As pollution rises, Haryana shuts 120 stone crushers, mix plants in 2 districts

Bijendra Ahlawat
Tribune News Service
Faridabad, November 13

The Haryana State Pollution Control Board has closed down over 120 stone crushers and hot mix plants in Faridabad and Palwal districts till November 17.

The move comes following the order of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to shut hot mix plants and stone crushers in view of a spike in air pollution in Delhi-NCR.

While particulate matter (PM) 2.5 was 497 (hazardous) on November 9, the air quality falls in the “very poor” category in both districts.

“Considering the fact that the air quality index (AQI) is “very poor” and may deteriorate further, the implementing agencies must ensure that hot mix plants and stone crushers remain closed till November 17,” said the order passed by the CPCB. Besides, the CPCB has also asked the NCR authorities to go in for mechanised cleaning of roads and water sprinkling, particularly on road stretches with high dust generation potential. The apex pollution watchdog had said guidelines and standard operating procedures for dust mitigation at construction sites should be adhered to under the GRAP measures.

Stating that the governments of Punjab and Haryana had been asked to take immediate stringent actions to curb stubble burning and authorities in Delhi-NCR to check biomass burning, an official said the agencies had been told to comply with the NGT order banning firecrackers during the period.

“All 90 stone crushers have been shut down,’’ said Smita Kanodia, Regional Officer, PCB, Faridabad. “Thirty crushers were non-functional. Five hot mix plants in Palwal have also been shut,” said a district official. Municipal Corporation officials said over 500 challans have been issued for violation of pollution norms in the city in the past two weeks.