In a major action, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd (MSEDCL) disconnected the power supply of bamboo treatment unit set up by the Maharashtra Bamboo Development Board (MBDB) inside Gorewada reserve forest after the instruction of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) recently. “We have served order of electricity disconnection of the unit at Gorewada area which failed to obtain consent from MPCB to establish and operate for research and development of strengthening bamboo unit,” Anand Katole, Sub Regional Officer, MPCB told The Hitavada. “We also have conducted inspection thereafter issuing the order.

 

The authority has also shifted the machinery in the unit to other place and the unit is current closed,” Katole added. MBDB was operating chemical treatment units for bamboo processing in the Gorewada reserve forest without obtaining prior clearance under Section 2 of the FCA 1980. Even the matter was raised in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and it took cognisance and asked reply from MPCB for action. In reply, MPCB issued closure notice to the unit. The unit has also failed to provide a pollution control system for the treatment of effluent generated, stated the MPCB notice. The MPCB’s stern action was under Section 33A of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1981, and Hazardous & Other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2018.

 

The MBDB carried out activities in the units without installing necessary controls in a ‘pressure vessel’ as is mandated by the Maharashtra Factories Rules, 1963. “Such illegally operated pressure vessel used in the plant exploded on October 13, 2020, and explosion led to the discharge of toxic chemical effluents into nearby water streams and river sources, thereby leading to severe degradation of the aquatic ecosystem and water resources,” the petitioner alleged in NGT. Owing to the explosion, untreated chemical solution contained in the pressure vessel had leaked out into the Gorewada Lake which is the drinking water source of Nagpur.