Pune: The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has taken strict action against 12 ready-mix concrete (RMC) plants operating in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporation (PCMC) limits for violating environmental norms. On March 28, the regulatory body ordered these plants to halt production and issued four interim orders, including directives to forfeit bank guarantees.
As part of its intensified crackdown, the MPCB also instructed utility providers to disconnect power and water supply at two RMC plants that ignored prior closure notices. This enforcement drive follows a survey initiated on March 11 to investigate environmental violations at RMC facilities, sparked by multiple complaints from residents regarding air pollution caused by both captive and commercial RMC plants.
The issue of dust pollution in PCMC, particularly in the Hinjawadi IT Park area, was even raised in the state assembly. In response, Environment Minister Pankaja Munde outlined measures such as deploying dust suppression systems, including two mobile road washers, five movable fog cannons, and air purification systems at six locations in the region.
Earlier in March, the MPCB had already acted against five RMC plants, directing them to implement corrective measures. Inspections revealed severe violations, including high dust emissions, absence of effluent treatment facilities, lack of proper storage for raw materials, and inadequate roads for transporting cement, asphalt, and concrete.
Authorities also found several shortcomings, such as uncovered sand storage, inefficient dust collection systems, absence of fogging or sprinkler systems, and improper handling of cement and fly ash—key contributors to air pollution.
The MPCB issued stop-work orders due to multiple violations. Some plants lacked a two-level washing system for transit mixer vehicles at entry and exit points. Many also failed to conduct daily industrial vacuum cleaning to remove dust accumulation. Additionally, several facilities had not updated their operational consent, failing to reclassify from the “Green” to “Orange” category as per MPCB regulations.
Other violations included the absence of covered material transfer points, non-existent concrete or asphalt internal roads leading to dust pollution, and missing fogging systems for dust suppression.
Further, wastewater recycling systems were missing in several plants, and solid waste was being dumped openly within premises, adding to environmental hazards. Some units lacked the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) for groundwater usage. Additionally, newly installed RMC plants were operating without prior MPCB approval.
Concerned about increasing pollution from construction activities, the MPCB has stressed the importance of monitoring air pollution control systems and ensuring compliance. “It is essential to assess the current status of consents and air pollution control measures,” stated JS Salunkhe, regional officer of MPCB, in an official notification justifying the stringent measures.
The crackdown signals the board’s commitment to enforcing environmental regulations and mitigating the impact of industrial pollution in urban areas.
