Kolkata is a populous Indian city in the Northeast region of the country, near its border with Bangladesh. Following India’s independence from Britain, Kolkata struggled to maintain political and economic integrity, but its diverse culture has since helped to spur economic growth. The city is now very developed and most citizens are employed by the service sector, however, those in slums struggle to find employment. Along with Mumbai and Delhi, Kolkata is one of the most polluted cities in India.
This article will discuss these specific aspects of pollution in Kolkata
Air Pollution in Kolkata
IQAir’s 2020 report found that Kolkata to have the 129th worst air pollution of 4,744 cities evaluated. The study also found that the average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the city was 46.6 ug/m3, over 9 times the standard set by the World Health organization of 5 μg/m3.
Causes of Kolkata’s air pollution include:
- Vehicular emissions
- Industrial emissions
- Dust particles
A 2017 study found that of these causes, vehicular emissions account for a majority of emissions, at 51.4%. Emissions from the causes listed have dire health consequences for Kolkata’s citizens. In 2007, a study published by the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute found that 70% of Kolkata residents suffered from respiratory diseases such as asthma, and lung cancer due to Kolkata’s poor air quality. Since the study, Kolkata’s government has taken actions to control pollution, but the air quality is still harmful to residents’ health.
Water Pollution in Kolkata
Water pollution is also an environmental and human health concern for Kolkata, water is polluted in the city by:
- Sewage dumping
- Pesticide runoff
- Garbage dumping into surface water
- Animal waste runoff
These activities affect the quality of both Kolkata’s surface waters as well as its residents’ drinking water.
Surface Water
The main surface water in Kolkata is the Hooghly river, a spiritually sacred river that flows south from the Ganges, splitting Kolkata from its twin city, Howrah, before heading into the ocean. Despite many residents relying on the river for bathing, the water was found to be unhealthy to bathe in due to its high biochemical oxygen demand level, meaning that there is so much pollution that fish are unable to breathe in the river.
Drinking Water
In 2003, the Federation of Consumer Associations found that 63% of the water collected from taps around the city contained a high amount of fecal contamination due to human sewage dumping into the city’s water supply. Since this study, Kolkata has taken steps to decrease the amount of pollution in its water, but tap water is still unsafe to drink in the city.
Land Pollution in Kolkata
Kolkata has only one landfill for its nearly 4.5 million residents. The Dhapa landfill is far to small to handle over 4,000 tons of garbage produced daily by the city. An inadequately sized landfill means garbage spilling over, as well as waste piling up in the city limits. Garbage often contains toxins that leak into the soil and can enter the water supply.
Key Takeaways
- Air Pollution: Kolkata’s high levels of vehicular emissions cause major respiratory health issues for its residents.
- Water Pollution: The Hooghly river, which runs through the city, is heavily polluted by human and animal waste and is unsafe to bathe in. Tap water is unsafe to drink and often contains fecal matter.
- Land Pollution: Kolkata’s insufficiently-sized garbage dump leads to soil pollution and litter throughout the city and its surrounding area.