PUNE: The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) initiated action against 20 ready mix concrete (RMC) projects in the PMC and PCMC jurisdictions.
Apart from directing these projects to fix environmental norms violations, it issued orders to stop production at 18 projects. Four other interim orders were given against projects including forfeiture of bank guarantees.
The pollution control body sent communications to power utilities and the water supply department to disconnect their services to two RMC plants where closure notices were issued earlier, but the projects did not comply. The projects were found operating illegally using diesel generators, according to MPCB sub-regional officer Navnath Avtade.
The action followed a survey initiated by MPCB on March 11 to investigate environmental violations by RMC projects. The regulator acted after receiving numerous complaints from residents about the operational activities of captive and commercial RMC plants in the city which cited air pollution.
“It is very essential to know the present status of consents and air pollution control systems,” JS Salunkhe, regional officer of MPCB, said in the notification while sanctioning the action.
The issue of dust pollution caused due to construction activity in PCMC areas, especially Hinjewadi IT park, was raised in the state assembly. Environment minister Pankaja Munde said PCMC has deployed two mobile road washers, five moveable fog cannon dust suppression system and air purification systems at six locations.
Earlier this month, MPCB took separate actions against five RMC plants and directed them to take corrective steps to rectify their violations. The regulator found huge amounts of dust coming from their premises. It also observed a lack of facilities for the treatment of industrial effluents, internal roads for carrying cement, asphalt or concrete and the discharge of untreated effluents.
Additionally, MPCB officials observed a lack of storage for raw materials, lack of cover for sand, sprinklers or fogging arrangements, dust collection systems and improper handling of cement and fly ash.
The survey was part of a process and the action was taken so that developers can rectify their violations. As of now, most developers were following the regulations. However, stop-work orders on a large scale would have a far-reaching impact on the industry, a Credai official said.
Several developers have their cost-efficient captive RMC plants at their respective construction sites. Such plants reduce dust pollution likely by transportation and decrease heavy vehicles plying on public roads.
Crucial move to curb pollution
MPCB issued stop-work orders to 18 RMC projects
Earlier, the pollution control body issued closure notices to a few plants, but those projects did not comply
The pollution body asked power and water utilities to terminate supply to the other two projects. These projects did not comply with earlier closure notices
Major norms violations
The MPCB surveyed many RMC projects and found several norms were violated by these projects
The regulator acted after receiving numerous complaints from residents
The body found issues such as dust pollution, a lack of industrial effluents treatment, lack of internal roads, lack of raw materials storage, lack of sprinklers or fogging arrangements, improper handling of cement and fly ash, among other issues
