Fight Against Air Pollution in the Residential Area on Ghodbunder Road, Thane , Maharashtra, INDIA

Polluting industries shift base from residential area

• 1 Sep 2012

• Hindustan Times (Mumbai)

• Megha Pol htlives@hindustantimes.com

BREATHER FOR RESIDENTS A textile factory has closed down its unit on Kolshet road

THANE: Ten years of battle by the residents of Kolshet road against pollution have finally yielded results. The last coalfired company on this road has finally decided to relocate from the area on the outskirts. This is the fifth company in the residential area to close down in the last two years.


Shree Shanti Processors, a textile factory in the Mohan Mills compound at Dokali Naka, has finally decided to shift base from the area. Thane resident Satyajit Shah was mainly responsible for this victory against polluting industries. Shah has been persistently fighting against the companies leading to air pollution on Ghodbunder road for the last 10 years.
NH Shivangi, regional officer of Maharashtra Pollution Control board said, “In the month of June, we had issued a notice to the company to relocate in six months. The company had time till November to relocate. However, they have decided to close shop without informing us. I had send my representatives to the company who said that it is shut down and planning to shift base.”
Shivangi expressed that the MPCB had taken action whenever the company had flouted the pollution norms in the past. “They did try to abide by the pollution norms, however the buildings in the area are higher than the height of their chimney. The company uses boilers which lead to pollution in the nearby areas. We thought in case the company flouts the pollution norms or even there is some accident, it would lead to lot of damage in the residential area and thus asked them to relocate,” Shivangi added.
Shah said, “My fight against pollution began 10 years ago after my mother died of lung cancer. I approached everyone from the MPCB to the central ministry in Delhi. I had filed RTI applications and also researched on the pollution levels affecting the residential areas. With the help of residents from the area we had staged protests and demonstrations many times. Our efforts have finally paid off. We can now breathe clean and fresh air.” The closure of this unit will come as a relief to the residents of Hyde Park , Shruti Park, Runwal Regency , Orchid Complex, Parameshwari Paradise, and Oswal Park.