The Central Bureau of Investigation is going to probe the role of "corrupt" officials of East Delhi Municipal Corporation who failed to keep a check on toxic industries operational in residential areas which has taken two lives recently. The CBI has filed the case against unidentified officials of the EDMC and the Delhi government on August 4.
It will probe how the illegal industry was running from residential area of Shiv Vihar in east Delhi and causing pollution. It is alleged that due to water pollution, the drinking water in the area got contaminated which was leading to severe problems like cancer to the people living there.
The case followed directives from the Delhi High Court which took cognisance of a news report about the death in May of two residents, allegedly from toxins discharged by a denim washing process, which was the main work of many of the units. Residents allege that chemicals released from these industries are getting with ground water and causing several health issues. Maximum pollution in these areas relies on borewell for water.
ILLEGAL UNITS OPERATIONAL
However, experts claim there are several illegal commercial units working from residential areas. Even some hazardous and polluting commercial units are running unchecked. East Delhi is fill of illegal factories including those are related to plastic melting, colouring of jeans, making spray paints and melting brass.
Irked over the menace of unauthorised industrial units running in residential areas here, the NGT had earlier directed the centre and the Delhi government to close all such units immediately and to cut electricity and water supply to such units. But, nothing much has happened on the ground as the illegal factories are thriving with the nexus with government officials.
The CBI filed the case under stringent charges of criminal conspiracy and causing grievous hurt by acts endangering the life or personal safety of others and for acts of corruption. The FIR focuses on running of unauthorised dyeing industry in Karawal Nagar since 2000.
In its order, the HC had asked CBI to ascertain the industrial/commercial use of residential properties. It said, "The CBI shall ascertain as to how many people have died in the area in the last five years and the cause of their deaths. It shall also find names and full particulars of the assistant engineer, executive engineer and the superintending engineer of the MCD who were posted in Shiv Vihar when the illegal activity commenced and who remained their till the date of closure of such activity."
RUNNING WITHOUT LICENSE
However, it would be a tough task for the agency to scan such units as several illegal factories and industries were operation in entire east Delhi which is also known as hub of garment factories. It also said CBI should find out whether any licence for the user to which the properties have been issued by the department of licensing of the MCD and detail of such officer who allowed running of these kind of industrial and commercial activities in the residential houses shall also be ascertained.
Even East Delhi MP Maheish Girri has raised the issues of illegal factories and had recently written letters to Delhi pollution control department, district collectors, respective SDMs of the area and also to the MCD and requested them to take urgent action on these illegal factories. He has also requested the L-G Anil Baijal for his intervention.
