The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has finally taken action against the unauthorised jeans washing units that have moved to the countryside after the nearby Ulhasnagar river was found to be polluted. Nineteen unauthorised jeans washing units were served with Kamandalu notices by the welfare subdistrict office.
The hazardous waste water from the jeans washing process is alleged to be discharged into natural drains and waterways without any adequate treatment.
The flow of this polluted water into the Vaadhavuni, Ulhas and Kallu river systems has created an environmental menace as the Vaadhavuni river is an important source of drinking water for several towns in the Thane district. Therefore, the discharge of this untreated industrial waste into the river is likely to affect the environment as well as the health of the citizens.
The Ulhasnagar civic body, the Karwa Gram Panchayat, is also said to be having such units in the territory of the Ulhasnagar Gram Panchayat, while three such units are also said to be in Kumbhalwadi in the Malangad area. The units are alleged to be discharging their wastewater into the river.
The action against the unauthorised units follows the action against informal jeans washing units in Ulhasnagar reported earlier. The units were given the option of setting up a wastewater treatment centre or shutting the business.