India, March 28 -- Following the Bombay high court's orders, the BMC on Thursday held a meeting with the residents of Bhuleshwar and the goldsmith associations in the area. The residents have long claimed to be troubled by the pollution emitted by the gold- and silver-processing units while the goldsmiths have spoken up in support of their centuries-old trade.

"The gold and silver units emit toxic acidic gases when they process, clean and polish the metals, polluting our area," said an exasperated Shiv Kanodia, managing committee member of the Bhuleshwar Residents' Association which has been fighting this since its 2002 PIL in the high court. "There are at least 3,000 to 4,000 illegal chimneys here, operating industrial units in a reside...