Bawana power purchase dispute: NGT directs DERC to fix rates

Miffed over a dispute between parties for purchase of power from the Bawana waste-to-energy plant here, the National Green Tribunal has directed Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) to fix the rates at which electricity is to be purchased by discoms.
The tribunal expressed concern over the fact that there was only one functional waste-to-energy plant at Sukhdev Vihar while three others, which are almost ready to be operationalised, have not started due to inter-departmental clearance on fixation of tariff.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar directed North Delhi Municipal Corporation and the project proponent of Bawana plant to file petition before DERC within a week and asked the Commission to dispose it within 7 days.

"North Municipal Corporation submits that discoms have to purchase electricity at the rate of Rs 7.90, fixed by Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, and therefore that should be the basis for payment. However, according to project proponent, the rates have to be different as it is only guiding factor.
"According to project proponent, he had agreed to supply the electricity on sharing basis between corporation as well as the power generating plant. In the circumstance, we direct DERC to determine the rate at which power is to be purchased by the electricity company, Delhi and make an observation in regard to the sharing of the revenue," the green panel said.

The tribunal said that municipal solid waste (MSW) is a matter of serious concern as the national capital generates nearly 8,000 metric tonnes of MSW every day.

"It would not be appropriate for the Tribunal to get into the rate, as for that purpose Regulatory Authority exists...If these plants do not become operational and are not kept under the strict vigilance there are bound be environmental hazard as there is hardly any land available for MSW dumping and sites are already over-filled and more often dust and fire generating dangerous gases which are bound to affect human life," the bench said.

The matter is fixed for next hearing on May 4.
NGT had earlier pulled up the Delhi government and North Delhi Municipal Corporation for inordinate delay in operationalising Bawana waste-to-energy plant.
The project proponent of Bawana plant had told the bench that it was ready to operationalise the plant but it has not got the no objection certificate for water and authorisation letter from NDMC.