A coal mafia is involved in the dumping of coal at Visakhapatnam port and causing pollution in the city. Several companies that have been blacklisted by the Government of India are operating through Visakhapatnam port, said Visakhapatnam South MLA Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar.
Minister for HRD Ganta Srinivasa Rao held a meeting with officials of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) here on Saturday. The meeting discussed issues like sanitation, school education, slum development and pollution in the city. The Minister, who was scheduled to interact with the media, left even before the conclusion of the meet as he reportedly had been called to Hyderabad for a meeting with the Chief Minister.
“The Chennai port has stopped import of coal on the directions of the Madras High Court to prevent the spreading of coal dust in Chennai city. Visakhapatnam port continues to import coal causing widespread pollution in the city,” Mr. Ganesh Kumar told the media. He said that the question was admitted in the Assembly and would be taken up for discussion there. When asked to reveal the names of the blacklisted companies, the MLA said that he would disclose them in the Assembly. He alleged that the port authorities were behaving in a high-handed manner. Port Chairman MT Krishna Babu had given a presentation to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu recently saying that the port was taking pollution-control measures like sprinkling. He, however, said that technical issues were being neglected by the port authorities as the sprinkling of water was making the roads slippery and resulting in accidents. The authorities were keen on obtaining ISO certifications but had no interest in safeguarding the health of people living in the area.
On the poor sanitation at the King George Hospital (KGH), he said that the GVMC would take sanitation works in the prestigious hospital at a cost of Rs.2 crore. More funds would also be allocated to the hospital to make in the best hospital.
Published - August 17, 2014 10:53 am IST
