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Ulhas ruining our livelihood, we are like on slow poison

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Nandkumar Powar fondly reminisces about the time when he would go to Ulhas river for fishing, which was also the source of income for his family and many from Badlapur. “In those days we would catch five to six kilos of fish every day and earn over Rs 600.  But since past 15 years, pollution has ruined our livelihood.”

Ulhas is no longer the same river, which people on its banks knew it to be. “Nearly two decades ago, the water was so clear that we could drink directly from the river. Now we bring water bottles with us. The  river is not only filled with waste but dead animals also float on it,” said Vasudev Patil, 41, a fisherman from Vadavli, Shahad.

The industrial belt of Ambernath-Badlapur and Kalyan-Dombivli has polluted the fresh water body to such an extent that aquatic life is next to nil. “If we are lucky, we manage to catch two to three kilos of fish twice a week,” said Deepak Patil another Shahad resident. 

This grim scenario has affected the livelihood of nearly 10,000 fishermen who earlier never ventured into deep sea for their prized catch. “Now, we are forced to do odd jobs like construction workers to support our families,” said Vasudev.

Poor fishermen are not the only victims of the smoke-spewing and toxic waste-leaking factories in the industrial belt comprising chemical, textile and several pharma companies. Bhalchandra Lohokare, 75, who lives in a bungalow in the MIDC’s residential zone at Dombivli, says the locality has high level of air and water pollution.

“Stinging of eyes and nose and stomach upset are common problems which residents of this area are dealing with for the past few years,” said Lohokare, adding that, “My wife is taking treatment for cold and stomach problems for the past one year but in vain,” said the senior citizen.Dr Ghanshyam Shirali, a Dombivli- based ENT surgeon has seen a sharp rise in number of patients suffering from pollution-related ailments in the past five years. “Seven out of 10 patients I attend daily are suffering from allergic cold, bronchital asthama and bronchitis which is due to air pollutants released by the chemical factories in the area.”

Pollution level is the highest early morning when people go for walks.  “Some of these allergens can also lead to bronchital cancer,” added the doctor.

Another Dombivli resident and activist Raju Nalawade, who came to Milapnagar in 1989, echoes similar sentiments. “We have been taking up the issue with MPCB since 1994, but to no avail.”

The 52-year-old added, “The residents over here are like on a slow poison.  We do not want the industries to shut down or people to be unemployed.  But something should be done about this immediately.”

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