Pharma, chemical units generate 3L tonnes of hazardous waste in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: Pharma and chemical clusters in and around Hyderabad are generating a huge hazardous waste. According to a Telangana State Pollution Control Board report, 3.1 lakh tonnes of hazardous waste was generated in 2019-20.

Union minister for chemicals and fertilisers Mansukh Mandaviya, in reply to a query by Malkajgiri MP A Revanth Reddy, said: “As per information provided by the TSPCB, 3.1 lakh tonnes of hazardous waste was generated against an authorised capacity of 8.2 lakh tonnes in 2019-20.”

While there are 651 chemical and pharma industries located in Telangana, a majority of the units are established in and around Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Medchal Malkajgiri, Sangareddy, Medak and Yadadri Bhuvanagiri districts.

Jeedimetla, Kukatpally, Balanagar, Sanathnagar, Nacharam, Cherlapally, Moulali, Uppal, IDA Bolaram, Bachupally, Khazipally, Gaddapotharam, Bonthapally, Pashamailaram, Patancheru, Choutuppal, Pochampally and Dothigudem are the areas generating hazardous waste.

“These chemical, research and development and pharmaceutical industries generate hazardous waste such as process sludge, inorganic salts, organic residue, effluent treatment plant sludge and salts,” said the minister.

Waste from chemical manufacturing industry like pesticide, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, dye and dye intermediate, fertiliser, refinery, organic chemical and paints are classified as hazardous waste based on the toxic characteristics.