LOCAL AIR-POLLUTION PROBLEMS IN INDIA

The Indian megacities have achieved the dubious distinction of being s ome of the most polluted cities of the world and leading the list is t he national capital Dilli. Exponential increase of the number of autom obiles, particularly two- and three-wheelers, a number of industries a nd thermal power plants in the proximity of cities, the high populatio n growth rate, poverty, unawareness and general apathy to the needs of environmental safety measures are mainly responsible for the current scenario. Considering the menace of air pollution which is new compare d with other pressing problems such as those related to sanitation, dr inking wafer etc., a significant amount of air pollution monitoring ha s taken place during the last one and a half decade. Needless to say, that a lot has to be done yet, but at the same time it must be added t hat currently serious efforts are being made on both government and pu blic levels to meet the challenge of air pollution problems in India.