Chandivli locals take up pollution issue

Thick plumes of smoke billowing from several of the 170-odd small scale industries on the Khairani road at Saki Naka has residents of a township at Chandivli up in arms. Not only are they planning a protest march on October 2 but are also preparing to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) soon.

Residents from the Nahar Amrit Shakti residential complex have been complaining that their health has deteriorated over the years and many of them are now suffering from respiratory disorders due to the toxic smoke enveloping the entire area.

"Around 50,000 residents in 40 buildings of this township are breathing these toxic fumes throughout the year and by rough estimate almost four lakh people who stay in and around Powai, Saki Vihar Road and other areas are affected due to this pollution. However, since we have had enough discussions and individual complaints, the residents have come together and started Swachh Chandivali movement. As part of it, we first wrote a detailed letter to the Chief Minister," informed Meenakshi Razdan a resident and an active member of the group.

She added that the citizens' basic right to clean air was being violated and despite knowing the issues the authorities were allowing such polluting activity to go on. "This is why we have decided to organise a protest march in the area so that the authorities wake up to the fact that the residents are no longer going to sit and suffer," said Razdan.

Dr SL Dhingra, IIT Bombay professor and an expert on civil engineering and transportation systems, who is also a resident of this township said that since he has developed lung ailments the pollution leaves him gasping for breath, and he has discontinued his morning walks. "During winters this only becomes worse, we have been trying to raise the issue but there has been no help. I have even checked the pollution levels in the area and its found to be very high," he said.

Meanwhile residents have also initiated signature campaign and are targeting to procure four lakh signatures. "Apart from signatures we are also asking residents to give us prescription letters from their doctors as most of the residents with whom we shared our concerns about the pollution shared that they were suffering from bronchitis or other allergies," said Lavita Powell another member from the group.

"Several members of my family have developed some or the other respiratory issues in the past few years since we have shifted from Royal Palms, Goregaon. Earlier no one had any such complaints and this is evident enough that this smoke is having severe implication on our health and one can imagine how it must be affecting the children who are more susceptible," informed Chandraprakash Sharma a resident from Yvonne building.

Sujatha Kotian who resides in Laurel, which is the closest to these industries said that for most of the day they have to keep their windows shut. "A lot of people have stopped running, walking and outdoor exercises in the garden area and prefer Gymnasium and many have also installed indoor air purifiers.

Tired of the lackadaisical attitude of the authourities towards health of people the residents are even planning to knock the doors of the judiciary. "We will have to go to the Court if there are no options left for us. We have sent letters to CM office and will wait for few weeks post which we will file a PIL as this pollution is threatening every citizen living here," informed Vinod Dadlani another resident.

Most of these industries located at Khairani road industrial area carry out garment washing, dyeing, plastic scrap melting, paper manufacturing, and other activities generating smoke that is discharged without following proper guidelines.

Meanwhile officials from BMC and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) were simply passing teh buck. While a senior official from L Ward in BMC claimed that checking the pollution levels and ensuring the polluting industries are shut was the responsibility of MPCB. Similarly MPCB officials said that most of these were running with the blessings of BMC and the civic body should take action by demolishing them and decide on their rehabilitation as most of the industries were illegal. "We have been receiving complaints from residents and will surely take action against the polluters," said an MPCB official.