India on Death Bed: Critical Environmental Issues – Modi Suffocating Own People
India is facing an environmental crisis of unprecedented proportions, with air pollution, deforestation, and water scarcity creating a dire situation for its population. The World Health Organization (WHO) has labeled Delhi’s air quality as a “man-made disaster,” and surveys conducted by the WHO and the Health Effects Institute have declared Delhi the “worst city in the world” in terms of air pollution. Shockingly, nearly 2 million people die annually in India due to air pollution, making it the fifth leading cause of death in the country. Additionally, India holds the grim title of having the highest mortality rate globally due to respiratory diseases and asthma.
The environmental degradation extends beyond air quality. India witnessed the largest deforestation in the world, with a staggering loss of 284,400 hectares of forest. The water crisis is equally alarming; by 2030, groundwater in 21 major cities, including Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, and Hyderabad, is expected to be depleted. A 2018 report by NITI Aayog paints a bleak picture, predicting that 40% of the population will not have access to drinking water within the next six years.
India’s pollution levels have drawn global attention, with Amnesty International’s Climate Advisor ranking the country among the most polluted in the world. According to a report by Al Jazeera, the concentration of PM2.5 particles in the air of 83 Indian cities is 10 times higher than the WHO’s recommended limit, placing nine Indian cities among the most polluted globally. The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) ranks India second among 252 countries in terms of pollution, trailing only Bangladesh.
In addition to air pollution, the World Meteorological Organization has issued a “red alert” for India regarding global warming, highlighting the severe risks to millions of people’s lives and health. The situation is critical, and immediate action is necessary to mitigate the environmental and health impacts on India’s population.