Rs 100 Crore To Be Allocated To Curb Pollution in Godavari
Visible change should come in quality of Godavari waters within 6 months: Pawan Kalyan
Kakinada: Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan on Monday said that Rs 100 crore would be allocated to curb pollution in the Godavari river and directed officials to ensure visible improvement in water quality within six months ahead of Godavari Pushkaralu-2027.
He said nearly 10 crore pilgrims are expected to attend Godavari Pushkaralu-2027 and added that 285 bathing ghats should be beautified as part of the arrangements.
Pawan Kalyan, along with civil supplies minister Nadendla Manohar, tourism minister Kandula Durgesh, Rajamahendravaram Rural MLA Gorantla Buchaiah Chowdary, Rajamahendravaram Urban MLA Adireddy Srinivas, East Godavari collector Keerthi Chekuri, municipal commissioner Rahul Meena and SP Narasimha Kishore, inspected the Godavari river on Monday.
The team travelled by boat from Pushkar Ghat to Kotilingalapeta and inspected the Nalla Channel. The deputy CM expressed concern over visible pollution and sewage inflows into the river.
He later reviewed river pollution, preparedness for Godavari Pushkaralu-2027 and related issues with officials from the Pollution Control Board, as also the forest and Panchayat Raj departments.
Kalyan said rivers that sustain life are being turned into polluted water bodies and warned that continued negligence would make drinking water availability a major challenge for future generations.
He also criticised the practice of spending large amounts under schemes like Jal Jeevan Mission to treat water that is already polluted.
The deputy CM directed officials to constitute a special inter-district task force to curb pollution in the Godavari basin and suggested that it identify ground-level issues and propose long-term solutions. He also called for a monitoring committee to ensure implementation of its recommendations.
He instructed officials to implement an action plan for river conservation immediately and said visible improvements should be achieved within six months. He also stressed the need for involvement of gram panchayats across six districts.
The deputy CM said the Mission for Clean Godavari should not remain symbolic and must ensure that devotees experience a clean river during Pushkaralu-2027.
Panchayat Raj principal secretary Kantilal Dande, Commissioner Krishna Teja, MLAs Bathula Bala Ramakrishna and Vegulla Jogeswara Rao, and MLC Somu Veerraju were present.
