The statement is - True.
Both India and China are countries that are at the top of the list when it comes to air pollution in the cities and water pollution. Because these two countries experienced and still are experiencing a very rapid economic development, through the heavy industry in general, they were not able to adjust the economic development with the protection of the environment.
This has led to extremely high air pollution in the cities of these two countries, where it is almost impossible to see more than few meters in distance, hard to breathe, the stench is unbearable... Also, the rivers, lakes, and the coastal parts of the seas, have become extremely polluted as well, as most of the waste from the industry goes into the water bodies.