The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has intensified its crackdown on Ready Mix Concrete (RMC) plants across Nagpur district due to rising air pollution, dust emission violations, and noise complaints. Seven RMC plants operating without the mandatory clearance from MPCB in the city have been closed by the Board, recently. One of Vidarbha’s largest industrial estates, Hingna, is facing an escalating environmental crisis as unchecked pollution from RMC plants tightens its grip on workers and nearby residents alike. The MPCB has issued closure notices to six RMCs in Hingna area and one RMC in Kamptee for non-compliance of environmental norms in their daily working. The residents of Nagpur flagged severe air, noise and water pollution, caused by allegedly non-complying RMC units throughout the city.

 

Acting strongly against all such units, the MPCB first served show-cause notices and when it found non-compliance, the order of closure was issued. “Checking compliance report of RMC plants in city is a regular activity by MPCB, but this time, we found seven such plants, which were violating the norms outside the city limits. We served closure notices to them. We have started inspections in RMCs situated in city as well and if we find non-compliance by such units, then we will issue more closure notices to units inside city limits,” Hema Deshpande, Regional Officer, MPCB told ‘The Hitavada’. Prolonged exposure to cement dust has led to a rise in respiratory ailments, eye irritation, and other long-term health problems.

 

Beyond air pollution, the water contamination is also caused by these RMC plants. Cement slurry and wash water from transit mixers are allegedly being discharged into open drains and water channels, worsening water pollution in and around the industrial area. Persistent noise pollution from RMC operations has added to the strain on residential colonies and other business outlets in the city. The action by MPCB primarily targets lack of dust suppression systems like fog cannons and water sprinklers, unpaved internal roads, improper cement and fly ash storage, and the operation of units without valid ‘Consent to Operate’ certificates. Following a high-level review of the State’s air quality, MPCB released updated sitting criteria and operational guidelines for RMC plants. The key regulations include Dust Mitigation; Transportation Limits; Periphery Barricading and Green Belt; and Operating Hours.