the Delhi government has gone back on its decision to seal industrial units that pollute the Yamuna. One week after they were shut down, the government withdrew the closure order for 372 units.

The decision to reopen the industries follows the recommendations of a two-member committee set up by the government which found that the 372 industries had either installed individual effluent treatment plants or changed their trade to non-polluting industry. However, all these units have been asked to submit reports to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee on rectification of defects, trial runs, pollution control levels and verification.

In fact, the government was forced to close these polluting units only after the Supreme Court issued a notice to the chief secretary asking why contempt of court proceeding cannot be initiated against him for not implementing its directive on water-polluting units.