Time to curb pharmaceutical pollution

Pharmaceutical pollution is a phenomenon across the world; however, India is badly affected by the same as the country fulfils around 20 per cent of the demand for medicines and antibiotics globally which means a bulk quantity of medicines are made here, meaning more pollution.
The manufacturers who are producing bulk medicines in the country are in fact, adding to the pollution caused due to the discharge of waste that contains the elements of the medicines, antibiotics into the environment. The pollution is not only limited to air, but the same affect water, and other surroundings. Even despite knowing the extent of damage, very little has been done to regulate the same.
While the Government is allowing more and more pharmaceutical companies to establish their manufacturing plants in the country, the damage caused is more and on top of it, the non-compliance of the directives aimed at protecting the environment also stand ignored by the authorities. Even those companies that were found flouting norms, did not witness any action, which in turn, gave a free hand to the pharmaceutical companies to go ahead and carry out matters as per their will.
With the expansion of the pharmaceutical sector in the country, the pollution of air, water and soil is rampant near the bulk manufacturing plants and with air and water particularly getting polluted, there are long-lasting impacts that can be identified. A recent study carried out globally has suggested that Delhi and Hyderabad are the worst affected due to pharmaceutical pollution, however, so far, the same has not been able to get the attention of the Government.
The non-seriousness of the Government—even as there are laws that can be put to use to regulate such disastrous pollution—can be gauged by the fact that five years ago, the NGT directed the Hyderabad Government to act against the industries that have polluted water and deprived the locals of having clean drinking water available, however, apathy is that since 2017, the directives are yet to be implemented.
The Government has to understand the gravity of the situation and should brace up for the protection of the environment. There are existing laws that can be employed, but, if need be, why not make new, stringent laws to curb the menace?