Under mounting pressure from judicial bodies for its delayed response to critical water issues, the Haryana government has taken a significant step. On Tuesday, it established a high-level committee tasked with examining the adoption of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024.
Committee Formed Under Chief Secretary's Leadership
The state's Department of Environment, Forest and Wildlife constituted this panel following directives from the Central government and in line with the provisions of the new amendment act. Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi will head the committee as its chairperson.
The committee boasts a wide-ranging membership from key departments, ensuring a multi-faceted approach to the problem. Members include:
- Additional Chief Secretary (Environment, Forest and Wildlife)
- Chairman of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB)
- Additional Chief Secretaries for Town and Country Planning, Urban Local Bodies, and Irrigation and Water Resources
- Commissioner and Secretary for Industries and Commerce
- Director (Environment) and Special Secretary (Environment, Forest and Wildlife)
- Deputy District Attorney of the HSPCB
Bhupinder Rinwa, the Chief Environmental Engineer of the HSPCB, will serve as the convener for the committee. The panel's primary mandate is to scrutinize all aspects related to implementing the amended act and to present its recommendations to the state government.
Judicial Pressure Triggers Action
This move comes after the state government faced repeated reprimands from various courts and tribunals, including the National Green Tribunal (NGT). These bodies criticized Haryana's inaction and delays in tackling severe environmental violations concerning water.
The issues highlighted were not minor. Authorities identified significant pollution of the Yamuna river, caused by industries and real estate developers. In a more alarming discovery, groundwater was found to be contaminated in several areas, particularly within illegally established industrial zones in Panipat, Rai, and Sonipat.
A History of Inaction Despite Directives
Despite clear orders from the NGT and pollution control boards at both state and central levels, effective action against the violators remained elusive. The situation was especially egregious in cases where the natural course of the Yamuna river was allegedly altered through illegal mining activities. The new committee is now seen as a direct consequence of this judicial scrutiny, aiming to finally translate directives into concrete policy and enforcement.
The formation of this high-powered committee signals the state's attempt to systemically address the legal and administrative framework needed to combat water pollution, overdrawing, and wastage, which have plagued the region for years.
