Nellore: PCB comes under fire for ignoring pollution from thermal projects

Nellore: The Pollution Control Board came under fire for not paying attention to address pollution from thermal power projects in Krishnapatnam area. After inspecting the affected areas on Tuesday, YSR Congress Sarveypalli legislator and party district convener Kakani Govardhan Reddy went to the PCB office in Nellore and demanded for remedial measures and compensation for the damages without any delay.

In a memorandum submitted to the PCB environmental engineer Pramod Reddy, the legislator alleged that paddy crop, coconut and other vegetation was getting damaged in the surrounding villages due to pollution by the power projects. He also produced pictures of the damaged crops and even dead buffaloes to justify his demand. In his reply, the environmental engineer said the task force constituted to look into pollution, following instructions of the collector, pointed to the need to arrange sprinklers to avoid coal dust spreading to the villages. They have also recommended modifications for the cooling towers.

The EE said that the power project managers agreed to do the modifications to contain the pollution. Reacting to this, Mr Govardhan Reddy said the power projects should shutdown till they carry out the modifications, while expressing surprise over environmental and forest clearance given to the units. Finding fault with the units for recruiting people from outside, he has also demanded the power projects should arrange skill development training programmes to the locals and hire them as promised. The YSRC leader questioned the rationale behind allotting CSR funds for repairing government buildings while they were meant for developing infrastructure in neabry villages.