Hyderabad The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday announced the formation of a special task force to curb pollution in the Godavari river and implement a comprehensive action plan to clean the river ahead of the upcoming Godavari Pushkarams, a spiritual event held once in 12 years to worship the river.
Revealing this at a formal meeting in Rajamahndravaram, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, who holds the environment and forest portfolio, said the ad hoc inter-district task force will work under the auspices of Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) to monitor pollution across the six Godavari basin districts.
He added: “The task force will include officials from several government departments and will focus on identifying problems at the ground level and recommending permanent solutions. A separate monitoring committee will also be formed to ensure the rapid implementation of the task force’s recommendations.”
He ordered officials to start implementing an action plan immediately and ensure visible improvements in river conditions over the next six months.
Kalyan, who took a boat trip along the Godavari riverbed at Rajamahndravaram on Monday morning, expressed grave concern over the increasing pollution levels in the river. He directed officials to immediately launch field-level inspections to identify major sources of pollution, including drains, canals and tributaries that discharge waste into the river.
The Deputy Prime Minister announced the allocation $Rs 100 crore through APPCB for pollution control measures in the six districts through which Godavari river flows.
He said the task force would maintain strict monitoring of industries allegedly releasing chemical waste directly into the river and its streams. Water samples will be collected from critical pollution areas and sent for laboratory tests, while pollution audits will be conducted in severely polluted areas.
“The mission of cleaning up Godavari should not remain confined to banners alone,” he noted, noting that previous initiatives had failed to yield the desired results due to lack of effective implementation at the ground level.
Pawan Kalyan warned officials against hasty and substandard construction work ahead of Pushkarams. He said temporary buildings and structures built without quality standards could collapse and endanger the lives of devotees.
“We have witnessed such incidents in the past. Andhra Pradesh should not gain such a disastrous reputation,” he said, stressing the need for planned and honest implementation of works early.
He pointed out that devotees visiting Pushkaram should not come back with complaints of bathing in polluted water, terming it an embarrassment to the government.
Ban on plastic along Godavari
The Deputy Chief Minister called for “revolutionary decisions” to protect living rivers and suggested a one-year ban on the use of plastic in all six Godavari districts. He said single-use plastic should completely disappear from river banks by the time Pushkaram operations begin.
He also announced that another special environmental task force will work over the next year to eliminate plastic waste and promote environmentally friendly alternatives.
Launching the awareness campaign ‘Plastic-Free Rajamahendravaram’, Pawan Kalyan appealed to citizens of East and West Godavari districts to actively participate in protecting the river ecosystem.
The Andhra Pradesh government estimates that nearly 10 crore devotees may attend the upcoming Godavari Pushkarams – more than double the 4.6 crore pilgrims who visited during the previous edition.
To manage the expected influx, the government plans to expand preparations beyond Rajamahendravaram and develop Pushkar Ghats in villages along the riverbed.
Officials have identified 285 gram panchayats across the six Godavari districts for infrastructure development. Special funds will be allocated for beautification of the ghats and related facilities. The government also plans to introduce homestay facilities in villages to accommodate visiting pilgrims, generate employment opportunities and boost rural economies.
Later, during a separate meeting with industrialists, Kalyan urged industries to cooperate in preventing river pollution and contribute to the success of Pushkarams as part of their social responsibility.
He explained that while the coalition government would support industrial growth, industries must strictly adhere to pollution control standards and ensure smooth functioning of effluent treatment plants.
He said: “There are regulations that prevent industries from discharging untreated waste directly into river water. Every industry must obligatorily commit to maintaining treatment plants and treating waste scientifically before releasing it.”
He also announced that the Pollution Control Board will conduct mandatory quarterly audits of industries and classify them under red, yellow and green categories on the basis of environmental compliance.
The review meetings were attended by Ministers Nadendla Manohar and Kandula Durgesh, Pollution Control Board officials, district authorities, legislators and senior officials of the Panchayat Raj Department.
