Visakhapatnam: The health of the people is in danger as industrial wastes have been contaminating the water bodies in the city. Apart from the toxic chemicals disposed off by the industries, pesticides used in agricultural lands are also spelling a doom to the environment. This is also having an impact on the health of human beings and animals.
Expressing serious concern over the increasing water pollution, environmentalists have demanded the Andhra Pradesh Control Board (APPCB) to take immediate action on the factories and industries that do not follow proper disposing of sewage, industrial effluent or any other waste into water bodies causing loss to public health.
City-based environmentalists have noticed that the tanks in L Kota village of Vizianagaram district were encroached and dumped with toxic industrial waste.
Jal Biradari (Water Community) founder and well-known water conservationist Dr Rajendra Singh wrote a letter to the Chief Minister to protect the water bodies from toxic substances.
Waterman of India Dr Rajendra Singh also urged Vizianagaram district collector for initiating co-ordinated efforts to prevent disposal of hazardous wastes into water bodies. The drinking water supply from such tanks and rivers can cause health problems to the people and animals in the area.
The members of Jal Biradari observed that the pollutants of Jindal, Mahamaya and GSAL steel industries reach up to Meghadrigedda. They sought the civic body to look at the inflow of water sources to the rivers, tanks and reservoirs. They urged the GVMC commissioner to protect the water bodies from pollution, encroachment and over exploitation by the industries.
The industrial waste discharged into tanks in L Kota contaminates the water bodies. It is a critical problem as these are feeder tanks of rainwater to Gosthani river. “When it rains, the toxic water flows through the natural channels into Gosthani, which serves the drinking water needs of city dwellers,” Jal Biradari national convenor Bolisetty Satyanarayana said.
“It is pathetic that untreated sewer with plastic waste from the city flows into the sea at Peda Jalaripeta. On the other side, the toxic chemical waste from Pharma City enters into the beach near Parawada. The APPCB must take action to save human and marine life as well as the livelihood of the fishermen,” he further added.
Jal Biradari members have demanded the administration officials for demarcation of tanks and catchment areas. They also asked to identify the inflows to the tanks and re-establish them to rejuvenate the tanks.
However, officials have denied the allegations by the environmentalists. According to a source in the APPCB, the pesticide runoff in catchment area of Meghadrigedda is more dangerous than the industry leach.
