Delhi may remain among top three air polluted cities till 2050: Study

NEW DELHI: Late last week, a new research published in science journal 'Nature' said Delhi had the world's second highest number of deaths caused by sources of air pollution and, further projected that in the absence of adequate measures to combat it, the city may continue to be among the top three air polluted cities till 2050.

Less than a year after the World Health Organisation report, which called Delhi world's most polluted city, the recent study has come up with alarming projections of deaths due to air pollution.

Prof. Dr. Jos Lelieveld, lead author of the study published in 'Nature' told ET in an exclusive interview over email, "There is vast observational evidence that air quality in India, especially during the dry season over the Indo-gangetic plane, is among the worst worldwide. There is also a large body of evidence that links poor air quality to many diseases and premature mortality."

Experts as well as campaigners agree that air pollution, particularly the most deadly PM 2.5 pollutant, is far from being reigned in. According to Dr. Gurfan Beig, Project Director of SAFAR, "There is no evidence to show that air quality is improving in NCR. In fact, during this year's monsoons, when PM 2.5 pollution reduces, it was relatively much more than previous years."