The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday constituted a joint committee, headed by the district administration of Jhajjar, to investigate alleged lapses in following environmental and pollution control norms by industrial units in the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) Estate, Bahadurgarh.
While admitting a petition alleging large-scale violations by about 2,500 small to large manufacturing units and directions of the Commission for Air Quality Management to control air pollution, the tribunal asked the committee to investigate the extent of violations by inspecting all units in the estate for compliance with environmental norms, clearances, compensation, and consent to establish and operate permissions. The committee will also include member secretaries of the Haryana and Central Pollution Control Board, along with the regional office of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Petitioner Harinder Kumar alleged that operating textile, shoe, leather, plastic, and rubber manufacturing units were polluting the environment through open dumping, burning, and unscientific disposal of industrial waste into water bodies.
Kumar submitted that units normally violate environmental laws by operating during night hours.
Many units had failed to install air pollution control devices and had yet to switch to biomass or PNG fuel, according to the petitioner.
