3 weeks ago
Vizag MP Urges Tougher Pollution Curbs in Port Areas
A leader from the Indian city of Visakhapatnam wants cleaner air around its port.
His name is M. Sribharat, and he is the area's member of parliament.
He met a government minister in New Delhi to ask for stronger pollution rules.
Visakhapatnam is shaped like a bowl, so dust from port work stays in the air longer.
Ports already use sprinklers, fog cannons, and covers to stop dust.
But people who live there are still worried about the dirty air.
Sribharat asked for faster changes, like newer machines that make less dust.
He also wants the port to store cargo in cleaner ways and use better equipment.
He wants the air quality to be checked often and shared with the public online.
This way, the port can keep growing without harming people's health.
Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat urged Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to strengthen pollution control measures in the city's port areas and expedite green port initiatives.
Sribharat cited Visakhapatnam's bowl-shaped topography, which restricts the dispersal of airborne pollutants, as a reason for the city's vulnerability to dust and particulate matter.
The request follows a high-level July 10 review meeting at the Visakhapatnam Collectorate involving the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board, Visakhapatnam Port Authority and Adani Gangavaram Port.
Sribharat called for expediting the Harit Sagar – Green Port Guidelines, 2023, and completing the mechanisation of dust-intensive bulk cargo handling.
He proposed a dust-free cargo handling SOP, environmental accountability framework, real-time public air quality data, drone-based surveillance and stricter enforcement against violations.
- Who
- Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat and Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal
- What
- Sribharat sought stronger pollution control measures in port areas and faster implementation of green port initiatives, including a dust-free cargo handling SOP and environmental accountability framework.
- Where
- New Delhi, where the representation was submitted, and Visakhapatnam's port areas, which are the subject of the pollution concerns.
- When
- The meeting took place in New Delhi; a related high-level review meeting was held at the Visakhapatnam Collectorate on July 10.
- Why
- Visakhapatnam's bowl-shaped topography traps airborne pollutants, and public concerns over port-related dust pollution persist despite measures already taken by port operators.
Key facts
- MP
- M. Sribharat, Visakhapatnam
- Union Minister
- Sarbananda Sonowal (Ports, Shipping and Waterways)
- Main Concern
- Dust and particulate pollution from cargo handling and transportation
- Review Meeting
- July 10, Visakhapatnam Collectorate
- Related Policy
- Harit Sagar – Green Port Guidelines, 2023
- Ports Involved
- Visakhapatnam Port Authority; Adani Gangavaram Port
- Existing Measures
- Mechanised cargo handling, fog cannons, sprinklers, HDPE cargo covers, tyre-washing facilities, green buffer zones
- Proposed Steps
- Dust-free cargo SOP, environmental accountability framework, additional air quality monitoring stations, drone surveillance, public digital dashboards, quarterly reviews
Sources
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