MPCB gives RMC plants 20 days to follow pollution control guidelines

Pune: Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) on Friday instructed the owners of ready-mix concrete (RMC) plants in the Bavdhan Budruk area to adhere to the latest pollution control guidelines within 20 days or face action.Babasaheb Kukade, the MPCB regional officer, said there were six RMC plants in the area. He said the MPCB was verifying if they had their papers in order.
"We gave them 20 days to ensure that they follow all the guidelines issued in the Oct 17, 2025, MPCB guidelines for RMC plants. All of them are legal, but we are checking their paperwork to see if anything is missing or not renewed. If they don't comply, strict action according to law will be taken against them," said Kukade.The MPCB held a meeting with the RMC plant owners and residents of Bavdhan Budruk on Friday, after repeated complaints about air pollution. At times, mobile app AQI (air quality index) readings surpassed 300, said residents. Traffic congestion at Omkar Garden Chowk because of the movement of heavy vehicles from various RMC plants on the narrow road is another concern.Krunnal Gharre, a resident of Bavdhan Budruk who attended the online meeting, said residents were not against business, but needed the businesses to ensure they did not harm public health and safety. "We want them to meet the AQI and all other pollution control parameters."Gharre said, "While the traffic police barred heavy vehicles from using the Omkar Garden Chowk during peak hours, it is not a permanent solution. The problem is the insufficient carriageway on the existing road and the lack of an alternative road. We need the road to be widened and an alternative road to facilitate the growing traffic. We also told RMC owners to directly engage with the community so that problems could be easily solved." According to the guidelines for RMC plants, the particulate matter levels at the plot boundary must not exceed 100 µg/m³ for PM10 and 60 µg/m³ for PM2.5. Water sprinkler systems must be present inside the plant to curb air pollution and a fogging system must be there near dust-generating sources. Plants, as well as their different units within, should be covered on all sides and vehicles coming out of plants must be thoroughly cleaned.