112 Industrial Units In Wazirpur To Shut Down For Flouting Pollution Norms

Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has issued closure notices to 112 industrial units, mainly stainless steel pickling units, located in Wazirpur Industrial Area. According to the authorities, these units were releasing untreated liquid industrial waste in the open drains that flow into the river Yamuna.

Wazirpur Industrial Area houses about 2,000 units. DPCC had been writing to the industrial units and the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) since March this year, asking them to take effective measures, but nothing had been done till date.

A team of officials from DPCC, DJB and Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC), as well as representatives of the Wazirpur Industrial Area CETP Society and All India Plastic Industries Association, had undertaken a survey of the area on February 24. Samples of waste water being discharged in open drains were collected at three locations and pH levels were found to be far below the specified norms. "This means steel pickling industries are not carrying out any treatment and the waste water is being discharged into open drains," the closure notice said.

The Public Works Department also held a discussion on the drainage issue in the area on March 13 this year.

"It was observed that all drains are choked due to silt from the industries and a large quantity of metallic silt was being discharged directly into the storm water drains without mandatory pre-treatment by industrial units," the notice states.

DPCC has ordered power and water disconnections, and directed the local SDM to ensure that the units are shut down. "We have given them enough warnings. They never responded or did anything about it," said Sandeep Mishra, member secretary of DPCC.

Commenting on the development, Jai Kumar Bansal, president of Delhi Stainless Steel Trade Federation, said, "We haven't received any closure order and we have always treated our waste water. I don't know why DPCC is taking action against us."