On October 12, at around 7.30am, 21 sparrows were found dead in the garden of a chemical company called T51 in Boisar-Tarapur MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation).
Last weekend 21 sparrows died in the garden of a chemical company at Boisar-Tarapur MIDC in Palghar. This has started a row of allegations between local activists and MPCB. The activists allege that the birds died due to the pollution caused from the CETP drainage chambers. While MPCB says it can be air pollution or might be October heat as well.
On October 12, at around 7.30am, 21 sparrows were found dead in the garden of a chemical company called T51 in Boisar-Tarapur MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation). The MIDC has over 1800 chemical companies in its premises. "We informed the local MPCB officials who reached the spot around 11 am and did the panchnama of the incident," says Bhushan Bhoir, assistant professor of Zoology, Sonopant Dandekar Shikshan Mandali college, Palghar.
The birds had probably died due to the gas odor from a broken drainage chamber of the chemical effluent treatment plant (CETP) nearby. And the effluents had mixed with the storm water drain (nullah) near the garden. "There was strong odour of some gas in the air emanating from the nullah. The birds probably might have died due to these poisonous gasses," says Bhoir.
He says that while the MPCB (Maharashtra pollution control board) officials took the effluent samples from the drain, they refused to take the dead birds with them for further tests. "They told us that they do not have the required machinery to keep these birds. So we took the birds and kept them in deep freezer to submit it for further forensic investigation later," says Bhoir. "I also informed the Palghar district collector who promised us a thorough investigation in the matter," he adds.
When contacted Amit Lahate, field officer, MPCB, Boisar-Tarapur confirmed the incident. "We went to the spot and collected samples from the said storm water drain. People in the area said that it was around 7.30am that there was strong stench/odor in the area and the birds might have died due to that," says Lahate. "While we took water samples we do not do forensic investigation and could not take the birds with us. But the Tehsildar office has asked the local veterinary hospital to do the required forensic tests on the birds to ascertain their cause of death," says he. "The birds might have died due to the gas/odor from the drain or it might also be october heat," he adds.
Vaibhav Vaze, another activist who has fighting against pollution in the area ridiculed MPCB for its `october heat' statement. "At 7.30am where is October heat?" asks Vaze. He adds,"the birds might have died due to air pollution or they might have drank from the polluted nullah."
We tried reaching Palghar collector Dr Prashant Narnaware who was unavailable for comments.
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