The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) has served notices on the 22 imitation jewellery production firms in the Machilipatnam Imitation Jewelry Park (IJP) for violating norms to treat effluent water. Estimated one lakh litres of water is being used to run the 105 imitation jewellery units in the IJP. The APPCB has recently found that the effluent water containing toxic heavy metals such as chromium and lead is being released into the local municipal drain.
Heavy metals are used in the electro-plate making method in imitation jewellery production.
“Our investigation on the waste water generated from the IJP has showed that the water contains heavy metals, chromium and lead. We have ordered to stop production of the imitation jewellery in the listed 22 firms as per the existing Supreme Court guidelines in treating the waste water,” APPCB Environmental Engineer E. Satyanarayana told The Hindu . Mr. Satyanarayana has added that the listed 22 firms have not been using the services of the common effluent treatment plant set up on the IJP with the support of the State government and the APPCB. The APPCB and the State government have funded ₹20 lakh to set up the common effluent treatment plan in the IJP.
The APPCB has intensified the investigation on the imitation jewellery production firms which are located outside the park. “We will not entertain any firm which does not meet the guidelines in treating the effluent water,” Mr. Satyanarayana added. On the other hand, the Machilipatnam Imitation Jewellery Park Merchants Association office bearers on Sunday told The Hindu that the merchants would discuss the issue of treating the effluent water, apart from their woes in getting access to special drainage system.
