Delhi’s Environment Minister calls for action, polluting factories to be sealed without notice, warning to pvt firms not following WFH

With continued high levels of hazardous air quality in the national capital, the Delhi government has stepped up enforcement actions in the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)-IV and warned industries and private organisations that disregard Work-From-Home directives.

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Effect of GRAP-IV

A report from NDTV mentioned that according to Delhi Environment & Industries Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, the fourth stage of GRAP has been in effect for the last four days, with some visible results already in place.

“For the last four days, restrictions under GRAP-IV have been in place and we have seen good results,”he said.

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Warning to units causing pollution

Issuing a stern warning to industrial units, Sirsa confirmed that sealing operations against identified violators have already begun. 

“The polluting factories we have identified will be sealed without any further notice. They have already been given several chances,”he said.

He added that industries that failed to apply for OCEM by the October 31 deadline would also face immediate sealing.

The minister also announced strict action against illegal industries operating across Delhi. 

“Starting today, all Deputy Commissioners of Municipal Corporation of Delhi, in collaboration with Delhi Pollution Control Committee, have begun the sealing action against non-legal industries. Illegal industries, whether polluting or non-polluting, will all be shut down as per the orders of the Supreme Court of India,”he said.

Warning to companies not imposing WFH

Sirsa also cautioned private companies that are not complying with GRAP-IV norms, particularly the mandatory WFH directive. 

“It has come to light that some private companies are not following these guidelines. All such companies are urged to fully comply with the GRAP-4 rules. If any complaint is received against any private company, the strictest possible action will be taken,” he said.

In GRAP-IV, the emergency actions are activated once the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeds the mark of 400. These actions include curbs on construction work, vehicular traffic, industrial operation, and working-from-home (WFH) for government as well as private offices.

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Cleaning & Restoring water resources

In addition to enforcement, the government is now tackling the issues of mitigation and restoration. Sirsa said that night cleansing activities are being done, while about 35,000 metric tons of garbage are being removed every day from the dumping sites in Delhi.

On ecological restoration, he said the government is working with the Delhi Development Authority and the Delhi Revenue Department to revive long-lost water bodies.

“Our target is to revive at least 50 per cent of water bodies that have been completely lost for years, despite challenges like encroachment,”he said.

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