Waste plant polluting environment: report

The waste-to-energy plant running at Okhla in South Delhi is causing environmental pollution, the national green tribunal said on Tuesday.

The waste-to-energy plant running at Okhla in South Delhi is causing environmental pollution, the national green tribunal said on Tuesday.

Rahul Choudhary, a local commissioner appointed by the tribunal, has found in his report that the collection of bottom ash and fly ash inside the plant is not being regulated as per norm and it can be truly hazardous even for those working there. The report said bottom ash and fly ash is being carried out in open trucks which is also detrimental to the environment.

Choudhary filed his report to the tribunal on Tuesday. Samples of bottom ash and fly ash were taken on April 6. A report on stack and ambient air quality samples collected between April 10 and 20 is awaited.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Tuesday also filed a report prepared by a committee of experts, who inspected the site between March 28 and 31 and collected samples. The report said the quantum of pollutants exceeds the permissible limits on a couple of parameters.

The tribunal has given two weeks to the petitioners who have sought closure of the plant as well as the firm running the plant to respond to these reports. The local commissioner and the CPCB would file the awaited reports.

The tribunal also asked the firm to state through an affidavit the steps proposed to be taken to ensure that its activity does not cause environmental pollution. The tribunal also asked the firm to quantify plastic content in the municipal solid waste being burnt, and at what temperature.

Timarpur-Okhla Waste Management Co Pvt Ltd is operating the plant with a capacity to process 1,300 tonnes of waste daily and generate 16 MW of electricity.