GHAZIABAD: The UP Pollution Control Board has issued notices to 18 factories across Ghaziabad for flouting norms resulting in the contaminationof groundwater. The action comes a day after the Allahabad High court pulled up UP principal secretary (environment) Renuka Kumar on the petition of an NGO — Society of Voice of Human Rights and Justice — run by a Supreme Court lawyer.

The court in Tuesday's order ordered Kumar to file a personal affidavit by August 30 stating action taken against officials responsible for non compliance of the high court's earlier order on clamping down on polluting industries.

Ajay Sharma, regional manager of the pollution board, said that action has been initiated against 18 industries in compliance with the court order. "We have identified 18 industries in the city that were found to be contaminating groundwater by discharging untreated water and soon we will move in to close down these industries," said Sharma.

The case dates back to 2010 when Society of Voice of Human Rights and Justice, an NGO run by Supreme Court lawyer Raj Kumar Kaushik, filed a PIL with Allahabad High Court on groundwater pollution. The court during subsequent hearing had formed a 11-member committee which included the Ghaziabad DM, pollution board officers and others.

Kaushik said, "In 2015 the committee came up with a list of about 1,000 polluting industries in Ghaziabad and Hapur districts, and had convinced the court that these industries were closed down."

He further said, "However, we presented before the court proof including photographic evidence that these industries are still operational. The court sought action against all the erring officials, which was not complied with. So, on Tuesday, it directed Renuka Kumar, principal secretary (pollution), to file a personal affidavit by August 30 stating action taken against the erring officials."