VISAKHAPATNAM: For people living in the old city of Vizag and the vicinity of the port, coal dust is an everyday reality. In the heat of this summer, coal dust is swirling like a black shroud over these localities, covering buildings, furniture, even clothes hung out for drying with a thick layers of soot.
Residents of One Town say the issue has been haunting them for years and none of the measures the offending industries say they have taken are the answer.
“Heaps of coal remain uncovered. Though the Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) claims that their trucks or wagons are covered with tarpaulin, the reality is different. Motorists driving by the Convent Junction, Port Road, Allipuram or even at the railway station breathe coal dust. We cannot even drive half a kilometre without wearing a mask. The dust leaves a burning sensation in the eye,” said M Vasu, a resident of Kotaveedhi.
The dust settles on utensils and open water containers. “If we buy vegetables from the Ramakrishna Theatre area and soak them in water, black particles form a film on the surface. This is enough to show how deeply we are affected by pollution,” said Vaishnavi Devi, a housewife.
The pollution is such that the hilltop Venkateswara Swamy temple receives few visitors. The reason is pollution. “We are scared of going to the temple because of pollution. The temple structures are gradually turning black due to the deposition of coal and iron dust,” she said.
“The VPT authorities and Essar are not covering their coal or iron ore stocks. Our houses are enveloped in dust and clothes laid out on the terraces for drying turn black. Children and elderly are developing lung disorders from inhaling the dust particles,” said M S Sailendra, a marketing executive from Madhuranagar.
Residents of MVP Colony and Appughar also complain of dust pollution from coal dust. “Not only MVP Colony, almost all the parts of the city are being affected. The authorities are to blame,” said MLC M V S Sarma.
“On the pollution issue, we recently visited Gangagvaram, where pollution caused by the port is affecting the local people. Many youngsters in the 25-30 years age group are suffering from kidney disorders, while there are reports of stillborn babies. The government should react to the issue at least now,” added Sarma.
Experts say storing coal in an open area is against the norms. “The coal should be done in an enclosed space. The loading and unloading and transportation activities go on round the clock,” said B S Sastry, a member of the Port Environmental Monitoring Committee.
He said the dust level in the city used to be as high as 300 microns per cubic metre in the past, and still is 120 microns per cubic metre, which is well above the permissible limit of 70 microns,” he added.
Some experts say that though the authorities claim that the coal is being sprinkled with water and covered by tarpaulin, no really effective measures are being taken up seriously.
VPT Blames It on High Winds
In response to the allegations levelled by the BJP leaders that improper handling of coal dust was increasing the air pollution levels in the city, VPT chairman MT Krishna Babu blamed it on the strong wind. “The high wind owing to the abnormal atmospheric conditions during April has resulted in high pollution levels for a short period,” he said. The chiarman asserted that the VPT was strictly monitoring the particulate matter (pm)-a measure of air pollution-from the port on a regular basis and it was within acceptable limits. “The pm 2.5 and pm 10 readings are higher in the non-port areas of the city than the locations surrounding the port,” he said. Krishna Babu also added that tarpaulins were being used and regular spraying of water was being done to keep the coal dust below the permissible limit. However, he promised that that the VPT would check the issues and take action, if needed.