The city of Hyderabad seems to be in a grave ventilation crisis, as alarmingly highlighted by a recent study published in a reputed journal.
Over the last decade, the city experienced huge expansions in its built-up area 13.7% to 51.8%, ultimately leading to a whopping surge in poorly ventilated zones from 0.7% to 31.6%.
The study found that more often than not, these areas overlap with densely populated and socio-economically vulnerable communities, lacking basic amenities like toilets.
The culprits responsible for the poor ventilation are industrial growth, increased road density, and inadequate sanitation. Densely populated regions like Santoshnagar, Karwan, Rajendranagar, and Chandrayanagutta are the most affected.
The failure of the administration to provide basic public facilities to marginalised people in these areas, including slums and industrial zones has turned them into vulnerable hotspots.
Social media has come forward to criticise the mismanagement. One user said, “The rapid urbanization is suffocating our city. We need immediate action to improve air quality.”
Another emphasized the importance of ventilation as he commented, “It’s alarming to see how industrial growth is compromising our health. Urban planning must prioritize ventilation.”
Experts have demanded urgent attention to the issue by implementing ventilation-sensitive urban planning, which could then be replicated to other cities like Mumbai and Delhi.
All policymakers and urban planners must come together in this endeavour to ensure that the citizens get enough air to breathe, ensuring their right to life.
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