Noida: Acting on NGT’s directions, UP Pollution Control Board has initiated action to close 46 illegal jeans manufacturing and washing units in the district.UPPCB headquarters in Lucknow has issued show-cause notices after inspections found that 37 units operating in Noida and nine in Greater Noida were operating without the required clearances and pollution-control measures to prevent contamination of groundwater and land. The notices have been issued under relevant provisions of the Air and Water Pollution Acts for operating highly polluting industrial units in residential areas.The action-taken report was placed before the tribunal on Thursday during the hearing of a petition filed by environmental activist Varun Gulati, who had named 30 such units as respondents, comprising dyeing and washing units operating illegally in Asgarpur in Sector 128, Garhi Chaukhandi in Sector 68, and Old Haibatpur in Greater Noida. During subsequent inspections, UPPCB’s Noida unit found 13 additional units operating illegally.In an affidavit before the tribunal, UPPCB regional officer (Noida) Reetesh Kumar Tewari said that an inspection conducted in Garhi Chaukhandi, Sector 68, and Asgarpur, Sector 128, on July 21, 22 and 23 found 24 more illegal units operating from residential areas in addition to the 13 caught earlier.He said a list of all 37 units, with addresses, electricity meter numbers and geo-coordinates, was sent to the chief engineer of Paschimanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (PVVNL), requesting disconnection of electricity to the illegally operating textile dyeing units, and that the head office in Lucknow had been asked to initiate further action, including issuing show-cause notices for sealing the premises.A similar inspection by the Greater Noida regional office on July 10 in Old Haibatpur found nine illegal dyeing and colouring units operating from residential areas. Regional officer Vikas Mishra told the tribunal that letters had similarly been sent for power disconnection and further action.District magistrate Medha Roopam informed the tribunal that PVVNL has been directed to ensure no commercial power connections are given in Hindon catchment area to prevent polluting industries from operating there, in compliance with a 2022 tribunal order. She said fresh letters had been issued to PVVNL reiterating that no industrial activity be permitted along Hindon banks and adjoining residential areas.
