NGT directs CPCB to inquire about 51,837 industries in Delhi
The National Green Tribunal has directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to constitute a committee to inquire about the status of 51,837 industries in the Delhi which are running in residential areas without requisite approvals. The green panel asked the apex pollution monitoring body to form a two-member committee to look into the entire matter and take appropriate action in accordance with law.
An excerpt from the green tribunal's order
"The North Delhi Municipal Corporation, East Delhi Municipal Corporation, South Delhi Municipal Corporation, Delhi State Industrial, and Infrastructure Development Corporation, and Delhi Development Authority will co-operate and provide all assistance to the Committee," a bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, said.
Committee to submit its report within two months
The NGT further directed the two-member committee to submit its report on the issue within two months to a panel comprising former Delhi Chief Secretary Shailaja Chandra and retired NGT expert member Bikram Singh Sajwan. "The committee constituted by the tribunal may take further appropriate action as may be found necessary, subject to any further order of this tribunal," it said.
A news report alleged many polluting industries running in Delhi
The order came after a news report published in an English daily alleged that thousands of polluting industries are being brazenly run in Delhi right under the nose of the authorities. The report had said that Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) recently listed 51,837 units operating from non-conforming/residential areas and asked the three municipal corporations to initiate action against them.
Here are the details from the data released by DSIIDC
"The data released by DSIIDC shows most violations in Moti Nagar, Kirti Nagar, Ramesh Nagar, Najafgarh, and Mansarovar Garden, all in West Delhi; Ashram, Bhogal, Jangpura, Maharani Bagh and Mahipalpur in South Delhi." "In East Delhi: Gandhi Nagar, Jheel, Shastri Nagar, Kailash Nagar, Jafrabad and Shahdara; and Sadar Bazaar, Chandni Chowk, Malkaganj, Ballimaran, Lal Kuan and Kashmere Gate in North Delhi," the report added.
Some other highly affected areas
"Other highly affected areas are Karol Bagh, Patel Nagar, Anand Parbat, Rohtak Road, Rajinder Nagar, Old Rajinder Nagar in Central Delhi; Shahdara, GT Road, Babarpur and Vishwas Nagar in Northeast Delhi; and Burari and Jagatpuri in Northwest Delhi," the DSIIDC report said.