Bengaluru: Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Saturday conducted a surprise inspection of Bengaluru Analytics and Research Laboratory Pvt Ltd along with senior Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) officials and found several alleged violations.
The laboratory had secured prior approval from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) stating that three analysts would be employed. However, only one analyst was present during the inspection, while the other two had reportedly not worked at the facility for five months.
The laboratory’s Consent for Establishment (CFE) from KSPCB had expired in 2025, but the unit continued operations without valid consent, Reddy said. Officials also found that waste generated from laboratory activities was being discharged into an open pit instead of being disposed of through a proper system.
Scrutiny of records also revealed discrepancies in testing charges. While CPCB-prescribed rates are around Rs 5,000 for STP water-sample analysis and Rs 13,000 for collection and analysis of industrial air samples, the laboratory was reportedly conducting the tests for as little as Rs 1,000 and Rs 650 respectively.
Officials also found inconsistencies between field data collected during noise-level monitoring and figures recorded in the laboratory’s final reports.
Reddy said the findings raised doubts over the credibility of the laboratory’s analytical reports and ordered a comprehensive probe.
He said around 50 laboratories in Karnataka undertake water, air and noise sample testing. Describing the inspection as a “test case” and a warning to other laboratories, Reddy directed KSPCB’s chairman and member secretary to conduct thorough inspections of all such laboratories in the state.