NGT stays commercial, industrial activities in Aravalli

Expressing concern over "flagrant violation" of law and environment norms in Aravalli Hills region in Haryana, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has stayed all commercial and industrial activities in some of its areas.

Expressing concern over "flagrant violation" of law and environment norms in Aravalli Hills region in Haryana, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has stayed all commercial and industrial activities in some of its areas.

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Taking suo motu cognisance of environmental pollution and unauthorised non-forest activities going on in the villages in the region, the NGT bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar also directed the Pollution Control Board of Haryana to file a report on the level of pollution in the region by analysing the sample air taken from the villages in the region.

"There is flagrant violation of the law and environment standards and illegal activities being carried on. We hereby restrain carrying on of any commercial activity by construction of sheds or even industrial activity, including sale and purchase of marble, liquor and gas godowns in the village Sikandrapur Ghosi (in the Aravalli hill region) till the next date of hearing.

"We further direct that the forest areas in all three villages shall be duly protected and maintained and no non-forest activity would be permitted to carry on in those villages," it said.

The tribunal also clubbed with this case a similar plea before it alleging environmental pollution and unauthorised use of forest area for non-forest activities in the Aravalli hills region.

"Both of them relate to the pollution of the environment, unauthorised use of forest area for non forest activities and carrying on mining activity. Though they relate to different villages in districts Faridabad and Gurgaon in Haryana but they all pertain to Aravali hills.

Thus, we direct both these matters to be heard together," the bench said.