Growing Cities, Polluted Air: Jharkhand's Development Dilemma

This opinion article examines the relationship between urban development, air pollution and environmental justice in Jharkhand. Focusing on Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Dhanbad, it explores how urban expansion, industrial activity, vehicle emissions, waste burning and inadequate environmental management affect air quality and public health. The article questions conventional approaches to measuring urban progress and highlights the unequal distribution of environmental risks. Street vendors, construction workers, sanitation workers and residents of informal settlements are among those who may face disproportionate exposure to polluted air while having limited access to protective resources. It calls for stronger environmental enforcement, cleaner technologies, improved waste management, inclusive urban planning and meaningful citizen participation. The article advances a broader development perspective: sustainable cities must be evaluated not only by their economic performance and physical infrastructure but also by the health, dignity and well-being of their residents.