NGT asks for list of polluting industries operating in E Delhi

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to submit a list of hazardous units located in Vishwas Nagar in east Delhi.

The green body called the industrial units operating in residential areas one of the main contributors to air pollution.

A bench headed by justice UD Salvi, which had earlier asked for BSES Yamuna’s response over snapping of electricity supply to such units, ordered DPCC to categorise industries on the basis of pollution caused by them.

“We direct the DPCC to place before us a list of polluting and hazardous industries in Vishwas Nagar and to apprise us, as to the classification of polluting and hazardous industries,” it said.

The advocate appearing for the association of industries in Vishwas Nagar, apprised the bench about the Delhi high court order directing appointment of a committee to carry out a survey and decide whether all such industries should be shifted out or not.

The matter is listed for next hearing on December 21.

NGT was hearing a plea filed by local resident SN Rohatgi, who approached the green panel against industrial units operating in the area seeking their immediate closure on the ground that these industries were causing air and noise pollution.

The tribunal earlier cracked the whip on industries located in the city’s residential areas with a direction to close them for discharging untreated toxic waste in drains leading to Yamuna.

The city government told HC that more than 1,500 industrial units in Vishwas Nagar were engaged in hazardous activity.

According to a survey carried out by a joint inspection committee, out of 3,604 units in the area, 1,509 are commercial, 134 are permissible according to Master Plan Delhi - 2021, nine are impermissible, 1,383 are engaged in polluting activity, 179 in hazardous activity and 390 were found shut.