NGT orders probe into crusher unit digging 4 times permissible limit

Kullu: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered a joint committee to inquire into allegations of illegal mineral extraction by a stone crusher unit in Haroli subdivision of Una district in Himachal Pradesh.In a recent order, NGT chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava directed the committee, comprising the Una deputy commissioner and representatives of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change—to visit the mineral site in Nangal Khurd village of Haroli and examine the allegations.Justice Shrivastava also directed the panel to "find out the extent of illegal excavation and whether the stone crusher unit owner has violated conditions of consent to operate (CTO) and environmental clearance norms."He asked the committee to complete the exercise and submit a report within eight weeks, and to suggest appropriate remedial and punitive measures.The tribunal's order came on an original application (OA) filed by four residents of Nangal Khurd and social activist Rohit Singh. The applicants accused M/s Mahadev Stone Crusher of large-scale illegal mineral extraction beyond the quantity sanctioned by authorities, resulting in damage to private agricultural land.The application stated that the approved extraction limit for the unit was 44,000 metric tonnes per year, or 88,000 metric tonnes over two years.However, the unit declared extraction of 1,42,000 metric tonnes over two years—61% above the permitted limit.The applicants further claimed that based on calculations using the govt's electricity consumption formula, the actual extraction was about 3,78,000 metric tonnes over two years—more than four times the permissible limit.They also alleged that the unit illegally excavated around 27 kanals of private agricultural land belonging to three applicants to a depth of nearly 100 feet, without any lease or permission.Terming it "predatory mining", the application said the excavation has "permanently destroyed the hillslope, stripped the land of all agricultural utility, and removed natural vegetation, creating conditions for monsoon flooding of fields."The applicants further alleged that despite these violations, the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board renewed the unit's CTO and failed to act even after its own inspection on Dec 17, 2025, found five critical deficiencies, including inadequate dust suppression, absence of bag filters and unmetalled roads.Urging the NGT to cancel the CTO and all mining permissions granted to the unit and impose an environmental penalty, the applicants said that despite repeated complaints, authorities failed to take action.