AP relaxes ban on bulk drug units' expansion

The orders will apply to only those units that install zero liquid discharge facilities

The Andhra Pradesh government has relaxed the 15-year-old ban on expansion of the existing bulk drug and bulk drug intermediate manufacturing units located around Hyderabad. The orders, issued on Thursday, will apply to only those units that install zero liquid discharge facilities.

The government in its order said it had decided to issue an amendment to the previous orders to enable the capacity expansion of existing bulk drug and bulk drug intermediates manufacturing units provided they install zero liquid discharge facilities. The government has also decided to assess the pollution load at the point of discharge as provided in the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974.

The decision came after a prolonged lobbying by the Bulk Drug Manufacturers Association (BDMA). A high-level expert committee constituted to examine the requests made by the industry suggested a relaxation on ban orders subject to the availability of water resources, ambient air quality, capacity of treatment and disposal facility etc.

The ban was in force in all the industrial areas of the neighbouring Medak, Rangareddy, Mahaboobnagar and Nalgonda districts.

Principal secretary, environment and forest department, M Samuel, said in the orders the ban was relaxed as there was an overall improvement in water pollution control measures adopted by the industry and to enable them to compete in the international market.