Water, power supply to be cut in industrial units causing serious air pollution

Public Grievances Commission has ordered disconnection of water and electricity supply to the industrial units causing grave air pollution in Mandoli Industrial Area besides registering police cases against the operators. The court also summoned Member Secretary of Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), senior government and police officers on March 10 so that a “time-bound programme could be put in place”. 

“The activity is causing a health hazard and is endangering the lives of lakhs of people and needs to be curbed with a heavy hand,” said the PGC in its order on February 29. 

“The action of DPCC is not satisfactory,” added the commission expressing concerns on the Action Taken Report (ATR) filed by the pollution panel. On complaint of a resident, Amarjeet Singh on December 20, 2015, the commission had formed a special committee comprising officers of DPCC, the industry department, local police, civic body and district administration. The special committee in a survey identified 173 polluting units in the area spread over in 6 sq km in East Delhi. 

“We have formed special committee but the state of affairs is same after two months,” said N Dilip Kumar member of PGC.

“Electricity and water supply to all these units to be cut forthwith. DPCC will seal other such units immediately. Criminal cases and arrests to be made by police and DCP North East District is directed to constitute ‘special police teams’ at police station level,” directed the commission.  

It also directed the concerned departments to conduct raids during night hours and collect evidences against polluting units. 

In the ATR, the special committee has admitted that the polluting units operate in the night hours clandestinely, which is a health hazard for residents of the neighboring areas. 

In the interim report, the committee had issued “closure notices” to four industrial units besides closure direction being issued to an industrial unit as it failed to install “pollution control devices”. The devices installed in several other units were found to be just a showpiece.