Day after mid-day report highlighted poor quality of water at creek was killing fish, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray takes note; experts say water needs to be uncontaminated
Dead fish at the Thane Creek
Taking note of mid-day’s report on the pollution in Thane creek posing threat to aquatic ecosystem and biodiversity and the letter written by NGOs to the chief minister, the chief minister’s office has directed the environment department to look into the issue.
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The CMO has marked the mail to Principal Environment Secretary Manisha Patankar-Mhaiskar, said NatConnect Foundation director B N Kumar. He expressed the hope that the government will take prompt action to correct the situation as the water has to be uncontaminated. This becomes important as the state is gunning for the international Ramsar Wetlands status, NatConnect said.
Green groups had earlier complained to the government about the drastic fall in water quality as shown by a laboratory test along with dead fish floating in the creek. It may be noted that NatConnect Foundation has called for a high-level scientific probe and immediate corrective measures to restore the quality of water in the creek.
Raising their concern on the occasion of the World Water Day on Tuesday, environmental groups pointed out that the biological oxygen demand (BOD) level in a sample tested by a reputed laboratory showed a reading of 78. BOD represents the quantity of oxygen required to break the organic matter in water. Higher the density of pollution, larger the quantity of oxygen required. This is very high as compared to the acceptable norms of 30, said Nandakumar Pawar, head of Shri Ekvira Aai Pratishthan. Pawar, who hails from the fishing community, said there are hardly any fish left in Bhandup-Kanjurmarg stretch as there is hardly any oxygen in the water.
Kumar has tweeted to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray describing the situation as serious since the fishing community is being deprived of their source of income. Both Pawar and Kumar also sent separate mails to the CM and the
High Court-appointed Wetland Committee.
The Vashi-Thane stretch of the creek was a highly prosperous fishing area, but the situation has severely deteriorated, Pawar said. The garbage dumps at Deonar, Bhandup and Kanjurmarg overflow into the creek and onto the mangroves and CRZ-1 areas. In addition, the discharge of untreated urban and industrial wastewater is also killing the creek and marine life, Pawar said.
“We have been pointing this out to the authorities ever since 2008, yet there has been no action. Hope they take steps this time,” he said. Kumar has also called for surprise checks on the sewer treatment plants and inspection of the open drains that flow into the creek directly.
78
BOD level of water at Thane Creek; safe standard is 30
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