How many reports does environment ministry need to act

Air pollution is the greatest threat to human health in India reducing life expectancy by five years with Delhi, the most polluted state, standing to gain it by 10 years on average if annual average pollution levels did not exceed five micrograms per cubic metres, according to Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC)’s Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) released on Tuesday. In contrast, child and maternal malnutrition reduces average life expectancy by about 1.8 years and smoking by 1.5 years, it said.

I am not sure how many such reports does the environment ministry of India need.

Delhi was also the most polluted state with around 9.7 years of life expectancy lost on average as per AQLI’s analysis last year based on the old revised World Health Organisation (WHO) target of 10 micrograms per cubic metre for reducing the burden of disease. As per this year’s analysis, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana and Tripura are among the top five polluted states, which stand to gain the most in life expectancy if the pollution levels are met.

Globally, India is the second most polluted country preceded by Bangladesh, where life expectancy reduced by 6.9 years in 2020 due to poor air and followed by Nepal (4.1 years), Pakistan (3.8 years) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (2.9 years). more

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Prasad U.b.s

Let all the political parties come to a simple understanding on 1) No Tyres burning & vehicles burning by party workers / supporters. Polution can't be controlled without controlling the corruption in Bureaucracy. more

Jun 16

Ashish Rai

Agree fully. Authors note from yesterday's newspaper on the front page too. Construction and vehicular movement responsible for pollution. What is the variable that has increased in the last 22 years? Diesel private cars, especially since diesel remains subsidised at cost to the government exchequer ultimately borne by taxpayers, while benefiting those affluent using cars running on diesel. Despite entire bus fleet getting CNG fitted and the metro in being electric, between them ferrying 90 lakhs to 1 crore passengers daily within Delhi, we witness increasing pollution! So ultimately the solution suggests itself. Diesel vehicles must be replaced with CNG or electric vehicles. Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India Phase II (FAME) promotes this. more

Jun 16

Ashish Rai

Subsidised diesel and laxity in monitoring construction allows pollution. Uttar Pradesh's district Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, along with Haryana's cities, Faridabad and Gurugram rather being part of the national Capital region, while enjoying their respective states' laxity in conforming to pollution rules, contribute to Delhi's pollution. Despite Delhi implementing converting entire fleet of DTC buses into CNG, there remains persistant pollution. Poor bear the brunt, whenever child and maternal malnutrition reduces average life expectancy all caused by pollution. Rich experience little, insulated as they are by air purifiers, or airconditioned environments. Rich simply buy their way running away from the problems. more

Jun 15

Padam Law

Air pollution is the direct fault of the public. We as pubic have to take the right actions. What do you expect the Government to do? Yes, one thing the Govt and legal agencies should do is to straightaway put people in jail for 3 months when they are found breaking rules. more

Jun 14

Shekar Natesh (Textile Engineer)

Construction, Industries, vehicles etc are all responsible for air pollution. None of them can be stopped more

Jun 14

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