NGT directs CPCB to inspect steel pickling units in Wazirpur

NEW DELHI: Taking note of an NGO's plea, the National Green Tribunal has directed Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to inspect stainless steel pickling industries in Wazirpur here which are flouting mandatory pollution norms.

A bench headed by Justice U D Salvi issued notice to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and sought its response on whether these industries have consents to operate.

"If consents were granted, when they were granted, what period the industries were running without consent and whether the industries have been fitted with the adequate ETPs to handle the quality and the load of effluents generated," the bench said while seeking names of the officers who are responsible for violation.

It also directed DPCC to inform it about the status of these industries regarding extraction of water and whether they had obtained consents for abstracting ground water from Central Ground Water Authority.

The matter is listed for next hearing on May 20. The directions came while hearing NGO All India Lokadhikar Sangthan's plea seeking execution of an order by which the green panel had directed DPCC to take action against stainless steel pickling industries.

The NGO All had alleged that despite the Tribunal's order, "DPCC has failed to implement the direction passed on October 17, 2014."

Steel pickling is the process of removing impurities, such as stains and inorganic contaminants from the metal.

Earlier, DPCC had issued closure notices to several industrial units, mainly steel pickling units, in Wazirpur Industrial Area for discharging harmful effluents in drains that empty in the Yamuna.