HNN IMPACT: PMO orders enquiry on Patencheru pollution

By M H Ahssan

Concerned over reports of water at Patancheru in Medak near Hyderabad containing drug residues that are as high as 150 times the levels detected in US, PMO has asked for testing of samples and a report on the composition of the pharmaceutical cocktail within a week.

Taking note of a study carried out by the University of Gothenburg in Sweden in collaboration with other varsities, frontpaged by HNN on Tuesday, PMO has written to the environment ministry calling for a report on the “treated” effluents being released by drug factories.

The factories, about 28 km from Hyderabad, are apparently releasing a mix of powerful antibiotics into a stream used for drinking water, fishing and a water source for cattle. “It is possible to quickly test water samples and check for pharmaceutical ingredients. This can be done by an organisation like National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI),” said sources.

The release of the drug soup containing as many as 21 ingredients is subject to ongoing litigation and has been raised by environmental activists, but with recent research establishing that water at Patancheru was possibly the most polluted in the world has made the government sit up and take note. Even after being treated by drug factories, it is well above the accepted norm for residues. As several of these drug firms are supplying overseas markets, the fear of litigation by environmental and health activists and cancellation of orders is also a real worry for the government. Now that the report has gained wide publicity, both government and drug companies are likely to be questioned about the unacceptable levels of contamination in the water.

The government is troubled by the tag of India being host to one of the world’s most contaminated spots and the initial reactions of officials indicated that they did not feel the study was inaccurate. There might be some difference between drug levels reported in the University of Gothenburg’s Joakim Larsson and the current situation, but it was not likely to be much. The report has made headlines at a time when the Centre is moving to tighten norms for environmental clearances by calling on industries to make “verifiable disclosures” when setting up or running factories. Industrial units will be required to make declaratory statements on their environmental commitments by way of issuing advertisements and putting up relevant information on their websites.

In the case of Patancheru, the government’s task will begin with first getting hold of the type of environmental clearances granted to drug factories, said to number close to 90, in the area. Only when this is clarified will the investigation proceed to the next step of zeroing in on the nature of violations by factories and then look at the culpability of both private entities and officials.