35 Indian cities have recently been listed among the 50 most polluted cities in the world. What's worse, 16 of these cities received nearly Rs 1,000 crore over the past eight years to tackle air pollution. This disturbing finding has placed India’s National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) under intense scrutiny. NCAP is the costliest air pollution control programme ever taken up in India, and one of the biggest globally. But it appears to be non-existent in 19 of the Indian cities that are part of the ‘most polluted’ top 50 list.

Eat Healthy. Breathe Healthy. Stay... ***************************** Zillions of vehicles are emitting a cocktail of poisonous gases. Industries spewing forth more of it. Burning crops, waste dumps on fire, construction and demolition dust, Diwali firecrackers... Winter is here with a host of triggers for a variety of ailments. Add to it, the gastronomic indulgence that the festive season occasions, a time when adulterated food assumes a particularly menacing appearance. The question is, will the Jawan in all of us be able to deal with this double jeopardy?

The Yamuna River is the largest tributary of the Ganga. It travels barely a distance of 22 km through Delhi. However, this region contributes to about 80 per cent of its total pollution load. Currently, this stretch discharges waste water from almost 22 drains into the river. Untreated effluents, containing toxins and chemicals, released from houses and industries creates froth (white foam) on the river’s surface. Algae, in addition, prevents sunlight from venturing into the depths of this river. Plus, low water level in the river causes concentration of these pollutants…