MIDC vs MPCB: Pollution Board Targets Ranjangaon Industrial Area for Sewage Treatment Issues

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Pune, 28th October 2024: The Ranjangaon industrial area is facing severe issues with its common sewage treatment plant, which has been blamed for causing pollution due to untreated wastewater discharge. In response, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has issued a notice to the Ranjangaon Industrial Area. This follows a similar action taken by the MPCB against the Kurkumbh Industrial Area last month for the same reason.

Tensions have arisen between two government agencies—MPCB and the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC)—as the MPCB has flagged multiple issues with the sewage treatment plant in Ranjangaon MIDC.

The notice, issued by MPCB’s Regional Officer Jagannath Salunkhe, highlights several operational failures within the plant. These include the shutdown of multiple systems and the malfunction of the ‘online display board,’ which monitors real-time data. The necessary upgrades to the plant have not been completed, leading to ongoing pollution in the surrounding environment.

On 25th September, the MPCB also served a notice to Kurkumbh MIDC regarding water pollution concerns. Local residents had complained that untreated sewage was contaminating nearby water sources. This issue has been recurring in Kurkumbh MIDC, and several questions have been raised about the efficacy of its common sewage treatment plant.

Despite the MPCB’s repeated notices, officials from MIDC have maintained that they are adhering to regulations. They have acknowledged that there may be errors in the project but are working to address them.

According to MIDC sources, a “befitting reply” has been given to the board in response to the latest notice.