The residents informed him that no action has been taken against the illegal and polluting gold polishing units despite the CM directing the concerned authorities to work on this.
After four months of wait, Bhuleshwar residents were compelled to knock on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' door once again on Monday, when he was attending the Lokshahi Din (day to address public grievances). The residents informed him that no action has been taken against the illegal and polluting gold polishing units despite the CM directing the concerned authorities to work on this.
The residents also told the CM that if at all any action was taken, it must have been temporary, because chimneys have mushroomed again, despite the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation claiming that they demolished 142 chimneys in the area. The residents told that nearly 80 per cent of the chimneys have are billowing smoke again.
The angry residents told the CM that since BMC's action proved to be temporary, the Chief Minister should invoke the Monopolistic and Restrictive Trade Practice (MRTP) Act, so that the court is able to take action against the polluting units.
Harkishan Goradia, a member of the Bhuleshwar Residents Association, said that during the January 8 Lokshahi Din, CM Fadnavis had assured to gradually shift the gold polishing units from this area. Goradia said that this work slowed down after the BMC suspended three key officials of C ward (Bhuleshwar), including the ward officer and two others who were in-charge of conducting demolitions.
Goradia said they are expecting some action now, as the Chief Minister has asked his office to deal with this matter seriously. He mentioned that the fight against the manufacturing units started in 2001 after a cylinder blast in one such unit in Fofalwadi claimed 24 lives.
Another member, Devendra Shah, said that residents also began experiencing a sharp rise in health concerns like asthma and bronchial ailments. A team from KEM Hospital had undertaken a survey in 2005, which concluded that 55 per cent of the residents living near the units, many of which are located in multi-storeyed buildings, suffered from asthma, bronchitis, and restrictive lung disease, added Shah.
Goradia also said that in addition to being illegal, these units have LPG cylinders stored and they pose a huge hazard threat, as these units also store chemicals like sulphur and nitrogen for gold polishing work.
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