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Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
MPCB and MIA join hands to tackle plastic pollution
1 2 3 Nagpur: In a significant step towards environmental sustainability, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and MIDC Industries Association (MIA) collaborated to address the pressing issue of illegal solid and plastic waste dumping in the MIDC Hingna area. The joint meeting, held on May 29 aimed to strategise and initiate a cleanliness drive and promote scientific waste management. The meeting, attended by officials from MPCB, MIA, MIDC, local municipalities, police, and media, highlighted major concerns, including illegal waste dumping and non-compliance with waste management rules. Key resolutions passed included identifying dumping zones, prohibiting dumping by local bodies, and promoting awareness among industries. A cleanliness drive was launched immediately after the meeting, with a focus on transforming MIDC Hingna into a model industrial zone. MPCB regional officer Hema Deshpande emphasised the importance of cooperation among stakeholders, while MIA president P Mohan expressed the aim of making MIDC Hingna a clean, green, and globally benchmarked industrial cluster. The initiative aligns with the global theme of 'Ending Plastic Pollution Globally' for World Environment Day 2025. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Kardiolog: Bukfett efter 50? Sätt det i dina skor Hälsotips Undo Other key attendees of the meeting were Ajay Agrawal and KK Daga, vice-presidents of MIA, Arun Lanjewar, secretary of MIA, Kunal Undirwade, deputy CEO of Nagpur Zilla Parishad, Officials from MIDC Hingna, Wadi Municipal Council, Nildoh & Digdoh Municipal Councils.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Pune's Sacred Indrayani River Is Choked By Toxic Foam
1 2 3 Pune: The Indrayani, where lakhs of pilgrims take a dip throughout the year, is dirty, smelling and frothing. The foam stems from many million litres of untreated sewage and unchecked release of effluents. Sustained neglect of the river is making it go the same way as the Mula-Mutha. Authorities promise action but little seems to change to keep it clean. Rising pollution in the river since 2022 has prompted senior politicians — most recently deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde and earlier, CM Devendra Fadnavis, as well as other ministers — to repeatedly and publicly declare that govt will work on a 'war footing' to stop release of untreated sewage waste into the river. But action has not translated on ground. The district administration and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) have also apparently done precious little to improve the river's health for years on end. "For others, it is just a river. For us, it is no less than a mother," said Parshuram Patil Maharaj, a famous kirtankar (religious performer) who grew up in Alandi. "It is painful and disheartening to see the growing level of pollution in the Indrayani year after year. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo I am surprised nothing has been done in all these decades to improve its condition," he added. How does the river get so polluted? The around 100km journey of the river begins at Kurvande village near Lonavla's famous tourist place 'Tiger Point' in Maval tehsil. It flows through Talegaon Dabhade, Dehu (another pilgrim hub) and then comes to urban pockets of Pimpri Chinchwad before streaming down to Alandi. In the end, it merges into the Bhima river at Tulapur village in Haveli tehsil. There are multiple reasons behind the river's pollution right from its origin. For one, a huge quantity of untreated sewage is released into it at multiple locations, as determined in a comprehensive survey by a team of MPCB officials in the recent past. A senior MPCB official confirmed to TOI, "Lakhs of litres of untreated sewage from municipal councils of Lonavla, Dehu and Alandi are released daily into the river. There are some points where industrial effluents get released, too. After our survey, we also served notices to these bodies and levied fines. But it has not improved the situation." JS Salunkhe, regional officer of MPCB, Pune, said, "We have told all municipal bodies to treat their sewage before releasing it into the river. They have promised us that they would set up sewage treatment plants (STPs) to do this." According to an MPCB report, existing STPs of PCMC require an upgrade to meet prescribed standards. Further, a PMRDA pollution abatement project proposal, which involves setting up 18 more STPs along the Indrayani, is still pending approval. "It is nothing but a blame game," said NGO Jeevitnadi founder Shailaja Deshpande, who has been working in the sphere of river conservation for over a decade."Officials fail to work on the ground. We have seen their efforts from close quarters all these years. Apart from serving notices to civic bodies, they do no concrete work. It is a sad fact," she added. Greens advocated for dedicated teams to monitor every river regularly and advised the authorities to conduct drone surveys to identify spots where the sewage is released into the river to keep a check. "Unless this is done, offenders will not take the issue seriously," said Deshpande. Authorities engage in blame game Asked about the issue, district collector Jitendra Dudi, told TOI that they are drafting a 'comprehensive' Indrayani river pollution clean-up plan. However, he could not provide specific details, saying it is still at the development stage. "Each municipal council and PCMC will have to chip in to look after their respective stretches of the river," he said. Activists said a workable and practical approach needs to be adopted. "Instead of looking for hypothetical solutions, the authorities should adopt a pragmatic approach to address this long-pending issue. They should hire expert agencies and execute work through them. One solution is to establish STPs to treat sewage," said activist Arjun Medankar from Alandi. Deshpande also said more stringent rules need to be introduced to punish violators, whether companies, housing societies, or more. "Unless we have a strong deterrent mechanism, nobody will take govt agencies seriously. Often, MPCB serves notice to the violators. If that was an effective solution, the desired results should have been achieved by now. That has not happened. A new approach is necessary to tackle this complex issue," added Medankar. A section of MPCB officials said municipal bodies should appoint a dedicated squad to keep a watch on offenders. "For us, shortage of manpower is the biggest hurdle. That is why we serve notices and impose fines. If municipal bodies act at their level, things will change immediately on ground," said an MPCB official. Massive health concerns for residents along banks UN Champions of Earth awardee and well-known ecologist Madhav Gadgil earlier this year, while highlighting that not a single river in India is pollution-free, had spoken specifically about the Indrayani and noted, "It is full of poisonous foam." Locals said this has been the case for years. Alandi Municipal Council chief officer Madhav Khandekar said, "We have advised residents not to use river water for drinking — for their safety. They only used it for domestic purposes for the last few years." By the time the water flows into Alandi, it turns dark with pollutants and thick, toxic foam forming over the top, ranging for a kilometre or more. Fish die in droves due to lack of oxygen. At several spots, hyacinth flourishes, leading to severe mosquito breeding concerns. Pollution further breeds worries of waterborne infections, respiratory issues, skin irritations, gastrointestinal distress and even long-term health concerns like cardiovascular disease and cancer. Lawyer-activist Vilas Kate from Alandi pointed out, "Not a single agency has carried out a health survey of the affected population. A comprehensive ground survey is needed to understand health issues in villages on the riverbanks." A senior doctor from the Alandi Rural Health Hospital said, "Even if people don't drink this river water, regular use for domestic purposes poses a big risk to health. We see many patients affected by river pollution. It is an alarming situation in Alandi." Kate added, "Nobody cares about the Indrayani. All promises made in all these years were hollow. We are surprised by the audacity of the authorities." President of Indrayani Seva Foundation, Vitthal Shinde told TOI, "Several industries, as well as housing societies, discharge sewage and effluents directly into the river. Dead fish float up at least twice or thrice a year and that has been the case for the last eight years. Detergent found in the river is also a big reason for fish dying. There are environmental norms that industries and residential units must comply with, but most of them don't have high capacity or functional sewage treatments plants. " "In the absence of regular checks by competent authorities, pollution in the river will only increase year on year," Shinde added. A sacred river for lakhs of devotees The Indrayani river has a special place in the hearts of the warkari community, many of whom visit Dehu and Alandi regularly on its banks for a darshan at the temples of Sant Tukaram Maharaj and Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj, respectively. As per tradition, devotees also take a 'holy dip' in the same river before visiting these temples. "No matter what the pollution level in the river is, we take a holy dip before going to the temple. This is our tradition. We will follow it even if the water is unhealthy," said Sandesh Deshmukh from Beed district. Many like him are upset with state govt for paying no heed to their religious sentiments. Pandurang Kale, another warkari from Marathwada region, said, "In Maharashtra, warkaris take a holy dip only in two rivers — the Indrayani and the Chandrabhaga (Bhima) in Pandharpur. Govt should have maintained the sanctity of these rivers." NGT seeks compensation from Dehu Nagar Panchayat NGT's principal bench in New Delhi had taken suo motu cognizance of a TOI report published on March 15, 2024. In response, the bench issued notices to MPCB, CPCB, the Central Institute of Fisheries Education in Mumbai, and the Pune district collector, seeking their replies on the matter. A subsequent inspection revealed that the STP operated by Dehu Nagar Panchayat was non-functional. During a hearing at the NGT's Western Zonal Bench in Pune on Nov 25, 2024, the tribunal directed MPCB to assess and explain, the quantum of environmental damage compensation, to be levied on the Dehu Nagar Panchayat. The bench also instructed the panchayat to submit a timeline for setting up functional STPs and for the rejuvenation of Ghat nullah and Kapur nullah, both identified as the main sources of pollution. Action plan as suggested by MPCB - Irrigation department should maintain minimum natural flow in the Indrayani river - Local bodies/irrigation department should remove/sedimentation at bunds - STPs of PCMC need upgradation to achieve BOD of 10 mg/1 as per prescribed standards - Local bodies must make budgetary provisions for STPs on Indrayani (circular on July 16, 2016) - Various departments of local bodies must coordinate to plan water supply, sewerage network and STPs while granting building permissions - Gram and Nagar panchayats should confirm at least provision of septic tank before passing plans of standalone houses - Local bodies, agencies and NGOs must raise awareness on issue
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Significant environmental damage in Maharashtra hill station Matheran: Report
An expert team's interim report has confirmed significant environmental damage by horse movement in Matheran, a hill station in Maharashtra, citing air and water pollution, soil degradation, and a possible loss of local flora and fauna. The report, submitted in April to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and the National Green Tribunal (NGT), recommended urgent interventions including limiting the horse population and a systematic dung collection mechanism. Experts from Raigad's Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University (DBATU) carried out a study in Matheran in collaboration with Solapur's Nagesh Karajagi Orchid College of Engineering and Technology. DBATU civil engineering head and dean (R&D) Sachin Pore, who led the study, said their investigation showed the need for measures to control the undesirable effects of horse dung in Matheran. 'These include proper dung collection and disposal, and regulating the number of horses,' said Pore. 'This is just the interim report. The final report will be submitted after the second phase of sampling and analysis between September and December 2025.' The first phase (pre-monsoon) of the study involved air, water, and soil sampling at locations including horse stables, trekking trails, run-off sites, and control zones. The experts monitored air quality over three days at Matheran's Dasturi Naka, railway station, and the Nagar Parishad (city council) office area and found particulate matter levels exceeded Central Pollution Control Board limits. The PM10 levels were 40–72% higher than the permissible limit of 100 µg/m³ due to aerosolized horse dung, dust from unpaved roads, and ammonia and methane released during dung decomposition. Water samples collected from Charlotte Lake, locations upstream and downstream, and the Simpson Tank showed high turbidity and elevated levels of E. coli, nitrates, phosphates, and heavy metals like lead, indicators of fecal contamination and potential health risks. The report suggested buffer zones, bioremediation wetlands, and stormwater infrastructure to prevent contaminants from flowing into the lake and other sensitive water bodies. Samples from seven locations, including the forest trail to Charlotte Lake, Dasturi Naka, and the Pashuvaidyakiy Davakhana, indicated progressive soil degradation in high horse-traffic zones. The report flagged risks such as loss of native vegetation, poor seed germination, and persistence of pathogens. It warned of potential irreversible damage to soil structure and fertility. An MPCB official said they will wait for the final report and NGT's directives before initiating action.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Limit horse movement, curb Matheran pollution: Report
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. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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. 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. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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.
Indian Express
16-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Why BMC's 3-year plan to clear Deonar landfill is easier said than done
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on May 14 (Wednesday) floated a Rs 2,368-crore tender to clean up 271 acres (110 hectares) of the larger 311 acres of the Deonar dumping ground by a process of bioremediation within three years. This comes seven months after the Maharashtra government allocated 124 acres of the landfill to build housing for several thousand residents of the Dharavi slums who will be relocated as part of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP). What is the Deonar dumpsite, what is bioremediation, and what challenges could the cleaning plans pose? The dumping ground The Deonar dumping ground at Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar in Mumbai's eastern suburbs is the oldest waste dump in the country. It has been operational since 1927, a time when this area had very little human habitation. The city and its population have grown enormously since then. Over the past 25-odd years especially, a very large number of people from the economically weaker sections have started to live in Deonar, Mankhurd, and Shivaji Nagar, close to the landfill. Today, the larger part of the Deonar area is dotted with informal housing units. In their midst stands a mountain of solid waste and garbage rising 40 metres into the sky, the height of a 15-storey building. The entire area is an enormous health hazard. The M/E ward, where Deonar is located, has the lowest life expectancy among the 25 municipal wards in Mumbai — less than 40 years, almost half the national average. BMC data show this ward accounts for almost 15% of tuberculosis cases in the city. According to a report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the landfill is one of the top 22 methane hotspots in India, from where around 6,200 kg of the colourless, odourless, highly inflammable greenhouse gas is released every hour. On April 11, The Indian Express published a report detailing how the relocation of slum dwellers under the DRP, which is being steered by the Adani Group and the state's Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), violates fundamental environmental norms. Before allocating a portion of the dump to build housing, the state government did not consult the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), which is the consenting authority for establishments inside landfills. 'The pollution board was not consulted before sanctioning the land parcel for the said project,' MPCB Member Secretary Avinash Dhakane had told The Indian Express. However, since MPCB is not an 'advisory body', it does not have 'the mandate to raise a dispute against any government institute if they don't consult with us', Dhakane had said. Under CPCB rules, residential areas should be separated from waste-to-energy (WTE) plants by at least 500 metres, and there should be a no-development buffer zone of 100 metres from the boundary of a landfill. Bioremediation, which was mandated by the central government in its solid waste management (SWM) guidelines published in 2016, involves treating garbage with microorganisms that flourish in air and sunlight. After the biodegradable components decompose naturally, non-biodegradable components are either recycled or treated artificially. Rock ore or mine waste are also extracted during this process. At Deonar, the BMC will begin with a mechanised excavation of the mountain of waste, after which its components will be segregated in a makeshift processing facility at the site. The biodegradable waste will then be allowed to decompose, while the non-biodegradable waste will be disposed of through recycling or at waste treatment centres. A contractor will be decided by June 12, and work will start immediately, officials of the civic body said. Of the about 1.85 crore metric tonnes (MT) of waste at the dump, 48% is mainly construction debris, 41% is inert or plastic waste, and 10% is dry/ miscellaneous waste, according to BMC data. Plastic waste and construction debris take a very long time to decompose. The task that BMC has identified for itself is gigantic. Consider: * To clean up just the legacy waste that is already there at the dump in three years, BMC will have to process at least 23,000 MT every day. This is almost four times the amount of waste that is generated in Mumbai on a daily basis. * In 2018, the BMC began clearing 60 acres in Mulund where waste had been dumped since 1968. According to official data, around 47 lakh MT (67%) of the 70 lakh MT of solid waste has been removed so far, and 25 acres (42%) have been reclaimed. The waste at Deonar is almost three times that at Mulund, and the area that the BMC is seeking to reclaim is four times that at Mulund. * Once the bioremediation process is complete, transporting the residues will need at least 1,200 trucks to be deployed every day, civic officials said. 'There is only one entry and exit point at the Deonar landfill. The landfill is close to Vashi Creek, so we are exploring whether that route can be used to transport the waste,' Kiran Dighavkar, BMC Deputy Municipal Commissioner, SWM, said. * Mumbai's famous monsoon will be a challenge too. 'Bioremediation cannot take place during the four months of the monsoon every year. That means a loss of 12 months in three years, and a reduction of the window of operation to 24 months,' Dighavkar said. * Permissions from several departments will be needed before work begins. The site, next to Vashi Creek, is part of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ). There are mangrove patches and nurseries along the creek, over which the environment department has jurisdiction. 'We will need no-objection certificates from the Mangrove Cell, the state forest department, the environment department, and CRZ clearance. If the waste falls in the creek, it will pollute the water,' an official said. * There is also the cost. Clearing the Mulund landfill has cost Rs 598 crore so far, at a rate of Rs 798 per tonne of waste. Clearing Deonar will likely cost five times more. 'The infrastructure and manpower that will be deployed will be almost four times what was deployed in Mulund,' an official said. * Civic officials also said that the effectiveness and speed of bioremediation will depend on a range of factors including soil composition, the nature of pollutants, and the weather.
