National Green Tribunal today directed that no steel pickling works can function in the national capital without the consent of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).
"We direct that no pickling unit is to be permitted to operate in Delhi without obtaining the consent of DPCC," said a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar.
Steel pickling is the process of removing impurities such as stains and inorganic contaminants from the metal.
The above order came on a plea filed by an NGO opposing the functioning of such units and other industries based in the national capital on the grounds that effluents discharged by them was polluting the Yamuna.
Meanwhile, the tribunal also sought DPCC's reply to the NGO All India Lokadhikar Sangthan's fresh affidavit containing a list of industries which are allegedly polluting the environment. NGT listed the matter for further hearing on February 26.
In its affidavit, the NGO has listed 81 metals factories operating in the Wazirpur Industrial area, which are allegedly functioning without DPCC consent.
In August last year, following a plea from the NGO, NGT had restrained such steel pickling units from carrying out operations without the consent of DPCC.
The tribunal, however, had on October 9, 2013, allowed the units in question to sell the stock they had manufactured till the time they were shut down.
