The Hindu Business Line : Effluent issue dogs Saptarishi Agro

SAPTARISHI Agro Industries Ltd, an export-oriented unit for culturing mushrooms that hoped to begin operations this year after an 18-month break, has fallen foul of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) over solid waste and effluent-related issues.

Speaking to shareholders on Wednesday, the Chairman, Mr Malvinder Singh, said that the management, which had acquired the company in January 2003, had been caught unawares by a notice from the pollution control board over a long-pending issue.

He had not been aware of the problem during negotiations with the previous management for acquiring the plant.

Mr Singh traced the problem back to 1994, when the then promoters had obtained TNPCB's clearance stating that no solid waste or effluents would be generated at the plant.

However, a plant of Saptarishi's size would generate about 60 tonnes of solid waste a day and significant quantities of effluents, he said.

A team from the pollution control board had visited the plant on December 5, 2002 and issued a notice on December 18, when he was negotiating with the previous owners. The TNPCB had also collected water samples then, he said.

However, according to Mr Singh, he came to know of the issue only when a report of the water sample collected in 2002 had reached the company on September 16, 2004.

Mr Singh said that the issue would first have to be sorted out with the TNPCB before the management could invest further in the unit to start production.

Mr Singh was optimistic that the issue could be amicably settled. The solid waste and effluent are ideal for manuring and irrigating the fields if they are properly treated.

Saptarishi Agro has changed hands a few times since incorporation in 1992.

It was acquired by Tata Tea Ltd in 1996, from whom the Thapar group's Global Green Company took control in 2000.

Calibre Rehabs, promoted by Mr Malvinder Singh, acquired Saptarishi from Global Green in January 2003.

Mr Malvinder Singh is also Chairman of Agro Dutch Industries Ltd, based in Chandigarh. Agro Dutch produces about 90 tonnes mushrooms on a daily basis and packs them for leading brands.

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