In 2 years, 308 units penalised Rs40 cr for groundwater misuse

Bhartesh Singh Thakur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 1

After the intervention of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has imposed a fine of around Rs 40 crore on 308 industrial units, including stone crushers and, for illegal groundwater extraction in the past two years.

In Charkhi Dadri, as many as 278 stone crushers have been fined Rs 31.67 crore but none has paid it so far. A stone crusher at Kheri Battar has been fined Rs 1.23 crore, while another in the same area has been penalised Rs 1.05 crore.

There are 20 units in Panipat, including Cooperative Sugar Mills, and spinning mills against whom a penalty of Rs 6.46 crore has been recommended to the HSPCB headquarters. A fine of Rs 4.13 crore has also been recommended against the sugar mill alone, but the final order is awaited.

FOLLOWING NGT DIRECTIONS

We’ve imposed fine only on the NGT directions. We don’t have the mandate to impose fine for illegal groundwater extraction. Earlier, the DCs had the power but now, the Haryana Water Resources Authority will act against the erring units. —S Narayanan, HSPCB member secretary

In Barhi of Sonepat, a fine of Rs 5 lakh has been imposed on five units for illegal groundwater extraction. Two units in Ballabgarh and Bahadurgarh have been fined Rs 36.29 lakh.

The compensation has been calculated as per a notification of the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), dated September 28, 2020, which was brought in compliance with the directions given in the NGT order in Shailesh Singh’s case on July 20, 2020.

“The entire penalty has been imposed in the past two years only. It is a new concept under which the environmental compensation is evaluated,” said S Narayanan, HSPCB member secretary.

Earlier, the units in Haryana used to take permission from the CGWB for groundwater extraction, but now the power lies with the Haryana Water Resources (Conservation, Regulation and Management) Authority (HWRA).

“So far, we have given permission to more than 275 units to extract groundwater. We won’t permit the extraction in overexploited zones. Those who haven’t taken permission, they will be subjected to an environmental compensation as per the NGT directions,” said Keshni Anand Arora, HWRA chairperson.

“The industrial units can apply for permission on the HWRA portal. For increasing awareness, a number of workshops have been conducted. Moreover, the HWRA is also bringing out a village-wise categorisation of groundwater table soon,” she added.