Rajahmundry, September 4 (Udaipur Kiran) : Andhra Pradesh’s Deputy Chief Minister and Environment Minister Pawan Kalyan has directed pollution control board officials to issue a summons to Andhra Paper Mills Private Limited for its role in polluting the Godavari River. This action comes after Kalyan held a meeting in Rajahmundry, where he emphasized the need for strict enforcement of environmental regulations against the company.
Kalyan accused the paper mill of evading tax payments for the past decade, with the company reportedly owing local authorities ₹21.34 crore and failing to pay any taxes since 2016. He stated that nearly half of the total water pollution in Rajahmundry is attributed to Andhra Paper Mills, which discharges approximately 35 million liters of liquid waste daily, out of a total of 70 million liters from the city.
Investigations revealed that the pollutants in the company’s waste exceed permissible limits. Samples taken near the waste lagoon showed a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) of 36 milligrams per liter, which is 20% above the standard. Additionally, phosphate levels were found to be 5.3 milligrams and sulfide levels at 3.4 milligrams, exceeding the Central Pollution Control Board’s standards by 6% and 70%, respectively.
Kalyan noted that this pollution diminishes oxygen levels in the river, jeopardizing aquatic life and disrupting the natural ecosystem of the Godavari. It also leads to foul odors, deteriorates water quality, affects public health, and poses the risk of a significant environmental crisis in the future.
He recalled advising the company to take necessary measures to prevent groundwater pollution during a regional visit, but the company failed to comply. Kalyan stated that under pollution control board regulations, actions such as halting operations, imposing fines, seizing assets, or revoking licenses could be taken against the industry for these violations. However, the coalition government previously issued a show-cause notice to allow the company an opportunity to rectify its actions.
In the last three months, pollution control board officials have held several meetings with company representatives, suggesting corrective measures, but received no positive response. Kalyan has instructed officials to immediately summon Andhra Paper Mills and take appropriate actions as per regulations. He also appealed to environmentalists and civil society to support the government in the “Clean Godavari – Sacred Pushkaralu” campaign aimed at making the river pollution-free.
Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.