MUMBAI
The board has not done anything against the kiln in Mohammedwadi for the past 18 months, even though it is empowered to do so.
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has turned a blind eye to an errant brick kiln in Mohammedwadi. The board has not done anything against the kiln for the past 18 months, even though it is empowered to do so.
Quoting section 31A of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has affirmed that the State Pollution Control Board (in this case the MPCB) has the authority to enforce the provisions of the Act, including closure of polluting industries.
Responding to a Right to Information (RTI) query filed by Capt Deepak Sethi, resident of the area and a member of the Nyati County Mohalla Committee (NCMC), the CPCB in its letter dated October 12, 2010, states that the MPCB is empowered to take action, including closure in special cases.
This letter is in contradiction to the stand maintained by the MPCB for the past 18 months, wherein it has been passing the buck by not taking action against the polluting industry, be it closing it or relocating the kiln.
The MPCB, in a letter in April 2009 had admitted that the kiln, Ghule Patil Vit Karkhana in Mohammedwadi, in the vicinity of several housing societies and the Delhi Public School, is a polluting industry.
“Since then the MPCB has been passing the buck even when, as per the Air Pollution Act, it is fully empowered to take action against the brick kiln since it is not following air pollution norms,” said Sethi.
In mid-October, when this correspondent and Sethi met NH Shivangi, sub-regional officer of MPCB, he had taken pains to explain that action on closure of the kiln lay with the PMC (as the kiln does not have a valid licence to operate) and the issue of relocation lay with the district collector.
He highlighted that the Air Act could be enforced by MPCB only if they had issued a licence to the kiln and the industry was not following the prescribed norms.
“The MPCB has permission to close only those industries that have been given permission by us to function. We have not given permission to this kiln, so we cannot close it,” he said after speaking with the regional officer, PK Mirashe, over the phone.
“With the CPCB’s letter, it is clear that the MPCB officials have been resisting action, even though they are empowered to shut it down and stop the pollution,” said Sethi.
“I have filed an RTI application with the MPCB head office in Mumbai asking them what action they will take after the CPCB’s direction,” said Sethi.
Russia plans to boost birth rate with 'Ministry of Sex', here's how
Jharkhand HC issues notice to MS Dhoni in business deal case, asks him to...
IND vs SA, 3rd T20I Dream11 prediction: Fantasy cricket tips for India vs South Africa match
Meet IAS officer, aka 'Collector Bro', who cracked UPSC exam in 2007, now suspended due to...
Here’s why Chunky Panday wouldn’t stay in Shah Rukh Khan’s house in London
Yash's Toxic in trouble? FIR filed against producers of KGF star's upcoming actioner for illegal...
Meet Dr Priti Challa, Kangana Ranaut film director Krish Jagarlamudi's second wife, she leads...
Yaariyan actor Himansh Kohli ties the knot with mystery girl in Delhi temple, first wedding pics out
‘Sometimes I wish I was more tough, more thick-skinned,’ says Aishwarya Rai in viral video
KL Rahul sweats hard in Perth nets ahead of BGT series, WATCH video here
Shahid Kapoor, wife Mira Kapoor rent out their Rs 580000000 luxury Mumbai apartment for Rs...
South Korean actor Song Jae-rim dies at 39 in Seoul apartment
Viral video: Thar SUV gets stuck on railway track after man tries to shoot reel, watch here
Elon Musk's new X post claims Putin must not be blamed for Russia-Ukraine war, instead names…
Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives fame Shalini Passi reveals 'Mom used chilli powder in my...'
My experiences with dating apps
Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal reveals how company got its name, says 'we wanted…'
Key Differences Between the Indian Stock Market and Global Indices
Stock prices vs company valuation: Is your stock worth it?
Navjot Singh Sidhu is back on Kapil Sharma's show after five years, but there's a twist
Mukesh Ambani set to invest Rs 65000 crore in THIS Indian state, it will be Reliance's biggest...
Mohammed Shami to return to competitive cricket; star pacer set to play for…
Makoons World School brings a new approach to K-12 education across India
Pakistan Cricket looking to take BIG step on Champions Trophy issue, planning to...
Did Isha Ambani lend Neetu Kapoor her Navratna necklace? Reddit users react
J-K: Gunfight underway between security forces and terrorists in Bandipora
Viral video shows women as 'live mannequins' in mall, sparks fury; WATCH
As Vistara bids goodbye, Air India-Vistara's first flight takes off from Mumbai to...
GATE 2025 Schedule: Exams to begin from February 1; Check full timetable here
CBSE announces BIG changes in Class 10,12 board exams 2025, know details here
Veteran Bengali actor Manoj Mitra dies at 86
Isha Ambani graces Diwali party as she walks with her twins, husband, WATCH
Donald Trump plans to pick Marco Rubio as US Secretary of State: Report
Vadodara IOCL refinery fire: Death toll rises to 2; probe underway
Shah Rukh Khan death threat: Mumbai police arrest accused from Chhattisgarh's Raipur
Delhi reports record high chikungunya, malaria cases in 5 years
Japan's Nara deer's polite bow to Indian woman leaves netizens in awe, WATCH
Meet MS Dhoni’s sister Jayanti Gupta who works as teacher, is married CSK star's...
Pakistani TikTok star Minhal Malik's popularity soars in India, sees unprecedented 100-time surge
Seo Hyun Jin dramatically apologises to BTS ARMY, says 'I know a lot of...'
Amid threats of violent protests, Brampton Triveni temple cancels event
Mike Waltz, India caucus head, named Donald Trump's National Security Advisor
Mukesh Khanna returns as Shaktimaan, 90s kids dance with joy
This Indian man owns a train, he's not Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, has net worth of...
SSC CHSL Exam 2024 admit cards to be released today at ssc.gov.in; get direct link here
‘He will play his last game in…’: CSK CEO provides massive update on MS Dhoni’s IPL future