These images are part of a series that were taken between December 2012 and January 2013 in and around the cities of New Delhi, Agra, Tenali, Hyderabad, and Vijaywada
Thanks to Arielle B. who beat me to the punch with her link on some of the consequences of the exploding growth, her is a link to an article she found through the Associated Press:
There are positives but also many associated negatives with the growth that India (and other rapidly industrializing nations) are now dealing with - some of which cites in the industrialized world have had to deal with before or continue to deal with. Perhaps the most easily noticeable is the smog now impacting many cities with the introduction of highways, cars, and increased traffic, unfiltered massive industrial processing, in combination with the continued burning of wood and coal for home heating is contributing massive smog and poor air quality localized around the urban areas, but also is becoming a growing concern throughout the region.
Below see this image taken from the top floor of a highrise looking west across New Delhi at the sunset - due to the still cold winter climate, the warm city air which is smokey, polluted and particulate laden is trapped under the colder air above - what is meteorologically called an inversion - this condition exacerbates the existing pollution condition and serves as a visible illustration of the deteriorating air quality in the city. The most illustrative quality which is not visible in this photograph being that the sun never sets, it merely fades into the smoggy distance*.
*It should be noted that the city of Delhi, Agra, and other large Indian urban areas have in the past few years noted this poor air quality, and are taken steps towards ameliorating the situation, personal transport in and around the historic centers are increasingly using non-petrol based and cleaner fuels. Even larger plans exist to increase public transit systems. The light rail/metro system being built in New Delhi will when complete be the envy of any American counterpart (images and discussion to be posted later). Traffic around the Taj Mahal is now limited solely to electrical, animal and human powered vehicles.
In the next image, a 'clear' winter day in New Delhi - the image of the capital building is obscured by particulate in the air. Imagine standing on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and only seeing the outlines of the Philadelphia Skyline?
In this final image, Agra long home to the Taj Mahal and also some of the region's heaviest industry, is almost completely obscured by a heavy fog/smog even when viewed from approx. a mile away.
*It should be noted that the city of Delhi, Agra, and other large Indian urban areas have in the past few years noted this poor air quality, and are taken steps towards ameliorating the situation, personal transport in and around the historic centers are increasingly using non-petrol based and cleaner fuels. Even larger plans exist to increase public transit systems. The light rail/metro system being built in New Delhi will when complete be the envy of any American counterpart (images and discussion to be posted later). Traffic around the Taj Mahal is now limited solely to electrical, animal and human powered vehicles.
In the next image, a 'clear' winter day in New Delhi - the image of the capital building is obscured by particulate in the air. Imagine standing on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and only seeing the outlines of the Philadelphia Skyline?
In this final image, Agra long home to the Taj Mahal and also some of the region's heaviest industry, is almost completely obscured by a heavy fog/smog even when viewed from approx. a mile away.
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