Motihari, Jan. 13: Champaran-born National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) scientist Pawan Kumar Bhartiya has warned the people against a worldwide increase in pollution level in the air.

Bhartiya works for the ozone layer and environment programmes in Maryland, US.

The scientist has linked increase in pollution level directly with the economic development of US.

Before participating in a civic felicitating ceremony at Raxaul today, the NASA scientist, working mainly for the satellite programme in the atmosphere, told The Telegraph over the telephone about the study of earth and the geographical changes.

Born at Bettiah in West Champaran, Bhartiya is a native of bordering Raxaul town.

After schooling from Bettiah and Raxaul, he obtained his BSc (Honours) and MSc degrees in physics from Patna Science College in 1962 and 1964 respectively.

Bhartiya left for the US in 1967, where after obtaining the doctorate degree from Purdue University, he was finally associated with the Nasa in 1977.

Referring to the present pollution level in the world, Bhartiya said: “Due to the effective regulations imposed by the American government, the pollution level has decreased in the past five years.

On the contrary, China has been the worst sufferer where the levels of particles pollution and ozone pollution are constantly on the rise.”

He spoke about the possible threat to India because of the smog, which is mainly produced from the smoke of two-wheelers and four-wheelers and the dust that frequently flows in from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan.

He expressed satisfaction that most of the dust that flows inside India slows down while travelling towards Bengal.

“The condition of India is not as alarming as China,” Bhartiya said adding that stern regulation by the Indian government regarding the use of CNG instead of other fuels in vehicles would reduce the pollution level.

Speaking about the physical changes in the ozone layer, nearly 20km above the earth in space, and its effect on India, the Nasa scientist said the situation has started improving after a treaty was signed for repairing the ozone layer.