MPCB shuts non-compliant concrete plants as HC questions BMC’s role in rising air pollution

Amid mounting concern over deteriorating air quality in Mumbai, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) , in coordination with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) , has shut down four ready-mix concrete (RMC) plants and initiated action against 37 units for violating environmental norms, recovering penalties amounting to ₹1.87 crore.

Ready-mix concrete plants are known to be significant contributors to air pollution, particularly through the release of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5). Dust generated from cement handling, aggregate crushing, material loading and unloading, uncovered storage, and the movement of heavy vehicles often spreads into surrounding residential and commercial areas, aggravating respiratory ailments and reducing overall air quality.

MPCB member secretary M Devender Singh said special flying squads would immediately begin inspections to verify whether prescribed pollution-control conditions such as dust suppression systems, covered transport of raw material and proper debris management are being followed. He warned that strict action, including closure of units, would be taken against violators.

Following a review meeting chaired by MPCB chairman Siddhesh Kadam, the board constituted four special inspection teams for Mumbai city and two for Navi Mumbai to conduct on-site inspections of RMC plants. The review focused on strengthening enforcement against units flouting environmental norms, Singh said.

Singh said the board has been conducting daily reviews of air quality, with flying squads deployed to ensure compliance with conditions imposed on establishments. Inspections would be carried out without delay in areas where deterioration in air quality is reported, he added.

The crackdown comes amid sharp judicial scrutiny of civic authorities. The Bombay High Court last week castigated the BMC for turning a “blind eye” towards air pollution and for failing to take effective measures to address the problem. A bench headed by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad questioned how the civic body had sanctioned more than 125 construction projects worth over ₹1,000 crore each in a city already struggling with severe air pollution.

Observing that the situation had gone beyond the civic body’s control, the court warned that it would restrain the BMC from granting further construction permissions if air pollution levels continue to worsen in Mumbai.

Reflecting tighter enforcement, the BMC recently suspended bullet train-related construction work at the Bandra-Kurla Complex for non-compliance with anti-air pollution norms.

While the MPCB’s action against non-compliant RMC plants is expected to bring localised relief by reducing construction dust in affected areas, officials and experts note that sustained enforcement and stricter regulation of large construction activity will be crucial for achieving a meaningful improvement in Mumbai’s air quality.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region has 32 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations, including 14 within Mumbai city, along with 22 mobile monitoring vans deployed to carry out immediate measurements in pollution hotspots, the MPCB said.