Pawan Kalyan orders notices toAndhra Paper Limited for polluting Godavari river

Published 9 June 2026 · politics

Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Environment and Forests K. Pawan Kalyan has directed the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) to serve notices to

Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Environment and Forests K. Pawan Kalyan has directed the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) to serve notices to Andhra Paper Limited (APL) and Rajamahendravaram Municipal Corporation (RMC) authorities for failing to prevent pollution of the Godavari river upstream of the Pushkar ghat in Rajamahendravaram city. The directive came on June 8, following a scientific probe by the APPCB which revealed alarming levels of water pollution. On May 25, the APPCB authorities, led by Mr. Pawan Kalyan, collected water samples from two locations— The lagoon through which the Andhra Paper Limited releases effluents and the Kotilingala Ghat, where untreated drainage water is let into the river through the Nalla channel.

On June 8, Mr. Pawan Kalyan convened a high-level meeting with APPCB Chairman P. Krishnaiah, AP Pollution Control Board Member Secretary S. Saravanan, East Godavari District Collector Kirthi Chekuri, and Rajamahendravaram Municipal Corporation Commissioner Rahul Meena. Threat to aqua species: Dismayed at the alarming levels of water pollution in the Godavari river, Mr. Pawan Kalyan said: “The levels of coliform bacteria, biochemical oxygen demand, nitrate, phosphate, sulphide and biochemical oxygen were found to be above permissible levels in the water samples collected from the Godavari river. These pose a major threat to aqua species and cannot be recommended for drinking”.

Blue Bay Syndrome: In an official release, Mr. Pawan Kalyan further stated: “Nitrate levels have been found to be 119.6 mg /litre as against the normal level of 45 mg/litre in the water sample collected from the Andhra Paper Limited’s lagoon. This level of nitrate could pose severe health risks, including cause Blue Baby Syndrome among children. Such water is not suitable even for bathing.” The polluted water from the Andhra Paper Limited’s lagoon and the Kotligala Ghat flows down towards the Pushkar Ghat, the prime venue for the Godavari Pushkarams-2027.

Lakhs of devotees are expected to take a holy dip at the Kotilingala and Pushkar Ghats. Pawan Kalyan has directed the APPCB officials to initiate action against their officials in Kakinada Division for failing to monitor water pollution levels. East Godavari District Collector Kirthi Chekuri has been directed to submit a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to address the water pollution.