Jana Sena Party president and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has expressed strong displeasure over the alleged pollution caused by Andhra Papers Limited in Rajamahendravaram, saying the company alone accounts for nearly half of the city’s liquid waste generation.
During a field-level review, Pawan Kalyan said Rajamahendravaram as a whole generates approximately 70 million litres of liquid waste, while Andhra Papers alone generates around 35 million litres.
He questioned the company’s environmental compliance and expressed concern over the impact of its waste discharge on the Godavari river ecosystem and groundwater.
“Official figures indicate that nearly half of the pollution in Rajamahendravaram city is coming from Andhra Papers Limited,” Pawan Kalyan said.
He pointed out that the company’s waste streams were found to contain pollutants beyond permissible limits. Samples collected near the lagoons where the company discharges its waste recorded a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) of 36 milligrams per litre, he said.
A high BOD level indicates greater consumption of dissolved oxygen in water. Pawan Kalyan said such discharge could reduce oxygen levels in the water, adversely affecting aquatic life and damaging the natural ecosystem of the Godavari river.
He also said measures had been suggested during his field visit to prevent groundwater contamination, but alleged that the company had failed to comply with those directions.
Pawan Kalyan also questioned the company’s tax compliance. He said Andhra Papers had not paid even a single rupee in taxes to Kattheru Gram Panchayat or the Rajamahendravaram Municipal Corporation since 2016.
“Will you go to court and delay matters when asked to pay taxes? Why this irresponsibility?” he reportedly questioned.
According to Pawan Kalyan, the company has outstanding tax liabilities of approximately Rs 21.34 crore. He questioned how the company could effectively avoid paying taxes without any formal government decision.
The Deputy Chief Minister also referred to the company’s alleged history of paying taxes only several years ago while continuing to discharge pollutants.
Pawan Kalyan directed officials of the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board to issue notices to Andhra Papers and initiate appropriate action in accordance with environmental regulations.
He also instructed the government’s legal machinery to expedite cases involving such alleged violations.
