It has been reported that air pollution can reduce the life expectancy of Indians by about five years. That’s according to the latest report from the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) of the Institute of Energy Policy at the University of Chicago. It is said that Delhi is the most polluted city in the country. Pollution can reduce life expectancy there by 10.1 years. On the other hand, 97.3 percent of the world’s lives are at risk due to air pollution.

The report is based on data from 2020. It said that 63% of Indians live in areas where air pollution is above national standards (40 micrograms per cubic meter). According to the report, India is second only to Bangladesh (65.6 micrograms / cubic meter, the life expectancy of citizens could be reduced to 7.9 years) in the list of the world’s air pollutants. West Bengal ranks seventh in the country in terms of air pollution. The amount of pollution in this state is 75.4 micrograms / cubic meter. As a result, the life expectancy of the people of the state may be reduced to 5.9 years.

According to the report, life expectancy in the world due to air pollution can be reduced by 2.2 years. On the other hand, smoking can reduce life expectancy by 1.9 years, alcohol by eight months, unsafe water by seven months, HIV by four months, malaria by three months and terrorism by nine days.

According to the index, India has been responsible for 44% of the world’s pollution since 2013. In 2013, the pollution was 53 micrograms per cubic meter, but now it has increased to 55.6 micrograms per cubic meter, 11 times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) limit (5 micrograms per cubic meter).

2.3 million Indians died in 2019 due to pollution. Of that, only 16 lakh victims of air pollution! 5 lakh citizens are victims of water pollution. Environmental activist Subhash Dutta along with pollution. “Electricity comes to our country by burning coal,” he said.

“Why would cricket be played there at night? I also filed a case against this. We are actually committing suicide. Instant comforts, comforts bring disaster. Development means but not destruction,” said Subhash, referring to Kolkata’s pollution. “The city is surrounded by a number of thermal power plants. There is wastage in the name of using electricity,” he added.