Pawan Kalyan calls Godavari ‘chemical drain’, pulls up PCB officials over paper mill discharge

Rajahmundry: Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday expressed strong displeasure over continued pollution of the Godavari River by industrial effluents, pulling up officials for inaction during an inspection of discharge points linked to Andhra Paper Mills.

Travelling by boat from Venkatanagaram ghat to the lagoons at Turpulanka, he assessed the situation firsthand. Water samples tested on-site using mobile kits indicated high pollution levels. The presence of invasive water hyacinth further pointed to severe contamination. Questioning Pollution Control Board (PCB) officials, including EE Shankar Naik, the deputy CM asked why no action or notices had been issued despite visible violations.

Pawan Kalyan stressed that industrial growth cannot come at the cost of environmental damage. “People come here for holy dips but are exposed to chemical-laden water,” he said, adding that beautifying ghats serves little purpose if river water is unsafe. He also directed officials to immediately recover ₹13 crore in pending dues from the paper mill.

Criticising regulatory lapses, he said industries cannot cite employment generation as a reason to bypass environmental norms. “Would we allow our children to bathe in this water?” he asked, expressing concern over public health risks.

The deputy CM ordered a detailed report on pollution levels and the role of officials, stating that the issue would be taken up with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and placed before the Cabinet for stringent action.

He also instructed authorities to ensure proper functioning of sewage treatment plants and industrial filters. Ministers Nadendla Manohar and Kandula Durgesh, along with local MLAs and senior officials, were present during the inspection.