Pharma units told to follow pollution norms

Upgrade of effluent plant urged

Minister for Industries and IT K.T. Rama Rao has asked the pharmaceutical industry in the State to follow prescribed pollution control standards and the government won’t hesitate in taking action against the units failing to conform to the specified norms.

In a meeting with the representatives of Bulk Drug Manufacturers Association (BDMA) here on Saturday the Minister, however, reiterated the State Government’s commitment to help the pharmaceutical industry grow in Telangana and retain its reputation as the capital of pharma industry in the country. Complimenting the industry for coming forward to help upgrading hospitals in industrial areas such as Patancheru and Bollarum, Mr. Rama Rao asked them to participate in the development of water bodies there.

Modern technology

On Hyderabad Pharma City, the Industries Minister stated that most modern technology would be utilised to control the pollution problem related to pharma units to be set up there. Besides, polluting pharma units were being shifted beyond the outer ring road with cluster wise relocation and development plans, he noted.

A few representatives of BDMA explained their expansion plans as also the problems and challenges being faced by the pharmaceutical industry.

They stated that they were on way to make use of modern technologies to address the problem of pollution and presented a charter of demands of the industry to the Minister. They requested the Minister to upgrade Jeedimetla Effluent Treatment Plant.

Chief Advisor to State Government Rajiv Sharma, Member-Secretary of Telangana State Pollution Control Board P. Satyanarayana Reddy, Principal Secretary (Industries, IT) Jayesh Ranjan and others participated in the meeting with BDMA representatives.