Member-only story
Pollution in India
The downside of industrialization and economic growth
Currently, India’s economy is twice the size of Australia’s, and has overtaken the United Kingdom. It has become the fifth largest in the world, and if it continues it’s growth trend, could overtake Japan and Germany to become the third ranked economy in the world.
Its growth has been due to its presence in the IT sector, agriculture, and manufacturing as well as in the service sector. Its young and technologically saavy workforce and its expanding middle class help fuel this growth.
Unfortunately, it’s not all a bed of roses for those who call India their home.
Industrialization has led to more smokestacks and the rise of the middle class has led to more cars on the road. Along with poorer Indians burning wood or cow dung, and increased population and congestion, there has been an increase in air pollution.
Nationwide, air pollution shortens an Indian’s lifespan by 5.3 years, according to the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute.
However, the situation is even more dire in cities like New Delhi. The Air Quality Life Index reports that air pollution there shortens lives by almost 12 years.
