Yamunanagar: The Yamunanagar Municipal Corporation (MC) has paid a penalty of over Rs 7 crore for violating pollution control norms related to municipal solid waste management, according to information obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) application.
The fine of Rs 7.14 crore (Rs 714.06 lakh) was imposed in September 2023 by the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) following the directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
As per the RTI reply given in response to the application filed the RTI activist Kamal Anand, During an inspection on July 27, 2022, the HSPCB found that the municipal corporation was operating an illegal dumping site and was not disposing of waste as per prescribed rules. The corporation reportedly generated about 136 tonnes of waste per day but had no compliant disposal system in place.
The violation period was calculated as 142 days, resulting in the total penalty of Rs 7.14 crore.
The penalty was imposed under the “Polluter Pays” principle, which has been upheld by the Supreme Court in several landmark judgments. The corporation was directed to deposit the amount within 30 days into the pollution control board’s designated bank account.
According to the RTI reply dated February 27, 2026, filed by advocate Kamal Anand, the municipal corporation deposited Rs 7,14,06,000 on August 22, 2024. The payment receipt was attached to the response issued by the HSPCB’s Regional Office in Yamunanagar.
The RTI response confirms that the full amount has been paid and there are no outstanding dues in this case. Details about environmental compensation collected across Haryana are maintained by the HSPCB headquarters.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about waste management practices in Haryana’s urban areas. Environmental activists say such penalties are necessary to ensure compliance and protect public health. However, some observers argue that financial penalties alone may not solve systemic issues like inadequate waste processing infrastructure.
