The Delhi government, taking its fight against pollution a step further, has shut down 200 factories and will close 900 more in a massive crackdown ordered by the Supreme Court. Besides Anand Parbat, the Wazirpur and Okhla industrial areas, where water-polluting industries involved in dying, pickling and electroplating are located, will also be affected by the crackdown. Most of these small-scale industries discharge effluents into the drainage system, which is connected to the Yamuna, a dying river that runs through the eastern part of the city. The Supreme Court had in September ordered the closure of all industries discharging effluent into the river. But industrialists whose units have been sealed say the crackdown goes against the court ruling.
Industrialists are also unhappy about the conflicting statements issued by the authorities.