To mark Earth Day on April 22, the U.S. Consulate General and Hyderabad Urban Labs organised a panel discussion on ‘Air Quality in Hyderabad’ on Thursday in the city. “Air pollution is less of a problem in Hyderabad, but we should not see it as ‘no problem’. The risk due to air pollution is high. A quarter of households in India don’t have separate kitchens, which means many people are exposed to indoor air pollution,” said U.S. Consul General Katherine Hadda in her opening remarks.

Citing World Health Organisation figures which pegged 159 deaths per 100,000 population in 2012, Ms. Hadda called for greater vigilance and vigorous efforts to fight air pollution.

“People will have to solve this problem on their own. What I have been told by officials is that pollution situation becomes worse when pollution control board steps in as it becomes a money-making agency,” said Sagar Dhar of Cerana Foundation.

N.S. Prasad, an independent environment consultant, blamed burning of domestic waste and garbage by Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation for the foul quality of air in Hyderabad.