3 min readNew DelhiMar 4, 2010 12:42 AM IST
First published on: Mar 4, 2010 at 12:42 AM IST
Hundreds of polluting industrial units in Delhi are set to close shop as the Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought strict compliance of the Supreme Court ruling on closure of such units in the M C Mehta case.
The move would start with polluting units in Nangloi village,and the High Court gave the Delhi government four weeks for the clean-up act.
A Division Bench of acting Chief Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Mukta Gupta directed the Delhi government to take actions against all such units — most of them on the Delhi-Haryana border — beginning with Nangloi.
The court also asked power distribution company BSES Rajdhani and the Delhi Jal Board to help comply with the order by disconnecting electricity and water supply to the polluting units. “There is large number of polluting industries in areas mentioned in the petition,” the Bench said. “We direct the Government of NCT to implement the ruling of Supreme Court pertaining to the matter within four weeks.
“We also direct BSES Rajdhani,DJB and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to cooperate with government authorities.”
The court’s orders came on a PIL filed by one Mahavir Singh,alleging that hundreds of illegal industries are running in villages of Nangloi,Ghewara,Neelwal,Mundka,Kamrruddin Nagar,Tikri Kalan and Ranhaula. The PIL says these units cause pollution and affect health of the residents.
According to the petition,Mundka village had become a toxic dumping yard and a final destination of all plastic wastes churned out in Delhi homes. Citing the Supreme Court’s ruling banning hazardous industries,the petitioner’s counsel said,“Burning of plastics,especially PVC,releases harmful gases,which are found to cause cancer.”
The court had earlier sought response from the Delhi government on its plans to clean up these areas. Government counsel Najmi Waziri told the court on Wednesday that the matter was under consideration and a survey had found there could be around 500 such units in the Nangloi-Tikri Kalan stretch.
The authorities,Waziri added,were waiting for a final report by DPCC.
During the hearing,the petitioner’s counsel drew the court’s attention towards the historic ruling by the Supreme Court in M C Mehta case — the apex court had directed hazardous industries in non-conforming areas of the Capital to be closed immediately.
Accepting the petitioner’s contentions,the Bench said violation of the apex court ruling could not be allowed and directed the Delhi Chief Secretary to ensure compliance of its order.
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