'Chemplast claims about zero liquid discharge false'

Twice in the past five months, residents near Mettur in Tamil Nadu have noticed liquid seeping from under the compound wall of Chemplast Sanmar’s PVC plant into the drain running alongside the wall. There was a terrible smell coming from the drain. The recent rains had flushed out the effluent and due to the gradient, the effluent flooded some fields that had been freshly planted with millets. Residents took water samples both times from the drain. The results from the samples taken in May show high levels of chemicals including carcinogens in the water.

Industry paid for IP seminars to train judges

Leaked documents of correspondence between lobby group FICCI and industry have revealed an unsavoury nexus between the two in funding a roundtable on intellectual property (IP) matters for judges in Maharashtra, many of whom were specially invited because they were hearing cases of IP crimes such as piracy.

FSSAI's scientific panel reconstituted

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has reconstituted its scientific panel and brought independent scientists and experts in its fold. The reconstitution was done after the Supreme Court reprimanded FSSAI, in February this year, for inducting members from the food industry in the panel, defeating it's very purpose of regulating the food industry. Of the eight scientific panels, seven had 18 members from big food businesses.