Officials from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) told HT that one plant had been functioning without a permit for the past six months. “After our officials visited the site and requisite documents were not submitted by the plant owners, we issued a closure notice in the first week of September,” said Dilip Khedkar, regional officer, MPCB.

pollutants such as respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) and suspended particulate matter (SPM) through ambient air quality monitoring devices around the periphery of the other plant. “We will receive the results in the next 10 days. If a pollution problem is found, we will issue a show-cause notice to the plant,” said Khedkar.

An official from the private firm that owns the RMC plant where the pollution monitoring is taking place said, “We have been using several measures at our plant that control dust emission such as metallic roads all over the premises, metallic sheets to cover the mixing section and dust filters at the bottom of silos.”

HT had reported on August 29 that more than 150 residents of Dahisar (East) and Malad-Marwe Road staged a silent protest outside the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board’s (MPCB) office at Sion against the RMC plants.

Residents of HS Khan Compound, SN Dube Road, Ravalpada told HT they were relieved at least one of the plants had shut down. “We are happy the number of diseases will reduce,” said Chanderkant Nihal, resident of the area and secretary, Sainagar Rahivasi Welfare Society. NGO Watchdog foundation had written to the MPCB in August. “The swift action by the MPCB is appreciated,” said Godfrey Pimenta, trustee, Watchdog foundation.