Pollution fears cast cloud of uncertainty over bulk drug park

Visakhapatnam: A cloud of uncertainty dogs the Bulk Drug Park (BDP) proposed at Nakkapalli in Anakapalli district, about 90 km from here, to position Andhra Pradesh as a pharmaceutical and industrial hub following vehement protests from local fishermen, farmers and social activists against going ahead with the project over environmental concerns.

The public hearing for the project was stalled in August, 2025 following stiff resistance by the locals with slogans like "No Public Hearing for Projects that Kill Us." The recent arrest of M Appalaraju, the leader of the Joint Action Committee formed against the BDP under PD Act, further led to intensification of protests for the past few weeks. Though the foundation stone for the project which envisages an investment of Rs11,542 crore with an employment of 54,000 was laid exactly a year ago by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Visakhapatnam, there is no progress worth the name in grounding the project. As per the DPR, the first phase was supposed to be operational by March, 2026.

Under the aegis of AP Bulk Drug Infrastructure Corporation Limited (APBDICL), the common infrastructure is being developed in an area of 2,000 acres at an estimated cost of Rs1,876 crore. The Centre had sanctioned three Bulk Durg Parks out of which one was sanctioned during the YSRCP regime. Initially, it was proposed near Kakinada but later due to availability of readily available land at the disposal of AP Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (APIIC), the Nakkapalli site was selected. India's single largest greenfield steel plant by ArcelorMittal-Nippon Steel (AMNS) will come up near the proposed Bulk Drug Park.

The common amenities like effluent treatment plant, waste management systems, testing labs and solvent recovery plant are to be developed by APBDICL. Some companies have also committed to locate their units in the park. Jawaharlal Nehru Pharma City (JNPC) developed at Parawada, also in Anakapalle district with Ramky, is home to the largest cluster of pharma companies in Andhra Pradesh. Activists say there is a systematic bid to relocate highly polluted and hazardous chemical units to undivided Visakhapatnam, allow dumping of untreated effluents into the sea.

"Bulldozing public opinion, the State Government is bent upon going ahead with the project despite confirmed reports on fish-kill, contamination of groundwater and human suffering due to heavy pollutants caused by already existing pharma units from a private SEZ in the vicinity," CITU State general secretary Ch Narsinga Rao, told Bizz Buzz.

CPI (M) State Council member K. Lokanadham said as the locals are totally opposed to the project, the government should shelve the project and explore establishing only those projects in Rajayyapeta, DL Puram and other fishermen villages, which will not pollute the environment. He said pollution in the area has led to spread of cancer, rashes, skin and respiratory ailments