Illegal dyeing units causing pollution in Yamuna: Experts

NEW DELHI: The central committee, which has been monitoring Yamuna-related projects, was informed at a recent meeting that the operation of industries in non-conforming areas was one of the main issues in Delhi.
Experts said small-scale units, mostly involved in dyeing and washing of jeans, were contaminating the Yamuna.

Joint committees of Delhi Pollution Control Committee, Municipal Corporation of Delhi and other departments have been acting against such units since April-end and over 65 units have been sealed so far.
During a recent meeting of the central monitoring committee, the authorities said that since these industries are existing in non-conforming areas, they are not allowed to operate and considered as illegal. "DG, National Mission for Clean Ganga, directed that pollution from any source to the river, whether from conforming or non-conforming industrial clusters, should be stopped," according to the latest minutes of the meeting.
In May, National Green Tribunal directed the monitoring committee appointed by the Supreme Court to look into the matter of illegal dyeing units operational in Delhi. A DPCC official said joint teams of departments concerned were conducting random inspections to close such units.
Varun Gulati, who has filed several complaints with DPCC and NGT on operation of illegal dyeing and washing units, said, "A large number of such units are operational in Delhi without a consent. Most of them are operational in Swaroop Nagar, Budhpur, Narela, Bindapur, Matiala, Ranhola, Khyala, Meethapur, Badarpur, Mukundpur and Kirari. Apart from Delhi, such polluting units are operational in many parts of the national capital region."
He added that these units cause frothing in the river and impact aquatic life.
Bhim Singh Rawat, a Yamuna activist, said, "These illegal dyeing and washing units don't have any no-objection certificate to operate in residential areas. As they are not connected to common effluent treatment plants and don't have effluent treatment plants, the discharge from these units enters the Yamuna through local drains. They use chemicals for dyeing and detergents for washing, which contain high ammonia and phosphate compounds."
To prevent frothing and pollution in the Yamuna, the Delhi government in June 2021 had banned sale, storage, transportation and marketing of soaps, detergent which did not meet the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) norms. "However, such illegal units don't comply with BIS norms," said Gulati.
DPCC had earlier invited proposals to conduct a study of small-scale units involved in dyeing or washing of jeans/garments or metal surface treatment, which are operating in non-conforming areas and in residential areas.