Penalty recovery from defaulters uphill task for Pollution Board

The recovery of environmental compensation (EC), imposed by the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) on pollution norms violators, would be a big challenge to the HSPCB in 2025.

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The HSPCB has imposed over Rs 230 crore on the pollution norms violators from 2019 to June 2024, but the recovery rate of the penalty amount is at a very slow pace and less than 50 per cent.

The recovery of the EC has not only raised tension among industries and business establishments but also caused uneasiness among officials of the HSPCB officials and the state government, as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had also pulled up the Haryana Government over the slow pace of the recovery of the EC 10 days ago, and also sought a reply from Chief Secretary, Haryana.

Around 64 per cent area of the state lies in the National Capital Region (NCR) and around 90 per cent industries of the state are in the NCR districts, including Sonepat, Panipat, Faridabad, Ballabgarh, Palwal, Gurugram, Rohtak, Bahadurgarh, Manesar, Bawal, Bahadurgarh etc.

As per the available data, the HSPCB has imposed over Rs 230 crore EC on the pollution norms violators, including various types of industries, government departments — Public Health and Haryana State Industries Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC), Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), private builder companies, mining companies, brick-kilns, stone crushers etc in the past years, but the recovery process is very slow.

As per the data provided by the HSPCB to an environmentalist, the pollution board imposed Rs 230 crore upon the violators from 2019 to June 2024.

An amount of Rs 7.5 crore of EC was imposed in Rohtak/Bahadurgarh, Rs 1.2 crore in Ballabgarh, Rs 40 crore EC in Charkhi Dadri district, Rs 22.9 crore in Rewari-Dharuhera, Rs 21.9 crore in Faridabad, Rs 145 crore in Gurugram (North), while Rs 18.39 crore in Gurugram (South).

Apart from it Rs 8.71 crore EC has been imposed upon the pollution norms violators in Sonepat district in the year 2024 while the HSPCB has imposed Rs 44.5 crore EC upon violators in Panipat district in the current year.

Subhash Gupta, president, Kundli Industrialists Association (KIA), said industries, especially the small-scale ones, had to face tough times, especially during the implementation of the graded response action plan (GRAP) in the NCR. But, only the industries were not responsible for the pollution, he said.

Vinod Dhamija, Chairman, Haryana Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Panipat Chapter said 13 districts were in the NCR which had almost 90 per cent industries.

But, industries were forced to face a tough time several times, especially during the GRAP, he said. Industries played a vital role not only in the overall development of the area but also provided employment, Dhamija said.

Varun Gulati, an environmentalist, said the pollution board had imposed more than Rs 230 crore on violators in the state, but the recovery process was very slow ie less than 50 per cent. Crores of rupees were pending not only on industrialists, builders and other private players but also on government departments, he said.

The department had to collect the EC on priority and spend this amount for the restoration of environment to provide neat and clean water, land and air to the residents.

Bheem Rana, president, Haryana Environmental Management Society (HEMS), said the EC was imposed by the Pollution Department for the violation of the norms, but it was mandatory to spend a big part of the EC amount for the restoration of the environment of the area concerned from where it was collected.

Pradeep Dagar, Member Secretary, HSPCB, said the EC was recovered from the running industries easily, but some units were found operating from rented accommodations and their owners ran away after raids on the premises due to which EC was to be recovered from them.

Now, we are going to write to all deputy commissioners (DCs) for the recovery of the EC from such industry owners through the Land Revenue Act and we would also take up the issues with the government departments in the coming year, Dagar said.

“If any project for the betterment of environment comes to us through the DCs, our high-powered environment committee approves it and provides funds immediately, as there is no shortage of funds with the HSPCB,” the Member Secretary added.