India’s Smog Crisis Choking Economy: $95 Billion Losses Annually

NEW DELHI, Nov 23 – Toxic smog engulfing northern India is not only suffocating residents but also severely impacting the nation’s economic growth. New Delhi, consistently ranked among the world’s most polluted cities, faces a deadly mix of vehicle emissions, factory fumes, and agricultural burning, especially during the winter months.

This month, the smog levels contained more than 50 times the World Health Organization’s recommended limits of PM2.5 pollutants, harmful microparticles that can cause cancer and enter the bloodstream through the lungs.

Experts warn that the economic toll is staggering, with one study estimating annual losses of $95 billion, or nearly 3% of India’s GDP. The true cost could be even higher, as the effects are far-reaching.

“The externality costs are huge, and it’s difficult to assign a precise value to them,” said Vibhuti Garg from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.

Bhargav Krishna from the Sustainable Futures Collaborative added that the costs ripple across society, from lost productivity due to illness to premature deaths that impact families and communities. (Reuters)