Living under a dust blanket in Haryana’s Mahendragarh

Sub: Env

Sec: Pollution

Context:

The situation in Khatoli Ahir and surrounding villages in Haryana’s Mahendragarh district paints a grim picture of the human and environmental costs of unchecked industrial activity, particularly stone crushing.

Key Issues:

Health Hazards

Respiratory and Skin Diseases: Villagers frequently suffer from tuberculosis, laboured breathing, skin allergies, and eye irritation.
- Statistics: Cases of airborne diseases doubled from 2011 (21,329) to 2019 (42,309), coinciding with the rise of stone crusher units.
- Children at Risk: Severe cases include kidney ailments and breathing difficulties among children as young as five.
Dust Exposure: Despite keeping doors and windows shut, homes and food are perpetually covered in dust. The constant inhalation and ingestion of stone dust have made chronic illnesses commonplace.

Environmental Degradation

Aravali Mountain Range: The rampant mining and stone-crushing damage this ecologically sensitive region.
Agriculture: Dust settling on crops reduces yield despite fertile, irrigated land.
Flora and Fauna: Trees and vegetation are perpetually cloaked in layers of grey dust, inhibiting photosynthesis and growth.

Socioeconomic Challenges

Marginalized Communities: Families allotted land under welfare schemes are among the worst affected, as many live near crusher units.
Economic Strain: Rising medical bills leave families with little for other necessities.
Marriage Prospects: Young women face stigma due to health concerns in the area, affecting their prospects.

Legal and Administrative Failures:

Supreme Court and NGT Orders Ignored: Despite repeated closure directives and penalties on stone-crushing units, implementation remains weak.
- NGT Orders (2019-2023): Directed the closure of illegal units and imposed fines under the “polluter pays” principle, yet many units continue operating.
Inconsistent Data: Official figures on operational stone crushers vary, undermining effective regulation.
Collusion Allegations: Locals allege complicity of authorities and politicians with the stone-crushing mafia.

Key Guidelines By CPCB:

The CPCB guidelines cover various aspects of stone crushing, such as source emissions, product storage, transportation, water consumption and legal compliance. Some of the key features of the guidelines are:
The stone crushers should obtain consent to establish and consent to operate (CTO) from the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) before starting their operations.
Stone crushing unit shall comply with emission norms prescribed under the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 and conditions laid down in CTO by the concerned SPCB/PCC.
They should install adequate pollution control devices, such as dust suppression systems, covers, screens and sprinklers, to reduce the dust emissions from crushing, loading and unloading activities.
They should also store their products in covered areas or silos to prevent wind-blown dust.
The stone crushers should use water judiciously and ensure its availability and quality and procure their raw material from legal sources and maintain proper records of their transactions.
A District Level Committee is to be constituted under the chairmanship of the District Magistrate/Deputy Commissioner so that surprise inspections for surveillance of stone-crushing units located under their jurisdiction can be carried out on a regular basis.
Health surveys of workers should be carried out by the stone crusher on a half-yearly basis.

About Aravalli Mountain Range:

The Aravalli Mountain Range is one of the oldest mountain systems in the world, located in northwestern India. The range extends from Gujarat in the southwest to Delhi in the northeast, spanning a length of approximately 800 kilometers. It traverses through the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi.

Geological Significance:

The Aravallis are Precambrian in origin, dating back to nearly 2.5–3 billion years.
They are primarily composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks, such as granite, marble, and quartzite.
The range has been heavily eroded over millions of years, leaving behind low hills and ridges.

Physical Features:

Guru Shikhar, located in Mount Abu in Rajasthan, is the highest peak of the Aravalli Range, rising to an elevation of 1,722 meters.
The range acts as a natural barrier, preventing desert winds from the Thar Desert from advancing into the fertile plains of northern India.

Environmental Importance:

The Aravalli Range is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, including dry deciduous forests and wildlife such as leopards, sloth bears, and a variety of bird species.
The range helps in groundwater recharge and acts as a green lung for the region.
It plays a critical role in regulating the local climate by influencing rainfall patterns.

Human and Cultural Significance:

The range is rich in mineral resources, including marble, granite, and non-ferrous minerals like zinc and lead.
Historical forts and temples, such as the Dilwara Temples in Mount Abu and the Kumbhalgarh Fort, are located in the Aravalli region, showcasing its cultural heritage.
Cities like Jaipur and Udaipur lie in the foothills of the Aravallis, benefiting from its resources and tourism potential.

Challenges:

The Aravallis face significant threats due to deforestation, illegal mining, and urbanization.
Environmental degradation has led to loss of biodiversity, declining groundwater levels, and desertification in surrounding areas.