Alarmed by a sudden and severe deterioration in air quality, authorities in Visakhapatnam have launched a multi-departmental emergency response. This comes after readings from the city's sole continuous air quality monitoring station near the GVMC office indicated a troubling slide into the 'poor' category, prompting a wider investigation.
Citywide Monitoring Reveals Alarming Disparities
In response to the initial poor reading, the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) conducted a detailed week-long survey from December 15 to 21 across nine diverse locations. The findings painted a concerning picture of the city's air. While residential zones like Mindi, Peda Gantyada, MVP Colony, and Seethammadhara recorded AQI levels between 130 and 150 (moderate), industrial and port-adjacent areas fared far worse.
Industrial hotspots such as Auto Nagar, Gnanapuram, and the police barracks registered AQI levels ranging from 217 to 240, firmly in the 'poor' category. Most shockingly, the GVMC office station itself recorded an AQI of 308. The city's average AQI for the monitored period stood at 187, classified as moderate. APPCB identified particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀) as the dominant pollutant affecting the region's air.
Emergency Measures and Enforcement Drive Launched
Following the district collector's directives, a coordinated task force sprang into action. As explained by APPCB environmental engineer P Venkata Mukunda Rao, officers from the pollution board, transport departments, GVMC, and APIIC were mobilized. The primary objective was to address the sudden air quality drop and enforce compliance with standards.
A special enforcement drive was conducted from December 21 to 26, focusing on critical areas including Visakhapatnam port, Gangavaram port, the steel plant, HPCL, and the Zinc gate area. The crackdown targeted specific violations:
- Overloaded vehicles
- Vehicles operating without valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates
- Vehicles lacking proper tarpaulin covers
The drive yielded significant penalties: 78 e-challans were issued, resulting in fines totalling Rs 7,45,000. The breakdown included 16 cases of overloading, 40 for absent PUC certificates, and 22 for missing tarpaulin covers. Authorities also initiated steps to phase out vehicles aged 15 years and above.
Multi-Pronged Civic and Industrial Action
Simultaneously, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) formed 10 special enforcement teams to tackle air pollution violations. In a single day on December 26, these teams identified 51 violations and took action in 39 cases.
On the industrial front, the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (APIIC) committed to regular road sweeping and water sprinkling in industrial development zones. The APPCB also conducted inspections in the port area, Convent Junction, Malakapuram, and Kurrampalem. This vigilance led to show-cause and environmental compensation notices being issued to three industries found violating norms.
The concerted effort highlights the serious approach of Visakhapatnam's administration to combat the pressing issue of air pollution, which poses a direct health risk, especially to those with respiratory and cardiac conditions.
