Hyderabad: The Telangana Pollution Control Board decided to expand air quality monitoring across the state by setting up new stations in towns with populations exceeding one lakh. The move came amid growing concern over rising pollution levels in Hyderabad and other urban centres.
At present, pollution tracking remains limited to Hyderabad and a few major cities. As a result, reliable data from smaller towns remains scarce. Officials said the expansion would provide clearer information on pollution trends across the state.
Rapid growth in population, vehicles, and industrial activity has led to a steady rise in pollution levels in Hyderabad. In response, authorities decided to upgrade the city’s 13 existing Air Quality Monitoring stations into Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Systems. These systems will measure pollution levels round the clock in real time.
Unlike the current setup, which captures only daily average values through reports, the upgraded network will provide hourly readings. Officials said this would allow quicker alerts when pollution reaches unsafe levels and help both authorities and residents take timely precautions.
New monitoring stations planned across 17 towns
The Pollution Control Board plans to set up 40 new monitoring stations across 17 towns and cities in Telangana. Several towns will receive stations for the first time, while others will see an increase in coverage due to higher population density.
Officials said real-time data would support faster enforcement action, including targeted industrial inspections during peak pollution hours. At the same time, residents would gain access to timely information to avoid exposure during high-risk periods.
The board said the expanded network would strengthen pollution management and public awareness, enabling a more effective response to emerging air quality challenges across Telangana.
