Wed Oct 08 18:51:15 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

A public hearing for Ambuja Cements Limited’s proposed cement grinding unit in Pedagantyada, Visakhapatnam, was postponed due to massive protests by local residents, political party members, and activists. Protesters fear the plant will cause severe environmental damage, health issues, and water shortages. The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) postponed the hearing in response to the widespread opposition. Local leaders and officials held a meeting to discuss the issue, and a Joint Action Committee (JAC) will be formed to fight the project. Opposition political figures warned residents against manipulation by vested interests, saying it is their democratic right to express their views.

**News Article:**

**Ambuja Cements Project Hearing Postponed Amidst Furious Protests in Visakhapatnam**

**Visakhapatnam, October 9, 2025** – A scheduled public hearing for Ambuja Cements Limited’s (Adani Group) proposed cement grinding unit in Pedagantyada, within Visakhapatnam city limits, was dramatically postponed Wednesday morning after facing overwhelming opposition from local residents and political groups.

Hundreds of protesters, including members of the Jana Sena Party (JSP) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP), converged at the venue hours before the hearing was set to begin, chanting slogans against the project and vandalizing the site in a forceful display of their concerns. The project is proposed to be set up on 8 acres of land of Adani Gangavaram Port.

The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) confirmed the postponement. “The public hearing has been postponed. We will inform about the next schedule later through an official notification,” said P.V. Mukunda Rao, APPCB Visakhapatnam regional office environmental engineer.

Protesters voiced fears that the ₹1,000-crore project would severely damage the environment and public health, particularly in the densely populated areas of Gajuwaka. Concerns centered around potential toxic emissions, increased truck traffic causing coal and ash dust and its negative effects on drinking water. Activists and organizations like the Human Rights Forum (HRF) argued that the plant would cause respiratory, heart diseases and cancers.

“The environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the project is flawed as it ignores issues affecting the nearby residents and workers,” stated B.A. Trinadha Swamy, president of VARWA. “The plant would produce 4,000 tonnes of fly ash daily, apart from toxic pollutants.”

Visakhapatnam Joint Collector K. Mayur Ashok convened a meeting later in the evening with local corporators, revenue officials, and APPCB representatives to address the situation. A Joint Action Committee (JAC) is expected to be formed to further challenge the project.

Meanwhile, TDP State president Palla Srinivasa Rao urged the public to be vigilant against misinformation, emphasizing the importance of citizens exercising their democratic right to express their opinions on matters affecting their future.

The postponement reflects the significant community opposition to the project, raising questions about its future and highlighting the importance of addressing environmental and health concerns in development initiatives.

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