Pune News: MPCB Serves Notice To Mercedes-Benz Over Environmental Violations At Chakan Plant
Pune News: MPCB Serves Notice To Mercedes-Benz Over Environmental Violations At Chakan Plant
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has issued a show-cause notice to luxury automaker Mercedes-Benz for violating environmental regulations at its Chakan manufacturing plant. The notice, which Hindustan Times reviewed, was served on Friday, nearly a month after MPCB Chairman Siddhesh Kadam’s inspection of the plant raised concerns about pollution control compliance.
The delay between the inspection and the issuance of the notice sparked criticism, particularly after MPCB deleted social media posts highlighting violations. Opposition leaders questioned the transparency of the board’s handling of the matter, noting that the posts were removed shortly after being shared on X (formerly Twitter). These posts had indicated non-compliance with pollution control guidelines.
According to the notice, Mercedes-Benz allegedly failed to adhere to essential pollution control measures, including the discharge of untreated and partially treated effluent into the environment, air emissions beyond permissible limits, and a lack of upgrades to key waste treatment equipment. The MPCB has given the company 15 days to respond to the notice, warning that failure to comply could lead to legal action under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
In a formal statement, Mercedes-Benz India acknowledged receiving the notice. “We have received a communication from MPCB after three weeks, today. We will review it and respond as requested and will cooperate fully with the authorities,” the company said.
JS Salunkhe, regional officer of MPCB Pune, confirmed the notice and outlined key findings from the inspections, which were conducted on August 23 and September 4. He noted, “It has been observed that you have failed to comply with the conditions stipulated by the consent granted by the Board, thereby discharging untreated and partially treated effluent and air emissions into the environment, causing pollution.”
One significant violation flagged during the inspections was the non-operational status of clarifiers and centrifuge units within the plant’s Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP). Additionally, Mercedes-Benz failed to install a Multi Effect Evaporator (MEE) and Agitated Thin Film Dryer (ATFD) for treating Reverse Osmosis (RO) reject within the required timeframe.
The incident has prompted increased scrutiny of MPCB’s handling of environmental regulation enforcement. Opposition leaders previously criticized the board’s decision to delete posts from social media regarding the August 23 inspection findings. These posts had explicitly mentioned that Mercedes-Benz’s Chakan plant was not adhering to pollution control guidelines, sparking speculation as to why they were later removed.
When reached for comment, MPCB Chairman Siddhesh Kadam expressed unawareness about the notice being served. He stated, “I am unaware of the notice being served to Mercedes-Benz and will check with the respective regional office.”
The case continues to develop, with environmental and industry observers closely monitoring Mercedes-Benz’s response and any further action taken by MPCB.
