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Indian Express
a day ago
- General
- Indian Express
Pollution at Powai Lake: NGT orders setting up of panel for remedial measures
Amid concerns over the deteriorating state of Powai Lake, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered the constitution of a joint committee to inspect the lake within two weeks and submit a report laying out remedial action to control pollution levels at the lake. The committee will comprise members of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and Maharashtra State Wetland Authority (MSWA), The order, uploaded on Friday, took cognisance of an application filed by Rakesh Bakshi, a member of DK Flag Foundation, who flagged that nearly 80 per cent of the lake's surface is engulfed by invasive water hyacinths, rapidly depleting oxygen levels and endangering aquatic life, including its crocodile population. Hearing the application on July 10, the NGT bench of judicial member Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Dr. Afroz Ahmad found prima facie substantial questions relating to environment, under the enactments specified in Schedule-I of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. Pointing to the environmental concerns flagged, the NGT has called for the formation of a joint committee comprising officials of the CPCB, MPCB and the MSWA to conduct a joint site visit within two weeks and verify the grievances. The MPCB has been made the nodal agency for coordination in the committee, who have been directed to submit a report outlining the remedial measures. The report is expected to be submitted before the NGT's Western Zone Bench at Pune within one month. Meanwhile, with the application raising concerns over neglect by the the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the NGT has also issued notices to BMC, MPCB, MSWA and the state government, directing them to submit a response by September detailing remedial measures and causes for neglect of the water body. Earlier this month, the BMC floated a Rs 71 crore tender to set up a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at the lake to treat the sewage water. According to civic officials, nearly 18 million litres (MLD) of sewage water flows into the lake. Of the total 18 MLD, nearly eight million litres of sewage is proposed to be treated at the STP treatment plant, before being discharged back to the lake. Meanwhile, to improve the water quality, the remaining eight million litre waste waste will be diverted to the STP in Bhandup while the remaining two million litre water will be diverted for treatment to the STP near Mithi River. The civic plan came along the heels of a campaign launched by the civic-appointed Advanced Locality Management committee and NatConnect Foundation. 'Powai Lake is the victim of a long neglect by officials and elected representatives. While the BMC has thankfully stepped in now, the process of executing the work of diverting the sewer and setting the treatment plants must be transparent and time-bound,' said B N Kumar, director of the environment watchdog group, NatConnect Foundation.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Maha police tighten SOP on loudspeaker use, issue norms to units across state
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The Maharashtra police have issued comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to all commissioners and superintendents of police across the state for prompt action against unauthorised loudspeaker use and violations of prescribed noise levels, especially from religious or public places. Additional director general (law and order) Nikhil Gupta recently communicated the directive outlining detailed responsibilities for field-level officers under the Maharashtra Police Act and environmental protection laws. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar police commissioner Pravin Pawar said, "The law is being implemented uniformly for all the religious and public places where loudspeakers are used. Meetings have been held asking the users to either regularise the loudspeakers or face the music. " Under the SOP, upon receiving a noise complaint, a designated officer (sub-inspector and above) will promptly visit the site with a noise meter and two neutral panch witnesses. They will measure and record the decibel level, signing the printout along with the witnesses. A detailed panchnama will then be prepared, capturing key information like premises address, ownership details, type of establishment (religious or otherwise), registration status, names of relevant office-bearers or committee members, recorded decibel reading and area zoning classification (residential, commercial, industrial or silent). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Write Better, Work Smarter With This Desktop App Grammarly Install Now Undo If local zoning is not clearly marked, the classification is to be determined based on majority land use in the area. The SOP also specifies that the day is defined as 6am-10pm period and night as 10pm-6am. After conducting a site visit, the officer will submit a report to the commissioner or SP and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). Further actions will be taken by senior officers, who may issue warnings or register FIRs under relevant laws. Penalties for violations can include fines and imprisonment. MPCB can also file complaints under environmental laws, and both departments can take concurrent action. Repeated violations may lead to equipment seizure and prosecution.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Before winter sets in, Mumbai Metropolitan Region to get 15 new air quality monitoring stations
In a bid to ramp up the existing infrastructure of air quality monitoring, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) is set to get 15 new continuous ambient air quality monitoring system stations or CAAQMS in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) before the start of winter. According to the MPCB, while three additional stations each will be set up in Thane, Vasai-Virar, and Kalyan-Dombivali areas, two stations each will be installed in the Mira-Bhayander, Ulhasnagar and Bhiwandi Nizampur areas. Each of these stations will cost Rs 9 crore, officials said. The move will be a big push against a prolonged demand raised by scientists and experts amid the growing concern of the worsening Air Quality Index (AQI) in Mumbai as well as its satellite districts. According to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) dashboard, 26 AQI monitoring stations are operational in Mumbai. These stations are jointly operated by the MPCB, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM). However, the number of AQI monitoring stations operating in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) is limited. The CPCB's dashboard shows that at present, there are only two stations operational in Thane (Kasarvadavali and Upvan Fort) while there is one each in Bhiwandi (Gokul Nagar), Kalyan (Khadakpada), Ulhasnagar (Siddhi Vinayak Nagar), Virar (Vilanj) and Mira Bhayander (Bhayander West) areas. There is no monitoring in Dombivali. 'The work order for acquiring these stations has been issued, and they will be supplied to us in a phased manner starting next month. Before winter, when the city's AQI usually worsens, we will have more stations in place to monitor and identify areas which record poor AQI and will be able to mitigate them accordingly,' an MPCB official told The Indian Express. 'The plan of augmenting the number of monitoring stations is part of a larger project where we intend to install more than 50 monitoring stations across Maharashtra,' the official added. Over the past few years, poor air quality days have become a regular occurrence during the winter. Between November 2022 and January 2023, Mumbai recorded nearly 60 days of bad AQI out of the total 92 days. The next year, the BMC launched the Mumbai Air Pollution Mitigation Plan (MAPMP) to curb the worsening AQI of the city. In its guidelines, the Mumbai civic administration had identified construction works, garbage burning, and road dust displacement to be some of the major contributing factors behind the worsening AQI. However, the administration and independent experts had expressed concerns that there was also a need to monitor the AQI in the MMR districts where the existing infrastructure is not up to the mark. 'Outside Mumbai, issues like garbage burning and dust displacement are rampant. Since the air shared across the cities is common, the AQI of Mumbai also gets affected severely due to the activities in the MMR areas. Therefore, it is important to increase the area of monitoring across districts,' Bhagwan Kesbhat, who heads the NGO Waatavaran, told The Indian Express. 'It is a positive move that the MPCB is adding new stations, but they should be installing them in proper areas and must not relocate them after the stations show high numbers. It is important to be precise with the AQI numbers and take mitigation measures accordingly,' he added.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Illegal dumping of solid waste: Pollution board slaps Rs 10 crore fine on Thane Municipal Corporation
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has slapped a fine of Rs 10.2 crore on the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) for the illegal dumping of solid waste at Sabe Gaon in Diva, resulting in damage to mangrove cover. The MPCB announced the fine on July 2, on the orders of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The MPCB officials said that the trash was dumped in land under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) category, causing destruction to mangrove cover from 2016 till 2023. The board added that the TMC continued to break environmental standards as it failed to clear the waste even after being brought to its notice about illegal dumping. The fine of Rs 10.2 crore also carries the extension of a two-year period, from 2023 to 2025, for the corporation's inability to clear the piled-up debris from the site. The dumping at the site was taking place since 2015, according to the NGO Vanashakti Foundation. The officials of the TMC did not comment on the fine. The issue was initially flagged in 2023 when Vanashakti Foundation moved a petition before the NGT. According to the petition, the land being occupied by TMC for dumping was within the CRZ and the activity of dumping had led to extreme environmental degradation, including the loss of mangrove cover. After the petition, the TMC systematically transferred its dumping activities to another spot in the periphery of the city. Even after the relocation, the initial dumping ground in Diva was still not cleared. 'We have stated that consistent dumping during several years in a CRZ area not only breached environmental practices but also caused the destruction of essential coastal green cover. The waste consists of Thane's municipal waste which has now started to enter the creek,' said Stalin D of Vanashakti. The MPCB fine follows a site visit and reports that established the TMC continued to dump on the Diva site and had not made efforts to reclaim the location.
Hindustan Times
13-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
MPCB to issue stricter guidelines for RMC plants across Maharashtra
All RMC plants to be fully covered with tin or similar structures to reduce dust emissions Urbanisation, especially in cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur, has resulted in the widespread setting up of RMC plants, many of which allegedly operate close to schools, hospitals, and residential areas. (HT) In a move to reduce air pollution levels linked to the construction industry, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) is set to issue new state-wide guidelines for Ready Mix Concrete (RMC) plants next week, said the officials. These new guidelines come in response to the growing number of RMC plants and rising concerns over dust and pollution near residential and sensitive areas. Previously, some restricted norms were issued to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) area in November 2024. However, with the worsening air quality in cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur, the board has decided to implement uniform guidelines across Maharashtra, said the officials. According to the MPCB officials, Maharashtra has over 623 RMC plants, and the number continues to increase. Urbanisation, especially in cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur, has resulted in the widespread setting up of RMC plants, many of which allegedly operate close to schools, hospitals, and residential areas. The new guidelines aim to mitigate pollution, to protect public health in the surrounding areas, they said. The guidelines outline new siting criteria for both commercial and captive RMC plants. New commercial RMC plants cannot be located within 200 meters of residential areas, except in notified MIDC areas and corporations in the MMR. In notified MIDC areas (excluding those in Mumbai and its suburbs), the buffer is reduced to 50 meters. Additionally, commercial plants cannot be located within 500 meters of schools, colleges, hospitals with more than 50 beds, or court complexes, they said. For captive RMC plants, the minimum project area must be 20,000 sq. meters. These plants must also maintain a distance of at least 50 meters from human habitation and must be dismantled within one month of completing 70% of the construction project. One of the most important requirements in the new guidelines is that all RMC plants, new and existing, must be fully covered from all sides using tin or similar material to prevent dust emissions. Existing plants will have three months to comply and have to submit a ₹10 lakh bank guarantee, which will be returned only after the pollution control board verifies that the necessary measures have been implemented. Any plans to expand will be treated as proposals for new units, read the new rules, a copy of which Hindustan Times has seen. The guidelines also introduce strict pollution control norms, and all plants should have dust containment systems installed at all transfer points to curb air pollution. Water sprinkling or chemical dust stabilizers must be used on-site. The roads inside RMC plants must be cement-concrete or asphalt. Besides, fogging systems, tyre washing units, and air quality monitors (CAAQMS) must be in place. A senior MPCB official, on request of anonymity, said the plants shall monitor ambient air quality at the plot boundary and ensure that limits for PM10 and PM2.5 do not exceed 100µg/m3 and 60µg/m3, respectively. 'All vehicles must be cleaned before leaving the premises, and tree plantations along the site boundaries are mandatory. The dust from raw materials like cement and fly ash must be controlled using mechanical closed systems and dust collectors like multi-cyclones and bag filters,' he said. To prevent water pollution, the wastewater from equipment and vehicle washing has to be collected and treated on-site. The treated water should be reused within the RMC plant for cleaning, sprinkling, or gardening. Also, no effluent discharge will be allowed outside the premises. Similarly, to curb noise and solid waste management, the RMC plants must comply with noise regulations under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000. Solid waste like sludge and concrete debris must either be recycled or disposed of at designated municipal construction waste facilities, they said. Speaking to the Hindustan Times, Chairman Siddhesh Kadam announced that the MPCM will implement new guidelines for Ready-Mix Concrete plants in the state starting next week. 'These guidelines aim to reduce the pollution caused by RMC plants. We conducted a series of meetings with stakeholders before finalising these guidelines. All stakeholders agreed to them, resulting in a win-win situation for the RMC plants, the Pollution Control Board, and the citizens. We worked to achieve a balance between development and environmental safety,' he stated.
