DEVASTATING EFFECT OF AIR POLLUTION IN SOUTH ASIA

Air pollution is having a devastating effect on large parts of South Asia, particularly Northern India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

- By P.K. Balachandran

Sri Lanka too is affected, but only seasonally and that too due to cross border flows from its northern neighbours.

The lack of proper Air Quality Management (AQM) in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent is causing diseases and deaths, while also slowing down economic development, says a World Bank report.

The report gained worldwide attention after Harvard Economic professor and former IMF chief economist Gita Gopinath, told the World Economic Forum at Davos last week that polluted Indian air, rather than the 50% American tariff, is the main obstacle to India’s economic growth.

Gopinath explained how pollution adversely affects productivity, increases healthcare costs and slows down overall economic activity, making it a silent but serious drag on growth. While tariffs often dominate debates, it is the environmental factors that are crying for attention.

“India has made progress in expanding its economy and improving infrastructure, but pollution remains a persistent challenge, particularly in major urban centres. From an international investor’s point of view, if you are thinking of setting up operations in India and living there, the environment matters,” she underlined.

She quoted a 2022 World Bank study to show that pollution causes nearly 1.7 million deaths in India each year, accounting for roughly 18% of the country’s total deaths. “Tackling pollution must become a top national priority. It needs to be treated as a mission for India,” she stressed.

In Sri Lanka

Air quality across several parts of Sri Lanka has deteriorated. Dr. Ajith Gunawardena, Media Spokesperson for the Central Environmental Authority, stated to ‘Climate Fact Checks’ that Air Quality Index (AQI) readings recorded since January 18 indicated a noticeable decline in air quality across a wide range of regions.