Now Reading: Black dust chokes lives in Visakhapatnam’s One Town area
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Black dust chokes lives in Visakhapatnam’s One Town area
Residents of Visakhapatnam's One Town area, particularly Chengalraopeta, are struggling with severe air pollution from nearby port operations. Ravi, 24, wakes at 5.30 am daily to switch on an air purifier for his 48-year-old mother, who has developed respiratory problems that the family blames on worsening air quality.
The family has lived in the area for decades and now takes precautions such as installing door meshes and air purifiers to keep pollution out. Elderly residents and children are increasingly suffering from respiratory issues, with the black dust from port activities choking daily life in the neighbourhood.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Visakhapatnam port handles over 70 million tonnes of cargo annually, and coal and iron ore dust are chronic pollutants in nearby wards. One Town, one of the city's oldest settlements, sits within 2 km of the port boundary, with no green buffer. Residents have filed multiple petitions to the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board, but compliance checks remain sporadic. The next hearing on a 2023 public interest litigation seeking a dust mitigation plan is pending before the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
Source: thehindu.com
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