Delhi is being labelled by the WHO as the most polluted city in the world.

The quality of air in Delhi, going through one of its worst smog spells this season, largely fell in the 'very poor' category with the National Air Quality Index recording 'severe' level of pollutants in areas such as Anand Vihar.

On Prime Time a discussion on the alarming levels of air pollution in Delhi and the surrounding cities and whether governments are doing enough to curb it. While the Delhi government suggesting shutting down schools on days when pollution levels are recorded to be very high, the Delhi pollution board disagreed with the proposal. The unchecked burning of waste, rubber, plastic, paper and leaves especially in poor neighbourhoods during winter increases particulate matter in the air.

The Delhi government has made a surprising decision to counter the capital's deadly pollution problem - to start alternate day car use. It's a decision which, if implemented, may get rid of at least 50 per cent of Delhi's air pollution. Will this be feasible?

Mon, 2014-06-23 (All day)

Hyderabad Metropolitan Area spreads over 1905 sq.km. The city has 7 million people. Additional one million people enter the city every day. The central core of the city -- only168 sq.km, holds 60 percent of the people and 70 percent of the jobs. Though the city’s air pollution shows arrested trend this Southern city is poised for vehicle explosion. Share of car trips is increasing steadily, taking away space from walkers and public transport users. Congestion has slowed down peak hour traffic. The city needs rapid mobility transition. .

Kolkata Municipal Corporation has an area of 185 km2 and the Kolkata Metropolitan Area is spread over 1,750 km2 with 15 million people. Pollution levels in Kolkata are high and on the rise. The city will have to take steps to reduce motorisation, so that it can deal with congestion and air toxins. The city is constrained by the road space – it has less than 10 per cent of its land area under roads, against Delhi’s 21 per cent. Therefore, even though the city has fewer cars than Delhi the result is the same – growing congestion and pollution.

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