12 July,2016 09:20 AM IST | | Vinod Kumar Menon
While there was no relief from the National Green Tribunal in yesterday’s hearing, state environment minister Ramdas Kadam vowed to help the local units
The future continues to look grim for the Ambernath industrial hub, which received a further setback yesterday, when the National Green Tribunal refused to overthrow the closure notice sent to the 87 chemical units within the Additional MIDC.
State environment minister Ramdas Kadam (inset) was shocked to learn that even though the authorities had handed over the operation of the CETP to AAMA in February, the gate was still locked. File pics
The matter will be up for hearing again on July 29, when the MPCB will respond to the Additional Ambernath Manufacturers Association (AAMA), which is now also a party in the case. Until then, the local business owners have pinned their hopes on state environment minister Ramdas Kadam, who paid a visit to the CETP yesterday and assured AAMA of his help.
On Thursday, all the factories were forced to shut down by the Maharashtra Pollution Control board (MPCB) because of the build-up of toxic waste at the Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) - an issue that mid-day has been following for the past three weeks.
Four days later, Kadam visited the plant along with environment secretary Satish Gavai, who is also chairman of the MPCB. Both were shocked to learn that the plant was still under lock, even though the MIDC authorities had handed over the operation and maintenance to AAMA in February.
AAMA president Umesh Tayade said, "Both minister and secretary were annoyed when they saw the lock on the main gate of the CETP and demanded that a police FIR be registered immediately against those responsible, including MIDC officials. The minister assured that he will try and persuade MPCB to withdraw the closure notice."
However, it's not going to be that simple, since the issue is mired in several legal battles. For one, after the original plant operator challenged MIDC's decision to terminate its contract, the CETP was put under lock following a status quo order by Kalyan court. Apart from the Kalyan court proceedings, the matter is also under arbitration upon the order of Bombay High Court.
