Hyd's air pollution alarming despite 727cr action plan
The situation plateaued in 2024-25, with PM10 levels stagnating at 81 µg/m³, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board.
Under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), Hyderabad was allocated 727.18 crore to tackle rising pollution levels, of which 435.11 crore has been spent so far, as per data from the PRANA portal. While authorities claim a 'slight improvement' over the last seven years, experts say that fundamental issues like unregulated construction activity, vehicular emissions, and poor waste management remain unaddressed.
A comprehensive analysis by TOI, based on CPCB data, reveals that the city's air quality has shown little improvement despite an elaborate multi-agency action plan involving the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TGPCB), GHMC, TSRTC, and others. From 2019 till now, PM2.5 and PM10 levels have ranged between 70–100 µg/m³ and 80–120 µg/m³ respectively, well above WHO's limits of 5 µg/m³ (PM2.5) and 15 µg/m³ (PM10), and India's own standards of 40 µg/m³ and 60 µg/m³.
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Although Hyderabad has fared better than Delhi and Chennai in terms of air quality metrics, it still trails behind Mumbai and Kolkata.
The NCAP action plan included traffic decongestion, upgrading public transport, dust control in quarry zones, industrial relocations, and curbing garbage burning. "To ease congestion, we planned widening of roads and junctions under GHMC limits," a GHMC official said, adding, "We're also promoting long-term green cover by planting native species.
It's a long term goal and we are constantly working on it."
However, experts argue that execution remains the weak link. "The blueprint is extensive, it includes banning crop waste burning, developing compost pits, building green buffers along traffic corridors, retiring vehicles older than 15 years, and acting against violating industrial units," said Subba Rao, an environmentalist who has worked on urban pollution for three years.
"But the biggest issue is follow-up.
Implementation demands not just interdepartmental coordination, but regular monitoring and maintenance of whatever infrastructure is put in place."
He also added that unless Hyderabad moves from planning to consistent execution, cleaner air will remain a distant goal despite heavy investments and structured programmes.
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