HSPCB adheres to NGT order, No new stone crushers allowed

The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has taken stringent measures against defaulting stone-crushing units in the Charkhi Dadri district of Haryana. The actions, which include closure, prosecution, and imposition of environmental compensation, were reported to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on September 18, 2023.

As of the latest update on September 18, 2023, a total of 343 stone crushing units operate within the Charkhi Dadri district. However, 40 of these units were found to be non-compliant with the provisions under the Air Act of 1981, leading to their immediate closure by the HSPCB.

To address environmental damages caused by these units, an environmental compensation of Rs 6 crore was imposed on 56 stone crushing units. Notably, the HSPCB has already recovered around Rs 4 crore from 44 of these units. Additionally, the report indicates that approximately 239 units have been operating with valid consent from the HSPCB.

To further ensure environmental compliance and monitor air quality in the region, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has announced plans to install five Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) stations. This initiative aims to collect sufficient air quality data from all crushing clusters and areas in the district. Based on this data, the operations of each cluster will be controlled, and an action plan will be formulated accordingly.

The actions taken by the HSPCB align with the recommendations made by a joint committee in its report dated September 27, 2021, and the subsequent order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on November 15, 2021.

According to these directives, no new stone crushing units of any capacity are permitted to establish or operate in the region, and the expansion of existing units is strictly prohibited.

Furthermore, the report highlights a proactive environmental effort undertaken by the district administration and the forest department of Haryana. In the monsoon of 2023, a special drive was conducted to plant and distribute approximately 2.63 lakh trees, contributing to environmental conservation in the region.

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