MPCB said that the action followed a compliance survey that revealed several RMC units were operating without adequate dust control measures, emission management systems or mandatory permissions
MPCB operates 32 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) across Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan and Panvel. File Pic
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has ordered the closure of 19 ready-mix concrete (RMC) plants in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) for breaching environmental guidelines and contributing to worsening air quality, reported the PTI.
RMC plants manufacture pre-mixed concrete -- a blend of cement, water and aggregates -- for use in construction projects.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the MPCB said that the action followed a compliance survey that revealed several RMC units were operating without adequate dust control measures, emission management systems or mandatory permissions. Inspection teams are currently carrying out field checks across the MMR, and the board has said strict enforcement will continue through the winter, according to the PTI.
The MPCB operates 32 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) across Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan and Panvel. Fourteen of these are managed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) readings from these stations are available on the Central Pollution Control Board’s online dashboard and are shared across media platforms, as per the PTI.
To identify pollution hotspots, 22 mobile air quality monitoring vans have also been deployed across Maharashtra. These have been scanning transport corridors, industrial zones and areas with a high concentration of RMC plants. The board warned that violations detected during such surveys would attract strict action.
The MPCB said it had issued revised operational guidelines for RMC units in October 2023 and had now begun reviewing their implementation on the ground. During the latest survey, four RMC units in Deonar and Govandi -- Om Global Operation, SSG Ltd, Rambha Infrastructure Pvt Ltd and Unity Construction Pvt Ltd—were ordered to shut, while three units submitted a bank guarantee of Rs 5 lakh each.
The board has also ordered action against unauthorised metal furnaces operating in Sanjay Gandhi Nagar and Sion, directing them to cease operations and asking the BMC to begin dismantling procedures. In addition, the Mumbai Port Trust has been told to impose preventive restrictions in the Wadala-Mahim belt after emissions were detected during monitoring, the news agency reported.
Further violations were found at six RMC units each in Thane and Navi Mumbai, and nine in Kalyan, bringing the total number of shutdowns to 19 plants.
The MPCB said it has stepped up its pollution-control campaign and will continue strong enforcement against non-compliant industries. Senior officials, including member secretary M. M. Devendra Singh, have been personally involved in inspections. The board appealed to industries to comply with environmental regulations.
(with PTI inputs)
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