Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) has ordered Amara Raja Batteries to close its plants situated at Karkambadi and Nunegundlapalli, Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh, effective immediately.
According to the company, it is taking all necessary steps to comply with the orders given by APPCB. It has pressed into action its contingency plans to avoid dislocation in supplies of batteries to its customers across product segments, including essential service segments like defence, hospitals and telecom.
The company examines all options and prepares for all possible recourse available for the organisation to ensure that the interests of society at large, customers, suppliers, partners, and all employees are protected.
“We shall continue to make our efforts to engage with APPCB authorities in the interest of avoiding a dislocation in supplies to some of our largest clients in sensitive sectors. At a time of a national emergency in the form of the Covid pandemic, such a dislocation could be calamitous.” a company spokesperson said in a press statement.
“All our manufacturing plants have undergone various annual/bi-annual environmental audits and certifications over many years and have received several awards for safety and environmental sustainability and have adhered to the highest norms of environment, health, safety. Our choices have always been guided by a commitment to society that is socially and environmentally responsible,” it added.
The company has earlier made representations to the State Pollution Control Board officials on various environmental control measures deployed in line with industry standards, regulatory requirements and the improvement actions being initiated. It is hopeful of a satisfactory resolution which is in the interest of all stakeholders.