KTR credits KCR’s vision for 26.4 per cent drop in air pollution in Hyderabad

BRS leader K.T. Rama Rao lauded a 26.4% drop in Hyderabad’s air pollution over seven years, attributing it to the KCR-led government's green initiatives, including Haritha Haaram, increased green cover, and policies prioritising urban greenery and livability.

Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao hailed a 26.4 per cent drop in air pollution in Hyderabad over last seven years, as a testament to the visionary green policies implemented by the K Chandrashekhar Rao government. He stated that years of hard work and meticulous planning ensured that Hyderabad and Telangana stay green.

“Better than Mumbai. Better than Chennai. This is the kind of news I love to read. 26.4 percent more reasons for Hyderabad to be called the best city to live in,” he posted on social media, reacting to a news report.

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Rama Rao emphasised that massive cities need not necessarily come at the cost of citizens’ lungs. He stated that thousands of urban lung spaces, parks, and nurseries were developed in Hyderabad in last 10 years under the BRS government, ensuring that urban expansion did not come at the cost of clean air. He reminded that Hyderabad surpassed Paris, Bogota and Mexico City to bag the World Green City award in 2022.

The BRS MLA attributed the achievement to sustained efforts over the last decade, particularly the flagship Haritha Haaram programe, which was the third-largest human-led afforestation initiative globally. As a result, the green cover in Telangana increased from 24 per cent to 33 per cent between 2014 and 2023.

Policies like earmarking 10 per cent of urban local body budgets for greenery, also proved to be a critical step that helped reduce pollution and improve livability.