GHAZIABAD: The UP pollution board has issued notices to 18 factories across the city for flouting norms resulting in contamination of ground water. The action comes a day after Allahabad high court pulled UP principal secretary (environment) on the petition of an NGO-Society of Voice of Human Rights and Justice run by SC lawyer Raj Kumar Kaushik.The court on Tuesday ordered Renuka Kumar, principal secretary (pollution), to file a personal affidavit by August 30 stating the action taken against officials responsible for non-compliance of high court's earlier order on clamping down on polluting industries Ajay Sharma, regional manager of pollution board, meanwhile, says that action has been initiated against 18 industries in compliance with the court order. "We have identified 18 industries in the city found to be contaminating ground water by means of discharging untreated water and soon we will move in to close down these industries," he said.The case dates back to 2010 when the NGO filed a PIL in the HC on ground water pollution. The court during subsequent hearing had formed a 11-member committee which included Ghaziabad DM, pollution board officers and others. "In 2015 the committee came up with a list of about a thousand polluting industries in Ghaziabad and Hapur districts and had convinced the court that these industries were closed down," says Raj kumar Kaushik, the petitioner. "However, we presented before the court proof, including photographic evidences that these industries are still operational which irked the court, and the court sought action initiated against all erring officials," added Kaushik. "So on Tuesday, while hearing the matter it directed Renuka Kumar, principal secretary (pollution), to file a personal affidavit by August 30," said Kaushik.

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