Members of the Visakhapatnam Apartment Residents Welfare Association (VARWA) and the Greater Visakha Resident Colony Association’s Federation (Nivas) have urged authorities to cancel the scheduled public hearing for the proposed Gangavaram Cement Grinding Unit at Pedagantyada in Gajuwaka mandal, proposed by M/s Ambuja Cements Limited (ACL).In a press release on Friday, VARWA general secretary B.B. Ganesh and Nivas general secretary P. Narayana Murthy alleged that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for the project appears flawed and overlooks several factual issues that could affect the lives of workers and nearby residents.The project is planned adjacent to residential areas in Pedagantyada, which, they claim, could jeopardise the health of local citizens. The project intends to use more than 4,000 tonnes per day (TPD) of fly ash from a nearby coal-based power plant, transported over a distance of 14 km. According to the release, the fly ash contains highly toxic pollutants that could adversely affect the health of people living nearby.The EIA study also suggests that the company might rely on the city’s main water supply, potentially causing severe water scarcity. The members further alleged that workers in such industries commonly experience various health issues, including skin, eye, and respiratory irritation, chest and stomach discomfort, heart disease, high blood pressure, and throat and nasal irritation, with the severity of these ailments increasing with prolonged exposure. Published - October 03, 2025 11:30 pm IST