45 chemical firms in Dombivli fined Rs 25 lakh each for pollution

MUMBAI/KALYAN: Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) on Monday issued notices to 45 chemical companies in Dombivli MIDC for violating pollution norms, and told each to pay a fine of Rs 25 lakh.
The action came few days after chief minister Uddhav Thackeray visited Dombivli MIDC, after the colour of a river had changed due to pollution. Thackeray had warned companies polluting rivers to take safety measures or else they would be shut.Thackeray had also told officials to come up with a plan to deal with pollution in Dombivli MIDC.
The action has shocked industries in Dombivli MIDC, and they have decided to move court against MPCB's order. A KAMA (Kalyan-Dombivli, Ambernath Manufacturing Association) member said, "The order is shocking, as MPCB, instead of taking action against those polluting rivers, is harassing everyone. We will move court against the order as we are not ready to pay the fine."
MPCB and MIDC officials on Monday met over the Dombivli fire and Waldhuni river pollution issues, and submitted an action plan to the state government.
In the river case, MPCB served closure notices to seven companies releasing effluents without treatment. A senior MPCB official said the companies that were found to have released effluents in Waldhuni have been told to stop the discharge till further orders, which implies that they have been told to shut operations. "We have told them to stop discharge till MPCB certifies its quality, and the process of effluent treatment," he said, pointing out that the penalty had been imposed on each of them for damaging the environment.
Meanwhile, sources said the main MIDC pipeline that carries effluents of these factories to the treatment plant, was also damaged, which was one of the reasons for the pollution. The river had turned orange and later dark blue.
MPCB officers said a notice had been issued to the unit in Dombivili that went up in flames recently, to not resume operations till it is certified safe.