This is with reference to the letter *”Goa must avoid Mumbai’s mistakes on pollution”* by Arwin Mesquita (TGE, Nov 7). While it may be true that Mumbai is the second most polluted city in the world, it is difficult to agree that the life expectancy of people in Mumbai is around 56.8, while in Goa it is around 73.3. These days, there are several reports of young people aged 40 or less dying in Goa due to excessive drinking and heart-related problems. This is not the case in Mumbai, where there are fewer cases of deaths due to alcoholism or pollution, and the number of senior citizens is on the rise.
Then what about Delhi, now reported to be the most polluted city in the world, with abysmal Air Quality Index levels? Yet, people keep rushing to Delhi on some pretext or other, and there are hardly any complaints or proposals from politicians about shifting the capital city to another state due to pollution.
In Goa, however, we are far better by any reckoning, as we neither have thermal power stations nor pollution problems arising from stubble burning, which are the main sources of pollution. Only coal, mining, and vehicular pollution remain, which are being taken care of and are under control.
