NGT to AAP govt: Shut industries operating in residential areas
NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal has directed the AAP government and the North Delhi Municipal Corporation to shut down unauthorised industrial units located in residential areas of Daryaganj. A bench headed by Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore said the factories operating in residential areas cause air pollution and is extremely harmful to the people who are living in the surrounding areas.
The green panel directed the municipal corporation to ensure that these factories do not operate till they obtain clearance from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). "In case the units have applied for clearance from the DPCC, the same may be reopened, as and when the requisite clearances are given by the committee. The DPCC shall decide on the application so received, for obtaining clearance, expeditiously and in no case later than four weeks... In case any application is pending before it, the same shall be immediately looked into and decided within the stipulated time," the bench said.
The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Daryaganj resident Mohd Shariq seeking action against illegal factories in the area and demanding sealing of such units in non-conforming areas. The plea, filed through advocate Gaurav Bansal, has also sought directions to initiate criminal proceedings against those running such unauthorised units. It claimed that despite issuance of several letters by Public Grievances Commission of Delhi and Delhi Pollution Control Committee, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation has failed to stop operation of illegal factories.
Earlier on October 15, the NGT had ordered closure of industrial units running in "non-conforming" residential areas of Rohini and slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 each on the Delhi government and others for their "defaults and inaction" towards violation of rules.
The NGT said the units causing pollution, including unauthorised car workshops in violation of law, must be stopped immediately, and a report of action taken may be submitted before the tribunal within one month.
Delhi experiences heavy fog, flight operations delayed
NEW DELHI: Delhi experienced a cold and foggy Monday morning as the temperature dipped after light showers in the city. "The maximum temperature was recorded at 20.1 degrees Celsius, a notch above normal while the minimum settled at 7.1 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the year," a MeT official said.
The humidity levels oscillated between 100 and 66 per cent. The weatherman has predicted dense fog for Tuesday morning.
The fog led to a delay in all flight operations from the Delhi airport. Jet Airways said its flights were facing delays at Bengaluru and Bhopal as well.
According to the railways, 13 trains were running late due to fog, including the Puri-New Delhi Purushottam Express (late by four hours) and the Garib Rath Express which was scheduled to arrive in Delhi three hours late.
The minimum temperature in Delhi is expected to further decrease by one to two degrees Celsius in the next few days after heavy snowfall in the western Himalayas. "The temperature in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) will fall by one to two degrees, but it will not lead to cold wave like conditions," India Meteorological Department's Charan Singh said. "The minimum temperature may hover around five to six degrees," he added.
On Sunday, the minimum temperature in the national capital had settled at 8.6 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature recorded was 19.6 degrees Celsius.
The snowfall on January 5 and January 6 was caused by a western disturbance over north Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir and an induced cyclonic circulation at the lower levels over Haryana, Punjab and north Rajasthan.
