Hyderabad: The Telangana Pollution Control Board (TGPCB) has issued a series of water and air pollution directives to a meat processing unit in Zaheerabad after inspections revealed multiple violations of environmental norms and non-compliance with several conditions stipulated under its consent for operation.In separate orders issued recently, the board served final directions to Frigerio Conserva Allana Ltd’s unit-I meat division at Algole village in Zaheerabad mandal following inspections conducted in April and a hearing before the TGPCB task force committee in June. The board issued 15 directions related to water pollution and nine pertaining to air pollution, noting that several earlier recommendations and compliance requirements remained unfulfilled.The orders warned that any failure to comply would invite action under the Water and Air Acts, including immediate closure of the unit without further notice. The frozen meat manufacturer had previously paid ₹1.74 crore as environmental compensation in 2020 for earlier instances of non-compliance.Key deficiencies flaggedAccording to the orders, the unit failed to complete the trench-cum-bunds mandated for runoff storage and had not established the prescribed irrigation systems recommended by the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) for water management.While the company had developed plantations, it had not planted aromatic species along the boundary wall as recommended for odour control. The board also found that odour dispersion monitoring was not being carried out in line with prevailing meteorological conditions.The TGPCB further noted that the unit failed to submit quarterly progress reports and detailed data on water consumption and the generation of high total dissolved solids (HTDS) effluent. A pan-tilt-zoom camera installed near the stormwater drain had also not been connected to the board’s server.Inspecting officials found boiler ash and excess husk being stored outside designated covered sheds, in violation of prescribed waste handling norms.Zero discharge mandateThe board directed the unit to continuously operate its effluent treatment plant, sewage treatment plant and bio-filters, besides ensuring segregation of HTDS streams for evaporation and regular removal of suspended solids through sludge-separation systems.It also ordered the company to store hazardous waste only in elevated and enclosed sheds and undertake periodic groundwater quality monitoring.Significantly, the TGPCB directed the unit not to discharge either treated or untreated wastewater outside its premises under any circumstances, effectively stressing a zero discharge regime.
