‘Waldhuni turns red again due to industrial effluents’
KALYAN: Residents of Yogidham Complex in Kalyan (West), on Tuesday complained of Waldhuni river water turning red, allegedly due to untreated industrial effluents. The residents of the society, near the banks of Waldhuni river, took to social media and posted pictures of the polluted river water.
Vinod Shirwadkar, 45, member of Waldhuni Swachhta Samiti, said, “Some industries in the area are discharging untreated effluents. The pollution control board should inspect and take action. Earlier in March, we had decided to stage a protest against such industries, but called it off due to the lockdown. If this continues, we will be forced to protest in the coming days.”
This is the second time the colour of the water has changed during the lockdown period. On May 13, the river had turned red, following which Ulhasnagar Citizens Forum, a residents’ body, had complained to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Pushpa Ratnaparkhi, president of the Waldhuni Swachhta Samiti, said, “We have been fighting against the pollution in Waldhuni river for the past seven years. Although the authorities took action after we filed a complaint, there has not been any remarkable change in the situation.”
Activists claimed that the river meets the Ulhas river, which provides drinking water to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
However, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has refuted the claims.
Shankar Waghmare, regional officer, MPCB, said, “We have received a complaint about the Waldhuni river water turning red. Our team will check and take necessary action. However, the Waldhuni river does not meet the drinking water zone of Ulhas river at all, so there is no chance of pollution of drinking water. It meets the Ulhas creek directly.”
Shashikant Dayma, founder of Waldhuni Biradari, said, “Waldhuni river meets the Ulhas river at Ambivli.industries across Kalyan, Ambernath and Badlapur have been discharging untreated effluents into the river, and the authority has failed to take major steps to control it.”