The Hindu : New Delhi News : Centre, Delhi Govt. rapped over wrong use of industrial areas

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Saturday, Mar 19, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Centre, Delhi Govt. rapped over wrong use of industrial areas

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 18. The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Centre and the Delhi Government for being a silent spectator to commercial activities being extended to areas strictly earmarked for industries in the Capital.

A Bench of Justice Y.K. Sabharwal and Justice D.M. Dharmadhikari observed: "After spoiling the residential localities, they (corporate houses) are now grabbing the industrial areas like Okhla, Naraina and Wazirabad."

Referring to the Centre and the Delhi Government, the Bench said, "You cannot lose sight of the fact that unauthorised activities are the main source of corruption in the city. Many of the industrial areas in Delhi are being used for commercial purposes like setting up of corporate offices, showrooms and eating joints, while the Government has just closed its eyes."

The Bench was hearing a batch of petitions relating to shifting of industries and against the increasing commercialisation of the residential areas.

The Bench said that it was astonished to know that 70 to 80 per cent of the industrial plots in Okhla Phase-I and Phase-II and Naraina had been rented out to corporate houses or showrooms for carrying out commercial activities.

The Bench pointed out to the Centre, the Delhi Development Authority, the Delhi Government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi that the land-use plan in industrial areas clearly stated that apart from small-scale industries no commercial activities could be permitted there.

Expressing serious concern over the developments, the Judges said, "If you shut your eyes to this fact, then what is the purpose of earmarking an area for establishing the industries? On the other hand, industrial activities are being carried out in residential areas. If there is no political will on the part of the Government to check the menace, how far the courts can go in such matter, as the ultimate authority to implement the order is the Government."

But the Delhi Government tried to shift the blame to the Centre, as its counsel said that the NCT administration was helpless as it had no power over the police to enforce the law and the the DDA, the main agency controlling the land, was also under the Union Government.

The Bench directed that all the petitions against location of domestic industries in residential areas and on the complaint of inadequate power with the MCD to seal illegal commercial units in residential areas, be heard together and posted the matter for further hearing in the third week of April.

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