Lahore tops World’s most polluted cities; Indian cities not far behind
Lahore has again been ranked the most polluted city in the world, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 228, deemed "very unhealthy," according to IQAir's latest global air quality report. The rankings reveal that air pollution remains a significant issue, with two Indian cities, New Delhi and Mumbai, also among the top ten.
The primary pollutant in Lahore, as well as in New Delhi, is PM2.5, fine particulate matter known for its severe health risks. In New Delhi, which ranks second, the AQI stands at 206, and the city battles worsening air quality each winter due to dropping temperatures, crop stubble burning in nearby areas, and festive celebrations.
Other cities in the top ten include Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Tel Aviv (Israel), and Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia). IQAir has advised residents of these cities, including those in India, to limit outdoor activities and take precautions such as wearing masks to mitigate the effects of pollution.
As air quality remains a challenge globally, these rankings highlight the urgent need for stronger pollution control measures, especially in densely populated urban areas.
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Stalin accuses Centre of trying to use women's quota as 'weapon,' slams EPS over delimitation
Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has strongly criticised the Centre over the women's reservation and accused it of trying to use it as a "weapon" to tackle the opposition before taking up the delimitation exercise based on population.
"The Union government is not concerned about implementing reservations for women. If their concerns were genuine, they could have done it right away. Rather than doing that, the BJP-led Centre is thinking of using it as a weapon to tackle opposition and take up the delimitation exercise based on population," he told PTI in an interview.
"Hence, the women's reservation must be implemented immediately without showing delimitation as a reason," the DMK president added.
Expressing apprehensions on the proposed delimitation exercise, the CM said it was the DMK that raised the first voice asserting the rights of the state after realising that Tamil Nadu would be affected by the proposed exercise. He also attacked his rival and AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami over the delimitation issue.
Recalling efforts made by the DMK to raise the issue of population-based delimitation, he said an all-party meeting and a meeting of CMs under the auspices of the Joint Action Committee seeking fair delimitation were convened. It sought to freeze delimitation for 25 years and stick to it based on the 1971 Census population.
"We urged the union government that states which successfully implemented population control programmes must not be punished," he added.
The party came up with "Tamil Nadu poradum, Tamil Nadu vellum" (Tamil Nadu will struggle, Tamil Nadu will win) and this is DMK's stand, he said.
"However, Palaniswami, who is seeking votes for the entry of the BJP through the backdoor, has till date been mute over delimitation, and this is a betrayal of the people of Tamil Nadu."
