Fish kill in Telangana's Gandigudem lake: Power supply to 14 pharma companies disconnected

Earlier this month, officials said that 2.3 lakh dead fish had washed ashore within a span of two days.

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Pharma industries which allegedly resulted in the death of several lakh fish at the outskirts of Hyderabad, continued to face action from the Telangana government.

Acting on closure orders issued by the Pollution Control Board (PCB), the Telangana electricity department has disconnected power supply to 14 pharma manufacturing units in Kazipally.

“Power supply to 14 pharma units including, Lee Pharma, Vivin Laboratories, Kekula Pharma, Total Drugs, Rakshi Pharma and KRS Pharma was cut. The closure orders were issued due to the recent fishkill at Gandigudem Lake in Kazipally. We will restore the consent of operation only after they follow all the safety guidelines issued,” Telangana State Pollution Control Board zonal officer and chief environmental engineer B Raghu told the Times of India.

This comes after the PCB 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.

According to reports, 29 industries located in the catchment of the lakes, were called for a 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.

A criminal case was registered against five pharma companies, with the Ameenpur police.