Telangana PCB orders pharma companies to pay Rs 1.03cr for fish kill in Gandigudem lake

Officials stated that industrial contamination of water, was the sole reason that 2.3 lakh fish were killed.
Telangana PCB orders pharma companies to pay Rs 1.03cr for fish kill in Gandigudem lake
Telangana PCB orders pharma companies to pay Rs 1.03cr for fish kill in Gandigudem lake
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The Telangana State Pollution Control Board (PCB) on Thursday ordered 29 industries, including several pharma companies, to pay Rs 1.03 crore as compensation to fishermen cooperative societies, for polluting the Gandigudem Lake at the outskirts of Hyderabad. 

“We have directed 18 industries to pay Rs 1.03 crore to the fisher men due to the death of fish in Gandigudem Cheruvu of Sultanpur based on the valuation of damage done by the Sangareddy district fisheries officer. Similarly , we have directed 11 industries to pay Rs 40,000 compensation to the fishermen due to the death of fish in Ayyamma Cheruvu of Gaddapotharam," TSPCB member secretary P Satyanarayana Reddy told the Times of India.

The ToI report adds that the decision came after the PCB held an emergency Task Force review meeting. The body has given time to companies till Saturday, to respond.

According to reports, 29 industries located in the catchment of the lakes, were called for the hearing, which included representatives from Fisheries wing, Fishermen Cooperative Societies of Gandigudem and Gaddapotharam and a member of Central PCB.

The meeting analysed reports of the samples collected from the water bodies, and established that contaminated and polluted water led to the death of the fish.

The officials also directed the industries to submit a time-bound action plan for the prevention of seepage of contaminated water from their premises within two weeks, with cost estimates and timelines.

It was also stated that the Sangareddy District Collector would collect the compensation amount, and hand it over to the fishermen. 

The 266-acre lake is situated near the Kazipally Industrial area and Industrial Development Area (IDA), Bollaram and has been plagued with pollution for a while now, according to locals.

Earlier this month, officials said that 2.3 lakh fish had washed ashore within a span of two days, causing a loss of several crores to the fishermen dependent on the lake.

Based on a complaint by the Fishermen Cooperative Society president, Chinta Janardhan, the Ameenpur police registered a criminal case against five pharmaceutical companies.

"We have booked a case against Hetero Pharma, Aurobindo, Mylan, SMS Pharma, Vantec and Sriram under Section 277(Fouling water of public spring or reservoir) and Section 278 (Making atmosphere noxious to health) of the IPC," Ameenpur sub-inspector G Lalu Nayak told TNM earlier.

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