PCMC Initiates Crackdown on Polluting Concrete Plants
The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has launched a major enforcement drive against Ready-Mix Concrete plants operating without proper pollution control systems. This decisive action comes after the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board identified 30 RMC units violating environmental norms.
The civic administration confirmed it will begin immediate field inspections following an official communication from MPCB that highlighted serious violations of dust and emissions control regulations. Plants found operating without adequate safeguards will face sealing until they meet prescribed standards.
Immediate Inspection and Closure Threats
PCMC officials have outlined specific criteria that will trigger enforcement action during their inspections. RMC plants lacking water-sprinkling systems, enclosed mixing operations, proper covering of material transport vehicles, and noise-control arrangements will face immediate closure. The corporation has made it clear that compliance is mandatory for all operational units.
This crackdown represents an escalation of PCMC's ongoing efforts to combat air pollution in the region. The corporation has already activated the Graded Response Action Plan for seasonal air-quality management and deployed two dedicated nuisance-detector squads to monitor environmental violations across all zones.
Official Statements on Environmental Commitment
Vijaykumar Khorate, Additional Commissioner of PCMC, emphasized the urgency of the situation. "Protecting the health of our citizens and the environment requires strict adherence to pollution-control norms. PCMC's teams are actively inspecting sites, and any RMC unit operating without functional air-pollution control systems will face action."
Sanjay Kulkarni, Chief Engineer, reinforced the administration's position. "PCMC is committed to improving air quality and ensuring a pollution-free urban environment. Compliance from RMC operators is non-negotiable, and violations will not be overlooked. Safeguarding public health and the local ecosystems is our foremost responsibility."
The enforcement action comes in response to recurring complaints about air quality deterioration linked to RMC plant operations. While these plants receive operational approvals from MPCB, several units were found disregarding essential pollution mitigation norms, prompting the current crackdown.
