Killer Air: ‘66% rise’ in air pollution deaths over 2 yrs, Govt. begins phased-in fixing of coal plants, China ‘defeating’ smog

66% rise in air pollution deaths

Recent Delhi government data suggests a 66% increase in deaths due to respiratory diseases between 2014 and 2016. The deaths rose from 5,516 in 2014 to 9,149 in 2016, the year when Delhi saw its worst smog in 17 years. Apparently even then the sale of private and commercial vehicles to rise, while the number of public buses declined.

2.5 Million pollution deaths in 2015: Study

According to a global study, 2.5 million of 10.3 million deaths in India in 2015 were linked to pollution. Meanwhile, experts have warned that Delhiites will soon need 5 oxygen cylinders a day to fight air pollution.

Pollution board orders coal plants to fix emissions

After coal plants missed the December 7 deadline to install pollution abatement technologies, the CEA has issued a phased-in plan to fix emissions by 2022. Flue gas de-sulphurisation will be installed in 414 units, and electrostatic precipitators in 222 plants for a capacity of 64,525 MW, the power minister told Parliament.

Thermal power companies account for 80 percent of all industrial emissions of lung-damaging particulate matter, sulphur and nitrous oxides in India. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) issued directions to install the emission control equipment.

Growing awareness? Delhi’s diesel usage ‘declines by 16%’

Diesel use declined in Delhi by 16% in 2016, which has been partly attributed to growing awareness of diesel’s environmental impact, and partly to rising taxes on the fuel which have narrowed the price gap between petrol and diesel vehicles. The consumption of diesel in Delhi went down from 15,08,000 tonnes in 2015-16 to 12,67,000 tonnes in 2016-17.

Beijing winning against air pollution?

Beijing may have defeated its notorious smog, and experts say it’s the result of tough anti-pollution norms of China bearing fruit.

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