Volunteers from Chennai Climate Action Group, a city-based youth collective, collected ground and surface water samples from within Vedanthangal Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS), downstream of Sun Pharma’s drug factory. The test results revealed the presence of four industrial solvents commonly used in drug production: dibromochloromethane, dichloromethane, tetrachloroethene and toluene. All are volatile toxins capable of spreading in air and soil, leading to varying levels of damage in humans, aquatic life and wildlife alike. The detailed results are attached. Dibromochloromethane is classified as a “probable” carcinogen. Sun Pharma has listed dichloromethane as a chemical used to manufacture the drug tizanidine. Considering that the surface water samples were taken from locations that receive run-off only from Sun Pharma, the four chemicals detected in the samples can only have originated in the drug manufacturing facility.

The case of Sun Pharma highlights the lack of enforcement of wildlife and environmental laws by the Forest Department and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, and suggests even active collusion by the two departments. We have learnt from local farmers that their complaints of pollution and damage to agriculture due to Sun Pharma’s effluents over the last two decades have fallen on deaf ears.

Vital Points:

Sun Pharma is located within 5 km of the Vedanthangal tank, and is hence inside the wildlife sanctuary -- an area protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Sun Pharma’s claim of being a “Zero Liquid Discharge” facility is false. On the morning of 8 July, 2020, our volunteers found foul smelling rainwater running through the culvert across the road from Sun Pharma. One sample (SW1) was collected from that location, and the second from a location 50 metres downstream from a pond. Both samples had all four of the above reported chemicals. The presence of these chemicals -- which are synthetic and do not occur in nature -- is proof that Sun Pharma is discharging pollutants outside its factory fenceline.
Large, Red category industries are not permitted inside Wildlife Sanctuaries. However, the Forest Department and TNPCB have allowed Sun Pharma to operate. TNPCB has granted Consent to Operate, although the company has operated the facility without license for significant periods of time, including most recently from 1 April, 2019 to 5 February, 2020. The factory does not currently have a valid Consent to Operate as per the TN Online Consent Management System.
TNPCB insists that Sun Pharma has a ZLD system. However, the company does not have an authorisation under Hazardous Waste Rules for disposal of salts recovered from RO/Evaporator that is part of the ZLD system. The company is either illegally disposing the hazardous wastes, or is not a ZLD system.
Farmers from Malaipalayam, Hanumanthakuppam and Karunguzhi have complained for years to various government departments about the pungent odour in their ground water and contamination of their drinking water sources. They observed that the bad water quality led to the arrival of fewer migratory birds in the sanctuary’s famed wetlands. They also complained of low agricultural income from their fields. Several thousand acres of cropland and several irrigation wells, the farmers say, have been abandoned. This represents a loss of investment and income. Farmers have also reported cattle deaths and illnesses.

CCAG’s Requests and Demands
Based on the above findings, we demand the following actions: (to be altered based on the dept addressed to):

1. Compensation for affected persons for loss of drinking water and expenditure incurred for sourcing drinking water
2. Compensation for farmers and livestock owners for loss of investment (in land and irrigation infrastructure including wells) and agricultural income.
3. Shut down all units that are operating illegally within the Vedanthangal Wildlife Sanctuary and launch legal proceedings against the same.
Launch an investigation against the Forest department and TNPCB officials who have illegally issued licences and clearances and allowed the factory to operate and pollute the Wildlife Sanctuary.
Direct the state Forest Department to implement the Wetland Action Plan.
4. Withdraw proposal submitted to National Board of Wildlife to denotify the outer 2km periphery of Vedanthangal WLS.

Attachments:

1) Summary of the study findings

2) Lab results of samplings taken from Vedanthangal

A Short Background to the Vedanthangal IssueThe Government of Tamil Nadu had sought the concurrence of the Government of India for its proposal to “reduce the boundary of Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary from 5 kms... to 3 km, in which the first 1 km to be notified as Core Zone including main lake/tank and next 2 km boundary to be notified as buffer zone and to denotify the outer 2 km zone of the existing 5km.” After much public campaigning against its move, it has now dropped this proposal.
It is shocking that industries such as Sun Pharmaceuticals, Ordain Healthcare, and Amco Batteries operate factories within the core of the Vedanthangal WLS.
The integrity of the catchment and drainage of the Vedanthangal tank and the suitability of the surrounding area is dependent on the vegetation cover and land-use pattern in the region. Industrial operations will not only irrevocably harm the health and habitat of birds and other wildlife, but also uproot local communities that depend on the land and water for subsistence.
The local community has been protecting the region and its bird population for decades. The government needs to give local communities an active, decision-making role in the management of the protected area. Moreover, the government needs to support the long-term conservation of water, biodiversity, and livelihood with a focus on the WLS’ unique landscape, rather than encourage profit-making industries to degrade it.