Vijayawada: Deputy Chief Minister and Environment Minister Pawan Kalyan has intervened in the long-pending ash pollution issue linked to the Dr Narla Tata Rao Thermal Power Station (NTTPS) at Ibrahimpatnam. He directed officials to prepare a detailed report and place the matter before the State Cabinet for discussion.
Background of the Issue
The move follows concerns raised by local leaders and residents over the impact of fly ash pollution on villages surrounding the thermal power station. During his visit to Mulapadu village on Saturday, Pawan Kalyan interacted with local representatives, including Jana Sena leader Akkala Rama Mohan Rao, who has been campaigning on the issue for several years.
Affected Communities and Health Impacts
According to Gandhi, nearly 75,000 families in villages such as Kondapalli, Ibrahimpatnam, Jupudi, Mulapadu, Damuluru, Chilukuru, Guntupalli, Neelaprolu, Rayanapadu and Kavuluru have been affected by pollution from the power plant. He said residents have been protesting for more than two decades, alleging that successive governments provided only temporary relief despite repeated representations.
“The pollution is affecting both air and water quality. Residents have reported respiratory ailments, skin diseases, and kidney- and liver-related health issues. Fly ash and contaminated runoff are entering water bodies connected to the Krishna river, posing risks to communities downstream as well,” Gandhi said. He claimed that pollution has also affected agriculture in the region, with orchards once known for guava and custard apple cultivation gradually disappearing. The decline, he said, has adversely impacted the livelihoods of local farmers.
Demands and Government Response
Gandhi further alleged that villages affected by pollution have received little benefit through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives despite hosting the thermal power station for decades. He urged the government to strengthen healthcare and welfare measures in the affected areas.
Residents have demanded a permanent solution to the ash pollution problem, establishment of a super-speciality hospital in the region and free medical treatment for people from affected villages. Gandhi said periodic medical camps were inadequate to address the long-term health concerns of residents.
Pawan Kalyan reportedly assured local leaders that the issue would be taken up with AP Genco officials and examined at the Cabinet level. For thousands of residents who have been raising the issue for years, the intervention has renewed hopes of a lasting solution to a problem they say has affected their health, environment and livelihoods.
