THANE: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has rapped the Thane municipal corporation (TMC) over its eco-friendly idol visarjan claims after a city-based activist sought its intervention by pointing out how the corporation was releasing immersion residue, including floral waste and sludge, from artificial ponds into the creeks.
Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh, Judicial Member, and Dr Vijay Kulkarni, Expert Member of the NGT, Western Zone Bench, Pune heard the petition filed by activist Rohit Joshi after he observed violations of the mandate laid down in the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for idol immersions.
Joshi told TOI that the norms discourage dumping of immersion residue from temporary visarjan sites into natural water bodies. We told the bench how the corporation had through its RTI reply had said it was collectively releasing idol immersion residue from these ponds in either the Thane, Desai or Mumbra Creek. It may be noted the corporation constructed 42 artificial ponds and 15 tanks as alternate sites for immersion.
Interestingly, the corporation has been discouraging residents from immersing idols in the creeks claiming it was harming the water bodies.
“We also told the bench the waterfront here was ecologically sensitive while Thane has already been declared as “Creek Flamingo Sanctuary” and dumping the residue collectively weighing in tonnes could cause massive ecological damage,” said Joshi.
The bench, after being convinced, directed the TMC to comply with the norms and also directed the MPCB to keep tabs and submit a compliance report.
“We have received the order and will take corrective action as per the CPCB mandate,” informed Manisha Pradhan, chief at the pollution control department at the Thane corporation. Officials clarified there will be no interruption in the immersion process for citizens – neither at the artificial ponds nor at the visarjan ghats – as the order governs the post-immersion procedure to be followed by the corporation.
Activists said the order came as a lesson for netas and corporations and expressed hope of a corrective change in the future. “Many states discouraged use of thermocole, PoP and other non-biodegradable products but it was not implemented by our state probably for appeasement politics. This NGT order should prove to be a deterrent for other corporations across the metropolitan region that may be flouting the norms too and local activists should take it up at their respective levels to bring about a change in the way we celebrate festivals,” said Joshi.
Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh, Judicial Member, and Dr Vijay Kulkarni, Expert Member of the NGT, Western Zone Bench, Pune heard the petition filed by activist Rohit Joshi after he observed violations of the mandate laid down in the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for idol immersions.
Joshi told TOI that the norms discourage dumping of immersion residue from temporary visarjan sites into natural water bodies. We told the bench how the corporation had through its RTI reply had said it was collectively releasing idol immersion residue from these ponds in either the Thane, Desai or Mumbra Creek. It may be noted the corporation constructed 42 artificial ponds and 15 tanks as alternate sites for immersion.
Interestingly, the corporation has been discouraging residents from immersing idols in the creeks claiming it was harming the water bodies.
“We also told the bench the waterfront here was ecologically sensitive while Thane has already been declared as “Creek Flamingo Sanctuary” and dumping the residue collectively weighing in tonnes could cause massive ecological damage,” said Joshi.
The bench, after being convinced, directed the TMC to comply with the norms and also directed the MPCB to keep tabs and submit a compliance report.
“We have received the order and will take corrective action as per the CPCB mandate,” informed Manisha Pradhan, chief at the pollution control department at the Thane corporation. Officials clarified there will be no interruption in the immersion process for citizens – neither at the artificial ponds nor at the visarjan ghats – as the order governs the post-immersion procedure to be followed by the corporation.
Activists said the order came as a lesson for netas and corporations and expressed hope of a corrective change in the future. “Many states discouraged use of thermocole, PoP and other non-biodegradable products but it was not implemented by our state probably for appeasement politics. This NGT order should prove to be a deterrent for other corporations across the metropolitan region that may be flouting the norms too and local activists should take it up at their respective levels to bring about a change in the way we celebrate festivals,” said Joshi.
