UpdateBot at 05:55, 14 September 2021

2021-09-14T05:55:25Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
[[Kolkata]], historically known as Calcutta,is the capital of the Indian state of [[West Bengal]]. There are many '''environmental issues in Kolkata''', severely affecting its [[biophysical environment]] as well as [[human health]]. Air pollution, [[water pollution]], [[garbage]], and Pollution of the natural environment are prevalent in Kolkata.

==Introduction==
According to data released in 2009 by the [[Scientific and Environmental Research Institute]], atmospheric [[Particulates|suspended particulate matter]] (SPM) in Kolkata was 511. This made Kolkata the most polluted [[Metropolis#India|metropolitan city in India]], followed respectively by [[Mumbai]], Delhi and [[Chennai]].<ref>{{cite news | last = Dasgupta | first = Abhijit | date = 7 January 2009 | title = Most-polluted Kolkata kills 2.5 times more than Delhi; Vadodara safest | url = http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/Most-polluted+Kolkata+kills+2.5+times+more+than+Delhi;+Vadodara+safest/1/24641.html | newspaper = [[India Today]] }}</ref> In a 6-years long study completed in 2007, the [[Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute]] (CNCI) found that 70% of residents of Kolkata suffer from [[respiratory disease]]s, like lung cancer, [[dyspnea]] and [[asthma]], caused by air pollution. According to the CNCI study, 18.4 cases of lung cancer per 100,000 people were reported from Kolkata.<ref>{{ cite news | last = Bhaumik | first = Subir | date = 3 May 2007 | title = Air pollution suffocates Calcutta | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6614561.stm | newspaper = [[BBC News Online]] }}</ref>

According to data collected in 2010 by the [[Central Pollution Control Board]] (CPCB), Kolkata, along with Delhi, is among the worst affected Indian cities when it comes to air pollution. Between 2009 and 2011, the highest number of lung cancer cases in India were reported from Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai. According to a report prepared by the [[Centre for Science and Environment]] (CSE), among the number of cancer cases reported between 2009 and 2011, the most frequent cases were of lung cancer with a share of 12%.<ref>{{cite news | last = Mohan | first = Vishwa | date = 19 October 2013 | title = Delhi, Kolkata have worst air quality in India: Report | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/pollution/Delhi-Kolkata-have-worst-air-quality-in-India-Report/articleshow/24361304.cms | newspaper = [[Times of India]] | accessdate=15 October 2018 }}</ref> According to an article published in ''[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]]'', Kolkata has been nicknamed the "lung cancer capital of India". In the [[World Health Organization]]'s (WHO) ranking of cities by air pollution, Kolkata ranks 25th among a total of 1100 cities.<ref>{{cite news | last = Basu | first = Jayanta | date = 21 October 2013 | title = Choke on fumes, chafe at neglect | url = https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/choke-on-fumes-chafe-at-neglect-pollution-posers-answered/cid/1284563#.VBuFhmOVptc | newspaper = [[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]] | accessdate=15 October 2018}}</ref>

Air pollution is high in Kolkata despite the city's relatively low rates of car ownership, compared to other large Indian cities,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.teriin.org/policy-brief/proliferation-cars-indian-cities-let-us-not-ape-west|title=Proliferation of Cars in Indian Cities: Let Us Not Ape the West|access-date=1 August 2018|language=en}}</ref> and its strong public transport. It may be possible to reduce Kolkata's energy emissions through measures that also save money, such as parking demand management and improved vehicle efficiency standards.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Colenbrander|first=Sarah|last2=Gouldson|first2=Andy|last3=Roy|first3=Joyashree|last4=Kerr|first4=Niall|last5=Sarkar|first5=Sayantan|last6=Hall|first6=Stephen|last7=Sudmant|first7=Andrew|last8=Ghatak|first8=Amrita|last9=Chakravarty|first9=Debalina|date=1 December 2016|title=Can low-carbon urban development be pro-poor? The case of Kolkata, India|journal=Environment and Urbanization|language=en|volume=29|issue=1|pages=139–158|doi=10.1177/0956247816677775|issn=0956-2478|url=http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/105982/8/0956247816677775.pdf|doi-access=free}}</ref>

==Water pollution==
A 2003 report released by the Federation of Consumer Associations (FCA) found that much of the [[drinking water]] in Kolkata was polluted with [[human waste]]. According to this report, 87% of reservoirs supplying water to residential buildings were contaminated with human excrement.<ref name=quality/> There were significant traces of faecal matter in 63% of faucets, and 20% of the water samples collected from various city hospitals were also found to be contaminated. The study reported that approximately one-fifth of the [[Water well#Classification|deep water wells]] and [[hand pump]]s operated by the [[Kolkata Municipal Corporation]] were polluted with human waste. The former director of the [[All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health]] blamed the ongoing water pollution on a leaky sewer system and water pressure abnormalities.<ref name=quality>{{ cite news | last = Bhaumik | first = Subir | date = 29 August 2003 | title = Warning over Calcutta water quality | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3192957.stm | newspaper = [[BBC News Online]] }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Environmental issues in India]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

[[Category:Kolkata]]
[[Category:Environmental issues in India|Kolkata]]
[[Category:Environment by city|Kolkata]]

Environmental issues in Kolkata - Revision history

UpdateBot at 05:55, 14 September 2021