Affidavit filed by the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board illegal and polluting kilns/crucibles along the Haryana-Rajasthan border near the Aravalli range, 01/05/2025
Short affidavit on behalf of the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) in terms of the National Green Tribunal order dated January 22, 2025.
The application was registered suo motu by the NGT on the basis of a news item titled "Toxic kilns pollution Aravallis; wildlife and locals suffer" appearing in the Tribune dated 28.12.2024. The news report highlighted the operation of illegal and polluting kilns/crucibles along the Haryana-Rajasthan border near the Aravalli range.
A site inspection was conducted on April 25, 2025 in the area mentioned in the news report. During the inspection, local residents of village Nurpur, Tauru, Haryana were contacted and they were informed that illegal kilns or "Bhattis" were operational near the Rajasthan-Haryana border. It was further stated that these units function mostly during late night hours. Acting on this input, the inspection team visited the border area between village Udhanwas (Rajasthan) and village Nurpur (Haryana).
The team found that multiple illegal crucibles/bhattis had been set up in the vicinity, some of which fall within the territorial jurisdiction of village Udhanwas, Rajasthan. A resident confirmed that approximately 8-10 such crucibles/bhattis are located within village Udhanwas (Rajasthan) while others fall under the jurisdiction of Haryana. He also informed that these Bhattis operate at night to avoid detection.
At the site, a significant quantity of waste rubber cuttings and plastic sheet cuttings from automobiles was found dumped. As per local inputs, this waste is sourced from the Manesar and Gurugram industrial areas. The waste material is reportedly burned or melted in open crucibles, and the resulting molten substance is left under the sun to dry. The dried material is later transported to other locations for grinding. The ground product is used as fuel in brick kilns, these cuttings/sheets/dried melted material is also used as fuel by these units for operating the crucibles/bhattis.
These crucibles/bhattis are operating without obtaining consent from the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board and are in violation of the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Further, no air pollution control devices or safeguards were found at the site during inspection. The emissions from such burning are therefore directly released into the atmosphere posing a serious threat to local ecology, public health, and wildlife. "The operation of these units does not require water or electricity connections, and as such, they evade detection through regular utility usage patterns," the report said.
Due to the absence of authorized landowners or governmental representatives during inspection, territorial jurisdiction and ownership of the specific parcels of land could not be conclusively established. However, locals informed that the land falls under the category of forest land. The matter has been forwarded to the District Administration for further necessary action, including the dismantling of all such illegal crucibles/bhattis located within Rajasthan’s jurisdiction.