Telangana CM Revanth Reddy unveils plan for pollution-free Hyderabad core area
HYDERABAD: The Telangana government has set an ambitious target to convert the entire 2,100 sq. km area within the Hyderabad Outer Ring Road into a 'pollution-free zone,' Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced on Thursday.
Speaking after inaugurating Premier Energies' 5.6 Gigawatt solar module manufacturing facility at Sitarampur in Ranga Reddy district, the CM said the Core Urban Area, home to 1.35 crore people, will be redeveloped with sustainability and public health as priorities. Industries Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu accompanied the Chief Minister.
The Premier Energies plant is the first major industry to commence operations in the newly notified Peri-Urban Manufacturing Zone outside the ORR. The CM lauded the company for completing the project in 12 months.
He also inspected Premier Energies' prototype 'Solar Oxy Tree' ' a solar-powered streetlight integrated with an air-purification system ' calling it a timely innovation to combat urban air pollution.
Addressing a gathering after the inauguration, Reddy said Hyderabad must avoid the mistakes of Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai, which are now grappling with severe pollution and congestion due to delayed policy action.
'Industrial pockets like Jeedimetla and Balanagar, along with Musi river pollution, are putting immense pressure on residents in the core city,' he noted.
To address this, the state has passed legislation to relocate polluting industries from within the ORR to the Peri-Urban Manufacturing Zone. Land will be allocated to displaced units in the new zone, he added.
Outlining the government's long-term vision, the Chief MInister said Telangana is being planned under the 'Telangana Rising 2047' framework, divided into three regional clusters ' Cure, Pure and Rare.
The goal is to build a $1 trillion state economy by 2034, he said. He stressed a shift toward skill-based employment. 'With white-collar jobs becoming competitive, we are strengthening ATCs, polytechnics and setting up a Skills University to prepare youth for blue-collar opportunities,' Mr. Reddy said.
Welcoming green-tech innovations like the Solar Oxy Tree, the CM said controlling pollution is not just a government responsibility. 'Destruction of nature has brought us to this point. While the government will regulate, we need complete public cooperation to protect the environment,' he said.
He added that Hyderabad must attract more investments to compete globally and that planning must begin now for the centenary of Independence in 2047. Legislative Council Chief Whip Patnam Mahender Reddy, MLC Kale Yadaiah, Premier Energies Chairman Surender Pal Singh Saluja, MD Chiranjeev Singh Saluja, Director Sudhir Moola, Executive Director Revathi Rohini and senior officials attended.
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Key Highlights:
- Target: 2,100 sq km ORR-inner area to be made pollution-free
- Policy*: Polluting industries to be moved outside ORR to new Manufacturing Zone
- Investment: 5.6 GW Premier Energies solar unit inaugurated at Sitarampur
- *Vision: $1 Trillion economy by 2034 under 'Telangana Rising 2047'
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