NGT Criticizes Haryana Government Over Industrial Pollution Violations
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a stern rebuke to the Haryana state government regarding significant environmental breaches at a cement plant in Panipat. The tribunal has mandated the submission of a fresh action-taken report within a strict six-week deadline, with the next hearing scheduled for May 15, 2025.
Committee Report Exposes Glaring Failures
This decisive action follows a joint committee report that highlighted a series of "glaring" pollution-control failures at the facility. The report, dated February 27, 2025, was presented during a hearing on a plea filed by local villager Sunil Kashyap. The bench, chaired by Justice Prakash Shrivastava and including expert member Dr. Afroz Ahmad, emphasized that the violations documented were severe and "could not be ignored."
Specific Violations Uncovered
The inspection revealed multiple critical issues:
- Green Belt Deficiency: Despite the plant occupying 34.6 acres with 11.72 acres designated as a green belt, no green cover existed towards Khukhrana village, contrary to the approved site plan. A promised addition of 950 square meters of green belt remained unimplemented.
- Inadequate Boundary Wall: The existing 10–12 foot boundary wall was deemed insufficient to prevent dust from reaching nearby homes. Inspectors recommended raising it above the height of trucks transporting cement and raw materials. Although work to extend the wall with Galvanized Iron (GI) sheets was underway, this was seen as a reactive measure rather than proactive compliance.
- Ineffective Dust Suppression: The plant relied solely on manual water sprinkling via tractors and tankers, which proved inadequate. Visible dust persisted in the ash-handling zone and parking area, with trees coated in thick dust indicating poor control. The committee insisted that fixed sprinkler systems were necessary for effective suppression.
- Monitoring Gaps: As the plant was shut during inspection, stack emissions and ambient air quality, including in Khukhrana village, could not be measured, leaving a significant gap in pollution assessment.
Regulatory Failures Highlighted
During the proceedings, the counsel for the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) pointed out that even if some violations were addressed later, the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) had failed to take action against past breaches. The HSPCB's counsel requested additional time, which the tribunal granted for filing a detailed report.
This case underscores ongoing challenges in enforcing environmental regulations and highlights the urgent need for stricter compliance and accountability in industrial operations to protect public health and ecosystems.
