Housing Projects in Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad May Face Delays as 18 RMC Plants Shut Down
Pune, 28th March 2025: In response to rising air pollution levels in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has taken strict action against several ready mix concrete (RMC) plants. Notices have been issued to 24 projects, while 18 have been directed to halt production. This move is expected to impact ongoing construction projects and may lead to delays in housing project deliveries.
With a large number of residential and commercial projects underway within the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal limits, RMC plants play a crucial role in supplying concrete. However, several complaints from residents, particularly from the Wakad area, have pointed to RMC plants as major contributors to air pollution. In response, MPCB initiated inspections and took action against non-compliant projects.
During inspections, officials found multiple violations at RMC project sites, including:
Lack of concrete roads within the premises
Absence of proper sewage treatment facilities
Unauthorized discharge of sewage within the premises
Heavy accumulation of dust
No effective dust control measures
As a result, notices have been issued to 20 RMC plants for breaching environmental norms. Additionally, the bank guarantee of four projects has been confiscated, and they have been instructed to redeposit the guarantee. Eighteen projects have been ordered to immediately stop production.
Deputy Regional Officer of MPCB, Navnath Autade, stated, “Notices have been issued to RMC projects responsible for pollution. They have been asked to explain why they should not be shut down and why their electricity and water supply should not be disconnected. If they fail to respond, legal action will be taken.”
Impact on Housing Projects
The crackdown on RMC plants is expected to disrupt the supply of ready mix concrete, potentially delaying housing projects in the region. CREDAI-Pune Metro has raised concerns about the impact of these actions.
Kapil Gandhi, Convenor Public Relations, CREDAI Pune said, “CREDAI is actively making efforts to train its members and streamline processes to meet pollution-related issues, following regulatory guidelines. On-site or nearby Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC) plants are proving beneficial in reducing pollution and lowering input costs by minimizing the need for heavy transit mixer trucks to transport materials through city traffic. Releasing stop-work orders might hamper RERA project timelines adversely and drive the cost even higher, making it crucial to adopt practical solutions that balance environmental responsibility with project feasibility.”
With the real estate sector heavily dependent on RMC supply, stakeholders are now closely watching how this regulatory action unfolds and whether affected projects can resolve compliance issues swiftly.
