Hyderabad: The TS Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) has found that eight pharma companies in Pochampally industrial area in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri were responsible for injecting medical drug compounds into the groundwater.
In a report submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the TSPCB submitted the findings of the Environment Protection Training and Research Institute (EPTRI), which inspected the groundwater and soil in the industrial cluster near Dothigudem village.
The EPTRI collected water samples from 19 bore and open wells, whose water was being used for irrigation. It found that water from 5 borewells was contaminated by organic material which raised the chemical oxygen demand (COD).
The EPTRI found that the water was contaminated with major drugs such as omeprazole and pantoprazole and those of the antacid family, antifungal medicines lie flucanozole and itraconazole, domperidone of the antiemetic family and cinnerazine.
It was also found that compounds from industrial effluents were present in the groundwater.
The soil samples were found to have high levels of electrical conductivity which made it harmful to crops. The potassium levels were very high, which would require regular use of fertilisers.
The High Court has meanwhile given a relief to Hazelo Labs, one of the eight pharma companies on whom the TSPCB had levied an environmental compensation (EC), and has given an opportunity to appeal against the EC order within two weeks.
