Special EPCA report to ban polluting industries

New Delhi: Taking a serious view of the polluting industries operating in residential or non-confirming areas, the Supreme Court mandated EPCA is working on a “special report” to ensure that there is a strict ban on such units.

The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) will identify units operating illegally in non-confirming areas — areas not meant for industrial activity according to master plan of Delhi. Following this, action will be taken to seal them, informed EPCA member Sunita Narain.

“We are making a commitment that this will be EPCA’s top priority. We are working on a special report and will discuss with all stakeholders on how to proceed,” she said.

There are currently over 1 lakh industrial units operating illegally in unauthorised, non-confirming zones, or residential areas in the national capital. These are a major source of air pollution that affects the health of the people residing in such areas. These are mostly small factories engaged in dyeing jeans; producing electrical spare parts, seat covers; iron smelting, etc. in areas like Mandoli, Shiv Vihar, Mayapuri, Yamuna Vihar, Wazirpur, Samaypur Badli, etc.

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) said it is aware of the issue. However, it is unable to act against these industries owing to legal loopholes and cannot shut them immediately as the law prescribes issuing a notice first.

“There is a logjam currently. If it is happening in non-confirming areas, it is illegal and should have not happened in the first place. So, if they go and give notices, they are actually legalising what is illegal. They don’t have the power to seal them. EPCA will sit with all parties and sort out this logjam,” said Ms Narain.