There’s more bad news for every environmentalist out there. Air pollution levels in the national capital have been the talk of the town for long now. But a new study has revealed shocking estimates about premature deaths in New Delhi.
As per a study conducted by Germany’s Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, New Delhi’s air will cause as many as 30,000 deaths in the year 2025. Not only this, several cities across the country will see a significant rise in the number of deaths due to air pollution.
As the quality of air in the country deteriorates further, by 2050, cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata could witness up to 130, 000 deaths. As per the data available right now, Kolkata’s air will be the deadliest by 2050 claiming as many as 54, 800 lives.
From chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases to acute respiratory illnesses, toxic air in some of India’s biggest cities will lead to thousands of premature deaths. Heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, and lung cancer will also plague the populace residing in these parts.
As per experts, residential energy is the main source of premature mortality in urban as well as rural areas. Despite several reports of degrading PM2.5 particulate matter levels in several major cities across the country, there’s enough evidence to doubt the attitude of local authorities and government units towards this grave issue.
There’s no denying the fact that with an increase in purchasing power, citizens in India are buying more every minute. The sale of automobiles and two-wheelers has also gone up. This has led to an unprecedented rise in air toxicity levels in many cities across the country. Delhi’s top government hospital All India Institute of Medical Science also reported an increase of 300% in cases related to respiratory ailments. Several eco-friendly measures have been taken by Delhi government and environment-friendly steps have been planned at the center too. But once again, the story of improper and ineffective implementation of plans and policies, continues to plague the Indian concern for the environment.
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