GURGAON: Haryana’s pollution watchdog has ordered the closure and sealing of an under-construction hostel and mess block on Al-Falah University’s Faridabad campus for carrying out work despite GRAP-restrictions and without mandated environmental approvals. It also initiated prosecution-linked action after tests showed even treated effluents discharged by the university exceeded permissible limits.The disclosures emerged from an RTI reply, dated Dec 26, issued by Haryana State Pollution Control Board’s (HSPCB) Ballabgarh office to environmentalist Varun Gulati. The RTI response confirmed that Al-Falah — which is at the centre of a white-coat terror module linked to the Nov 10 Delhi blast — had a combined consent-to-operate (CTO) under the Water and Air Acts from Oct 1, 2024, to Sept 30, 2028, and was classified as a red-category “health-care establishment/projects having discharge of 100 KLD or more”.
During an inspection on Nov 15, a team of HSPCB officials collected samples from the inlet and outlet of both the sewage treatment plant (STP) and effluent treatment plant (ETP) on the campus. According to the pollution board’s laboratory report, several parameters exceeded prescribed norms.At the ETP outlet, BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) was recorded at 92 mg/l (limit 30 mg/l), COD (chemical oxygen demand) at 472.3 mg/l (limit 250 mg/l) and total suspended solids at 290 mg/l (limit 100 mg/l). The STP outlet also breached norms for BOD, TSS, TDS and faecal and total coliform. Based on these findings, the board issued a show-cause notice under sections 43, 44 and 45A of the Water Act, warning that prosecution and environmental compensation may follow.Gulati said the RTI documents pointed to serious compliance gaps. “You cannot expect the system to look the other way when you have untreated or poorly treated effluents being discharged and large construction going on during GRAP-3. The rules apply to everyone, including universities,” he said.The inspection team also found active construction of a hostel and mess block despite the curbs being in force due to severe air quality. Officials found that the university — a bulk waste generator — had not registered on the dust portal and basic controls such as wind-breaking walls, green nets, sprinklers and anti-smog guns were missing.On Nov 21, HSPCB ordered immediate closure and sealing of the site and asked the power utility to disconnect electricity to the construction area, citing directions issued by Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).In a separate show-cause notice dated Nov 28, the board alleged that the “whole university campus and associated buildings/structures” fell under the EIA Notification, 2006, and should have obtained prior environmental clearance from State Environment Impact Assessment Authority before initiating construction.A senior official said HSPCB acted on the inspection’s findings and statutory mandate. “In cases where there are violations relating to GRAP restrictions, lack of prior environmental clearance or non-compliance with effluent standards, the board issues directions and initiates proceedings under the Water, Air and Environment Protection Acts. Due process is followed in every case,” the official said.The notice to the university has proposed prosecution under the Water and Air Acts, action under Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and imposition of environmental compensation under HSPCB’s 2021 policy.
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