By Abu Zafar, India Tomorrow,
New Delhi, 14 Jan 2014: As Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) issued notice to Okhla waste-to- energy plant on several complaints by residents of nearby areas alleging pollutions and health hazard, official of the plant on Tuesday denied such allegations and said that some people are confused.
Residents had lodged complaints to DPCC and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and also filed a case against the plant in Delhi High Court asking to stop the plant because it generates harmful gas which could be hazardous for health. Later the case was transferred to National Green Tribunal (NGT) which is still pending before NGT and the next hearing is on Wednesday.
The Timarpur Okhla Municipal Solid Waste Management plant, a private-public partnership project of the Jindal ITF Ecoplis and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), has been functioning since July 2011. The plant is very near to residential areas like Sukhdev Vihar, Ghaffar Manzil and Abul Fazl Enclave. Three major hospitals of Delhi; Apollo Indraprastha, Fortis Escorts Heart Care Institute and Holy Family and a national university Jamia Millia Islamia are in one-kilometre radius of the plant.
Rejecting people’s complaints, Rakesh Kumar Aggarwal, executive director of Timarpur Okhla Waste Management Co Pvt Ltd, says there are no such hazards, people are just getting confused about it.
“Sometimes people get confused when they see fog. There is no pollution in our plant and if there is pollution then it will be daily and whole day not only in winter morning,” Aggarwal told India Tomorrow.
“During the winter when we breathe out then we see some foggy smoke coming out of our mouth,” he added.
He said such fogs are seen only at 7 to 8 in the morning at plant.
Aggarwal said that he has received the notice from DPCC and will respond it soon.
“We will reply to the notice sent by DPCC within time frame,” Aggarwal added.
DPCC asked the plant authorities to submit the reply within 15 days.
Aggarwal said that earlier there was an open dumping ground for garbage at the same place and it was more harmful.
According to Aggarwal the plant processes 1300 tons of municipal solid waste daily and till now it has processed 11 lakh tons garbage.
“If this amount of garbage would remain then it would be harmful for health,” he added.
“Such plants are functioning inside the cities without any problem,” he explained.
Aggarwal claims that only some people of Sukhdev Vihar have problem with this plant and they are misguiding people and government.
“The plant is inspected by reputed labs like Shriram Institute for Industrial Research (SRI) and VIMTA Labs Ltd. and all tests are normal,” he clarified.
The plant produces 16s MW of electricity which is enough to serve six lakh homes.
“We are open for suggestion and complaint,” Aggarwal added.
Plant using war chemicals: Environmentalist
Gopal Krishna of Toxics Watch Alliance (TWA), an environmental NGO, alleges that the plant is releasing several chemicals which are used in wars.
“The plant is releasing war chemicals like dioxins and furans which United State used in Vietnam War,” Krishna told India Tomorrow.
“Health hazard can happen anytime and we are awakening government but no one is listening to us,” said Krishna who submitted his plea at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s Janta Darbar on Sunday.
He also claims that leaders of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) promised before election to take this issue but still no initiative has been taken by the newly formed government.
Answering a question about tests of plant by some reputed labs Krishna said that one can take any result of their choice after paying these labs.
“These tests are not done for free and you can get any result when you pay them,” he said.
Asha Arora, a housewife and resident of Sukhdev Vihar complains about medical problem due to the plant.
“I have been suffering from skin problem since the plant started in July 2011,” Arora complained
“Several people in my neighbourhood feel discomfort while breathing and suffering from cough,” she added.
Arora claims that she resides only 20 meters from the plant.
