The residents of Jodhpura village have lifted their dharna outside the District Collectorate at Kotputli in Rajasthan after the administration’s assurance that a judgment of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in connection with a cement plant would be complied with. The villagers have been raising their grievance over the plant’s environmental impact in the region since long.The NGT’s Central Zone Bench in Bhopal had in November 2025 ordered UltraTech Cement, which has two limestone crusher units and a cement plant at Jodhpura, to pay compensation for health and environmental damage and issued directions for development of a green belt and rehabilitation of the affected villagers away from the mining sites.Pollution, health issuesThe villagers have been agitating against the plant for more than three years with their houses developing cracks under the impact of vibrations caused by blasting, the atmosphere getting polluted and health problems, such as skin allergies, rashes, acne and scabies to eye, developing in the region.Jodhpura, with a population of 3,000, has faced the issue of sound and air pollution because of its proximity to UtraTech Cement’s limestone quarry. The NGT’s judgment, handed down on a petition moved by the Jodhpura Sangharsh Samiti, addressed this issue and directed the State government to demarcate a line and ensure that no blasting takes place within 500 metres from the dwellings.The cement company was directed to pay ₹50,000 each to 142 people for structural damage caused to their houses and ₹20,000 each to 109 people suffering from diseases caused by pollution. The NGT also directed the Chief Secretary to constitute a committee to undertake measures to rehabilitate the villagers away from the present location.Deadline endsThe Jodhpura Sangharsh Samiti, spearheading the protest with an indefinite dharna outside a temple in the village, had escalated the agitation last week while contending that the three-month deadline given by the NGT for compliance with its verdict had passed and no tangible action was taken.Sangharsh Samiti secretary Kailash Yadav told The Hindu that a dharna outside the District Collectorate in Kotputli brought the issue to the limelight and forced the administration to “act fast”. The dharna was lifted on March 25 when an assurance was given that a time-bound action would be taken in compliance with the NGT’s judgment.The immediate steps as per the judgment include replenishing the groundwater, stopping blasts at night, covering the crushing area with tarpaulin, spraying water on approach roads, developing grazing lands or offering alternative livestock feed, and using bag filters, vacuum suction hoods and dry fogging systems.The members of the Sangharsh Samiti undertook a foot march to meet Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma during the Assembly session on February 22, but they were stopped by the police. Mr. Yadav said a written agreement was signed with the assurance for enforcement of the NGT’s orders, but it remained unfulfilled.The villagers are hopeful that the compliance would be ensured after the agitation in Kotputli. A survey conducted by Kotputli’s Assistant Mining Engineering on March 24 found that the blasting site was less than 500 metres away from the village temple and there was no signboard installed near the houses or the government school with the related information.Former municipal councillor Gokul Chand Yadav, 72, said both of his arms had been infected with allergy and the similar health-related problems were found in almost every household in Jodhpura. A government report also shows that pollution in the village during winter could be three times higher than the safe limit.Aniket Khola showing a crack in the main wall of his house in Jodhpura village, caused by the impact of blasting at the nearby limestone quarry. | Photo Credit: Special arrangementThe blasts have reportedly not stopped even after the NGT’s judgment. Aniket Khola, 17, a student of Class 12, said the main wall of his house had developed cracks, while several of the neighbours had reported cracks in the roof slabs and plaster falling off. “We are forced to sleep in open several times when the blasting continues throughout the night,” he said.The NGT has also directed the Collector to make necessary provisions for medical facilities to the villagers affected by the mining with the provisions of medicines free of cost and regular check-up at the interval of two weeks. A permanent facility for treatment to the affected persons at a nearby place is also to be established with the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds.Published - March 28, 2026 11:57 pm IST