Fresh samples show Central Gujarat industries continue dumping 'untreated' effluents

By A Representative
Following the latest round of samples taken they have taken at the J Point, Sarod Village, on the banks of Mahi river in Central Gujarat, senior environmentalists Rohit Prajapati and Krishnakant of the Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti (PSS) have alleged that the Vadodara Enviro Channel Limited (VECL) and polluting industries in Vadodara district continue to discharge untreated wastewater despite clear directions not to do it.
VECL claims to be in the business of conveyance of wastewater for more than 250 industrial units in and around Vadodara district of Gujarat through the 55 km long channel after adequately treating them and safely disposing them into the Bay of Khambhat.
In a statement, the environmentalists say, the samples, taken on June 21, 2020 at 10.30 am, suggested that chemical oxygen demand (COD) at the J Point was 2520 mg/l as against the norm of 250 mg/l, chloride was 6098.11 mg/l as against the norm of 600 mg/l, and sulfate was 4328 mg/l as against the norms 100 mg/l, and ammoniacal nitrogen was 68.32 mg/l as against the norm of 50 mg/l.
The environmentalists said, it amounts to contempt of the Supreme Court order Dated July 22, 2017 the Vadodara Envior Channel Limited (VECL), polluting industries, Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) for the non-compliance of GPCB norms of the industrial effluent at the J Point.
The environmentalists said, they are “extremely disturbed” that the dumping of effluents was continuing despite their repeated representations about the need to implement the apex court order to the Gujarat chief secretary, the state environment secretary, and the GPCB chairman.

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