Extreme WeatherIn the fourth week of June, 2014, the thermometer reached 41 degree Celsius for three consecutive days. The UV Index, adopted and standardized by the UN’s World Health Organization and World Meteorological Organization in 1994, was at its highest at 11 (extreme risk). During three weeks of June and the first week of July, the UV index had already reached 9 and 10 (very high risk). These measurements were taken in Pune, Karnataka. Auroville does not yet have a monitoring UV Index system (costs: Rs 7 lakhs or about US $ 10,000).High UV radiation may lead to skin cancer and cataract. According to the World Bank, in India cataract has been reported to be responsible for 80% of bilaterally blindness in the country, compared to 50 percent worldwide. India also reported an earlier onset age of cataracts (younger than 60 years) and a high prevalence of cataracts among women. Five states – Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan – and the union territo...
>> More
>> More