Pollution reduced by 19% in one year, a one year boon to the lives of Indians!

New Delhi: Life is a priceless gift of nature, which depends on clean and fresh air. When air purity was taken care of in India, as a result, there was a 19.3% reduction in particulate pollution in 2022. This reduction has increased the lifespan of Indians by one year. This fact has come to light in the report of the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago.

How much will people’s age increase?

The average level of PM 2.5 was 51.3 mgcm in 2021, which was reduced to 41.4 mgcm in 2022. This is the second largest reduction in pollution worldwide after Bangladesh. The biggest reduction in PM 2.5 levels occurred in Purulia and Bankura districts of West Bengal and Dhanbad district of Jharkhand. Here the level of PM 2.5 decreased by 20 mgcm. The lifespan of people here can increase by more than 2 years. The ‘Air Quality Life Index’ report also states that if the WHO standards of pollution are met across India, then the lifespan of people in Delhi will increase by 7.8 years. Pollution is reducing the lifespan of every Indian by an average of 3.6 years. The northern plains of the country are the most polluted. Here is 38.9% (54.07 crore) of the country’s total population. If pollution remains at this level, then the lifespan of people here can be reduced by 5.4 years. Even today, 140 crore people in the country live in areas where the level of PM 2.5 is much higher than the standards set by WHO.

The reason for the decrease in pollution is not clear

The report also states that what is the reason for the reduction in pollution in India in 2022. It is not clear yet. There was more rainfall than normal in 2022. In such a situation, rain can be considered the main reason. Cities covered under the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) saw an average decline of 19% in particulate pollution, while districts that did not come under this program saw a decline of 16%.

India ranked second in reducing pollution

Till now, India’s name used to come up in most of the reports for polluted countries and polluted capitals, but the report of Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) released on Wednesday, Air Quality Life Index 2024, has raised hopes for India. According to the report, India has been ranked second in reducing pollution. Bangladesh is at the first place.

How did pollution reduce?

The reason for the reduction in pollution in India and other South Asian countries is not completely clear, yet the weather has played an important role. Due to heavy rains, the air at the ground surface remained cool. Due to this, the pollution particles did not get a place to settle. According to the report, the maximum reduction in pollution in the country was seen in Purulia and Bankura. After this, Dhanbad, East, West Singhbhum, West Medinipur and Bokaro districts are included. In these districts, the level of PM 2.5 has decreased by 20 mgcm. Despite the decrease in pollution in India, still 42.6 percent Indians live in areas where the air is more polluted than Indian standards. Even a slight decrease in pollution increases life span, whereas with its increase, life becomes short and full of diseases. Greenpeace campaign manager Avinash Chanchal said that Indian standards are insufficient to protect people from the dangers related to pollution. There is a need to change them. WHO has also changed the pollution standards.

Some other important points from the report

• Pollution has fallen in South Asia, but still three-quarters of countries worldwide either do not have national pollution standards or do not meet them.
• Pollution in South Asia decreased by 18% in one year. This is the most polluted region in the world. If WHO standards are met, the life expectancy of people here will increase by 3.5 years.
• Pollution in the Middle East and North Africa increased by 13 percent in a year. Despite this, no country in the region, except Saudi Arabia and Egypt, has national pollution standards.
• Of the 94 countries that have set pollution standards, 37 are not meeting them. More than half of the countries and regions do not have standards set.
• China has reduced pollution by 41% since 2013, but still accounts for 20% of global air pollution.