Telangana Pollution Board clarifies Hyderabad air quality, recommends SAMEER App
Hyderabad: The Telangana Pollution Control Board (TGPCB) issued a statement on November 25, 2024, to address growing concerns about the air quality in Hyderabad, following a viral message that claimed the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) had surged to 300, comparable to the deteriorating air quality in Delhi. The message, circulating widely on social media, caused widespread concern among residents.
In its statement, the TGPCB clarified that the city’s AQI for the past three days, November 22, 23, and 24 has remained in the “Moderate” category, with values of 120, 123, and 123, respectively. These figures are well below the threshold of 200, which is generally considered the cutoff for “Moderate” air quality. The board reassured citizens that Hyderabad’s air quality typically ranges from “Good” to “Moderate,” particularly in the winter months.
The TGPCB further explained that air quality is monitored through Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) at 14 locations, alongside manual monitoring at 16 other sites across the city. The AQI shows the concentration of the three highest pollutant parameters out of a total of eight monitored in the ambient air. However, the AQI is a numerical value designed for public understanding and should not be confused with pollutant concentrations themselves.
Hyderabad following footsteps of Delhi on AQI!
400+ trees officially killed on Bachupally – Miyapur Road widening!
Trees r chopped down n @HarithaHaram teams failed to take stringent actn wn reportd!@revanth_anumula@dobriyalrm@HiHyderabad
@revathitweets#SaveFullyGrownTrees pic.twitter.com/ageeBuUbNW— Vinay Vangala (@vinay_vangala) November 25, 2024
The TGPCB also pointed out that some popular air quality apps use air quality standards from Europe and the United States, which do not apply in India. These international standards may result in higher AQI readings for Indian cities. In contrast, the TGPCB uses the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for accurate AQI calculations.
For the most reliable and up-to-date AQI data, the TGPCB urged citizens to refer to the official SAMEER App from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which provides real-time air quality information based on data from the CAAQMS.
Additionally, the TGPCB highlighted the ongoing action plan to improve air quality in the city. As a result of these efforts, the concentrations of particulate matter PM10 and PM2.5 have significantly decreased over the past few years, with PM10 levels dropping from 97 µg/m³ in 2019 to 81 µg/m³ in 2023, and PM2.5 levels decreasing from 40 µg/m³ to 36 µg/m³ during the same period.
The Board urged the public to verify the information before sharing it on social media and to rely on official sources such as the SAMEER App for accurate air quality data.
