New Delhi, Jan. 31 -- Calling the continued operation of illegal industrial units a "serious environmental violation" creating air and water pollution and posing a health hazard to residents of Delhi, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), North-East Delhi, to appear and explain why the police failed to support and protect a joint inspection team tasked with probing such units.

The direction was issued by the Principal Bench of the NGT, headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava, while hearing an application alleging the unauthorised and illegal running of 'Red' category industrial units in Village Gamri, East Delhi. The Tribunal observed that the lack of effective enforcement and police cooper...