Steel Pickling Units Defy National Green Tribunal’s Order as DPCC Fails to Act

Stainless steel pickling units located at wazirpur industrial area in Delhi continue to flout the orders of National Green Tribunal (NGT) as Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has failed to implement the orders of the NGT. The green tribunal in its order dated 17 October 2014 had ordered DPCC that it should immediately shut the existing stainless steel pickling units operating without DPCC’s consent and not to grant permission to any units discharging untreated effluents directly or indirectly into the river Yamuna. The NGO, All India Lokadhikar Sangathan has moved an application before NGT last week to direct DPCC to execute NGT’s order to shut down these polluting units releasing acid toxins.

In its application before NGT filed on 20 April’15 , All India Lokadhikar Sangathan has alleged that 14 out of 17 units named in the NGT order are yet to taken due consent to operate from DPCC but are operating in connivance with DPCC officials and simultaneously violating green tribunal orders. In conjunction with this, DPCC report mentions that most of these units are illegally operating borewell and extracting underground water at their premises without permission from concerned authorities. The case would come up on 29^th April’15 for hearing again.

The members of the All India Lokadhikar Sangathan had visited the wazirpur area and found that most of the stainless steel pickling and hazardous industries are functioning contrary to the rules and flouting the order of NGT. All India Lokadhikar Sangathan has raised doubt about veracity of DPCC officials who are concerned for implementing the order in its application. Mr. Girish Kumar Pandey, President – All India Lokadhikar Sangathan said, “Execution of NGT order must not be manipulated and must be implemented in full strength and not for sake of a procedure as this will be in larger interest of the public who will be affected by the pollution of the river Yamuna.”

All India Lokadhikar Sangathan has been consistently fighting for the cause of clean and pollution free river Yamuna, which has been turned into a dumping ground for all kind of toxic waste from these pickling units. On the plea filed by All India Lokadhikar Sangathan in February and taking conscience on growing pollution in River Yamuna, the Hon’ble NGT bench told the DPCC to shut down 17 Units, who were not complying with the NGT orders. Despite many notices served to them, units are still releasing toxics used in pickling of Stainless Steel in River Yamuna.

Wazirpur Industrial Area houses about 2,000 industrial units. Most of them are steel pickling units. These units are not carrying out any treatment are still releasing untreated liquid industrial waste in the open drains that flow into the river Yamuna. Delhi Pollution Control Committee had also issues closure notice few months back to industrial units for discharging untreated toxic waste water in drains causing major health hazards to the health of the people living in nearby areas.