Identify industries polluting Ulhas river, NGT asks MPCB

The tribunal, comprising Justice V R Kingaonkar and expert member Ajay Deshpande, was hearing an application by NGO Vanashakti which alleged that industries were severely polluting the Ulhas river and sought the clean-up of the river.

The counsel for the NGO pointed out that industries which were closed earlier by the MPCB  are now utilising excess water brought at units by means of tankers against the terms of consent and thereby more effluents are being discharged, which is causing pollution. The NGT found that the affidavit of the deputy engineer of the Maharashtra Industrial Development  Corporation (MIDC) reveals that the CETP is being used by the industries, which shows that there is a violation of parameters.

Further, the NGT rapped the municipal commissioner of the Ulhasnagar municipal corporation for noncompliance of an earlier oder to divert the Khemani nullah that carried effluent directly into the river, thereby polluting it.

The NGT directed the municipal commissioner to file an affidavit giving suitable explanation for noncompliance of the order by Wednesday. “Why an incorrect statement has been made that the municipal corporation has already passed an order to divert Khemani nullah. In case such inaccuracy has occurred in making the statement, whether  an administrative action has been taken against the defaulter and if no action has been taken, then what proposed action is being taken,” the order stated. The NGT  also asked the municipal corporation to state if it had Rs 20 crore available so that it could be immediately transferred to an escrow account of the divisional commissioner of the Konkan division as guarantee for the work of cleaning the river and whether tendering process or a proposal is underway.

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