Delhi’s ticking pollution bomb - Toxics Link’s Environmental Hotspots Mapping Report

[Ankita Jena]

Polluting industrial sites dot the entire city and are probably putting Delhites at a huge health risk , points out the latest Toxics Link study “On the Edge” released today. 18 sites were identified as potential ‘hotspots’ in this first of the kind study in Delhi, mapping the city’s polluting centres. These sites are regularly contaminating the city’s environment by releasing toxic pollutants and thereby creating health concerns. Notably, Delhi is one of the most polluted cities in the world. Pollution is a key health determinant, and according to World Health Organization (WHO) about a quarter of all diseases are caused due to prolonged exposure to environmental pollution.

51 sites, located in and near national capital Delhi, were examined during this study on parameters such as: industrial processes, use of chemicals, discharge and emissions, disposal methods, and occupational health & safety. Most of them were found to harbor unauthorized industrial activities and were in or close to residential areas. 18 of these sites, which spread from Samaypur and Badli in the north to Mayapuri and Okhla in the south; and Nazafgarh in the northwest to Mandoli in east, failed on most parameters and were found to be causing unacceptable environmental impacts. The findings at these sites made Toxics Link researchers aptly call them the “potential hotspots”.

For the full report  http://toxicslink.org/docs/Report-On-the-Edge.pdf

[GOPI KANTA GHOSH]

And worst still we are not bothered

[Ajmal Hussain]

We can cater and treat according to the stream, like water,  and soil, and try to prevent air pollution