NGT allows steel pickling units to sell stock, not to operate

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) today declined relief to stainless steel pickling units here on their plea to stay the shut down notices issued to them by Delhi Pollution Control Committee in view of the coming festivals, like Diwali, when steel products are in demand.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, however, allowed them to sell the stock manufactured by them so far and issued notice to and sought the response of the All India Lokadhikar Sangthan, on whose plea the tribunal in August this year had restrained such units from carrying out operations without DPCC consent.

The bench made it clear that apart from the commercial activity of sale of the stock, no other activity would be permitted in the premises of the units and also refused to stay the DPCC orders for disconnection of power and water supply to the industries and listed the matter on October 21.
The tribunal instead gave liberty to the DPCC to conduct surprise checks of the units to find out if they were engaged in any other activity apart from sale of stock and if any other work was found to be going on, then that industry be sealed right at that moment.

Apprehending sealing of their units, the owners of around 169 stainless steel pickling industries which are operating in the national capital pleaded before the bench that they be not shut down and their premises be not sealed as it would cause immense financial loss to them as well as to the over two lakh workers engaged by them.
Steel pickling is the process of removing impurities, such as stains, inorganic contaminants, from the metal.

The industries said that their stock or products which are lying in their premises would have no value if not sold during this festival season.
The bench, not impressed with the arguments, was more concerned with how the units were still functioning despite its order restraining them from carrying out manufacturing without consent of the DPCC.

"This shows how powerful you are," the bench observed.