Context:
In Haryana’s Mahendragarh, stone cutting and crushing in the Aravali mountain range impacts health and agricultural output. Ashok Kumar reports on the sufferings of the people who live in close proximity to the crushing machines. Their homes and crops are covered in dust so thick it looks like snow.
Environmental Crisis in Khatoli Ahir Village
- Location: Khatoli Ahir village, Haryana, India
- Issue: Continuous operation of stone crushers since 2019
- Housing: Free plots allotted by Haryana government in 2012 under Indira Gandhi Awas Yojana
- Only 20 families have moved into the houses
- Health Impact:
- Dust from crushers enters homes, causing respiratory issues
- Villagers have reported eating the dust
- Increased health issues like skin allergies, labored breathing, and itchy eyes
- Agriculture:
- Stone crushers located near agricultural fields, leading to reduced crop production
- Dust from crushers settles on crops, especially in winter
- Government Action:
- National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered closure of 72 stone crusher units in 2019
- A report two years later showed 162 units, with 107 in Nangal Choudhary sub-division
- Haryana State Pollution Control Board claims 81 stone crushers operational in the district
- Economic Impact:
- Villagers spending all their savings on medicines and doctors’ fees
- Many families migrating due to worsening health conditions
- Local Infrastructure:
- Road to Dholera village covered with layers of grey stone dust from the crushers
Stone Crushing’s Broader Impact in Mahendragarh District
- Health Report:
- 2021 report from Narnaul Civil Surgeon shows a sharp increase in air-borne diseases
- Primary cause: Proliferation of stone crushers in the district
- NGT’s Role:
- The report was part of compliance with the NGT’s 2020 order following multiple petitions against the crushers
- Legal Actions and Mobilization:
- Tejpal Yadav and his brother Ajay Yadav mobilized the community against stone crushers in 2016
- Filed petitions to the NGT in 2018 for closure orders and against illegal crushers
- NGT directed closure of illegal polluting stone crushers in 2019
- Compensation of ₹20 lakh imposed on each stone crusher under the “polluter pays” principle in 2020 and 2023
- NGT’s Orders Not Fully Implemented:
- Despite legal orders, full implementation remains pending
- Tejpal dedicates weekends and holidays to the legal battle and conducting community awareness meetings
Community Struggles and Resistance
- Local Activism:
- Ajay Yadav, a former journalist, describes the fight as a mass movement against the stone-crushing and mining mafia
- The Yadav brothers continue to rally the community through meetings (nukkad sabhas)
- Villagers’ Struggle:
- Ongoing issues of health, economic hardships, and environmental degradation persist despite legal actions and mobilization
