Pollution board withholds approvals to new units in Vizag pharma city

The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board has withheld approvals for new units or expansion of existing companies at the Jawaharlal Nehru Pharma City (JNPC) at Visakhapatnam amidst infrastructural constraints.

According to AP Pollution Control Board's (APPCB) regional office in Visakhaptnam, the effluent from the common treatment plant of member industries at JNPC was higher than permitted levels.

Sanjay Kumar, member secretary, APPCB, is reported to have written to JNPC stating that no clearances will be issued by the pollution control board till the existing treatment plants are upgraded.

"It is also observed that effluent treatment in the plant do not meet the standards of the times with respect to some parameters, indicating that the plant has to be upgraded to meet the standards," the letter said.

A total of 58 industries have been registered till date, which include leading international players like Eisai Pharma technology (I) Pvt ltd, Japanese pharma giant  PharmaZell (I) Pvt ltd, a company belonging to a German Pharma group SNF (I) Ltd with French collaboration and Aptuit Laurus Labs with the US collaboration.

These companies are vying with Indian Pharma leaders like Smilax Laboratories, Glochem, Orchid, Emmennar Biotech etc.

The pharma city currently employs over 5000 people and has the capacity to generate employment of 30,000 once it becomes fully operational.

According to APPCB, there has also been no clarity on an escrow account to be maintained by the Ramky, which manages the city and the member industries.

At present, there are 12 pending applications pertaining to the pharma city with the board.

As of now JNPC is utilising only 34 per cent of existing capacities.

The 2,400-acre JNPC is a joint venture between the Ramky Group and the government of Andhra Pradesh.

So far, R3,000 crore has been invested.