After Kurkumbh, MPCB issues notice to Ranjangaon MIDC on water pollution

On Tuesday, October 22 – almost a month after the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) issued a notice to the Kurkumbh Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) over water pollution in the Kurkumbh area – the Pollution watchdog has issued a notice to the Ranjangaon MIDC for similar reasons.

The notice – issued by JS Salunkhe, Regional Officer, MPCB, under section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and section 31A of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 – is addressed to the executive engineer, Ranjangaon MIDC. The council had previously granted consent to MIDC, valid until December 2026. However, it received several complaints about water pollution and serious violations of environmental regulations, following which a council official visited the MIDC CETP (common effluent treatment plant ) in September. this year.

According to the statement, the MPCB official during the visit found that the aerators of the equalization tanks, sludge pumps of the oil separator, clarifier and online display panel were not functioning. Furthermore, MIDC has not completed the CETP update. Furthermore, analysis of joint surveillance samples (JVS) revealed that the treated effluent exceeded the allowable limit.

Salunkhe said, “The board official observed that the MIDC did not comply with MPCB consent norms and was causing pollution of the surrounding environment. Accordingly, guidance was issued to the Ranjangaon MIDC. They have been asked to submit a response within seven days of issuance of this notice as to why MPCB should not initiate legal action against CETP.”

Ranjangaon, located near the city of Pune, has emerged as a key player in the economic development of the region, with a wide range of industries and sectors operating in the area, namely automobile, manufacturing, engineering and technology. Although the MIDC provides several economic benefits to the region, it is also said to be negatively affecting the environment. The MPCB has received several complaints from residents over the last two years about water pollution in the region. The Ranjangaon CETP is a government-facilitated CETP at the Ranjangaon MIDC designed to treat wastewater from various industries in the said area and is managed by the MIDC.

When contacted, neither the executive engineer nor the public relations officer of Ranjangaon MIDC were available for comment.