Mumbai: A fresh report submitted to the Bombay High Court on Friday recommends shifting of residents of Mahul village, a toxic hub. The report prepared by four professors of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) says that even if basic amenities are provided to these residents, it will not be a long term solution and shifting them to a ‘safer place’ will alone help.
Despite these recommendations, which are on the lines of what some other agencies had earlier suggested, the government has still not clarified if it will implement the same, or not. This, after the report submitted to the Maharashtra government by IIT-B, was tabled before a bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Ajay Gadkari, on Friday.
In its report the professors said, “While our recommendations for providing better amenities to residents may improve the situation to some extent, however, these are unlikely to address the serious problems of air and water pollution from nearby factories, refineries etc.” “Our suggestion for better hospital facilities will only treat people, but will not prevent illness and diseases. It is clear that their health has been affected, leading to expenses and loss of lives,” the report states.
It further states that large-scale industries and refineries in the area, which cause major environmental damage and pollution, cannot be shifted to some other place. The report concludes by saying, “Thus, to prevent further loss of lives, there seems to be no other option than to shift the entire population or section of the population (living in Mahul) to some other safe place.”
The bench was seized with a petition filed by Mahul residents, who have been shifted to the area under the Project Affected Persons (PAPs) scheme. Residents have highlighted the living conditions in the area and higher mortality rate, due to rampant air pollution. The residents have been on a dharna for the last 132 days and are living on the streets at Ghatkopar, near the residence of housing minister Prakash Mehta.
