MPCB data reveals Thane has highest polluting industries in Maharashtra

MUMBAI: Data released by the government’s ‘star rating’ program to assess air pollution in areas of Maharashtra portrays that Thane has the highest number of polluting industries in the state that is 48 units, followed by Aurangabad with 20 units.

The program that was launched in 2017 by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), discloses information on industrial particulate matter (PM) emissions, a widespread air pollutant. PM10 and PM2.5 considered above safe limits include particles that are small enough to penetrate our windpipe and lungs.

The industries are rated on a scale of one to five stars. The least polluting industries are rated five stars and the most polluting get one star. Since June 2017, 414 industries spread over 32 districts were evaluated. 175 industries fall into the category of most polluting industries, 82 are the least polluting. Of the 82, the highest number of industries are found in Raigad at 23, followed by 13 in Kolhapur. The ratings are based on the average concentration of the emissions from the chimney.

Textile sector tops the chart as the most polluting in the state with 41 industries. Sugar and distilleries found in Aurangabad, Kolhapur and Sangli, among others, are a close second with 40 units falling in the most polluting category. The MPCB, Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago and a few other institutes jointly run the program.