Summary:
The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday imposed costs of Rs.50 crore on Delhi government for allowing polluting steel pickling units to run in the Wazirpur, Badli industrial area of North Delhi despite orders to shut them down. The NGT rapped the Delhi government, Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation and special secretary, industries, Government of Delhi for allowing the units to operate. Steel picking is also a 'prohibited activity' under the Delhi Master Plan of 2021. The matter before NGT has been heard over a few years and despite an undertaking from Delhi Pollution Control Committee, the units were not closed down. According to document submitted to NGT in the past, there are close to 90 such units who also release effluents in Yamuna River..