Show-cause notice to 17 polluting stone crushers, screening plants in Yamunanagar
The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has issued show-cause notices for closure action to 17 stone crushers and screening plants of Yamunanagar.
The notices were issued after a joint committee, constituted on the directions of the National Green Tribunal, inspected stone crushers and screening plants and found a number of deficiencies.
During inspection, the joint team found several units had not provided water sprinklers with adequately designed nozzles in the unloading area of raw material, primary crusher, screener, conveyor belts and transfer points.
Several units were found running without installing dry extraction systems, including bag filters and cyclones at secondary and tertiary crushers.
In the inspection, the team found that several units had not covered conveyor belts from node to node with a thick sheet of suitable material. The joint team also found that several units had not provided flexible telescopic chutes from the top of discharge points to the ground level.
During inspection, it also came to light that several units had not constructed a brick wind-breaking wall three feet higher than the highest node of the crusher along the periphery. Several units had not developed metalled or concrete roads, ramps and ground areas within the premises.
It also came to light that several units had not arranged rotating water sprinkling system foggers or anti-smog guns to suppress dust within the premises. Also, several of them had not planted two-three rows of tall trees around the periphery. Besides, some of the units had not maintained a complete hour-wise logbook for the consumption of energy.
Virender Singh Punia, Regional Officer of HSPCB, Yamunanagar, said those units were not in compliance with the provisions of the notification of May 11, 2016, the Central Pollution Control Board’s environmental guidelines for stone crushers (July 2023) and the conditions of the Consent to Operate granted under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981.
“The notices were issued under Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, revocation of consent to operate (CTO) granted under Air Act, prosecution under Air Act and imposition of environmental compensation,” said Regional Officer Virender Singh Punia.
Haryana Tribune