Amara Raja Batteries Limited in Andhra Pradesh to be shut down.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court suspended the closure notice issued by the state's pollution control board to Amara Raja Batteries on May 6, 2021.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court suspended the closure notice issued by the state's pollution control board to Amara Raja Batteries on May 6, 2021.Amara Raja Batteries Limited was ordered to close by the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) on April 30, 2021. The company received notices for the closure of its manufacturing facilities in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, located in Karakambadi, Tirupati Nunegundlapalli.

According to the APPCB, the company polluted the surrounding air, resulting in high lead levels in almost all factory workers, inhabitants of the surrounding villages, and untreated wastewater in sewers, which polluted the soil. According to The Indian Express, the blood lead value in the villagers exceeded 35 percent, which showed that the factory endangered public health. Blood samples were taken from 3,533 workers of the firm by the inspection team.

Speaking to local media, Amara Raja Batteries said that the organization always gave top priority to environmental practices, maintained emission control, and looked after employee health and safety. The factory management told The Indian Express that they would work closely with APPCB to avoid disruption in supply to some of their larger clients in sensitive sectors.

APPCB's notice stated that if the polluting units continue to operate even after the shutdown, action would be taken against the company under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court suspended the closure orders issued by APPCB and ordered restoring the power supply to the factory. The court also directed the company to implement APPCB's stipulations by June 17, 2021.