NIMLI(RAJASTHAN): Bengal has the highest air pollution-related deaths among states in the mid socio-demographic index (SDI) segment, according to a report published by Centre for Science & Environment (CSE), a Delhi-based public interest research and advocacy organisation.According to the annual report, released on Monday by former Supreme Court judge Madan B Lokur, nearly 40% of air pollution-related deaths in India in 2017 were reported from UP, West Bengal and Maharashtra. Of all states, Bengal’s rank is fourth. According to the SDI classification, however, the state tops its category. Uttar Pradesh is in the low SDI category, while Maharashtra is in the high bracket.SDI is measured based on average income per person, educational attainment and total fertility rate (TFR). Low SDI represents the lowest income per capita, lowest educational attainment and highest TFR.The report says that air pollution is responsible for close to 13% deaths in India, with its burden highest mostly in the northern belt of Delhi, Punjab, UP and Haryana, apart from Bengal. The report also points to more disability-adjusted life years (DALY) lost due to respiratory infections triggered by air pollution than tobacco consumption. “In fact, an average Indian will live 1.7 years longer, if the country is able to clean its air,” said Sunita Narain, CSE’s director-general.Kolkata’s air quality, in fact, has been particularly poor this winter. On the first day of 2019, the AQI at the air quality monitoring station at Rabindra Bharati University, BT Road, hovered around 500 between midnight and 2am. Thereafter, it had remained close to 400. Even the air quality monitoring station at the Victoria Memorial never dipped below 350.In December, the AQI was severe on seven days, very poor on 21 days and poor for just a day. It was moderate on December 18 and 19, thanks to untimely rain. “This is the worst-ever December as far as the city’s air quality goes. On most days, we are far worse than Delhi,” said Ajay Mittal of Kolkata Clean Air, a platform for environmentalists and activists.The latest study revealed that Delhi’s air quality, though poor, was showing definite signs of improvement following steps that had been taken in the wake of increased public consciousness. “A cohesive action from key stakeholders is needed to battle Kolkata’s declining air quality. The 2018 graded action plan for Delhi is a lesson for every city,” said Narain.It was Justice Lokur’s order that had led to the comprehensive action plan for NCR. “Air pollution is a great leveller. It affects the rich and poor alike. So, some action has been noticed. But there must be an investigation where the pollution is being shifted,” the retired judge said, releasing the report. He expressed regret that Calcutta High Court had discontinued the Green Bench, with the commencement of the NGT.Auto emission consultant Somendra Mohan Ghosh, too, felt urgent measures were needed for Kolkata, such as those adopted in Delhi.The impact of air pollution on death, disease burden and life expectancy across states by Lancet attributed 93.3 deaths to pollution per a population of 1 lakh in Bengal in 2017.

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