Death from toxins: CBI registers case

The CBI has registered a case in connection with toxins released by illegal industrial units in North East Delhi residential areas which purportedly claimed the lives of two people.
The agency filed the case against unidentified officials of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation and the Government of Delhi on August 4, according to its FIR.
The case followed directives from the Delhi High Court which took cognisance of a news report about the death in May of two residents, allegedly from toxins discharged by a demin washing process, which was the main work of many of the units.
It was reported that the toxins contaminated the drinking water in the area, leading to the incidence of diseases such as cancer.

The Delhi High Court had on May 25 directed the CBI to investigate unauthorised commercial and industrial activities in the Shiv Vihar and Karawal Nagar area.
The CBI has registered the case against the unidentified officials under stringent charges of criminal conspiracy and causing grievous hurt by acts endangering the life or personal safety of others and for acts of corruption.

The High Court had directed the agency to ascertain the dates from which the industrial units in the residential areas started operating and how long they functioned, besides identifying officials responsible for the toxin discharge.
The agency will also ascertain the number of deaths reported from these areas and the cause of their deaths, it said.

The order directed the CBI to identify the names and particulars of the Assistant Engineer, Executive Engineer and Superintendent Engineer of the Municipal Corporation in Shiv Vihar when "such illegal activities" started and all those who remained there until the units shut.
The agency has also been asked to find out whether any licences were issued to the units and details about the officials who granted or renewed these licences.