Gurgaon: A dyeing unit that was issued a show-cause notice proposing closure and prosecution continued to function, it has been learnt.
Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) had issued the notice against M/s Trilok Dyeing — engaged in washing jeans — operating near the Gurgaon canal in the Rahaka area for allegedly running without mandatory consents, a TOI investigation found recently.
Dyeing units are tagged as ‘red' industries because of their heavy pollution load and they are only allowed to run in industrial hubs, not in residential areas.
An RTI reply issued by HSPCB's Gurgaon (north) regional office to city resident Varun Gulati showed the board received a complaint on April 3, 2025, about the illegal unit operating near the canal. Following this, officials carried out a spot inspection on June 10, 2025 and prepared an inspection report.
The inspection report noted that the unit was found operating without consent to establish (CTE) and consent to operate (CTO), permissions required under pollution control laws.
Based on the inspection, HSPCB issued the notice under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
However, enforcement action appeared incomplete. In its RTI response dated July 3, 2025, HSPCB said environmental compensation will be imposed after the closure order is issued and directions to DHBVN for electricity disconnection will also be issued only after closure directions are passed.
The TOI spot-check found operations continuing at the unit, raising concerns that possible discharge and pollution risk near the canal could still be ongoing despite the board's action.
An HSPCB official said, "We will investigate the issue and take action accordingly."
According to norms, only treated industrial waste can be discharged into Najafgarh, but none of the rules were followed at these illegal units, which appeared to be abandoned plots or warehouses.
As the clean-up of Yamuna waters became a talking point, experts said the river cannot be revived only with measures introduced in Delhi. NCR's other districts, which add to the river's pollution load, will need to play their role too.
Environmentalist Varun Gulati said, "There are several such illegal units in Gurgaon that have been polluting the Yamuna, but action against them is pending."
Ipsita Pati is an environment journalist with over a decade of ex...
Read MoreIpsita Pati is an environment journalist with over a decade of experience, currently reporting for The Times of India. She covers climate change, land use, and green laws, with a focus on regulatory accountability. Her work highlights the environmental implications of policy decisions and development on ground.
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