Now, state can act against stone crushers violating norms: HC

Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 6

The High Court has paved the way for Haryana to proceed against stone crushing units operating from sites not meeting norms. The stone crushers were ordered to close down their existing units pursuant to a notification dated May 11, 2016.

According to the notification, all stone crushing units which did not meet the site or “siting criteria” prescribed in it were to shift to a site meeting the “siting parameters” or to identified zone, depending on availability of vacant sites.

For the purpose, three years from the date of issuance of notification was given. It was extendable for one more year, provided that the stone crushing unit procured land meeting the “siting norms” before the expiry of three years and had also applied to the Haryana State Pollution Control Board.

As the case came up for hearing, a status report by the Haryana Special Secretary, Environment Department, Shekhar Vidyarthi, was placed before the Bench of Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice Harinder Singh Sidhu.

It referred to a notification which said all stone crushing units not meeting the siting criteria prescribed were required to be shifted to a site meeting the criteria.

It was added that in respect of Panchkula region, availability of land meeting the parameters in the notification was examined. As per a report, 5.31 acres were available in already existing Burjkotian extension zone and 20.02 acre private land was available in Raipur Rani and Kalka blocks which met the siting parameters for installation of stone crushers.

“The petitioners may shift their stone crushing units in already existing crusher zone or the said private land after making due agreement with the owners of the land as per legal requirement and run their business after obtaining the NOC from the departments concerned. Therefore, the petitioners may kindly be directed to shift their crushing units on the land available,” it was added.