Pollution board faces losses as units skirt rules

As many as 10,000 industrial units in the city are not registered and because of this the Pollution Control Board is finding it difficult to collect cess and consent fee from them.

Board officials admitted that the board is indeed losing revenue. "As the units have not approached us for consent, we are not getting the consent fees from them. They are not being regulated, nor are they paying any taxes."

Sources said the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) is issuing licences to such units under the Shops Act. Once the units get this licence, they do not bother to get the pollution control board's approval. The pollution board is in talks with the civic body to try and find out a solution to the problem.

"We are finding out ways to regularise the existing illegal units. Steps would also be taken to ensure that new units come up only with the board's consent," sources said.

Recently, the Bombay High Court had sought a report on such units in the catchment area of the Mithi river. The board found it troublesome identifying the units.

The sources said there were around 157 industrial estates on the entire 15 km stretch of the Mithi River and each, on an average, may have around 50 units. "Shockingly, the board had details of only 470 units in the 30 metre catchment area as the remaining units are illegal," an official said.

There are many unregistered units in the industrial areas of Goregaon, Malad, Kandivli, Mulund and Ghatkopar.