Whether it is the quality of water or air, pollution levels in Maharashtra have crossed the danger mark and the state Government has done precious little to clean up its act------- Next time you are seated in an aircraft, don't miss the glow on Mumbai's surface. The corona, recognisable from as high up as 200 km, is not the halo of prosperity but the result of pollution. Maharashtra, one of the country's most industrialised states, is fast becoming a polluted cocoon. Reports by the Central Pollution Control Board show Maharashtra releases maximum sewage into its water bodies in a year. While states like Tamil Nadu and Gujarat release 8.78 per cent and 5.92 per cent of the total sewage released in the country, respectively, Maharashtra leads with 45.11 per cent, causing damage to human as well as aquatic life. The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (mpcb) annual report announces the quality of river and ground water to have deteriorated by 70 per cent since the 2004-05 report due to domestic and industrial waste. The state-owned Common Effluent Treatment Plant (cetp) treats industrial waste according to the standards. But industries are required to provide primary treatment to waste water before sending it to the cetps. Here, most industries are non-compliant. Nearly 99 per cent domestic sewage generated in municipal councils goes untreated due to the lack of sewage treatment plants (stp). Maharashtra produces around 10,000 million litres per day (mid) effluents of which at least 2,000 mld enters the sea and river untreated, causing aquatic hazards. Rivers like Mula and Mutha in Pune and Pachanganga in Kolhapur have the entire city's sewage dumped into them. Coliform (disease causing bacteria) levels in Mula and Mutha are 255 MPi/100ml while Pachanganga recorded 280 MPi7100ml. The accepted levels of coliform are 200 MPi/100ml. In many areas, fresh water pipelines pass under the nullahs. "When the water pressure in fresh water pipes is low, water from the nullahs is sucked into the pipes, contaminating it," says an official. Apart from water pollution, cities like Pune, Chandrapur and Solapur are breathing heavily polluted air. Vehicular traffic emissions along with industrial emissions have propelled the Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (rspm) to dangerous levels. This denotes the dust particles in the air that can be inhaled, causing breathing problems and lung infections. Pune exceeds the acceptable limits by 55.4mg/m3 as the rspm levels in Pune are 155.4mg/m3 while the accepted levels are 100mg/m3. The Pune Action Plan was devised in 2003 with an implementation deadline of April 2006. When the Plan