The stench is terrible: locals

The leaking and choked drainage system around the Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) in Maharashtra Development Industrial Corporation’s (MIDC) Dombivli unit has caused partially-treated effluents to flow through the city’s open nullahs, raising an obnoxious stench in residential areas, reports Nikhil M Ghanekar.

The leaking and choked drainage system around the Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) in Maharashtra Development Industrial Corporation’s (MIDC) Dombivli unit has caused partially-treated effluents to flow through the city’s open nullahs, raising an obnoxious stench in residential areas.

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Following a recent site visit, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) asked MIDC to repair around 25 leaking drainage pipes carrying effluents treated in the CETP. At several points in the pipes, MIDC effluents from industries were released into adjacent nullahs before treatment, increasing alkalinity.

“Leaking drains in phase-I of MIDC causes the effluents to flow in the drains that empty in Ulhas creek, while chemicals from phase-II flow through the open nullahs in the city, mixed with domestic sewage,” said Sudhir Ambure, deputy engineer, maintenance department, MIDC.

Ambure added, “A lot of companies have maintained drains connected to the main line shoddily. Plastic bags, excessive effluent release and discharge of even suspended solids have choked the internal drainage in MIDC. The companies should bear the cost of repairing them.”