Ramdas Kamdam, Maharashtra's environment minister, today said it would be mandatory for industrial units to set up effluent treatment plants.
Speaking to reporters here, Kadam also said that all the municipal corporations in the state have been asked to allocate 25 percent of budget funds for treatment of solid waste and sewage water.
"Nearly 75 percent of the rivers in Maharashtra today are polluted. According to the Municipal Act, they should allocate 25 percent of budget funds towards the treatment of solid waste and sewage water. Without treatment the polluted water should not be released into rivers," Kadam said.
"If they do not set up such plants within two months, action will be taken. Notices have been sent to heads of municipal corporations, municipal councils and industrial units. They need to abide by laws or face action. If rules are followed, rivers will once again become pollution-free in the next 3-4 years," he said.
A separate monitoring squad will be set up to curb the cutting of trees, he said.
"Currently the civic officials and officers from the forest department give permissions to cut trees. But while granting permissions certain procedure is to be followed. There is no proper monitoring to check this.
"We do not know if the right number of trees are being cut or the right number of trees are being planted for each tree cut. We will start a strict monitoring system now. We will penalise any official who violates norms," Kadam said.
