To find a lasting and amicable solution to the lingering issue of pollution due to which the state government had imposed a ban on setting up of new drug manufacturing units in Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Medak, Mehboob Nagar and Nalconda districts of the state since 1996, the Andhra Pradesh government has appointed a consultant who has been asked to submit a report in two months.

According to information, the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation (APIDC) has appointed German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), a non-profit developmental enterprise of the German government and IL&FS as consultant to study the pollution related issues in the state and to find a lasting solution. Bulk Drugs Manufacturers Association (BDMA) has been asked to assist them in this work.

The pollution issue has been a nagging issue in the state for a long time now. The Andhra Pradesh government had banned setting up of new bulk drug units and the expansion of the existing ones way back in 1996 citing reasons relating to environment. The AP Pollution Control Board (APPCB) has been taking a proactive role in this regard. It had asked the bulk drug manufacturers in the state to bring down the total disposable solid (TDS) levels to 5000. The APPCB had also got a green signal from the Supreme Court in this regard.

In fact, the APPCB has given an ultimatum to the industries to bring down TDS levels to 5000 by the end of 2008 after which it will start taking actions against the industries. Though several rounds of meetings between the government and the industry have been held during the past, a solution could not be reached so far.

While the government insisted on bringing down the TDS levels to 5000, the industry expressed its helplessness to comply with the government order as it said that it is well nigh impossible to bring TDS levels down to such a level. It said that it is desirable to bring it down to 10000 level, but to bring down to 5000 level is very difficult.