₹20,000 crore project planned to make Telangana cities climate-proof

The Telangana government is preparing a comprehensive plan to make its cities more resilient to the effects of climate change. According to a report by The Hindu, a pipeline of projects worth approximately ₹20,000 crore has been developed under this initiative, which is part of the state's long-term 'Telangana Rising 2047' vision.

T.K. Sridevi, Secretary of Municipal Administration and Urban Development, stated that the objective of this roadmap is to integrate climate-related concerns into urban planning, infrastructure development, and municipal services within Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). To achieve this, the policy framework is being strengthened, including a mandatory Urban Road Code, Cool Roof Policy, Heatwave Action Plan, and Treated Water Reuse Policy. Three out of 43 projects proposed under the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) have already received approval.

Incidents of heatwaves and erratic rainfall are increasing in the state, creating a need for precise location-based interventions based on climate data. According to the government, the net emission of carbon dioxide equivalent in the state's cities is approximately 66.56 million tonnes. Buildings, transport, wastewater, waste management, and urban expansion contribute significantly to these emissions.

Some works have already commenced. In Khammam, bamboo misting bus shelters have been constructed, providing cooling and shade to passengers using low-carbon materials. Additionally, bio-mining of old garbage dumps is being carried out to reduce methane emissions and reclaim land. Secretary Sridevi mentioned that approximately 5.6 lakh tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions have been reduced through the bio-mining programme, and nearly 418 acres of land have been reclaimed for productive urban use.

The government is working to reduce non-revenue water through leak detection, pipeline renewal, and digital monitoring. Simultaneously, the underground sewerage network is being expanded, and treated wastewater will be reused.

To coordinate all these efforts, the 'State Climate Center for Cities' has been established at the office of the Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration. This center will coordinate city-level climate action plans, maintain a climate data repository, and provide technical assistance to municipalities.

There are plans for dedicated Climate Change Cells, city-specific action plans, and nine Climate Action Officers in nine municipal corporations other than Hyderabad. These nine cities include Greater Warangal, Karimnagar, Khammam, Nizamabad, Ramagundam, Nalgonda, Mancherial, Mahbubnagar, and Kothagudem.

A climate intelligence platform named 'Telangana Urban Climate Atlas' has been established to help municipalities identify vulnerable zones, determine investment priorities, and track climate indicators. Additionally, capacity-building programmes have been organised for representatives of 113 ULBs.

The Cool Roof Policy is a significant step, in effect from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2028. Under this policy, a total target of 300 sq km of cool roofs has been set, including 200 sq km in the Hyderabad Metropolitan area and 100 sq km in other urban local bodies.