In space-starved Mumbai, skyscrapers vie with one another for prime locations in different parts of the city. However, in the rush to corner the best areas, residential projects often come up in the vicinity of polluting industries which can have adverse effects on residents.

Take the case of Chandrakant Nihal who has lived in Dahisar for the past 22 years. He stays right across from Godrej & Boyce’s RMC (Ready-Mix Concrete) plant and blames the facility for the bouts of cough and cold that have affected residents in his area. “We have sent thousands of letters to the BMC and the police, but no action was taken. The MPCB (Maharashtra Pollution Control Board) has told us that they have ordered the plant be shut down but nothing happened” he says. Godrej and Boyce claim that they have been following all the rules and procedures laid down by the MPCB, with several measures being employed at their plant to control dust emission including a metallic sheet for covering the mixing section.

Similarly, a rising number of complaints have been seen in areas like the Thane-Belapur industrial belt and in Wadala, where prime residential projects have come up opposite the Rashtriya Chemical and Fertilizer plant. The Lodha group’s ‘New Cuffe Parade’ township is one of the bigger projects here and is expected to supply over 1,700 units in this area. When contacted by NDTV, the Lodha Group released the following statement, “New Cuffe Parade is part of the larger business district being developed by MMRDA. When it comes to the definition of a chemical zone which is 100-200 meters from such a plant, we are well outside it at 500 meters. So there is no question of concern for our residents or any other stakeholders”.

Many home owners in the MMRDA region find themselves in similar situations with areas that were once earmarked as industrial zones witnessing clashes between residents and adjoining industrial plants and complexes. “As there is a space crunch, more and more builders are trying to find new land parcels. Some of these land parcels are in the vicinity of chemical zones. Chemical industries are classified under various categories; Red for highly polluted, Orange which is a little less polluted and Green, which is not too polluted. Buyers must be aware of what zone their industries fall under before investing. For example; Mahul falls under the red category and is highly hazardous as you have an RCF plant and refineries there” says Godfrey Pimenta, advocate of Watchdog Foundation, an NGO.

Experts believe these problems will become more pronounced as Mumbai continues to expand outwards and wants the government to step in and actively monitor and clean up these dangerous zones. The biggest test is expected to be in the east where the government has ambitious plans to develop port trust land and build a commercial and social hub. “The govt wants to develop the port trust land which is around 1,700 odd acres. But you need to remedy the land and soil first because you just cannot set up facilities in a chemical zone overnight. If the govt takes the initiative, it can become a very strategic and healthy place to live in. But a very large exercise has to be done first”.

In the meantime, what precautions should potential home buyers take before investing in such locations? Experts recommend investing in projects that are about 10 kilometers away from chemical and industrial zones to ensure your health is not affected by the chemical fumes. They also recommend seeking reports from the MPCB (Maharashtra Pollution Control Board) on the pollution levels and potential health hazards in an area before deciding on investing in a project. Affordable homes are needed and these regions may be the best bet for it, but that doesn’t mean you compromise on your health and safety.

Ankita Sinha, Reporter- Mumbai Bureau, The Property Show.