Hyderabad's Air Quality Crisis Intensifies During Winter Months
As winter conditions strengthen across Hyderabad, residents are facing a severe deterioration in air quality with pollution levels reaching alarming heights across multiple neighborhoods. According to recent data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), several areas in the city have recorded air quality index readings and particulate matter concentrations that significantly exceed safety standards established by health authorities.
Pollution Hotspots: Area-Wise Breakdown of Critical Levels
The CPCB reports indicate that Sanath Nagar, Gachibowli, and Kompally are among the worst-affected regions. Sanath Nagar currently shows an AQI of 120, with PM2.5 levels reaching a concerning 170 micrograms per cubic meter. This represents a substantial breach of World Health Organization safety limits, which recommend maximum levels of 5 for PM2.5 and 15 for PM10.
Zoo Park in the Old City recorded even more troubling numbers with an AQI of 157, PM2.5 levels at 188, and PM10 concentrations reaching 158. Carbon monoxide levels in this area also climbed to 103, adding to the toxic mix of pollutants affecting residents.
While Kompally has shown some improvement from previously unhealthy levels, its current AQI of 86 still remains above ideal limits. The area reports PM2.5 at 66 and PM10 at 91, indicating continued air quality concerns.
Other problematic areas include Somajiguda with an AQI of 152 (PM2.5 at 181, PM10 at 152) and Kokapet maintaining its status as a danger zone with an AQI of 117, PM2.5 levels of 156, and PM10 levels of 140.
Industrial Areas Show Extreme Pollution Levels
Patancheru, one of Hyderabad's prominent industrial belts, presents particularly worrying data. The area reported an AQI of 157, with PM2.5 levels reaching 187 and PM10 levels at 157. Earlier in the week, this region witnessed ozone levels soaring to 206, which is more than three times the WHO-recommended limit of 60 during peak winter conditions.
Both Gachibowli and Patancheru experienced carbon monoxide concentrations reaching 120, nearly 30 times higher than WHO-established safety limits. These elevated pollution levels have remained relatively consistent over the past two weeks, causing significant concern among citizens and environmental experts alike.
Health Impacts and Environmental Explanations
Environmental specialists attribute the worsening air quality to typical winter conditions characterized by lower temperatures and increased fog. The phenomenon of temperature inversions traps pollutants close to the ground, reducing dispersion and creating hazardous breathing conditions for residents.
The human impact of this pollution crisis is becoming increasingly evident. Gulshan, a 65-year-old Sanath Nagar resident with asthma, shared his experience: "When I wake up in the morning, I feel a burning sensation in my throat and have difficulty breathing. The doctor said this is being exacerbated by poor air quality."
Environmental expert Narsimha Reddy Donthi identified vehicles, industries, and construction sites as primary sources of these dangerous pollutants. "The authorities should take strict action. We must start implementing measures such as carpooling, as vehicular pollution results in elevated concentrations of particulate matter," he emphasized.
Donthi also stressed the need for additional monitoring stations and highlighted the importance of increased environmental awareness combined with proactive citizen involvement in addressing the pollution challenge.
Monitoring Improvements and Collective Action Needed
The pollution control board has made progress in expanding its monitoring capabilities, increasing from only 5-6 stations to a total of 14 monitoring stations across the city. However, officials acknowledge that addressing air pollution requires a coordinated effort.
A PCB official stated: "Tackling air pollution is a larger issue that must be fought collectively by all departments." This recognition of the multidimensional nature of the problem underscores the complexity of finding effective solutions to Hyderabad's worsening air quality situation.
