Bengal had the second highest percentage of deaths in India caused by air pollution in 2019, said a report by an environment think-tank.
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report, which was based on central government data and released on Friday, also said the state incurred huge financial losses because of its toxic air.
An air pollution expert from the CSE said the high proportions of deaths and related economic loss triggered by air pollution were “a real warning” for the state, particularly for Calcutta and adjoining urban areas.
The expert also called upon the state government to be proactive in controlling vehicular pollution, which is a major cause of air toxicity.
A state pollution control board official said air pollution in most urban areas in the state had gone down over the last few years, but admitted that the situation needed further improvement.
The report, State of India’s Environment 2021: In Figures, was released by CSE director-general Sunita Narain. It states that more than one-fifth — 20.8 per cent — of the total deaths in Bengal in 2019 was caused by air pollution.
Rajasthan leads the pack with 21.2 per cent. The percentage varies between 18 and 19 per cent in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar and Punjab.
Uttar Pradesh tops the list in the gross number of air pollution-triggered deaths in 2019 - 3.5 lakh. The counts in Maharashtra, Bengal, Rajasthan and Bihar vary between 1.2 lakh and 1.4 lakh.
The report said air pollution had also caused major economic loss - Bengal is estimated to have lost about $2,125 million — about Rs 15,500 crore — in 2019 alone; which is about 1.26 per cent of state’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Overall, in the country, air pollution was found to be the dominant cause of deaths linked to lower respiratory tract infections, lung cancer, ischemic heart disease, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
“Over the past two decades, deaths attributable to ambient PM2.5 (particulate matter 2.5) in India have increased by 2.5 times,” the report states. Deaths attributable to ozone pollution have “increased by 2.9 times”.
“The high air pollution-linked death rate in Bengal is a real warning, considering the high health risk and economic losses…. The state should not be complacent,” said Anumita Roy Chowdhury, of the CSE.
“While pollution from household sources is going down, outdoor pollution is on the rise. In Calcutta and other urban areas, the combination of a large number of diesel vehicles, rapid rise in motorisation and a large number of old commercial vehicles contributes to poor outdoor air quality,” said Roy Chowdhury.
“The data is scary. Unless the government works proactively to bring CNG (an environment-friendly fuel) to Calcutta and other cities and replace the vehicular fleet running on dirty fuel, the situation will not improve,” said environment activist Subhas Datta, who moved court several times seeking steps to check air pollution.
