Gadkari unhappy over air, water pollution in city

He directs GVMC, port to take immediate remedial steps

Union Shipping and Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari being taken around the container freight station of the Visakhapatnam Container Terminal Private Limited by its director Vir K Kotak after inauguration in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.

Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday expressed concern over water and air pollution in the city and directed Visakhapatnam Port Trust and Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation to take immediate steps to control it.

After visit of various facilities during launching of certain developmental projects and a stakeholders’ meeting, Mr. Gadkari said VPT should appoint a consultant to take steps on a war-footing to check pollution due to handling of dusty cargo.

On being pointed out by one of the stakeholders on release of untreated sewerage by GVMC into the sea, Mr. Gadkari said “I want that GVMC should take action immediately or else we will be forced to book a case against the urban civic body.”

He also directed the port authorities to popularise use of bio-fuel by vehicles being deployed for movement of cargo. When Visakhaptnam Stevedores’ Association president Krishna Kumar asked him to pass orders to make it mandatory for government and private ports to ensure covered stacking of bulk cargo, he said the Ministry would study the proposal. Mr. Gadkari said Visakhapatnam Port was one of the most efficient ports in the country and mentioned that it had taken up a massive expansion project with an investment of Rs.2,000 crore of which Rs.350 crore was mopped up from internal accruals.

Mr. Gadkari said work on Anandapuram-Anakapalle bypass road would start soon at a cost of Rs.2,500 crore. The demand of port to link it to Port Connectivity Road would also be considered sympathetically at a cost of Rs.450 crore, he disclosed.

On the long-awaited Visakha Container Terminal road linkage with Convent Junction would be taken up on a priority basis to decongest traffic and ensure faster evacuation of cargo.

He said the upgrading of 12-km long Port Connectivity Road from two to four lane would be launched at a cost of Rs.76.9 crore.

State Ministers Sidda Ragha Rao and Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Vizag MP K. Haribabu, VPT Chairman M.T. Krishna Babu and Deputy Chairman P.L. Haranadh were present.