Gurgaon: National Green Tribunal (NGT) came down heavily on stone crushing units in Haryana‘s Yamunanagar after a joint committee report exposed widespread violations of environmental norms.The tribunal, while hearing the matter on February 19, noted that of the 217 stone crusher units in the district, only 127 were operational as 40 were dismantled and 50 closed. The committee’s verification of 51 units in December 2025 and January 2026 revealed that all were non-operational at the time of inspection. The scrutiny underscores the scale of environmental violations in Yamunanagar, a district long associated with stone crushing clusters and rising dust pollution. Several units had non-functional or inadequate sprinklers, failed to maintain dust collectors, left conveyor belts uncovered, and did not follow housekeeping norms. None of the units secured the mandatory two-row avenue plantation approval from the forest department, as required under the September 2, 2025 notification.“During the inspection, all stone crushing units were found non-operational. Out of a total of 51 stone crushers, 11 units were closed by the Haryana State Pollution Control Board due to previous non-compliances, while the remaining 40 units were non-operational and did not submit any information regarding their operational status to the Board,” the order recorded. The tribunal expressed concern over the failure of units to meet basic dust suppression and plantation requirements. It observed that “none of the stone crusher unit got approved the plantation plan for two rows of avenue plantation from DFO Yamunanagar as per notification dated 02.09.2025.” The order also highlighted lapses such as inadequate sprinklers, uncovered conveyor belts, missing dust collectors, and poor housekeeping. One inspection report pointed out: “Unit has provided 15 no. of sprinklers having 54 nozzles out of which 6 nozzles are not functional. While at least 50 sprinklers along with water storage facility of minimum 10 KLD are required as per Notification dated 02.09.2025.”Regulatory action was initiated, with the HSPCB issuing multiple show cause notices. In several cases, notices sent by post were returned undelivered and had to be served in person. While some units submitted replies claiming compliance, the tribunal noted that these “require re-verification.” In one instance, where no reply was filed, the order recorded: “Unit has not submitted reply of SCN therefore Speaking order was passed on 13.02.2026 for initiation of closure action.“
