NGT notices to Centre, states for deaths due to air pollution

The 'Lancet Planetary Health' journal published that 33,000 persons died in India annually due to air pollution in 10 major India cities Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Shimla, and Varanasi.

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought reply from the Centre and states following a study stating that 33,000 persons died annually in 10 major India cities including Bengaluru, due to air pollution.

The Principal Bench of the NGT headed by its chairperson justice Prakash Shrivastava and comprising judicial member justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel, initiated suo motu proceedings on a media report relating to a study, published in Lancet Planetary Health journal.

The health journal published that 33,000 persons died in India annually due to air pollution in 10 major India cities Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Shimla, and Varanasi. These cities reported pollution levels which exceeded World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, the study said.

The tribunal issued notices to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Ministry of Environment and Forests, and the state pollution control boards of all states including Karnataka.

In an order, the Tribunal said that "As per the news item, the study's findings show that even cities previously considered less polluted, such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Chennai, are significantly affected and it is alleged that this is largely due to emissions from vehicles, industrial activities, and construction dust."

The green bench said that the news report claimed that children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions were particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of air pollution.

"It is also alleged that exposure to high levels of particulate material or PM2.5 and other pollutants leads to male and/or female infertility and air pollution can lead to diminished sperm quality, hormonal disruptions, and higher miscarriage risk," the bench said.