Need to prioritise saving our natural resources

A worker is seen dumping a chunk of concrete into the river. Pic/Satej Shinde

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the Ulhas river which supplies drinking water to people living in Ulhasnagar, Kalyan, Dombivli and parts of Navi Mumbai is among 53 of the most polluted rivers of Maharashtra. In one more ignominy the river has made it to 351 most polluted rivers in the country. This river has been facing several problems related to pollution, including illegal discharge of wastewater and untreated sewage.

This river was the focus of an extensive report in this paper, buttressed by some telling pictures. A six-lane Motagaon-Mankoli bridge is being constructed over the Ulhas river. Our photographers caught workmen dumping debris and construction material into this river from the worksite. Pictures show concrete being thrown into the river. In the report an official is quoted as saying there will be an investigation into the matter.

Camera surveillance must now be made available so that it reveals who is responsible and strictest action is taken. This cannot be brushed off as ‘collateral damage' when construction is going on. If we do not show by example that we are earnest about environmental concerns, then all the awareness and talk is superficial.

We have seen reports of complaints by residents of debris dumping, construction material hauled off in trucks and dumped into the sea late at night. We need to reverse this trend with will and urgency.

Contractors have to impress upon workmen, those in charge that there will be the strictest action for this behaviour. In case the contractor is involved then authorities need to take action. Such contractors need to be ‘blacklisted' in the same way that those who do slipshod works on public infra projects are.

With so much work on within city limits and beyond we cannot afford to choke our natural resources with mounds of debris.