Except 2 locations, the concentrations of all analysed parameters are exceeding the GPCB norms.
Is more trouble on hand for the industries of Gujarat? In a fresh development on Wednesday, an activist in Vadodara has sought a ban on new projects and expansion plans of industries for the entire district of Vadodara.
In January this year, the Union ministry of environment and forest put an embargo on eights sites in Gujarat, along with 88 all over the country, for giving any new environmental clearance (EC) for industries till environmental norms are strictly met with.
Activist Rohit Prajapati of Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti has submitted a report to the MoEF, prepared by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), highlighting that the effluent conveyance system called the effluent channel project (ECP) is spewing effluent in the Arabian Sea much worse than permissible.
The Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and other physico-chemical parameters were monitored in February 2010 by CPCB. In its report, the agency has observed that except for two locations, the concentrations of all analysed parameters are exceeding the GPCB norms. It has further said, "These concentrations show gross violation of GPCB norms under the Water Act, 1974. The concentrations are 3 to 15 times more than the GPCB discharge norms."
"We have presented these facts to minister of state MoEF Jairam Ramesh and the bureaucrats, seeking an immediate ban on any new industrial developments or expansion plans in Vadodara," Prajapati said.
The report notes that "the effluent is not discharged into estuary of river Mahi during high tide; instead it gets retain at Lagoons. The quality of the effluent discharged into the environment is no way better than that of the effluent discharged by FETP, Ankleshwar or CETP, Vapi.
What makes the problem graver is the fact that this effluent is also used for agricultural purpose. "It was observed some years back and also reported that the effluent is used for agriculture purpose. But, this practice seems to be now reduced due to freshwater canal flowing parallel to ECP, on other side of the road," the report notes.
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