Karnataka government has identified a site for setting up a unit for the disposal of solid waste generated from the pharmaceutical industry in the State. The unit is expected to commence operations within a year. Currently, the State pharmaceutical units have no dedicated area to dispose their waste but are able to undertake disposal through approved agents of the Karnataka Pollution Control Board.

The State's pharmaceutical units are also short of a centralised incinerator dedicated for the sector. Currently, it is the responsibility of each pharmaceutical unit to arrange for its own effluent treatment and environmental management techniques, which is approved by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board. Even the industrial areas promoted by the State government, including the Peenya Industrial Area, which is, Asia's largest industrial hub has no infrastructure for a dedicated environment management systems, informed members of the Karnataka Drug Manufacturers Association (KDPMA).

At a press interaction during the launch of 'PharmaCP.com' a web site dedicated to cleaner production in the pharmaceutical industry, R Srinivas, managing director, Karnataka Cleaner Production (KCP), said that objective of the portal was to prevent pollution at source. The Karnataka Cleaner Production is part of the government of India initiative where the National Cleaner Production Centre, New Delhi set up four regional centres in West Bengal, Gujarat, Punjab and Karnataka to focus on the clean technology promotion.

KCP, which is part of department of industries and commerce, government of Karnataka, is the only regional centre for the entire south. As a part of the World Environment Day, KCP in association with the KDPMA supported the launch of a dedicated portal featuring the cleaner production aspects in the pharmaceutical industry. The portal is a first of its kind in the country and is free of cost. The website features tips on cleaner production, workshops schedules, statutes, fact files etc. It will also highlight the trends in cleaner production and a discussion forum will allow the users to express opinions.

There is an open audit of pharma companies, which provides a clear picture on the strict adherence of the cleaner production standards and pollution control norms. Currently, the membership includes 21 members out of the 71 representatives of the KDPMA, which is expected to go up within a year, informed Srinivas.

Dr. K N Subbaswami, president, KDPMA said that efforts of the effluent and waste generation for every company was critical to its manufacturing process.