Minister Promises More Steps For Pollution Control in Vizag Port Area
A potentially embarrassing disclosure came in the Unnati scheme for women belonging to SC/ST self-help groups
VIJAYAWADA: Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar has said that the Visakhapatnam port authority would introduce dust-suppression systems, real-time air-quality monitoring stations and a green belt.
He was answering questions on the air pollution in Visakhapatnam’s port area in the state assembly on Tuesday.
He said the existing provisions included 444 sprinklers, 14 fog cannons, four mechanical sweepers, 10 storage sheds, 25 water tankers and eight tyre-washing facilities.
Manohar said the port authority has proposed purchase of another 100 sprinklers, 13 dry-fog cannons, eight truck tyre-washing facilities, one mechanical road-sweeping machine, two pressurised water tankers and three additional real-time monitoring stations. It has also proposed mechanisation of cargo handling, green cargo practices, wind barriers and relocation of coal stockpiles away from habitation, besides achieving a 33 per cent green cover.
A potentially embarrassing disclosure came in the Unnati scheme for women belonging to SC/ST self-help groups. A sum of `209.23 crore in loans had been sanctioned since 2014-15, of which `7.6 crore was misappropriated by field functionaries, he said.
Of this, so far, `1.19 crore has been recovered and disciplinary action initiated against 69 individuals.
