Raising concerns over the Haryana State Pollution Control Board’s (HSPCB) recent directive mandating the installation of zig-zag or spiral staircases in rice mills, failing which they would closure action, rice industrialists from across the state have urged the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to adopt a more practical approach to implementing the norms. They have sought time till March 31, 2027, to comply with the requirement
Rice millers, dealers and exporters said the HSPCB’s July 7 order warning of closure for non-compliance could severely impact the industry, farmers and thousands of workers if implemented immediately.
“We held a meeting of rice exporters in Karnal two days ago, where we discussed the HSPCB's order making the installation of zig-zag or spiral staircases mandatory in rice mills. The order also warns for closure action against units that fail to comply. We have urged the CAQM to grant us sufficient time to implement the guideline," said Sushil Jain, president of the Haryana Rice Exporters Association.
Jain said the rice industry remained committed to complying with environmental regulations but appealed to the authorities to take into account the practical challenges involved in implementing the new requirement. “We have requested the CAQM to replace immediate closure action with a reasonable compliance deadline so that industries can complete the required modifications. We have also proposed a deemed permission mechanism under which units that upload proof of compliance on the online portal should be allowed to continue operations, while physical verification can be carried out later by the authorities," he said.
Vijay Setia, former president of the All India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA), highlighted shortages of skilled labour and construction material required for structural modifications. “Sudden closure of mills could render thousands of workers jobless as each rice mill employs between 100 and 1,000 workers. The rice export sector is heavily dependent on migrant labour, and if workers return to their native states due to mill closures, it will be extremely difficult to bring them back during the paddy season," he said.
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