AS ‘DIRTY’ FACTORIES THRIVE, TOXINS SPREAD ACROSSIndustrial pollution is not restricted to the peripheries but is silently causing damage inside the city. On the Edge, a study by an NGO, has identified 18 potential pollution hotspots in the capital.Unsafe, and often unorganized, methods of e-waste dismantling, dyeing, lead acid battery recycling, cathode-ray tube (CRT) dismantling and other processes have given rise to health and environmental concerns, says the Toxics Link study. Delhi has more than 1.2 lakh industries and 29 industrial estates, necessitating a watch over acid and lead fumes, as well as groundwater and air pollutionThe researchers assessed 51 industrial areas on five parameters--industrial processes, chemicals used, emissions, disposal technique and occupational health hazard. They found that 18 of them were flouting the norms.Prem Nagar in Mandoli houses 110 lead acid battery recycling units. There is no understanding of pollution control, claims the report. “Most units in this area rely on coal-to-fuel crude furnaces and recover lead in a crude manner. While recycling, battery acid is dumped on the ground, waste pile or into a waterbody. As lead plates are melted, lead ash settles in the surroundings, collects on clothing or is inhaled by workers,” it says. A large amount of waste at Seelampur, where e-waste is recycled, comes from the US and Europe. Workshops emit lead fumes and the melted lead solder often finds its way to nearby drains. “The working conditions are appalling with poorly ventilated rooms and no safety measures,” says the report about Moti Nagar, which recycles CFL devicesThe landfills at Ghazipur, Bhalswa and Okhla are responsible for toxic leachate contamination of air and groundwater. The Najafgarh drain basin, which includes Wazirpur, Naraina, Anand Parbat and Okhla industrial areas, is the largest surface drain joining Yamuna and contributes to over 50% of the wastewater discharged into the river. Wazirpur is one of the worst managed areas with 1,200 small units, a majority of which are involved in steel pickling. The report also highlights the need to address toxic smoke and dust from open dumping, burning and spilling of chemicals. “In 2011, MCD was supposed to close down around 22,000 units, but not much seems to have been done”, said Satish Sinha of Toxics Link.Questions1. Is industrial pollution restricted to the peripheries in Delhi? 2. How many potential pollution hotspots have been identified by an NGO? 3. Name three things that have given rise to health and environmental concerns. 4. What were the parameters of industrial areas assessed by the researchers? 5. Where does a large amount of waste at Seelampur come from? 6. What harm do the landfills at Ghazipur, Bhalswa and Okhla do to the environment? 7. Name the problems that should be addressed immediately as recommended by the report. 8. What contributes to 50% of the wastewater discharged into the river?

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AS ‘DIRTY’ FACTORIES THRIVE, TOXINS SPREAD ACROSSIndustrial pollution is not restricted to the peripheries but is silently causing damage inside the city. On the Edge, a study by an NGO, has identified 18 potential pollution hotspots in the capital.Unsafe, and often unorganized, methods of e-waste dismantling, dyeing, lead acid battery recycling, cathode-ray tube (CRT) dismantling and other processes have given rise to health and environmental concerns, says the Toxics Link study. Delhi has more than 1.2 lakh industries and 29 industrial estates, necessitating a watch over acid and lead fumes, as well as groundwater and air pollutionThe researchers assessed 51 industrial areas on five parameters--industrial processes, chemicals used, emissions, disposal technique and occupational health hazard. They found that 18 of them were flouting the norms.Prem Nagar in Mandoli houses 110 lead acid battery recycling units. There is no understanding of pollution control, claims the report. “Most units in this area rely on coal-to-fuel crude furnaces and recover lead in a crude manner. While recycling, battery acid is dumped on the ground, waste pile or into a waterbody. As lead plates are melted, lead ash settles in the surroundings, collects on clothing or is inhaled by workers,” it says. A large amount of waste at Seelampur, where e-waste is recycled, comes from the US and Europe. Workshops emit lead fumes and the melted lead solder often finds its way to nearby drains. “The working conditions are appalling with poorly ventilated rooms and no safety measures,” says the report about Moti Nagar, which recycles CFL devicesThe landfills at Ghazipur, Bhalswa and Okhla are responsible for toxic leachate contamination of air and groundwater. The Najafgarh drain basin, which includes Wazirpur, Naraina, Anand Parbat and Okhla industrial areas, is the largest surface drain joining Yamuna and contributes to over 50% of the wastewater discharged into the river. Wazirpur is one of the worst managed areas with 1,200 small units, a majority of which are involved in steel pickling. The report also highlights the need to address toxic smoke and dust from open dumping, burning and spilling of chemicals. “In 2011, MCD was supposed to close down around 22,000 units, but not much seems to have been done”, said Satish Sinha of Toxics Link.Questions1. Is industrial pollution restricted to the peripheries in Delhi? 2. How many potential pollution hotspots have been identified by an NGO? 3. Name three things that have given rise to health and environmental concerns. 4. What were the parameters of industrial areas assessed by the researchers? 5. Where does a large amount of waste at Seelampur come from? 6. What harm do the landfills at Ghazipur, Bhalswa and Okhla do to the environment? 7. Name the problems that should be addressed immediately as recommended by the report. 8. What contributes to 50% of the wastewater discharged into the river?

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