A factory located in a suburb of the Indian city of Mumbai has been shut down amid accusations that illegal dumping of their waste products is causing local wildlife and street dogs to turn egg shell blue. Ducol Organics Pvt Ltd. manufactures pigments used in paints, ink, plastics, detergent and paper. Officials have confirmed that the alarming phenomenon is a result of untreated chemical dye dumped into the nearby Kasadi River.
Alarm bells were raised earlier this month when Arati Chauhan, head of the Navi Mumbai Animal Protection Cell spotted several blue dogs near an industrial zone. She contacted the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board to investigate and posted photos of the dyed dogs online.
Chauhan says the animals were stained blue when they swam in the polluted river. The extent of the effects the dye will have on the dogs’ health remains to be seen.
“We managed to take one dog for treatment as it was suffering with eye infection,” Chauhan told Agence France-Presse. “The bizarre incident brought to the forefront the dangers posed by these firms which fail to comply with environmental norms.”
According to Jayant Hajare, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board’s sub-regional officer, the Ducol Organics factory has been shut down for “flouting the norms and endangering animals in the vicinity.” Light blue birds and reptiles have also been observed in the industrial area near the Kasadi River.
Anil Mohekar, who is also on the government board, said that five blue dogs are currently being treated by veterinarians.
H/T to Global News & The Sun Daily
Featured Image via Facebook/Arati Chauhan
