Amritsar and Ludhiana are among the 10 most polluted cities in the world, says the World Health Organisation. According to a 2014 WHO report, Amritsar ranked to ninth position while Ludhiana made it to the tenth position.
WHO’s Ambient (outdoor) air pollution in cities database 2014 contains results of ambient (outdoor) air pollution monitoring from almost 1600 cities in 91 countries. Among the top 50 most polluted cities in the world 20 cities are from India. Punjab has earned the disgrace of having two of its cities Amritsar and Ludhiana in the top ten most polluted cities.
WHO report says, Ludhiana has one of the worst air pollution problems in India, with particulate matter being over six times the World Health Organization recommended standard. Industrial water pollution is also of significant concern in portions of Ludhiana, notably along the Budha Dariya. This city known as Manchester of Punjab is at 10 rank.
Not withstanding tall claims of development by SAD-BJP government in Punjab, the border state has earned another dubious distinction of having two of its cities figuring among the top ten most polluted cities of the world.
The most shameful for SAD-BJP government is the inclusion of holy city of Amritsar in the most polluted cities of world. This city is at rank 9. Amritsar is headquarter of Shiromani Gurdawara Parbhandak Committee(SGPC) and it is holy city of Sikhs where the Golden temple and Akal Takht the supreme spiritual seat of Sikhs is situated. The report said that Vehicular and industrial pollution in Amritsar has caused The 17th century Golden Temple to lose its sheen. Amritsar city, it is said has highest number of auto rickshaws in the state which are main source of air pollution beside some of the dying industrial units.
It is recalled that Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has several times in its election manifestos and otherwise promised to make Amritsar clean and green and center of tourist attraction. The SGPC and Punjab government have also failed to preserve sites of Sikh heritage.