Industries confused over two directives

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, DEC. 14.

The two separate notifications issued by the Union Urban Development Ministry and Delhi's Lt.Governor, Mr. Vijai Kapoor, detailing action for closure of polluting units in the Capital has led to total confusion not only among industry owners but also among the agencies connected with sealing of units.

Insiders in the Delhi Government say the two notifications contradict each other and if both are to be followed then it would lead to total chaos. Under the orders issued by the Lt.Governor, all polluting industries have to close operations by December 17. But the catch in the order is that the action suggested under the various sections of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, clearly indicates that industries falling under the ``H'' category of the Master Plan should be closed down.

However, what is interesting is that if the teams, led by the SDMs go by the orders of the Lt.Governor, very few industries would be closed down. In addition, such guidelines could lead to much corruption as people could flood the Deputy Commissioners control room with all sorts of complaints leading to harassment and bribing. What is surprising is that the ``H'' category industries --large and medium -- have already been closed in Delhi five years ago and there are few units presently in operation.

Sources said this order by Mr. Kapoor was against the very spirit of the directions issued by the Supreme Court and was one more attempt by the Delhi Government and its agencies to subvert the law by interpreting things to suit their ends. In fact, while the Nodal Agency under the Urban Development Minister, Mr. Jagmohan, had issued instruction for sealing of industries, the Delhi Chief Secretary, Mr. P.S. Bhatnagar, is still to go ahead with the implementation of these orders. It is learnt that the Chief Secretary will discuss the issue with the senior officials before deciding on how to go ahead.

On the other hand, the Nodal Agency has indicated clearly that all polluting industries in the ``F'' category of the Master Plan would have to close down. Mr. Jagmohan has made it clear that more than 38,000 units would be closed under the operation and has given time up to January 4 to comply with the orders. This is in contradiction to the Delhi Government's orders asking polluting industries to close by December 17. There is utter confusion as to which agency is right and what course should the officials take.

The confusion has been further compounded with a delegation of BJP leaders, led by the Delhi unit president, Mr. Mange Ram Garg, claiming that Mr. Jagmohan had assured them that the Nodal Agency would not rush into with the closure, and give ample opportunity to the affected party for appealing. But nothing has been said about deferment of action, including sealing operations, against the polluting units which fall under the ``F'' category.

In fact, officials felt that the Lt.Governor and the Delhi Government could have come out with these orders long ago to satisfy the court. But now the Government could well find itself in the hot seat as the Nodal Agency would be over-seeing all the operations as it has to submit a report within four weeks to the Supreme Court.

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