News Karnataka
Thursday, March 28 2024
Cricket
Health & Lifestyle

UCIL to check for uranium contamination in Andhra’s Kadapa

Photo Credit :

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) on Friday issued directions to the Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL) to check for uranium contamination in the state’s Kadapa district. The APPCB’s directions came after an expert committee formed by it visited Kadapa district last week to look into the complaints of groundwater pollution caused by the uranium mining and processing project of the UCIL at Tummalapalle.

“Based on the review and findings of the expert committee, APPCB issued directions to UCIL and will review the compliance of the directions periodically,” said Vivek Yadav, Member Secretary, APPCB. APPCB’s external advisory committee, having experts of various fields including nuclear chemistry, reviewed the damage to the bore wells and crops due to discharge of process waste in the tailing pond, in and around Thummalapalli Project, Velpula, Medipentla and Kottala villages.

The panel was formed early this month to study the impact of storage of process waste slurry in the tailing pond on the groundwater quality of the surroundings. It visited the plant and surrounding agriculture lands on September 9 and 10 and submitted its report on September 11. The Board asked the UCIL to form an environment management committee headed by senior officials trained in environmental issues. It was also directed to provide impervious discharge channels or use hosepipes to prevent erosion of the abutments and consequent seepage.

The UCIL was asked to share historical records of groundwater levels and detailed water quality characteristics from all monitoring boreholes and surrounding villages, rise in tailing pond level since the beginning of operations and the associated increase in surface area, inflow and outflow characteristics of slurry to and from the tailings pond. The Board directed UCIL to fence to secure the entire area with an adequate display of cautionary boards to ensure the safety of humans and livestock from undue exposure to hazardous materials.

The UCIL shall complete the greenbelt development of 360 hectares in two years. It shall take up avenue plantation along both sides of haul roads with the double-row staggered system, the APPCB said. The UCIL was also asked to develop rainwater harvesting structures of adequate capacity at suitable locations. The Corporation will have to carry out health impact studies by dermatologist and radiologist due to release of radionuclides if any to the environment and take the necessary action as required for their health.

The UCIL asked to expedite laying the pipelines from Chitravathi Balancing reservoir to provide water to all seven villages as committed during the meeting with Kadapa District Collector in July. The UCIL shall file the requisition for land acquisition for 120 acres immediately as instructed during the meeting.

 

Share this:
MANY DROPS MAKE AN OCEAN
Support NewsKarnataka's quality independent journalism with a small contribution.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

To get the latest news on WhatsApp