Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan is slated to make a significant visit to Uppada this Thursday. During his trip, he will actively engage with the local fisherfolk to directly address their pressing concerns about the reported marine pollution caused by pharmaceutical companies operating along the Uppada coast. A major public meeting is planned for the day.
Prior to his community address, Mr. Kalyan will hold a crucial discussion with a specially appointed five-member committee. This committee, established just two days before his visit, has been tasked with thoroughly examining the detrimental effects of pharmaceutical activities on the livelihoods and well-being of the coastal communities.
The committee’s composition includes key officials such as the Commissioners of Industries and Fisheries, the Member-Secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board, and the District Collector and Magistrate of Kakinada, who also serves as the convener. Importantly, representatives from the local fishing community, whose nominations will be facilitated by the District Collector, will also be part of this vital group.
This initiative comes in the wake of widespread protests in September 2025, where fisherfolk organized road blockades to voice their outrage. They alleged that chemical waste from pharmaceutical and other industries was being illegally discharged into the sea, posing a grave threat to marine life and, consequently, severely impacting their income. The protesting communities vehemently demanded the immediate shutdown of the polluting factories and urged the government to take decisive action to resolve the environmental crisis.