The recovery of environmental compensation (EC) imposed upon commercial institutions, including government, private and semi-government ones, is a big challenge for the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB). In the past seven years, the HSPCB has imposed an environmental fine upon a total of 89 commercial units. But the HSPCB has recovered just 12.58 per cent out of the total amount so far. This was revealed in an RTI reply sought by a Delhi-based environmentalist.
What information was sought and what reply was given by the HSPCB?
Varun Gulati, a Delhi-based environmentalist, in his RTI application sought information regarding the details of the total EC imposed upon the units, deposited and the pending EC on each of the units in all regions of the HSPCB with the name and address of the units till May 2026. The Panipat Regional Office provided the information in which it has mentioned the details of a total of 89 industrial units on which the HSPCB imposed EC. These included textile industries, builders, liquor factory, IOCL Refinery, brick-kilns, dyeing units, National Fertiliser Ltd, Panipat thermal power station, ready-mix concrete plants, banquet halls, JBM Environment Company — a private company involved in collecting garbage in the city, unnamed bleach houses and even an official of Public Health Department.
How much EC was imposed upon the units in Panipat and how much was recovered?
The HSPCB in its reply said that a total EC of Rs 55.28 crore has been imposed upon the commercial units for causing air and water pollution and damaging the environment. As per the reply of the HSPCB, as many as 63 units have deposited the EC with the department. 26 units have not deposited the environmental compensation so far. Out of the total EC of Rs 55.28 crore, the HSPCB has recovered Rs 6.95 crore, merely 12.58 per cent.
On which firm the highest EC was imposed and how much?
According to the data, the HSPCB has imposed the highest EC on National Fertilisers Limited (NFL) -– Rs 35.84 crore — for violating the provisions of the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 in October 2024, but it has not been deposited so far. Similarly, an EC of Rs 1.79 crore has been imposed on Ansal Builders, but it has deposited only Rs 5 lakh so far.
The board has imposed Rs 5.47 crore EC on TDI Infra, but it has not been deposited; Rs 1.15 crore on Panipat thermal power station but not deposited; Rs 6.2 lakh on SDE, Public Health Department, but not deposited; and Rs 1.96 crore on a ready-mix concrete plant but not deposited. The NGT had pulled up officials of Pollution Control Board for non-recovery of the EC from two builders Ansal and TDI in Panipat. Despite that, the amount is yet to be recovered.
What are the reasons behind the slow recovery?
The major reasons behind the slow rate of recovery are reportedly non-seriousness of the Pollution Control Board officials, the illegal and unnamed units which absconded after closure action was initiated against them and the government institutions that don’t pay up despite regular reminders. However, Yogesh Kumar, Member Secretary, HSPCB, has taken stringent steps and has directed all regional officers (ROs) in the state to speed up the pending recovery.
What did the environmentalist say?
Environmentalist Varun Gulati said imposing EC upon the violators is good, but its recovery is more important. But HSPCB officials are not serious about it. The Pollution Control Board has to collect the compensation on priority and spend it for the restoration of the environment to provide neat and clean water, land and air to the residents.
