Will stop coastal rd work if pollution linked to it is not tackled, says MPCB

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) on Thursday asked BMC's coastal road chief engineer why construction activities there should not be stopped immediately and legal action not initiated for non-compliance with pollution control measures. A show-cause notice was issued to the BMC under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 asking it to reply in four days, failing which work will be stopped.
In keeping with guidelines laid down by the Bombay high court, MPCB prescribed 10-point stringent guidelines for mitigation of air pollution from construction and demolition activities.
During MBCB officials' visit to the coastal road's construction sites, it was found directives were not implemented. Water sprinkling should be done on debris/earth material, which is prone to generate airborne particulate matter; that was not being done. There was no fogging system for activities carried out during loading and unloading of materials at the sites. Also, dust levels were observed in the atmosphere due to soil mounds being uncovered and open, and a large amount of dust emission was observed due to internal vehicular movement.
The MPCB has asked the chief engineer to remain present before its member secretary on Jan 6 along with the project implementation agencies for Package-I, II and IV with a reply. Failing this, MPCB will have no option but to confirm stoppage of work of the project under the Air (P and CP) Act, 1981, it has said.
The MPCB also served separate notices to the divisional railway managers of Central and Western Railway. MPCB member secretary Avinash Dhakne asked them to take immediate steps for tackling sewage treatment, solid waste management, and for handling garbage, plastic waste and construction and demolition waste. Dhakne brought to the notice of the railway administration HC's observations on deteriorating air quality in Mumbai while hearing a PIL. "It is expected the railway administration actively participates in implementing measures that align with HC directives," he said.
Mumbai: The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) on Thursday asked BMC's coastal road chief engineer why construction activities there should not be stopped immediately and legal action not initiated for non-compliance with pollution control measures. A show-cause notice was issued to the BMC under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 asking it to reply in four days, failing which work will be stopped.
In keeping with guidelines laid down by the Bombay high court, MPCB prescribed 10-point stringent guidelines for mitigation of air pollution from construction and demolition activities.
During MBCB officials' visit to the coastal road's construction sites, it was found directives were not implemented. Water sprinkling should be done on debris/earth material, which is prone to generate airborne particulate matter; that was not being done. There was no fogging system for activities carried out during loading and unloading of materials at the sites. Also, dust levels were observed in the atmosphere due to soil mounds being uncovered and open, and a large amount of dust emission was observed due to internal vehicular movement.
The MPCB has asked the chief engineer to remain present before its member secretary on Jan 6 along with the project implementation agencies for Package-I, II and IV with a reply. Failing this, MPCB will have no option but to confirm stoppage of work of the project under the Air (P and CP) Act, 1981, it has said.
The MPCB also served separate notices to the divisional railway managers of Central and Western Railway. MPCB member secretary Avinash Dhakne asked them to take immediate steps for tackling sewage treatment, solid waste management, and for handling garbage, plastic waste and construction and demolition waste. Dhakne brought to the notice of the railway administration HC's observations on deteriorating air quality in Mumbai while hearing a PIL. "It is expected the railway administration actively participates in implementing measures that align with HC directives," he said.