NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL disposed of two original applications regarding environmental pollution by Plaster of Paris units in Bikaner. The Tribunal relied on a factual report confirming pollution control measures were largely adopted and found no evidence of statutory violation to warrant further action.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
Item Nos.04&05
BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL CENTRAL ZONE BENCH, BHOPAL (Through Video Conferencing)
Original Application No.261/2024(CZ)
Devidas Khatri Applicant(s) Vs. State of Rajasthan & Ors. Respondent(s)
With
Original Application No.23/2025(CZ) (Earlier O.A. No.35/2025 - PB) Ram Singh Applicant(s) Vs. State of Rajasthan & Ors. Respondent(s)
Date of Hearing: 22.08.2025
CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SHEO KUMAR SINGH, JUDICIAL MEMBER HON'BLE DR. AFROZ AHMAD, EXPERT MEMBER
For Applicant (s): Mr. Rohit Kumar Tuteja, adv. For Respondent(s) : Mr. Rohit Sharma, Adv. for RSPCB Mr. Om Shankar Shrivastava, Adv. for R-2 Mr. Lokendra Singh Kachhawa, Adv. for R-5-19 Mr. Rachit Soni, Adv. for Mr. Shoeb H. Khan, adv. for State
ORDER
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O.A. No.261/2024(CZ) Devidas Khatri Vs. State of Rajasthan & Ors. With
O.A. No.23/2025(CZ) Ram Singh Vs. State of Rajasthan & Ors.
engaged in manufacturing of Plaster of Paris in Khara Industrial Area in Tehsil & District - Bikaner, Rajasthan.
“Factual & action taken report in compliance of Hon’ble National Green Tribunal Central Zone, Bhopal order dated 13-12-2024 in the matter of OA 261/2024 (CZ), Devidas Khatri V/s State of Rajasthan & Ors.
Hon’ble National Green Tribunal, Central Zone Bench, Bhopal vide order dated 13-12-2024 issued following order/instructions in the matter of OA 261/2024(CZ) of Devidas Khatri V/s State of Rajasthan & Ors: -
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O.A. No.23/2025(CZ) Ram Singh Vs. State of Rajasthan & Ors.
of Paris in Khara Industrial Area in Tehsil & District – Bikaner, Rajasthan.
2. It is further contended that the irregular and unchecked operation of these units led to severe pollution as per the newspaper articles the AQI of the disputed area was 900, which is very high. As per the news articles the residents of Khara Village are directly affected and are suffering from disease like Asthma etc.
3. It is further alleged that these units are in operation in violation of environmental laws extracting ground water without due permission of the Central Ground Water Authority and they are violating the conditions stipulated in the consent to operate issued to them by the State Pollution Control Board.
4. A substantial issue of environment has been raised.
7. We deem it just and proper to call a report on the matter in issue, in present Original Application, from a Joint Committee consisting of: -
8. The Committee is directed to visit the place and submit the factual and action taken report with the list of units operating in the field with detail of consent conditions within six weeks. The State PCB will be the nodal agency for coordination and logistic support.
Constitution of the Joint Committee: -
In compliance of above Hon’ble Tribunal order dated 13-12-2024, the following officials have been nominated as members of Joint Committee by respective departments: -
Pollution Control Board, Rajasthan).
Introduction: –
The OA No 261/2024 (CZ) of Devidas Khatri V/s State of Rajasthan & Ors is related with violation of environmental
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norms and laws by plaster of paris (POP) manufacturing industries in Khara Industrial Area (i.e. Growth Centre, Khara). Plaster of Paris industries are covered under orange category as per categorization of industries/project/ process/activities/mines issued vide State Board office order no. F14(23)/Policy/RPCB/Plg/153 to189 dated 02-062020. Copy of the categorization dated 02-06-2020 is enclosed at Annexure-R-3.
About plaster of paris industries: -
The majority of gypsum deposits are found in the Bikaner District and nearby areas. Gypsum mineral is the only raw material used in plaster of paris manufacturing. Plaster of Paris contains the calcium sulfate hemihydrates (CaSO4.0.5 H2O). This is prepared by heating the gypsum which contains calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO4·2H2O) at temperature about 150°C (140- 180°C). Gypsum shapes the POP when heated to such a temperature. Majorly Plaster of Paris industries are situated in Bikaner District in different clusters.
Manufacturing process of Plaster of Paris: -
Plaster of paris industries are running on old and obsolete technology due to no advancement in technology. Plaster of paris manufacturing is batch process. Firstly, gypsum is crushed in hammer mill/jaw crusher to reduce the size of gypsum. After that, the crushed gypsum is stored in hopper with the help of bucket elevators. Gypsum is fed into rotary drum calciner from hopper for calcination process.
The Rotary Drum calciners are horizontal drums, rotating along the horizontal shaft at slow speed of around 10-12 rpm. The gypsum (inside rotary drum calciner) is heated in the furnace so that the temperature rises to 140- 180 °C inside the drum for 1 to 2 hrs for removing physical moisture. To convert gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) into Plaster of paris (CaSo4 0.5H2O) by one and half molecules of water is removed. Furnace temperature is subjectively maintained at around 400-450 °C.
The calcined plaster of paris after cooling is fed with the help of bucket elevator in the pulveriser for reducing size and packed in airtight bags.
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There is no use of water during manufacturing of Plaster of Paris in these industries and water is used only for drinking purpose only.
Flow chart process : - Fuel
Raw gypsum Crushing and Cooling and
Calcining pulverizing
Lumps grinding of
lumps
Packing
Agro waste and wood are most commonly used fuel in calciner furnace.
All the dust emissions are primarily fugitive in nature and are generated due to raw material storage, material handling, vehicular movement, crushing of lump and pulverizing activities. During calcining process, stack emission is also generated from calciner drum and flue gases emission from calciner furnace.
The major source of dust emission is the drum vent pipe and combustion gas emissions from furnace during calcination. During calcination, as the gypsum is heated, the water vapour is liberated while coming out of drum calciner outlet, which also carries fine dust particles of gypsum/POP along with them. A gap is left between calciner drum vent and stack to smell the steam, so that it becomes clear that the process of making the plaster of paris has been completed.
Flow diagram of Calcination process and emissions source
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Details of pollution control measures adopted by Plaster of paris industries: -
The emissions from rotary drum calciner are dispersed into atmosphere by natural draft through a trapezoidal stack. The water vapors pass through the stack and the dust being moist gets settled at the bottom of the stack from where it is removed and reused. Industries has provided stacks about 11 meters at calciner furnaces for emissions generated from furnaces.
Earlier, a study was conducted by CPCB in 2007 on Plaster of Paris industries for development of environmental standards and preparing comprehensive industry document for Plaster of Paris industries. Plaster of Paris industries has adopted Pollution Control Measures as suggested in the aforesaid study. Copy of development of environmental standards and preparing comprehensive industry document for Plaster of Paris industries by CPCB in 2007 is enclosed at Annexure-R-4
Field Visit by the Joint Committee: -
The Joint Committee has visited the Growth Centre, Khara and industries of plaster of paris, nearby area of Khara village on date 28-01-2024 for the verification of status of Industries and industrial area. During visit Shri Surendra Prasad Sharma, Regional Manager, RIICO Ltd. was also present. Details during the visit are mentioned as under:-
a. RIICO Ltd has established Growth Centre, Khara in the year of 1994 in Bikaner District. Growth Centre, Khara has been developed in different specified zone i.e general zone, ceramic zone, mineral zones.
b. One mineral zone of Growth Centre, Khara is situated adjacent to the Khara Village. Distance between Growth Centre, Khara and village khara is approx. 30 meters.
c. Some plaster of paris industries is also established in converted private land in village Khara. Distance of plaster of paris industries from village khara those situated on converted land is approx 1.5 to 2 Km.
d. Total 120 plaster of paris industries are situated in Village Khara (in RIICO allotted land and converted land).
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Presently 82 industries were found operational, 36 industries were found non-operational and 2 industries were found closed. Details of 120 plaster of paris industries along with Consent status and status of upgradation work of air pollution control measures adopted by industries is enclosed at Annexure-R-7.
e. 76 plasters of paris industries were found established in mineral zone & in general zone of Growth Centre, Khara. During visit, 56 plaster of paris industries out of 76 industries were found operational. 18 plaster of paris industries were found non-operational and 2 industries were found closed. RSPCB has been issued Closure direction against 4 industries out of 18 industries. Remaining 14 industries have done self-closure until they have not done upgradation work in air pollution control measures.
f. 44 plasters of paris industries are also situated in converted private land in village Khara. 26 plasters of paris industries out of 44 industries was found operational. Remaining 18 plaster of paris industries was found non-operational. RSPCB has been issued Closure direction against 3 industries out of 18 industries. Remaining 15 industries have done self- closure until they have not done upgradation work in air pollution control measures.
g. Details of plaster of paris industries and their air pollution control measures status as mentioned respondent no 04 to 19 in OA 261/2024(CZ) of Devidas Khatri V/s State of Rajasthan & Ors is enclosed at Annexure- R-8.
h. Details of containing consent condition of plaster of paris unit M/s Mahendra Enterprises, G-1-40, IGC, Khara is enclosed at Annexure- R-9. i. During inspection, major source of air pollution in plaster of paris industries are material handling, vehicular movement, crushing of lump and pulverizing activities. Stack emission is also generated from calciner drum and flue gas from calciner furnace. For control of air pollution industries has adopted following measures: -
O.A. No.261/2024(CZ) Devidas Khatri Vs. State of Rajasthan & Ors. With
O.A. No.23/2025(CZ) Ram Singh Vs. State of Rajasthan & Ors.
provided for dust suppressions within premises.
j. All Plaster of paris industries are small scale industries and established in clusters, where raw material is easily available and approachable. During visit it is also observed that the main reason of arising air pollution is large number of plasters of paris industries situated in small cluster area.
k. During visit, Committee has also observed that road dust, dumping of industrial waste on road side and damaged roads are also source of air pollution in Growth centre Khara.
l. During visit, clean of road side waste was underway by RIICO Ltd. Shri Surendra Prasad Sharma, Regional Manager, RIICO Ltd informed that they have given contract to Nagar Nigam, Bikaner for cleaning and repairing works to roads and other maintenance work in Growth Centre, Khara.
m. Shri Surendra Prasad Sharma, Regional Manager, RIICO Ltd informed that cleaning of industrial area and lifting of road side dump industrial waste will be completed in coming month. Also informed that they will done regular cleaning of roads in Growth Centre, Khara for control of fugitive emissions generated due to vehicular movement.
n. During visit, there is no tubewell/borewell was found in any plaster of paris industries. Representative of informed that due to salty ground water, Bore well has
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not been done in Industries. Shri Surendra Prasad Sharma, Regional Manager, RIICO Ltd informed that water requirement is being met out by supply through IGNP, Canal.
Action taken report of RSPCB: -
O.A. No.261/2024(CZ) Devidas Khatri Vs. State of Rajasthan & Ors. With
O.A. No.23/2025(CZ) Ram Singh Vs. State of Rajasthan & Ors.
they have not received advancement in air pollution control measures. Therefore, a team has also deputed vide State Board order date 08-12-2024 for guidance of the Plaster of Paris unit for advancement in pollution control measures from 09-12-2024. Copy of Khara Growth Center Udyog Sangh letter dated 25-11-2024 is enclosed at Annexure-16 and State Board letter dated 08-12-2024 is enclosed at Annexure-17.
Recommendation: –
On the basis of observations made during site visit and facts brought in the notice, the Joint Committee recommends that: -
1. M/s RIICO Ltd. may ensure that regular cleaning of industrial area and lifting of road side dump waste will be completed at the earliest.
2. Industries and industrial Association may ensure to developed dense plantation on road side in industrial Area.
3. M/s RIICO Ltd. may also ensure repairing of roads at the earliest and also efforts made for construct metallic roads in mineral zone.
4. Industrial association, Khara may also ensure the provisions of metallic roads in converted land area.”
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caused by POP industries located in clusters near the village, which is situated in the downwind direction of the industrial area. Following this, the Khara Growth Centre Udyog Sangh submitted a letter on 25.11.2024, voluntarily stating their decision to temporarily close operations until advanced air pollution control measures are implemented. Additionally, a State Board team was deputed on 08.12.2024 to guide the units on upgrading their pollution control measures, and a D.O. letter was issued to RIICO improvements to on 16.01.2025, requesting the road conditions in Khara Industrial Area.
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enterprise, has been engaged creating suitable and feasible infrastructure for establishments of small, medium and large scale projects. The answering respondent is developing organized industrialization to ensure development of basic infrastructure in the Industrial Areas in the State of Rajasthan over a period of time since late 1970s. It is stated that RIICO industrial areas providing direct and indirect employment/ industrialization in the State, which is backbone for industrial development in the State and contributing GDP for our country.
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Clearance for development of this industrial Growth Centre Khara as per prevailing norms at that time.
Sheo Kumar Singh, JM
Dr. Afroz Ahmad, EM
22st August, 2025,
Original Application No.261/2024(CZ) with Original Application No.23/2025(CZ) (Earlier O.A. No.35/2025 – PB) AK
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O.A. No.261/2024(CZ) Devidas Khatri Vs. State of Rajasthan & Ors. With O.A. No.23/2025(CZ) Ram Singh Vs. State of Rajasthan & Ors.
Devidas Khatri
Ram Singh
State of Rajasthan
Sheo Kumar Singh
Afroz Ahmad
As recorded by the court registry
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Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
