Asphalt units at thakur village: MPCB admits to ‘inadequate’ pollution control systems

MPCB officials said there were 11 stone crushers and four bitumen plants along the hills at Thakur Village.

MPCB officials placed a white sheet of paper at the site and found it filled with soot at the end of the day.

Stone crushing units and bitumen (asphalt)) plants in close proximity of residential buildings in Thakur Village, Kandivali (East) do not have ‘adequate’ air pollution controlling systems, a report by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has found.

MPCB officials said there were 11 stone crushers and four bitumen plants along the hills at Thakur Village. Of the four bitumen plants, two are non-functional. “All the units have pollution controlling systems but they are not in adequate condition. We will issue notices to these units Monday ordering them to modify their system,” said Amar Durgule, regional officer, MPCB.

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After a Newsline report on the heavy air pollution in the area, officials visited the site on Thursday. More than 1,000 nearby residents are subjected to black smoke right outside their windows from the chimneys of these units and soot inside their homes. Their buildings adjoining the SGNP stand barely 50 metres away from freshly quarried hills and stone-crusher plants.

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“The officials placed a white sheet of paper at the site and found it filled with soot at the end of the day. This was even though factories were shut that day,” said Lav Pandey, whose earlier complaints to MPCB did not elicit any action.

MPCB officials are awaiting the results of the air quality samples taken at the spot.

anjali.lukose@expressindia.com

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