‘Segregate trash before burning at Okhla plant’
NGT orders plant to adopt new technology to stem air pollution
: As the Delhi government and Jindal Group’s Timarpur-Okhla waste-to-energy plant face controversy for using obsolete technology leading to air pollution, the National Green Tribunal on Wednesday directed the them to adopt better technology for segregation of waste before it is put in the furnaces.
A Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said, “…segregation at the plant is not working effectively which ultimately leads to discharge of pollutant higher than the prescribed limit.”
“At this stage, it would be pre-mature to conclude anything about the analysis of the samples of Ambient Air quality as the report is awaited. However, we direct the project proponent to immediately take steps … so that segregation of Municipal Solid Waste is complete and does not result in mix waste being put into the furnaces,” the Bench ordered.
The Tribunal has directed the Jindal Group to place before it in a week an affidavit “providing complete details of all steps taken by it for improving segregation of the Municipal Solid Wastes.”
The Court was hearing an application filed by Sukhdev Vihar Resident Welfare Association. It wants the plant to be closed on the ground that it is using ‘Mass Burning’ technology and is creating air pollution.
The RWA’s counsel Gaurav Bansal on Wednesday apprised the court that even the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) said that mass burning should be stopped immediately.
Mass Burning uses extreme heat to burn the waste, the heat generated is used to make energy. At present, the plant is processing about 1,900 metric tons of waste.
The Central Pollution Control Board recently collected samples of Air Stack emission for analysis of particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen chloride, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. On November 19, more samples will be collected for analysis of dioxins and Furans, common names for toxic chemicals associated with cancer and impairment of immune system.
Member Secretaries of CPCB and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee will be visiting the Okhla plant on November 19 and 20 to observe segregation of waste and general functioning of the plant.
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