Delhi most polluted city in the world, says WHO data

GLOBAL REPORT Mumbai fourth on list of megacities battling the problem of poor air quality NEW DELHI:

The Indian capital has once again been found to be the world’s most polluted city and Mumbai ranked fourth, according to air quality data compiled by the World Health Organisation(WHO) for megacities with a population of 14 million or more.

Greater Cairo in Egypt is the second most polluted city, followed by Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka. Beijing has ranked fifth, according to WHO.

An analysis of particulate matter in the air showed about 90% of people across the world are exposed to bad air, which was linked to 7 million deaths in 2016, WHO found.

Globally, ambient air pollution — that caused by industries, cars and trucks, among others — caused 4.2 million deaths and indoor pollution caused 3.8 million deaths in 2016.

India, like many other countries, also suffers under the weight of the dual burden of ambient and indoor air pollution. The WHO analysis shows that many smaller towns and cit20-city Comparison of PM10 levels for megacities with a population of over 14 million for the last available year in the period 2010-2016 study on the health effects of air pollution.”

Activists have slammed the NCAP programme as toothless. “When it is convenient for them, they refer to international studies, when it comes to health impact, they still deny them,” said Sunil Dahiya,an anti- air pollution activist from Greenpeace India.

“The Chinese cities are showing air quality improvement over past years and that is because of the time-bound and sectorial target adapted there which seems to be missing from Indian version of the concept note on NCAP aimed at improving air quality,” he said.

An important feature of the draft NCAP is the formulation of air pollution action plans for 100 Indian cities that consistently flout pollution standards that are to be implemented by each of the states.

Representatives from state pollution control boards have raised concerns about the absence of specific targets and time frames, lack of reliable data and adequate funds to implement the plan.