NGT raps Delhi govt for not taking action against steel pickling units

The National Green Tribunal has rapped the Delhi government for not taking action against steel pickling units in residential areas as they fall under the prohibited list of industrial activity according to the Delhi Master Plan (DMP), 2021.
A bench headed by Justice Jawad Rahim said the submission of the Delhi government that it could not take action unless the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (DSIIDC) jointly inspected pickling industries was not acceptable.
"The statement of the counsel for the Delhi government that it cannot take any action as Committee comprising Officer of Department of Industries and Delhi Pollution Control Committee have not inspected the industrial areas as the pickling industries are in the negative list in the MPD 2021 cannot be appreciated," it said.

The NCT of Delhi could have taken independent action for immediate steps against the pickling industries, the bench said.
The green panel also directed the Member Secretary of DPCC and Managing Director of DSIIDC to file a statement on action taken by them in pursuance to a resolution of a meeting of the Committee of Secretaries held on December 27 last year.
The matter is posted for a hearing on March 16.

The Delhi government had earlier informed the tribunal that steel pickling units were on the prohibited list of industrial activity according to the Delhi Master Plan (DMP), 2021, and could not operate in residential areas.

The NGT was hearing a plea filed by an NGO, the All India Lokadhikar Sangthan, seeking the execution of its order by which the green panel had directed the DPCC to take action against stainless steel pickling industries.
The plea alleged that such units functioning at Wazirpur discharged effluent in open drains which ultimately met the Yamuna river.
It contended that under the pretext of decision making, "time is being taken by the Delhi government and the environment is made to suffer continuously".
Pickling is the process of removing impurities such as stains and inorganic contaminants from metals.