New Delhi: Air pollution across India remains significantly higher than the safe levels prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO), a senior WHO official has warned, calling for stronger political will and accelerated action.
Dr. Maria Neira, Director of WHO’s Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, emphasized that the focus on New Delhi often overshadows the reality that nearly all regions in India suffer from poor air quality. “It’s not just Delhi – air pollution standards are breached across most of India,” she said.
She also highlighted the country’s persistent reliance on biomass for household cooking, with over 40% of the population still depending on it. This contributes heavily to indoor pollution and health issues. “India must scale up programmes that provide clean cooking alternatives like LPG, biogas, or ethanol,” she said in an interview with PTI.
While acknowledging India’s earlier leadership in clean energy initiatives, Neira called for continued momentum. “We’ve seen progress. Now, India must accelerate those efforts to make a lasting impact,” she noted.
Air pollution has a major link to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses. WHO hopes the upcoming UN General Assembly in September will spotlight the role clean air plays in combating NCDs globally.
On a local level, the Delhi government announced plans to install six new air quality monitoring stations, bringing the city’s total to 46. Locations include JNU, IGNOU, Delhi Cantonment, and the Commonwealth Games Sports Complex.
Earlier this week, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari acknowledged the severity of Delhi’s air pollution. “Stay in Delhi for three days and you’ll catch an infection,” he said, calling for a balance between ecology and economy.
A study by the University of Chicago’s Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) found that Delhi’s toxic air could reduce life expectancy by up to 10 years, making air pollution one of the most urgent public health threats in India today.
