MPCB slaps notices on 150 units on Mithi banks

The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has issued show cause notices to the 150 commercial units on the bank of the Mithi river for not having consent from the board for their operations. These units are located between Vihar lake and the Mahim creek.

"These are the unauthorised units which do not have the necessary clearance from the board to operate, which is required for all industries under the Water and Air Pollution Act. They do not have the license to operate," said an MPCB official close to the development.

These units have to file their replies by December 31. If they fail, the official said, that the units will be asked to come for a hearing pending closure.

Reliance Energy and the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) have also been asked by the state pollution board to cut power supply and water supply, respectively, to these units.

Both the organisations have been asked to give a compliance report to the board before January 15. MPCB sources said that MCGM and Reliance Energy have forwarded the notice to the units. The state pollution board had earlier asked the civic body to give a list of illegal units on the Mithi bank.

The corporation handed over a list of 150 commercial units to the board in November. MPCB officials found upon inspection that the listed units did not have the consent of the board under the Environment Protection Act.

These small commercial units are located in areas such as Shantinagar, Kismatnagar, Indiranagar and Sakinaka.

Earlier on December 13, the state pollution board had given closure directions to 12 other unauthorised units. These units had failed to meet the parameters of the environment act which include Ph value, Bio-oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand and suspended solids.

It is also learnt that the board is also considering the removal of establishments on the river bank up to 30 metre. However, officials refused to comment on it.