The launch of a public air quality dashboard and dedicated action teams under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) for quick response to air pollution complaints are two initiatives that the Telangana government will undertake in the near future as part of the Clean Air Action Plan.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka made these statements while addressing as the chief guest at a conference on “Air Pollution Index (API) and Air Quality Management” organized by the Planning Department in collaboration with the Telangana Pollution Control Board (TPCCB) at Dr. Institute of Human Resource Development. Marri Chenna Reddy in Telangana on Thursday here.
Addressing an audience of academics, technical experts and environmentalists, he further announced that the government had decided to eventually replace all diesel buses in the city.
Talking about the initiatives already taken, he said that the number of air quality monitoring stations in the state has been doubled and the clean air action plan is being actively implemented. He argued that development and environmental protection must go hand in hand.
Hyderabad is one of the fastest growing cities in the world and is not yet as heavily polluted as Delhi because of decades of responsible governance and institution building, he said.
“Our government has set a target of a three-trillion economy, but it is also focused on conserving natural resources, protecting water bodies and improving air quality,” said Mr. Bhatti Vikramarka, explaining the government’s initiatives to reduce air pollution, such as promoting electric vehicles and industrial regulation to reduce fossil fuel burning and boosting the renewable energy sector.
He emphasized that development without clean air is not real progress, but only delayed damage. Air quality is not only an indicator of the environment, but also of public health, productivity and the economy.
Talking about the need to shift industries outside the city, Mr. Bhatti Vikramarka said that industries that were once set up on the outskirts of the city are now in the midst of residential growth.
Industrial accidents in residential areas can turn into major disasters. Therefore, industrial restructuring, zoning reforms and better spatial planning need to be seriously explored, said Mr. Bhatti Vikramarka.
Published – 29 Jan 2026 19:56 IST
