NGT halts petrol pump in Haryana college, orders review of CPCB guidelines

Indian Express

6 days ago

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Monday stopped the establishment of a petrol pump within the premises of Hindu Girls College and School at Jagadhri in Haryana's Yamuna Nagar district, citing violations of environmental guidelines. The ruling, delivered by Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, judicial member; and Dr Afroz Ahmad, expert member, also mandates a review of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) norms for setting up fuel stations to cover sensitive locations such as colleges.
The case began when Harvinder Singh, a resident of Yamuna Nagar, filed an application against the Haryana government, Hindu Girls College, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), and others in 2023. Singh challenged the approval granted by the district administration and IOCL for a petrol pump proposed by Pushpesh Passi on land leased from the college. He argued that the outlet's location, within 5–10 metres of the college and school buildings, violated CPCB guidelines of January 7, 2020, which require a minimum distance of 50 metres from schools, hospitals, and residential areas, or 30 metres with additional safety measures prescribed by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).
The tribunal found that the proposed retail outlet, on a 66 ft x 66 ft plot within the college campus, did not meet CPCB siting criteria. A joint committee inspection on June 28, 2023, showed the outlet was just 11.3 metres from the college auditorium, far short of the required distance.
The committee's report, submitted to the Yamuna Nagar district magistrate, confirmed non-compliance, prompting NGT intervention.
Key findings and orders
The tribunal stressed that CPCB guidelines are meant to safeguard public health and safety, especially in sensitive areas. It rejected the respondents' argument, including IOCL and Passi, that colleges are excluded from the term 'schools' in the guidelines. 'Keeping in mind the background and object of framing of the CPCB Guidelines dated 07.01.2020, the expression 'school' cannot be read within confines of its narrow meaning and has to be given wider interpretation… to include 'college',' the bench observed. It further held that excluding colleges on the ground that students are above 18 'does not appear… to be sound.'
The tribunal also criticised the college management for leasing land for commercial use. 'The facts pleaded by respondent no. 3 regarding vacant, non-usable land of the college… raise serious doubts regarding the bonafides, competence, [and] efficiency of the Members of the Managing Committee,' the order said. It directed the Haryana government to investigate possible mismanagement by the Hindu Girls College and School management.
Additionally, the NGT directed the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoP&NG) and the CPCB to review the 2020 guidelines within six months, stating they should be illustrative rather than exhaustive to account for other sensitive locations. 'The expressions 'schools, hospital (10 beds and above) and residential area designated as per local laws'… purport to be exhaustive whereas [they] ought to be illustrative conferring some discretion,' the bench noted.
The ruling sets a precedent for interpreting 'schools' to include colleges in environmental regulations, potentially affecting future fuel station approvals near educational institutions.
The tribunal reiterated that development must align with environmental safety, noting that 'public interest and the right to a clean environment… cannot be denied and has to be protected and implemented in the fullest measure by all instrumentalities of the State as well as the project proponents'.