Civic bodies seal illegal factories
SOUTH AND NORTH CIVIC BODIES SAY THEY MAY SEAL 19,000 ILLEGAL INDUSTRIAL UNITS WHILE THE EAST BODY HAS IDENTIFIED 500 FACTORIES
NEW DELHI : The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) sealed seven industrial units operating illegally in non-conforming and residential areas at Tuglakabad Extension on Tuesday. The action is the latest in the crackdown on factories running in non-designated areas following orders by the Delhi High Court.
Nearly 19,000 industrial units in north and south Delhi may face sealing while the east civic body has identified 500 units which will be sealed. Taking cognisance of reports about jeans dyeing units polluting the groundwater table in northeast Delhi’s Shiv Vihar, the Delhi High Court last year ordered the Delhi government, the municipal corporations, the Centre, the Central Ground Water Board and the Delhi Pollution Control Board to study the situation and submit a report.
SDMC officials reached Tughlakabad Extension at 11am with a plan to target 60 of the 90 industrial units operating from 40 residential complexes in the area. “We sealed seven units while 18 factories have shifted after municipal corporation’s notice. The rest 35 were locked from outside. The owners did it deliberately to escape action since we cannot seal such premises. However, we pasted a notice outside such units, giving them two days to either shift to a proper industrial area or face sealing,” said an SDMC official, who did not wish to be named.
Prior to the drive, electricity supply to all the 90 units in the area was disconnected. An SDMC team will revisit the place on July 26 and seal the rest of the factories. “We have already written to the Delhi Police for providing adequate force for the safety of our men,” said the official.
The south civic body also launched a survey in Jaitpur area to identify illegal factories in that area. “As soon as we complete the inspection, notice will be served to the factory owners for shifting in 15 days and submitting an affidavit certifying that will never operate from this place,” said an official.
The three municipal corporations have started a fresh survey of industrial units operating illegally last week, following the Delhi High Court’s direction.
The survey is based on a list recently provided by the Delhi State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) Limited which includes 51,837 industrial units, “majority” of which were “illegal”.
“We are carrying the survey in Mangolpuri and neighbouring areas and as soon as it is over, an intensive sealing drive will start. Also, since April, we have sealed 86 factories in Karol Bagh and 107 units in the Rohini zone,” said Kapil Rastogi, deputy commissioner, north corporation.