Letter to Central Electricity Regulatory Commission against subsidy for waste-to-energy plant at Okhla

The Chairman,

Central Electricity Regulatory Commission

3 rd & 4 th Floor, Chanderlok Building,

36, Janpath, New Delhi- 110001

Subject:  Subsidy for waste-to-energy plant at Okhla

 Sir,

 We the residents of Sukhdev Vihar, bring to your attention the following facts: 

 

1)  The waste-to-energy plant being operated by the Timarpur Okhla Waste Management Company Limited has been running without a valid license to operate and authorisation from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) for the last two years. Further, there is no valid EIA for the existing process of mass burning, withour segregation, and without production of RDF, etc.  This has been brought to the notice of the National Green Tribunal, where the matter is being heard and is therefore sub-judice.

The NGT case no: 22(thc) /2013. The case  no: WP(C) 9901/2009 was transferred from the Delhi Court on 15 January, 2013. Next date of hearing in NGT is 8th October, 2015.

2)  There is a Supreme Court ban on the grant of subsidies to waste-to-energy plants, following proven unviability. I.A. NO. 18 in W.P. (C ) No. 888/1996:

  “After hearing parties, this Court on 6^th May, 2005, observed that till the position becomes clear as regards the viability of the projects for generation of energy from municipal waste (by the bi0-methanation technology), the Government would not sanction any further subsidies to such projects.” 

3)   The plant has been located on a site designated as a green belt in the Delhi Masterplan. It falls in the H category of industries and is located within 150 metres of established DDA residences.    

4)   The Parliamentary Committee on Urban Development had in its 2014 report condemned the operation of such a plant in a residential area.

“The Committee notes that the Municipal Solid Waste is delivered by NDMC and MCD at the Okhla Power Plant site. Although it is claimed that ‘only non Hazardous Municipal Solid Waste will be treated at the facility’, the fact is that Delhi's mixed municipal solid waste has characteristics of hazardous waste. MCD, Delhi government and Central Government have shown sheer callousness towards hazardous emissions from municipal incinerators that cause serious environmental and health problems to the people living not only near them but thousands of kilometers away from the source.”

       You are requested to look into the above issues. Before granting any subsidy to the company, M/S TOWMCL, Okhla, under Renewable Energy, the violations / the courts out- come should be considered.  

With Regards,

For Residents of Sukhdev Vihar