Hyderabad's rising air pollution causing concern

Hyderabad, Oct 7 : The level of pollutants in the air in Hyderabad are on the rise, posing threat to the health of people in the hi-tech southern city, said a report released Thursday.The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) analysed air quality and transportation data in Hyderabad and found increased levels of particulate matter (PM) pollution.The CSE analysis also pointed out that the recent regulation of the air quality standards by the environment ministry has changed the air quality profile of Hyderabad. "Locations in the city which were categorised moderately polluted under the earlier norms, have spiralled into the critically polluted category now, while other sites have moved from low pollution to the moderate level," it said.The report -- "Hyderabad City Dialogue on Air Quality and Transportation Challenge: An Agenda for Action" -- was released here Thursday at a public meeting and round table conference.Anumita Roychowdhury, associate director of CSE and head of its air pollution control and transportation programme, said: "The conference has been organised to enhance the action plan for reducing the pollution and congestion levels in the city, by sharing lessons from other cities like Delhi, which have similar experiences."According to the CSE analysis, there has been a subsequent increase in average annual PM 10 levels -- from 66 mg/cum in 2003 to 80 mg/cum in 2009. "This is about 1.3 times higher than the standard for a high pollution zone, according to the air quality classification followed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)," she said.The report shows that average journey speed is consistently dipping. In 1981 it was 17 kmph, and by 2006 it had come down to 12 kmph. The central business district gets bogged down with 50,000 to 60,000 passenger car units per day - a figure which is comparable to that of Delhi.Maximum air pollution in Hyderabad is caused by its rapidly growing number of vehicles. The city has 2.6 million vehicles and every year 0.2 million new vehicles are registered - which means 500-600 new vehicles roll out on to Hyderabad's roads every day.
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