Environmental degradation costing India 5.7% of its GDP: World Bank

MUMBAI: At a time when many of India's infrastructural projects are caught in the throes of an environment versus development conundrum, a new report released by the World Bank estimates that environmental degradation is costing India around 5.7% of its GDP every year.

The report, "Diagnostic Assessment of Select Environmental Challenges in India" is the bank's first national economic assessment of environment-related degradation in India. It analysed the losses of environmental health and natural resources, and provided a valuation of biodiversity and ecosystem services in India, among other valuations.

"The annual cost of environmental degradation in India amounts to about Rs 3.75 trillion ($80 billion) equivalent to 5.7% of GDP," stated the report. Among the highest to blame was pollution, mainly outdoor pollution arising from particulate matter (PM10) that was largely due to the burning of fossil fuels along with the losses due to the lack of access to clean water supply, sanitation and hygiene, stated the report.

"The costs for outdoor/indoor air pollution are primarily driven by an elevated exposure of the young and productive urban population to particulate matter pollution. This results in a substantial cardiopulmonary and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease mortality load among adults," stated the authors of the report in a press note.

The report was meant to underline the need for India to green its growth. The issue of lowering emission has been a contentious one between developed and developing nations, with the latter including India stating that they should be allowed to grow on par with countries which have had an early advantage before they impose emission cuts.