Most Polluted Cities In India: Pollution And Its Impacts

In the World, there are around 30 most polluted places. 21 places are individually located in India. Pollution has taken over India’s ecosystem deeply. It is affecting the daily life of Indian citizen causing them health hazards. Citizens have called out this specific problem. Yet, the government has not taken it seriously for a long time now. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan campaign was initiated in 2014, based on Mahatma Gandhi’s vision to view India as a Mother. As India’s economy grew and industrialisation peaked. The pollution in India took a serious turn, resulting in the Air pollution, Land pollution, and water pollution, Etc. It is considerably a greater problem for older people and for low immunity people. People suffer from lung diseases, eye problems, and sometimes kidney failures. The most polluted cities in India are Delhi, Ghaziabad, and noida etc. There are many more contributing to this issue. According to the Survey, India is specifically polluted with PM 2.5, which is mixed into the atmosphere, causing all the health hazards.

Understanding The Pollution In India

India is a developing country that is progressively working with foreign countries to achieve global recognition. Just the way India is moving ahead, the pollution is seeping into the foundation of development. Because of industrialization, the air is polluted with fine particles of PM 2.5 and PM 10. The air carries the sulphur oxide and nitrogen dioxide, which are huge causes of acid rain. It damages the outer limestone walls and corrodes them, turning them yellowish in colour. The chemicals from factories are released in rivers and ponds, which destroys the marine life and the crops nearby. It causes hazardous health problems like kidney failures, liver problems, and many more. Industries throw radioactive garbage on public lands without filtering it. For example, there was a serious hazard caused by cobalt-60. It was a radioactive element found in the garbage that took the lives of numerous people. This happened in Mayapuri.

Top 3 Most Polluted Cities In India

As per the recent WHO Survey, the most polluted city in India in recent years is Ghaziabad. The second most polluted city is Delhi. They are mainly affected by pollution caused by construction and manufacturing. Here, it is the list of all the most polluted cities with all the details in depth.

1. Ghaziabad: The Industrial City Of Delhi NCR

Ghaziabad is the top-rated most polluted city in Delhi. The PM 2.5 scale has reached an alarming level that is polluting the air and unbalancing the water cycle. Pollution affects the water cycle and the ecosystem of the Earth, which eventually becomes a huge problem for human beings. Humans are themselves the sole reason for pollution. People engaged in factory work and household chores like cooking by burning wood and paper. It causes many problems to the natives, like breathing problems, acne and others.

Main causes of pollution in Ghaziabad

• Vehicular emissions of harmful gases: The vehicles on the roads release harmful gases, which are equivalent to smoking 16 cigarettes per day. These gases contain carbon monoxide that is called the silent killer. Nowadays, it is important to wear a mask and use an air purifier if possible. You can grow plants to clean the air around you.
• Burning of waste and garbage: People burn waste and other useless items without considering the material of the waste that causes air pollution. It releases harmful gases like oxides that mix with moisture, resulting in acid rain.
• Construction factors and industrial functions: Ghaziabad is the largest industrial city in UP. It is seemingly a hotspot for many dangerous pollutants that dissolve in the wind. The constant construction blows fine particles of sand and dirt into the wind. The soot and dirt particles normally contaminate the air with PM 2.5/PM 10 particles that are life-threatening to everyone. Industries perform several procedures with chemicals. This results in the form of acidic air pollutants.

2. Noida: IT capital of Delhi NCR

Noida, which is also popularised as the IT capital of Delhi. People come here to make their life flourishing that helps their family. They often compromise their health for a career. Noida is a place where most of the immigrants settle for their livelihood. Because of the excessive density of people in a small area. It becomes a crammed place where hygiene does not exist. The government of India should take prior steps to prioritize cleaning and management. Noida in Delhi is also called the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority. That is located in the Gautam Buddha Nagar district, which is widespread in huge area. This place is alarmingly polluted because of numerous factories established. They release harmful gases and lethal chemicals into the sewage system.

Main Cause Of Pollution In Noida

• Civic sense: People living near such industrial areas and other colonial spaces are not responsible enough to keep their environment clean. It is their duty as citizens of India to keep their motherland clean, but they often overlook their duty and untidy the roads and sewage systems.
• Rapid growth of Industrialisation: There are many industries that are being constructed as India moves forward with other countries. These construction sites release the dust particles in the air that are life-threatening for patients and older citizens. The nuclear industries release their radioactive waste into the river. That ruins the marine life and the health of people who drink it.
• Vehicle traffic for long hours: In Noida, people often get stuck in traffic for long hours after office hours. They don’t usually turn off their engine. It contributes to air pollution by releasing excessive carbon. It leads to leakage and ash formation. The vehicular emission is one of the reasons why the government started the odd-even program when the pollution crossed the limits.

3. Delhi: Heart of India and City of Rallies

Delhi is primarily the most polluted city in India. It was also mentioned in the report of The Times of India and IQAir. This is a place where diversity of people belongs in the low-density areas. The ministries and other government institutions have been established here since the time when it was called Indraprastha. People have polluted the delhi with coal burning and industrialization activities. Delhi has the most hazardous air to breathe, according to the survey of CPCB. The government stated that Delhi is considered as bad as the Hell or maybe more than that. There are many reasons for this pollution in Delhi that people overlook.

Main Cause Of Pollution In Delhi

• Crop burning and agricultural activities: The farmers in Delhi use ancient techniques to revive their soil fertility. They burn their crops to ashes and let them decompose to work as natural manure. It releases a huge amount of carbon and oxides that affect the ozone layer. Farmers use man-made fertilizers to grow crops early and healthy. It affects the natural nutrients of the edible foods.
• Release of chlorofluorocarbons and other harmful gases: The CFCs are released by the constant use of refrigerators and air-conditioners. This gas is harmful to the ozone O³ layer that stops ultraviolet rays from entering earth. It increases greenhouse gases that contribute to the ozone layer depletion.
• Residential garbage: Most Indian people are not responsible for the environment. They throw garbage on the street that later adds up to the huge pile of waste. People use their daily necessary things and stack up garbage. They don’t separate them or check before throwing, which ends up creating bacteria.

Impacts Of Pollution In India

India has recently reached its peak. It can be seen in the winter smog clearly. The Central Pollution Control Board has passed the warning to control either it will cause hazardous consequences. It is important to learn about sustainable development. It can harm our future generation as it may spread viruses and diseases. There are some huge impacts that are affecting the Earth negatively.

Global Warming

Global warming is a phenomenon in which greenhouse gases get trapped in the atmosphere and increase the temperature of earth. It melts the glaciers that can lead to natural disasters. Pollution covers the Ozone layer with fine PH 2.5 particles that stop sunlight from entering the atmosphere. When the ozone layer was depleted over the south of Antarctica. It caused skin diseases and other health problems, too.

Health Decline

As the pollution is increasing, humans are losing life expectancy at a high rate. People are dying before reaching the age of 50. It has caused people to develop diseases like asthma and hairloss and so on. It is important to reduce pollution if you want to breathe freely without using an air purifier. People have increased the purchase of air purifiers in the last 10 years. The AQI of India has constantly stayed over 500 after the COVID pandemic.

Quality Of Life

The quality of life has also worsening by the time. People throw things without thinking about the lower section of our society. The lower society has the fewest resources to live in a world of development. They live in the most inhumane conditions. The water sources are also polluted with plastics and lethal chemicals. The cleanest city in India, Indore, suffered the worst condition of water contamination diseases. Pollution has worsened the quality of life for everyone and developed invisible diseases in young people.

The impact of pollution has left everyone in awe. It is the duty of Indian citizens to clean their nearby streets and rivers. They are not responsible enough to take care of their land. In India, people call the land, Mother, yet they treat the land badly and throw garbage that affects the natural ecosystem negatively. It is essential to take sustainable methods to save nature before it shows the devastating effects.