APPCB moves to shut two Nellore prawn processing units for releasing untreated wastewater

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An APPCB worker examines foam-covered water in a stream at Ananthapuram in Tottapalligudur mandal of SPSR Nellore district during an inspection. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) has begun action to close two prawn processing units in SPSR Nellore district after its inspectors found them releasing untreated wastewater into drains and burning their solid waste. The action is part of a State-wide check on 131 aqua processing and pre-processing units after Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan, who holds the Forest and Environment portfolio, on September 28 ordered the board to enforce the rules strictly.

On the directions of APPCB Chairman P. Krishnaiah, the board’s Chief Environmental Engineer (CEE) M. Rajasekhar inspected several prawn processing units in the district on Saturday (September 26, 2026) to examine how they generated and managed waste and wastewater. He found violations at The Water Base Limited and Abaad Overseas Private Limited.

Waste dumped in an open pit at [unit], found during the APPCB inspection. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The Water Base Limited unit at Ananthapuram village in Tottapalligudur mandal processes eight tonnes a day, and the Abaad Overseas unit at Kudithipalem village in Indukurpet mandal 20 tonnes a day, the CEE said. He found that wastewater was being discharged directly into drains without proper treatment at both units.

“Though Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) were available for treatment of wastewater, they were not being operated and the wastewater was being discharged without treatment. The solid waste generated during the processing was required to be scientifically managed, but the waste was being burnt instead of being disposed scientifically,” he said.

ఆక్వా వ్యర్థాల నుంచి వచ్చే అనర్థాల నివారణకు చర్యలు•ప్రాసెసింగ్ యూనిట్లలో పర్యావరణ ప్రమాణాల అమలుకు ప్రత్యేక పర్యవేక్షణ•రాష్ట్రంలో జల వనరుల పరిరక్షణకు చర్యలు ముమ్మరం•శుద్ధి చేయని వ్యర్థాలతో నదులు, కాలువలు, భూగర్భ జలాల నాణ్యతకు దెబ్బ•మత్స్య సంపద, వ్యవసాయంతో పాటు ప్రజల… pic.twitter.com/UEhJn2wFAd

The officials also found that adequate attention was not being given to maintaining green cover within the premises and to implementing necessary environmental protection measures. They have begun the process of closing both units and issuing closure orders, as per the applicable provisions.

Across the State, the APPCB has collected samples from 82 units and found deviations in pH, floating solids and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in some of them, officials told Mr. Pawan Kalyan, according to his office. Ten units have been served show-cause notices and given two weeks to take corrective action. High BOD in wastewater lowers the oxygen dissolved in the water and harms aquatic life, especially fish, Deputy CMO’s handle said in an X post.

The APPCB Chairman said strict action would be taken against industries causing pollution by violating environmental norms. He warned that legal action would be taken if their waste management practices caused harm to public health, water resources or the environment. There would be no compromise in the enforcement of pollution control regulations, he said.

He advised industries to give equal importance to waste management, pollution control and environmental protection, along with their industrial operations. The APPCB would continue to conduct inspections and take action against industries that showed negligence in complying with environmental regulations, he said.

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