Residents of Govandi have stepped up their campaign against ready-mix concrete (RMC) plants operating across Mumbai’s M East ward, alleging that emissions and dust from these facilities are worsening local air quality. In October, residents issued a “show cause cum stop work notice” to the plants, demanding urgent intervention as Mumbai featured among the world’s five most polluted cities in IQAir rankings.
The concerns extend across Deonar, Shivaji Nagar, Baiganwadi and Mankhurd, where residents claim pollution levels have become increasingly hazardous. According to the notice, M East ward is particularly vulnerable because nearly 70 per cent of its population lives in slum settlements. The area is also close to the Deonar Dumping Ground, an animal incinerator and a waste incineration facility, adding to residents’ concerns about cumulative pollution.
Locals have highlighted Deonar’s air quality readings, which they say have been among the worst recorded in Mumbai. They have called for all RMC plants in and around Govandi to be sealed immediately, alongside an independent assessment of emissions. Residents are also seeking action against officials allegedly responsible for allowing pollution violations to continue.
Complaint Reaches Chief Minister’s Office
Residents said their representation had been submitted to the Chief Minister’s Office and subsequently forwarded to the Environment and Climate Change Department for consideration. Mid-day contacted officials from the M East ward for a response, but no reply had been received at the time of reporting.
Activists Seek Stronger Enforcement
Advocate Faiyaz Alam Shaikh, founder of the Govandi Citizens Welfare Forum, said earlier regulatory action had failed to resolve the community’s concerns.
“Last December, MPCB (Maharashtra Pollution Control Board) had ordered 19 polluting RMC plants to be shut down to curb air pollution, of which four were in Govandi. The city is already suffering from the October heat, and the air quality remains poor, which is why we have demanded the full closure of these plants that are choking local residents. These plants can lead to long-term respiratory problems’
Residents are pressing authorities for stricter enforcement, arguing that sustained monitoring and decisive action are necessary to protect public health in the affected neighbourhoods.
Source: Mid-day
