National Green Tribunal Demands Answers from Delhi Police Over Failed Inspection of Polluting Units
In a significant development highlighting enforcement challenges in environmental regulation, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast) to personally appear before it and provide explanations regarding the failure to ensure adequate protective measures during a crucial inspection of illegal industrial units in east Delhi. The tribunal's order comes after a joint committee faced obstruction and resistance while attempting to assess unauthorized operations in Gamri village.
Inspection Meets Resistance Despite Police Presence
The joint committee, comprising representatives from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, Central Pollution Control Board, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, and district administration, conducted site visits on October 31 last year as part of an ongoing investigation into environmental violations. According to the committee's detailed report submitted to the tribunal, the inspection team encountered significant obstacles at all three locations visited.
At one particular site, a crowd that included women gathered and began agitating against the inspection team, resorting to verbal abuse and obstruction despite the presence of police personnel. The situation escalated to the point where the committee members felt threatened and unable to proceed with their assessment. This incident raises serious questions about law enforcement support during environmental compliance checks.
At the other two locations, the industrial units were found locked, with owners refusing to cooperate or grant access to the inspection team. The complete lack of cooperation from unit operators prevented the committee from conducting thorough examinations of the facilities and their operations.
Background of the Case and Pollution Concerns
The tribunal is currently hearing a plea filed by environmental activist Varun Gulati, who has alleged that numerous unauthorized and illegal "Red" category industrial units continue to operate actively in Gamri village, east Delhi. These Red-category industries represent the most polluting class of industrial operations, characterized by a Pollution Index score of 60 or above.
Red-category industries typically include operations that involve high-combustion processes and generate substantial environmental contamination. Common examples found in this classification encompass:
- Certain chemical manufacturing facilities
- Explosives production units
- Cement manufacturing plants
- Tanneries and leather processing operations
The continued operation of such industries without proper environmental safeguards poses significant health risks to local residents and contributes to the deteriorating air and water quality in the capital region.
Tribunal's Observations and Police Accountability
During the hearing held on January 21, the bench headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava noted several concerning developments presented by the applicant's counsel. The inspection report revealed that Delhi Police personnel not only failed to prevent the obstruction but also refused to sign the official inspection document, further complicating the evidentiary record.
More alarmingly, the tribunal learned that the confrontation resulted in injuries to at least one individual, with a formal report subsequently filed at the Jafrabad police station. This escalation from verbal abuse to physical harm underscores the volatile nature of the situation and the apparent breakdown of law enforcement protocols.
The NGT has now summoned the DCP (northeast) to appear on April 16 and provide detailed explanations regarding two critical failures:
- Why Delhi Police personnel refused to sign the joint committee's inspection report
- Why adequate protective measures were not implemented to ensure the inspection team could carry out its duties safely and effectively
This judicial intervention represents a crucial test of institutional accountability in environmental governance, particularly regarding the coordination between regulatory bodies and law enforcement agencies tasked with supporting compliance efforts.
Broader Implications for Environmental Enforcement
The Gamri village case highlights systemic challenges in implementing environmental regulations in urban and peri-urban areas where illegal industrial operations often flourish with apparent impunity. The tribunal's decision to implead the commissioner of police earlier in the proceedings and now to summon the DCP directly indicates a growing judicial recognition that environmental protection requires robust law enforcement support.
As Delhi continues to grapple with severe air pollution and water contamination issues, effective monitoring and enforcement against polluting industries remain critical components of any comprehensive environmental strategy. The outcome of this case may establish important precedents for how regulatory bodies and police forces coordinate during environmental inspections, potentially strengthening enforcement mechanisms against illegal industrial operations across the National Capital Region.
