Pawan Kalyan Lashes Out at Tourism Minister Durgesh on Godavari Pollution
“People taking bath Godavari bound to fall ill due to water pollution”
Kakinada: Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan has pulled up tourism minister Kandula Durgesh of his own Jana Sena party and officials for the large-scale pollution of the Godavari river.
He cited instances of industrial effluents being discharged to the river by a paper mill and asked the minister why steps were not being taken to check the pollution.
Durgesh told the deputy chief minister, who is in charge of environmental affairs, that they almost waged a war on the local paper mill daily, but with no result. “We could not go further as it may affect investments into the state,” he said.
He said that the paper mill declared a lock out at its Kadiyam unit and many lost their jobs there.
Pawan Kalyan expressed displeasure in Durgesh’s reply and said, “Health is more important than employment.” Many people, he noted, take holy dip in the river. They might or might not get any Punya, but certainly get diseases.
He reminded Durgesh about the worst health conditions in Eluru city during the YSRC term. As a cabinet minister, he said, Durgesh should take up the issue and cleanse the Godavari waters.
The deputy CM said, “If any topic is raised, caste politics will come to the fore. But, they don’t know how to make Godavari pollution-free. Kalyan said he would raise the pollution of Godavari before the next cabinet meeting.
Pawan Kalyan, along with the civil supplies minister Nadendla Manohar, tourism minister Kandula Durgesh, MLAs Bathula Bala Ramakrishna, Gorantla Buchaiah Chowdary, principal secretary Kanthilal Dande and East Godavari district collector Keerthi Chekuri on Tuesday made a field-level inspection at Turpulanka, set in the Godavari river, where industrial effluents and drainage water mixed.
Local paper mill released its effluents into the lagoons in Turpulanka. Taking note, PK said, “They should release effluents into the river only after they are treated.”
He said the Godavari Waters, considered sacred by the people, “appear lifeless and choked with the pollution.”
The deputy CM questioned the pollution control board officials what steps they could take to curb the pollution. “Would you allow your children to take a bath in this polluted water,” he asked them.
He said that the alliance government placed a high priority on industrial development and encouraged industries. But, this was not a licence to pollute the waters. Every industrial unit should follow the rules and regulations of the PCB.
The deputy CM directed the officials to collect Rs 13 crore of arrears from the paper mill management. He directed the officials to submit a comprehensive report on the paper mill issues including the pollution and these would be discussed in the Cabinet.
