Tribunal wants segregation plant at Okhla

Another scientific report has found that the waste-to-energy plant running at Okhla in South Delhi is causing pollution beyond permissible limits.

Another scientific report has found that the waste-to-energy plant running at Okhla in South Delhi is causing pollution beyond permissible limits.

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Rahul Choudhary, a local commissioner appointed by the National Green Tribunal, said, “On Tuesday, the Central Pollution Control Board filed its report on stack and ambient air quality samples in which it found pollutants beyond permissible limits.”

“The tribunal asked the firm running the plant to consider setting up a segregation plant,” he said. The South Delhi Municipal Corporation and the New Delhi Municipal Council are supposed to segregate wet waste for composting, pick out recyclables and send only the non-hazardous, dry waste to the plant.

But residents allege this hardly happens; with the job of segregation mostly left to the “illegal” ragpickers.

Earlier, Choudhary had found in his report that the collection of bottom ash and fly ash inside the plant was not being regulated as per norms, which could turn hazardous. Residents of Sukhdev Vihar in Okhla had been saying said the plant burns wastes and releases harmful ‘dioxins’ into the air and sought closure of the firm. Vimal Monga, a resident, said, “As part of a monitoring programme started by residents, Chennai-based Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives has collected samples and found the pollution level to be life-threatening.”

The matter would be heard next on July 22.