Horse dung causing severe pollution in Matheran, says interim MPCB report submitted in NGT
Pune: Tourism-related horse activity has led to severe environmental degradation in Matheran hill station, according to a recent site analysis in the eco-sensitive zone.
The
Maharashtra Pollution Control Board
(MPCB) submitted an interim report of the analysis, which highlighted the increase in air, water and soil pollution from horse dung in Matheran, to the National Green Tribunal in April.
Air quality analysis conducted at three sites in the region showed that the average PM10 levels in Dasturi Naka, the Main Market Area, and Nagar Parishad exceeded the CPCB standards of 100 micrograms per cubic metre by 40% to 72%. The PM2.5 levels at these locations exceeded the CPCB standard of 60 micrograms per cubic metre by 6% to 8%.
PM10 refers to particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less, which are inhalable.
These particles are considered "coarse" and can be found in dust, smoke, and other air pollutants. PM10 is responsible for severe lung infections and congestion. PM2.5, which is smaller than 2.5 micrometers, is considered the most hazardous air pollutant. It can be deposited in lungs, causing respiratory problems and other health issues.
The report attributed the source of the air pollution in these three regions to aerosolized dried dung particles, dust generation from unpaved roads, and ammonia and methane volatilization during dung composition.
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For water quality, researchers collected samples from Charlotte Lake near Dashkriya Shade and four other areas. The report highlighted severe contamination of water sources, with levels of turbidity, E. coli, nitrates, phosphates, and heavy metals like lead exceeding safe limits. These indicators pointed to direct faecal pollution, nutrient overload and potential health risks.
"The convergence of nutrient enrichment, microbial loading, and toxic heavy metal presence signifies a cumulative ecological degradation scenario.
This not only threatens local biodiversity, especially in streams and forest riparian zones, but also undermines soil stability and water quality across the landscape," said the report. This can cause algal blooms and lack of access to safe water as well, the report said, and added that high salinity, along with elevated carbon, in the soil could cause significant ecological stress.
Soil health was degrading in areas with high horse traffic, and urgent measures should be taken to stop the contamination of water bodies at the hill station, the report added.
The team suggested detailed waste management and limiting the movement of horses to less than 300 a day to ensure less stress on the environment.
In Oct, the National Green Tribunal bench in Pune heard an application by a resident, stating that Matheran faced serious environmental degradation due to the excessive use of horses for tourism and goods transportation.
The bench then constituted a joint committee of representatives from the ministry of environment, forests and climate change, Matheran municipal council and MPCB to assess the damage and suggest recuperation methods.
MPCB sought assistance from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University, Raigad, the state's umbrella university for engineering colleges, to make an elaborate assessment of the damage. An expert team from BATU and Nagesh Karajagi Orchid College of Engineering and Technology in Solapur, conducted the first phase of the assessment during the pre-monsoon period.
The first phase involved systematic sampling of air, water and soil across various locations.
The team is now preparing to carry out the second phase of the assessment during the monsoon season.
GRAPHIC: FINDINGS OF THE STUDY
Air pollution
Location — PM10 — PM2.5
Dasturi Naka — 144.41 µg/m³ — 76
Main Market Area — 171.93 — 64
Nagar Parishad — 141.8 — 71
CPCB standard — 100 — 60
* 24-hr avg of PM10 and PM 2.5 levels (in micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³))
Water pollution
Sampling spots
Charlotte Lake, near Dashkriya shade
Charlotte Lake, steps of Dashkriya shade
Charlotte Lake, at a distant location from the steps
Upstream side of Charlotte Lake
Simpson Tank, near the parking area
At the 4th and 5th sampling spots, lead concentrations of 0.15 mg/L and 0.08 mg/L were detected. This was well above the permissible limit of 0.01 mg/L
The 5th sample also contained 100 cfu/mL of E. coli, indicating microbial contamination
The 4th sample exhibited extremely high turbidity, recorded at 550 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units), significantly exceeding the tolerable limit of 1 NTU and the maximum allowable limit of 5 NTU
SOIL POLLUTION
At one location of soil testing, decomposing horse dung was observed to have caused a spike in soil carbon content, reaching 2.35%, indicating potential organic overload and soil quality degradation
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