Delhi LG orders closure of polluting industrial bodies

Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Delhi Najeeb Jung on Tuesday directed Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to ensure closure of polluting units in the city and instructed concerned commissioners to demonstrate compliance with DPCC orders. 

The LG has also constituted a high level committee under the chief secretary of Delhi to suggest short and long terms measures to control air pollution and rising pollution in the Yamuna River. 

‘We cannot allow pollution to grow unchecked. If we have to ensure the health of our cities, we will have to take stern steps against pollution and polluting units,’ said Jung at a meeting of seniors DPCC officers. 

The committee will have special commissioner (traffic) from Delhi police, environment secretary, transport commissioner, and additional secretary of DPCC as its members. They have been directed to submit their report within four weeks. 

The committee has been mandated to look into two aspects: air pollution caused by growing number of vehicles on the roads of Delhi and pollution levels in Yamuna due to outpouring of industrial and sewer waste in the river. 

Presently, Delhi has around 1,500 industrial units, which produce effluents. ‘All industrial units in the city have effluent treatment plant (ETPs) on paper. However we can’t say how many of them are in working condition and which plants have sufficient capabilities to treat the effluents from that unit. We can say anything only after inspection of those ETPs,’ said Sandeep Mishra, additional director of DPCC. The DPCC has recently issued closure notices to 112 stainless steel picking units in Wazirpur industrial area for discharging untreated toxic waste into the Yamuna. 

As per Delhi Jal Board data Delhi produces 680 million litres of sewage per day (MLD), of which DJB has sewage treatment capacity for 594 MLD. However, according to unofficial sources the city produces 1,900 MLD of sewage, of which a huge quantity goes into the river untreated. 

Besides 18 big drains under the Flood Department, which carries sewage throughout the year, except storm water during Monsoon season, several small drains from unauthorised colonies also discharge their effluents into the river.