HSPCB told to track compliance of all ready mix concrete units in state

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) to compile district-wise details of all ready mix concrete (RMC) plants operating across the state and verify whether they are complying with environmental norms.

The Tribunal has further instructed the board to take action under the law against any non-compliant units.

The directions came in response to a complaint filed last year by Deepak, a resident of Dadlana village, alleging that several RMC plants in the area were operating illegally and emitting excessive dust, causing air pollution and health hazards for local residents.

Acting on the complaint, the NGT constituted a joint committee comprising the District Magistrate, HSPCB and CPCB officials. The committee found 21 RMC plants — 16 within Panipat district and five within Karnal district —operating near Dadlana village without valid consent to operate (CTO) or consent to establish (CTE), in violation of environmental regulations.

The HSPCB subsequently imposed environmental compensation (EC) on the violators and issued closure notices. In its reply to the Tribunal, Pradeep Dagar, Member Secretary of the HSPCB, said an RMC plant “should not be operated under any circumstances until a valid CTO is obtained from the HSPCB.” He added that directions under Section 33-A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Section 31-A of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, had been issued for the closure or non-operation of plants functioning without required consents.

Following this, the NGT sought detailed information on all RMC plants functioning across Haryana and instructed the HSPCB to verify their compliance status. The Tribunal said that if any plant is found violating environmental norms, closure action must be initiated and environmental compensation imposed as per law.

Pradeep Dagar said all regional officers have been directed to submit details of RMC units operating in their respective jurisdictions and to check “whether they are running after obtaining valid CTO or CTE or without taking valid consents.”