The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) along with the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) and the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) will take up the diversion of heavy vehicular traffic from Gangavaram Port and the Steel Plant passing through Gajuwaka, said APPCB chairman P. Krishnaiah.

He was responding to issues raised by the Greater Visakhapatnam Citizens’ Forum (GVCF) at a video conference held recently on air pollution control, air quality monitoring, and pollution from port and industrial activities. GVCF president Sohan Hatangadi and secretary Capt. N. Viswanathan participated in the meeting.

Mr. Krishnaiah said the city had eight manual air quality monitoring stations and three Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS). Five IoT sensor-based monitoring stations would be made available by November, he said.

About 40% of the required mechanisation work at the Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) had been completed, he said. If the remaining work was not completed, the matter would be examined for appropriate action at the next renewal of the VPA’s Consent for Operation. He directed officials to ensure compliance and to instruct the VPA to use chemicals approved under Central Pollution Control Board guidelines.

Regional officials said trucks were being covered with tarpaulins and water was being sprinkled on the ground using sprinklers to control dust.

Mr. Krishnaiah also responded positively to the proposal to extend the National Green Tribunal directions applicable to the Visakhapatnam Port to Gangavaram Port. The APPCB would also take up with the GVMC the proposal for low-cost dust monitors at construction and demolition sites.

The GVCF also raised the need for quicker integration of the new CAAQMS at Harbour Park and Siripuram with the CPCB website, public access to industrial CAAQMS data, and publication of the latest Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index score and the Source Apportionment Study conducted by Andhra University. The forum said it would follow up with the agencies concerned.