WHO study says air in Indian cities among dirtiest

Record ID: 1383117

  • Title: WHO study says air in Indian cities among dirtiest
  • Date: 2nd May 2018
  • Summary: NEW DELHI, INDIA (MAY 1, 2018) (ANI - NO USE MEDIACORP/BBC) DIGITAL BOARD DISPLAYING POLLUTION LEVELS, INCLUDING THE AIR QUALITY AND OTHER PARTICULATE MATTER READINGS IN ENGLISH (SOUNDBITE) (English) ENVIRONMENTALIST, VIMLENDU JHA, SAYING: "So, it's very, very unfortunate and risky because we are looking that the impact that it actually has on children, on pregnant women,
  • Embargoed: 16th May 2018 15:05
  • Keywords: chemical effluents foam dust who report particulate matter traffic yamuna Pollution
  • Location: NEW DELHI/ MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA/ VARANASI, LUCKNOW, UTTAR PRADESH/ LUDHIANA, PUNJAB, INDIA
  • City: NEW DELHI/ MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA/ VARANASI, LUCKNOW, UTTAR PRADESH/ LUDHIANA, PUNJAB, INDIA
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Pollution,Environment
  • Reuters ID: LVA0048E6FGP3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: India should follow China's example and clean up the air in its cities, which are among the world's worst for outdoor pollution, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday (May 2).
    The WHO's database of more than 4,300 cities showed Indian cities such as New Delhi, Varanasi and Patna were among the most polluted, based on the amount of particulate matter under 2.5 micrograms found in every cubic metre of air.
    Delhi was the world's sixth most polluted city, according to the WHO. On Wednesday, air quality in the capital stood at 143 micrograms, which is "unhealthy for sensitive groups".
    India's Environment ministry officials said the WHO's findings were embarrassing but not surprising. The ministry could spend about 7 billion rupees ($105 million) this fiscal year to help cities set up air-quality monitoring systems and buy equipment like water-sprinklers to settle dust, said the officials, who declined to be identified, citing government policy.
    The ministry has also fixed six-month to two-year deadlines to set up monitoring stations in rural areas, run health-impact studies and build air-quality forecasting systems, according to a government document seen by Reuters.
    Globally about 7 million people die as a result of polluted air a year, WHO said, with people living in poor Asian and African countries at most risk.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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