The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) has convened an urgent review meeting following a concerning decline in the air quality of Visakhapatnam. The city's air quality index recently entered the 'moderate to poor' category, prompting immediate action from regulatory authorities.
Emergency Meeting Addresses Pollution Spike
Chairman of the APPCB, Dr P Krishnaiah, expressed serious concern over the sudden deterioration in ambient air quality. The meeting was called to analyze the root causes and formulate a swift response. High-level officials, including the Visakhapatnam District Collector Harendhira Prasad, GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg, the Deputy Transport Commissioner, and representatives from major industries, were in attendance.
Data from continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) and manual monitoring revealed elevated concentrations of PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅. The chairman identified multiple contributing factors to the rise in particulate matter:
- Vehicular emissions
- Resuspension of road dust
- Construction and infrastructure projects
- Industrial and port-related operations
- Bulk material handling
- Adverse meteorological conditions
Immediate Action Plans Announced
The discussion focused on sector-wise pollution sources and identified specific hotspots across the city. A critical review of industry compliance and existing pollution control measures took place, highlighting the need for stricter enforcement and better coordination between departments.
District Collector Harendhira Prasad announced the formation of special committees. Their immediate task will be to assess dust concentration levels at various sources and identified hotspots to initiate corrective measures.
Echoing the urgency, GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg stated that immediate action would include constituting special task force teams. These teams will specifically target and control dust pollution at the identified hotspots throughout Visakhapatnam.
Calls for Enhanced Monitoring and Enforcement
APPCB Board Member Dr Panchakarla Sandeep pointed out a significant gap in the monitoring network. He revealed that currently, only one CAAQM station is operational at a major hotspot near the RTC complex. He strongly advocated for the installation of additional stations to gather representative air quality data for the entire city.
Dr Sandeep also recommended surprise inspections to verify the validity of Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates for RTC buses and government vehicles, ensuring they meet emission standards.
In conclusion, Chairman Dr Krishnaiah urged all stakeholder departments and industries to implement emergency measures without delay. He emphasized strict compliance with prescribed air quality standards and called for a collective effort to restore and improve the ambient air quality in Visakhapatnam.
