vijayawada: Krishna Pushkaralu, the Andhra Pradesh government’s grand festival, has to face a major threat of water-borne diseases as pilgrims take a holy dip in the Krishna river. Water pollution from the Nala Tatarao Thermal Power Plant (NTTPS) will be harmful to pilgrims taking holy baths if immediate corrective measures are not taken. Ibrahimpatnam’s largest ghat, where CM N. Chandrababu Naidu will begin his 12-day festival, his Sangamam, has been contaminated by chemical-laden wastewater emanating from the NTTPS.
It was found that the temperature of the hot water released by NTTPS was approximately 40 degrees Celsius, and the temperature range extended to 200 meters underwater in the river. The water mixed with fly ash consisting of chromium, manganese and zinc substances is led directly to Krishna Water in Ibrahimpatnam. Pilgrims who come to visit Krishna Pushkaral end up bathing in a river with seemingly calm water, but it is harmful to them. Some pilgrims consider it to be sacred water and drink it. This can prove more dangerous than swimming in the river.
Effluent from NTTPS is released upstream of the main water body near Prakasam barrage. When water accumulates within the dam, harmful chemicals, especially non-degradable chemicals, accumulate. Authorities need to take measures to prevent water pollution from NTTPS. “Government authorities should do more to protect the river’s ecosystem and the lives of pilgrims visiting Pushkarar, as water laden with chemicals is harmful and can cause skin diseases.” Professor Jairam of Andhra University says:
“We have hot water all the time and the trace oily substances could be chemicals from NTTPS released into the river water. Due to water pollution, we have not seen any fish for years now.Government They built a ghat near the contaminated water and decorated the area for the Pushkarars, but bathing in the water is not good for health,” said Siddha Ramaiah, a resident.
