The Delhi High Court today directed all local bodies to undertake that they would strictly adhere to the requirement of a consent from pollution controlling body DPCC before granting licence, water supply, power connection or sewerage facility to any industrial unit to be set up in areas authorised for such activity.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar was of the view that the requirement of a consent to establish (CTE) from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) ought to be mandatory for running industries in non-conforming areas like residential localities, which are not authorised for the same.
The court observed that the Committee should examine this aspect and take a decision as "industrial activity in these areas is a major source of air and water pollution" affecting the city.
The bench directed all stake holders, including the municipal bodies, to submit to the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) complete information regarding construction of a building, from the stage of completion certificate to a clearance of fitness for occupancy and any other compliances needed, for setting up a industrial unit.
The information was directed to be submitted to the DERC for modifying the applications filed before the power distributing companies (discoms) for electricity supply so that the forms contain information on whether the premises are being used for a purpose permitted under master plan of Delhi (MPD)-2021 and other bye-laws.
The applications for power connection are being considered for modification after the discoms said the forms in use currently do not disclose if the premises are being used as per MPD 2021 or the bye-laws and hence it was difficult for them to comply with the high court's order of February 22 to ensure only compliant buildings get electricity supply.
The February 22 order of the court had come on a PIL initiated by it after after taking cognisance of a news report about discharge of carcinogenic chemicals by cloth dyeing units in Mustafabad locality of northeast Delhi.
The report published in a daily had stated that untreated effluents were contaminating ground water, which is the main source of drinking water in the area, which was linked to the high rate of cancer there.
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