Depts fail to take responsibility of implementing guidelines for quarries

On the other hand, the mining department in its reply stated the issue of environmental clearance and implementation of environmental guidelines was the work of the MPCB and they were not responsible for the same.

Ganesh Patil, additional district collector, admitted that the department does not have necessary manpower to look after the implementation of the guidelines. "As these guidelines deal with technical issues which MPCB is well capable of handling, they should do the same. At our level, the tehshildar manages the necessary guidelines as per the Mumbai Minor Minerals Act, 1955," he said.

Environmentalist Parineeta Dandekar said unchecked quarrying can have severe consequences on the eco-system of the city. "The greatest damage quarrying does is to the watershed of the city. With Pune suffering from water problem, it is the need of the hour that the authorities start acting immediately," she said.

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