Day before NGT hearing, Rajasthan cracks down on illegal waste kilns in Aravallis
In a last-minute damage-control move, Rajasthan authorities dismantled several illegal rubber scrap kilns operating in the Aravalli range — just a day before a scheduled National Green Tribunal (NGT) hearing in the matter.
The action follows a suo motu cognisance taken by the NGT based on The Tribune’s December 2024 investigative report titled “Toxic kilns pollute Aravallis: Wildlife and locals suffer". The Tribunal, in its initial proceedings, pulled up both Haryana and Rajasthan and has directed their respective State Pollution Control Boards and the Forest and Environment Ministries to submit affidavits within a week.
Acting swiftly ahead of the hearing, enforcement teams from Rajasthan raided the Udhanwas village, located along the Haryana border in the Aravalli range, and demolished the makeshift rubber kilns found there. However, sources said the waste mafia got wind of the operation and fled the site with their tools before officials arrived.
In contrast, no concrete action has been reported so far from Haryana’s Tauru block, where similar illegal activities continue to thrive unchecked.
The NGT, while initiating the case, cited potential violations of multiple laws: the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, and the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
“The news item raises substantial issues relating to compliance of environmental norms and the implementation of provisions of scheduled enactments,” the Tribunal observed in its order.
It further said, “The news item on illegal scrap kilns relates to significant environmental challenges faced by the Aravalli region, particularly near the Tauru area along the Rajasthan-Haryana border due to the proliferation of illegal kilns.”
The court highlighted that these portable kilns — numbering over a dozen — operate without any legal authorisation. “They burn vehicle scrap, especially rubber tyres, to produce flattened sheets used as fuel by brick kiln operators,” the Tribunal said.
It said, “The combustion process emits toxic fumes, leading to serious health issues for local residents and the displacement of wildlife from their natural habitat. The kilns are severely polluting the soil and water, resulting in cattle deaths and a public health crisis.”
The Tribunal also pointed out the lack of accountability. “Despite repeated assurances, no stringent action has been taken by the authorities concerned. It is alleged that both Haryana and Rajasthan keep shifting the blame on each other while the issue continues openly.”
While Rajasthan’s late action may appear as compliance, all eyes are now on Haryana, where pressure is mounting for similar enforcement in areas like Tauru, which remain hotspots for these illegal and hazardous operations.
Haryana Tribune