Critique of Draft EIA/EMP
Report of Expansion Of Power Plant from 16 MW To 40 MM (Waste To Energy) of
Near Okhla STP, Okhla, New Delhi
Photo: Waste based thermal power plant of The Timarpur Okhla Waste Management Company Ltd. (TOWMCL), M/s Jindal Urban Infrastructure Limited (JUIL), a company of M/s Jindal Saw Group Limited in Sukhdev Vihar, Hazi Colony, Okhla residential area. Photo Credit: Gilbert Kolonko
Photo: Notice for Environmental Public Hearing at Lajpat Nagar
on the Expansion of
Waste to Energy Plant of Timarpur Okhla Waste Management Company Ltd at Okhla
STP, Near Sukhdev Vihar, New Delhi
The notice of the
Environmental Public Hearing reveals that there is a manifest procedural
violation of the EIA Notification 2006 under the Environment (Protection) Act,
1986. Public Hearing was scheduled to be held at Lajpat Nagar on 16th January,
2019 for the Expansion of Waste To Energy Plant of Timarpur Okhla Waste
Management Company Ltd at Okhla STP, Near Sukhdev Vihar, New Delhi.
The venue of the
EIA Public Hearing was far from the site of the waste based thermal power
plant. The plant is in Sukhdev Vihar, Okhla but at the venue of the Public Hearing
was at the Office of District Magistrate, Southeast Delhi, Lajpat Nagar, New
Delhi, which is some 5-10 km far from the plant site. It is a clear violation
of September, 2006 EIA Notification, Clause No. 1 of the Procedure for Conduct
of Public Hearing as mentioned in the Para 7 of the Annexure-IV, which clearly mentions that the project site should be the
venue of Hearing.
The time duration
fixed for the EIA Public Hearing was very short, i.e. of two hours only from 11
AM to 1 PM. The Clause No. 1 of the EIA Notification, 2006 clearly states that
the Hearing should give opportunity to "widest possible public
participation." The notice makes a mockery of the EIA notification and the
procedure of public hearing. It takes the consent of residents of Okhla for
granted by transforming the EIA process into an empty ritual and a non-serious
formality.
DPCC has failed to
change the venue of the Environmental Public Hearing. It has failed to extend
its time and it also failed to re-notify a new date and venue as requested by
the residents. In such a backdrop, the residents did not allow the illegal and fake
public hearing to take place.
Residents are seriously perturbed with the
initiatives of the Government of NCT of Delhi and its agencies in the name of
‘development’ in our area, and for the sake of rest of Delhi. This area, which
has a dense population, has been treated and identified has a dumping ground
for the hazardous projects such as common biomedical plant (already
functioning), and now the government is hell-bent on setting up monstrous
municipal solid waste based “waste-to-energy” incineration project, which is
being marketed as the "eco-friendly and renewable" project. As per
the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), all municipal waste
combustors (i.e. incinerators), regardless of technologies, release a number of
pollutants, including cadmium, lead, mercury, dioxin, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen
chloride, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter. Dioxin and mercury are of
particular concern because they are toxic, persist in the environment, and
bioaccumulate. The Delhi Government’s decision of setting up the said project
is ill conceived, and blatantly ignores the present demography of the
surrounding areas of the proposed site. How can the government allow such a
hazardous project amidst residential colonies while ignoring the current
geography of the area? This plant emits large quantities of hazardous and toxic
emissions (such as dioxins and furans) due to burning of mixed Municipal Solid
Waste, and profoundly affects the health of the people living in the
surrounding areas and environment for all times to come in future. This is in
violation of the fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution of
India and Articles 47, 48A and 51-A (g) of the Constitution.
The proposed project is located amidst dozens of
densely pullulated residential colonies like Sukhdev Vihar, Noor Nagar, Masih
Garh, Haji Colony, Gaffar Manzil, Johri Farm and parts of Jamia University etc.
The nearest human settlement is just 100 meters from the proposed site. Besides
this, the site is in proximity of hospitals like Holy Family, Fortis-Escorts
and Apollo. While the government is strictly pushing all the industries outside
the city limits, this WTE Project is being allowed in the residential area, and
projected as an environmentally sustainable option which is nothing but fraud
on the residents of these colonies. This is going to spoil the quality of life
and living, the quality of the air for breathing, the quality of under-ground
water and bring disaster to lives of all the residents of the affected colonies.
The plant is in the vicinity of ecologically sensitive
zone having Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Asola
Wildlife Sanctuary, Jahanpanah City PF, Tilpat forest and Central Ridge Reserve
Forest.
The residents are clearly the “victims” of
improper, unjustified planning reflecting no concern towards the health of the
residents. This kind of “planning” disregards all the scientific evidence. The
residents have been demanding stoppage of this project to avoid Bhopal Gas
disaster like situation in this residential area.
At page
no. 1 of the Executive Summary of the Draft EIA/EMP Report of Expansion of
Power Plant from 16 MW To 40 MM (Waste To Energy) of Near Okhla Stp, Okhla, New
Delhi prepared by M/s Yes Enviro Solutions Ltd[1] the Consultant of
The Timarpur Okhla Waste Management Company Ltd. (TOWMCL), M/s Jindal Urban
Infrastructure Limited (JUIL), a company of M/s Jindal Saw Group Limited, it has
been stated that “Waste collected in city contains a large amount of biological
and recoverable materials. It is therefore a source of renewable energy.” These
submissions made in the Draft EIA/EMP Report are scientifically and factually
incorrect and misleading.
It is
noteworthy that the Terms of Reference for the EIA for the proposed expansion
of the existing project has been given by the Experts Appraisal Committee (EAC)
on Thermal Power Projects Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change. Earlier, the ToR of the EIA and the environmental clearance for the
existing project was given by the Experts Appraisal Committee (EAC) on Infrastructure
and Miscellaneous Projects + CRZ, Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change. There seems to a procedural mistake and inconsistency with
regard to the jurisdiction of the EAC which has awarded ToR for the proposed
expansion.
Given the
fact that at present India has surplus power to the tune of 3,000-4,000 MW as
India's total power capacity increased from 243 GW in March 2014 to 320 GW in
March 2017 and as of 31 December 2018 India has an installed capacity of 347.22
GW, there is no compelling logic for the extraction of power from WTE plants.
At page
no. 22, it is claimed by the consultant of the Jindal’s company that “This
project is green initiative for electricity production.” It is a boastful claim
divorced from reality on the ground. Several reports of Delhi Pollution Control
Committee (DPCC) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) have found this
project highly polluting. The verdict of National Green Tribunal (NGT) found
these findings to be true.
The
perpetuation of the myth claiming waste incineration as a source of ‘renewable
energy’ has deeply harmful ramifications. European Commission’s definition of
Renewable Energy Directive states that ‘energy from renewable sources’ is derived
only from non-fossil sources. As per this definition energy from waste is not a
renewable energy because waste is not a non-fossil source. It is “energy from a
source that is not depleted when used, such as wind or solar power”.
Waste is
not like wind or solar. It consists of paper, plastic food etc – all having
been made from other sources of energy and resources. For instance, if waste
consists entirely of plastic (for example) and generates 100MW of energy per
tonne, it’s only renewable if it took less than 100MW of energy to produce. If
this is how energy is being defined as ‘renewable’ then Waste to Energy is not
renewable energy.
A road
that harnesses the movement and sound of cars to create electricity is not
typically considered ‘renewable’ because it relies on a car’s use of fossil
fuels to move. It is this very principle which is being applied to waste.
Jindal
company’s submission that generating electricity using a non-conventional
energy source instead of fossil fuel must be deemed a renewable energy project
is scientifically questionable. waste burning technology cannot automatically
be deemed a renewable energy project. If anything, such attempts to classify
the WTE plant as renewable project is farfetched. Waste incinerator technologies are net energy
losers when the embodied energy of the materials burned is accounted for.
The move
by the incineration industry to persuade public institutions to term waste
incinerators as 'renewable energy' projects is not only fraudulent but also
dangerous. Municipal solid waste is not considered to be a renewable energy
source since it tends to be a mixture of fuels that can be traced back to
renewable and non-renewable sources. The advocates of waste incinerators prefer
to pre-empt segregation and recycling efforts being made by municipalities and
communities around the world.
The
massive pollution caused by the incineration technology based Waste-to-Energy
plant of Jindal company at Sukhdev Vihar, Okhla in the vicinity of Hazi colony,
Gaffar Manzil and several residential and sensitive institutional entities
besides Okhla Bird Sanctuary. The residents of Okhla region are quite perturbed
and alarmed about it. The residents of Okhla region are in a state of profound
fear because of the expanison of the plant’s capacity from 16 MW to 40 MW. This
amounts to transforming the residents and wild life in the area into guinea
pigs for testing war chemicals in peace time. The emission of Persistent
Organic Pollutants (POPs) like Dioxins from the plant in this residential and
ecologically fragile area is akin to use of Agent Orange, a war Dioxins based war
chemical used by US Army against Vietnam.
Agent Orange is an herbicide and defoliant chemical, one of the
"tactical use" Rainbow Herbicides. It is widely known for its use by
the U.S. military as part of its herbicidal warfare program, Operation Ranch
Hand, during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971.[2]
The
expansion which is underway without any Public Hearing is illegitimate and
illegal. This activity is in addition to deviation in technology for which
environmental clearance was obtained. It has resulted in severe pollution to
the environment. The fact is that contrary to the Environment Impact Assessment
(EIA) report, bio-methanation plant and Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) units do not
exist. This plant violates siting norms
for polluting industries, being barely 150 meters from long-established
residential areas, posing a threat to life of residents.
No
residential locality in its sanity can give consent to allow expansion of un-segregated
municipal waste incineration based thermal power plant in their locality. They
cannot be expected to be superior bearers of risk. The EAC cannot turn a blind
eye to serious health hazard to tens of thousands of people living and working
in this ecologically-sensitive area. It is noteworthy that two major hospitals
in the area have complained to the Prime Minister's office about the hazards to
patients as well.
The
claims made by the project proponent with regard to compliance at Okhla by M/s
Timarpur-Okhla Waste Management Co. Pvt. Ltd to the Specific Conditions and
General Conditions laid down in the Environment Clearance are factually
incorrect and misleading. Specific Condition reads: No Objection Certificate
from the Delhi pollution Control committee should be obtained before initiating
the project.
Status of
Compliance: Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has been issuing show
cause notice to the project proponent for violation of Specific Conditions
which reads: “To minimize odour and
aesthetics, it should be ensured that waste will be directly unloaded into specifically
designed pits. The air contained in the complex should be suitable treated with
wet scrubbing method before lettering out in the atmosphere.”
Status of
Compliance: The entire Okhla region
surrounding the waste to energy plant is contaminated with toxic ash emanating
from the plant. The air pollutants from this plant contribute to the overall air
pollution in Delhi that is having adverse health impact and reducing life span
of the individuals.
General Condition reads: In case of
diversion or alteration in the project including the implementing agency, fresh
references should be made to Ministry for modification in the clearances
conditions or imposition of new one for ensuring environmental protection. The project
proponents should be responsible for implementing the suggested safeguard measures.
Status of Compliance: Although there has been admitted “diversion
or alteration in the project including the implementing agency” especially with
regard to technology, no fresh references has been made to Ministry for
modification in the clearances conditions or imposition of new one for ensuring
environmental protection.
This violation of Environment Impact
Assessment Notification, 2006 is part of ongoing violations by this project
proponent from the very outset. This fact has been admitted by the Union
Minister of Environment & Forests in his letter to the Chief Minister of
Delhi.
The following details are relevant in this
regard:
1.
It all started with the plan of The Timarpur Waste Management Company
Pvt. Ltd. (TWMCPL), a subsidiary of Infrastructure Leasing & Financial
Services Ltd. (IL&FS) to generate electricity from the project at Timarpur,
Delhi. The plant got subsequently owned by M/s Jindal Urban Infrastructure
Limited (JUIL), a company of M/s Jindal Saw Group Limited. At the outset it
planned to process and to treat 214,500 MT of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and
produce 69,000 MT of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) in a year as per company's
Project Design Document (PDD) submitted to United Nations Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC)’s CDM Executive Board.
2.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of Municipal Solid Waste facility
at Okhla was submitted by New Delhi Waste Processing Company Private Limited,
Okhla, New Delhi (NDWPCL), Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services
(IL&FS). Thus, one arm of the company ILFS proposed the project and another
arm of the same company prepared the EIA report. A case of conflict of interest
is quite manifest. The report prepared
in December 2006 was full of flaws. This document was ridden with flaws.
3.
The header on all the pages of EIA report reads “Rapid EIA – Okhla
Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Processing Facility”, so it won’t be incorrect
to say that this is not a comprehensive assessment of project activity and its
likely impacts on health and environment.
4.
Page 30 of EIA reads: “Since this being a rapid EIA, only one season
data was collected”. This makes the report flawed.
5.
If you read page 63/64, where the ecological environment has been
described, it says “The proposed project is at the landfill site, near STP
located in Okhla industrial area in the southern part of Delhi.” This
description is factually and technically incorrect because the piece of land
where the waste to energy project has been constructed is not a ‘landfill” site
and has historically never been a landfill site. Moreover, because of the
geography of this area, a landfill site can never be created here. This is not
part of Okhla Industrial Area. All this misrepresentation has been done intentionally
to give the impression that this is being located in the industrial area.
6.
At page 102, EIA report concludes that “….no likely adverse impact on
people’s health is predicted” (i.e.
during the operation phase). This is factually not correct as has been borne
out by the order of Hon’ble Delhi High Court pertaining to a plant using
similar incinerator technology at the same location. The landmark judgment in Writ
Petition (C) No. 6976 of 2008 refers to 'The summary of "Epidemiological
Studies on Adverse Health Effects Associated with Incineration" would show
that medical waste incinerators are a leading source of dioxins and mercury in
the environment and there is link between incinerator emissions and adverse
health impacts on incinerator workers and residents living around the
incinerators.'
7.
The observations made in the judgment will have far reaching implications.
It reads: "Both older and more modern incinerators can contribute to the
contamination of local soil and vegetation with dioxins and heavy metals. In
several European countries, cow's milk from farms located in the vicinity of
incinerators has been found to contain elevated levels of dioxin, in some cases
above regulatory limits. Increased levels of dioxins have been found in the
tissues of residents near to incinerators in the UK, Spain and Japan. At an incinerator
in Finland, mercury was increased in hair of residents living in the vicinity.
Children living near a modern incinerator in Spain were found to have elevated
levels of urinary thioethers, a biomarker of toxic exposure. "It notes
that "After 2 years of operation of incinerator, dioxins levels were found
increased by about 25% in both groups living between 0.5 to 1.5 and 3.5 to 4.0
km away (201 people) of people. In the repeat analysis, the increase was in the
range of 10-15%". It records that "Mothers living close to incinerators
and crematoria from 1956 to 1993" showed "increased risk of lethal
congenital abnormalities, in particular, spinal bifida and heart defects, near
incinerators: increased risk of stillbirths and anacephalus near crematoria". With regard to
"Residents from 7 to 64 years old living within 5 km of an incinerator and
the incinerator workers" the judgment observes, "Levels of mercury in
hair increased with closer proximity to the incinerator during a 10 year
period".
8.
This judgment found that "Residents living within 10 km of an incinerator,
refinery, and waste disposal site" showed "Significant increase in
laryngeal cancer in men living with closer proximity to the incinerator and
other pollution sources". The "Residents living around an incinerator
and other pollution sources" showed "Significant increase in lung
cancer related specifically to the incinerator". The "People living
within 7.5 km of 72 incinerators" displayed "Risks of all cancers and
specifically of stomach, colorectal, liver and lung cancer increased with
closer proximity to incinerators". The order observes, "10. In Master
Plan for Delhi, 2021, notified on 07.02.2007, hazardous waste processing viz.
hospital/medical/industrial waste is amongst the industries, manufacturing of
which shall be prohibited within National Capital Territory of Delhi." It
is not in dispute that Delhi's municipal waste has hazardous waste
characteristics. It is noteworthy that the biomedical waste incinerator which
now been removed was located exactly in the vicinity of the residential colonies
and Jindal's controversial municipal waste incinerator. The Hon'ble Court
observed that "This is a mandatory requirement of the guidelines issued by
CPCB that such facility should be far away from residential and sensitive
areas". The same holds true for the location of the Jindal's municipal
waste based incinerator plant.
9.
In such a backdrop, it is not surprising that Jindal’s municipal waste
to energy plant based on incinerator technology in question faces bitter
opposition from residents, environmental groups and waste pickers of Delhi. The
plant is just 30 meters away from the Okhla Bird Sanctuary. The sanctuary is
situated at the entrance of Noida in Gautam Budh Nagar district of Uttar
Pradesh. An area of 3.5 square kilometres on the river Yamuna was notified as a
bird sanctuary by the Government of Uttar Pradesh under the Wildlife Protection
Act, 1972 in 1990. The Jindal's power plant is sandwiched between an eco sensitive
zone and the residential colonies. The plant is situated at a distance of less
than 50-100 meters from the residential colonies. This hazardous plant has an
adverse impact on a large number of transcontinental migratory birds that visit
the Okhla sanctuary. Their numbers have decreased over the years.
10.
Not only that there is a large lake which lies sandwiched between Okhla
village towards the west and Gautam Budh Nagar towards the east, the impact of
the plant on this water source was not been disclosed in the Environment Impact
Assessment report of the plant. This plant does not have the required mandatory
clearances from the National Board for Wildlife. The sanctuary is approachable
from Mathura Road (NH-2), via Sarita Vihar going towards NOIDA. The nearest stations
of Delhi Metro are Sarita Vihar and Jasola Apollo metro station. This also
reveals that the plant located in the vicinity of the sanctuary is amidst
densely populated residential area. It is
quite disturbing that Okhla's vegetable
market (subzi mandi) is getting submerged in the ashes which emerge from the
plant which is burning some 2050 Metric Tons of mixed municipal waste which has
hazardous waste characteristics.
11.
It is quite appropriate that Hazardous Substances Management Division
(HSMD), MoEFCC has framed the Draft Municipal Solid Waste (Management and
Handling) Rules to replace the pre-existing Municipal Solid Waste (Management
and Handling) Rules, 2000 given the fact that
Indian municipal waste does have hazardous
waste characteristics.
12.
This Jindal's waste based power plant is situated not only in the
proximity of New Friends Colony, Maharani Bagh, Sukhdev Vihar and the business
district Nehru Place - but also several prominent institutions, including
hospitals like Apollo, Escorts and Holy Family. But disregarding these
habitations of birds and humans and a number of binding guidelines from
multiple state agencies and Supreme Court directive, the plant has deployed
unapproved and untested Chinese technology for power generation from burning
the garbage unmindful of its human and environmental cost due to emissions of
pollutants like persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals. This has
serious health and environment implications for the residents of National
Capital Region (NCR) in general and Okhla and NOIDA residents in particular.
13.
It is noteworthy that transboundary air pollution from plant is adversely
affecting Delhi's Okhla vegetable market and UP's NOIDA areas. South Delhi's
residents in Okhla face toxic dust as Jindal's waste based power plant in
Sukhdev Vihar, Okhla spews out large clouds of thick emissions. Residents are
left choking and spluttering and suffered severe eye irritation in Sukhdev
Vihar which is barely 30 metres from the plant.
Much of Sukhdev Vihar, Hazi colony, Gaffar Manzil and adjoining colonies
including Jamia Milia Islamia and hospitals remains blanketed by soapy brown
ash which had to be cleaned off floors, cars and even trees and shrubbery. The
plant is amidst institutions of national importance like Central Road Research Institute,
Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology and the Indian Institute of
Information Technology. EIA for expansion points out the hazards from the
boiler explosions but the sole ‘mitigation measure’ its location at a distance
of 260 meters making it falling within the explosion impact zone which is in
the proximity of women’s hostels of the Jamia Millia Islamia University,
residences for staff and students of CRRI and the IGIB and their laboratories. Such
toxic emissions from the Jindal's power plant in an ecologically sensitive area
and thickly populated area has become a routine affair with all the concerned authorities
turning a blind eye towards this illegitimate and illegal act.
14.
This plant has violated all the rules in the rule book. The polluting
potential of a plant using municipal solid waste as fuel is serious. Emissions
include suspended particulate matter (SPM), sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen
oxides (NOx), hydrogen chloride (HCl), and dioxins and furans, the most toxic
substances known to mankind.
15.
Besides violating all the relevant laws and rules, this plant is violation
of Wildlife Protection Act 1972 creating a compelling reason for the closure of
this plant. The plant became operational in 2012 but it is using untested and
unapproved Chinese incinerator technology, a fact noted in the report of the
Central Pollution Control Board committee constituted after a delegation had
met the Union Minister of Environment & Forests pursuant to his site visit
of the plant. It is noteworthy that the Hon'ble Minister had written to the
then Chief Minister, NCT of Delhi underling that the plant is functioning in
violation of environmental regulations.
16.
It is noteworthy that the 'White Paper on Pollution in Delhi with an
Action Plan' prepared by Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. The White
Paper says, "The experience of the incineration plant at Timarpur, Delhi
and the briquette plant at Bombay support the fact that thermal treatment of
municipal solid waste is not feasible, in situations where the waste has a low
calorific value. A critical analysis of biological treatment as an option was
undertaken for processing of municipal solid waste in Delhi and it has been recommended
that composting will be a viable option. Considering the large quantities of
waste requiring to be processed, a mechanical composting plant will be
needed." The paper is available on Ministry's website.
17.
The failure of Delhi's Timarpur waste to energy plant, Hon'ble Delhi
High Court had ordered an enquiry by the Comptroller Auditor General (CAG). In
its annual report dated March 1990, the Comptroller Auditor General of India
(CAG) observed, "The Refuse Incinerator-cum-Power Generation Plant
installed by Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources in March 1985 remained
inoperative since its installation. The Ministry failed to utilise or dispose
off the inoperative plant and incurred an expenditure of Rs 1.25 crore on maintenance
and insurance of the plant." The project was scrapped in July 1990. It is
germane to note that Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy which is now
part of Ministry of Power provides a subsidy of Rs 1.5 crore/MW is distorting
waste management in the country including Delhi.
18.
As per Hon'ble Supreme Court's order in the Writ Petition (Civil) No.888
of 1996 such subsidies are not meant for incinerator plants like the one in
Okhla. Hon'ble Court's order dated 6th May, 2005 said, "...we hope that
till the position is clear, the Government would not sanction any further
subsidies." It is noteworthy that on 15th May, 2007, the Court's order
"permit (s) Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources (MNES) to go ahead
for the time being with 5 pilot projects chosen by them" but it is
noteworthy that this refers specifically to bio-methanation technology. MNES is
renamed as Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE). It has been revealed through
RTI that neither the proposed Delhi's waste to energy incinerator projects one
of those 5 pilot projects nor is it based on the recommended technology.
19. As
per the March 2018 report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy, on
a query regarding provisions of financial incentives provided by the Government
for Renewable Energy for Urban, Industrial and Commercial Applications, the
Ministry furnished the information that Power generation from Municipal Solid
Waste gets Rs. 2.00 crore/MW (Max. Rs.10 crore/project) from the MNRE. Other
incentives and support measures provided by the Ministry under the programme incentives
are given to State Nodal Agencies: service charge @ Rs. 1% of the subsidy restricted
to Rs. 5.00 lakh per project and financial assistance for promotional
activities: for organizing training courses, business meets, seminars/workshops
and publicity/awareness, subject to a maximum of Rs. 3.0 lakh per activity. In
addition, the Ministry of Urban Development is also implementing “Swachh Bharat
Mission” (SBM) since 2 October, 2014, which also includes setting up of waste
to energy plants with Central support up to 35% of the project cost in the form
of Viability Gap Funding (VGF) / grant, subject to the overall State-wise funds
envelop for SBM."
Incentives include "Accelerated
Depreciation: Tax depreciation rate of 80% under AD benefits besides concessional
Custom Duty Exemption and GST. Waste to Energy projects draws 5% GST besides
availing concessional custom duty which would help the promoters / developers
to avail these concessions to improve economic viability of the projects.
According to the amended Tariff Policy,
Distribution Licensee(s) are required compulsorily procure 100% power produced
from all the Waste-to-Energy plants in the State, in the ratio of their procurement
of power from all sources including their own, at the tariff determined by the
Appropriate Commission under Section 62 of the Act. The Central Electricity
Regulatory Commission (CERC) vide notification dated 07th October 2015 and 31st
March 2015 have notified norms for determination of Generic Tariff for MSW, RDF
and Biogas based WTE projects along with Generic Tariff for FY 2016-17. The
Levelised Tariff which is in the range of Rs.6.50 to Rs.7.60 per unit."
When asked about the modes of financing,
existing financial support available and possible options for funding capital
and operation & maintenance costs with respect to W to E Plants, the
Ministry stated: "The Government of India, through various schemes extends
financial support for introducing appropriate solid waste management systems
and for setting up processing and disposal facilities. These include Viability
Gap Funding Swacch Bharat Mission of MoUD, Loan from IREDA, Grants from MNRE for
Supporting W to E Projects and Preferential Tariff by Regulators besides support
for Purchase of Compost from Ministry of Agriculture.
When the Committee desired to know about
the current status and performance of Waste to Energy Plants in the country,
the Ministry informed that "At present, six waste-to-energy plants using
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) with cumulative installed capacity of 65.75 MW are
in operation in the country. The State-wise details of Municipal Solid Waste
(MSW) based power projects set up, as on 31.01.2018 which included M/s Jindal
Urban Infrastructure Pvt Ltd. at Okhla, New Delhi. The Parliamentary Committee
was informed about the verdict of NGT penalizing Jindal company’s plant for air
pollution amidst alarming air pollution situation in the National Capital
Region of Delhi by the ministry in question. It is apparent that the ministry
is blind to environmental health concerns in its drive for energy from waste at
any human and environmental cost. Such an unscientific approach is distorting
waste management and poisoning the food chain. It high time MNRE withdrew or
modified its letters that encourage and promote polluting technologies like the
one situated in Okhla’s residential and admittedly ecologically sensitive
areas.
20.
It must be recalled that Delhi Government had falsely claimed in the
Hon'ble High Court that it was one of the five projects cleared by Hon'ble
Supreme Court leading to dismissal of petition filed by residents but when the
Hon'ble High Court later found to its shock that such a claim was manifestly
untrue, the petition was restored. It was in March 2009 that Writ Petition
(Civil) No. 9901 of 2009 which was initially dismissed on 12th August, 2009
because of misrepresentation of facts by Shri A S Chandiok the then Additional Solicitor
General. Hon'ble High Court later found that it was misled earlier which had
led to it dismissing the petition. The Petition was restored by an order dated
15th January, 2010. In the presence of Shri A.S. Chandihok, the bench headed by
the Chief Justice, Hon'ble Delhi High Court in the order observed, "that
the project in question" and "the location of the pilot project in
Delhi was neither recommended by the Expert Committee nor approved by the
Supreme Court."
21.
The certificate of Host Country Approval dated 15th May, 2007 given by
National CDM Authority to the project of The Timarpur Waste Management Company
Pvt. Ltd. (TWMCPL), a subsidiary of Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services
Ltd. (IL&FS) is quite relevant and merits your attention. This approval was
given after is consideration by the NCDMA on 30th March, 2007. It was confirmed based on submissions by the
company prior to approval and prior to registration with UNFCCC’s CDM Executive
Board that “The project contributes to Sustainable Development in India”. Post
registration changes establish beyond any reasonable doubt that the project
does not contribute to Sustainable Development and sets a very bad precedent for
the country in particular. It puts the communities and the ecosystem of Okhla,
Delhi to enormous risk which cannot be deemed acceptable.
22.
The country approval laid down certain specific conditions which are
required to be complied with “during the lifetime of the project”. The approval
conditions stated categorically that “This approval is not transferrable. The
authority reserves the right to revoke this Host Country Approval if the
conditions stipulated in this approval are not complied with to the
satisfaction of the National CDM Authority.”
23.
The conditions stipulated in the approval certificate have not been
complied with the project in this question. It must be noted that the approval
was given to The Timarpur Waste Management Company Pvt. Ltd. (TWMCPL), a
subsidiary of Infrastructure Leasing & Financial
Services Ltd. (IL&FS) but the approval
was transferred to Timarpur-Okhla Waste Management Co Pvt Ltd (TOWMCL) of M/s
Jindal Urban Infrastructure Limited (JUIL), a company of M/s Jindal Saw Group Limited.
This clearly implies that the conditions have been violated.
24. Besides this the approval certificate
states “The TOWMCL shall obtain all statutory clearances and other approvals as
required from the competent authorities for setting up of the project.” It is evident
from the Validation opinion for post registration changes provided by Det
Norske Veritas (DNV) that the “statutory clearances” which were obtained pre
registration were not and has not been obtained post registration. This also clearly shows that Host Country Approval
“conditions stipulated” in the approval have not been complied with. This
creates a full proof compelling logic for the National CDM Authority which
admittedly has the “right to revoke this Host Country Approval” to revoke the
approval granted to this project.
25.
There is an inexcusable admitted deviation from approved and validated
technology in the matter of Clean Development Management (CDM) project by
Delhi’s Timarpur-Okhla Waste Management Co Pvt Ltd (TOWMCL) of M/s Jindal Urban
Infrastructure Limited (JUIL), a company of M/s Jindal Saw Group Limited.
26.
The company submitted the 52 -page long PDD (Version 2) to the Board as
CDM project activity to earn carbon credit. The project got listed before the
board on 23rd May, 2006, and the CDM Executive Board invited public comments
until 21st June, 2006. Subsequently, there was 90- page long Version 04 of PDD
of The Timarpur –Okhla Waste Management Company Pvt Ltd’s (TOWMCL) dated 6th
September, 2007. Prior to that there Version 03 of PDD dated 28th July, 2006.
Then there was PDD Version 03.1. The initial request for registration was
submitted on 3rd March, 2007 by Designated Operational Entity (DOE) through Mr Siddarth
Yadav of Société Générale de Surveillance (currently known as SGS), a
Switzerland and United Kingdom based DOE. The project got registered on 10th
November, 2007. Prior to the registration I had submitted elaborate comments in
this regard.[3]
Subsequently, the 55 -page long PDD Version
Number 9 titled Version 04. 1 dated 30th January, 2014 was published on the
Board’s website following request for post-registration changes.
27.
As per Validation opinion for post registration changes provided by Det
Norske Veritas (DNV), an Oslo based international certification body and
classification society dated 27th May, 2014, new “parameters are now proposed
to be additionally monitored consequent
upon the technology adopted” by TOWMCL. These include monitoring of
average additional distance travelled
by vehicle for
ash and inert disposal compared to the baseline in year y is now
proposed to be monitored to account for
the project emission. It also includes monitoring of “Amount of RDF
used outside the project boundary is proposed to be monitored based on the sale
invoice. There will normally be
no sale and
the parameter is
used for project emission calculations.” It adds,
“Weight of RDF sold offsite for which no sale invoices can be provided is also
monitored .The quantity will be monitored based on weigh bridge report
and is being monitored to account for project emission.” It states “Monitored content of
methane in the
stack gas from
RDF combustion in year
y. This will be monitored by third party on quarterly basis. This
parameter is being monitored to account for project emission.” It submits
“Monitored content of nitrous oxide in the stack gas from RDF combustion in
year y. This will be monitored by third party on quarterly basis. This parameter is being monitored to account
for project emission.”
28.
Every claim made about RDF is misplaced and an exercise in glaring
misrepresentation of facts. It is not surprising that residents have noticed
how efforts are on within the premises of the
plant to set up a structure in one corner
to justify claims regarding RDF.
29.
The Validation Opinion informs that as
per the registered PDD Version 1 , the
project activity was
envisaged to be developed
at two different location, i.e. Timarpur and Okhla
with 650 Tonne Per Day (TPD) of Municipal Solid
Waste (MSW) to be processed at the Timarpur site while 1300 TPD of MSW
was envisaged to be processed at Okhla
site for the preparation of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF). Additionally, 100 TPD of
green waste (waste collected from garden like dry leaves, cut grass, etc) was
to be utilized at Okhla site biomethanation plant for generation of biogas. It
was also envisaged to generate electricity
to the tune
of 16 MW by utilizing the
RDF produced from
the project activity. However, while implementing
the project, Timapur site
was not considered and
the total quantity of waste of 2050 tonnes per day is now processed at Okhla site.
The green waste is not being
provided as envisaged earlier but
additional 100 TPD of
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is being provided that is total of 2050
TPD of waste is provided for processing.
Due to the technology adopted it is estimated that from the RDF produced 20.9
MW of power can be generated instead of 16 MW envisaged due to better
efficiency consequent to preheating
of the input
waste. The biomethanation and composting plants were also not required
due to change in design as green waste not being made available for processing.
The reference to “the technology” is to city refuse incinerator of China’s
Hangzhou Boiler Group Co., Ltd that engages in the installation of boiler.
30.
As per DNV’s opinion the start date of the project activity was
revised to 27th November, 2009 which was the date of issue of
purchase order for the boiler which is the first order issued. DNV from the documents verified
/3//5//7/ and from the site visit interviews / 24 / can confirm
that the changes
in the project activity occurred
after the registration of the project activity
on
10th November, 2007. The verified documents refer to Dalkta Energy Services
Ltd : Detailed project report dated 4 May 2009, Timarpur-Okhla Waste Management
Company Private Ltd.: Board resolution on adopting new technology dated 24th June,
2009 and Timarpur – Okhla Waste Management Company Private Ltd.: Contract for
supply Plant and Machinery with Hanzhou Boiler Group dated 27th November, 2009 respectively.
31.
It is recorded that “DNV from the interviews and perusal of documents
find that, the project participant was
not allocated the green waste that was
assured earlier and the waste supplied to the project activity was
to be processed
at two locations
Okhla and Timarpur. Subsequently
the waste is being processed only at Okhla only /3//6//9/. This resulted in
changes in the project design.”
32.
It is also recorded that “from the verification of documents /3//5//7//11//,
DNV can conclude that the changes were not known to the project participant prior to the registration of the
project
activity.” The verified documents refer to
Dalkta Energy Services Ltd: Detailed project report dated 4 May 2009, ICICI
Bank : Enhanced loan sanction letter dated 24 December 2009 and Delhi Pollution
Control Committee : Consent letter T - 12/458TO465 dated 20/11/12 respectively.
33. Responding to the comments received
from stakeholders, the CDM Executive Board’s Form asked the project proponent
the question:”What are the measures taken by the Company regarding the
environmental aspects?” mentioned in the PDD. The project proponent replied,
“The Project Proponents has taken adequate measures regarding the environmental
aspects and the SPM, SO2 & NOX levels will comply with all the regulatory
requirements. Further Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for the
project has also been carried
out.
The Environment Management Plan (EMP), Risk assessment and Disaster Management
Plan (DMP) in
the EIA report takes care of all
the environmental issues.”
34.
The 31- page long report
of CPCB communicated
on 22nd March, 2012
on the Timarpur - Okhla Waste
to Energy Incinerator Plant of
Shri Prithivraj Jindal‟s JITF
Urban
Infrastructure Limited
(Jindal Ecopolis) is based
on three meetings of the
Technical Experts Evaluation
Committee held on 26th April, 2011, 11th August, 2011 and
22ndSeptember, 2011. This report underlined that that the operation of Jindal's
waste burning based power plant is an act of environmental lawlessness in the
heart of the national capital.
35.
The Terms of Reference (ToR) given by Union Ministry of Environment
& Forests (MoEF)'s Experts Appraisal Committee (EAC) to the project in
question specifically demanded "Disaster Management Plan" (DMP) but
the CPCB’s Technical Evaluation Committee constituted by the then Union
Minister of Environment & Forests headed by Chairman, Central Pollution
Control Board (CPCB) observed in its report that the DMP plan has not been
prepared.
36.
The Jindal’s power plant in Okhla is amidst residential colonials and
institutions of national importance like Central Road Research Institute,
Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology and the Indian Institute of
Information Technology. Such toxic
emissions from the Jindal's power plant in an ecologically sensitive area and thickly
populated area has become a routine affair with all the concerned authorities
turning a blind eye towards this illegitimate and illegal act. This plant has
violated all the rules in the rule book.
37.
The plant is using untested and unapproved Chinese incinerator technology,
a fact noted in the report of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
committee constituted after a delegation had met Shri Jairam Ramesh, the then
Union Minister of Environment & Forests pursuant to his site visit of the
plant. It is noteworthy that the Union Environment Minister had written to the
then Chief Minister, Delhi underling that the plant is functioning in violation
of environmental regulations.
38.
The plant in question is situated in a green belt. It is in contravention
of section 3(2) (v) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Rule 5 (ix) of
Environment (protection) Rules, 1986 and
Guidelines for Establishment of Industries
issued by Ministry of Environment & Forests. Besides violating all the
relevant laws and rules, this plant is violation of Wildlife Protection Act
1972 creating a compelling reason for the closure of this plant. That now a bizarre situation has emerged
because the arguments for Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) incineration technology
that was advanced by the company before the MoEF and the UNFCC’s CDM Executive
Board are no more relevant because the plant is using an experimental Chinese technology
which was never ever mentioned at the time of submitting the project proposal
or in its EIA report based on which a so-called Public Hearing was conducted in
Saket in the presence of two officials only as per records. It was CPCB’s report that disclosed that Jindal’s
power plant was using an unapproved technology.
39. Having studied the details of the
project and its impacts, there emerges a compelling is logic to devise ways to
stop such hazardous projects from being designated as sustainable development
and CDM projects. It is also submitted that for a project to qualify as climate
change mitigating project it is necessary that it excludes waste incineration
-- including waste pelletisation or RDF,
pyrolysis, gasification systems -- technologies. Incineration produces
pollutants which are detrimental to health and the environment. Incineration is
expensive and does not eliminate or adequately control the toxic emissions from
today's chemically complex municipal discards. Even the latest incinerators
release toxic metals, dioxins, and acid gases. Far from eliminating the need
for a landfill, waste incinerator systems produce toxic ash and other residues.
Such projects disperse incinerator ash throughout the environment and
subsequently enter our food chain.
40.
The Project Design Document (PDD) deliberately chose not to mention
emission of dioxins and heavy metals and thus does not mention the method to
deal with such emissions. Dioxins are the most lethal Persistent Organic
Pollutants (POPs) which are associated with irreparable environmental health
consequences. It did not reveal that the project is situated in an ecologically
fragile and a densely residential area adjoining a bird sanctuary and a
wetland.
41.
The TOWMCL’s agreement with Siemens
Ltd: Agreement NG2010 dated 7th
May, 2010 for
design, engineering, supply and
erection of turbine generator merits scrutiny besides agreement with Waxi Guolian Huaguang
Power Engineering Co
Ltd: Agreement for supply
of machinery, equipment for flue
gas system and Hangzhou Boiler
Group Co: Contract
NG2009 - 311 dated 24 Dec
ember 2009 for supply of boiler to
ascertain whether pre-existing general and specific conditions as envisaged in
the Environmental Clearance certificate for the project based RDF technology
has been complied with. All these official documents besides the CPCB report
clearly indicate that Chinese boiler technology based waste to energy plant has
violated every rule in the rule book.
42. The first Environmental Clearance to
this plant was granted 21st March, 2007 for 15 MW under the signature
of Dr A Senthil Vel, Additional Director, MoEF pursuant to directions from Shri
R Chandramohan, Joint Secretary, MoEF. The minutes of the 46th meeting of
Expert Appraisal Committee on Infrastructure Development and Miscellaneous
Projects held on 16thNovember, 2006 reveals that TOWMCL, the project proponent
when it was part of IL&FS Limited (when Shri D K Mittal, IAS was its
Managing Director) had submitted that it will set up a Refuse Derived Fuel
technology facility based on Department of Science and Technology-TIFAC
technology with a capacity to process 1300 tons per day of MSW to produce 15 MW
of power. Subsequently, TOWMCL requested Dr A Senthil Vel “to issue make
suitable amendments in the EC to reflect the capacity of the proposed plant as
16 MW instead of 15 MW. The EC was amended for processing 1950 tons MSW by an
order dated 9th May, 2007. In March 2011, TOWMCL again sought an amendment to
the EC after making submission for an additional 4.9 MW before the Expert
Appraisal Committee (EAC) for processing of 2050 tons of MSW. The EC was
amended again for 20.9 MW. Although these amendments happened no new studies
have been carried out to assess the impacts of the alteration in the technology
and the changes the installed capacity. Source: http://environmentclearance.nic.in/writereaddata/Form-1A/EC/0_0_15_Jul_2013_151116420123-1-2006.pdf
43. In a glaring omission TOWMCL did not
disclose its Contract for supply Plant and Machinery with Hanzhou Boiler Group
dated 27th November, 2009 to the EAC.
44. It is noteworthy that even the initial
EC was granted based on a fake public hearing as per records. The public
hearing was conducted in Saket on January 20, 2007 instead of it being
conducted in Okhla area where the project was proposed. The advertisement for
the Public Hearing was made through two newspapers on 17th December, 2006. The advertisement
was titled “Public Hearing for environmental clearance to the construction of
proposed integrated municipal solid waste processing complex at Okhla —adjacent
to existing Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) Delhi.” It did not disclose that it
was a waste based power plant.
45. The public hearing Shri Mittal wrote at
least twice to Shri Chandramohan on 5th October, 2006 and 13th October, 2006.
It was “B category project promoted to A category because of proximity to inter-state
border & sanctuary (within 10 km). Hence Public Hearing report sought.” The
Public Notice for public hearing did not disclose that the proposed plant in
the residential area was a waste based thermal power plant, it was advertized
as “Integrated Municipal Waste Processing Complex”. The attendance register
revealed that there was virtually no attendance for the public hearing. The
fact is that the Public Hearing did not take place as per the letter and spirit
of Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006, something which was
admitted by the then Union Minister of
Environment & Forests in writing. Besides the project was subsequently sold
to JITF Urban Infrastructure Limited (Jindal Ecopolis), which took no fresh environment
clearance.
46.
This plant is owned by Shri Prithviraj Jindal who won an open tender in
2008 to build and operate the plant for 25 years at a project cost of Rs 240
crore. It is apparent that the owner has ignored the disastrous environmental
health consequences of plant’s operations.
47. The representatives of GTZ (German
Technical Cooperation) led by Dr. Juergen Porst, Senior Advisor stressed the
need for a Disaster Management Plan in the very first meeting of this CPCB
Committee, which is annexed to the CPCB's report. This finds reference in the minutes
of the meeting annexed with the report. It underlines the possibility of
disaster from the Timarpur-Okhla Waste to Energy Incinerator Plant, which is
situated in a residential area. It is noteworthy that a hazardous plant in
Bhopal's residential area that led to world worst industrial disaster in 1984
also did not have any disaster management plan. This report made a shocking
revelation that although Hon’ble High Court has been hearing the case since
2009, the project proponent did not inform the court about gross deviations
from the project design plan envisaged in the EIA report. As per the minutes of
the second meeting of this committee, non-cooperative approach of the senior
officials of Timarpur-Okhla Waste to Energy Incinerator Plant was “condemned”
on 11th August, 2011.
Representatives of GTZ had underlined that
there was lack of transparency with regard to environmental and health impact
on the neighborhood residents. It was also noted that the fugitive emissions
and the expected emission of Dioxins and Furans has not been quantified. The
characteristic of ash and required
standards was not mentioned. Prof. T R Sreekrishnan, Department of Biochemical
Engineering and Biotechnology and a member of the Committee stated that
disposal option for incineration instead of bio-methanation proposed for green waste
is in violation of what was mentioned in the EIA report of the company in
question.
48. All subsequent reports by subordinate
officers of Chairman, CPCB are subservient to this report of the High Powered
Technical Experts Evaluation Committee headed by Chairman, CPCB. This report
revealed how illegal Chinese boilers are being used without any approval in Delhi’s
Okhla Waste to Energy project. The technical review by CPCB committee admitted
that efficacy of reciprocal stoker type boilers (in place of RDF) "is not
known for Indian conditions and requires to be verified." There is a compelling reason to take cognizance
of this report as the main report of CPCB.
This committee noted that this plant is operating in violation of
Municipal Solid Waste (Management & Handling) [MSW] Rules, 2000. It came to
light from the observation of Shri A B Akolkar from CPCB who is currently the
Member Secretary, CPCB.
48. A study of the first monitoring report
of the TOWMCL’s integrated waste to energy project in Delhi dated 17th October,
2012 shows that facts were not verified on the ground and those who were adversely
affected by the project were not consulted. As a consequence this questionable
project managed to get Certified Emissions Reductions (CERs) issued. The
initial crediting period of the project was mentioned as 1st April 2009 – 31st
March 2019. Now it has been changed to 30th March 2011 – 29th March 2021 and
declared as fixed.
49. All these developments vindicate the
validity of comments on the PDD which are available at this URL of CDM
Executive Board
http://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/Validation/DB/9JGKQMHTCBE61J51WVVT1AIH7DUW0H/view.html
50. It may be noted the Master Plan Report
(2020) of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) said, “RDF is often an option
when emission standards are lax and RDF is burned in conventional boilers with
no special precautions for emissions.” The EAC ought to pay heed to it as well.
51. Having studied the second monitoring
report of the project dated 15th October, 2015 and the relevant pages on the
website of the Board, it is learnt that as of 30th May, 2016, “CDM Issuance
request” for CERs is awaited. As you are aware Issuance is the instruction by
the CDM Executive Board to the CDM Registry Administrator to issue a specified
quantity of CERs, lCERs, or tCERs for a project activity or PoA into the
pending account of the Board in the CDM registry, for subsequent distribution
to accounts of project participants in accordance with the CDM rules and
requirements. These reports for UNFCCC reference number of the project activity
1254 are available on UNFCCC’s CDM Executive Board’s website. EAC is ought to
communicate its considered opinion based on the above submissions to the
National CDM Authority and recommend withdrawal of host country approval given to
the project in question.
As per the admitted legal
requirement, the project proponent’s thermal power plant in question is
supposed to comply with standards laid down under Air (Prevention & Control
of Pollution) Act 1981 besides requirements under Hazardous and Other Wastes
(Management and Trans boundary Movement) Rules, 2016 Solid Waste Management
Rules, 2016 and Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991. In the light of the
replies given in the Parliament by Union Environment Minister and the verdict
of the National Green Tribunal, the claim about there being “marginal impacts
on Air, water, land and noise….” Made in the report of Jindal Company’s Draft
EIA report dated September 2018 is factually wrong.
Union Minister of Environment, Forests, and
Climate Change, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha has informed, “Government is
aware of the
reports published by
the World Health
Organization (WHO) and the
Health Effects Institute
(HEI) regarding the impact
of air pollution
on human health in terms
of higher casualty
rate due to
air pollution. The reports are based on models, simulations
and extrapolations. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has carried out
epidemiological studies to assess the impact of pollution on human health. Air
Pollution could be one of the triggering factors for respiratory ailments and
associated diseases. However, there are no
conclusive data available
in the country
to establish direct
correlation between diseases and
air pollution. Health effects
of air pollution
are generally synergistic
manifestation of the
individual’s food habits, occupational habits, socio-economic status,
medical history, immunity, heredity, etc.” WHO’s Ambient Air Pollution database
has been marked National Capital Region of Delhi as the most polluted city in
the world with an annual particulate matter (PM) 2.5 level of 153 μg/Nm3. The pollution had
spiked beyond acceptable limits with dangerous PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels hitting
999 μg/Nm3, while the safe
limits for those pollutants are 60 and 100 respectively.[4] A 2010 study conducted by the
Boston-based Health Effects Institute (2010) has estimated that about 3000
premature deaths occur in Delhi due to air pollution related diseases. This
works out to about 8 deaths per day in Delhi alone relating to air pollution
related diseases. This year again, levels of PM 2.5 in Delhi reached 710 μg/Nm3, more than 11 times
the safe limit prescribed by the WHO. Biomass burning in Jindal’s waste based
thermal plant is a significant contributor to the air pollution load.
Conclusion
Referring to the Waste to Energy project
for the expansion of this plant of the Jindal’s company, the report of Jindal
Company’s Draft EIA report dated September 2018 makes the claim that
“energy-from-waste contributes to energy security”. Given the fact that at
present India has surplus power to the tune of 3,000-4,000 MW as India's total
power capacity increased from 243 GW in March 2014 to 320 GW in March 2017,
there is no compelling logic for the extraction of power from WTE plants.
“This “WtE” project will reduce the problem
associated with the disposal of unprocessed waste as landfill and meet the
objective and goal set for the country under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM).”
The project in question violates even the
conservative Manual on MSW handling, released under Clean India Mission (Swacch
Bharat) by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development because it stands on a
Green Belt under Delhi Master Plan 2021 and it is also in violation of ‘change
in land use’ requirements under the DDA Act.
Amidst protests from residents and waste
recycling workers, the WTE plant in Okhla, New Delhi, run by Jindal Urban
Infrastructure Limited was penalised by the National Green Tribunal on February
2, 2017, saying, "For the pollution resulting from deficient functioning/operation
of 'Waste to Energy Plant'". But it allowed it to operate with a caveat,
saying, "In the event, the plant is found to be deficient in its
operations or violates the prescribed standards of emissions, it would be
liable to pay Environmental Compensation of Rs 5 Lakhs per incident, in
addition to such other order or directions that may be passed by the regulatory
authorities and/or this Tribunal, including closure of the plant." The
fact is that the residents are exposed to ongoing emissions from this plant but
this power plant continue st o function with impunity.
It is germane to recollect that Gazette
notification dated 1 December, 2009 requires public hearings to be “arranged in
a systematic, time-bound and transparent manner ensuring the widest possible
public participation at the project site or in its close proximity,
district-wise” but residents’ demand that the hearing of the proposed expansion
of the Jindal’s plant be held at project site to ensure ‘widest participation’
has unfairly and irrationally been ignored.
The proposed expansion requires
installation of two boilers in addition to the three already existing as part
of Jindal’s waste based thermal power plant.
The hazards posed by the plant from
proximity to the residential areas gets multiplied manifold because of
unprecedented deviation in the form of its use of untested and unapproved Chinese
boiler technology “without amendment of Environment Clearance or taking
consent”. This has been noted in the verdict of National Green Tribunal dated
January 16, 2017. The enormous risk also emanates from movement of hazardous
ash and residues along an eight-km stretch of New Delhi’s Mathura Road (NH2)
because the plant is far any landfill in violation of the environmental rules. Besides
the expansion project in question, the project’s proponent has proposed new
2,500 TPD WtE project at Tehkhand within South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC).
Unmindful of the cumulative environmental impact of the waste incinerators
across the national capital region of Delhi in the form of aggregate pollution
load, separate EIAs are being prepared for different waste based projects, such
motivated projects disaggregate collective awareness of the residents of the
national capital region and undermines collective efforts to safeguard
environmental health. Ideally, there should be a combined EIA report of all the
waste based projects in the region because residents suffer from grave public
health crisis due to combined air pollution load of capital region’s atmosphere.
The current approach is insensitive to public health and consequences of
environmental pollution because its continues to adopt fragmented and
unscientific approach to outwit collective opposition of aggrieved residents of
Delhi.
There is a logical compulsion to withdraw
the environmental clearance given to this plant in order to save present and
future generation of residents from being enveloped in a toxic gas chamber as a
consequence of use of such hazardous incinerator technology adopted for
generating energy from waste which admittedly has hazardous waste
characteristics.
Contact Details: Gopal Krishna,
ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA), Mb: 9818089660, E-mail: krishnagreen@gmail.com, Web: www.toxicswatch.org
Note: TWA has been working on
the issue of waste since 2000. It has been part of research and advocacy
regarding Okhla based waste to energy plant since March 2005. It was an applicant in the National Human Righs Commission as well.
[1] On 13 October 2017, Yes Enviro Solutions Ltd , the Consultant of The Timarpur Okhla Waste Management Company
Ltd. (TOWMCL), M/s Jindal Urban Infrastructure Limited (JUIL), a company of M/s
Jindal Saw Group Limited it replaced M/s Perfact Enviro Solutions Pvt. Ltd by which
submitted the EIA studies online to MoEF&CC on 19 June, 2018
[2] (2011), Selected chemicals used during the Vietnam
war, Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans and Agent Orange Exposure, The National Academies
of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 500 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC, https://www.nap.edu/read/13026/chapter/5, accessed on 15 January,
2019
[3]
UNFCCC’s CDM
Executive Board’s website, thttp://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/Validation/DB/9JGKQMHTCBE61J51WVVT1AIH7DUW0H/view.html,
accessed on 15 January, 2019
[4] Statement
on Impact of Air Pollution on Health referred to in reply to Lok Sabha
Starred Question No.
166 due for reply
on14.03.2017 regarding ‘Impact of Air Pollution on Health' by Shri C.R.
Patil et al, Ministry Of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government Of
India, Lok Sabha, Starred Question No. 166
+ comments + 1 comments
Each word in above article is true and from reliable source but question is why Delhi government not doing anything about it when on one hand they make od even compulsory at times, chalan public if they burn garbage.leaves.
Also moved factories out of Delhi to avoid noxious gases and doing same sin
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