The Hindu Business Line : Meet highlights steps to combat pollution problem in Vizag

POLLUTION — vehicular, industrial and of other types such as the one caused bio-medical wastes — is on the rise in Visakhapatnam city limits and in the vicinity and urgent remedial steps are called for to arrest it, according to academics of the Andhra University and the Gitam College of Engineering and Technology.

At a one-day seminar on the environmental problems of Vizag organised by the Department of Civil Engineering, Andhra University, here on Friday, several speakers said there should be constant monitoring of pollution levels and great care should be taken in sighting new industries coming up in the district.

Within the Vizag bowl area, it was noted that the pollution levels were already a cause for concern.

Dr N. Srinivas, Head of the Department of Environmental Sciences, Gitam College of Engineering, said preliminary studies had been conducted on the ambient ozone formation at various busy traffic junctions in Visakhapatnam and the air quality index had been prepared. The air quality in many junctions is good enough, but during the peak hours there is a significant rise in ozone concentration. He recommended stricter traffic control, with reference to the speed of the vehicles and the emissions and raising of more greenery to combat the problem.

Dr P.V.V. Prasada Rao of the Department of Environmental Sciences, Andhra University, noted in his paper that the exploitation of groundwater had reached the maximum level and even though the proposed diversion of Godavari waters would ease the pressure on groundwater, long-term planning would be needed to avert water crisis in the future.

Prof S. Ramakrishna Rao of the Andhra University, said in his paper that there were 20 major private hospitals in Vizag besides the King George Hospital, the main public hospital, and the disposal of bio-medical waste was not being done in a proper way.

More Stories on : Environment | Andhra Pradesh

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page