WHO Air Pollution Report - Top 14 most polluted cities in India

The Indian capital has once again been found to be the world’s most polluted city and Mumbai is fourth, according to air quality data compiled by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for mega-cities with a population of 14 million or more. Greater Cairo in Egypt is the second most polluted city, followed by the Bangladesh capital, Dhaka. Beijing ranks fifth.

According to WHO Report :-

• According to the report, more than 90% of air pollution-related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (including India), mainly in Asia and Africa, followed by low- and middle-income countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region, Europe and the Americas.
• An analysis of particulate matter in the air showed about 90% of people across the world are exposed to bad air, which was linked to 7 million deaths in 2016, WHO found. 
• Globally, ambient air pollution — caused by industries, cars and trucks, among others, caused 4.2 million deaths and indoor pollution caused 3.8 million deaths in 2016.
• Around 3 billion people — more than 40% of the world’s population — still do not have access to clean cooking fuels and technologies in their homes, the main source of household air pollution

WHO recognises air pollution is a critical risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), causing an estimated 24% of all adult deaths from heart disease, 25% from stroke, 43% from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 29% from lung cancer.

Major sources of air pollution from particulate matter :-

• Inefficient use of energy by households, industry, agriculture and transport sectors
• Coal-fired power plants. 
• Sand and desert dust
• Waste burning 
• Deforestation 

India Condition :-

• India also suffers under the weight of the dual burden of ambient and indoor air pollution. 
• The analysis shows many smaller towns and cities in India also report pollution levels comparable to Delhi.
• Delhi consistently features in the list of most polluted cities globally and mitigation measures have tended to focus on the capital although other, smaller cities too confront toxic levels of pollution. 

India's step towards tackling Air Pollution :-
The government and judiciary have proactively led the battle against pollution.

• Bharat Stage VI vehicle :-
  India is to switch to Bharat Stage VI vehicle emission norms in April 2020 , skipping an intermediate stage.
• NCAP (National Clean Air Programme) :-
  Although the environment ministry released its much-awaited draft National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) to tackle air pollution across the country in April and opened it up for public feedback until May 17.
  It has contested the count of air pollution deaths in India by global agencies, noting that they are based on estimations and not on primary data from the country.
  An important feature of the draft NCAP is formulation of air pollution action plans for 100 Indian cities that consistently flout pollution standards that are to be implemented by states.

Criticism of NCAP :-
Activists have slammed the NCAP programme as toothless. According to Sunil Dahiya,an anti- air pollution activist from Greenpeace India 

• When it comes to health impact, the govt denies the claims of international studies.
• Time-bound and sectorial target seems to be missing from Indian version of the concept note on NCAP aimed at improving air quality.

State Pollution Control Board :-
Representatives from state pollution control boards have raised concerns about

• The absence of specific targets and time frames
• Lack of reliable data
• Adequate funds to implement the plan.