Industries and private users will have to hereafter purchase five per cent power from renewable energy sources compulsorily while buying power from sources other than AP Transco and distribution co

West Godavari district, irrigated by two mighty rivers, is on the road to agricultural prosperity thanks to various schemes.

Even though e-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules have come into force from Tuesday, the AP Pollution Control Board is still gearing up for implementation and strict enforcement of these rules with a framework of guidelines to be followed by manufacturers of e-products.

The Union ministry of environment and forests had announced e-waste rules way back in June 2011 under the Environment Protection Act. This would be implemented in letter and spirit only after the APPCB prepares a draft explaining “how to ensure implementation and check violation” of the norms.

Solid wastes being discarded in open dumping grounds or used as land fill in low-lying areas is causing soil run-off and groundwater pollution.

State cites delay in project execution, cancels allotment of 1,500 acres

In a setback to state-owned HPCL, the Andhra Pradesh government has cancelled the land allotted to the company for setting up its proposed Rs 45,000-crore petrochemical complex at Visakhapatnam, due to delay in executing the project, a government official has said. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) was allotted 1,500 acres in 2007 for setting up the petrochemical complex in the proposed Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR) coming up between Kakinada and Visakhapatnam on the east coast.

The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board has leveled allegations of pollution against various bulk drug units manufacturing drugs in excess of the permitted quantities.

The charges also include pharmaceutical firms responsible for unauthorised manufacture of these drugs. Despite permission being taken to manufacture a certain quantity and category of drugs, these units allegedly exceed the prescribed limit, by more than 30 per cent in certain cases. The huge amount of resultant effluents are not treated and the excess drugs, according to the APPCB, add to the pollution in the city.

According to the 2010 Wildlife Institute census, the state had 72 tigers and this excluded an estimated 15 tiger cubs. The state, on the other hand, boasted of a much larger figure — 105 tigers just a decade ago.

Speaking to media persons here on Thursday, the principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), Mr Hitesh Malhotra, said that the tiger population is reducing in the Godavari region due to widespread destruction of their habitat.

Citizens of the peripheral areas in Hyderabad will continue to suffer drinking water shortage for at least two more years due to a delay in the implementation of the Krishna Phase-III, as the state government has sanctioned a meagre Rs 30 crore for execution of the Rs 1,670 crore project.

The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board has little money to take up works on the Krishna Phase-III, and the Water Board is already mortgaging its properties to raise loans for the execution of the Godavari drinking water project for Hyderabad city.

Open plots reserved for development of parks and green belts in the city are becoming breeding grounds for diseases. The situation is even worse in posh localities such as Jubilee Hills and Banjara Hills.

People are using the open plots to dump garbage and as open air lavatories. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation-owned “park land” on Road Number 78 of Jubilee Hills is a classic example of how vacant land and open plots are being misused with officials of the civic body turning a blind eye.

The Centre has sanctioned Rs.706 crore toward immediate drought relief to the State from the National Disaster Response Fund.

This was in response to the letter written by Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on March 24. Responding to the letter of the Chief Minister for release of funds on March 24, Union Minister of Agriculture and Food Processing Sharad Pawar mentioned that Rs.706.15 crore from NDRF would be subject to adjustment of 75 per cent of balance available in the State Disaster Response Fund for the drought of 2011.