Hyderabad: Confederation of Indian Industry , CII, Telangana organised its maiden Conference on Pillars of Protection – Forging a Safer Future for Pharma and Chemical Manufacturing on Wednesday in the Hotel Park, Necklace Road in Hyderabad.
The conference’s Inaugural Session was addressed by prominent industry leaders from the Pharma & Chemical manufacturing sector in Telangana.
Chief Guest of the conference, Mr Y Nagi Reddy, IPS, Director General, Telangana Fire Disaster Response, Emergency & Civil Defence Dept., Govt of Telangana said, “Safety in any industry, whether pharma or other industry, comes at three different levels: planning, execution, and operation and maintenance” while emphasizing the critical importance of safety in the pharmaceutical industry. He stressed that safety should be integrated from the initial planning stage, citing examples of potential hazards like improper building design and non-operational safety systems.
He said, “Whether it is industry, VIP or a common man, one has to follow the process of industrial safety, then only the industry will be saved, not only concerning the individuals who are working and staying”. His address underscored the importance of following strict safety protocols, regardless of the scale or status of the organisation, to prevent potential industrial accidents.
Fire Audits Should Be Mandatory Annually: Shri Y. Nagi Reddy, Director General, Telangana Fire Disaster Response Emergency & Civil Defence Department, called for mandatory annual Fire Safety Audits, especially in the Pharma sector. “Industries must take proactive responsibility by getting audits done and submitting them online. We will trust and verify,” he said.
Telangana witnessed 102 major fire incidents in pharma units over the last decade, resulting in losses exceeding ₹100 crore. A tragic incident at one factory saw property loss worth ₹30 crore and six casualties, he shared
The department saved property worth ₹4,035 crore last year, though ₹1,223 crore was still lost. Telangana currently operates 147 fire stations, including 38 in Hyderabad.
Three fire-fighting robots have been deployed in Hyderabad, Rangareddy, and Medchal, with more to come. The department is also exploring drone capabilities and plans to induct women into fire services, following models in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
Fire Safety Is Everyone’s Responsibility: Mr. Reddy urged industries to treat fire safety as an organizational culture, not just compliance. He cited sections 13 and 19 of the Telangana Fire Service Act 1999 and emphasized vigilance and training under the National Building Code 2016.
While addressing the conference, Mr. Nikhil Chakravarthi, IA &AS, Director, Commissionerate of Industries Government of Telangana spoke about Hyderabad’s leadership in pharma and biotech, noting that around 40-50% of global FDA facilities are in the city. He stressed that compliance should be part of the industry’s DNA, not just a one-time rule.
He said, “Safety is not a department, it’s a culture,” while discussing advanced risk assessment techniques like HAZOP and Failure Mode Analysis, and highlighted the potential of emerging technologies such as AI, IoT sensors, drones, and digital twins to enhance industrial safety. Mr Chakravarthi urged industry leaders to be proactive in implementing risk mitigation strategies and emergency response planning. He called on the industry to prepare the workforce through regular training and leverage technology to create a more secure manufacturing environment.
