Hyderabad: The cabinet sub-committee has decided to relocate 10,000 industries that are in the high-pollution zone. These industries, operating within the Hyderabad Outer Ring Road limits, will be shifted to new planned industrial zones beyond city limits.
The relocation of industries is a part of the government’s commitment to address the environmental challenges. The heavy metal residue and industrial pollutants in water bodies are posing a serious threat to the health and life of humans and animals. There is a sharp rise in antibiotic resistance being noted due to the presence of chemicals in the water bodies around the city, said experts.
3198 industries in Red Category
The Telangana State Pollution Control Board has marked 3198 industries in the Red Category, and their shift must be done first.
In a meeting of the cabinet sub-committee, deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu, minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, and senior officials of Telangana State Pollution Control Board and Central Pollution Control Board identified several critical polluted industrial clusters that have a high concentration of chemicals and need to be relocated first.
The stretches of industries identified were Patanacheru-Bollaram and Jeedimetla-Balanagar stretch, which have high levels of particulate matter affecting the air quality and also the water bodies of Hyderabad.
These industrial hubs are known to discharge heavy metals, solvents, and other chemicals into water, air, and soil, contaminating local water bodies like the Nakkavagu River. Documented cases of high levels of drug residues in these water sources pose a serious public health threat by contributing to antimicrobial resistance.
Despite the government’s push, the shifting of industries has been slow, and only a few have been shifted.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has mandated the relocation of polluting industries from residential areas. The Telangana government wants a time-bound plan to shift these industries from residential zones. The move is expected to not only reduce pollution but also pave the way for a more organized and sustainable industrial framework by providing these industries with a suitable and planned environment, complete with necessary infrastructure and waste management facilities.
