HC asks MIDC to set up treatment plants in industrial hubs

Hearing a PIL alleging pollution in Godavari river, the Bombay High Court today directed the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) to set up sewerage treatment plants in the industrial hubs of the state.
A bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka asked MIDC to set up such plants in the industrial areas without delay and asked the body to file an 'Action Taken Report' (ATR) by September 30.
The court was hearing a PIL by Rajesh Pandit, a social worker, alleging pollution in Godavari river which originates at Trimbakeshwar near Nashik, a major pilgrim centre.
Counsel for Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) Rajendra Raghuvanshi informed that during the routine checks, they had found five industrial units at Amber Satpur Industrial area violating pollution norms and not holding valid licence.

Another 20 units were under their scrutiny, MPCB counsel told the court, which asked the body to file an affidavit within four weeks.
The court had earlier asked MPCB and Nashik Municipal Corporation to urgently check pollution in Godavari river and observed that the affidavit filed by the civic body was general in nature and they were not satisfied with it.

The judges had also asked the NMC to file further affidavit on concrete steps it proposed to take to clean Godavari river and prevent pollution.
The PIL contended that garbage and untreated effluents are released into the river thereby causing pollution. Many pilgrims visit Nashik and Trimbakeshwar which houses one of the 12 'Jyotirlingas' (temples) of Lord Shiva.

People visit Nashik to perform the last rites of their ancestors and drop 'pooja' articles such as flowers in Godavari river thereby causing pollution, the PIL alleged.
The civic body should stop devotees from immersing pooja articles in the river by deploying guards on the banks at Nashik and Trimbakeshwar, the PIL said.
Instead, the PIL suggested, special pots should be put up on the banks of the river and devotees should be persuaded to deposit pooja articles in these pots.
The PIL suggested that the NMC should put up boards on the banks of the river, displaying warnings that the water is not suitable for drinking and the river would get polluted if articles are dumped into it.