Maharashtra Tightens Rules On RMC Plants To Tackle Rising Construction Pollution
In a sweeping move aimed at curbing pollution from construction activities, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) is set to issue state-wide guidelines for Ready Mix Concrete (RMC) plants, amid rising concerns over air quality near urban centres like Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur. The decision, which comes after multiple consultations with industry stakeholders, will for the first time create a uniform regulatory framework for more than 600 RMC plants currently operating across the state.
Officials said the new norms will address the long-standing public health hazards caused by RMC plants situated near schools, hospitals, and densely populated residential areas. While earlier restricted to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), the fresh guidelines will now extend to all urban zones in Maharashtra. One of the most significant changes mandates that all RMC plants—both commercial and captive—must be fully enclosed using tin or equivalent material to reduce dust emissions. Existing units will be given a three-month compliance window and must submit a ₹10 lakh bank guarantee, which will be returned only after verification by MPCB officials. The guidelines also restrict siting criteria for new commercial RMC plants. These cannot be located within 200 metres of residential areas, with exceptions only in notified industrial zones.
A stricter 500-metre buffer has been prescribed near sensitive areas such as hospitals with over 50 beds, colleges, schools, and court premises. In a move to protect rural landowners and urban residents alike, captive RMC plants must be dismantled within a month of completing 70% of the construction project they were set up for. Additionally, such plants must maintain at least a 50-metre buffer from human habitation and operate only on plots larger than 20,000 square metres. To control air pollution on-site, MPCB has directed the installation of dust containment systems at every transfer point, water sprinklers, fogging machines, tyre wash stations, and continuous ambient air quality monitoring systems (CAAQMS). Internal roads must be paved with cement-concrete or asphalt to prevent dust generation, while tree plantation along perimeters is now compulsory.
The new rules also address water and solid waste management. Treated water from vehicle washing must be reused within the facility, and no wastewater discharge will be permitted outside plant boundaries. Sludge and concrete debris must be sent to designated municipal waste recycling facilities. The noise levels must also comply with limits set under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000. Speaking to Hindustan Times, MPCB Chairman said the guidelines strike a balance between industrial development and public welfare. “This is a win-win for residents and businesses. Environmental health cannot be compromised in the name of urban growth,” he noted.
Environmental activists have welcomed the move, calling it long overdue, especially in cities like Pune where unregulated RMC operations near schools and hospitals have raised health risks. With Maharashtra now taking a firm stance on construction pollution, other states are expected to follow suit.
