The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has initiated a fresh round of inspections at an upcoming residential and commercial project in Pune's Baner area. This action follows a specific directive issued by the Pune bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on December 8, which called for an evaluation of additional steps required to contain dust and noise pollution within legally prescribed limits.
On-Site Monitoring and Inspection Drive
On Friday, MPCB field officers visited the project site to assess the situation. Kartikeya Langote, the MPCB's Pune sub-regional officer, confirmed the deployment of officials for the task. The team, including officers Jayant Doke and Sarjerao Bhoi, installed specialized monitoring equipment at the location.
"We have installed air quality and noise monitoring stations, which will monitor the conditions at the site for the next 24 hours," Jayant Doke told TOI. The inspection aimed to verify the implementation of mitigation measures previously suggested to the project developers. The developers had claimed in a reply that they had already executed the necessary steps to curb pollution.
NGT's Evolving Stance and Past Violations
The tribunal's involvement has seen several developments. On December 5, the NGT had initially ordered the MPCB to ensure construction activities did not proceed until the project proponent adopted all measures to bring dust and noise pollution within standard parameters.
However, in a hearing on December 8, the bench modified its stance while disposing of the original application. This decision came after the project proponent's lawyer presented a test report dated May 20 indicating ambient noise levels were within permissible limits. The bench also noted an additional reply-affidavit from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) dated December 4.
The PMC affidavit revealed key details: the corporation had withdrawn a stop-work notice issued on June 14, 2024, after the developer took necessary precautions. Furthermore, the project proponent had paid a penalty of Rs 1 lakh on June 20, 2024, and PMC officials conducted a site assessment on July 16, 2024.
Calculating Environmental Compensation and Future Steps
A crucial aspect of the MPCB's current evaluation is determining potential financial penalties for past violations. Officer Doke stated, "We will decide as to whether for the past violations, if any, an amount of Environmental Damage Compensation (EDC) is to be levied on the project proponent." He added that the final calculation would be made after reviews by higher authorities.
The NGT, in its December 8 order, clarified that its earlier directive was not a complete stop-work order but a conditional one. The bench stated, "We had directed... that the MPCB shall ensure the Project Proponent does not proceed... till they adopt... necessary measures." Convinced by the new evidence that excavation was complete and only basement work was ongoing, the tribunal saw a reduced chance of recurring pollution.
Nevertheless, the NGT mandated a follow-up. It directed the MPCB to visit the site within a week to evaluate if any additional measures were needed. If required, the board must issue immediate directions to the project proponent for implementation.
This case highlights the ongoing tension between rapid urban development in cities like Pune and the imperative to enforce environmental safeguards. The continuous monitoring and the threat of EDC serve as mechanisms to hold real estate projects accountable for their ecological impact during construction phases.
