The Hindu Business Line : `Public hearings' on pollution caused by pharma units today

THE Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) has decided to conduct a `public hearing' tomorrow on the pollution problems being faced by the public in five districts of the State, where 92 pharmaceutical units were directed to be closed down by the Supreme Court recently.

In reponse, the bulk drugs segment of the AP pharma industry, under the banner of the Bulk Drug Manufacturers Association (BDMA), has claimed that it has been highly quality conscious and environmentally protective in the last decade.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, the BDMA President, Dr B.P.S. Reddy, said the industry has developed and adopted the most modern technologies to contain pollution and protect the environment.

The sector has been quality conscious and major units with world scale capacities have received US Food and Drug Administration, Current Good Manufacturing Practices, World Health Organisation, UKMCA and Australian TGA certifications, he said.

Dr Reddy said the `public hearings' would be conducted by the APPCB in 15 clusters from today until April 13 to complete the statutory procedures after a recent directive of the Supreme Court.

Following a petition in February, the Supreme Court ordered the Government to issue a closure order to defaulting units within 10 days and submit a compliance report by March 18.

At this stage, the BDMA moved the Supreme Court and obtained a stay order against the closure of industries for a period of five weeks from March 11. These units are situated in Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Medak, Mehaboobnagar and Nalgonda districts.

Stating that the APPCB would now conduct public hearings for the industries on a cluster basis, Dr Reddy said the ministry concerned would arrive at a decision on awarding the environment clearance licence to the industrial units, based on the proceedings and reports of committees formed for the purpose.

According to him, the total business volumes for 2004-2005 are expected to be Rs 8,200 crore, of which nearly Rs 4,900 crore (accounting for 60 per cent) would come from exports.

By 2009-10, the bulk drug industry of AP is expected to record total business volumes of Rs 20,400 crore, of which exports would constitute Rs 12,240 crore.

The investments in AP bulk drug industry till date stand at around Rs 3,000 crore and are expected to reach Rs 6,000 crore by the decade-end, Dr Reddy said.

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