Illegal mining causing air, noise pollution in Faridabad? NGT panel to probe

GURGAON: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has set up a committee to investigate whether illegal activities related to stone mining in the Aravalis are causing severe air and noise pollution in Anangpur village of Faridabad. The move comes after residents of Lakewood City, a residential colony in Lakkarpur near Anangpur, submitted a petition to NGT alleging that the unauthorised activities pose a serious health hazard to them.
According to the petition, unidentified people are carrying out unauthorised activities such as producing, grinding and transporting quartzite stone in the village, as well as illegally storing sand, concrete and other materials.
During a hearing on Aug 22, details of which were released on Thursday, NGT constituted a joint committee to ascertain whether these activities are indeed resulting in severe air and noise pollution in the area. The committee comprises representatives from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), the district magistrate (DM) of Faridabad, and the divisional forest officer (DFO) of Faridabad.
The committee's mandate encompasses visiting the site to determine the nature of the land, verifying whether requisite permissions were granted, and identifying the individuals or entities involved in the activities. It will also propose both remedial measures and punitive actions to address the situation.
The committee is expected to complete its investigation and submit a report in two months. The next hearing in the case will be held on Dec 3, 2024.
During the hearing, the petitioners said the forest department notified Khasra No. 1387 as forest land under Section 4 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1990, on Aug 18, 1992. The plea emphasised that this is the same land where the illegal activities are being conducted.
"Photographs submitted as evidence illustrate the extent of the ongoing work and the dust generated. The counsel also mentioned a complaint where a resident was admitted to the ICU due to pollution-related health complications. Despite repeated complaints to the state pollution control board, no action has been taken thus far... The Tribunal has issued notices to the respondents, directing them to file their responses by way of affidavit at least one week before the next hearing," stated the order by NGT chairperson Prakash Shrivastava, judicial member Arun Kumar Tyagi, and expert member Dr A Senthil Vel.
"Given the nature of the allegations, the Tribunal has constituted a joint committee... This exercise is to be completed within two months, and a report is to be filed immediately thereafter," the order further said.
Meanwhile, the forest department said that they will adhere to the order. "We will carry out an investigation as per the NGT order," a senior forest official said.