Claiming that Okhla Waste to Energy plant is not constructed in accordance with the recommended Refused Derived Fuel (RDF) technology, Okhla residents, including environmentalist Gopal Krishna has urged the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to shut down the plant. Moreover, the plant is not working as per Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) standards due to which functioning of plant emit harmful gases. China too has closed a plant built on the same technology recently, said the environmentalist.
According to Krishna, environmentalist with Anti-Toxic Watch Alliance (ATWA), waste to energy operational plant since 2012 is using unapproved Chinese incinerator technology, which could become the reason of chemical explosion at landfill site.
“This plant is situated at a green belt which is contrary to Master Plan of Delhi and also violet Environment Protection Act 1986,” he said. While explaining about the technology error, he explained that proposal to construct plant was based on RDF incineration technology and was advanced by the company and law officers of previous Central and State Governments.
“The functioning of this plant is not relevant and does not fulfill the purpose, it is using an experimental Chinese technology which was never ever mentioned at the time of submitting the project proposal or in its (Environment Impact Assessment) EIA reports,” said the environmentalist.
Dr Kafel Ahmad, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Jamia Millia Islamia said the plant is poorly planned situated as people reside near to plant and could suffer when any chemical reaction might occur which is natural, “In this case , the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) has not been done. The plant either should be relocated or shut down,” said Ahmad.
“Global experience demonstrates without any dispute that incinerator based WTE plants do not resolve the issue of non-availability of land and landfill sites. This experience also shows that energy from municipal waste is not produced at any lesser price in fact it more expensive,” said Krishna.
To buttress his stand, he cited an incident in China. “In August 2015, 173 people, many of them firefighters, were killed in a chemical explosion in the port of Tianjin involving 700 tonnes of highly toxic sodium cyanide. Investigators said the warehouses storing the chemicals had been built too close to residential units and numerous people were arrested for violating regulations on safe distances. Here in Okhla too this plant is situated close by residential area and hence it should also be closed,” he said.