TGPCB shuts down illegal battery recycling units near Hyderabad’s Twin Lakes

Rajendra Nagar: Half a dozen battery recycling units operating within 10 kilometers of Twin Lakes, Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar were ordered to be closed down by the Telangana Pollution Control Board (TGPCB). The board cited severe environmental violations and operational irregularities.

The affected units in Pardhi Guda, Jalpally village, Rajendra Nagar mandal, include Siya Metals and unnamed battery recycling operations reportedly owned by Santhosh, Vasu, Saxena, and Srinivas Reddy. They were engaged in lead extraction from batteries and slag, classified as a ‘Red Category’ industry under Central Pollution Control Board guidelines.

During inspections, TGPCB officials found multiple serious violations. The units operated without mandatory Consent for Establishment (CFE) and Consent for Operation (CFO) from the board. More alarmingly, waste batteries, cells, and slag were being stored openly on unpaved ground, posing significant risks of soil and groundwater contamination.

Serious Environmental violations

The board’s inspection revealed inadequate infrastructure and environmental safeguards. “Industries are storing waste batteries / cells & slag openly on the ground, and huge amounts of slag were stored openly scoping contamination of soil, rainwater, and groundwater. Industries have provided two Coal Fired battis followed by dust collectors and bag filter followed by stack of 10 ft height but have not provided stack of adequate height,” observed TGPCB.

Further, the industries have not provided any provision for disposal of waste acid which may contaminate the soil. The industries have not concreted the premises and are storing batteries, battery plates, and slag on open ground, contaminating the ground and groundwater. Further, the units are not maintaining records pertaining to production, raw material procurement, and slag disposal.

The TGPCB committee issued the closure order after thorough deliberations. A major point of violation was the units’ location within the restricted zone covered by Government order(GO) 111, which regulates industrial activity near the twin lakes Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar. The facilities also failed to maintain essential records regarding production, raw material procurement, and slag disposal.