Pune Civic Body Cracks Down on Polluting Construction Sites

10 Dec 2024 CW Team

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has resumed issuing showcause notices to construction sites violating pollution norms, a year after its initial efforts to tackle the city's growing air quality concerns. The move comes as rising dust levels from ongoing civil works across Pune exacerbate pollution in key areas like Sinhagad Road, Kothrud, Baner, and Aundh.

Municipal Commissioner Rajendra Bhosale emphasized the administration's commitment to ensuring compliance with safety guidelines, such as using green nets and metal sheets around construction sites. Contractors who fail to adhere to these norms will face penalties.

The initiative follows concerns raised by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and the introduction of additional guidelines inspired by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) directives. These include mandatory 14-foot metal barriers and six-foot green cloth enclosures around construction zones to curb dust spread.

Resident Concerns and Civic Action Residents have called for stricter enforcement, citing the dual impact of construction dust and heavy traffic on daily life. “Dust particles affect both residents and commuters. Without proper precautions, the issue is worsening,” said Samir Paranjape, a resident of Sinhagad Road.

In 2023, PMC had served notices to 124 developers for similar violations. The Credai Pune chapter has now urged its members to install sprinklers and abide by the updated regulations to mitigate pollution.

With projects like flyovers, bridges, and public transport facilities underway, the civic body aims to balance development and environmental sustainability while prioritizing public health.

Infrastructure Energy

29 Aug 2025

SAEL Commissions 298 MW Solar Project in Rajasthan’s Jalore District

SAEL Industries, an integrated renewable energy company, has commissioned a 200 MW (AC) / 298 MW (DC) solar power project in Rajasthan’s Jalore district through its subsidiary Sunfree Energy RJP1.Spread across more than 1,000 acres, the project was commissioned on 17 August 2025 ahead of its Scheduled Commercial Operation Date (SCOD). A 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) was signed with Rajasthan Urja Vikas and IT Services Ltd. (RUVITL) on 20 February 2024 at a tariff of Rs 2.61 per kWh.The plant utilises advanced TOPCon solar PV modules featuring 146-cell and 156-cell configurations wit..

India Adds 18 GW of Solar in First Half of 2025

India commissioned 18 GW of solar projects in the first half of 2025, marking a 31 per cent increase from the same period in 2024, according to Mercom India Research’s latest Q2 2025 India Solar Market Update. Large-scale additions rose 20 per cent year on year, up from 12.6 GW in H1 2024.The surge was attributed to regulatory deadlines, with developers rushing to achieve partial commissioning before June 2025 to qualify for a full waiver on interstate transmission charges. Rising demand from distribution companies for round-the-clock renewable power also supported the growth.Of the 18 GW ad..

India’s Wind Energy Capacity to Reach 107 GW by 2030: GWEC

India’s wind energy capacity is projected to rise to 107 GW by 2030, exceeding the government’s 100 GW target, according to a report released by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC).The report, Wind at the Core: Driving India’s Green Ambitions and International Influence, was launched in the presence of New & Renewable Energy Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi. It projects that India’s current installed wind capacity of 51 GW could more than double by 2030, aligned with state-level Resource Adequacy Plans (RAP). Independent studies by NREL, IEA, WRI and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab..