Judgment of the National Green Tribunal regarding plywood factories operating in Yamuna Nagar, Haryana, 27/05/2025
Judgment of the National Green Tribunal, May 27, 2025 in the matter of Sumit Saini Vs Shree Ram Steel Industries & Others. Sumit Saini, resident of village Damla, District Yamuna Nagar, Haryana had sent a letter petition dated May 14, 2022 to the NGT.
The application said that around 25 plywood factories are operating in the village Damla and around 1000 in the entire district of Yamuna Nagar. Also, 5 brick kilns are also running. The applicant also attached pictures showing air pollution and black ash is found on the roofs of every house. The health of the villagers is mostly deteriorating. In most of these factories, there are no plants to control pollution. The amount of saltpetre is also increasing the drinking water of the village. The applicant said that it is suspected that some factories are making borewells in the ground and pouring dirty water in it, due to which the quality of underground water is deteriorating.
The NGT, May 27, 2025 observed that guidelines have been framed by the MoEF&CC/CPCB regarding sand mining, stone crushers, brick kilns, common bio medical waste treatment plants laying down measures for control of air and water pollution. Plywood industries having pollution index of 78.3 falling in Orange category are acknowledged to cause air and water pollution as reflected by the categorization of the same by CPCB but no guidelines have been issued regarding location, pollution control devices for prevention and control of air and water pollution, safeguards to be adopted in use of chemicals which have carcinogenic properties.
Accordingly, the NGT directed MoEF&CC to look into the matter and take appropriate measures for framing of requisite guidelines for plywood industries and to file action taken report in this regard within six months before the Registrar General of the Tribunal. The court also directed the Haryana State Pollution Control Board to review the orders granting consent to operate to six plywood industries for incorporating basic information regarding the same, verifying their compliance status and imposing appropriate conditions to prevent and control pollution and protect improvement.
HSPCB was directed to inspect 15 plywood industries to confirm whether the industries are having resin plant and manufacturing the chemicals (Phenol Formaldehyde or Melamine Formaldehyde) for captive purpose or procuring the chemicals from outside for manufacturing the final product and in case any of the above said plywood industries is having resin plant and manufacturing chemicals for captive purpose, then to revoke consent and issue order for closure of the resin plant only till obtaining of environmental clearance for the same by the concerned Project Proponent as per provisions of the EIA Notification 2006.
HSPCB was also directed to carry out site inspection of the plywood units to confirm whether requisite safeguards regarding storage and use of the chemicals formaldehyde/glue have been adopted by the above said plywood industries and take appropriate action on the basis of the inspection and file its report in this regard within three months before Registrar General of the Tribunal.
HSPCB was directed to (i) prepare and implement SOP and evolve mechanism for verifying proper disposal of wood ash by the plywood industries in accordance with environmental norms/directions given by the Supreme Court and the Tribunal and the EC/consent conditions and (ii) to verify the facts regarding disposal of wood ash by the plywood industries in low lying areas and compliance of the conditions regarding storage and transportation of wood ash in accordance with environmental norms/directions given by the Supreme Court and the NGT.
The plywood industries have been directed to maintain proper record regarding generation and disposal of wood ash and also to ensure proper disposal of wood ash in accordance with the environmental norms/guidelines and submit quarterly report to HSPCB in the matter with complete record with copies of all relevant documents regarding disposal of wood ash.
HSPCB has been directed to verify the factual position regarding installation and adequacy of air pollution control equipment for prevention and control of air pollution including fugitive emission in all the 28 plywood industries and file its report in the matter within three months. The Divisional Forest Officer, Yamuna Nagar was directed to verify the factual position as to whether all the 28 plywood industries have raised sufficient plantation and to submit report within one month from the date of receipt of copy of the order specifying the deficiencies of plantation in terms of area, location, number and nature of species of trees and suggesting measures required to be taken by all the 28 plywood industries for remedying deficiencies of plantation and the budget amount required for the same.
HSPCB was directed to review the consent to operate already granted and include condition for raising of plantation/creation of green belt in case of plywood industries where no such condition has been imposed and (ii) issue directions to all the plywood industries impleaded as respondents in the case for raising of adequate plantation/creation of green belt as per recommendations of Divisional Forest Officer, Yamuna Nagar.
The Member Secretary, HSPCB was also directed to take requisite steps for issuance of appropriate instructions for imposition of condition regarding raising of plantation/creation of green belt at the time of grant of consent to establish/Consent to Operate in case of new plywood industry and at the time of renewal of Consent to Operate in case of an already existing plywood industry. All the project proponents (impleaded as respondent no. 1 in all the 28 cases registered as O.A. No. 849/2024 to 876/2024) are directed to raise plantation and create green belts of requisite width around the periphery/boundary of all the 28 plywood industries and the village roads during forth coming monsoon season in accordance with the recommendations of the Divisional Forest Officer, Yamuna Nagar and to file compliance report in this regard within four months.
HSPCB was directed to take samples from the borewells and also ground water and get the same analyzed for prescribed parameters not only for domestic effluent but also industrial effluent and take appropriate action on the basis of analysis reports in accordance with law and file reports. All the Project Proponents were also directed to install flow meters on the borewells and maintain record regarding consumption of groundwater and to file compliance report in the matter.
HSPCB has been directed to upload the information with relevant details regarding plywood industries in the state of Haryana on its website with compliance status thereof and file report in the matter within three months. MoEF&CC is directed to look into the matter and take appropriate measures for framing of requisite guidelines for plywood industries and to file action taken report.