AP Pollution Board to set up 4 regional offices  

Amaravati: Minister for forests and environment sciences Sidda Raghava Rao directed the AP Pollution Control Board to establish regional offices at Srikakulam, Prakasam, Kadapa and Anatapur districts immediately. He also ordered establishment of  laboratories in all districts during a review on the pollution impact in the state on Wednesday at the Secretariat.

The minister asked the official to take serious action against the highly polluting companies in the state. “We need new industries for the development of economy and the state, but that should not be at the cost of environment”, he said, while suggesting to PCB chairman B S S Prasad to implement the PCB rules and regulations strictly Noting that stone crushers were causing more damage to the environment, he told the officials to issue notices to the units first, before proceeding further.

Raghava Rao suggested to officials to create awareness among public on usage of plastic and safe disposal of plastic waste. The PCB should play crucial role in the Vanam Manam programme, in planting trees across the state, he said.