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Time of India
6 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Air quality in Indira Nagar, Panchavati better than other areas of Nashik city
Nashik: For the past few days, residents of Indira Nagar and Panchavati in Nashik have enjoyed better air quality compared to other parts of the city. Data from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) shows that the Air Quality Index (AQI) in these two areas consistently registered in the good category. In contrast, areas like Gangapur Road, Ambad MIDC, and other parts of Nashik recorded AQI levels in the satisfied category. The overall average AQI for Nashik city also fell into the satisfied category. Nashik's average AQI has shown improvement over the last two months, shifting from moderate to satisfied, largely attributed to recent rains. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), an AQI between 1 and 50 is considered good, indicating minimal impact on health. An AQI between 51 and 100 is deemed satisfied, which may cause minor breathing discomfort for sensitive individuals. An AQI between 101 and 200 is moderate and causes breathing discomfort to people with lung or heart disease, children, and older adults. The AQI between 201 and 300 is poor and causes breathing discomfort to most people on prolonged exposure. The AQI of Indira Nagar areas of Nashik city was 48 on Sunday afternoon, against an AQI of 61 on June 1. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like local network access control Esseps Learn More Undo The AQI of Panchavati areas was 49 on Sunday afternoon, against an AQI of 89 on June 1. The AQI of Gangapur Road areas on Sunday afternoon was recorded at 76 as against 53 on June 1. The AQI of Ambad MIDC areas was 77 on Sunday afternoon, against an AQI of 101 on June 1. Officials from the MPCB said the city experienced rainfall for the past few days, causing the dust particles to settle on the soil, which led to the improvement of the air quality. The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) also undertook various measures to improve the air quality of the city from the funds under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) of the centre. The NMC has so far received Rs89 crore from the Centre under the NCAP. "The civic body has spent around Rs55 crore on the projects to improve the air quality of the city," a civic official said. The projects under NCAP include construction of an electric bus depot, EV charging stations, a construction waste recycling plant, electric crematoriums, increasing green cover roadside, among others. These projects are expected to be implemented in the next two years. Also, of the total 250 city buses deployed by the NMC for the city bus service, 200 are CNG-operated and 50 are diesel-operated.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Dehu Nagar Panchayat must pay Rs14.36 crore fine for sewage discharge into Indrayani river, pollution regulator tells NGT
1 2 3 Pune: Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has submitted an affidavit to National Green Tribunal (NGT) stating that Dehu Nagar Panchayat must pay Rs14.36 crore in environmental damage compensation (EDC) for illegally discharging untreated sewage into Indrayani river between April 1, 2020, and Nov 30, 2024. The NGT bench in Pune had earlier directed MPCB to calculate the EDC to be levied on Dehu Nagar Panchayat for contaminating river water, which resulted in repeated fish kills. This followed the tribunal's principal bench in New Delhi taking suo motu cognisance of a TOI report titled, "Hundreds of fish found dead in Indrayani river at Dehu," published on March 15 this year. The pollution regulator provided a breakdown of the EDC in its affidavit filed on May 28, which includes cost of bioremediation and setting up of sewage treatment plants (STPs) at Kapur and Ghat Nullahs. The board, in an affidavit filed at the tribunal on May 28, stated that the EDC is to be levied to prevent discharge of pollutants into Indrayani river, causing harm to the environment. The board calculated that the panchayat will pay Rs 2.38 crore for bioremediation activities at Ghat Nullah and Rs 2.79 crore for bioremediation at Kapur Nullah. Additionally, the panchayat will also pay Rs 2.38 crore for setting up STP at Ghat Nullah and Rs 2.79 crore for setting up the STP at Kapur Nullah since the panchayat failed to commence the STP in 2020. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Similarly, for failure to commission the STP in 2021, a total of Rs 3.98 crore was calculated by the board as EDC. The board sent a notice to Dehu Nagar Panchayat on April 25, informing it about the EDC it had calculated. The bench directed that notices be issued to Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE) at Andheri in Mumbai, and the Pune district collector and sought their responses. The matter was then heard by the western bench on Oct 14, 2024. Dehu Nagar Panchayat's STP was not found functional, which led to pollution of nallahs and discharge of effluent, resulting in fish as big as 45 kg and up to 4 feet in height being found dead. MPCB stated that officials from the board and from Dehu Nagar Panchayat visited the site on March 14, 2024 and observed that a fish kill occurred at Indrayani river, near Kapur Nalla and at Ghat area on a large scale, as the water was contaminated with sewage found during sample testing. Previously, a fish kill incident occurred at the same location in June 2023. The final amount to be levied is to be decided in the next hearing to be held at the tribunal. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Time of India
Illegal RMC plants built on wetlands, says Maharashtra pollution control board (MPCB) units continued operations using generators despite closure orders
(File photo) The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has confirmed the illegal operation of several Ready Mix Concrete (RMC) plants on Vasai wetlands VASAI: The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has confirmed that several Ready Mix Concrete (RMC) plants in Vasai were running illegally on land marked as wetlands. This confirmation follows FIRs filed by revenue officials against 28 RMC units for not submitting valid approval documents. "Your plant is located in Sasunavghar area which is a wetland natural intertidal mudflat area and where illegal dumping of the debris was observed by the joint inspection committee of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in a case filed in 2023," read the notice copy sent to RMC plant owners. Sasunavghar and Maljipada are very close to Vasai creek and contain several wetland parcels and mangroves. Anand Katole, sub-regional officer (SRO), said that, "MPCB doesn't have the right to file an FIR against illegal RMC units but only issue closure notices. If they are found active even after closure notices then we have to approach the court but still cannot file FIR's against such erring units, said MPCB SRO Anand Katole." He also said that after it was found that the RMC units were operating even after closure notices by using generators, they wrote to the VVCMC to seal those generators as it falls under their jurisdiction. He also confirmed that the MPCB can only send details of illegal RMC units to the MSEB, who then disconnect the power supply to such units. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo It has now been confirmed that the illegal RMC units, even after receiving closure notices from the MPCB and having their power disconnected by MSEB, continued operating for months using generators — surprisingly, without anyone noticing. Deepak Rao, an activist, said that there is no coordination between the VVCMC, MPCB, and the revenue officials. "How can RMC units operate illegally in broad daylight with no one noticing it," he questioned. He claimed that the wetlands have been reclaimed by filling them with thousands of tonnes of construction debris and sand to level the ground, which has contributed to highway flooding in recent years. Illegal construction, he added, has irrevocably damaged the eco-sensitive zones and wetlands of Vasai. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Time of India
Vasai revenue officials file FIR against 28 ready mix cement plants
VASAI : The Vasai revenue officials have filed an FIR against 28 ready mix cement (RMC) plant owners for polluting the environment, deteriorating the water quality and operating without any permissions at the Naigaon police station last week. It was the revenue officials who filed a complaint while the implementing and supervising body, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) was found napping. The activists were upset that it was the revenue official who took the pain while it was the basic job of the MPCB. Apart from polluting the environment the RMC trucks are often seen driving on the wrong side, day and night, on the Mumbai Ahmedabad national highway (NH48) without any fear from the Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar (MBVV) cops or the Highway police. The FIR filed on May 7 has been filed under the BNS sections 223 (disobedience to orders issued by public servants), 270 (public nuisance) and 279 (offences concerning the quality of public water sources). The FIR also mentions that these 28 RMC plants and Dambur Plants (Asphalt plants or Asphalt mixing plants) are the source of pollution for Air and Water. The FIR clearly mentions that the effluent generated by these RMC plants have been openly discharged in the water bodies further deteriorating the potable quality of streams and ponds, used on a daily basis by the locals and the villagers. Sushil Morale, Talathi (revenue official) said that on April 22 2025, we conducted survey of RMC and Dambur plants in two villages - Sasunavghar & Maljipada, in Vasai Taluka, after orders from our Tehsildar Avinash Koshti, as he had received several complaints about illegally operated RMC plants and pollution arising from them. He also said that these 28 units didnt produce any documents showcasing permissions from various government agencies who issue permissions to operate these units. We also gave them two weeks, but since they didnt turn-up with legal documents, we proceeded with the FIR. Now they will have to produce those documents to the cops post which their legality would be exposed. Deepak Rao, an activist in Vasai, who has filed PIL's regarding safeguarding the reclaimed waterbodies and escalating issues like illegal construction on forest land, said that, this was the job of the MPCB and not the revenue officials. What checks does the MPCB have in place while other government agency filed FIR against RMC's for polluting the environment, he questioned. We have acted on 20 RMC plants in MBMC and VVCMC jurisdiction in the last eight months and this is an ongoing activity, said Kiran Hasabnis, Regional Officer, MPCB, Thane. Filing FIR against 28 polluting units in one single day and taking action against 20 RMC units in eight months only speaks about the lackadaisical approach of the MPCB, added Deepak. In the first week of May, two natives from Uttar Pradesh had died after falling into a well, 30-feet deep, at a RMC unit located at Naigaon. The Naigaon cops had registered an accidental death report (ADR) in that case and have said that the investigation is still on.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Time of India
E-waste initiative: Mumbai to tackle growing waste threat; UN warns of millions of tons generated annually
Representative AI image An "E-waste Initiative" has been launched in Mumbai to deal with growing threat no one can ignore. The United Nations estimates that we generate millions of tons of e-waste, or electronic waste, every year. In Maharashtra, government initiatives like the e-waste Management Rules mandate Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for both manufacturers and producers. The e-waste Management Rules are a set of comprehensive rules that look after registered recyclers, refurbishers, and producers. The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) is also integral to regulating and monitoring e-waste recycling facilities. The MPCB is responsible for registering recyclers and reprocessors. What is e-waste? E-waste, or electronic waste, refers to discarded electrical or electronic devices. Many electronic devices like smartphones, computers, and other gadgets contain toxic substances like lead, mercury, and flame retardants. Improper disposal of these gadgets or devices can lead to toxins penetrating into the soil and the environment. This can have massive repercussions for humans as well as wildlife. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo UN has warned that waste from electronics is piling up worldwide while recycling rates are not up to the mark. The UN's International Telecommunications Union and research arm, UNITAR, has said that around 62 million tonnes of e-waste were generated in 2022.
