The Supreme Court has directed the urban development ministry, the Delhi government, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to explain within seven days why they failed to relocate harmful industries away from the residential areas of Delhi. The directions were given by a division bench comprising justice B N Kirpal and justice Ruma Pal. Referring to the authorities failure to acquire land for relocating industries, justice Kirpal said, "DDA is encouraging all sorts of encroachment.' The court, in response to a public interest litigation, had earlier issued directions for either relocating or closing all polluting industries.