Calls for action mount as six Indian cities hit top 10 of air pollution

britexpat
By britexpat

 

Environmental campaigners in India have called for the government to implement a “stringent, time-bound” plan to curb air pollution in cities, as a new World Health Organisation report suggests that six of the 10 most polluted cities in the world are in India.

The report, which contains data from 795 cities in 67 countries between 2008 and 2013, shows Indian cities have some of the highest concentrations of particulate pollution, which can cause fatal damage to the heart and lungs.

According to the WHO, air pollution is currently the greatest environmental risk to public health and causes about 3 million premature deaths globally every year.

Six Indian cities – Gwalior, Allahabad, Patna, Raipur, Ludhiana, and Delhi – rank among the most polluted cities in the world.

The report suggests millions of people in India are at risk of serious cardiac and respiratory infections and diseases because of high pollution levels.

Indian environmental activists condemned Narendra Modi’s government for inaction over pollution. Sunil Dahiya, a campaigner from Greenpeace India, said air pollution levels had spiked in recent years.

“The government has to give up the fossil fuel-based energy and look for cleaner forms of energy, such as renewables,” he said.

“Pollution levels have increased since the last WHO report in 2014, and the government must take it seriously. Right now, no one is really accountable for air pollution in the government.

“They need to make a systematic, comprehensive, and time-bound plan on a national and regional level.”

What is the answer ? Yesterday I read about taxi drivers being given deadline to change from diesel .. but most cannot afford to do so .. they just about get by …

By Mufti Shahid• 15 May 2016 11:00
Mufti Shahid

This clearly shows that they have not visited other Indian cities. If they had, then all the top 10 polluted cities would have been listed from India.

By Molten Metal• 15 May 2016 10:09
Molten Metal

Okay Brit, I bow to your pressure ......... No Comments on this forum untill somebody tried to distort the truth ............... See you at the other forums ......... good luck ....... open ground for you ............

By Wild Turkey• 15 May 2016 10:09
Wild Turkey

brit, you once told me "don't argue with idiots, you're gonna lose." I give you the same advice now.

By Wild Turkey• 15 May 2016 10:07
Wild Turkey

Among the ten most polluted cities is Doha. But according to MM it's just temporary. For sure it is temporary. The pollution will be gone in 150 years when Qatar will be an empty quarter.

By britexpat• 15 May 2016 10:06
britexpat

MM: Please stop with silly comments .. We are talking about pollution which is slowly killing people .. If you want to discuss it then fine otherwise leave it be

By Molten Metal• 15 May 2016 10:05
Molten Metal

On the other hand, Brit, What good are the people from clean air cities are doing to the humanity ? ......... ....

By Molten Metal• 15 May 2016 10:03
Molten Metal

Any body who lives in India for 7 days would feel like as light as a feather ............

A visit to a doctor for breathing / lungs issue would cost you Rs 20 plus a medicine for another 20 Rs ...... so it will cost you a total of Rs 40 ....... 0.597 US Dollar .......... 2.174 Qatari Rial ........... It's not as big a problem as outsiders are trying to make ............

By Molten Metal• 15 May 2016 09:56
Molten Metal

Brit, What do want from the Patna residents ........ Should they walk to their place of work by foot ? ......... Motor transport is an essential ......... where were these WHO workers ? They want to catch the problem from its tail .......... !

By britexpat• 15 May 2016 09:52
britexpat

MM: Do you just argue for arguments sake?

See link for article on Patna

Patna 2nd most polluted city after Delhi? - The Times of India http://toi.in/4myqsa/a18cg via @timesofindia

By britexpat• 15 May 2016 09:48
britexpat

MM: I think you're wrong. This is a major issue which is being raised by many in India .. Even the PM is involved ..

By Molten Metal• 15 May 2016 09:47
Molten Metal

WT, Visit Patna for the first hand knowledge ..............

By Molten Metal• 15 May 2016 09:46
Molten Metal

Brit, Thanks for the reminder ........ You please visit any of six most polluted cities mentioned in the report .... talk to the mayor ......... then compare the WHO inputs ...... Mayor won't accept the WHO findings ...... You please try ...... involve QL if they are serious on the gases which I don't trust they are ...... It's like back biting ........... Media is biased .... always .......... Any QLer from Gwalior or Delhi ? .............

By Wild Turkey• 15 May 2016 09:45
Wild Turkey

Brit, does it matter which thread MM is on?

By britexpat• 15 May 2016 09:41
britexpat

MM: Are you sure you're on the right thread ? We are talking about air pollution in India

By Molten Metal• 15 May 2016 09:38
Molten Metal

Brit, Tell me Which Sponsor / Employer needs even ONE HUNDRED workers { with 200 hands } today .......... ?

Why do anybody bring in those half million souls issue .... ?

By Molten Metal• 15 May 2016 09:35
Molten Metal

Wrong. Where from these billions would come ? How much un employment is there in New Zea Land & Italy and Spain for example ? .......... There is no job for presently living creatures and they ve counted unfounded losses of the unborn souls ......... !!

By britexpat• 15 May 2016 09:05
britexpat

A study published recently in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, suggests that outdoor air pollution in the country is contributing to more than half a million premature deaths each year at the cost of hundreds of billions of dollars.

By Molten Metal• 15 May 2016 08:56
Molten Metal

What has happened in Canada forests fire in the last week ? .......... Are we going to question anybody there ?

How much damage is done by the forest fire ?

How are we going to recover from that huge loss ?

By Molten Metal• 15 May 2016 08:54
Molten Metal

Reports are mixed up & confusing ........ there is some political agenda behind all this ......... may be a European company is about to launch a heavy fees / charges scheme to these cities and fleece the residents which will be taxed for causing pollution ......

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