Pollution-related issues are haunting few AP Pharma units

While the Visakhapatnam district administration has sought the closure of the Mylan unit along with four other units in the pharma city operated by Ramky, the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) has issued closure notices to 12 units around Hyderabad.


It is believed that villagers near Ramky’s Vizag pharma city have been complaining that the units there pollute air, affecting their health. In response, the district administration swung into action to verify the veracity of their allegations. According to sources, the APPCB, acting on the district administration’s request, conducted a study and confirmed air pollution. This led to immediate closure notices for five units (belonging to Mylan, Vegesna Laboratories, Actus Pharma, Vijay Organics and Acacia Life Sciences, respectively).

The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) has issued closure notices to 12 bulk drug units located in Hyderabad while directing their managements to stop all the industrial activities by July 23, 2012. Of the 12 bulk drug manufacturing units currently under the PCB axe, two units belong to Aurobindo Pharma while four units are of Hetero Drugs Limited.

The units involving other companies are Crix Pharmaceuticals, Covalent Laboratories, Divis Pharmaceuticals, Krishna Pharmaceuticals, Innogent Laboratories and SMS Pharma Limited.

In a press release, the board said that these units were asked to close down under the Water & Air Acts in the interest of protecting public health and environment. “After detailed discussions, the board is of the firm opinion that certain industries are violating the orders of the Supreme Court of India and the ban notification issued by the Andhra Pradesh government, among others,” the press release said.

 
( source:   news  papers and  press releases)