The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) has ordered municipal, irrigation and river conservation authorities to immediately stop solid, plastic and construction waste from being dumped into the Penna River and its riverbed in Nellore.
APPCB chairman Dr. P. Krishnaiah issued the directions after inspecting the Allipuram dump site and adjoining stretches of the river. He expressed serious concern over the indiscriminate dumping of waste and instructed officials to remove the accumulated garbage and transport it to designated sites for scientific disposal.
The directions place responsibility on multiple agencies, including the municipal administration, Irrigation Department and river conservation officials. The River conservator and irrigation officials have been asked to conduct field inspections, prevent illegal dumping of construction and demolition waste on the riverbed, and initiate action against those responsible.
The APPCB has also called for strict surveillance around prohibited dumping locations. Officials were directed to install warning boards and impose fines and legal action against violators. The measures indicate that the board intends to combine physical monitoring with enforcement against unauthorised waste disposal along the river.
During the inspection of the Allipuram dump site, Krishnaiah also flagged the accumulation of solid waste, stagnant water and unhygienic conditions. Municipal officials were directed to clear the waste immediately and install wind barriers to prevent garbage from spreading to nearby areas. A designated space is also to be earmarked within the premises for waste collected by ragpickers.
The board chairman linked the condition of the dump site to public-health risks, directing officials to prevent water stagnation and maintain regular sanitation to check mosquito breeding and the spread of diseases. The instructions broaden the response beyond river pollution to include waste-site management and surrounding neighbourhood conditions.
The inspection was attended by Nellore regional APPCB officer N. Ashok Kumar and municipal officials. The APPCB has called for coordinated action by all concerned departments to keep the Penna River and its surroundings pollution-free, with field inspections, waste removal, surveillance and enforcement forming the immediate next steps.
