A fornight after thousands of fish were found dead in the polluted Panchganga river, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has directed the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to seal the industrial units which release untreated waste in the river. The CM also directed the Kolhapur district collectorate to submit a report on filing of an FIR against activists protesting against river pollution last month.

The directions came during a meeting held by the chief minister with officials of the Kolhapur district collectorate, MIDC, MPCB and people’s representatives.

“The chief minister has directed that industrial units which are found discharging untreated waste should be sealed. He said these units should be allowed to open only after they have taken necessary corrective action,” Kolhpur District Collector Daulat Desai said

On December 24, it was reported that thousands of fish were found dead in Panchganga river near Terwad village in Kolhapur district. Angry villagers had tied up a senior official of the MPCB, claiming nothing had been done in the matter despite repeated complaints by them. The official was released only after the MPCB promised action against officials of the Ichalkaranji civic body.