Polluting industries banned from 10km of Tansa valley

Mumbai: In order to preserve natural green spaces around Mumbai, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has banned all polluting industries in the vicinity of Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary, extending the buffer zone to 10 kilometres. The move came after the lack of action by the state government in notifying eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of  Tansa sanctuary.

As such, a large number of brick kilns are operating in the Tansa valley in Thane and Palghar, district of Maharashtra without any Environmental Clearance.

The NGT, on February 27, was hearing a petition filed by Indian Council of Enviro-Legal Action, where they prayed that operation of brick kilns and other polluting industry in the ESZ of Tansa valley needs to be prohibited. The forest area near sanctuary has also been subjected to rampant earth-mining activities.

It was observed that despite the Union environment and forest ministry publishing a draft notification for the Tansa wildlife sanctuary in August 2017, it has not been finalised due to lack of comments from the state government.

The draft notification proposed to extend the ESZ from 600 metres to 9.5 kilometres.

“The eco-sensitive zone will, therefore, extend to 10 km. distance from the boundary of Tansa Wild-life Sanctuary and therefore operation of all the brick kilns, Commercial Mining, Stone quarrying and Crushing units, setting of industries causing pollution, use of production or processing of any hazardous substances will be prohibited within 10 km Eco-sensitive zone of Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary,” read the NGT order.

Also, any solid waste and biomedical waste disposal site and the use of plastic bags are prohibited within the buffer zone.