Toxic fumes in Mumbai: As lots of as 40 chimneys have been demolished by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) considering that final month in south Mumbai. These chimneys, situated in Kalbadevi, Zaveri Bazar and Bhuleshwar regions, have been letting out toxic fumes due to the regional gold polishing and smelting units, according to a report in IE. The fumes are an challenge for the locals in the location, who have been fighting against these units for 20 years. Hence, they are also skeptical about the action that the BMC has taken.
The report quoted Bhuleshwar Residents Association member Harikishan Goradia as saying that the units that are accountable for these toxic fumes commence to work immediately after 6 in the evening and then operate by means of the evening. In case the residents raise complaints through that time, officials from the authority take a look at the locality the following day, by when the units have closed. Apart from that, even if the civic authority demolishes the chimney, the units reinstall them when the drive ends, and hence, the BMC ought to demolish the whole structures of the units, Harikishan added.
Since 2016-17, as lots of as 1,300 chimneys have been demolished in the location, the report stated, adding that the civic body was also conscious of the reinstallation or reconstruction of the chimneys. The report quoted a ward official as saying that at some areas, the civic body has been facing a stiff resistance to the drive, in which case they demolish the chimneys from outdoors. However, the official added that even in circumstances exactly where they demolish the chimneys, workers inside the rooms continue to work, eventually inhaling the toxic fumes and undergoing overall health troubles.
Toxic fumes in south Mumbai: The lengthy-standing challenge
Back in 2001, 1 of the units faced a fire through which 24 individuals died. Following the incident, the government had reassured that the units would be shifted inside a month’s time. Since then, two decades have passed and no such action has taken spot.
After the incident, the Mumbai Fire Brigade had submitted its report, in which it highlighted that the location was below a extreme threat of fires as nicely as explosions owing to the illegal and hazardous activities that have been becoming carried out at the units in relation to jewellery generating. The brigade had also advised that all such activities be brought to a halt.
Since then, quite a few CMs, like Prithviraj Chavan, Sushilkumar Shinde and Vilasrao Deshmukh, promised that these units would be shifted, but it led to no fruition. In 2018, then CM Devendra Fadnavis had issued a directive to shift out the establishments polluting the location, but no final program was ready till the finish of his term.
Plans have been discussed to move these units to the industrial location in Navi Mumbai, but according to the residents, the plans have been confined to the paper. The report stated that lately, the Bhuleshwar Residents Association wrote to the BMC, informing them about the boost in the units in the location. However, the civic body held that considering that 2018, it had removed 1,300 units from there.