Feb.18: ENVIRONMENT SNIPPETSÂ
- Posted by CERC India
- Posted in February
Indians could live 4 years more with cleaner airÂ
Indians could live four years longer on an average if the country complies with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality standards. This was revealed by a new study on impact of air pollution on life expectancy – the Air Quality-Life Index (AQLI) study. It was carried out by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC).
Pollution data of 50 most populous districts in India was collated. The compliance of WHO standards could also see residents of Delhi, who breathe the world’s most polluted air, live nine years longer. Residents of Mumbai and Kolkata could live 3.5 years longer.
Even bottled water can have microplastics
Microplastics – tiny particles of plastic – are not just choking the ocean, they are found in drinking water as well. India came third on the list, in a study by Orb Media, with 82.4% of tap water samples contaminated with microplastics. So far there are no water filter systems which can filter them. Bottled water in the US also had microplastics.
Microplastics can travel through the intestinal wall to lymph nodes and other bodily organs. They have also been known to absorb toxic chemicals linked to cancer. Not buying plastic bottles and carry bags and washing synthetic clothes less often can help curb the problem.
Property tax waiver for eco-friendly societies
The civic administration of Pimpri Chinchwad in Pune has decided to give a concession in property tax to residents of housing societies implementing environment conservation measures. According to news reports, there will be two awards for the ideal environment balanced housing society.
Currently, Pune is the only city in Maharashtra that gives a property tax rebate for green buildings. It also offers additional 5% of floor space index (FSI) – permissible area of construction in a plot – to such buildings.
