Complaint of pollution caused by Dalmia cement factory: Lokayukta recommends constitution of a high-level committee

Andhra Pradesh Lokayukta Justice P. Lakshmana Reddy recommended to the Chief Secretary of the State government to constitute a high-level grievance redressal committee to examine the reports submitted by Kadapa Irrigation Circle Superintending Engineer and Deputy Director of the Institution of Lokayukta on the pollution being caused by the cement factory of Dalmia Group located at Chinnakomerla village in Mylavaram Mandal of Kadapa district. Justice Lakshmana Reddy mandated the committee to hear the people of three nearby villages — Chinnakomerla, Nawabupeta, and Dugganapalli — who lodged a complaint that the factory has been causing air and dust pollution, which was not only posing health hazards but also damaging agricultural crops and houses in its vicinity. In the meanwhile, the Commissioner of Agriculture and the member secretary of AP Pollution Control Board have been directed to conduct a joint inspection through the officers concerned for assessing the loss caused to the agricultural fields by the cement factory, and submit an action taken report by November 5 for passing further orders. The Deputy Director of the Institution of Lokayukta had earlier reported to Justice Lakshmana Reddy that there is an inherent defect in the very location of the cement factory and it ought to be built a kilometre to its southwest, and the Environmental Impact Assessment was not done properly.