Following the February 2 report in The Hindu on ‘Industrial pollution kills marine life in Navi Mumbai, traditional fishermen to move High Court’, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) on February 6, conducted a field visit to Diwale creek in Navi Mumbai to assess the condition of the water body. During the visit, officials also collected water samples to test in a laboratory.
On March 4, results of the MPCB lab test on water samples collected from the creek showed suspended solids at 62 mg/l (milligrams per litre), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) at 20 mg/l, chloride at 11796.34 mg/l, chemical oxygen demand (COD) at 236 mg/l, dissolved oxygen at 6 mg/l, and oil and grease were found below the detectable limit. The report also showed total alkalinity at 258 mg/l, nitrate nitrogen at 4.79 mg/l, and total phosphate at 1.58 mg/l.
Following the MPCB’s report, the members of Maharashtra Small Scale Traditional Fish Workers Union through Atlas Lab on March 24, 2025, conducted another lab test, in Diwale and Nhava Shewa creek, the report of which appeared on March 29, 2025. The test reports revealed that the appearance of the water samples was grey in colour with suspended particles (solid materials that do not dissolve in water).
The total dissolved solids were found 20998 mg/l whereas, the requirement is maximum 2100 mg/l. The COD was found to be 6361 mg/l whereas the maximum requirement is 250 mg/l. BOD was reported 2140 mg/l whereas the maximum requirement is just 20 mg/l. Fecal coliform (a sign of fecal contamination and a possible risk of waterborne illnesses) found was 2675 MPN (most probably number) per 100 ml whereas it should not exceed 1000.
MPCB officials did not respond to the differences in the report.
Vicky Patil, water pollution expert from Vanashakti, Mumbai-based non-profit that works for restoring natural habitats and protecting biological diversity across Maharashtra, said, “There is a drastic difference in both the reports. COD level in MPCB’s report is 236 mg/l which is below the permissible limit for effluent discharge in water body but when the effluent is discharged in any water body, it gets diluted, and it should not be 236 mg/l, instead it should be less than 100 mg/l. But in this case the water body has a COD of 236 mg/l suggesting that it is already highly polluted. Further the report by the independent lab suggests the pollution levels are way beyond permissible limits. COD 6361 mg/l, indicates a heavy source of pollution like effluent discharge by industries.”
The first water samples collected by the independent lab testing company Atlas Lab on January 8, 2025, revealed in its January 15, 2025, report that the appearance of the water was grey in colour; total suspended solids found was 83 mg/l whereas the normal requirement is maximum 50. Total dissolved solids observed were 17123 mg/l whereas the normal requirement is maximum 2,100. The chemical oxygen demand found was 3,470 mg/l whereas, requirement was maximum 250. The biochemical oxygen demand is found to be 1154 mg/l whereas the normal requirement cannot exceed maximum 20. Fecal coliform is recorded at 2680 mg/l whereas the maximum requirement is 1000 mg/l.
The water bodies that are home to marine life, migratory birds and the only livelihood option for the traditional fishermen for generations, have turned black and left with only dead marine life. Members of Maharashtra Small Scale Traditional Fish Workers Union wrote to the State government, fisheries department, environment department, Konkan and Raigad district administration numerous times raising the concerns of dead marine life but in vain. The complaint letter highlights fishing zones around Kharghar, Mansarowar and Diwale creek which are rich-intertidal fishing zones for hundreds of traditional fishing families for centuries.
Diwale village used to have around 10,000 fishermen 15 years ago. Today, all have been struggling to continue fishing as their source of livelihood are now slowly taking up jobs as house help, security guards and those who have retained the profession, have been purchasing ocean fish to sell. The previous report by The Hindu, highlighted the woes of fishing community, most of them who have moved on from fishing as their primary source of income.
Nandakumar Waman Pawar, environmentalist and president of the organisation said, “As per MPCP, there is no existence of any industrial pollution in the Diwale creek, but it is the other way around. How are the marine organisms found dead if there is no industrial pollution? It’s a pollution which causes death of fish and human health. Untreated affluents are being released directly into the middle of Diwale creek and this pipeline has been proposed to be stretched up to Belapur creek. We strongly oppose this project as we fear this will destroy Thane and Nhava Sheva creeks that merges with Arabian sea. MPCB refuses to accept that the water bodies are dying.“
The organisation has collected all the evidence to file a Public Interest Litigation in the Bombay High Court in April. There are about 3,254 industrial units of various category engaged in the manufacturing of chemicals, dyes, dye-intermediates, bulk drugs, pharmaceuticals, textile auxiliaries, pesticides, petrochemicals, textile processors, engineering units etc.
An official from Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) said that that they have had numerous complaints against the industrial units that are set up around the water bodies that are ecologically sensitive and are natural habitats for migratory birds. The PMC had also run several water quality tests from several water bodies including Diwale creek and they had found the water to be acidic in nature, enough to destroy living organisms in the waterbodies.
“Nothing has changed, and we are helpless in this matter as the MPCB denies there is industrial pollution. Every year, during monsoon, the industries release extremely toxic untreated waste, highly acidic in nature that over thousands of fish are found floating dead in the creeks of Navi Mumbai. Now there are hardly any fish left. It is a fact that the water of the creeks has turned black, they are highly polluted so you cannot find a single life in them anymore. We have approached MPCB and Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) numerous times with these concerns, but they do not act upon it. We have limited powers; we can only act when someone complains against these activities and it is often that they are the fishing communities who live around these creeks reach out to us,” PMC official said.
An official from the Department of Fisheries said that the MPCB has an important role to play in monitoring the pollution levels of water bodies. “Strict action should be taken against those who are polluting the fishing zones and catchment areas. We have been raising concerns about the declining fishing zones for years, but it is not just in our power to save the water bodies. The higher authorities in the State and Centre are the ultimate decision makers. The fisheries department is struggling to address this crisis across Maharashtra and India,” the official said.