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Is pollution the reason why Delhi is the worst city in India for health?

Smog pictured over Connaught Place in New Delhi. Image credit: Ville Miettinen [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Delhi is the most unhealthy city in India, the government’s ‘Ease of Living Index’ indicates.

The national capital has not just bagged a low 65th spot on the index. It has also taken the 111th spot – on the list of 111 cities – in terms of health indicators. This makes it the worst city in India for its residents’ health.

The 2018 ‘Ease of Living Index’ is a government ranking of 111 cities across fifteen categories and four pillars. While New Delhi scores well on some indicators (ranking first on availability of public open spaces, for example), it fares poorly on several others such as power supply, economy and employment, reduced pollution, and health.

Pune in Maharashtra was named the best city in India to live. Rampur in Uttar Pradesh was named the worst.

“The national capital has not just bagged a low 65th spot on the 2018 ‘Ease of Living Index’. It has also taken the 111th spot – on the list of 111 cities – in terms of health indicators. This makes it the worst city in India for its residents’ health.”

Home to more than 18 million people, Delhi has been in the international spotlight in recent years for its massive levels of air pollution. This constitutes an environmental health crisis, one which has taken a significant toll on the health of the city and its citizens.

Last year saw the city blanketed in smog so thick the Indian Medical Association (IMA) declared a public health emergency. Pollution levels in some areas of the city were so high they exceeded the maximum amount measured by the Air Quality Index.

The Ease of Living Index ranks Delhi 100 on reduced pollution. This is suggestive of an inadequate response to the city’s pollution woes. While some steps have been taking towards responding to and mitigating the crisis, the city continues to choke on its toxic atmosphere – and as winter approaches (and, with it, smog season), the situation can only be expected to worsen.

The ‘Ease of Living Index’ can be accessed here.

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