Smoke billows from an industrial unit near the Visakhapatnam airport. The city’s air quality is declining from moderate to poor, raising serious environmental concerns. | Photo credit: KR DEEPAK
District Collector MN Harendira Prasad on Saturday (December 20, 2025) directed officials to take immediate measures to control the deteriorating air quality in the city.
He set up a task force committee for air quality monitoring at the district level, of which he himself became the chairman, to monitor the steps taken. Other members include AP Pollution Control Board Environmental Engineer, Police Commissioner, GVMC Chief, NHAI Project Director, Deputy Transport Commissioner (DTC), Regional Manager RTC, General Manager Industries, Inspector of Factories, District Civil Supplies Officer, APIIC Zonal Manager and others.
Mr. Prasad held a meeting with officials and industry representatives and addressed a press conference on the issue later on Saturday.
He directed the GVMC officials to ensure that the vehicles used for transporting garbage and waste are fully covered with tarpaulin. He also asked them to ensure that garbage is not transported beyond capacity.
Stating that garbage burning increases air pollution, he asked the authorities to strictly monitor and ensure that such practices are not carried out. The collector asked people to separate wet and dry waste before handing it over to sanitation workers.
He also said green curtains should be installed around construction sites during construction activities and warned against dumping construction debris on roadsides. He directed officials to keep a close watch on these vehicles, especially during night hours, and initiate action by impounding the vehicles, besides issuing fines against the building owners concerned.
Meanwhile, to prevent pollution from industries, the Collector has directed officials from the Pollution Control Board, Industries Department and Factories Department to conduct surprise inspections to ensure that coal and other raw materials are properly stored.
When the traffic got underway, Mr. Harendhira Prasad asked the officials to ensure that all the traffic lights were functioning properly and advised the motorists to switch off their engines if they had to wait for a long time at the signals. The Collector instructed officials to ensure pollution checks on old vehicles and asked RTC officials to take measures to prevent pollution from old buses.
He also ordered watering to prevent dust from rising where drains have been dug along the roads and on state roads where there is soil.
To prevent tampering on petrol tanks, the Collector has asked officials from the Civil Supplies Department and the Legal Metrology Department to conduct checks. He also sought daily reports on pollution control activities.
Published – 20 Dec 2025 20:03 IST
