When compared to 2020, the pollution levels in Hyderabad had significantly increased in 2021. So much so that it has been ranked as the most polluted city in South India.
According to IQAir’s World Air Quality Report 2021, particulate matter (PM 2.5) levels have risen from 34.7 in 2020 to 39.4 in 2021. The maximum level was reached in December 2021.
Most polluted city in India
Delhi has been named India’s most polluted city. The city’s particle matter levels increased from 84.1 in 2020 to 96.4 in 2021.
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Crop burning is widespread in India, particularly in rice fields near Delhi during the winter. According to the report, during crop burning season, smoke is responsible for up to 45 percent of the city’s pollution.
Reason for increase in pollution
According to the report, internal combustion engines in motor vehicles are directly or indirectly responsible for 20-35 per cent of particulate matter.
As car sales in India are likely to increase more in the future years, pollution levels will rise as a result of it
According to a recent survey, personal vehicles account for 90% of the overall vehicle population in Hyderabad. In absolute numbers, the city has 60 lakh personal vehicles.
The National Clean Air Program (NCAP) was established by India’s Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in 2019. The plan aims to lower PM concentrations by 20% by 2024 in all identified non-attainment cities, strengthen air quality monitoring, implement a city, regional, and state-specific clean air action plan, and conduct source apportionment studies.
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However, the COVID-19 pandemic’s lockdowns, restrictions, and resulting economic downturn have made determining the plan’s impact based solely on air pollution levels challenging.
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