4 years on, board seeks revised restoration plan in villages near refinery

After four years of depositing a Rs 42-crore fine for environmental damage by IOCL, the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has sought detailed revised proposals for environmental restoration from the forest and health departments.

As per the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directions, the HSPCB had to restore the environment and provide better medical facilities to residents living at Singhpura, Sithana, Bal Jatan, Rajapur, Dadlana, Bohli, Mahamadpur and Badoli villages — adjoining the IOCL refinery. IOCL had deposited the fine in 2021 towards environmental restoration.

Satpal Singh, former sarpanch, Singhpura-Sithana gram panchayat, had filed a complaint with the NGT in 2018, claiming that the refinery was causing air and water pollution in the surrounding areas and had led to an outbreak of diseases.

The NGT, on March 22, 2021, imposed a fine of Rs 42 crore on the refinery for violating pollution norms. It also ordered a remedial action plan for the restoration of environment and public health in the affected villages. Following the NGT orders, IOCL had deposited the fine with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

A remedial plan was made for the restoration of the environment, but has not been executed so far. According to sources, the departments concerned had made a plan for conducting regular medical check-up camps, sinking a new bore-well, laying pipelines to drain out effluents, planting saplings, etc.

The district administration had begun working over it after four year and officials had held two meetings for the restoration of the environment in six villages adjoining the refinery, the sources added.

The CPCB has released Rs 7.8 crore, of Rs 42 crore, to the Panipat Deputy Commissioner. The administration has now directed the health and forest departments to produce a revised action plan for the restoration of the environment.

Satpal Singh said IOCL had deposited the fine, but nothing had happened on the ground. IOCL was going to double its capacity and the condition of roads was poor. Pollution level had also increased and there was no drainage management, he alleged. No health camps were organised for residents, he added.

Kuldeep Singh, Assistant Environment Engineer, HSPCB, said two meetings of the committee had been held already and the third meeting was scheduled for September 20.

The departments had submitted the proposals but they were not found fit. They had been directed to submit revised proposals, he said.

Apart from it, IOCL had installed an online effluent monitoring systems on Thirana drain and Drain No. 2, he added.