Navi Mumbai: Environment activist Deepak Singh has approached Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis raising the issue of pollution in Kharghar due to the industrial zone near the node.
“More than 5 lakh people are inhaling poisonous air due to poisonous gases and effluents emitted by industries of Taloja. Everyday residents are complaining about bad and foul smell. It has become difficult to breathe,” Singh who has been receiving complaints from many residents in Kharghar, said.
The residents have claimed that health of many children, senior citizen and even adult are badly affected. “Many are complaining about prolonged cough, eye irritation, and respiratory infection in these areas. Many people are claiming that they got Asthma after shifting to these areas,” Singh has mentioned in his complaint mail.
Singh has further mentioned about their public protest at Central Park on 3rd December 2023, even after which Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) showed no interest in solving the issues and nothing has changed in one year. “Industries are doing their work and emitting effluents in Kasadi river and emitting poisonous gases without any hurdle,” he added.
Singh and other residents of Kharghar had contacted MIDC officials, Town Planning Department of Panvel Municipal Corporation, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) and City and City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) with their grievance and had demanded to take action against the industries.
They also demanded to deny permission of high rise tower near Industrial Zone. “But no seriousness was shown by either of the authorities. We even met the MLA of this area Prashant Thakur before election but we have not observed any serious action from his side till now,” Singh said.
‘We citizen of Roadpali, Kharghar, Taloja, Kalamboli and other adjacent areas who are affected with the pollution have made group to fight against this issue and protesting in peaceful way.
We have voted you though your MLA Prashant Thakur with great hope to solve the issues of public, so we request you to take this issue seriously which is affecting the health of thousands of public,’ the email concluded.
Singh in his mail, has also suggested the solutions to the problem which is to relocate the red flag and hazardous industries from Taloja to other places as they are very close to residential areas.
Strict action on the violators who are emitting untreated chemicals and gases without following the compliances is also being demanded. Singh has further suggested to set up new common effluent treatment plant (CETP) plant with Algae treatment so that water being sent to Kasadi river is filtered water.
The violators among the builder lobby who have been violating the norms of air pollution should also be dealt with serious action, suggested the mail. “If our mail goes unanswered, we are determined to take the legal course to get ourselves heard,” Singh added.
