Visakhapatnam Air Pollution

The NEERI and CPCB recommended in 1990s that no new industrial activities and expansion of the existing activities should be permitted in the Bowl Area of Visakhapatnam, but unfortunately it has been ignored,resulting in the present sad state of environmental disaster in the Bowl Area.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study done by Andhra University for Visakhapatnam Port Trust ( VPT) in 1997 indicates high concentrations of heavy metals (Copper, Lead, Iron, Manganese, Cadmium, Nickel, Cobalt, Zinc) and Polyaromatic hydrocarbons in the Port area

These metals are known to be highly toxic and long-term exposure to them, even at low concentration levels, may cause serious health effects in humans. Of these heavy metals,Cadmium and Nickel are carcinogens (cancer causing). The EIA study findings are that the heavy metals could not be attributed to the local soils and that "their concentration distribution obviously shows the industrial belt and VPT area as the localized sources.

Poly aromatic hydrocarbons ( PAHs) were monitored at Jagadamba junction, Central bus stand,Convent junction, NAD Kotta road, Scindia junction, Gajuwaka, Old Post Office and MVP Colony.The average concentrations and percent carcinogenic fraction of the PAHs concentrations consisting of benzo (a) pyrene, benzo (e) pyrene and chrysene were reported by the EIA

The EIA report concludes that "Overall the carcinogenic PAH compounds in Visakhapatnam air warrants serious attention and necessitates to plan control measures."

Suggest that services of Andhra University be requested to take up Rapid EIA Study for evaluating and arriving at immediate remedial measures. The following issues may please be considered:

a) Banning of unloading of dirty cargo like Coal and handling of Bulk Cargo of metal ores by VPT within a give time frame

b) Immediate stoppage of handling and storage of bulk Sulfur in powder farm and other hazardous chemicals like Ammonium Nitrate by VPT

c) Strict surveillance on existing polluting industries and activities in the bowl area

d) Switching over all public transport and goods transport vehicles to CNG within a short time frame