Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 5: Even though the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) is ill-equipped to monitor the most harmful emissions and affluents being released by nearly 100 highly polluted chemicals, pharmaceuticals and pesticide units at Bari Brahaman, Kathua and Samba in the absence of Gas Chromatograph (GC), the District Administration has served a closer notice on ‘main culprit’ Indo Swift Pvt Ltd, a bulk drugs manufacturing unit at SIDCO complex Samba, whose effluents allegedly resulted into the killing of half a dozen buffaloes three days back.
District Magistrate Samba, Mubarak Singh said that as per the information gathered, this unit was illegally operating. It had consent to operate (Renewal) from the State Pollution Control Board authorities up to June 2011 only. Now, how this unit was being allowed to operate is yet to be ascertained. Mr Singh said he received a copy of preliminary report from PCB and it has been indicated that this bulk drugs manufacturing unit and the Lab have been put in the Red Category which showed that they are highly polluting units.
It has been learnt that this unit’s Effluent Treatment Plant was not functioning for the last some time. Even yesterday, when the PCB team visited the premises, the ETP was not functional. It means the highly polluted water from this unit was being allowed to release out to the drains and then to nallah and finally, in river Basantar, without being treated, which is a criminal offence. The poor animals consumed water and half a dozen of them died. Many of them fell ill and were treated by the Veterinary doctors. Had the administration delayed the rescue operation, the casualty could have gone much higher, Mr Singh maintained.
Chairman, State Pollution Control Board Lal Chand when contacted said that Indo Swift unit at Samba was served notices twice in the past for not fulfilling the required conditions. It had recently applied for the consent to operate but it was not accorded.
Replying to another question, the Chairman confessed that SPCB was not fully equipped and sends some samples outside for which it has not equipment. The CPCB has recognized some labs and the unit holders obtain Self Monitoring Reports.
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