Only 2 quarries meet guidelines, 163 operating unchecked in Wagholi: MPCB

Pune: Of the total 165 stone-crushing units operating in Wagholi and adjoining three villages on the eastern fringes of the city, only two have met the statutory guidelines.
This has been revealed by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) in an affidavit filed with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) bench here.
“We are disturbed as the statements in the affidavit indicate that running of stone crushers is creating severe damage to environment resulting in adverse impact on the health of people and degrading living conditions in the area,” the bench of Justice Jawad Rahim and Ajay A Deshpande said on March 28.
The board is required to file an affidavit explaining why further action should not be taken. The matter has been posted for next hearing on April 7.
The bench was hearing a plea by Uttamrao V Bhondwe, a resident from one of the affected villages, alleging large-scale air pollution caused by unregulated operation of stone-crushers and quarries in Wagholi, Bhavadi, Perene and Lonikand in Haveli taluka.
Bhondwe had complained that the MPCB and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) were apathetic to the issue of strictly implementing the provisions of law to control such pollution.
In February, the bench had directed the MPCB to submit a complete list of stone crushers and quarries operating in these areas. The board furnished an affidavit on March 10 when the matter came up for next hearing. However, the bench observed that the affidavit was bereft of the information sought and expressed its dissatisfaction over the same.
The MPCB filed a fresh affidavit on March 28 hearing after which the bench observed, “The tabular statement in para-4 demonstratively reveals that there are in all 165 stone crushers in Wagholi, Bhavadi, Perene and Lonikand taluka of Haveli, out of which only two units have complied with the statutory requirements. The remaining 163 have flouted mandatory provisions and are running unchecked and unabated.”
The bench stated, “We, therefore, issue show-cause notice to the MPCB to explain reasons why no action is taken against the polluting crushers and file detail statement in the form of affidavit as to why further action should not be taken.”
Secretary of Pune district stone-crushers association Yogesh Sasane appeared in person to seek the tribunal’s permission for appearing in the matter as an intervenor.
The bench directed him to file an application by April 7 indicating which of the stone crushers named in the MPCB’s affidavit he would represent.