Displaying items by tag: India

India: The Kerala state government’s Goods and Services Tax Department has uncovered alleged tax evasion in the state’s ready-mix concrete sector worth US$1.15m. The Hindu newspaper has reported that authorities raided 49 locations and discovered total hidden transactions worth US$6.46m.

India: Nuvoco Vistas has commenced operations at its second, 90m³/hr ready-mix concrete plant in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Realty+ News has reported that the plant will receive raw materials from quarries in nearby Hingna and Panchgaon. It will supply the Nagpur market with Nuvoco Vistas’ Artiste decorative, Concreto high-strength, EcoDure reduced-CO₂ and InstaMix bagged concretes.

Germany/India: Germany-based Sonocrete has filed a patent application for a new method to produce concrete, specially developed for the production of high-early-strength concrete. Indian Patent News has reported that the method is comprised of a cement pre-mixer equipped with an ultrasonic probe, a crystallisation tank and a concrete mixer.

India: Ready-mix concrete producers suspended operations at 17 different batching plants in Mira-Bhayander and neighbouring Vasai, Maharashtra, during the second half of 2024. The closures resulted from closure notices from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board. The Times of India newspaper has reported that all plants subsequently complied with pollution restrictions and have since reopened.

India: A study at the DPG Institute of Technology and Management in Gurugram has investigated the effects of blending different concentrations of silica fumes to ground granulated blast furnace slag-based (GGBFS) geopolymer concrete. Findings reported in the Nature concluded that the addition of 10% silica fumes ‘significantly’ enhanced the durability and strength of the resulting concrete.

India: Market research company Exactitude Consultancy has forecast that the ready-mix concrete market in India will increase at a composite annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9% between 2024 and 2030. It noted that this will result in a total market value of US$1.54tn. This is more than double its size one decade previously in 2020, of US$725bn.

India: The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has released new guidelines for ready-mix concrete plants situated in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The Free Press Journal newspaper has reported that the new guidelines require new static plants within municipal limits to obtain special MPCB approval, while new and existing plants outside of municipal limits must establish a 500m buffer zone. New ready-mix concrete plants at building sites must have a minimum project area of 2000m² and existing ones must fully enclose their operations. Plants at building sites must dismantle their operations within a month after completing 70% of works at the site. Operators of ready-mix concrete plants in MMR must additionally provide new bank guarantees in favour of the MPCB.

The move purportedly aims to reduce air pollution in Mumbai. 11 of 26 monitoring stations in the city recorded poor air quality on 2 December 2024. Poor air quality indicates a high concentration of PM2.5 or PM10 inhalable particulate matter, which are present in smog.

India: Environmental organisation Earth NGO has filed a public interest litigation petition for the closure of ready-mix concrete plants operated by Dev Infra, JSW Green Cement and Shri Lalit Nagpal in Mumbai’s Chembur and Govandi suburbs. The Free Press Journal newspaper has reported that Earth NGO alleges that the plants are failing to comply with air pollution rules, including by being situated close to residential buildings and a hospital.

The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board previously closed down one of the plants temporarily following protests in 2023. This reportedly led to a decline in pollution levels.

India: Research institution Sasthra Vedhi has developed a method for the disposal of hazardous wastes like nickel-cadmium batteries and flourescent light bulbs in hollow concrete blocks called Blue Blocks. Blue Blocks can contain mercury leaks and other hazards while meeting strength standards by transferring the entire load into the solid concrete of the block.

India: The National Green Tribunal has asked the Delhi Pollution Control Board (DPCB) to inspect ready-mixed concrete plants near Delhi’s Sabhapur Extension neighbourhood, National Capital Territory. The Times of India newspaper has reported that the tribunal received a complaint of ‘severe’ air pollution and excessive noise. If substantiated, remedial and punitive actions will follow within three months.