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Pharma companies under TSPCB scanner for pollution donated to BRS, ET HealthWorld


Hyderabad: Pharma companies that were put under the scanner by the Telangana Pollution Control Board purchased and donated Electoral Bonds to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). They were facing cases in the National Green Tribunal (NGT), and PCB was asked to keep an eye on these companies.

Hindy’s Lab Private Limited and Hazelo Labs Private Limited, both under scrutiny for pollution, purchased and donated Rs 12.5 crore worth of Electoral Bonds each to the BRS.

An NGT-appointed committee has recommended Rs 2.24 crore in environmental compensation from the pharma company Hindy’s Labs Private Limited to pay for soil contamination by February 2023.

A farmer, Chepuri Ramachandraih, a resident of Veliminedu in the Chityal mandal of Nalgonda district, alleged violations of environmental norms by Hindy’s Chemical Factory, causing air and water pollution adversely affecting cattle, crops, and public health in area. It was confirmed that there was slight contamination and high levels of TDS, Total Hardness, Alkalinity, and Magnesium. Additionally, in 2019, the agricultural department certified that the borewell water was unsuitable for cultivation purposes.

NGT initially issued orders in 2020 to the PCB and Nalgonda collector for action after uncovering the facts. The matter was revisited in 2021, and further directions were issued.

In a similar case, Hazelo Lab Private Limited in Yadadri was under scrutiny for groundwater and water pollution. TSPCB, after inspection and monitoring, issued notices on February 5, 2022, to Hazelo Lab Pvt. Ltd. to clear the contaminated water and send it to CETP for further treatment to avoid groundwater contamination. PCB instructed Hazelo Lab Pvt. Ltd. to restrict production to 50 per cent.

The scrubbers provided by the unit for production blocks were inadequate. The unit was emitting dichloromethane, toluene, Dimethyl formamide, acetone, and other pollutants into the ambient air, causing odor pollution. Ambient air samples collected in upstream and downstream directions of the unit indicate contributions from Hazelo Labs Pvt Ltd and other pharmaceutical industries.

NGT ordered TSPCB to direct Hazelo Labs Pvt Ltd to submit a time-bound action plan for soil decontamination, control of odor nuisance & VOC emission, and achievement of ZLD. TSPCB shall periodically review the implementation of the action plan of all the units & regularly monitor ambient air to ensure effective implementation.

Similarly, Divis Laboratories was also facing an NGT case. Complaints have been filed against several pharma companies such as Natco, MSN Pharma, Reddy Laboratories, Aurobindo, and Heter drugs over the past few years with the PCB.

  • Published On Mar 22, 2024 at 12:40 PM IST

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