Chinese premier Li Keqiang has declared war on the toxic quality of air in cities in his country. It is because of the apprehension that air pollution may lead to a crisis which may be comparable to a nuclear winter. Li rightly thinks that environmental problems in China have hit rock bottom. The growth pattern in that giant economy has been skewed by the alarming degradation of air and water quality. India is in the same boat as China in the levels of PM 2.5 in urban cities. The malignancy of the problem can contribute to such major illnesses as asthma, cancer and cardiac trouble. The danger calls for a renewed drive against air pollution in both countries. The annual Yale Environmental Performance Index in January ranked India in the 174th position out of 178 on air quality. Predictably, India made a song and dance about the accuracy of the report. But such quibbling will not do. India’s own Central Pollution Control Board in 2011 found that almost all cities in the country violated national standards for respirable particulate matter. It is the fifth largest killer in India. Life expectancy has fallen by 3.3 years because of the threat.
The attention given to air quality and other environmental hazards in India is diverted by politicking. The environment ministry is constantly shifting its ground. There seems to be an endless conflict between protection of the environment and national growth. The clash is without a basis and the debate should be intensified. Industry can be greened and growing incomes of the people should help adoption of eco-friendly policies.
