with more ground-level environmental news on groundreport.in.
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