Pune: MPCB Chairman Warns Housing Societies of Action; Statewide Audit of STPs, Waste Segregation Launched to Check Environmental Compliance
Pune, 27th April 2026: Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) chairman Siddhesh Kadam on Monday said the board will conduct audits of sewage treatment plants (STPs) and waste segregation systems in large housing societies across the state, and penal action will be taken against those found violating norms.
Speaking at a press conference in Pune during the Recycling Vision Series 2026 conference organised by the team behind Plastic Recycling Show India and Bharat Recycling Show in association with MPCB, Kadam said MPCB is conducting a state-level audit to verify whether common sewage treatment plants in large residential complexes under the jurisdiction of local self-government bodies are being operated regularly, and whether waste segregation is being carried out in these housing societies.
“From major cities to smaller towns across the state, sewage pollution has become a key cause of water contamination, while failure to segregate waste has also led to a sharp rise in soil pollution. Therefore, the MPCB has decided to take strict steps for pollution control by initiating penal action against housing complexes where such systems are installed but are not being operated in compliance with the revised Solid Waste Management guidelines issued by the Central government” he said.
Kadam also said ready-mix concrete (RMC) plants in Pune city will be inspected on similar lines. He urged plant operators to adopt adequate safeguards to prevent air pollution and strictly follow pollution control norms laid down by the board.
He said the MPCB is not focused only on punitive action, but also provides technical guidance to industries and local self-government bodies to help improve environmental compliance.
Referring to Pune’s river pollution concerns, Kadam said a technical survey of one stretch of the Mula-Mutha river will be jointly conducted by the MPCB, Pune Municipal Corporation, and the water resources department in accordance with court directions.
He added that the board is increasingly using new technology for pollution control and said public participation would remain crucial in environmental protection efforts.
Kadam also said Recycling Vision conferences will also be organised in Nashik, Nagpur, and Ratnagiri to promote plastic and waste recycling, adding that circular economy initiatives could create significant opportunities for young entrepreneurs.
