Fishkill: Power department snaps supply to 14 pharma units after closure orders

HYDERABAD: The Telangana electricity department has disconnected power supply to 14 pharma manufacturing units in Kazipally following closure orders being issued by the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB). The power connections were snipped on October 24.

Telangana State Pollution Control Board zonal officer and chief environmental engineer B Raghu said: "Power supply to 14 pharma units including, Lee Pharma, Vivin Laboratories, Kekula Pharma, Total Drugs, Rakshi Pharma and KRS Pharma was cut. The closure orders were issued due to the recent fishkill at Gandigudem Lake in Kazipally. We will restore the consent of operation only after they follow all the safety guidelines issued."

Telangana State Pollution Control Board took stringent action in the case following a series of reports in TOI. The Pollution Control Board ordered 29 industrial units, suspected of being responsible for the fishkill that happened on October 4 and 5, to pay over 1.03 crore as compensation to fishermen's cooperative societies.

While 18 units were directed to pay 1.03 crore to fishermen for the death of fish in Gandigudem Cheruvu of Sultanpur based on the valuation of the damage conducted by the Sangareddy district fisheries officer, another 11 units were told to pay 40,000 as compensation to fishermen for the fishkill in Ayyamma Cheruvu of Gaddapotharam.

Industries were directed to submit a detailed, time-bound action plan, including estimated expenditure towards providing an adequate capacity of rainwater and seepage collection and treatment facilities.