DSIIDC to monitor industrial units from drones in Delhi

NEW DELHI: In order to control river pollution through illegal dumping of industrial waste and sources of pollution in drains by the industries in the national capital, the Delhi Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) is planning to use drone cameras to monitor the industrial areas. According to DSIIDC official, on the initial basis the corporation will install the project in two industrial areas of Delhi. If the results are positive and helpful we will increase the numbers of drones in future to monitor more of the industrial zones.

Talking to media, a senior official of DSIIDC said, “We are exploring the feasibility to deploy drones over industrial areas. Preliminary discussions have been held with at least four to five agencies for this, which have made presentations.”

Earlier before in March, NGT appointed a joint committee of Yamuna pollution monitoring committee, the DSIIDC, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to monitor the industries’ activities in Haryana and Delhi NCR.

Madhur Verma, deputy commissioner, Delhi Police said, “Under section 144 of the CrPC the use on drones are not permitted in public places. We didn’t get any proposal for using drones from government official yet.” Delhi police would examine the proposal if DSIIDC wants to use drones for monitoring purpose, he added.

“While on one hand, the drones could come handy in detecting illegal dumping of waste, we are more concerned with the pollution in drains as these drains empty into the Yamuna. As drones have not been deployed in the country, especially to detect industrial pollution, we are examining the feasibility,” the DSIIDC official said.

There are 33 industrial clusters in Delhi, of which three industries don’t use water. It is important to monitor the remaining units for dumping garbage in drains that causes river pollution. There are only 17 clusters which are connected to Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs).