Firms fined for Aravalli dumping

The Haryana forest department has imposed penalties of ₹10.30 lakh on three companies for illegally dumping construction debris and industrial waste across protected forest areas in Nuh district.

- Leena Dhankhar

GURUGRAM: It has also lodged police complaints against the three firms seeking action under the Forest Conservation Act. Police have registered first information reports (FIRs) in the case.

According to officials, the first major violation surfaced on June 27 near Khori Kalan village, located along the foothills of the Aravallis in Nuh. Forest patrolling teams, acting on a tip-off, intercepted a truck laden with waste material attempting to illegally dump debris inside designated forest land.

Sensing trouble, the driver fled the spot, abandoning the vehicle.

However, forest officials managed to seize photographic and video evidence, capturing the scale of damage already inflicted on nearly 1,000sqm of pristine Aravalli terrain.

Investigation revealed that a private electronics and contract manufacturing unit was allegedly responsible for orchestrating the waste dumping operation, officials said.

The forest department slapped a ₹5 lakh penalty on the company and lodged a formal complaint with Taoru Sadar Police Station, demanding immediate registration of an FIR under stringent environmental and forest protection laws.

Forest teams uncovered another major dumping site near Silakhon hills, an area already battling illegal encroachments and quarrying.