Surprise inspection by Forest Minister exposes irregularities at Bengaluru pollution testing lab

Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment Ramalinga Reddy, accompanied by officials from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), inspected the Bengaluru Analytics and Research Laboratory Private Limited (BARL) near Jakkur on Saturday, flagging serious non‑compliance with state norms. The surprise visit was aimed at verifying the laboratory’s adherence to guidelines governing water, air and noise pollution testing.

The inspection found that BARL employed only one analyst instead of the three mandated by the government, with two additional analysts having been inactive for nearly five months. Cost comparisons showed the laboratory charging ₹1,000 for water‑sample analysis and ₹650 for air‑sample analysis, far below the Central Pollution Control Board’s standard rates of ₹5,000 and ₹13,000 respectively. Discrepancies were also noted between field‑collected noise data and the figures reported in the final analysis, and the lab was operating without a valid licence, which had expired in 2025. Moreover, waste generated by the lab was being dumped directly into an open pit rather than following proper disposal protocols.

Karnataka hosts roughly 50 accredited units that collect and analyse environmental samples, making accurate data crucial for public health and regulatory enforcement. The minister warned that similar violations in other labs would attract stringent scrutiny and urged immediate corrective action. An exhaustive investigation has been ordered, with the KSPCB chairman and member‑secretary tasked to audit all remaining laboratories in the coming days.