CAG flags major lapses in MPCB, industries found violating effluent norms

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India CAG has raised serious concerns over the functioning of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board MPCB highlighting widespread noncompliance by industries and weak enforcement of environmental norms reported news agency PTIThe findings are part of a lsquoSubject Specific Compliance Auditrsquo on water pollution control covering the period from 201718 to 202122 which was tabled in the Maharashtra Legislative AssemblyIndustries Operating Without Mandatory ConsentThe audit revealed that several industries were functioning without obtaining mandatory consent to establish and operate in violation of legal provisionsDespite having the authority to shut down noncompliant units the MPCB was found lacking in enforcement allowing industries to continue operations without proper approvals reported PTIUntreated Effluents Discharged into Water BodiesDuring inspections and joint physical verification of 158 industries auditors found that untreated effluents and sewage were being discharged directly into water bodies reported PTIEffluent Treatment Plants ETPs in many cases were either nonfunctional or ineffective while Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems OCEMS were not installed in several units further weakening monitoring mechanisms reported PTISevere Shortage of Inspections Due to Staff CrunchThe CAG report highlighted a significant shortage of manpower within the MPCB which led to reduced inspection frequencyThere was a shortfall of 535 per cent to 6835 per cent in inspection visits with highly polluting industries such as sugar paper and pharmaceutical units witnessing inspection gaps ranging from 58 to 84 per cent reported PTIPersistent Violations in Key Industrial SectorsThe audit found continued noncompliance in several sectors In seven sugar factories treated effluent samples exceeded permissible limits indicating ineffective treatment processesIn addition Common Effluent Treatment Plants CETPs were found to be inadequately monitored with only a limited number of parameters tested compared to prescribed standards reported PTIOut of 12319 samples tested across six MPCB regional offices as many as 5033 samples failed to meet environmental normsNo Action Against LongTerm ViolatorsThe report noted that 14 industries connected to CETPs discharged effluents beyond permissible limits for periods ranging from five to 37 months yet no action was taken by regional offices reported PTIIt also flagged irregularities in fee assessment and collection with consent fees not consistently calculated based on financial records resulting in short charging reported PTIFailure to Enforce Penalties and Bank GuaranteesThe MPCB was also found to have failed in enforcing financial safeguards The audit pointed out that bank guarantees in cases of noncompliance were neither properly verified nor forfeited when requiredThese lapses further weakened the regulatory framework and reduced accountability among polluting industrieslsquoSystemic Failuresrsquo Undermine Pollution ControlThe CAG termed these shortcomings as ldquosystemic failuresrdquo that have significantly undermined efforts to control water pollution in the state reported PTIIt recommended that the MPCB strengthen coordination with other government departments ensure all industries come under the consent regime fill vacant posts and strictly enforce compliance especially in highly polluting sectorsWith inputs from PTI