The Telangana government has identified 1,545 industries located in Hyderabad as polluting.
Highlights
- Central Pollution Board says Hyderabad is moderately polluted
- Tests in 21 spots in city shows an alarming rise in air pollution
- Minister calls for the formation of a 'Clean Air Authority'
An alarming increase in the air, water and noise pollution in Hyderabad led to ruckus in the Telangana assembly on Tuesday.
It was started by Akbaruddin Owaisi of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, who raised concerns about pollution during the Question Hour. It led to heated exchanges, which stopped only after Municipal Administration minister K T Rama Rao addressed the issue.
Mr Rama Rao called for immediate measures to contain the situation - part of which he said should be the introduction of a "clean air authority" in the city.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, Hyderabad is moderately polluted. But an analysis from 21 different centres across the city has established that polluting industries and 45% vehicular pollution has caused a huge rise in pollution levels, Mr Rama Rao said.
The Telangana government has identified 1,545 industries as polluting, of which 385 are present outside the Outer Ring Road in Hyderabad. A plan chalked out by the minister suggests that the remaining 1,160 industries should relocate to the Hyderabad Pharma City.
To shift the polluting industries, locations outside the Ring Road within a distance of 100 kilometres have been identified.
Principal Secretary of Industries Arvind Kumar said the government is "determined to shift the 1,160 polluting industries outside the ORR by the end of next year".