Industries poison air in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Industries in Hyderabad are polluting the city without any fear of the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB). Officials of the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board and now of the TSPCB say they are trying to keep violators in check whenever there are complaints of foul smell. However, fact is that criminal cases under the Air Act, Water Act or Environment Protection Act have never been booked against the offenders. 

 

The Air Act has a provision for imprisonment starting from three months to one year for contravention of certain rules in the Act, and six months for some violations, which can be extended upto seven years under certain conditions.

 

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and its commissioners have also been lucky till now as the PCB has never booked cases against them for dumping untreated sewage water in water bodies, which also causes foul smell. The Air Act clearly states that even government departments can be booked for violations, for which the respective head of department can be punished.

 

Currently, the TSPCB is in the process of acquiring five new Volatile Organic Compounds Analysers. These devices are used to detect compounds whenever there are complaints of foul smell. They can also be used for pinpointing as to which plant in an industrial area is actually causing pollution.

 

A full-fledged study on the issue of foul smell is to be assigned to the EPTRI for identifying the reasons as also the  affected regions, and suggesting solutions.

 

TSPCB officials say they are trying to put pressure on violators by cutting power connections of industries. However, some industries use generators at night to run the units if their power connection is cut. “TSPCB is also making industries pay deposits that are confiscated when a violation is not rectified soon. This way the TSPCB has earned about Rs 1 crore till date,” they said.