The Bombay High Court has issued notices to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), and Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) following a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Thane residents. The PIL challenges the construction of a ready-mix cement (RMC) plant located within the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP). The petitioners argue that the plant could cause significant air and noise pollution, negatively impacting both local residents and wildlife. The authorities have been asked to file their responses within three weeks, with a further hearing scheduled for mid-January.
The Bombay High Court has issued notices to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), and the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed earlier this week. The PIL seeks the relocation of a ready-mix cement (RMC) plant that has been set up for the construction of the Borivali-Thane underground twin tunnel beneath the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP).
The petitioners, including Thane residents, argue that the construction of the plant is taking place within the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of SGNP, which is designated for residential purposes, municipal schools, or recreational spaces, according to the Thane development plan. They also pointed out that no mandatory permissions were obtained from the ESZ monitoring committee for the establishment of the plant.
The PIL further claims that the plant, once operational, would pose a serious threat to both the environment and public health. The RMC plant is situated next to a residential township, which houses over 8,000 people, including children attending a nearby school. The petitioners argue that the plant would cause significant air and noise pollution, endangering the health of residents and wildlife in the area. According to regulations, a buffer zone of at least 500 metres is required between such plants and sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, and courts.
Advocate Bhattacharya-Bector, representing the petitioners, told reports that earlier this year the petitioners discovered that Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd had begun work on the RMC plant, along with ancillary units like a casting yard and a labour camp. It was also noted that the MPCB had reclassified the RMC plant from a 'green' industry to an 'orange' category, which led to the revision of the consent granted for its operation. However, the MPCB has not yet issued the revised consent for the plant under this new classification.
Moreover, the petitioners revealed that an RTI reply they received in October from the assistant conservator of forests in Thane included a letter from TMC to Megha Engineering's architect, confirming that some portions of the RMC plant fall within the SGNP's ESZ area. The court has directed the relevant authorities to file their replies within the next three weeks. The case has been adjourned until January 22 for further hearings.
The Bombay High Court's intervention in the PIL regarding the RMC plant highlights growing concerns over environmental and public health impacts near eco-sensitive zones like SGNP. The petitioners have raised important points about the plant's proximity to residential areas and sensitive locations like schools. As the authorities prepare their responses, the court's decision in January will be critical in determining whether the plant's current location is acceptable or if it must be moved to mitigate the risks posed to both the community and the wildlife.
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