Residents allege pollution from Vedanta’s bauxite handling at Visakhapatnam Port

Residents of the One Town area have alleged that bauxite handling by Vedanta at Visakhapatnam Port has caused severe dust pollution in nearby residential localities. The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) has issued a notice to the company after air quality monitoring reportedly found particulate matter levels above the prescribed limits.

According to residents, bauxite was unloaded at Vedanta’s allotted berth from June 29 to July 7. They said strong winds of 50 kmph to 60 kmph, triggered by a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, dispersed red bauxite dust from the berth near Kota Veedhi to adjoining localities, including Chilakapeta and the Belt Below area.

The residents alleged that unloading operations continued despite high wind speeds, although environmental guidelines require dust-generating cargo to be handled only under favourable weather conditions to minimise air pollution. They said the dust affected daily life and prompted them to submit complaints to the district administration and the APPCB.

Acting on the complaints, APPCB officials conducted ambient air quality monitoring over two days using a mobile monitoring station. The monitoring reportedly recorded PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations above the permissible limits. Based on the findings, the Board issued a notice to Vedanta, alleging non-compliance with environmental safeguards during the unloading operations.

APPCB Executive Engineer P.V. Mukunda Rao said the Board had imposed a penalty of ₹6 lakh on the company in December last year for similar violations.

Residents, citing information from port sources, said another vessel carrying bauxite is expected to arrive at Visakhapatnam Port within a week. They urged the authorities to enforce pollution-control measures before permitting further unloading operations. They warned that they would oppose the unloading of bauxite unless adequate environmental safeguards were put in place.