In the heart of Mohone village, located about 68 km from South Mumbai, local residents are rallying against a proposed cement grinding plant by Ambuja Cement Ltd, part of the Adani Group. Posters urge community members to join a signature campaign aimed at voicing their concerns over potential health hazards and air quality deterioration due to the plant.
Surrounded by towering skyscrapers, Mohone is a densely populated area where residents believe the cement facility poses a significant threat to their wellbeing. This project is the second initiative by the Adani Group in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to face public discontent, following the controversial Dharavi Redevelopment project.
Jivandas Katariya, a former employee of the National Rayon Company, expressed his frustrations, stating, “When the Adani Group acquired NRC in 2020, they promised a world-class logistics park that would create jobs. However, we recently learned that instead of that park, a cement plant is going to be constructed right here. There seems to be no regard for environmental and health impacts in this densely populated area, which is why we decided to oppose it.”
Residents from Mohone and ten neighboring villages initiated the signature campaign in preparation for a public hearing scheduled by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) on September 16. Subhash Patil, president of the Gramastha Mandal Mohone Koliwada and a local BJP leader, highlighted their grievances, stating, “This is our first step in protesting. The health risks from air and water pollution, along with increased traffic, appear to have been overlooked in the decision-making process for such a large plant in our neighborhood.”
In addition to the signature campaign, locals have sent letters to key officials, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Environment Minister Pankaja Munde, imploring them to reconsider the project.
While the Adani Group has not commented on the issue, MPCB representatives confirmed they are following procedural guidelines, allowing residents to express their concerns during the upcoming public hearing.
According to the project’s executive summary, the proposed site will cover 26.13 hectares, with 9.67 hectares allocated for green belt development, while 5.49 hectares will be dedicated to constructing the grinding unit and related infrastructure. The surrounding socio-economic area spans a 10 km radius, encompassing numerous villages and urban areas with a combined population exceeding 1.4 million.
Debi Goenka, Executive Trustee at the Conservation Action Trust, cautioned against establishing cement grinding units in crowded regions, citing the high emissions of particulate matter that could exacerbate local air pollution.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/maharashtra-villages-protest-upcoming-adani-cement-plant-10250219/
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Publish Date: 2025-09-15 04:39:00
