ED attaches Rs 6.30 lakh worth assets of Som Phytopharma for environmental crime
The ED investigation revealed that Som Phytopharma was supposed to establish a pre-treatment plant for treating the effluents before sending them to the Common Effluent Treatment Plant
By Newsmeter Network Published on 19 Feb 2024 1:05 PM GMT
Hyderabad: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has provisionally attached movable property in the form of a fixed deposit belonging to the company Som Phytopharma (India) Ltd to the extent of Rs 6.30 lakhs, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
The ED initiated an investigation against Som Phytopharma based on a complaint filed by the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB). As per the complaint, Som Phytopharma violated the mandatory guidelines of TSPCB laid down for the disposal of liquid effluents generated during the production of bio-fertilisers/bio-pesticides and thereby committed an offence under various sections of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 1987.
The ED investigation revealed that Som Phytopharma was supposed to establish a pre-treatment plant for treating the effluents before sending them to the Common Effluent Treatment Plant. However, the company failed to do so and was carrying on its business without the requisite pretreatment facilities, causing harm to the environment and resulting in severe water and air pollution.
The investigation revealed that by committing the said scheduled offence, the company generated proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 6.30 lakhs which has been provisionally attached during the investigation.
Further investigation is under progress.
