Hyd air quality improves, revised targets awaited

Hyderabad: While Hyderabad is on Centre’s list of cities that would receive revised targets to reduce air pollution levels due to an improved scenario, the Telangana capital fares far better than other metropolitan cities in the country. Data accessed by TOI shows number of days with good air quality (Air Quality Index) in the city has risen from 76 in 2019 to 109 in 2021.
A prolonged lockdown and low traffic movement during Covid-19 pandemic ensured a higher number of good air quality days at 113. AQI values placed Hyderabad at a better position in 2021, with Delhi clocking just one good (quality index) day, Kolkata 89, Chennai 79 and Mumbai 37 days.
Air quality values less than 50 are generally regarded as good. When AQI is good, it has a positive health impact on residents. When AQI values exceed 100, air quality becomes toxic for vulnerable groups and a further spike has a debilitating impact for everyone.
The Centre revised the target of reducing air pollution (PM concentrations) in cities from 20-30% by 2024 to 40% by 2025-26 based on improved performance of 95 cities that showed improved AQI in 2021-22 as compared to 2017 levels.
Besides Varanasi, other cities with lower PM10 levels in 2021-22 include Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Nagpur, and Chandigarh.
Experts say while the city is in the comfort zone compared to many metros, it still has much work to do and revised strategies will help formulate plans.
“There is increased construction activity in the city and burgeoning traffic, which is a source of concern. This needs to be addressed,” said Anjal Prakash, research director and adjunct associate professor at Bharati Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business, Hyderabad.
As per the data, average concentration of PM10 levels in city was 86 in 2019-2020, then slightly increased to 88 in 2020-21. According to available data, it will fall below 80 in 2021- 22.