Nagpur: A resident of Ravi Nagar complained to Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) of air pollution due to the heavy smoke emitted due to melting of bitumen over Pillar 47 on the under-construction Amravati Road flyover. MPCB conducted a survey of the spot and issued a notice to the PWD-NH executive engineer, Narendra Borkar. Borkar said he was yet to receive any notice from the MPCB.
The MPCB notice dated October 29 stated that it "received a complaint (name of complainant withheld) about heavy smoke emission from coal tar melting at Pillar No. 47, under construction flyover at Amravati Road, Nagpur, along with photographs of air emissions and the same fact verified by this office on Oct 26 at 12.30pm."
The notice further stated that "the entire state declares air pollution control area as per Air (P & CP) Act, 1981 and the provision under cause (g) of subsection (1) of section 17 to ensure standard for emission from automobile activities". The MPCB faulted the PWD for not ensuring compliance with norms by its agency.
"It is clear that your organisation has not given instruction to the contractor/construction company who is engaged in construction work of flyover located at Futala Square to Ravi Nagar Square about adherence to air pollution control norms during construction work flyover/road," it said. The MPCB asked the PWD-NH to take immediate action against the non-compliances and submit a report to it within 7 days.
The in-charge official of the flyover ruled out any major air pollution due to the layering work on the 2.5 km stretch. "Dense Bituminous Macadam (DBM) and Mastic asphalt methods are being used to layer the surface. This is in accordance with prescribed norms. The method requires heating bitumen in big cookers at the spot. It is done manually. The firewood is burned above the ground level, and there is no pollution hazard even to those engaged in the work," said the official.
The MPCB, however, didn't conduct any live monitoring of the air quality at the spot. As per the air quality index, the MPCB monitoring station showed moderate air quality in the area.