Three major rivers near Mumbai polluted: MPCB report

The Kundalika, Amba and Vashishti rivers near Mumbai are polluted with a high content of organochlorines and other persistent organic pollutants, as per the pre-monsoon tests undertaken by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) on the rivers. The contamination is a result of industries letting out their untreated water into the rivers.

“We will also conduct a post-monsoon test on these rivers to see the change in level of pollutants during rains. These rivers are used by villagers and tourists for swimming. The pollutants are harmful and can even cause cancer in few cases,” said a MPCB official. The entire report by MPCB will be made public once the post-monsoon levels are recorded.

The pre-monsoon test only reaffirms MPCB’s earlier study. “We conducted that study on coastal areas of Mumbai, and found that harmful pollutants are present in high concentration,” said the official, adding that major contributors towards polluting rivers and the sea are industries. According to a source, every industry that produces wastewater must use a water effluent plant. But, most industries do not take any such measures and release untreated wastewater into water bodies.