Kamal Ghorui
Air pollution in Indian cities is no longer a winter headline reserved for Delhi. From Mumbai to Hyderabad, hazardous AQI levels are becoming part of everyday life, turning what was once seen as a seasonal inconvenience into a nationwide public health emergency. In Hyderabad, where air quality recently spiked into dangerous territory, the crisis is now impossible to ignore. Actor and environmentalist Dia Mirza, who grew up in the city and has spent nearly a decade working on environmental advocacy, views this shift with alarm. Speaking to Hyderabad Times, she reflects on how clean air has moved from being taken for granted to being contested, why denial is costing us time, and why India must recognise polluted air for what it truly is — a threat to life itself. Excerpts:‘Hyderabad’s air is hitting dangerous levels and it’s only getting worse’Hyderabad’s air quality has worsened steadily over the past five years, with the city recording multiple days each winter in the ‘poor’ to ‘severe’ AQI categories. In 2021, the average AQI for Hyderabad during December and January hovered around 100–150+, indicating moderate to poor range, while in 2025–26, averages have surged to around 300, entering the hazardous range. On January 1, 2026, the city recorded an average AQI of 339, with a peak of 353 at 6 am Certain neighbourhoods in late December 2025, such as Teachers Colony and Kompally, recorded AQI readings of 367 and 278, highlighting extreme localised pollution. Even areas with slight improvement, like Kompally (AQI 87), continued to have PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels far above WHO limits.
‘The right to life begins with the right to breathe clean air’Clean air has always been central to my environmental activism. When I was appointed a UNEP ambassador about eight years ago, I attended a conference in Bangkok for a campaign called Breathe Life. That was when I was introduced to the data and statistics on air pollution that are only now becoming part of wider public discourse. Back then, air quality barely received attention outside a few winter months, and even then it was framed as a Delhi problem. The data today makes it clear that this is not regional; it is national. Yet, it still hasn’t been prioritised by states with the urgency it demands. For nearly a decade, we’ve been saying one thing: the right to life begins with the right to breathe, and the right to breathe begins with the right to breathe clean air.‘This is a national health emergency, not a seasonal inconvenience’Air pollution isn’t always visible unless it becomes extremely dense, which is why people notice it more in winter. But data shows that air quality remains poor for long stretches through the year. When 21 of the world’s most polluted cities are in India, we have to acknowledge this as a national health emergency. Pregnant women, foetuses, children in their developmental years — everyone is affected. Prolonged exposure causes brain fog, developmental disruptions in children, inflammation in women in their 40s or those going through menopause, and a range of respiratory illnesses. In simple terms, it’s bad for us. AQI levels above 100 are harmful, and anything crossing 300 is dangerous even for short exposure. This is not something we can afford to normalise.‘Denial doesn’t solve anything. It only delays action’I track data from multiple platforms, including IQAir and the CPCB-approved monitor at ICRISAT, a scientific institution here in Hyderabad. What worries me is that these platforms often show very different numbers. Independent apps frequently report AQI levels that are 30 to 40 points higher than those on state-run platforms. When official readings consistently appear lower, it creates confusion and, worse, a false sense of safety. Discrediting third-party apps, questioning devices, or even manipulating readings does not solve anything. It only shifts attention away from the real issue. Denial helps no one. We must acknowledge the problem honestly, present accurate information, and treat air pollution for what it truly is: a public health emergency.‘Children today don’t know any other reality’I grew up in Hyderabad. It was always dry and dusty, but I remember blue skies and clean air. I spent my childhood outdoors, climbing trees, playing freely, without my parents worrying about my health. Even today, Hyderabad is better off than many cities, but the highest AQI this month touched 360. That should alarm us. I’ve been documenting AQI levels in Hyderabad for the past two years. Every time I return, I see rapid construction. Hills being cut, rocks blasted, glass, concrete and steel everywhere. I’m not against development; growth is important. But it must be conscious development, using green solutions that already exist. Air pollution is one of the lowest-hanging fruits. It is solvable. Many countries have done it. China has done it. Why can’t we? We owe our children a future where clean air is not a privilege but a guarantee, and that begins with speaking up, demanding accountability, and acting now.
