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Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Govandi residents accuse MPCB of undervaluing environmental violations by biomedical waste facility
MUMBAI: Residents of Govandi have accused the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) of grossly underreporting and mishandling environmental violations by SMS Envoclean Pvt. Ltd., which operates a biomedical waste treatment facility in the area. A biomedical waste treatment facility is a specialised center that handles, processes, and disposes of hazardous waste from healthcare and research facilities, such as used syringes, bandages, surgical instruments, pathological waste, pharmaceuticals, and materials contaminated with blood, bodily fluids, or infectious agents. In a fresh application filed before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), a specialised judicial body in India established to address environmental disputes, on June 2, the Govandi New Sangam Welfare Society alleged that MPCB failed to impose appropriate environmental penalties on the facility, despite repeated violations of the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 (BMWM Rules). The Society claims that the MPCB ignored key violations such as untreated effluent discharge, improper handling of biomedical waste, and manipulation of emissions data while calculating Environmental Damage Compensation (EDC). Citing the Polluter Pays and Precautionary Principles, which requires polluters to bear the costs of pollution prevention, control, and restoration, the petition demands a new, legally sound assessment of the environmental damage and seeks personal accountability of MPCB officials for allegedly suppressing evidence and failing to perform their statutory duties. The society pointed to several complaints it had made in the past, flagging serious concerns over toxic emissions and adverse health impacts from the plant. Following inspections, the MPCB issued closure directions in July 2019, confirming violations of the BMWM Rules. However, despite this, the board imposed no penalty and calculated a compensation of just ₹14.22 lakh—an amount the petitioners say grossly favours the polluter. Dissatisfied with the inaction, the society initially filed a public interest litigation in the Bombay High Court. On September 11, 2023, the High Court directed the petitioners to approach the NGT for suitable remedies. In its plea, the society accused the MPCB of deliberately excluding crucial evidence of non-compliance, including failure to meet treated wastewater standards and delays in disposing of biomedical waste within the mandated 48-hour period. 'MPCB chose to disregard these key violations for reasons best known to them,' the petition closure notice issued by MPCB itself, dated July 6, 2019, documented several infractions- failure to segregate waste as per the 2016 Rules, poor maintenance of biomedical waste records, unwashed transport vehicles at the site, and transportation vehicles lacking mandatory biohazard symbols. 'Despite these glaring lapses, MPCB has under-calculated the compensation and misled the tribunal,' the petition alleged. The residents further invoked the Central Pollution Control Board's 2019 guidelines, which require enhanced penalties for repeat violations—guidelines that MPCB allegedly failed to apply. This, the petition claims, has made such violations economically viable for offending the society alleged that MPCB excluded 267 days during the COVID-19 pandemic and another 395 days in 2020–21 from its compensation calculation—periods during which violations had occurred. Calling for the application of the strict and absolute liability principle under environmental law, the society urged the NGT to direct MPCB to reassess and impose a fair and accurate EDC on the polluter.
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
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
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. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: 1 simple trick to get all TV channels Techno Mag Learn More Undo 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
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Breathing in Nagpur Nearly Equivalent to Smoking Two Cigarettes a Day, Research Shows
Nagpur: Breathing in Nagpur could be as harmful as smoking two cigarettes a day, warn health experts, citing fresh data on rising air pollution levels in the city. A recent city-based study conducted between January and April 2025 paints a grim picture of urban health, with unchecked construction and vehicular emissions driving the crisis. "According to recent data, Nagpur's Air Quality Index (AQI) has consistently remained in the 'poor' category, with PM10 levels at 128 µg/m³ and PM2.5 at 46 µg/m³. This makes breathing in Nagpur nearly equivalent to smoking two cigarettes a day," said senior pulmonologist Dr Ashok Arbat, who monitored the trend following a sharp spike in respiratory complaints. "In recent months, we have seen a 20% increase in respiratory cases. Worryingly, this surge occurred during summer, a season that usually brings relief to asthma and chronic lung disease patients," he noted, speaking on the eve of World Asthma Day, observed on May 6. Dr Arbat attributed the increase to environmental hazards caused by the ongoing construction of cement roads, flyovers, and other infrastructure projects. "The fine dust and particulate matter released during these works, combined with demolition debris and increasing vehicular emissions, are silently choking the city," he said. Pulmonologist Dr Parimal Deshpande also blamed vehicle emissions for the rise in respiratory ailments. "Fossil fuel-run vehicles release harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide into the air, worsening the situation," he explained. He further warned that vulnerable groups—children, the elderly, and those with existing respiratory issues like asthma and COPD—are experiencing more severe and persistent symptoms than usual. "Even individuals with no prior history of respiratory illness are now reporting breathing difficulties," Dr Deshpande added. Although the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has issued notices to some contractors for violating dust and emission norms, enforcement remains inconsistent. On World Asthma Day, doctors have appealed to both authorities and citizens to take immediate action. "We need stricter dust control measures, expansion of green zones, and a shift toward sustainable urban planning. At the individual level, small changes like carpooling, using public transport, and wearing masks in high-dust areas can make a difference," said pulmonologist Dr Swapnil Bakamwar. Why Breathing in Nagpur ≈ Smoking 2 Cigarettes a Day? PM2.5 Levels in Nagpur Recent average reading: 46 µg/m³ WHO Safe Limit: 5 µg/m³ (annual average) Nagpur's exposure: 9x higher than safe levels The 'Cigarette Equivalence' Explained According to studies by the University of California and the Berkeley Earth Project: Every increase of 22 µg/m³ of PM2.5 = 1 cigarette/day inhaled passively Nagpur's PM2.5 level (46 µg/m³) ≈ 2 cigarettes/day equivalent
Hindustan Times
25-04-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
₹1.44 cr penalty on rubber company in Pune for green damages
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) in its reply affidavit submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on April 22 has proposed imposing a penalty of ₹1.44 crore on a rubber manufacturing company based in Talegaon Dabhade for environmental damages. The case has been pending with the NGT for final order. In 2022, one Mahendra Hasabnis complained to the NGT that carbon emissions from this Talegaon Dabhade-based rubber manufacturing company were causing the death of cattle owned by him. Hasabnis demanded action against the company for the same. The said company is part of a Spain-based corporation and specialises in the development and production of rubber and plastic components for a variety of applications. Taking cognisance of Hasabnis's complaint, the NGT registered a case against the company and instructed the MPCB to conduct an inspection of the company and verify Hasabnis's claims. The NGT also directed the MPCB to decide the environmental damage compensation (EDC) amount in the case. As per the NGT's directions, the MPCB carried out an inspection of the company and submitted a reply affidavit in which it proposed imposing a penalty of ₹1.44 crore on the company in question for environmental damages. As per the reply affidavit submitted by Babasaheb Kukade, sub-regional officer, MPCB, the EDC amount has been decided based on five components including the pollution index of the industrial sector, number of days that environmental norms were violated, scale of operation, location factor etc. The EDC has been finalised as ₹14,460,937.5 When contacted, J S Salunkhe, regional officer, MPCB, said, 'The board has submitted the reply affidavit as per the NGT's directions and it is based on the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines. However, further details cannot be shared as the issue is pending before the NGT.' Hasabnis, the complainant in this case, said, 'I have lost nearly 85 cattle since 2019 and I have submitted the post-mortem report of at least eight of the 85 (now-deceased) cattle (cows and buffaloes), and the report acknowledges that the death was caused due to carbon emissions. The remaining report could not be produced due to various reasons including non-availability of the report during the Covid-19 pandemic. Many trees too have been impacted by carbon emissions. I have been raising the issue since long but earlier, the authorities neglected it and hence, I had to file a complaint with the NGT. Although the carbon emissions' issue has been sorted out for now, the company should compensate me for the losses I have experienced in the past and for this, I have demanded ₹3.5 crore as compensation. Now that the decision is pending with the court, I am hopeful that the NGT will take the appropriate decision on the same.' When contacted, representatives of the Talegaon Dabhade-based company were unavailable for comment.
