HYDERABAD: A division bench of the AP High Court, comprising Chief Justice Anil Ramesh Dave and Justice Ramesh Ranganathan, on Thursday directed the officers of the Pollution Control Board and the Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) to report to the court about the measures they were taking to prevent air pollution near Vishakha-I area caused by port operations.

The bench was hearing a case filed by Rasool on behalf of Kotaveedhi residents. The petitioner complained that large scale transport of coal and other material in the port berths resulted in fine black dust engulfing the nearby area. The bench felt that the issue needed serious attention and wanted the VPT and the APPCB to report about the present situation and the remedial measures by June 2.