MUMBAI, MARCH 21: Minister for Environment Surupsingh Naik today fumbled while answering a calling attention motion on the environmental problems created by the release of effluents by industries of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation's complex at Kulgaon-Badlapur in Thane district.The calling attention motion moved by leader of Opposition Narayan Rane had demanded stern action against polluting units, which were releasing effluents into a nullah, posing a health hazard to local residents. Rane had also accused the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board of dillydallying on the issue.While replying to the calling attention motion, Naik admitted that there were 343 units, including 145 chemical ones, in the MIDC complex and that a project was being executed to collect the effluents and treat them before release.He,however, pointed out that 64 units had opted out of the project and were not cooperating. He told the House that notices had been served to the 64 units on December 17, 1999 to contribute their share for the common effluent treatment plant. The minister, however, could not reply to the queries by Rane and other Opposition members of the duration of the notice period. He merely kept on saying that under the pollution control norms, notices had been served on the defaulting units. He could not say how much time had been given to the units to reply to the notices.His statement that the units would be requested to participate in the effluent treatment project invited giggles from the Opposition benches and Rane said the Government need not request the defaulters but order them to comply to the pollution control norms.Further queries from Opposition members on issuing fresh notices made the Minister fumble for words and finally he said that fresh notices would be served and the units would be asked to respond within a month.
