The pollution in India is causing the loss of life expectancy by 1.7 years, the union health ministry has informed the Parliament committee on urban development.

The health ministry further warned of rise in COVD-19 cases due to pollution as virus can spread faster and stay longer.

Further, in view of deteriorating air pollution in the national, the principal secretary in the PMO will directly monitor the pollution problem.

In an earlier study by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC), the air pollution cut short the average Indian life expectancy by 5.2 years. The study further said that the residents of Delhi could see 9.4 years added to their lives if pollution were reduced to meet the WHO guideline.

The revelations came after an analysis of the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) produced by the EPIC. “The particulate pollution has sharply increased over time. Since 1998, average annual particulate pollution has increased 42 per cent….