DPCB notices may sound death knell of polluting units

Ananya Panda 

Tribune News Service 

New Delhi, October 15

Close on the heels of Supreme Court directions of levying pollution tax on commercial vehicles entering the national Capital, the environment department of the Delhi Government has asked the Delhi Pollution Control Board (DPCB), Delhi Jal Board, revenue and industrial authorities to expedite action of closing down severely polluting industries which are discharging pollutants/emissions beyond the acceptable level into the Yamuna or the atmosphere in the city. 

The DPCB has already identified such industries which are flouting existing environment norms in the city's 28 industrial areas and notices have been issued. The matter was discussed in a meeting last evening. 

"The National Green Tribunal had issued strict directives again and we have requested agencies concerned--power distributions companies which will cut electricity supply, Delhi Jal Board and revenue and industrial authorities--to take action against such polluting units," said Ashwani Kumar, Secretary (Environment and Forest). 

"DPCB is carrying out an exhaustive study of all industrial units on several aspects, including functional industrial effluent treatment plants and a substantial work of the survey is already complete. Over hundred industries have been identified and notices issued. These are industries such as those into pickling, electroplating and dying, among others which discharge acids, toxic metallic waste and effluents into city's Yamuna and air," he elaborated while noting that the city government's environment department has called for effective action soon. 

Rampant constructions  major contributor 

With rampant constructions being a major contributor to Delhi's mounting air pollution, the need for having a separate team dedicated to handle environment issues in construction companies was underscored by various stakeholders as a step towards controlling dust emissions in the city. 

The move assumes significance as the National Green Tribunal order has sought compliance of environmental norms while carrying out construction projects.