Crackdown on polluting shops continues, GDA seals 18 more

GHAZIABAD:THE Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) on Monday sealed 18 more shops in different localities of Swarn Jayanti Puram, Madhuban Bapudham and Govindpuram in continuing action against polluting commercial establishments. The authority had sealed 71 shops in Indirapuram alone during the drive carried out on Saturday.

The officials said of the 18 shops sealed by authority’s enforcement department, 10 were located in Swarn Jayanti Puram, three in Madhuban Bapudham and five in Govindpuram. Kanchan Verma, vice-chairperson of the authority, said the sealing drive will continue in the coming days and de-sealing will not be easy for shop owners.

“The shops are being sealed in the wake of rising pollution and as per previous directions from the National Green Tribunal. Apart from sealing the premises, the errant owners will also face a penalty of Rs 50,000 each. There are number of shops running in residential areas and we have identified about 7,000 such establishments in different areas under the jurisdiction of GDA,” Verma said.

“Of these 7,000, we estimate that about 1,500 shops are carrying out activities causing pollution. These include shop owners taking up activities related to dhabas, iron welding, hotels, etc. The de-sealing in such cases will be very difficult as we will not allow the sealed shops to be opened again. More such drives will be taken up in colonies which are under GDA while the municipal corporation will take action in colonies which are under its jurisdiction,” Verma added.

On Saturday, the authority’s enforcement department had carried out drives in different residential sectors of Indirapuram and sealed 71 shops which were found polluting environment.

“In earlier instances when shops running in residential areas were de-sealed, the shop owners had given affidavits that they will comply with norms. But this time there will be no easy escape. The NGT and other agencies have taken a serious note of pollution and we will not accept any affidavits to de-seal such shops,” Verma said.

Officials said a group of shop owners had come to meet the vice-chairperson on Monday but were given no assurance of any relief.