Collaborative, consultative and constant engagement approach by pollution control boards (PCBs) and industry leaders will help resolve problems and rejuvenate past glory bulk drug industry in Hyderabad. At the same time industry must play key role in environment protection and deliver its social corporate responsibility for a better society, opined experts at a seminar organised by Bulk Drugs Manufacturing Association of India (BDMAI) in Hyderabad.

According to Amruth Rao, Telangana Drugs Control Administrator (TSDCA), climatic conditions in Telangana and Hyderabad are most favourable for setting up bulk drug industries.

As the temperature in Hyderabad and surrounding areas never dip lower than 14-16 degrees and the even the moisture content in air remains normal throughout the year, bulk drug industry can once again prosper in the state, Amruth Rao said.

Talking to Pharmabiz on the sidelines of seminar in Hyderabad, Amruth Rao said, “Unlike regions like Vizag and other sea side districts of Andhra Pradesh, where there is huge moisture content in the air, Hyderabad and surrounding Telangana districts are less humid and offer favourable temperature conditions for setting up bulk drug units. Bulk drug units established in coastal regions needs to install huge boilers and temperature control equipments for maintaining proper temperature conditions within the manufacturing plant. This will require huge funds for the bulk drug units, as the boilers need to be changed every two to three years.”

Deliberating on various issues concerning the bulk drug industry in Hyderabad, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, BDMAI felt that the state pollution control boards should engage the industry and adopt a consultative approach in dealing with issues concerning pollution by the industry.

“We want the PCB in Telangana to be proactive and suggestive. It should involve the industry and take us along in their endeavour to reduce pollution and environment protection. Earlier cases of unilateral decision by PCB to stop product expansion and capacity building have harmed the industry and during the past 15 years bulk drugs manufacturers have suffered a lot. In fact bulk drugs showed a negative growth trend a few years ago. Thanks to previous government, since past 3 years, it has allowed product expansions and industry is witnessing 15-16 per cent growth. But of late the environment regulations are hurting the bulk drug industry. Despite zero liquid discharge equipments installed in our premises, the TSPCB is insisting on getting further environment clearance which is absurd and unnecessary. Let them come and check our premises and be practical rather than go theoretical in implementing their policy,” observed Jayanth Tagore, president of BDMAI.

The bulk drug industry is quite happy with the Central government’s ‘Make in India’ policy and declaring year 2015 as “Year of API.” “There is a wrong notion that India is hugely depending on China for importing low cost APIs. May be it is true in some exceptional cases but overall scenario is different. Except for environment regulations, Hyderabad is the best bulk drug hub in India exporting its 80 per cent production. My company itself exports 4 out of 5 API products to China,” informed BDMA member and managing director of Virchow Laboratories Ltd, M. Narayana Reddy.