TSPCB warns industries polluting Gandigudem lake

Hyderabad: Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) Member Secretary P. Satyanayana Reddy warned of stringent action on the industries located in the catchment area of Gandigudem lake more particularly in Kazipally Industrial Estate, for discharging effluent resulting in the fish kill on large scale.

Responding to media reports regarding fish kill due to discharge of effluent by pharmaceutical companies located in Kazipally Industeial Estate of Patancheru Mandal, Sangareedy Dist., the Member Secretary informed that, as soon as the incident was reported on October 4, Regional Officers and their teams have visited Gandigudem Tank and collected the samples of water apart from inspecting the industries located in the area.

Officials from the Zonal Office, RC Puram and the Chief Environmental Engineer of the Board also visited the tank as well as the industries and collected samples for analysis. The analysis of the samples collected are under process and based on the results of the analysis, the industries as well as the fishermen will be called for the review before the Taskforce Committee of the Board for taking further action. PCB officials also contacted officials of the Fisheries Department of the Sangareddy District for assessment of the damage to the fish and also for getting the report, which will also be reviewed before the Taskforce Committee.

The TSPCB has formed teams for regular monitoring of Industrial Areas at Regional Office level and Zonal level who were also asked to monitor discharge of effluents during rains and those teams have also collected samples which are under analysis and will also be reviewed by the Taskforce Committee.

The Member Secretary said that a thorough investigation would be made in this matter and after ascertaining the actual reason for the fish kill, stringent action will be taken on the erring industries.