Air is Dense

• It is estimated that nearly 52,000 people died prematurely in 36 Indian cities due to high levels of SPM in 1995, a rise of 28 per cent from more than 40,000 in 1991-92

• The number of sicknesses requiring medical assistance and hospital admissions in these cities due to high levels of SPM is estimated to have increased from 19 million in 1991-92 to 25 million in 1995

• In Delhi and Mumbai, the transport sector is the chief contributor of the smaller, deadlier particles such as PM10 and PM2.5

• Despite scientific evidence of the danger posed by the smaller particles, authorities have failed to generate any information on their levels in Indian cities

• In Agra, the closure of a thermal power plant has led to wide-scale use of diesel power generators that are important contributors of PM10 and PM2.5

• While data provided by the Central Pollution Control Board says that SPM levels have decreased in Pune, Bhopal and Agra from 1991-92 to 1995, residents and experts say that the pollution has increased