MPCB slaps notices on 108 plating units in Ambad

Nashik: The regional office of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board ( MPCB ), Nashik, has slapped notices on 108 plating and powder coating units in the Ambad industrial estate of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) for not treating effluents.

The MPCB has directed the plating units to make sure the effluents are treated 100% before discharge.

During its judgment on the pollution of Godavari river, the Bombay high court had directed the units to put in place a common effluent treatment plant (CETP) by March this year. Since the CETP is yet to start operations, the MPCB has directed the units to set up their own effluent treatment plants (ETP) to treat the effluents.

“We have slapped notices on 108 plating units, directing them to set up ETP on their premises. The CETP should have been operational by March-end as per the directives of the Bombay high court. However, nothing has been done so far. Therefore, we want the plating units to recycle or treat the effluents 100% before they are discharged,” said a senior official from MPCB.

When contacted, Samir Patwa, an office-bearer of the Metal Finishers’ Association, admitted that notices have been served.

“While most of the metal finishing units do not have an ETP, there are a few which have thier own ETPs. However, the ETPs are not treating the effluents scientifically and as per required standards. We have prepared the detailed project report for the CETP, but the MIDC is yet to give its approval for providing funds for the project,” said Patwa.

The total cost of the CETP is estimated to be around Rs 20 crore. “Around 75% of the funds will be provided by the MIDC, while the remaining 25% will be borne by the stakeholders,” added Patwa.

There are two industrial estates of MIDC in Satpur and Ambad, falling in the jurisdiction of Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC), which houses around 3,500 micro, small, medium and large industrial units.

The industries here are largely from the auto, engineering and electric sectors. Of these, there are around 140 metal finishing units which release massive quantities of effluents during the manufacturing process.

The Metal Finishers Association (MFA) has proposed the CETP project in the Ambad industrial estate. The MIDC has allotted a plot admeasuring 8,900 sq-metre to the association for setting up the CETP project.