Displaying items by tag: pollution

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: 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: 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.

US: Authorities have issued a notice of violation to Orgain Ready Mix Concrete for an alleged spillage of concrete into the Red River near its Clarksville, Tennessee, ready-mix concrete plant. Local press has reported that the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation received reports of materials dumped at a location along the road from the site. A subsequent investigation found ‘cementitious staining’ and ‘solids-laden discharges’ on the riverbank.