Mumbai, June 25 (IANS) In a major push towards environmental compliance, Maharashtra’s Environment and Climate Change Minister Pankaja Munde on Thursday announced a comprehensive short, mid, and long-term action plan to tackle critical industrial pollution.

Speaking during the Calling Attention motions in the state assembly, the minister unveiled a targeted pilot project for the heavily polluted industrial belt of Chandrapur and mandated a transition to clean energy for textile units in Bhiwandi.

Replying to a Calling Attention motion raised by MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar regarding severe pollution caused by coal washeries, mines, cement units, and thermal power plants in Chandrapur, Munde stated that she had personally toured the affected villages and industrial sites to gauge the severity of the impact on public health.

The minister directed the immediate issuance of a closure notice to Mahamaya Coal Washery after the management failed to attend a mandatory pollution-related hearing. She said a comprehensive environmental audit of all thermal power plants will be conducted.

The government will enforce strict measures on fly ash management, transport regulations, and coal dust mitigation. The implementation of Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) systems will be fast-tracked, she said, following a strong pitch made by former environment and climate change minister and Shiv Sena UBT legislator Aaditya Thackeray in this regard.

She said that a committee under the District Collector is actively assessing crop damage caused by industrial emissions. The administration will ensure industries comply with compensation orders. Strategic policy decisions are also underway alongside the Revenue and Industry departments to promote afforestation, create green belts, and rehabilitate worst-hit villages.

She further added that a new committee comprising legislators, experts from IIT Powai, and eco-friendly entrepreneurs will be formed to review and increase bank guarantee amounts for industries.

“Our objective is not to shut down industries and disrupt employment, but to ensure that businesses actively invest in clean, pollution-control technologies,” Munde emphasised. Apart from Thackeray, MLAs Kishore Jorgewar, Nana Patole, Rajesh Pawar, Devrao Bhongale, Bhaskar Jadhav, and Jyoti Gaikwad also participated in the discussion.

Responding to another Calling Attention motion raised by MLA Abu Azmi concerning pollution in the Bhiwandi textile cluster, Munde made it mandatory for yarn dyeing units to transition to cleaner fuels like PNG, CNG, or LPG. The policy roadmap for the textile hub highlights fuel restrictions, financial assistance, and a cluster overview.

Munde said that dyeing units are strictly prohibited from burning hazardous materials like plastic, wood, or solid waste in boilers. Acknowledging that the high cost of clean fuel is a barrier for small-scale units, the Environment Department will hold talks with the Industry Department and local municipal bodies to explore subsidies or financial aid.

Out of the 254 textile-related industries operating in the Bhiwandi region, 74 fall under the safe ‘Green’ category, while 54 chemical-processing dyeing units are classified under the ‘Orange’ category and are being strictly monitored by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), said the minister.

Addressing concerns about Ready Mix Concrete (RMC) plants and the SMS Company in the Mankhurd-Govandi belt, the minister assured the House that continuous monitoring is underway. The SMS Company has been ordered to relocate to the Ambernath zone of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation.

Munde gave a firm assurance that until the relocation process is completed, the company will be legally bound to comply with all emission norms, with strict action promised for any violations.

–IANS

sj/dan