Notice served on biopharma unit for dumping effluents into river
Water pollution seems to have become a recurring feature in Baddi. Employees of the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) today caught a tractor-trailer dumping industrial effluents into the Ratta river at Bhud village.
The water turned red where the effluents were dumped. The board employees found that the effluent treatment of the plant was defunct and effluents were openly flowing into a drain.
A sample of the river water as well as effluents, taken from the drain near the plant by the team, would be sent to a lab for analysis.
The team found that the effluents had allegedly been transported from a biopharmaceutical company that processes catechu at a unit in Khera village.
The factory is located 4-5 km from the spot where the effluents were dumped. Not caring two hoots for the environment, the incident has once again exposed the laxity of industry. Board officials confirmed that, “Our field staff has been maintaining vigil along the water bodies after cases of pollution came to the fore recently. The staff found a trailer dumping effluents into the Ratta river which turned the water red.”
“A notice has been issued to the erring unit, Lexicon Biotech (India) Limited, at Khera village and a recommendation has been made to the Member Secretary to disconnect its electricity for violating the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and Environmental Protection Act,” they said, adding that the ‘consent to operate’ of the plant had expired and it had applied for renewal.
