Delhi has emerged as the world’s most polluted capital for the fourth consecutive year as 62 other Indian cities dominated the list of the 100 most polluted places globally in the latest air pollution rankings.
Its air pollution levels were one of the highest among 6,475 cities in 117 countries in 2021, according to a World Air Quality report released by Swiss firm IQAir on Tuesday.
The Indian capital’s air has been ranked the most polluted for high levels of PM 2.5, the fine particles that cause serious respiratory and cardiac diseases.
The city, home to about 32 million, had 96.4 micrograms per cubic meter of PM 2.5 as an annual average, more than 20 times the safe limit of the World Health Organisations at five micrograms per cubic meter.
The pollution levels rose almost 15 per cent compared with the previous year, the report noted.
Particulate Matter 2.5 is the finest dust and other harmful particles measuring less than 2.5 microns that could penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream.
Bhiwadi, in the western state of Rajasthan, was the most polluted city in the world, followed by Ghaziabad on Delhi’s eastern border.
Delhi was ranked the fourth most polluted city and was among nine other Indian cities that topped the chart of the 15 most polluted cities in central and south Asia.
Sixty-three Indian cities, mostly in the northern belt, were on the list of 100 most polluted places globally.
Top 10 most polluted cities
- Bhiwadi, India
- Ghaziabad, India
- Hotan, China
- Delhi, India
- Jaunpur, India
- Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Noida, India
- Bahawalpur, Pakistan
- Peshawar, Pakistan
- Bagpat, India
The latest report was based on air quality monitoring stations operated by governments, non-profit organisations, research institutions, and citizen scientists around the world, IQAir said.
Large parts of northern India, including its capital Delhi, reel from the worst air pollution during winters, when a thick, toxic layer of smog descends for weeks.
The high level of pollution is blamed on vehicle exhausts, coal-fired power plants, industries and the burning of agricultural residue.
A fatal issue
More than 1.67 million died due to air pollution in 2019, according to a report by the medical journal The Lancet in 2020.
“No cities in India met the WHO air quality guideline of 5 µg/m³. In 2021, 48 per cent of India's cities exceeded 50 µg/m³, or more than 10 times the WHO guideline,” the report said.
Delhi has suffered from the scourge of air pollution for decades but in recent years the toxicity of air has become a public health emergency, particularly during winter.
In recent years, Indian courts, including the Supreme Court, have stepped in to order the government to take measures to reduce pollution levels.
The high levels of pollution prompted the top court to suggest the closure of schools and the government asked tens of thousands of its employees to work from home to reduce vehicular pollution, a major pollutant in the city.
But experts say the latest air pollution rankings are testimony to the country’s failure to bring in policies aimed at cutting down sources of harmful emissions.
India launched a five-year National Clean Air Programme in 2019 to reduce air pollution levels by 20 to 30 per cent of 2017 levels in more than 120 cities.
“There remains a big gap in the formulation of policies and emission standards and their actual implementation on the ground,” Sunil Dahiya, an analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, told The National.
Mr Dahiya said India would find it hard to improve air quality unless it cuts down on the use of fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum to improve air quality.
“It will be impossible to provide breathable air to citizens and our cities will keep making it to such lists of most polluted cities,” he said.
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
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Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
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Specs
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AT4 Ultimate, as tested
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
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- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
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LIGUE 1 FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Nice v Angers (9pm)
Lille v Monaco (10.45pm)
Saturday
Montpellier v Paris Saint-Germain (7pm)
Bordeaux v Guingamp (10pm)
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Metz v Troyes (10pm)
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
MATCH INFO
Norwich 0
Watford 2 (Deulofeu 2', Gray 52')
Red card: Christian Kabasele (WatforD)
MO
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
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- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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More on animal trafficking
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
Brief scores:
Toss: Kerala Knights, opted to fielf
Pakhtoons 109-5 (10 ov)
Fletcher 32; Lamichhane 3-17
Kerala Knights 110-2 (7.5 ov)
Morgan 46 not out, Stirling 40
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Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
Company%20Profile
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
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The five pillars of Islam
RESULT
West Brom 2 Liverpool 2
West Brom: Livermore (79'), Rondón (88' )
Liverpool: Ings (4'), Salah (72')
The five pillars of Islam
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
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Top 10 most polluted cities
- Bhiwadi, India
- Ghaziabad, India
- Hotan, China
- Delhi, India
- Jaunpur, India
- Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Noida, India
- Bahawalpur, Pakistan
- Peshawar, Pakistan
- Bagpat, India
