9 August 2020.

Introduction:

National Statistical Office (NSO) operated under Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released the Envistas India 2020 report. According to the report the number of heat wave days has increased over 80% in 2019.

Highlights of the report:

• Heat Waves: The average number of heat wave days has increased by 82.6% year-on-year to 157 in 2019 with the highest number recorded in Rajasthan followed by Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
• Deaths Due to Heat Waves: The deaths due to heat waves in 2019 saw a sharp jump from 26 in 2018 to 373 in 2019.However, it was slightly lower than 375 in 2017.
• Acute Respiratory Infection: The deaths due to acute respiratory infection in 2018 were 3,740.This was the highest in six years.The highest number of deaths were reported in West Bengal.
• Particulate Matter(PM): In 2018, the particulate matter of size less than or equal to 10 µm was the highest in Delhi followed by Ahmedabad and Mumbai.
• Drinking Water: The tube well and hand pump were the primary source of drinking water in rural India with a share of 53.8%.On the other hand, piped water, public tap, standpipe were the primary source in urban areas with a share of 65%.
• Slum Population: Andhra Pradesh had the highest number of slum population followed by Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
• Motor Vehicles: Delhi had the highest number of registered motor vehicles in the country followed by Bengaluru.

Need of the hour:

• India should increase its national sustainability efforts.
• Focus on  biodiversity,climate change and air and water quality.
• India ranked 168 in the Environment Performance Index 2020.
• It measured the environment performance of 180 countries.