Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

Eco groups sound the alarm

VISAKHAPATNAM: Environment conscious people of the city have decided to launch a campaign to save Visakhapatnam from imminent danger and expressed concern over disturbance caused to panther habitat at Rushikonda and Kapulauppada due to concrete jungle culture.

The recent occurrence of yellow rain, suspected to be acid rain, at Tagarapuvalasa due to “industrial pollution” was a matter of serious concern and should be a wake-up call to authorities, speakers said at a round table meeting held by the Vizag Journalists’ Forum on Sunday.

The meeting resolved to take up issues for protecting the city’s environment by forming a pressure group through the Forum for Better Vizag (FBV).

Initiating the discussion, environmentalist Prof. T. Shivaji Rao said danger was lurking at the denizens as the city had no outlet for disbursal of toxin pollutants.

He said it was unfortunate that people in high positions, including elected representatives, were ecologically illiterate. Retired IAS officer and FBV coordinator E.A.S. Sarma said 40 per cent of reservoirs like Raiwada and Gambheeram had shrunk, and as per VUDA’s Master Plan for 2021, the city would face a water crisis in future.

He said, due to environmental pollution, even Navy officials were no more considering a posting in the city as an opportunity due to exposure to respiratory problems. He said the implementation of the Coastal Regulation Zone had become a casualty due to variety of reasons. The promotion of layouts at Rushikonda and nearby areas was posing danger to panther habitat, he said.

Prof. S. Ramakrishna Rao of AU Engineering College underlined the need to prepare a status report and citizens’ charter on Vizag’s environmental threat. He said due to its location in a bowl area and a valley, there was no outlet to escape in the event of a major catastrophe.

Divisional Forest Officer Vijaykar expressed concern at not following solid waste disposal with proper treatment at Kapulauppada and pointed out that the authorities concerned should remember that the repercussions would be unimaginable. He said micro-organism to elephants were vital parts of eco-system.

He said to protect the ecology, Rushikonda, Yarada and other sensitive areas should be declared as deemed forest and handed over to the Forest Department for maintenance. He said there should be a people’s movement to save the city from ecological threats.

Among others, Rebbapragda Ravi of Samata, Prof. E.U.B. Murthy of AU, Dr. Rama Murthy of Dolphin Nature Conservation Society, J.C. Srirama Murthy of AP Pollution Control Board, Pradeep Nath of Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, architect Y. Narasimha Rao and others spoke.

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