Deteriorating air quality in Vizag sparks concern among MLAs
Visakhapatnam MLAs are calling for urgent government intervention to address severe air pollution caused by port operations and industrial activity. Lawmakers claim that dust from coal and iron ore handling is creating health risks worse than those in Delhi.
Why it matters
The debate underscores the conflict between industrial economic activity and public health/environmental standards in urban centers.
MLAs from Visakhapatnam have urged the State government to take immediate and stringent measures to control the alarming levels of air pollution in Visakhapatnam city, particularly emissions from the Visakhapatnam Port and various industrial units.
Visakhapatnam South MLA Vamsi Krishna Srinivas said: “The rising pollution levels are a matter of serious concern. Thick layers of pollutants are visibly present in the air in the morning hours, which is alarming.” He pointed out that public agitations had already been held over pollution-related issues.
The MLA alleged that some berths operated by private agencies at the port were not taking adequate dust-control measures and were violating the prescribed norms. He said: “The loading and unloading of iron ore and coal were not being handled properly and alleged that vehicles transporting these materials were often not adequately covered with tarpaulins, resulting in dust being released into the atmosphere.”
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