GURUGRAM: The Haryana State Pollution Control Board officials have announced that landowners who lease or sell agricultural plots for unauthorized factory operations will now face criminal charges along with the operators of these units. This initiative forms part of the ongoing efforts to address the annual air quality crisis affecting Delhi-NCR.
FIRs will now be filed against both landowners and tenants where industrial activities are detected on farmland without the necessary approvals. This marks a significant shift from past enforcement actions, which primarily focused on sealing or demolishing such units. Senior officials have directed teams to locate these plots and initiate criminal proceedings against landowners who permit these activities.
“When an illegal unit operates on agricultural land, FIRs will be filed against both the operator and the landowner. The goal is to dismantle the supply chain that allows these units to reappear,” stated an official from HSPCB in Gurgaon.
While there have been sporadic instances of FIRs against landowners or tenants in the past, this is the first organized campaign in the state aimed at tackling air pollution effectively.
The rise of unauthorized factories, warehouses, and recycling operations outside designated industrial zones is concerning, especially as many lack essential pollution control measures. Numerous units depend on diesel generators and operate furnaces and boilers, contributing significantly to particulate emissions that linger under heavy winter air.
Environmental officials have warned that activities such as metal processing, plastic recycling, and small-scale fabrication are prevalent in these areas, with many units working at night to avoid inspections.
Recent inspections have uncovered hundreds of such units functioning outside approved industrial zones. Although enforcement teams have sealed multiple sites and demolished illegal structures in recent weeks, officials acknowledge that closures alone are insufficient, as operators often relocate.
“This signifies that accountability is being shifted upstream. Previously, operators would relocate post-raids while landowners remained unaffected. By including land providers in scrutiny, repeat infractions are expected to decrease,” remarked an officer involved in the initiative.
Harish Sharma, the regional officer at HSPCB Ballabhgarh, stated that the agency is working in conjunction with tehsildars for better enforcement. “We are verifying land records of pollution-causing units to identify genuine owners. FIRs will be filed against them,” added Sharma.
Environmental activists have welcomed this development but stress that enforcement must be consistent. “For years, illegal units simply moved from one village to another after crackdowns. While holding landowners accountable is crucial, regular inspections and ensuring that FIRs reach their conclusion are essential for preventing the reemergence of these factories,” said activist Narender Sihori.
The pollution board has been tasked with intensifying inspections and providing details of non-compliant units to district authorities for coordinated responses. Revenue officials are also cross-checking land records to identify agricultural plots being misused for industrial purposes, officials confirmed.
