As civic officials, advised by the NDRF teams, initiated evacuating residents from MIDC vicinity of Dombivali on the second day of the blast, the presence of poisonous gases is being slated as the reason for the evacuation.
However, even as the officials claim to be evacuating residents from one-kilometre periphery, merely 10-12 buildings in the immediate surrounding of the blast site have been evacuated on a temporary basis.
Residents claimed that while sporadic fires are a common sight in the area, densely housed by chemical companies, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has seldom being involved in ensuring that corrective measures are taken. “We receive a number of fire calls around the year in the industrial areas of chemical companies. While larger fires gather attention, smaller ones often go unnoticed by residents or media,” said a fire official from KDMC Fire Department, confirming the resident’s claims.
Sudhakar Mourya, a resident of MIDC Phase I said that the vicinity which has thousands of small and large scale chemical companies, always stank of chemicals and gases. However, no monitoring by MPCB or other bodies has taken place so far in the area, Mr Mourya said.
Refuting the residents’ claims, the MPCB officials confirmed that last year they had taken action against the chemical companies, which were found to be the epicentre of the foul smell and discharge of effluents. “We had carried out the inspection at night and the industries found to be violating norms had been served closure notice. At the same time, discharge of both industrial effluent and domestic waste is done in a nullah, which further worsens the situation,” said M.R. Lad, sub-regional officer, Kalyan, MPCB.
Officials added that while the construction of the pipeline carrying the chemical waste from Phase I and Phase II is in the process, the stench of the chemicals in the area would continue for some more time. “Once the pipeline is completed, there will be no open discharge of effluents,” Mr Lad.
