Haryana’s PWD (B&R) fined Rs 10L for exacerbating pollution

As air quality concerns in the National Capital Region reach a critical point, with daily judicial monitoring by the Supreme Court, the Haryana Government’s Public Works Department (B&R) is facing scrutiny for its failure to comply with environmental regulations and its involvement in air pollution violations.

The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) on Friday imposed a hefty fine of Rs 10 lakh on the Public Works Department (B&R) of the state government for contributing to air pollution by neglecting environmental regulations and allowing dust emissions on a poorly maintained road near SGT University on the Dhankot-Badali highway on the outskirts of Gurugram city.

Regional Officer of the HSPCB, Nirmal Kumar Kashyap, and senior scientist Vikas Grewal, who visited the site, found that dust was being emitted due to vehicle movement on the unpaved road. The PWD (B&R) had failed to take any measures to control the air pollution.

Since the implementation of Stage-4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) by the district administration, the PWD (B&R) was expected to sprinkle water and adopt all necessary measures to control dust pollution, but no action had been taken.

According to the orders issued by Kashyap and Grewal, “Huge loose dust is found on the road without compaction, resulting in large clouds of dust being emitted as vehicles pass, worsening the already severe air quality in the region and endangering public health.”

The orders further stated, “The minimum measure of sprinkling water has not been carried out...”

The HSPCB added, “The unmaintained road is emitting dust into the atmosphere, creating a hotspot for dust pollution, violating the GRAP Stage-4 guidelines and posing a serious risk to public health.”

In light of these violations and the ongoing severe environmental conditions, the HSPCB directed the Superintending Engineer of the Gurugram Circle, PWD (B&R), to deposit an environmental compensation of Rs 10,00,000 with the HSPCB.