Gurugram accounts for ₹37.8 crore in unpaid pollution compensation

Gurugram accounts for ₹37.8 crore of the environmental compensation that remains unpaid by ready-mix concrete plants in Haryana.

The Haryana government told the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that it has recovered ₹1.2 crore of the ₹40.6 crore imposed on such plants. In an August 29 affidavit, environment and forest department secretary Vasvi Tyagi said the state lacks a statutory mechanism to recover the remaining amount as arrears of land revenue.

Tyagi asked the tribunal not to require the state to pay compensation owed by private operators from public funds, saying this would weaken the polluter-pays principle.

A Haryana State Pollution Control Board report dated March 30 identified 370 ready-mix concrete plants in the state, including 186 without valid consent. Authorities initiated closure action against 190 plants; 29 were dismantled and 108 received environmental-compensation orders.

The state said the Air Act, Water Act and Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1887, do not permit recovery of this compensation as land-revenue arrears. Haryana is considering an amendment to Section 98 of the Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1887. The NGT’s final hearing is scheduled for September 30.