Pollution Board Closes Mumbai Company After Dogs Turn Blue

Recently, we reported about some dogs in Mumbai turning blue. After the images of the dogs went viral, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has come forward and shut down the private company that was releasing a blue dye into the Kasadi River that was turning the dogs blue.

A complaint was filed by local activists after it was discovered that a private company was releasing blue dye into the river water.

Officials from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) issued a closure notice on Friday night. Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) has also been asked to cut water supply to the firm. However, after witnessing that there were no pollution abatement measures being followed by the firm. They shut the company down.

“There are a set of norms that every industry needs to follow. After our sub-regional officers confirmed media reports that dogs were indeed turning blue due to air and water pollution, we conducted a detailed survey at the plant,” said Anil Mohekar, regional officer.

 MPCB Navi Mumbai said, once they found out that none of the directions under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, were being followed by the private company, closure directions were issued.

“Ducol Organics Pvt Ltd. is harming animals and birds in the area. We cannot let such an industry function. We will ensure that the plant does not function from Monday and the decision sets an example for other polluting industries, which may not be following pollution abatement measures,” he said.

Shutting down the industry was not a solution

An animal welfare activist, Arati Chauhan from Navi Mumbai Animal Protection cell said shutting down the industry was not a solution as it was not addressing the larger issue of other polluters in the area.

“Shutting down one industry, as MPCB has done, only results in daily wage laborers losing their bread and butter. There are many other industries in the area that pose a threat to the flora, fauna and a threat of more such cases is a possibility. There is a need for pollution monitoring of all plants and development of adequate green cover around industrial sites,” she said.

Reference: hindustantimes

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