University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

This Asia at Noon presentation by Deborah Naybor, PhD candidate in the UB Department of Geography, will address the problem of air pollution in India and efforts to control it. As India has taken its place in the globalized economy, its growing middle class has demanded more electricity and durable goods. The escalation of industrialization and vehicular traffic has exacerbated air pollution, taken its toll on the wellbeing of city dwellers, and placed financial burdens on India's cities. Specifically looking at Kolkata's rapid and unplanned growth and the impact on health and quality of life, this presentation will examine India's lack of enforcement, insufficient planning, and its adoption of poorer standards for pollution than those recommended by the WHO as contributing to the endangerment of its urban population.