CAG Flags Major Lapses by MPCB as Untreated Industrial Waste Discharged into Rivers

A CAG report has exposed serious failures by MPCB between 2017 and 2022, highlighting unchecked industrial pollution, untreated effluents in rivers, and weak enforcement across Maharashtra

Mumbai | 26 March, 2026: A scathing report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India has revealed significant shortcomings in the functioning of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, pointing to widespread environmental violations and weak regulatory enforcement over a five-year period from 2017 to 2022.

The audit found that several industries were discharging untreated or partially treated wastewater directly into rivers due to the absence of functional sewage treatment plants. In many cases, units were operating without mandatory environmental clearances, raising serious concerns about compliance mechanisms.

During inspections of 158 industries, the CAG noted that critical monitoring systems, including online emission tracking, were either missing or not operational. Particularly in highly polluting sectors such as sugar, paper, and pharmaceuticals, inspection rates had dropped sharply by 58 to 84 percent.

Further analysis of 12,319 samples revealed that over 5,000 samples failed to meet prescribed environmental standards. Violations reportedly continued for extended periods ranging from five to 37 months, with little or no action taken by regional offices against defaulting industries.The report also highlighted that staff shortages within the pollution control board severely impacted inspection capabilities, leading to a 53 to 68 percent shortfall in field visits. Additionally, financial irregularities were flagged, including improper collection of consent fees and failure to enforce bank guarantees against violators.

The CAG has recommended urgent filling of vacant posts and stronger coordination with other government agencies to bring all industries under regulatory oversight, with particular focus on high-pollution sectors.

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