Home / Environment / Hyderabad's Air Crisis: PM2.5 Levels Soar 15.4%
Hyderabad's Air Crisis: PM2.5 Levels Soar 15.4%
21 Jan
Summary
- Hyderabad ranks third in India for increased PM2.5 concentration.
- PM2.5 levels are 35 times higher than WHO safe limits.
- Air pollution causes over 5,500 deaths annually in Hyderabad.
Hyderabad's air quality has deteriorated significantly, with a 15.4% surge in PM2.5 concentration between 2011 and 2022. This places the city third among Indian urban centers experiencing such an increase, trailing only Surat and Pune. Current PM2.5 levels in Hyderabad are an alarming 35 times greater than the World Health Organization's safe annual limit.
The consequences are dire, with air pollution linked to an average of 5,552 annual deaths between 2008 and 2020. In 2023 alone, 1,597 pollution-related deaths were reported, highlighting the city's sixth deadliest position in India for such fatalities. Life expectancy in Hyderabad has decreased by 3.2 years due to this toxic air.
Vehicular emissions, particularly from over 80 lakh vehicles, are identified as the primary source of pollution, accounting for nearly one-third of the total load. Nitrogen dioxide levels are also critically high, exceeding WHO safe limits on 307 days in 2023, largely due to diesel-run vehicles and older petrol engines.
Despite being a non-attainment city under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), Hyderabad has underutilized its allocated funds. Implementation of measures like relocating industries and easing congestion has been poor. A new City Level Monitoring and Implementation Committee has been formed to revise the clean-air strategy, focusing on electric public transport and stricter enforcement.
