No more extension for RMC plants that fail to comply with environmental norms in Pune: MPCB chief

Pune: Maharashtra Pollution Control Board will not give any more leeway to ready-mix concrete plants that don't comply with environmental norms that were issued last Oct, chairman Siddhesh Kadam said on Monday.The statement came at a time when close to 300 ready-mix concrete (RMC) units in Pune have stopped manufacturing owing to lack of coordination between MPCB, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and traffic police."A lot of time was given to RMC operators to comply with the norms. The new norms would help bring down pollution," Kadam told reporters. But he added that he "cannot guarantee" that it would "bring down dust pollution 100%".Kadam also met RMC stakeholders to discuss the issue on Monday, and assured them that MPCB would support RMC owners as long as they comply with the norms."We were informed by the chairman that MPCB's regional team is already coordinating with the district collector, local bodies and traffic authorities to develop a common standard operating procedure (SOP) covering RMC plant installation, operation, execution and transportation," said Pradip Walhekar, president of the Pune RMC Association.Erecting a covered shed over the RMC manufacturing plant was a key piece of MPCB rules aimed at reducing dust pollution in residential areas in the vicinity of RMC plants."If RMC units require permission from PMC to erect the shed, they should approach the municipal body to get it. We have also urged PMC to take action where there is non-compliance of their norms," Kadam added.RMC operators had called for a single-window clearance system instead of the current one, where they need to get permissions from multiple authorities.The Pune RMC Association had pointed out earlier that though MPCB had directed plants to construct sheds as part of its norms, PMC was taking action against them for erecting illegal structures.PMC has in the past three months demolished or sealed at least 30 RMC units across the city, including Lohegaon, Dhanori, Dhayari and Undri areas.Kadam also said that MPCB had started a third-party audit to look into untreated sewage discharge by PMC and large residential complexes that have their own sewage treatment plants (STP) in an effort to curb river pollution. MPCB is also in the process of setting up new regional offices in the industrial areas of Pune district with the main regional office in Wakdewadi to serve all stakeholders better.
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