India, June 12 -- The Jalasar gram panchayat in Palghar district has sealed a ready-mix concrete (RMC) plant set up by infrastructure firm Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for allegedly operating without the necessary permissions from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB).

The plant was established by L&T in Jalasar village in the Saphale area around two years ago, to facilitate construction of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor. L&T was awarded the contract for construction of this rail corridor, which passes through 73 villages in Palghar district including 21 villages in the Vasai-Virar region.

Local residents began complaining about dust and air pollution from the plant after it became operational, and a local group known a...