MPCB Pune Issues Show Cause Notice To PMC And PCB Slaughterhouses Over Violations
MPCB Pune Issues Show Cause Notice To PMC And PCB Slaughterhouses Over Violations
Renuka Suryavanshi
Pune, March 1, 2025: The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has issued show cause notices to two slaughterhouses in Pune for severe environmental violations. The Pune Cantonment Board Slaughterhouse at Kondhwa (Bk) and the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) slaughterhouse on Salunkhe Vihar Road have been found non-compliant with pollution control regulations under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The board has warned both facilities of potential shutdowns if corrective measures are not taken immediately.
Pune Pulse had first raised the concerns faced by the residents of the area on February 27, 2025.
Complaints and MPCB Investigations
The action follows multiple complaints from residents of Nancy Garden Co-op Housing Society in Borade Nagar, Wanwadi, and other nearby areas regarding foul odors, pollution, and improper waste disposal. MPCB officials conducted inspections on February 28, 2025, revealing several serious violations.
Key Findings at Pune Cantonment Board Slaughterhouse:
- Operating without a valid Consent to Operate.
- Poor maintenance of the Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP), leading to sludge accumulation.
- Lack of proper ventilation, exhaust, and deodorization systems, causing odor nuisance.
Violations at PMC’s Slaughterhouse on Salunkhe Vihar Road, Kondhwa:
- Discharge of untreated effluent, including blood and tissue waste, into Bhairoba Nalla.
- Overflow of contaminated effluent, causing drainage blockages and waste spillage onto Salunkhe Vihar Road.
- Absence of deodorization measures to mitigate odor pollution.
MPCB’s Directives and Legal Warnings
The board has directed both slaughterhouses to:
- Immediately collect and transport spilled liquid waste for treatment.
- Ensure solid waste is not stored for more than 24 hours.
- Prevent the mixing of slaughterhouse waste with municipal solid waste.
- Implement necessary precautions to prevent accidental discharges.
- Obtain and comply with a valid Consent to Operate from the MPCB.
MPCB has given the slaughterhouses three days to respond and explain why:
- Their Consent to Operate should not be revoked.
- Their bank guarantees should not be forfeited.
- Their operations should not be shut down immediately.
- Water and electricity supply should not be disconnected.
Failure to comply will result in legal action, including immediate closure. The notice, issued by MPCB Regional Officer J.S. Salunkhe, has also been forwarded to senior officials for further action.
