North civic body shuts down 50 polluting units

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation shut down 50 small and medium-scale polluting units in the last one week in one of the biggest such drives this year. Hamari Jamatia reports.

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation shut down 50 small and medium-scale polluting units in the last one week in one of the biggest such drives this year.

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According to officials, the drive will continue next week till all units being operated from residential areas are shut down. The crackdown on these industrial units came after intense pressure from the residents.

The corporation has earlier sent notices to 95 such units located in Nangloi, Ghevra, Nilwal, Mundka, Kamruddin Nagar, Tikri Kalan and Ranhola for running industries from residential and non-conforming areas. According to officials, while 50 have been sealed, the rest of the units were found abandoned.

"A number of polluting as well as non-conforming industries had come up in the area. Despite provisions of the MPD 2021, there has been unregulated growth of these industries causing inconvenience to the general public. Such industries are a health hazard to the people living nearby," said a report by NK Gupta, assistant comissioner, Narela Zone.

Local councillor Mohan Bhardwaj said the sealing of the units left many families without a job. "These were bakeries for producing bread and mills for producing pulses. They did not manufacture anything hazardous. The people have not been given an alternative site or employment," he said.

According to officials, there are over 22,000 such industrial units running in north Delhi that produce PVC, polythene bags, and recycle scrap. Despite court orders, the units continue to operate from residential areas because it cuts down on the transportation costs.

"All non-conforming units will be shut down. We will continue sealing operations next week," said a senior official.