Home / Environment / Pollution Board Reports Sun Pharma Not Expanded
Pollution Board Reports Sun Pharma Not Expanded
27 Sep
Summary
- Company operating within permitted capacity, expansion not undertaken.
- NGT received appeal against environmental clearance for expansion.
- ₹58.20 lakh compensation paid for earlier contamination.
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.'s unit in Sathammai village is operating within its existing permitted production capacity. The TNPCB's report, submitted to the NGT's southern bench, stated that the company has not proceeded with its proposed expansion plans. This submission was made following an appeal filed by K.R. Selvaraj Kumar of Meenavar Nala Sangam, which challenged the environmental clearance granted for the expansion.
The pharmaceutical unit originally received consent to establish in 2005 and consent to operate in 2006, with a production capacity of 25.5 tonnes per month. While the company later obtained environmental clearance on March 31, 2022, for increasing production to 134.082 tonnes per month, the TNPCB confirmed that it had not secured the necessary 'consent to establish' or 'consent to operate' for this expansion. An inspection on September 12, 2026, confirmed the unit's operations were within the 25.5 tonnes/month limit and no expansion activities were observed.
This situation is linked to an earlier NGT order from 2020, which had noted operational violations and imposed an environmental compensation of ₹58.20 lakh for groundwater and soil contamination. The tribunal also directed interim compensation and asked the TNPCB to assess additional compensation for exceeding the permitted pollution load. Although the company obtained renewed consent from the Board valid until March 31, 2028, specific consent for the expansion itself remains unobtained.
