Pollution takes centre stage in debate

​Sangareddy: Pollution, the deadliest problem being faced by the people of Sangareddy district for ages, took centre stage on the ‘Dasa-Disa’ programme organised by HMTV at TNGOs Bhavan in Sangareddy on Saturday.

While the audience started listing out environmental violation after violation being perpetrated by companies in the industrial areas of the district which have been destroying water bodies and harming air quality in the areas, people’s representatives had no other option but to concede that irreparable damage has been inflicted on the district.

T Jayaprakash Reddy, former Sangareddy MLA, summed it up by saying there was a time when the then unified Medak district was a backward area where unemployment was very high among the youth.

In that situation, people decided that industries had to be set up as a last resort, so that socio-economic conditions of the people could improve.

“That was the reason why industrial areas were set up in this area. “However, we couldn’t foresee its impact on environment and that pollution would become such a big a big problem today.

What was needed at the time was done then. Damage to land cannot be reversed. But we should now work towards preserving whatever is left,” he felt.

Anji Reddy, State President of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, pointed out that not even 10 per cent of the farmers, who had given up their agricultural lands to facilitate setting up of industries like BDL, ODF, ICRISAT and for projects like Singur, were leading a miserable life in present times.

He cautioned that Kondapur mandal could turn into another pollution zone like Patancheru, thanks to beer factories and uncontrolled industrialisation happening there.

He said there were Supreme Court guidelines on maintaining the distance between factories and habitations, which were repeatedly being violated. “Farmer is assuring us food security, but there is none to give life security to the farmer,” he stated.

Medak MP Kotha Prabhakar Reddy, replying to the audience and panellists’ questions, detailed out the State government’s efforts in trying to move red category industries out of Patancheru area.

He said the capacity of Effluent Treatment Plants and Sewage Treatment Plants needed to be reviewed and that the Pollution Control Board needed to be reconstituted.

He also said the Ameenpur lake, which has been adopted by him, was known to have been attracting migratory birds annually from as far as Europe, the birds were getting sick after drinking polluted water from the lake. He said he was taking steps to ensure their protection.

Sangareddy MLA Chinta Prabhakar said industrial pollution was happening because companies were flouting environmental rules. As the State government was just two-and-half year old, he sought some more time to strategically address the issue.

“By 2018 the people of Sangareddy district will drink clean water, when Mission Bhageeratha would be rolled out in the district. That would solve one aspect of the problem and if we cannot do, I will not seek votes again,” he said.

Representative of CPI warned that Zaheerabad was in grave danger of turning into yet another Patancheru as many chemical industries were being shifted to Zaheerabad area in recent times.

Manikyam, representative of CPI(M), pointed out that there were eleven industrial clusters in Sangareddy district and that there was neither enough equipment to check or treat industrial pollution, nor was there enough staff to monitor industrial pollution happening in the district in such a large scale.

The programme was moderated by P Venkatakrishna, Chief Editor Debates and Discussions.