NGT directs Delhi, UP to act against unauthorised industries

The National Green Tribunal has directed Delhi and Uttar Pradesh governments to take action against unauthorised industrial units running in residential areas on the outskirts of the national capital.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has the power to act against such illegal units and it can even pass specific directions with regard to disconnection of electricity and water supply to these units.
It directed DPCC and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) to identify such industries located in residential areas and take action against them as per the law.
"Let the State of UP now take action regularly against the industries located in the non-conformity areas. They shall file quarterly report before the Tribunal for compliance...

"EDMC shall take appropriate action against the industries and whenever it makes a request to Delhi Jal Board and discoms like BSES, they would take action against in furtherance thereof and disconnect the electricity and water supply of these units. This action would also be taken by the DPCC," the bench also comprising Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore said.
Advocate Balendu Shekhar, appearing for EDMC, assured the bench that the corporation would take all effective steps to ensure that no polluting industry is allowed in residential areas.

During the proceedings, UP government informed the bench that it has already issued directions with regard to such industries and nearly 148 industries have been shut from the non-conforming areas.

The NGT's direction came during hearing of a plea filed by Mohd Arif seeking directions to close unauthorised polluting units engaged in the business of smelting of copper and aluminum wire, melting of batteries and industries like plastic, rubber and iron furnace in the vicinity of Mandoli (East Delhi) and Amit Vihar, Loni, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
Arif had also claimed that these industries were running on generators without permission, resulting in air pollution.
Irked over the menace of unauthorised industrial units running in residential areas here, the tribunal had earlier directed the Centre and Delhi Government to close all of them in an East Delhi locality with immediate effect.