Alarmed by a sudden spike in pollution, authorities in Visakhapatnam have swung into action after the city's air quality index (AQI) deteriorated to poor levels. The trigger was a worrying reading from the sole continuous air monitoring station near the GVMC office, prompting a detailed week-long survey across the city.
Widespread Monitoring Reveals Pollution Hotspots
The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) conducted a special monitoring exercise at nine locations across Visakhapatnam from December 15 to 21. The areas covered included industrial, residential, and commercial zones, revealing a stark disparity in air quality.
The results were concerning. Industrial zones like Auto Nagar and port-adjacent areas such as Gnanapuram and the police barracks recorded AQI levels between 217 and 240, categorised as 'poor'. Shockingly, the reading at the GVMC office monitoring station peaked at 308, far into the unhealthy range. In contrast, residential areas including Mindi, Peda Gantyada, MVP Colony, and Seethammadhara fared slightly better with AQI levels between 130 and 150, which is considered 'moderate'.
The average AQI across all nine locations for the week stood at 187, placing the city in the 'moderate' category overall. However, APPCB identified particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀) as the dominant pollutant affecting the city's air.
Emergency Measures and Enforcement Drive Launched
In response to the crisis, the District Collector directed multiple agencies to take immediate action. As per P Venkata Mukunda Rao, Environmental Engineer at APPCB, officers from the pollution board, transport department, GVMC, and Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (APIIC) were mobilised.
The objective was clear: address the sudden deterioration and ensure compliance with air quality standards. A key component was a special enforcement drive from December 21 to 26. Teams focused on major pollution sources:
- Inspections around Visakhapatnam port, Gangavaram port, Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, HPCL, and the Zinc Gate area.
- Strict action against overloaded vehicles, vehicles without tarpaulin covers, and those lacking valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates.
- Initiation of steps to phase out vehicles aged 15 years and above.
The drive yielded significant results: 78 e-challans were issued, and penalties totalling ₹7,45,000 were imposed. The breakdown included 16 cases of overloading, 40 for absent PUC certificates, and 22 for missing tarpaulin covers. The public transport department also inspected all buses in the district, rectifying minor defects found in 10 buses on the spot.
Multi-Agency Crackdown on Violations
Simultaneously, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) formed 10 special enforcement teams to tackle air pollution violations. On December 26 alone, the civic body's public health teams identified 51 violations and took action in 39 cases.
On the industrial front, the APIIC has undertaken regular sweeping and water sprinkling on internal roads in industrial development areas to curb dust. The APPCB itself conducted inspections in the port area, Convent Junction, Malakapuram, and Kurrampalem. This vigilance led to show-cause-cum-environmental compensation notices being issued to three industries based on observed violations.
The coordinated effort underscores the severity of Visakhapatnam's air quality challenge and the administration's push to bring it under control through stringent monitoring and on-ground enforcement.
