And last year, India left its counterpart China behind in being more polluted.
As per a report by Greenpeace India, since the year 2011, when China had its most polluted year, conditions have significantly improved. At the same time, India has suffered a setback regarding pollution levels.
While China’s pollution levels decreased by 17 percent between the years 2011 and 2015, India witnessed a 13 percent increase at the same time. The report has also mentioned that North India has the highest pollution levels in the country.
Weather conditions may have played a significant role in increased pollution levels. While the frequency of Western Disturbances was more this year, these systems failed to give enough rain over the Northwestern Plains.
Also, the many systems altered the flow of cold northerly winds which are responsible for carrying away the pollutants from the region. Had it frequently rained, even then, the pollutants could have been washed away.
Levels of pollution have also increased over West Bengal, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. Another point to be noted is that not all the cities are equipped with the air quality monitoring system. Out of 89 cities, only 17 are covered by Air Pollution Monitoring Network in India.
As per the National Air Quality Index (NAQI), some of the most polluted cities include Durgapur, Siliguri and Asansol in West Bengal, Gorakhpur and Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, and Ludhiana in Punjab.
Like China, India also needs to come up with a full-proof action plan to curb pollution levels in the country. Or else, that day won’t be far away, when a mask would become a necessity for every Indian citizen.
Image Credit: bbc.co.uk