The dogs near Navi Mumbai's Taloja Industrial Estate have been mysteriously turning blue and the main reason for it is the untreated industrial wastes being released into a river
Blue dog. Pic/YouTube
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The dogs near Navi Mumbai's Taloja Industrial Estate have been mysteriously turning blue and the main reason for it is the untreated industrial wastes being released into a river.
The Kasadi river in which the strays often wade for food is resulting in their fur turning into a bright shade of blue.
The Navi Mumbai Animal Protection Cell has filed a complaint with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) on Thursday which blames the industrial units for directly releasing effluents and dyes into the river.
According to a report in Hindustan Times, a water quality test at Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation found the waste treatment was inadequate. The levels of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) — the concentration of oxygen required to sustain aquatic life — was 80 milligram a litre (mg/L). Levels of chloride, which is toxic, harms vegetation, aquatic life and wildlife, were also high.
Taloja has around a thousand pharmaceutical, food and engineering factories.
The Navi Mumbai Animal Protection Cell reported the matter to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and blamed the industrial units for not disposing of the wastes properly.
MPCB officials have surveyed the area. Jayavant Hajare, sub-regional officer, MPCB Navi Mumbai, told Hindustan Times, "The area is already cordoned off to the public and is in close proximity of the private company. However, five to six dogs entered the site looking for food and got the blue colour on them. We have warned the company owners to ensure no animals can enter again and such an incident should not be repeated."
Animal rights activists also fear that the river might be harmful to birds, animals and other creatures who might have died due to pollution.
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