Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Kolkata is in the grip of rising air pollution: Official ambient air quality monitoring has shown a 61 % increase in particulate matter in just four years (2010 to 2013). The levels exceed standards by 2.7 times. NO2 levels have increased by 13 % during these four years.
According to a study tabled by Mukesh Sharma, professor at IIT-Kanpur and member of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) Committee, at Anil Agarwal Dialogue, 2020, revealed that deaths due to PM2.5 exposure in Kolkata are only second to Delhi.
While air pollution-related deaths at Delhi are 20,000 a year, it is 12,000 in Kolkata. Mumbai is in the third position, with annual premature deaths due to PM2.5 exposure being 10,000, according to data published in ‘India’s State of Environment 2020’; Annual report of Centre of Science and Research on environmental issues that plague India. The report also reveals how pollution is affecting differently on different individuals at Kolkata. Premature deaths per 1-lakh population in Kolkata due to PM2.5 exposure is 80, out of which 35 is due to stroke, 34 due to ischemic heart disease, 6 COPD, 3.5 lower respiratory infection and 1.5 due to lung cancer.
