Climate emergency: Pollution levels in Vizag reach alarming level; air quality hits poor

Visakhapatnam: Pollution levels in Visakhapatnam city have risen sharply. Air quality has slipped to poor, sending alarm bells ringing.

Following elevated concentrations of PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅ recorded at continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) and through manual monitoring data in certain localities, Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) Chairman Dr. P. Krishnaiah convened a review meeting to address the situation.

The meeting, attended by the Visakhapatnam District Collector, the GVMC Commissioner, the Deputy Transport Commissioner, senior officials, and representatives of major industries, discussed immediate measures to curb pollution.

“Pollution levels in Vizag city are high, and air quality is deteriorating. We have discussed plans to initiate action on this,” the Chairman said.

Pollution levels on December 21

Comparison with Delhi

Reasons identified: The surge in particulate matter was attributed to several factors, including vehicular emissions, resuspension of road dust, construction and infrastructure activities, industrial and port-related operations, bulk material handling, and unfavourable meteorological conditions.

Committee formed: District Collector M. N. Harendira Prasad constituted a district-level Air Quality Monitoring Task Force Committee, with himself as chairman, to oversee the implementation of corrective measures.

GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg said special task force teams would be formed to control dust pollution at identified hotspots across the city.

At present, only one CAAQM station is operational at the major hotspot near the RTC Complex. APPCB officials said plans are underway to install additional CAAQM stations to generate representative air quality data for the entire city. Teams will also conduct surprise inspections to verify pollution-under-control certificates of RTC buses and government vehicles.

Basic measures advised by officials :

Green curtains must be installed around construction sites during building activities.

Dumping of construction debris along roadsides should be prevented.

Strict vigil should be maintained on such vehicles, especially during night hours.

Action should be initiated by seizing vehicles and imposing fines on the concerned building owners.

Vehicles transporting garbage and waste must be fully covered with tarpaulin.

Burning of garbage should be avoided.

HRF warns on air pollution:

A week ago, Human Rights Forum (HRF) Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Coordination Committee member V. S. Krishna expressed serious concern over the sharp rise in air pollution levels in Visakhapatnam. He said the Air Quality Index (AQI) levels were turning the city’s air into a “slow and silent poison.” The HRF accused the APPCB of failing to enforce environmental laws or hold polluters accountable.

“This is not an accident of weather but the result of structural failure. It is a story of misplaced priorities, years of neglect, prioritising industrial profits over human lives, official inaction, and a blatant disregard for citizens’ fundamental right to a safe and healthy environment,” he said.