NEW DELHI: Residents of Sukhdev Vihar have decided to move the Supreme Court seeking a solution to the air pollution caused by Okhla waste-to-energy plant. On Thursday, officials from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) inspected the plant following an NGT order, which is currently hearing the residents' petition.
While the officials claimed that the plant did not violate norms, residents were not convinced. According to residents, the only solution is to either move the plant from its current location or shift the DDA colony. "Inspections have been conducted several times and emission samples have been tested. It's not helping. The plant is about 150m from our flats. We are living in fear that the toxic emissions could affect the health of one lakh residents," said Ranjit Devraj, a resident.
NGT had directed the plant authorities to put in place infrastructure to segregate the 1,900 metric tonnes of solid waste that's delivered to them. "At this stage, it will be premature 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 take steps...so that segregation of solid waste is complete and does not result in mix waste being put into the furnaces," the bench had ordered. The plant is said to have ordered a shredder that can help segregate waste.
"The waste coming to the plant is already mixed as waste segregation is not mandatory in Delhi. I don't understand how can that be segregated properly? Getting a shredder doesn't guarantee the refuse-derived fuel (RDF) technology will be used," added Devraj.
Residents had approached NGT alleging that the plant uses "reciprocating stoker-type boilers of Chinese origin", which is being phased out even in China due to their pollution potential. Waste is shredded, dried, baled and then burnt to produce energy with the help of RDF technology while biomethanation is where methane is produced by using microbes on organic municipal waste.
But CPCB officials said "the plant's performance is much better now. They (the plant) have promised to improve the efficiency of pollution control devices. Emissions are also under control".
But residents are unfazed. "I am a scientist and I know what they are discussing is will not address pollution. We are guinea pigs exposed to their emissions. Why can't they shift our colony if they can't shift the plant?" said Umesh Bahri, another resident.
