ABSTRACT
Maharashtra is the third-largest state in the country and covers a vast majority of land mass. The state has a variety of soils ranging from alluvial, red, yellow, and lateritic to black soils. Each of the soils, found in different regions of the state, has its own characteristics. Most of the soils are fertile and suitable for cultivation of different crops in various regions. The state comprises basaltic rock formation covering around 78% and some parts of the state comprise granite. Basalt, being the hardest rock, is the major source of aggregates for the construction industry. Many times, soils and rocks of the mixed nature prevalent in different regions of the state create complexities in different phases of the construction. The state falls in the region of moderate to high seismic hazards. The state has witnessed devastating earthquakes in some parts of the state, and it has created awareness with regard to the appropriate construction procedures. Floods and landslides are the commonly occurring phenomena in the state as most parts of the state receive heavy rainfall. Ignorance of the maintenance of the ecosystem with several other reasons has resulted in some of the disasters that occurred in the state due to floods and landslides. The state has got several thermal power plants, industrial units and sugar factories. The by-products coming out of such units are being used increasingly nowadays as sustainable civil engineering materials thereby preserving the natural resources. The state is rich in terms of forests and mineral resources.
