NGT orders inspection of waste-to-energy plants in Delhi

Concerned over delay in the operationalizing the waste-to-energy plants in capital, the National Green Tribunal today constituted a "high-powered team" to inspect these plants while directing it to submit a report within three weeks.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar constituted the team consisting of the Environment and Power Secretary, NCT Delhi, the Member-Secretary of CPCB, DPCC, senior scientist from MoEF, senior officer from Irrigation Department of UP (for Ghazipur plant) and chief engineers of municipal corporations.
"They shall report as to the steps that are required to be taken to ensure that the waste-to-energy plant at Ghazipur and Bawana could be made operational without any further loss of time. The reports would be comprehensive in all respects and shall fix responsibility for the requirements to be completed and steps to the taken by the respective stakeholders and the authorities to ensure grant of clearance of these projects.

"They shall also inspect thermal power plants at Rajghat and Badarpur and submit a complete and comprehensive report about their operation and maintenance," the bench said.
The green panel also directed the team to take samples of ambient air quality as well as stack air quality from all these plants except Bawana and ordered that samples would be analysed by DPCC, CPCB and Shriram Laboratory independently.
"Samples will be collected in the presence of the team. While taking the samples and conducting the inspection, the wind directions should be specifically noted.

"It should be pointed out in the inspection note if the plant at Sukhdev Vihar requires any immediate improvement, beside the one already suggested by CPCB, to ensure that emission do not carry any ash or particulate matters so as to cause pollution of the air particularly to the surrounding areas which are located near the plant," the bench said.

The green bench also directed all municipal corporations of Delhi and Delhi Cantonment Board to put forward a proposal for collection and segregation of of municipal solid waste.
The Tribunal's direction came on an application filed by Sukhdev Vihar Residents Welfare Association praying for closure of the Okhla waste-to-energy plant alleging that it uses illegal mass burning technology, causing air pollution.