Clean air and water for future generations is our duty: DCM Pawan Kalyan

Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Forest & Environment Pawan Kalyan emphasized that the government’s duty is to ensure that future generations receive as clean air and water as possible. “Our elders left us with clean resources. Today, in the Godavari basin, people are forced to buy drinking water as rivers have been polluted by the aqua industry and paper mills. We must work towards delivering cleaner resources to the next generation,” he said. On Monday afternoon, during the ongoing Assembly sessions, Pawan Kalyan held a review meeting in his chamber with the Forest & Environment Department Chief Secretary and Panchayat Raj & Rural Development Commissioner.

Investment vs. Environment

Issuing directions to the officials, Pawan Kalyan stressed “The state must encourage investment while enforcing pollution control regulations. At the same time, industries should not be driven away by overregulation. Mistakes of the previous government must not be repeated. Accidents in companies like LG Polymers cost lives. Pharma units in Visakhapatnam also require constant monitoring to ensure compliance with pollution norms. Advanced technology must be adopted for effective implementation.

Comprehensive report ordered

The Deputy CM asked the Chief Secretary to submit a detailed report covering:

• PCB staff strength – regular, contractual, and outsourced

• Roles and responsibilities of staff

• Shortages in manpower and infrastructure

• Financial resources, audits, and audit observations

• Extent of PCB’s research and development activities and outcomes

• Technology adopted for pollution control

• Website performance and whether data on air, water, and noise pollution is being updated regularly

• Accessibility of information to the public

He added that once the report is received, the government will ensure transparency by making the details public.

Youth and Academia in environmental action

Pawan Kalyan further highlighted the importance of involving youth and students in environmental campaigns to spread awareness at the grassroots level. He suggested linking industries with academic institutions to strengthen research and development in pollution control. He also cautioned that those attempting to misuse the PCB for personal gains must be dealt with vigilantly.