Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding pollution by illegal industrial activities in North West Delhi, 05/04/2019
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of RWA Jain Colony Vs Govt. of NCT of Delhi dated 05/04/2019 regarding pollution by illegal industrial activities in North West Delhi and also violation of Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016.
A report was sought from the Delhi Pollution Control Board (DPCC), the Tribunal finds that the "only stand taken by DPCC is that there is a Monitoring Committee headed by the Chief Secretary, Delhi to stop illegal industrial activities". The DPCC has given general directions and issued show cause notice for recovering compensation of Rs. 5 Lakhs each from landlord and four polluting industries and Rs. 50 Lakhs from TPPDL (Power Distribution Company in North Delhi). However, nothing has been recovered. There is nothing to show that the DPCC has closed the industries. The directions are said to have been issued more than a year back on 20.12.2017 but still it is not shown that the polluting industries were stopped. The basis of the calculation of environment compensation is also not clear.
NGT makes it clear that once serious violations are noticed, the action has to be commensurate to the violation. It is also noticed that the affidavit of the DPCC acknowledges violation of Bio-Medical Waste Rules for which no prosecution has been initiated. The Tribunal directs the Chief Secretary, Delhi to look into the matter and asks the DPCC to take remedial actions before the next date of hearing (19/07/2019).