News Highlight
World Bank release a expert committee report on Air Pollution in India.
Findings of Report on Air Pollution
Findings on India
- At least 200 million in India live in extreme poverty and are exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution,
- 47% of the 2.8 billion people exposed to hazardous quality air.
- The report also estimates how many people are exposed to bad air based on the WHO’s new thresholds released last year.
- The thresholds identify concentration of
- ultra-fine PM2.5 particles above 5microgram per cubic metre of air (ug/m3) as unsafe air
- 35ug/m3 as hazardous — exposure to hazardous air is linked with a 24% increase in mortality rate.
- In absolute terms, 1.33 billion (96%) of India’s estimated 1.39 billion people breathe hazardous air.
- The thresholds identify concentration of
Global Findings
- It is the hazardous level exposure, most of which is in people in middle income countries like India and China, that is more dangerous. And among these, the extreme poor are most at risk.
- Among low-income population groups, high proportions of physical and outdoor labour mean that they are faced with heightened exposure and intake of pollutants.
Reasons for Air Pollution
- Constraints in terms of the accessibility, availability and quality of health care provision further increase air pollution-related mortality among poor people
- Experts in India concurred. “This is the double burden for public health. The poorer population is more vulnerable due to lower levels of nutrition and health. They have a range of underlying diseases that enhances their risk. They also have a higher exposure to toxic air pollution because they reside in areas where air pollution control is very weak.
Government Initiatives to Combat the Issue
- National Ambient Air Quality Standards – They are standards for air quality that are set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) that are applicable all over the country.
- Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981– An Act to provide for the prevention, control, and abatement of pollution, the establishing of Boards to carry out the aforesaid purposes, the conferring and assigning of powers and functions to such Boards, and other issues related thereto.
- National Air Quality Index (AQI) – Air Quality is measured using a metric called Air Quality Index (AQI). AQI will display the changes in pollution in the atmosphere.
- National Clean Air Programme – It aims to reduce coarse (particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometre or less, or PM10) and fine (particulate matter having a diameter of 2.5 micrometre or less, or PM2.5) particle concentrations by at least 20% in the following five years, using 2017 as a baseline.
- Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) – The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India is a government-run organisation in charge of air and water quality monitoring, as well as any other pollution-related issues.
- FAME Scheme – To promote electric vehicles that reduce use of fossil fuel powered vehicles
- Bharat Stage Emission Standards (BSES) – To keep air pollutants emitted by the internal combustion engine of vehicles under control.
- Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) – GRAP is a collection of actions that can be implemented to minimise the issue depending on the present level. Based on the Supreme Court’s directives, the Union Environment Ministry issued a notification in 2017 to combat air pollution.
Pic Courtesy : Hindustan Times
Content Source : Hindustan Times