feature-reverse migration? pollution in india's cities draws residents back to rural life - home room air purifiers

Mumbai, November 20
Thomson Reuters Foundation-
Namita Singh's youngest daughter suffers from bronchitis while living in the northern Indian city of Lucknow, and every winter traffic jams and smoke-shrouded smog outpace the charm of Mughal architecture and famous cuisine.
When her husband was transferred to the town of deladen in the foothills of the Himalayas, her daughter recovered in the fresh mountain air.
So a few years later, when her husband's work brought him to Delhi, the choice was clear: Singh and her daughter stayed in draytown when he moved to the capital.
With toxic smog hanging over Delhi and northern India forcing emergency measures, Singh said she was relieved that she did not live there.
"I can't think of living in Delhi. the pollution is so serious," Singh said . " His husband goes every two weeks.
"In the cleaner air, my daughter is much better here.
"We can no longer consider going back to pollution," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation . ".
Pollution levels in New Delhi climbed 12 times this week, exceeding the proposed ceiling.
Officials say they know what it takes to control smog, but at least no action will be taken this year.
Urban pollution has led to reverse migration in India.
From the city to the countryside.
While this is only a trickle compared to unstoppable rural-to-urban mobility, some are high
In recent years, some notable moves have become news, for example, as the air in Delhi made her sick, the ambassador of gostari left southern India. At least 2.
According to a study by the Lancet Pollution and Health Commission, in 2015, 5 million people in India died early due to pollution, more than any other country in the world. In New Delhi -
According to the Brookings Institution, it is now the most polluted city in the world.
Illegal burning of crops in areas near the capital, as well as vehicle exhaust and construction dust, are considered to be the cause of smog in cool weather every year.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the city, with a population of 20 million, has become a "gas chamber ".
With the growth of mask sales and the chatter of air purifiers in Internet chat rooms, others have taken more specific actions: they have moved to small cities on the coast or in mountainous areas.
The elite diplomatic missions in Delhi were not even contaminated.
In a blog post that went viral, Colombian Ambassador Mariela Cruz Alvarez said she suffered from severe respiratory infections and moved to the southern state of Karnataka to recover.
"India has become a threat to my health and to the health of my friends and colleagues," Alvares wrote . ".
Local newspapers say several embassies have cut
Important staff in Delhi and transfer some positions to neighboring countries such as Singapore.
Some delegations said that due to the high pollution, Delhi may soon be considered a "difficult" place.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's smart city mission aims to modernize 100 cities by 2020
High-speed Internet, uninterrupted power and water supply, efficient public transport and living standards compared to Europe.
But these efforts must include long-term
A long-term plan to control pollution, said Roy ita Roy chowdhuri, executive director of the research and advocacy group at the Center for Science and Environment.
"Air pollution is a huge problem, but it is a myth that only big cities are polluted;
Pollution levels are also rising in small cities.
Where can you go? ” she said.
"Our urbanization model needs to change.
"Thousands of people living in rural areas migrate to cities every day to seek better economic opportunities.
Many people end up living in slums and informal settlements, particularly vulnerable to pollution.
Some may be moving in the opposite direction.
Four years ago, a popular anchor of a leading financial television network resigned, saying he would move to the northern mountains to live a cleaner and quieter life.
Even those who have recently moved to the city are evaluating their decision.
Vinod Kumar, who moved from a village in the south of Tamil Nadu to Chennai city as a driver, said he planned to return to his village to engage in organic farming on family land.
"It was not until now that I realized how lucky we were to have clean air and clean water in the village and not be affected by pollution all the time," he said . ". (
Rina Chandran @ rinachandran, edited by Ros Russell, reports.
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