Four decades after the Bhopal gas tragedy, which is considered the world's worst industrial accident, a new environmental crisis is unfolding in Tarapur, Maharashtra. While Bhopal continues to grapple with the long-term consequences of the 1984 disaster, Tarapur is now facing its own battle against industrial pollution.
In Bhopal, on December 2, 1984, a catastrophic gas leak from a Union Carbide pesticide plant released approximately 40 tons of lethal Methyl Isocyanate gas (MIC). This disaster led to the immediate deaths of thousands of people living near the plant. Estimates suggest that between 8,000 and 10,000 lives were lost within the first 72 hours, with the death toll eventually climbing to between 15,000 and 20,000. Over half a million people suffered injuries and chronic health conditions as a result of the leak. Even after four decades, the site remains contaminated with toxic waste, seeping into the soil, water, and local ecosystems.
Now, Tarapur, an industrial town north of Mumbai, is struggling with severe pollution from its chemical industries. The Tarapur Industrial Estate houses a variety of industries, including those producing chemicals, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, textiles, and engineering products. Untreated wastewater discharge has contaminated drinking water sources with hazardous substances, posing risks to human, animal, and aquatic life. Air pollution is also a major concern, with emissions linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, particularly in children. Locals complain of stinging eyes, hacking coughs, and difficulty breathing.
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has acknowledged the severity of the pollution in Tarapur. A Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) assessment of 88 industrial clusters identified Tarapur as the most polluted industrial cluster in India between 2009 and 2018. The CEPI considers air, water, and soil contamination to create an index on a scale of 100. In 2018, Tarapur's CEPI score was 93.69. While recent efforts have reduced the CEPI score to 54.9 in March 2025, the area remains a significant concern.
Several factors contribute to Tarapur's pollution crisis. Industries illegally dump hazardous waste and poorly maintain infrastructure. A Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) was installed, but its maintenance is lacking, and illegal dumping continues. A newer deep-sea pipeline to carry treated industrial effluents further away from the shore was under construction in 2022, but experts remained skeptical of its effectiveness, pointing to a history of failing to maintain discharge standards. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) fined 103 industries ₹260 crore in January 2022 as environmental compensation and sought an action plan to remediate public health and the ecology. However, it has been alleged that industrial units continue to dump untreated or partially treated effluents into the creeks and water bodies.
The consequences of Tarapur's industrial pollution are far-reaching. Fishing activities have been severely hindered due to effluent pollution, with fishermen reporting that they rarely take their boats out to sea. Health studies are lacking, but common ailments include skin diseases and respiratory problems. Groundwater is characterized by hard water and high salinity, with concerns about contamination from industrial effluents.
The situation in Tarapur highlights the urgent need for stricter environmental regulations, better enforcement, and sustainable industrial practices. While industries contribute to economic development, their impact on the environment and public health cannot be ignored. The Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) aims to categorize critically polluted industrial areas based on scientific criteria, to ascertain various dimensions of pollution. Finding a balance between economic growth and environmental protection requires careful negotiations and innovative policy approaches.
