Night surveillance concept has failed in its aim to check the flouting of pollution control norms by industrial units during dark hours, due to lack of manpower and organisational deficiencies. Introduced by the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board way back in the year 2000, night surveillance teams are meant for vigilance in areas in and around Hyderabad including industrial clusters of Patancheru, Bolarum, Kazipally, Jeedimetla and Isnapur. Initially there was one team and currently, there are just two such mobile night surveillance teams, each comprising one engineer, one scientist (for taking samples) and two security personnel.
Teams are changed every day to eliminate chances of corruption. However, this is hindering the continuity of action on any complaint received by the team. “Role of the team is limited to only one night and absence of staff from the concerned regional office on that night, makes it difficult to follow up on the case,” said an official adding that there is no involvement of APPCB regional offices even though it is their duty to contain pollution.
The official emphasised the need to involve at least five regional offices including those in Ranga Reddy and Medak districts in addition to those in Nalgonda. Officials rued that air and water pollution around Hyderabad is severe and even APPCB has been receiving complaints from residents on units dumping untreated effluents into open streams or releasing obnoxious fumes during night. “Similar task forces are required for cities like Visakhapatnam, Nalgonda as well,” an official said.