CBI to probe ‘cancer colony’ case

New Delhi: The Delhi high court on Thursday asked the CBI to conduct a probe to find out the names of officials who gave licences to run industrial units in a residential area in the city where carcinogenic bye-products are polluting ground water.

A bench of acting chief justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar decided to order an enquiry after it found that the Delhi police had failed in its duty and remained a mute spectator as such activities were carried out.

It found that a CBI enquiry was necessary as one person had died due to discharge of carcinogenic chemicals by cloth dyeing units in Mustafabad locality of northeast Delhi.

It also noted that in the Mustafabad locality, the genesis of the abnormal rate of cancer was due to toxic chemicals used by the denim dyeing units operating illegally.

“So long people are alive in that area, it is alright. But people have died, that too poor people,” the bench said and directed the CBI to initiate criminal proceedings against the offenders and file a status report by August 10 giving all particulars of the officials who allowed these industries to operate in the area where “innocent poor people reside”.

It asked the agency to find out how many of the residents are suffering from cancer, the reason behind the disease and death caused due to it.

The court also directed it to take action against the owners of the property, who have allowed running of such industries.

It asked the Central Ground Water Board, Delhi government, Delhi Pollution Control Board and the civic bodies about the steps they have taken in this regard. It queried the authorities after taking cognisance of a news report about discharge of carcinogenic chemicals by cloth dyeing units in Mustafabad locality of northeast Delhi.

The report stated that the untreated effluents are contaminating ground water, which is the main source of drinking water in the area, and it was inked to the high rate of cancer there.