An episode of abnormal weather activity between April 20 and 23 resulted in the city and the harbour being lashed by wind at speeds up to 50 knots which blew coal dust into city atmosphere for some time, Visakhapatnam Port Trust Chairman M.T. Krishna Babu has explained to a delegation of BJP leaders who called on him to submit a memorandum on the issue.
The port has made it mandatory for all the operators to ensure 100 per cent coverage of the stacks of bulk cargo like coal and iron ore apart from sprinkling water to keep dust from flying. These efforts combined with most of the bulk cargo operations being mechanised have brought down the particulate matter from the port in the recent past. However, during the weekend in April, the heavy winds, nearly twice the speed of the normal winds, blew away the tarpaulins covering the stacks as the weights proved inadequate. Further, it being a weekend the response from the trade and business was a little slow and it resulted in increased particulate matter in the city air, the port Chairman explained to a delegation of BJP Visakha North MLA P. Vishnu Kumar Raju and BJP city president M. Nagendra and city vice president P.V.N. Madhav, among others, who called on him here on Thursday.
Data monitoring
Andhra University and GITAM University are monitoring the environmental data as part of an agreement with the port and according to the data from the Pollution Control Board, the PM 2.5 is less than 60 and PM 10 is less than 100, which are well within the acceptable limits. The content of the particulate matter is higher in areas like NAD Junction and not necessarily due to the port, he explained.
There was dust even in the office of the PCB and unusually a large extent of the North Constituency also suffered due to dust pollution, the Visakha North MLA pointed out to the port Chairman, who explained that it was a temporary phenomenon. The MLA suggested permanent structures for covering the coal and ore stacks. The VPT Chairman explained why it was impractical and very expensive in view of the mechanised handling of the bulk cargo.
The bulk cargo handling by SEW was delayed and was expected to be ready by September. Once SEW gets operational all the bulk cargo would be mechanised and dust pollution would come down on the port, Mr Krishna Babu explained. In fact even in Tianjin port, which handles 100 times cargo and of similar kind, dust pollution was controlled using tarpaulin covers and sprinkling of water, he added.
While the port is committed to reduce the pollution levels it would not allow any laxity and ensure that the pollution levels are under control, the port Chairman assured the delegation.
