Industrial Pollution Wipes Out Marine Life in Navi Mumbai; Fishermen to Move Bombay High Court
In the once-thriving waters of Navi Mumbai, marine life has vanished, leaving behind jet-black, toxic creeks and devastated fishing communities. The region’s traditional fishermen, whose families have relied on these waters for generations, are preparing to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court this February, hoping to hold industries and government authorities accountable for the environmental catastrophe that has robbed them of their sole livelihood.
Recent lab reports paint a grim picture of the ecological damage. Water samples from lakes, creeks, and rivers around Navi Mumbai reveal dangerously high levels of toxic chemicals. Total Suspended Solids were found at 83 mg/l, exceeding the safe limit of 50 mg/l, while Total Dissolved Solids measured 17,123 mg/l, far above the permissible 2,100 mg/l. The Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) stood at 3,470 mg/l, against the maximum limit of 250 mg/l, and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) was 1,154 mg/l, when it should not exceed 20 mg/l. Fecal coliform levels reached 2,680 mg/l, far beyond the safe limit of 1,000 mg/l. These alarming figures signal the death of marine ecosystems. Entire fishing zones around Kharghar, Mansarowar, and Diwale Creek, once rich in aquatic life, are now barren. A fisherman from Diwale village, describes the situation with deep anguish “Diwale creek used to be full of life. Today, it smells of death. The water is black, stinks of chemicals, and there’s no fish left. We are the original inhabitants here, and it’s like someone is erasing our existence.”
Diwale village, once home to over 10,000 fishermen, has seen its numbers dwindle as families abandon traditional fishing. Today, less than 6,000 persist, struggling to survive. Many have been forced into menial jobs as house helps, security guards, or resort to buying sea fish from Mumbai to resell in their villages. A fisherman, who quit fishing 15 years ago after suffering severe skin allergies from polluted waters, shared his struggles “All marine life is dead. I couldn’t support my family through fishing anymore. I now work as a telecom operator. My wife still sells fish, but she travels miles just to find fresh catch.”
The Maharashtra Small Scale Traditional Fish Workers Union has repeatedly petitioned the state government, fisheries department, and environment authorities, but their cries have fallen on deaf ears. Despite numerous complaints, the situation has only worsened. The region around Navi Mumbai houses over 3,254 industrial units, including chemical manufacturers, dye producers, pharmaceutical companies, and petrochemical plants. Many of these units are reportedly discharging untreated toxic waste directly into water bodies. A Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) official admitted, “We’ve received countless complaints about industries polluting the creeks. Last monsoon, untreated waste turned the waters highly acidic, killing thousands of fish. Unfortunately, we have limited powers and can only act when formal complaints are filed.”
Even repeated pleas to the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) have yielded little action, raising concerns of regulatory negligence. With no other options left, the fishermen are turning to the judiciary. The upcoming PIL in the Bombay High Court aims to hold industries accountable for environmental violations, demand strict regulation and monitoring of industrial waste management, seek compensation for affected fishing communities, and push for the restoration of the polluted water bodies. Environmental experts warn that Navi Mumbai’s crisis is a ticking time bomb. If industrial pollution continues unchecked, it could trigger not just ecological collapse but also a public health disaster, affecting thousands who rely on these waters. As the fishermen of Navi Mumbai prepare for their legal battle, their fight is not just for their livelihoods, but for the very survival of the natural ecosystems that have sustained generations.
