Prioritise environment, safety not just for compliance, APPCB chief Krishnaiah

CII Andhra Pradesh in collaboration with AP Pollution Control Board organised a conference on industrial pollution control in Visakhapatnam on Friday bringing together key stakeholders from industry, academia, and regulatory bodies to deliberate on sustainable industrial practices, environmental compliance, and policy collaboration.

Retired IAS officer and APPCB Chairman P. Krishnaiah advised industries to make environmental safety and pollution prevention a regular, top-priority agenda item in management reviews, not just a checkbox before audits. Drawing on real-world examples Krishnaiah emphasised the role of standard operating procedures (SOPs), daily safety drills, and visible leadership commitment in preventing industrial accidents.

“Safety and environment should come first or second in your progress reviews, not last,” he asserted. On technology adoption, Dr. Krishnaiah stressed that green technologies are no longer optional but essential. He encouraged industries to invest in research, upskill their workforce, and adopt the latest clean technologies to enhance efficiency and reduce emissions. “Technology is the only long-term solution to mitigate pollution,” he affirmed.

Focusing on waste minimisation and recycling, he highlighted the urgency of embracing a circular economy. Andhra Pradesh is in the process of formulating a state-level recycling policy, backed by incentives, to promote entrepreneurship in the sector. He noted the underutilization of recyclable waste in South India and shared his experience at the Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI) Expo, where India’s western states are far ahead in industrial recycling.

CII AP chairman G Murali Krishna highlighted the increasing sensitivity of global investors towards ESG compliance and emphasised that future industrial growth hinges on adopting zero liquid discharge systems, real-time environmental monitoring, and robust safety protocols. He called for integrating green standards into core business strategies to align with global expectations on pollution control and clean energy.

President & Unit Head, Grasim Industries Ltd S. Narasimha Sastry underscored the need to "minimize, mitigate, and move forward" to achieve global competence in pollution control.

Prof. S Bala Prasad, Head of the Department of Environmental Science Engineering and Management at Andhra University said on the evolving landscape of wastewater management.