Dalit student's killing in Allahabad sparks uproar in UP Legislative Council
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council today witnessed noisy scenes over the death of a 22-year-old Dalit student in Allahabad and a report in a local Hindi newspaper over the chief minister allegedly linking "samajwad to atankwad".
Both the issues were raised by Samajwadi Party members in the House.
Dileep Saroj, a second-year law yesterday succumbed to injuries, two days after he was thrashed with sticks and batons by a group following an altercation outside a restaurant in Allahabad.
Leader of Opposition and Samajwadi Party member Ahmed Hasan raised the incident as soon as the Question Hour started.
He alleged that though such incidents with Dalits were taking place across the country, the government had remained silent.
Referring to a recent dacoity in Lucknow's Kakori area, he said that crime had increased and the law and order system in the state had collapsed.
Samajwadi Party members Sunil Singh Sajan, Anand Bhadauria and Rajpal Kashyap raised the issue of the report published in the newspaper, according to which Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had allegedly linked 'samajwad' (socialism) to 'atankwad' (terrorism) during an event in Lucknow.
They marched into the Well of the House demanding the chief minister tender an apology over his alleged jibe on the party.
Some SP members also hurled paper balls at the Chair, which were stopped by the Marshals.
Chairman Ramesh Yadav had to first adjourn the Question Hour and when the uproar did not subside in the Zero Hour, he adjourned the House for the day.
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Assam's Byrnihat tops global pollution list; Delhi most polluted capital: Report
New Delhi (PTI): Thirteen of the world's top 20 most polluted cities are in India, with Byrnihat in Assam topping the list, according to a new report published on Tuesday.
The World Air Quality Report 2024 by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir said Delhi remains the most polluted capital city globally, while India ranked as the world's fifth most polluted country in 2024, down from third in 2023.
The report said India saw a 7 percent decline in PM2.5 concentrations in 2024, averaging 50.6 micrograms per cubic metre, compared to 54.4 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023. Yet, 13 of the world's 20 most polluted cities are in India.
Air pollution in Delhi worsened, with the annual average PM2.5 concentration rising from 102.4 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023 to 108.3 micrograms per cubic metre in 2024.
The Indian cities in the world's top 20 most polluted cities are Byrnihat, Delhi, Punjab's Mullanpur, Faridabad, Loni, Gurugram, Ganganagar, Greater Noida, Bhiwadi, Muzaffarnagar, Hanumangarh and Noida.
Overall, 35 percent of the Indian cities reported annual PM2.5 levels exceeding 10 times the WHO limit of 5 micrograms per cubic metre, the report said.
The high level of pollution in Byrnihat, a town on the border of Assam and Meghalaya, is due to emissions from local factories, including distilleries, iron and steel plants.
Delhi grapples with high air pollution year-round and the problem worsens in winter when unfavourable meteorological conditions, combined with vehicular emissions, paddy-straw burning, firecrackers and other local pollution sources, make the air quality hazardous.
Air pollution remains a serious health risk in India, reducing life expectancy by an estimated 5.2 years.
According to a Lancet Planetary Health study published last year, about 1.5 million deaths in India every year from 2009 to 2019 were potentially linked to long-term exposure to PM2.5 pollution.
PM2.5 refers to tiny air pollution particles smaller than 2.5 microns, which can enter the lungs and bloodstream, leading to breathing problems, heart disease and even cancer. Sources include vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions and the burning of wood or crop waste.
Former WHO chief scientist and health ministry advisor Soumya Swaminathan said India has made progress in air quality data collection but lacks sufficient action.
"We have the data; now we need action. Some solutions are easy like replacing biomass with LPG. India already has a scheme for this, but we must further subsidise additional cylinders. The first cylinder is free, but the poorest families, especially women, should receive higher subsidies. This will improve their health and reduce outdoor air pollution," she told PTI in an interview.
In cities, expanding public transport and imposing fines on certain cars could help. "A mix of incentives and penalties is necessary," she said.
"Finally, strict enforcement of emission laws is crucial. Industries and construction sites must comply with regulations and install equipment to cut emissions instead of taking shortcuts," the former director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research added.
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