KOLKATA: After a long wait, the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started repairing the roads inside the blocks but in the process, the air quality has started deteriorating as the banned bitumen melting hot-mix machine continues to be used in residential areas.
Despite the NGT ban, the smoke-belching hot-mix machine has been in use in AE Block for the last few days.”I tried to register a complaint with the pollution control board but could not contact them. The hot-mix machine is emitting thick black smoke and polluting the already deteriorated winter air. I am in a dilemma since the road repair work may get halted if the machine is stopped from being used,” said Deb Kumar Maitra, a resident.
“Road repairs are finally taking place but at what cost? The banned machine is being used at several places, like the CK Market crossing and near Karunamoyee. The air was already burdened with high AQI. And now, the hot-mix machines are taking air pollution to extreme levels,” said Krishnendu Chowdhury, a resident of CL Block.
The BMC authorities said they will look into the matter. “BMC does not have its own hot-mix plant. Neither does it have resources to run cold-mix plants. The contractors have been asked to bring bitumen from outside. They are not supposed to use the hot-mix machines. The issue is being looked into,” said a BMC official.
The contractors engaged for road repairing said they were aware that using such hot-mix machines were banned but the alternative arrangements were not available on an urgent basis. “Work had to be done on an emergency basis and that adequate cold mix material was not available. We had to operate the hot-mix machine to start the work,” said a supervising agent.
Environment activist Subhas Dutta, who had earlier moved NGT against hot-mix plants, said: “Other than the KMC areas, gross violations are taking place regarding the use of the banned hot-mix machines. I will again try to draw the attention of the honorable tribunal in this matter,” Dutta said.
Despite the NGT ban, the smoke-belching hot-mix machine has been in use in AE Block for the last few days.”I tried to register a complaint with the pollution control board but could not contact them. The hot-mix machine is emitting thick black smoke and polluting the already deteriorated winter air. I am in a dilemma since the road repair work may get halted if the machine is stopped from being used,” said Deb Kumar Maitra, a resident.
“Road repairs are finally taking place but at what cost? The banned machine is being used at several places, like the CK Market crossing and near Karunamoyee. The air was already burdened with high AQI. And now, the hot-mix machines are taking air pollution to extreme levels,” said Krishnendu Chowdhury, a resident of CL Block.
The BMC authorities said they will look into the matter. “BMC does not have its own hot-mix plant. Neither does it have resources to run cold-mix plants. The contractors have been asked to bring bitumen from outside. They are not supposed to use the hot-mix machines. The issue is being looked into,” said a BMC official.
The contractors engaged for road repairing said they were aware that using such hot-mix machines were banned but the alternative arrangements were not available on an urgent basis. “Work had to be done on an emergency basis and that adequate cold mix material was not available. We had to operate the hot-mix machine to start the work,” said a supervising agent.
Environment activist Subhas Dutta, who had earlier moved NGT against hot-mix plants, said: “Other than the KMC areas, gross violations are taking place regarding the use of the banned hot-mix machines. I will again try to draw the attention of the honorable tribunal in this matter,” Dutta said.