HYDERABAD: Telangana topped a list of states and Union Territories for environmental conservation, with an increase in forest cover and sewage treatment playing a key role in helping the state secure the top post, according to a report released by a renowned think tank.
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a public interest research and advocacy organisation, in its annual compendium of data titled ‘State of India’s Environment 2023: In Figures’, gave Telangana seven of 10 marks in the report published ahead of the World Environment Day, which falls on June 5.
The state was followed by Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra, while Rajasthan, Nagaland, Bihar, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur were at the bottom.
The indicators comprised change in forest cover in 2021 over 2019, share of municipal solid waste that gets treated (2020-21), share of sewage that gets treated (as of June 30, 2020), change in installed grid renewable power in 2020-21, percentage change in the number of polluted rivers in 2022 over 2018, stage of groundwater extraction in 2022 and percentage of waterbodies not in use in 2022.
However, Telangana performed below average in three parameters —share of waterbodies not in use, stage of groundwater extraction and change in number of polluted river stretches. The performance indicated high levels of pollution in river stretches in the city, shrinking water bodies that exist in the city limits and an increase in groundwater extraction.
Minister K.T. Rama Rao attributed the state’s good performance to the ‘Haritha Haram’ flagship forestation programme of the state government, besides other conservation efforts taken across the state.
He cited government initiatives for a “remarkable increase in the green cover” in both rural and urban areas, besides waste-to-energy plants and other initiatives, which subsequently led to social benefits, and national and international recognition.
The minister said that the Haritha Haram programme aimed to increase the green cover from 22 per cent to 33 per cent, as part of which about 273 crores of saplings were planted in the past nine years, which led to an increase in the forest cover in the state from 19,854 square kilometres in 2015-16 to 26,969 square kilometres in 2023.
A remarkable 24.06 per cent of the geographical area in the state is covered with forests — a fact also noted in the Forest Survey of India’s report, which stated that the Haritha Haaram programme increased the green cover in the state by 7.70 per cent.
Rama Rao also underlined that the state government implemented best practices in sanitation management, such as biomining, to ensure the scientific disposal of waste. Also, 24 megawatts (MW) of power were produced through waste-to-energy plants in Hyderabad as the state led the way in generating electricity through alternative sources.
