20 cement-mixing plants get closure notices over pollution
MUMBAI: A day after HT reported that particulate matter (PM) 10 levels had significantly increased between 2016 and 2017 in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) due to failure to control dust emissions from construction activities, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPBC) issued closure notices to 20 cement mixing plants in the city and directed them to dismantle operations. The plants did not follow the pollution control norms.
These ready-mix concrete (RMC) plants were located in residential areas in Byculla, Kurla, Santacruz, Andheri, Sakinaka, Jogeshwari, Malad, Mulundmalwani, Ghatkopar, Vikhroli, Vidyavihar, and Borivli.
In Mumbai, a total of 91 RMC plants were surveyed, of which 20 were closed, 30 were issued showcause notices, five have been issued specific directions to meet
30-07-2018
on on ay reported how construction dust was a major cause of increase of PM10 in the city’s air
pollution standards, another 29 have been given preliminary warnings, and only seven plants passed all the environmental standards.
A study by Environmental Policy and Research India (EPRI) at cement batching plants in Mumbai from 2017 recorded the concentration of PM10 was 600mg per cubic metre (µg/m3), as against the safe level of 100ug/m3 for 24 hours.
“For the past one month our regional officers surveyed close to 91 RMC plants in the city, and 20 plants were observed to be violating Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 or Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and other parameters. They were also located very close to residential areas,” said P Anbalagan, member secretary, MPCB. “Closure directions have been issued to all of them, and within 15 days, we have directed operators to dismantle these plants. Those in residential areas, they will never be allowed to operate again.”
According to MPCB guidelines, RMC plants must create a 100m buffer zone from residential areas and arterial roads. “Finally, we can see some on-ground action. We will monitor each of these plants to see whether they are actually dismantled or not,” said Godfrey Pimenta, trustee, Watchdog Foundation.