Vijayawada: Krishna Pushkaralu, the mega fete of Andhra Pradesh government, has to face a major threat of water-borne diseases to the pilgrims taking holy dip in the Krishna river. Water Pollution from Narla Tata Rao Thermal Power Station (NTTPS) is going to be harmful for the pilgrims taking holy dip, if immediate remedial measures are not taken. The biggest ghat San-gamam in Ibrahimpatnam from where CM N. Chandrababu Naidu is to start the 12-day festival is polluted by the waste water with the chemicals coming out from the NTTPS.
The temperature of the hot water released by NTTPS has been found to be around 40 degrees and the temperature zone extended up to 200 metres into the river waters. Water mixed with the flyash consisting of chromium, manganese and zinc substances are directly led into Krishna waters at Ibrahimpatnam. The pilgrims coming for Krishna Pushkaralu are going to have a bath in the river flowing seemingly with placid waters which is harmful for them. Thinking that the water is holy, some pilgrims also swallow it. This can prove to be more dangerous then bathing in the river.
Effluents from the NTTPS are released in the upstream of the major water body near Prakasam barrage. As the water is impounded in the barrage, it results in piling up of harmful chemicals, particularly non-degradable ones. Authorities have to take steps to prevent the water pollution from NTTPS. “Government authorities should do a lot more to protect the ecology of the river and the life of pilgrims coming for Pushkaralu as water having chemicals is harmful and will cause skin diseases,” says Professor Jairam of the Andhra University.
“We always find the water hot and traces of oily substances might be chemicals from the NTTPS released in the river waters. No fish is seen in the waters from years because of the pollution in the water. The government has built ghats near the polluted water and decorated the area for the Pushkaralu, but taking a bath in the water is not good for health,” says Sidda Ramaiah, a resident.
