Telangana launches climate resilience plan for cities

The Telangana government is implementing a broad urban policy to protect its cities from climate change effects like heatwaves and erratic rainfall.

This initiative is part of the Telangana Rising 2047 vision and includes a project pipeline worth approximately ₹20,000 crore. The state plans to integrate climate concerns into municipal services, infrastructure, and urban planning through new frameworks like a Cool Roof Policy and a Heatwave Action Plan.

Officials are already deploying specific interventions to reduce emissions and improve public comfort. In Khammam, the government installed bamboo misting bus shelters to provide shade and cooling for commuters using low-carbon materials. The state is also performing bio-mining on waste dumps to cut methane emissions and reclaim land. These efforts have already helped avoid 5.6 lakh tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions and reclaimed 418 acres of land.

A major focus of the plan is the Cool Roof Policy, which targets 300 square kilometres of cool roofs by 2028. These roofs reflect 80% of sunlight to lower indoor temperatures and reduce electricity costs. The government also aims to treat 80% of sewage by 2030 and reach 100% treatment and reuse by 2047. To manage these goals, the state established a State Climate Centre for Cities to coordinate data and provide technical support to local municipalities.