6 hrs ago
Andhra Pradesh Board Fines Industries ₹16.32 Crore Over Pollution
The pollution board in Andhra Pradesh says some industries in Visakhapatnam did not follow rules meant to keep the air cleaner.
It fined them a total of ₹16.32 crore.
Pollution levels rose in December 2025, so inspectors checked factories more closely.
Inspections in January 2026 found problems, and the industries were told to fix them.
The board says the air did not improve as much as expected, so it took stronger action.
The board’s chairman also asked people to use public transport, check vehicle emissions and avoid burning rubbish.
He said dust should be controlled at building sites.
The city has 11 air-monitoring stations, and five more are expected to start operating by November.
He called for industries and public authorities to work together.
The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board says it fined industries a total of ₹16.32 crore for violating pollution-control norms in Visakhapatnam.
Rising pollution recorded in December 2025 led the board to intensify monitoring of industrial emissions.
Inspections in January 2026 found compliance deficiencies, and industries were directed to take corrective measures.
The board said follow-up monitoring showed air quality had not improved as expected, prompting stricter action.
APPCB chairman P. Krishnaiah urged residents, industries, local bodies and government departments to help reduce pollution.
- Who
- The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB), industries in Visakhapatnam, and APPCB chairman P. Krishnaiah.
- What
- The APPCB says it imposed fines totalling ₹16.32 crore on industries for violating pollution-control norms.
- Where
- Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
- When
- Pollution levels rose in December 2025; inspections took place in January 2026. Five proposed monitoring stations are expected to become operational by November.
- Why
- The board said industrial pollution-control violations and air quality that had not improved as expected prompted stricter enforcement.
Enforcement rationale
Industry perspective
Fines and compliance
Enforcement rationale
The APPCB said repeated inspections showed air quality had not improved as expected, and stricter action was necessary to enforce pollution-control standards.
Industry perspective
The article does not include comments from the fined industries or present their perspective.
Key facts
- Reported fines
- ₹16.32 crore in total
- Enforcement agency
- Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB)
- Pollution increase noted
- December 2025
- Inspections
- Task force teams inspected industries in January 2026
- Manual monitoring stations
- Eight
- Continuous monitoring stations
- Three
- Proposed IoT-based stations
- Five, expected to become operational by November
Sources
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