'Cancer Colony': HC orders CBI probe

The Delhi High Court today asked the CBI to conduct a probe to find out the names of officials who gave licences to run industrial units in a residential area in the city where carcinogenic bye-products are polluting ground water.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar decided to order an enquiry after it found that the Delhi Police had failed in its duty and remained a mute spectator as such activities were carried out.
It found that a CBI enquiry was necessary as one person had died due to discharge of carcinogenic chemicals by cloth dyeing units in Mustafabad locality of northeast Delhi.

It also noted that in the Mustafabad locality, the genesis of the abnormal rate of cancer was due to toxic chemicals used by the denim dyeing units operating illegally.
"So long people are alive in that area, it is alright. But people have died, that too poor people," the bench said and directed the CBI to initiate criminal proceedings against the offenders and file a status report by August 10 giving all particulars of the officials who allowed these industries to operate in the area where "innocent poor people reside".
It asked the agency to find out how many of the residents are suffering from cancer, the reason behind the disease and death caused due to it.

The court also directed it to take action against the owners of the property, who have allowed running of such industries.

It asked the Central Ground Water Board, Delhi government, Delhi Pollution Control Board and the civic bodies about the steps they have taken in this regard.
It queried the authorities after taking cognisance of a news report about discharge of carcinogenic chemicals by cloth dyeing units in Mustafabad locality of northeast Delhi.
The report published in a daily stated that the untreated effluents are contaminating ground water, which is the main source of drinking water in the area, and it was inked to the high rate of cancer there.

The bench expressed displeasure over the dyeing units operating in residential area and said, "This is happening because nobody wants to get out of their offices and see what is happening in the areas under their jurisdiction".
"None of the agencies are working properly, even the MCDs are not performing their duty as per the statutory provisions under the law," it said, adding that there is not even a water policy in the country.
Shocked to learn from the report that the locality is known as 'cancer colony', the bench observed, "the issue is of large environment concern".
Two deaths and eight suspected tumour cases have been detected in the locality.

"Release of poisonous substance from these industries may not only impact the ground water in that area, but it may soon spread over other part of the city," the bench said.
It also asked the Delhi government to ensure proper medical facility for the residents of the area, while also observing that the "genesis of the problem is misuse of properties by the people".
Meanwhile, the east Delhi municipal corporation informed the court that sealed 43 such units and emptied 24 more after these were found to be operating without valid permissions.
The corporation has also submitted that soon after the high court's order, it had issued show cause notices directing polluting units to stop work within 24 hours.

Since these units had no permission to use residential areas as industrial units engaged in colouring and dyeing activities, the corporation claimed that it has put a ban on all such activities involving harmful chemicals.
The bench, however, termed the report as an eyewash and observed that if this they would have done earlier, the life of the illiterate poor people would have been saved.