Industrial Pollution in Delhi
Although industries serve as a backbone to the development of an area in terms of providing employment opportunities, increased income and better living standards, they can also cause poor health of people, congestion of civic amenities, increase in pollution load of the area, if not managed properly.
The location of industries is a very important factor contributing to the origin of such problems. Originally, many industries start in the remote non- residential area but the growth of the cities in their peripheries and extension of residential areas to the outskirts makes the industries as part of the town. Since the emission of harmful gases and toxic effluents keep on contaminating (because of improper handling) the water, soil and the surrounding environment, their harmful effects become a matter of serious concern for all.
Similar to the above is the story of the city of Delhi. The industries kept on mushrooming while the city knew no limits for its growth and it kept on expanding to new areas to adjust its ever increasing population. All contributed their share of pollution and the residents faced a crisis in the amenities whether the issue was that of civic facilities, transport, medical facilities, accidents or increasing crimes. Several social, economic and other issues directly or indirectly, visibly or otherwise get associated with such an unplanned and haphazard growth which is becoming cancerous for the city. The situation becomes alarming and several measures to control it need to be initiated by the various sectors of the society. Several steps by the Government, legal actions and participation by the people can bring the situation back to normal.
It was pointed out in the last section that Delhi was among the 12 worst polluted cities with respect to the air pollution according to the 1992 WHO/ UNEP Report on “Urban Air Pollution”.
The industries account for 20% pollution load to the city. A survey in 1996 by the Delhi Government revealed that 22% of the industrial units were located in the 28 approved industrial areas. The actual number increased by 300% during 1992-2001. The air pollution has increased a lot killing 1 person every hour and 9859 people die prematurely every year. About 30% of the people living in Delhi suffer from severe respiratory diseases; the ratio is 12 times more than the national average. It is also reported that 12% of Delhi’s school going children are asthmatic. The poor air quality is reflected by all these evidences.There are 17 categories of major polluting industries which have come into operation after 1991. They are as follows:
(1) AluminumSmelter
(2) Caustic Soda
(3) Cement
(4) Copper Smelter
(5) Distilleries
(6) Dyes and Dye Intermediates
(7) Fertilizers
(8) Integrated Iron and Steel
(9) Tanneries
(10) Pesticides
(11) Petrochemicals
(12) Drugs and Pharmaceuticals
(13) Pulp and Paper
(14) Oil Refineries
(15) Sugar
(16) Thermal Power Plants
(17) Zinc
The Supreme Court ordered closure and shifting of various industries located in Delhi. Some such decisions are as follows:
(1) 168 Industries belonging to category ‘Ha’ and ‘Hb’ categories under the Master Plan of Delhi-2001 and which were hazardous/ noxious/ heavy and large industries were ordered to stop operating in Delhi with effect from 30.11.1996. These industries had the option of shifting to another industrial estate in the National Capital Region or outside.
(2) 513 Industries belonging to H category were ordered to stop functioning in Delhi w.e.f. 31s' January 1997. These industries could relocate or shift to any other industrial estate in the National Capital Region.
(3) 43 Hot mix plants were ordered shifting or relocation on 10th October 1996 and their functioning was stopped in Delhi w.e.f. 28th February 1997.
(4) 246 Brick-kilns falling under H category were ordered to stop functioning w.e.f. 30th June 1997. However, they could relocate or shift in the National Capital Region. And, it was also decided that they could operate on the same site if they change over to modem plants with fly ash-sand lime technology.
(5) 21 Arc/ induction furnaces falling under H category were ordered closure in Delhi w.e.f. 31st March 1997.
(6) 337 Industries falling under H category were ordered closure w.e.f. 30,h June 1997.
(7) All non-extensive F category units in non-conforming/residential areas except light service industries were closed down or relocated in 20002001. However, the workers interest could not be protected and this lead to a panic in the industrial sector of Delhi. After this, the emphasis shifted to approved industrial areas, since these industries did not have enough space and finances for handling, storage and management of wastes generated by them. There were a total of 21,627 industrial units within the 28 industrial areas. About l∕5th of them were either closed or their plots in the newly established industrial area of Narela and Patparganj were lying vacant. In addition to the industries, there were other establishments such as 29,257 jhuggis and 816 residencies concentrated in the industrial areas of Wazirpur, Anand Parvat, Okhla, GT Kamal Road and Kirti Nagar.
About two thirds of the industries were located in six major areas which are as given below in Table 15.8.
Table 15.8 Location of Industries in Delhi
| Place | Percentage of Industries |
| Anand Parvat | 17.23 |
| Okhla | 11.34 |
| Wazir Pur | 7.70 |
| KirtiNagar | 6.82 |
| Maya Puri | 15.10 |
| Narela | 9.59 |
About 57% of these industries used electricity as a single source of energy whereas rest of the units used other fuels like diesel, petrol, coal etc. along with the electricity.
These fuels are also responsible for the air pollution in these areas.The small-scale industries also contributed hazardous wastes like heavy metal sludges, solvents, waste oils, acidic or alkaline wastes etc. Usually, these wastes are dumped into drains or in a common place and such a dumping is difficult to monitor.
About 70% of industrial units are involved in the following 18 industrial activities:
Tablel5.9 Activities at various industries in Delhi
| Product code | Name of the Industrial Activities | Percent of Units |
| 289 | Manufacture of other fabricated metal products; metal working service activities | 15.30 |
| 524 | Retail sale of second hand goods in stores | 6.11 |
| 514 | Wholesale of household goods | 5.15 |
| 252 | Manufacture of plastic products | 4.97 |
| 343 | Manufacture of parts and accessories for motor vehicles and their engines | 4.77 |
| 361 | Manufacture of furniture | 3.57 |
| 291 | Manufacture of general purpose machinery | 3.56 |
| 292 | Manufacture of special purpose machinery | 3.38 |
| 271 | Manufacture of Basic Iron and Steel | 3.29 |
| 181 | Manufacture of wearing apparel, except fur apparel | 3.22 |
| 222 | Printing and service activities related to printing | 2.98 |
| 502 | Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles | ' 2.74 |
| 272 | Manufacture of basic precious and non ferrous metals | 2.33 |
| 192 | Manufacture of footwear | 2.20 |
| 749 | Other business activities | 2.17 |
| 630 | Supporting and auxiliary transport activities; activities of travel agencies | 2.11 |
| 523 | Other retail trade of new goods in specialized stores | 2.06 |
| 242 | Manufacture of other chemical products | 2.00 |
Many of the activities listed in Table 15.9 above yield hazardous wastes.
Table 15.10 shows the percentage of units operating without no objection certificate.
Table 15.10 Percentage of Units without NOC (% of industrial units)
| Product Code | Product Name | Units out of Total industrialunits in Delhi | Units operating without valid NOC (Air/water) |
| 181 | Manufacture of wearing apparel, except fur apparel | 3.20 | 70.00 |
| 222 | Printing and service activities related to printing | 0.42 | 70.00 |
| 241 | Manufacture of basic chemicals | 1.37 | 80.00 |
| 242 | Manufacture of other chemical products | 2.00 | 80.00 |
| 252 | Manufacture of plastic products | 4.97 | 77.00 |
| 271 | Manufacture of basic iron and steel | 3.30 | 81.00 |
| 289 | Manufacture of other fabricated metal products; metal working service activities | 15.29 | 88.00 |
| 291 | Manufacture of general purpose machinery | 3.60 | 80.00 |
| 292 | Manufacture of special purpose machinery | 3.40 | 80.∞ |
| 313 | Manufacture of insulated wire and cable | 1.22 | 76.00 |
| 502 | Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles | 2.74 | 92.0 |
| 749 | Other business activities | 2.17 | 87.00 |
The effluent and emission standards have been notified for various categories of industries.
Also, the standards for ambient air and water quality have been notified to keep a check on the industrial pollution. But over and above all these efforts, strict monitoring and implementation of various notifications and guidelines is necessary to control the problem. Even after so many directives, many of the industries do not bother much for the problem of pollution. The real solution lies in the hands of those responsible for causing the pollution. If they honestly and sincerely make efforts and follow the procedure and norms, only then the problem of industrial pollution would be solved.