The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) — as part of its dedicated initiative to combat establishments that contribute to air pollution — has sealed a total of 14 Ready Mix Concrete (RMC) plants from April 17 to 21.
A senior official from PCMC, in a conversation with TOI, mentioned that our nuisance squad teams conducted inspections at over 60 RMC plants during this initiative. “Out of these, 14 were identified as being in serious breach of pollution regulations and were promptly sealed, while seven others received warnings and were instructed to adhere to the regulations.
The infractions included the lack of dust suppression systems, insufficient regular water sprinkling, open storage of raw materials, and the failure to implement essential dust control measures such as displaying AQI and other parameters at the site,” the official stated.
The official further noted that actions are being taken in line with the guidelines issued by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) on October 17, 2025, which mandate stringent operational standards for RMC plants. Yogesh Alhat, the executive engineer in the PCMC environment department, indicated that a circular enforcing strict adherence to pollution control norms for RMC plants was disseminated over two weeks ago, which led to the initiation of the enforcement drive. “No additional notices will be issued to plants found in violation of norms during the inspection drives.
They will be sealed immediately, and similar actions will persist in the future,” Alhat remarked. According to the updated MPCB norms, all RMC plants are required to secure clearance under the Orange category and maintain a minimum distance of 200 meters from schools, hospitals, and courts, as well as 50 meters from residential areas.
Plants must be entirely enclosed, with covered storage for raw materials, silos, conveyors, and mixing units. Mandatory requirements include regular water sprinkling, dust collection systems, green belts, paved internal roads, and enclosed transfer points. Furthermore, tyre-washing facilities, CCTV surveillance, GPS tracking, and thorough vehicle cleaning before exit are obligatory.
Compliance with PM10 and PM2.5 standards, the treatment and reuse of wastewater, as well as adherence to regulations regarding noise and solid waste management, are essential requirements. Units located outside industrial zones are allowed to operate solely between 6 am and 10 pm. A senior official from the PCMC mentioned that earlier this year, the civic body had sealed 16 RMC plants for non-compliance with regulations.
“The municipal corporation is now aiming to ensure that all such plants are registered with the PCMC, as most are currently only registered with the MPCB, leaving the civic body without comprehensive data on these units,” the official stated. “Numerous plants are temporarily established by developers to facilitate their ongoing projects and are dismantled once the work is finished. Efforts are underway to compile information on each plant within the city,” the official further added.
Sanjay Kulkarni, the city engineer and head of the PCMC’s environment department, remarked, “RMC plants and construction projects in the city must implement necessary dust control measures at construction sites. Immediate action is being taken against violators without any leniency.”
