Polluted river stretches down from 49 to 34 in the state, claims MPCB

CPCB yet to update data; Mumbai’s Mithi River continues to be most polluted

MUMBAI: Pollution levels in rivers across Maharashtra have fallen. The state, which had 49 of the 320 most polluted river stretches in the country in 2017 — the highest in India, now has 34 such sites, according to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). Mumbai’s Mithi River, however, continues to be the state’s most polluted and one of the most contaminated in India.

HT had reported in October that data submitted in Parliament by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) revealed the state had the maximum number of polluted river stretches in the country.

Now, however, 15 locations (Amravati, Amba, Bhatsa, Darna, Krishna, Mutha, Panchganga, Panzara, Pelhar, Rangavali, Savitri, Surya, Ulhas, Vaitarna and Vashishti) – have recorded biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) — levels of dissolved oxygen needed for the survival of aquatic life – below 3 milligram per litre (mg/l). CPCB guidelines state that fish need BOD levels below 6 mg/l to survive. BOD levels below 1mg/l are good and levels above 3 mg/l make the water unfit for consumption.

But the CPCB is yet to accept the MPCB data on improvement in pollution levels. “We need to collate the figures over a period of time before updating the polluted river stretches in Maharashtra,”

said BR Naidu, zonal officer, CPCB.

MPCB has submitted the data in the Bombay high court (HC) last month as an affidavit during the hearing of a petition filed by

environment group Vanashakti on water quality in rivers. “Pollution status of rivers in Maharashtra has reduced currently. Necessary communication has been sent to the Centre, and they are in

the process of updating the figures,” said YB Sontakke, joint director (water quality), MPCB, who drafted the affidavit.

The petitioners in the case, however, are sceptical of the data.

“It is impossible that rivers such as Ulhas and Mutha have recorded a drop in pollution,” Stalin D, director, Vanashakti. “We will challenge this before the Bombay HC and CPCB.”