Air in India among the world's most deadly

New Delhi, February 05, 2012

First Published: 00:12 IST(5/2/2012)

Last Updated: 17:22 IST(8/2/2012)

Pollution in India

India has unhealthiest air in the world, a new study says, confirming the fear that air quality was getting worse because of urbanisation. Of the 132 countries ranked by scientists at Yale and Columbia Universities for the Environment Performance Index (EPI) 2012, India ranks dead last on the parameter - Air (effects on human health) - much behind neighbours such as China, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Even Bangladesh had a score of 13.66 as compared to India's 3.71. "It (the study) tells us that we are heading towards environmental hell to achieve high economic growth," said Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director of the Centre for Science and Environment. Not just air pollution, the study listed India among world's worst environment performers with a rank of 125, down from 119 it held two years ago. Only Kuwait, Yemen, South Africa, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iraq were ranked lower. India's neighbour Nepal was ranked 38, Bangladesh 115 and Pakistan 120.
The study used satellite data to measure air pollution concentrations, unlike the pollution watchdog Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) that does ground monitoring.




"Rising vehicular traffic and increasing industry in and around cities is the cause," said CPCB chairperson S P Gautam. According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, India's auto production has doubled from 7 million units in fiscal year 2004 to over 14 million units in year 2010 largely on the back of a buoyant domestic market. Vehicle exhaust has witnessed eight-fold increased in 20 years and industrial pollution four times in the same period, both contributing to over 90% of country's air pollution. "The economy has grown two and a half times over the past two decades but pollution control and civil services have not kept pace," says the planning commission's 12th five year plan working group report on environment.
The US-based Health Effects Institute in 2010 found that each year, air pollution killed 3,000 people in Delhi, which had particulate matter four times above the national standard. Symptoms include wheezing and coughing, or feeling stressed out or distracted more than usual.

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1.    What is the link to Crisis Management?

The quality of air in India has been declared as the unhealthiest air in the world. The quality of air has worsened compared to two years ago and has been attributed to urbanisation. In 2010, 3000 individuals in Delhi alone died due to air pollution, because air pollution is four times above the national standard.

2.    What stage of Crisis Management does the system appear to be at?

The system appears to be at crisis stage however there does not seem to be much public concern about this. The quality of air is known as the cause to trigger asthma, chronic bronchitis, decreased lunch function, irregular heart beat and premature death in people with heart or lung disease.

3.    How well does the system appear to be handling the situation?

The system does not appear to be handling the situation well. As mentioned, the quality of air in India became worse compared to that 2 years ago. This is due to rising vehicular traffic and increasing industry in and around cities in the cause. There appears to be more concern regarding economic growth rather than controlling environmental damage.

4.    What level of crisis preparedness does the system appear to have?

There is presently no level of crisis preparedness in the system. In fact situations seem to be worsening - auto production has doubled while vehicle exhaust has increased 8 fold in 20 years. The concern right now appears to be more on economical growth and there is barely any sense of environmental health.

5.    What personal reactions/feelings does the description trigger in you?

It makes me very upset because people are dying and there is nothing being done about that. There seems to be more concern regarding economic growth than the quality of life and health of the citizens of India. There should be an equal balance between monetary gains and healthy choices because right now it appears that the rich are benefiting from this and the poor individuals are the ones suffering.

6.    What advice would you offer to those involved?

There are a lot of people involved in this case. There should be a commission set up regarding environment and health safety. A collaboration needs to be reached between economical growth and environmental safety because at present its appears that human health and the environment are being compromised for economic growth.