Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai) - Live
Residents complain of smell from river
Plan protest if authorities don’t take action against firms releasing effluents into Waldhuni river
AMBERNATH: People of Ambernath and Ulhasnagar residing along the Waldhuni river complained of foul smell on Wednesday and met the concerned officials demanding that water and power supply to companies releasing effluents into the river be cut or else they will stage a protest from Feb 22.
Around 50,000 residents reside along the banks of this river. The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), earlier this week, had found high levels of pollutants in a drain that connects the river, proving the fact that untreated effluents were being released in the river.
On Wednesday night, the residents of Vadolgaon, Ashok Nagar complained of a toxic smell. The NGO members, residents and activists met the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and police officials, and threatened to go on strike outside the MIDC office in Ambernath from February 22 if appropriate action isn’t taken.
Social activist Shivaji Ragde said, “The authorities have failed to take any stringent measures to control the toxic smell due to the pollution. The residents have to bear the foul stench daily. We have now decided to make our voices heard by staging a protest.
“Since the last one month, the MPCB has served closure notice to 70 companies. But all these companies are functioning during the night or when the officials are not around. The only way to stop pollution is closing down these factories by not supplying water and power.”
Sanjay Bhosale, deputy regional officer, MPCB, said, “Whenever there is a complaint, we visit the spot and collect samples. Meanwhile, we also alert the local civic body, police and MIDC officials to take action against the companies causing pollution. We also serve closure notice to them.”
Pollutant levels high in drains near Shahad
The MPCB has confirmed that untreated effluents were released into the drains that connect the Waldhuni river near Shahad. After a complaint was registered earlier in January, the samples tested were found with exorbitantly high Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels which were 7,14,848 and 28,593, respectively, as opposed to the normal levels of 250mg/l and 100mg/l.
Whenever there is a complaint, we visit the spot, collect samples and alert the civic body SANJAY BHOSALE,
Deputy regional officer, MPCB
Jeans wash units told to shut in Kalyan
After Ambernath, the MPCB has served a closure notice to four jeans wash units in Kalyan Murbad Road Vill-Vaholi village. The MPCB has highlighted in the notice that the units were functioning without consent from pollution control board.