NGT grants 4 weeks for verification of stone crushers in Yamunanagar

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has granted a four-week extension to the joint committee for physical verification of stone crushers in Yamunanagar district regarding compliance with siting criteria and environmental norms. The extension comes in response to a complaint alleging violations by stone crushers in Doiwala village operating within the prohibited limits of forest areas.

Will submit report within month

Following the request made, the NGT has given additional time and we will take action against the stone crushers not meeting the siting criteria and submit our report within a month. — Virender Singh Punia, Regional Officer, HSPCB, Yamunanagar

The NGT had formed a joint committee to investigate the issue, comprising representatives from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), the District Forest Officer and the District Magistrate of Yamunanagar. The committee was tasked with identifying stone crushers violating the criteria and assessing their adherence to environmental norms.

The committee's interim report revealed that Yamunanagar district has 217 stone crushers, of which 31 crushers are situated inside the notified zone and 186 crushers operate outside the notified zone. Among these, 80 crushers comply with siting criteria, though three have been dismantled and 77 remain operational. As many as 106 crushers do not comply, with 23 dismantled, 14 closed by the board, 64 operational despite non-compliance and closure orders of five were issued by the HSPCB due to not meeting siting criteria but stayed by appellate authority and were operational.

The report further noted that the HSPCB's regional office in Yamunanagar had issued show-cause notices to the 64 non-compliant stone crushers. These crushers failed to meet the criteria outlined in the May 11, 2016 notification, which mandates a minimum distance of 1 km from the nearest village periphery and a minimum distance of 0.5 km from forest land recorded in government records.

While the committee has reviewed records and documents, it is yet to complete site visits and physical verification of compliance with environmental norms. The committee requested additional time to conclude this work and prepare a comprehensive report, including an action-taken report.

The NGT has accepted the request, granting the joint committee an additional four weeks to complete its task. The tribunal has listed the matter for further hearing on April 21, 2025.

Regional Officer HSPCB Yamunanagar, Virender Singh Punia, said: “Following the request made, the NGT has given additional time and we will take action against the stone crushers not meeting the siting criteria and submit our report within a month.”