Pawan Kalyan orders round-the-clock watch on elephant herd in Chittoor; kumkis proposed; 10 aqua units served notices
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan has directed forest officials to maintain a constant vigil on the movement of wild elephants in Chittoor district, calling for rapid measures to prevent human–animal conflict, and proposed the use of kumki elephants to steer the herd back into forest areas. In a separate action, he ordered strict enforcement against water pollution from aqua units, leading to show-cause notices being issued to 10 facilities across the State.
Heightened watch on wild elephants in Chittoor
Reviewing the situation on Monday, September 28, 2026, Mr. Pawan Kalyan—who also holds the Environment and Forests portfolio—asked officials to deploy Healing And Nurturing Units for Monitoring, Aid & Nursing of Wildlife (HANUMAN) teams to keep a close watch on the elephants’ movement and to coordinate precautionary efforts on the ground.
Directions and immediate priorities
Stressing that public safety must remain the top priority, the Deputy Chief Minister instructed the department to take all necessary measures to prevent human–elephant encounters, particularly around habitations and agricultural fields. He specifically asked that elephants roaming in and around Padiputlabailu be driven back into the forest and suggested bringing in kumki elephants from the Musalimadugu camp to aid the operation.
Herd movements and affected villages
Officials flagged concerns over a herd of 11 elephants and two additional, separated elephants that have been moving near villages for nearly two weeks. According to Mr. Pawan Kalyan, the animals have posed risks to human life and caused crop damage in and around Padiputlabailu, Nadimpalli and Kondakindapalli. The main herd was reported to have entered the Mangalampeta forest beat, while the two separated elephants were moving towards Chittoor, Pakala, Pulicherla and Chandragiri.
Crackdown on water pollution from aqua units
In parallel with the wildlife review, Mr. Pawan Kalyan ordered strict enforcement of environmental laws to protect water bodies from untreated waste discharged by aqua pre-processing units across Andhra Pradesh. He noted that harmful chemicals in excessive quantities in effluents released into rivers, canals and estuaries pose a serious public health risk.
He instructed the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) to intensify preventive measures and ensure compliance through inspections and corrective directives.
Inspections, test findings and enforcement
Briefing the Deputy Chief Minister, APPCB officials said 119 aqua processing units and 12 aqua pre-processing units are operating in the State, and inspections are underway to curb violations. Samples collected from 82 units revealed deviations in key technical parameters, including pH levels, floating solid waste in water and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD).
Following these findings, show-cause notices have been issued to 10 units that failed to meet prescribed norms. The violators have been granted two weeks to implement corrective measures.
Next steps
Forest authorities, working with HANUMAN teams, are expected to sustain field monitoring in Chittoor and deploy kumki elephants from Musalimadugu if needed to guide the herd back into the forests. On the pollution front, APPCB will continue inspections and track remedial action at the 10 aqua units served with notices, with further enforcement likely if compliance is not achieved within the stipulated time.
Significance
The twin directives underscore a State-level push to reduce human–wildlife conflict while tightening oversight of industrial effluents. As Chittoor grapples with prolonged elephant movement near villages, the combined approach of surveillance and intervention aims to protect both communities and wildlife. Simultaneously, the enforcement drive on aqua waste management seeks to safeguard water resources and public health through stricter adherence to environmental standards.
