Maharashtra CM’s directive: Seal industrial models discharging untreated waste in Panchganga river

A fornight after 1000’s of fish had been discovered useless within the polluted Panchganga river, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has directed the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to seal the commercial models which launch untreated waste within the river. The CM additionally directed the Kolhapur district collectorate to submit a report on submitting of an FIR in opposition to activists protesting in opposition to river air pollution final month.
The instructions got here throughout a gathering held by the chief minister with officers of the Kolhapur district collectorate, MIDC, MPCB and other people’s representatives.
“The chief minister has directed that industrial units which are found discharging untreated waste should be sealed. He said these units should be allowed to open only after they have taken necessary corrective action,” Kolhpur District Collector Daulat Desai instructed The Indian Express on Wednesday.
On December 24, The Indian Express had reported that 1000’s of fish had been discovered useless in Panchganga river close to Terwad village in Kolhapur district. Angry villagers had tied up a senior official of the MPCB, claiming nothing had been performed within the matter regardless of repeated complaints by them. The official was launched solely after the MPCB promised motion in opposition to officers of the Ichalkaranji civic physique.
Desai mentioned there have been almost 68 processing crops and 400 family textile models of dyeing and sizing in Ichalkaranji city, which had been a serious reason for concern.
MPCB regional officer Sachin Harbad was tied as much as a stone construction
“When the common effluent treatment plant in Ichalkaranji malfunctions, untreated waste makes its way to the river. The CETP is run by the local industrial association… The processing plants and household units in Ichalkaranji have separate CETPs. But the one for household units needs upgradation as it has lesser capacity to treat water,” he mentioned.
The giant industrial models in Kolhapur have their very own effluent therapy plant, mentioned the district collector. “But sometimes these too malfunction, leading to discharge of untreated waste. MIDC and MPCB will take action against such units,” he mentioned.

Desai mentioned there’s a proposal to arrange a zero liquid discharge plant for Ichalkaranji models. “Such ZLDPs are available with units in Kolhapur. There is a proposal to set up such ZLDPs for units in Ichalkaranji. In CEPTs, the treated water is discharged in river but in ZLDPs, the waste water is recycled,” he mentioned.

Meanwhile, the CM has requested the district collector to submit a report concerning the FIR filed in opposition to activists who had tied up the MPCB official whereas protesting in Terwad village. “Since there have been demands to withdraw the FIR, the chief minister has sought a report in this connection. We will soon submit it,” mentioned Desai.