World Water Day: the PSCI’s work to improve wastewater treatment, and partnership with the Musi River Revitalisation project

A quarterly series of blog posts about responsible supply chain management from the PSCI Chair, Ingrid Vande Velde.

Once beloved by residents and sought by tourists, it was known for its beauty and amenity. However, in more recent years, industrial growth in the area has led to large-scale pollution of the river, taking it from a stunning destination enjoyed by many, to a contaminated wasteland.

After years of reports about polluted effluents and poor wastewater management practices affecting the lake and the Musi River watershed, the State of Telangana decided it was time to act and end the harmful impacts of pollution on local communities. They announced a long-term initiative to revitalise the area: the Musi River Revitalisation Project.

The project team has been working hard over the last two years to return the river and the surrounding areas to their former glory, but they can’t do it alone. The industrial growth is largely in the pharmaceutical sector, as India is the largest manufacturer of bulk drugs in the world. Many large pharmaceutical suppliers are based in the immediate vicinity of the two drainage canals that flow into the Hussain Sagar.

The Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative (PSCI) represents the majority of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies who have suppliers in the Musi River area, and after seeing the devastating impact of this industry on the Musi River area, we knew we had to take action. In 2021 we resolved to do our part in revitalising the region, using our influence to engage with suppliers of PSCI members in Telangana to promote better wastewater practices and encourage positive change. Our aim is that every single supplier with a connection to a PSCI member should be visited, audited or contacted directly to promote the best technologies for wastewater management.

Now, two years on, we are continuing to make tangible impacts and build supplier capability within the Musi River basin. As of March 2023, we are in the process of organising an in-person wastewater technologies workshop in the spring of this year. The goal of the workshop will be to build supplier capability in the Musi River catchment area. Wastewater technology companies and best-practice suppliers will be exhibiting their effluent treatment processes throughout the day.

There are also plans for a session on how to use our PEC:PNEC calculator tool for assessing API discharges – one of the many practical means of implementation we have developed to support our members and their suppliers in building sustainable supply chains.

It has been great to watch the progress over the last couple of years and we know that there is still a long journey in front of us. We cannot yet say the Musi River has been fully revitalised and returned to its former glory, but we are proud of the work we have done so far to support this project and are committed to the work that lies ahead.

About the PSCI:

The PSCI – Creating a better supply chain in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry. The Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative (PSCI) is a group of pharmaceutical and healthcare companies who share a vision of better social, health, safety and environmental outcomes in the communities where we buy. We believe that collectively PSCI members can share knowledge and expertise, across our industry, to drive complex, global change more effectively than any one organization alone.

We have joined forces to promote responsible supply chain management and better business conditions across the industry.

https://pscinitiative.org/home

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