HYDERABAD: Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TGPCB) has ordered the immediate closure of Ralpro Techno Crafts LLP in Sangareddy district after the company was found dumping untreated, highly alkaline industrial effluents into Nakka Vagu, near Ismailkhanpet Bridge in Sangareddy district.
Early on November 30, during patrolling, the TGPCB officials intercepted a tanker discharging industrial effluents into the canal. The tanker had no registration plates. The driver fled the scene, leaving behind his assistant Kethavath Devadas. The assistant revealed that the tanker belonged to Ralpro Techno Crafts.
The tanker was transporting untreated effluents from their anodizing facility located 6 km from the discharge site. Laboratory tests confirmed that the effluents had a pH level of 12, a dangerously high alkaline concentration. The effluents were highly toxic and the physical characteristics of the effluents matched those found at the factory. That strengthened the case against the factory.
The Sangareddy Rural police registered a case based on a complaint by the TGPCB officials. The officials also noted that the tanker had no documents or invoices for the material it had carried. The factory, engaged in aluminum anodizing and operating at a capacity of 200 tonnes per month, was found to be flouting several regulations. Officials determined that it had violated consent conditions and government directives prohibiting the transport of industrial effluents between 6 pm and 6 am.
Due to these violations, the TGPCB issued a closure order to Ralpro Techno Crafts on December 5. The detained assistant remains in custody, and further investigations are underway to identify other individuals involved in the illegal dumping operation.
Last month, a truck was caught dumping chemicals into the Musi near Bapu Ghat through a custom-built pipe that took the chemicals to the the confluence of Isa and Musi rivers. Locals alleged that this practice had been going on for a while as they pointed out the elaborate setup at the location as evidence
Following this, the PCB ordered the closure of Rudra Technologies (formerly Srinivasa Labs), the pharmaceutical company which was responsible for the issue, on December 3.
