Acting on a plea lodged by an NGO named All India Lokhadikhar Sangathan, National Green tribunal rapped AAP government for inaction against polluting steel pickling units in the residential area of Delhi, according to reports. NGT has also imposed a fine of Rs 50 crore for non-compliance of its order.
A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Goel also directed the government to immediately shut the industries that fall under the prohibited list of Industrial activity as per the Delhi Master Plan (DMP), 2021.
“We impose Rs 50 crore on the government for its inaction and failure resulting in creating lawlessness, damaging the environment and public health. It will be open to the government to recover the amount from the erring industries, and/or from the erring officers,” said the bench. They also gave 4 months to the government to file a report.
“Permitting polluting industries in violation of law cannot be tolerated and has to be dealt with strongly. We have noticed repeated failure in handling of the issue, and continuous violation of orders of this tribunal,” the bench also said.
The plea lodged by NGO was regarding NGT’s previous order to Delhi Pollution Control Committee to completely shut down the prohibited industries. The NGO contended that under the pretext of decision making, time is being taken by the Delhi government and the environment is made to suffer continuously.
The plea was directed at pickling plants of Wazirpur, which were discharging effluent in open drains, which further damaged the Yamuna river.
Pickling is a metal surface treatment used to remove impurities, such as stains, inorganic contaminants, rust or scale from metals and alloys.