Chandigarh: National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken serious note of environmental compliance gaps among stone crushers operating in Punjab’s Ropar district, with only 10 of 153 units inspected by Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) found compliant, while 71 were found non-compliant and 55 partially compliant.The bench comprising NGT chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Dr Afroz Ahmad is hearing a case pertaining to illegal mining in Ropar.According to PPCB’s status report placed before the tribunal, there are 171 stone crushers in Ropar district. Of these, 153 had been inspected for compliance with environmental norms and conditions attached to the consents granted by board. In all, 17 of these units were found closed.The inspections covered safeguards, including machinery installed, display of environmental data, conveyor belts and chutes, water-spraying arrangements, stabilisation of movement areas, plantation, septic tanks for treatment of domestic effluent, recirculation tanks, boundary walls, installation of cameras and air pollution control devices. Compliance with the conditions of consent granted by PPCB was also examined.The tribunal observed that the units found non-compliant or partially compliant required further inspection and appropriate action by PPCB for the violations identified. It also noted that 18 of the 171 stone crushers were yet to be inspected. PPCB sought a week’s time to submit a comprehensive report on the remaining units, which the NGT allowed.PPCB informed the tribunal that action had already been initiated against four crushers and environmental compensation had been imposed.The board also informed the tribunal that in view of non-compliance with environmental norms by the stone crushers, action had been taken by PPCB’s regional office in Ropar. Separate notices for violations of the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, had been issued to all 71 non-compliant crushers.The board said advisories for compliance with the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and the code of practice had been issued to all 55 crushers found to be partially compliant by the visiting officers.The board also informed the tribunal that its officers had carried out ambient air quality monitoring in cluster zones where stone crushers are situated in Sainsowal, Algran, Plata, Agampur, Khera Kalmot and Saidpur areas of Ropar. Analysis of the ambient air quality monitoring showed that of the 18 samples collected across six locations, six samples from two locations, Saidpur and Plata, were found to be within the permissible limit of 150 µg/m3 for SPM/PM10.The board stated that three samples were collected at Algran village near the local govt school. Of these, one sample was found to be within the permissible limit, recording 139 µg/m3 for SPM/PM10. The remaining two samples were found to be marginally above the permissible limit of 150 µg/m3, recording 185 µg/m3 and 167 µg/m3, respectively, for SPM/PM10.Taking note of the submission, the tribunal directed the authorities concerned to ensure no illegal mining took place in the district. The matter is listed for Sept 9.
