Haryana Human rights panel orders crackdown on pollution in Khanak mining zone

HSIIDC mining on 258 hectares

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According to the HSPCB report, HSIIDC is conducting mining on 258.30 hectares and carries out blasting once a day between 1 pm and 3 pm with permission from the Director of Mines Safety, Ghaziabad. The company has also been allowed to operate in three shifts.

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Acting on a series of complaints regarding mining activities, worsening air pollution, and the continued operation of tyre pyrolysis units, stone crushers and hot mix plants despite closure notices, the Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC), Chandigarh, has directed the immediate shutdown of polluting units in the Khanak mining belt of Bhiwani district. The Commission observed that the deteriorating air quality in Khanak and nearby villages is a “serious concern requiring strict monitoring and immediate action” by all departments.

The Commission has asked the Chairman, Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), Panchkula; Director General, Mines and Geology Department; Deputy Commissioner, Bhiwani; SDM, Tosham; Regional Officer, HSPCB Bhiwani; Mining Officer, Bhiwani; and other officials concerned to submit a comprehensive compliance report before the next hearing on February 17.

A joint report submitted on November 17 by the Regional Officer, HSPCB, and the Mining Officer, Bhiwani, indicated that mining operations were being conducted with “legal approvals” and under “continuous monitoring”, and that no illegal mining was detected. It also stated that air quality data from November 5 to 12 showed consistent dust pollution in the Khanak area, while Bhiwani city recorded even higher AQI levels, frequently entering the “very poor” category, pointing to district-level pollution concerns.

Taking note of these findings and the persistent complaints, the Full Commission, comprising chairperson Justice Lalit Batra and members Kuldip Jain and Deep Bhatia, directed the Regional Officer and the Mining Officer to conduct regular random inspections and surprise checks. These checks will cover mining units, stone crushers, hot mix plants and tyre pyrolysis units in Khanak and surrounding mining-affected areas. The Commission has also mandated the participation of the Khanak Sarpanch and local residents during inspections.

The enforcement measures implemented under CAQM’s GRAP Stage-III were also reviewed. These included temporary closure of units and disconnection of their three-phase power supply. Two environmental improvement projects — plantation of 2,080 saplings along the Tosham-Hisar Road and deployment of three truck-mounted anti-smog guns — have been cleared at the district level and sent for sanction, to be executed through the EC Fund.

The Commission further instructed that inspections must verify compliance with environmental safety norms, functioning of pollution control equipment, adherence to blasting schedules, and the status of units under closure orders. Noting ongoing complaints that some pyrolysis plants, stone crushers and hot mix plants “continue to operate despite closure notices”, it directed the Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, Regional Officer, SDM and DSP, Tosham, to strictly enforce closure orders, deploy adequate police force and conduct joint surprise raids. Any vehicle, machinery or material found violating rules shall be seized.

Assistant Registrar of the Commission, Dr Puneet Arora, said the Commission has taken a “stringent decision” and sought detailed compliance from all authorities.