Haryana Pollution Board officials flout sample preservation norms

The functioning of officials of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) in Panipat has come under scrutiny after senior officers found violations of sample preservation norms at the departmental laboratory in Panchkula.A team led by the Regional Officer (RO), Panipat, had recently collected water samples from around half a dozen industrial units and sent them for pollution level analysis. However, senior officials discovered that the samples were not preserved according to the prescribed standards.Taking serious note of the lapse, a formal probe has been initiated. The incident has raised significant concerns regarding the integrity of sampling, preservation and subsequent laboratory test reports across the state by HSPCB staff. What kind of industries operate in Panipat?Panipat is internationally recognised as a ‘Textile City’, with thousands of small and large industrial units operating across the district and employing thousands of workers. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), textile industries are categorised as highly polluting and fall under the ‘Red Category’. These units require both Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) from the HSPCB, and they must adhere strictly to environmental regulations to continue operations.What samples were collected by the HSPCB officials?The HSPCB is required to collect samples annually from the effluent treatment plants (ETPs) established by industries and analyse them in certified laboratories. In this instance, officials collected samples from six Panipat-based industries to assess various parameters related to water pollution. Regional Officer Bhupender Singh Chahal and his team transported these samples to the Panchkula laboratory for testing on Thursday.What are the norms for sample preservation?The CPCB has established strict guidelines for preserving samples used to test parameters such as chemical oxygen demand (COD), oil, grease, heavy metals, chemicals and microbiological indicators. Water samples must be kept at temperatures not exceeding 4°C using ice packs. Specifically, refrigeration at 4°C is necessary to assess acidity and alkalinity, and for BOD and COD testing, the temperature must remain between 2°C and 5°C. For Iodide analysis, similar cooling is required. These temperature conditions must be maintained from the point of collection through to the laboratory.What did officials find during inspection?Upon arrival at the HSPCB headquarters in Panchkula, senior officials—including Chief Engineer Balraj Singh Ahlawat and Senior Environment Engineer JP Singh—inspected the submitted samples and found they had not been preserved in compliance with CPCB norms. Treating the matter seriously, they compiled a report and forwarded it to higher authorities for further action. A video of the inspection has since gone viral on social media. What do environmentalists think about the issue?Varun Gulati, a Delhi-based environmentalist, stated that although the CPCB has set clear preservation norms, it was a common practice among field staff to neglect proper preservation in order to ensure favourable test results. He stressed that higher authorities must take stringent action against such negligence to protect the environment.What’s next?Pradeep Dagar, Member Secretary of HSPCB, confirmed that after a proper inquiry, strict disciplinary action would be taken. In addition, the HSPCB headquarters has issued directives to all Regional Officers across the state to ensure strict adherence to preservation protocols. Laboratory personnel have also been instructed not to analyse samples that have not been preserved according to the guidelines.

Haryana Pollution Board officials flout sample preservation norms

Mukesh Tandon

Unlock Premium Insights in This Article