Smoke billows from an industrial unit in Visakhapatnam. The Pollution Control Board has directed industries to take stringent measures to control emissions and ensure compliance with environmental norms.
| Photo Credit: KR DEEPAK
The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) and the district administration and Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) are stepping up efforts to tackle air pollution in Visakhapatnam with a focus on emissions from industries, construction activity, and vehicular movement.A series of awareness programmes, stakeholder meetings and departmental discussions have been held in the city in recent days. The authorities have also begun strengthening air-quality monitoring infrastructure. Draft plans are being discussed to improve coordination among departments and implement measures to control pollution at source.A Green Walkathon was organised by the APPCB in coordination with the district administration along Beach Road on September 7. The event was followed by discussions involving officials, industry representatives, environmentalists, NGOs and other stakeholders on the city’s air-pollution concerns.At the meeting, participants discussed the major sources of air pollution, existing control measures and the practical steps that could be taken through coordinated action by various agencies.Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) officials informed the APPCB that measures were being taken to increase green cover within the port premises and control dust pollution. Transport trucks were being covered with tarpaulins, while water was being sprinkled regularly using machinery to prevent dust from becoming airborne, they said.APSRTC Visakhapatnam Regional Manager Appala Naidu explained the corporation’s efforts to increase the number of electric buses in the city as part of measures to reduce vehicular emissions.GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg said construction and demolition waste was one of the major sources of air pollution in the city. The civic body would take necessary measures to ensure that such waste was properly managed, he said.APPCB Chairman P. Krishnayya stressed that planting saplings alone would not help reduce air pollution unless they were properly maintained. He called for ensuring that every sapling planted was protected and allowed to grow into a mature tree.The GVMC has also decided to conduct regular workshops with stakeholders to discuss environmental concerns and find solutions at the earliest. Officials said such meetings would help improve coordination among government departments, industries, local bodies and other organisations.Continuous air-quality monitoringAs part of efforts to strengthen air-quality monitoring, APPCB officials recently inaugurated a Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (CAAQM) Station at Harbour Park in the city.According to the APPCB, the station would enable continuous, real-time monitoring of air quality in the surrounding area. It would record the levels of major air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O₃).The data would help authorities scientifically assess pollution levels, identify pollution sources, formulate necessary control measures and create greater public awareness about air quality.Three more CAAQM stations have also been proposed in the city. Published - September 08, 2026 11:07 pm IST
