New Delhi, May 15 (KNN) The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has begun a survey to identify polluting units in New Delhi’s Mayapuri Industrial Area and to take note of business establishments having licences to operate in the area.

Mayapuri is a hub of scrap dealers, especially those dealing with vehicles.

The survey aims to determine number of units, nature of their business, extent of pollution caused by them and whether they have licences from civic bodies to operate or not.

Talking to KNN India, Executive Committee Member of Mayapuri Industrial Welfare Association (MIWA) Dinesh Makol said the industry is supporting the government in the survey. The survey is being conducted to map the industries running in the area and to know the nature of business establishments.

Makol, an industrialist from the Mayapuri area, said the small traders and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are ready to support the government towards making the industries compliant as per the norms. Whatever initiatives the government takes, the industry is ready to adhere to the rules but they need handholding support from the Delhi Government and civil bodies.

The Delhi Government last year had approved a 50% subsidy for hotels and restaurants and subsidies upto Rs 50 thousand to small industries and Rs 1 lakh to large industries which shift to eco-friendly fuels.

A prerequisite for the grant was that these industries are located in approved industrial areas in the national capital or redeveloped industrial areas.

“The scheme will also be extended to those units which have taken their connections during 2017-2018. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) will be authorised to issue cheques/DD in favour of Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) for the units which switch over to PNG as per the confirmation list provided by IGL. IGL shall transfer the incentive amount in the PNG account of industrial unit with IGL,” according to a statement from the CM’s office last year.

Sharing experience with KNN India, the industrialist from the Mayapuri area highlighted that it has been almost one year since many industries have applied for gas connection from IGL but are still waiting to get the line. Due to this many industries are shut down because unless they switch to gas connections, they might be fined by NGT.

He said many small traders/ unit holders don’t know what to do and how to do and government is not proving handholding support to them.

The gas bills that are coming from IGL have made our gas costs go up by 30 per cent. The bills have a ‘factor’, which when asked even the IGL people don’t know what it is, the industrialist said.

The sealing drive at Mayapuri Industrial Area’s Phase II had taken a violent turn in April this year, as traders clashed with security forces. At least 14 officials, along with traders and scrap dealers, were injured. Mayapuri is a hub of scrap dealers, especially those dealing with vehicles.

Following the incident, the High Court, in an interim order, directed DPCC to not take any coercive steps against over 800 traders, which will continue till the next date of hearing on May 22.

The DPCC last month had imposed environment damage charges of Rs 1 lakh each on 765 industrial units found causing pollution, directly or indirectly, by engaging in scrapping activity in west Delhi’s Mayapuri. (KNN Bureau)