Amaravati, Sep 4 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Friday held Andhra Paper Mills Private Limited responsible for half of the pollution in the Godavari River at Rajahmundry and directed officials to issue summons to the company.
Pawan Kalyan, who is also the Environment Minister, asked officials to take appropriate action in accordance with the regulations. He also instructed the Advocate General, Additional Advocate General, government pleaders, and standing counsels to take the necessary steps to ensure the speedy disposal of cases related to violations of rules by the company.
In a statement on Friday, he also criticised the company for avoiding tax payments for 10 years.
According to him, the company owes Rs 21.34 crore to local bodies and has not paid taxes since 2016.
“Official statistics indicate that Andhra Paper Limited is responsible for half of the pollution in Rajahmahendravaram (Rajahmundry) city. While the city generates a total of approximately 70 million litres of liquid waste, your facility alone produces 35 million litres,” he said.
According to the Deputy Chief Minister, it has also been confirmed that the waste Andhra Paper Mills discharge contains pollutants exceeding permissible limits. “Tests conducted on samples collected near your waste discharge lagoons revealed a Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) of 36 milligrams per litre—20 per cent above prescribed standards. Phosphate levels stood at 5.3 milligrams, exceeding limits by 6 per cent. Sulphide levels were 3.4 milligrams, which is 70 per cent higher than the standards set by the Central Pollution Control Board.”
Pawan Kalyan told the company that the pollution it discharges depletes oxygen levels in the water, endangering aquatic life, and damaging the Godavari River’s natural ecosystem. It emits foul odours, degrades water quality, harms public health, and jeopardises the future survival of humanity.
He recalled that during his field visit, he had advised the company to take appropriate measures to prevent groundwater contamination, but it failed to implement them.
“Strict action could be taken against you for these violations in accordance with Pollution Control Board regulations — ranging from halting industrial operations and imposing penalties to seizing the company or even revoking its license. However, with the intention of not causing undue hardship to industries, the coalition government issued show-cause notices as a preliminary warning, offering you an opportunity to rectify the errors,” he said.
The Deputy CM noted that over the past three months, the Pollution Control Board officials have held multiple discussions with company representatives and suggested remedial measures; yet, there has been a complete lack of response from their end. “Consequently, I am directing the Pollution Control Board officials to immediately issue summons to Andhra Papers Limited and take appropriate action in accordance with the regulations,” he added.
“We seek the support of environmentalists and civil society for the government’s initiatives to protect the Godavari River from pollution, under the theme of ‘Clean Godavari – Sacred Pushkaralu’.I wish to state that the coalition government is prioritising public interest and environmental protection above all else,” he added.
–IANS
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