Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding heavy air pollution in Wagholi area of Pune, Maharashtra, 03/12/2024
Order of the National Green Tribunal (Western Zone Bench, Pune) in the matter of News item titled “Wagholi residents hit the roads”, Appearing in the Pune Mirror dated 11.02.2024 Vs Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board & Others dated 03/12/2024.
The matter related to pollution caused by unregulated movements of trucks in Wagholi area of Pune causing dust pollution and damaging the roads. Around 60 to 70 trucks were said to be commuting to and fro in Bawdi village which led to huge air pollution exceeding the permissible limit.
The report by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) had carried out continuous ambient air quality monitoring (CAAQM) on March 16, 2024 near Dhaval Shivtirth, Wagholi residential area for 24 hours. From the results, it reveals that PM10 concentration is 424.73 ug/m3 and PM2.5 concentration is 177.61 ug/m3 which are exceeding as per National Ambient Air Quality limits. Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (CAAQM) was carried out on October 14, 2024 near Dhaval Shivtirth, Wagholi residential area for 24 hours.
The results showed that PM10 concentration is 105.55 ug/m3 and PM2.5 concentration is 48.32 ug/m3 (during the monitoring, it was raining at night) which are marginally exceeding as per National Ambient Air Quality limits. The Public Works Department (PWD) in its reply, August 9, 2024 said that the road in question is Major District Road-166 starting at Wagholi and passed through Bavadi-Nagarmal-Wasti-Tulapur in Haveli and continued upto Shirur taluka. The length of the road is 11.76 km in Haveli taluka. Initial starting 3.5 Km (Wagholi area) length of road on both side there are quarry and crushers due to which there is very heavy traffic. This length is damaged at many locations due to heavy loaded traffic.
The MPCB, September 5, 2024 in a letter to the Stone Crusher Association located at Lonikand and Bhavdi area asked them to control the dust emissions while transporting raw material and final product and also gave instructions to clean the road on a regular basis. Stone Crusher Association, September 27, 2024 stated that the association has taken steps to control air pollution on Wagholi-Bhavdi-Lonikand road. The work included cleaning being done on Wagholi-Bavdi-Lonikand with the help of hydraulic broomer machine. Manual cleaning is also being carried out on daily basis to control the dust emissions. Instructions were given to all stone crusher members to follow all safety measures at crusher units, roads and transportation.
The officials of MPCB at Pune have carried out visit to the Wagholi-Bhavdi-Lonikand road, Pune on October 11, 2024 and it was observed that cleaning on Wagholi-Bhavdi-Lonikand road was carried out with the help of Hydraulic Broomer and dust cleaning was carried out manually. Also, water sprinkling was found on road to control dust emission generated at the time of movement of vehicles and re-suspension of dust observed during vehicle movement at some places. The MPCB in its report said that Wagholi-Bhavdi-Lonikand cement concrete road is damaged at some places and re-suspension of dust is observed due to heavy vehicle movements. The SPCB also gave recommendations to control the air pollution.
The NGT directed the Public Works Department (PWD) to ensure completion of the concretization of the Wagholi-Bhavdi-Lonikand road and repairs of the same within three months, so that no dust pollution takes place due to the movement of the vehicles. As regards air pollution being mitigated, the steps are taken, which are shown in Action Taken Report, such as prohibition of transportation of dumpers, hyvas, ready mixed concrete (RMC) mixers, JCBs, road rollers between 7 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 9 pm and that in case of any pollution being there, fine was also imposed on 2275 vehicles.
The Stone Crusher Association was issued letter, September 5, 2024 to control the dust emissions while transporting the RMCs and final product. They were instructed to clean the road on a regular basis. The cleaning is being carried out at the site in question with hydraulic broomer machine. Apart from that, sprinkling of water is also resorted to.
The NGT accepted all the recommendations made by the MPCB in its action taken report and direct the MPCB that a periodic inspection of the site in question be carried in order to show that the air pollution at the site in question is brought under control, within the period as directed.