Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Environment and Forest K. Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday said devotees could face health risks if they were allowed to take a holy dip in the Godavari river during the forthcoming Godavari Pushkarams, in view of the prevailing water pollution caused by the discharge of effluents from Andhra Paper Limited (APL) in Rajamahendravaram.

Mr. Pawan Kalyan inspected Toorpu Lanka, an island from where the APL is allegedly releasing effluents directly into the Godavari river upstream of the Pushkar Ghat, the main venue for the official launch of the Pushkarams.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the alleged failure of the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) to effectively monitor pollution levels, Mr. Pawan Kalyan directed officials to issue notices to the APL management. APPCB officials collected water samples in his presence to assess the extent of pollution caused by the discharge of industrial effluents into the river.

Later, Mr. Pawan Kalyan directed Tourism and Culture Minister Kandula Durgesh to hold discussions with the APL management and ensure that the discharge of effluents into the Godavari river is stopped immediately.

Prior to inspecting the effluent discharge points, the Deputy Chief Minister reviewed sanitation and river restoration measures with officials of the Rajamahendravaram Municipal Corporation.

He also instructed East Godavari District Collector Kirthi Chekuri to revise the proposed ₹8,600 crore development plan with greater emphasis on restoring the Godavari river before the commencement of the Pushkarams. As an initial measure under the proposed “Clean Godavari” initiative, Mr. Pawan Kalyan announced a grant of ₹100 crore from the APPCB.