Minister calls for public participation in controlling pollution levels

A pollution-free State is possible only with public participation and to a large extent, by creating awareness among the people, said Minister for Environment and Forests Bojjala Gopalakrishna Reddy. He inaugurated the administrative office of Safenviron (Safe Medi Aids) at Bishop Hazariah School compound in the city on Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Gopalakrishna Reddy stated that environment protection was the responsibility of every individual to minimize the use of plastic and take every step to keep the environment clean. He observed that the sudden rise in day temperatures was the result of climate change, which is occurring due to reduction of green cover. Plantation should be encouraged among the youth, which is the need of the hour.

Disposal of bio-medical waste is an area of serious concern with some hospitals flouting norms stipulated for its scientific processing. After establishing Safenviron, the work has become easy to collect and dispose all kinds of hospital wastes. He lauded the initiative of organisers for introducing BD sharp collector, BD recycklen sharp collector and other instruments to cut the syringes.

Safenviron agency chairman Velagapudi Venkateswara Rao said that the company has pressed into service in the year 1999 under Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) to collect the bio medical waste following the norms of Central Government and Pollution Control Board. Later the services were expanded to West Godavari and Guntur districts in 2002.

As of now 16 vehicles were being operated to lift on an average 1,200 kg of bio-medical waste, covering a distance of nearly 570 km across the districts every day, he said. East MLA Gadde Ramamohana Rao, AP Pollution Control Board secretary BSS Prasad, Safenviron agency managing director Velagapudi Vandana, AP Medical Council Chairman Dr Raja Rao and others also present on the occasion.