Forget Beijing, India's largest city New Delhi

Toxic smog chokes

India capital

2nd February, 2013

Forget Beijing, India's largest city New Delhi

is suffering far worse air pollution. The New

York Times reports that a key measurement used to

test air quality has found that it is more than twice

as hazardous in Delhi as in the Chinese capital.

Earlier this week, a separate Indian measure also

showed record levels of air pollution. The renewed

attention over smog in Asian cities comes after a

blanket of thick, noxious cloud covered Beijing.

The hazard prompted the Chinese government to

order cars off the roads and temporarily close

factories.

Referring to the pollution in Delhi, environmental

scientist Anumita Roy Choudhary warned that the

toxic haze could start to cause serious respiratory

ailments: "How severe the smog is going to be will

depend entirely on the level of pollution that you

are generating in the city and that is becoming

really impossible," Choudhary said.

"If you look at the pollution sources in Delhi, what

is increasing very rapidly are the vehicles. But you

do have other sources, there are power plants,

there is industry, there are open burning

problems," she added.

Delhi is not the only city growing faster than

nature can cope with. The World Health

Organisation lists six Indian metro areas among

the world's 10 most polluted: The government is

working on a new plan to improve air quality but it

is unlikely to be implemented for months, if not

years.

Translate these phrases

• air pollution

• littering

• noise pollution

• soil contamination

• radioactive pollution

• thermal pollution

• visual pollution

• water pollution

Discussion

a) How bad is pollution where you are?

b) How can governments cut pollution levels?

c) What can you do to cause less pollution?

d) What do you think of countries that create a

lot of pollution?

e) How dangerous is pollution?

f) Do you think we will get pollution under

control one day?

g) Should India and China reduce their

economic growth to cut pollution levels?

h) Would you go out in a thick blanket of smog?

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