Though poor air quality due to pollution in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) industrial area of Himachal Pradesh has become a matter of concern for the regulators, in a startling revelation, as many as 195 business units in the area are operating their business without the consent of the Himachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board (HPPCB).
This fact has come to light in information obtained by RTI activist Dev Ashish Bhattacharya under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
As per the information given under the RTI Act by HPPCB, “As per the OCMMS record on 20-3-2025, there are 195 business units which are working under the jurisdiction of the Regional Office Baddi of HPPCB without any consent to operate.”
It states , ” As per the OCMMS record on 20-3-2025, as many as 329 business units under the jurisdiction of the Regional Office of HPPCB, which are working, but an application to operate to consent is pending in the office of the HPPCB.”
The air quality of the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) industrial belt is deteriorating with each passing day, and the level of ambient particulate matter (APM) has been exceeding during the past some time as per the National Air Quality Standards set by the Central Pollution Control Board.
The BBN also figures in the list of 102 cities enlisted by the Central Pollution Control Board, which have failed to adhere to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards of the Air Prevention of Pollution Control Act.
RTI activist Bhattacharya said, “I have written to the Chief Secretary and HPPCB to take action in the matter, as 524 business units are operating their business without seeking HPPCB consent in the BBN industrial area, illegally.”
