No effluent treatment plants at Special Economic Zone

Visakhapatnam: The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has confirmed that the still there are no effluent treatment plants in Special Economic Zone (SEZ), Atchutapuram, in the district.

The ministry also clarified that the units established in the SEZ other than pharma, have installed their treatment plants. The other plants, which have been already started their production, presently lifting their untreated effluents by road and being treated at JN Pharma City.

However, the ministry said that taking a serious note on the issue, asked the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board to take immediate measures to stop water, land and air pollution in the SEZ.

Responding to YSR Congress Party Rajya Sabha member V Vijayasai Reddy, Union Minister of Environment Dr Harsh Vardhan said that an Inquiry Committee from the Centre had already visited the site and inspected the pollution allegations in the SEZ and the committee submitted its report to the ministry. Based on the report, the ministry has sought certain clarifications and compliance report from the developer of the project which is Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC).

The APPCB informed that APIIC is at presently constructing one common effluent treatment plant of capacity 1.5 MLD in PPP mode and has also proposed one STP of seven MLD capacity. The units established in the SEZ, other than pharma, have installed their treatment plants. 

The APIIC has also developed greenbelt in an area of 344 acres out of 860 acres required and the remaining is proposed to be completed in the next rainy season, the Union Minister said.

Furthermore, laying of the off-shore pipeline of 3.5 km length from the landfall point is completed and on-shore laying works are not yet started. The APPCB has also informed that presently no effluents are discharged into the sea and units are temporary to use the existing treatment facility located at JN Pharma City. 

The units are sending their effluents by road to the facility for treatment. The APPCB is continuously monitoring the status of transportation and treatment of effluent.