Imminent environmental & public health crisis from waste to energy incinerator at Okhla
New Delhi, Jan 11, 2014: A letter addressed to Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal was submitted at the Janata Durbar informing him about the peoples’ march against the use of hazardous unapproved Chinese technology at Okhla on January 5, 2014. The letter demanded closure and removal of the plant. The attached photographs of toxic dust fall from the plant were also submitted.
The power plant in question has been set up by M/s Jindal Urban Infrastructure Limited (JUIL), a company of M/s Jindal Saw Group Limited owned by Prithviraj Jindal. This plant is facing bitter opposition from residents, environmental groups and waste pickers. It is facing a case from Sukhdev Vihar Residents Welfare Association in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) where no justice has been given by chairman Swatanter Kumar. The next date of hearing is on January 15, 2014.
The letter pointed out that Jairam Ramesh as the Union Minister of Environment & Forests had written to Sheila Dikshit, former chief minister underlining the violation of environmental regulations by the WTE plant operators but she chose to ignore the letter. The letter is attached.
The letter submitted that toxic emissions from the incinerator being operated by Jindal Ecopolis close in violation of Supreme Court orders and Municipal Waste Handling Rules are threat to thousands of residents in the Okhla area.
The plant in question does not have clearance under the Wildlife Act although the plant is situated within 1.7 km of the Okhla Bird Sanctuary, administered by Uttar Pradesh Government. If immediate steps are not taken the sanctuary might become a ghost sanctuary and Okhla may become a ghost colony.
It demanded an inquiry into the circumstances under which this plant was given clearance based on fake public hearing and misleading facts presented in the plant’s Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report. The clearance was for RDF technology but the plant is operating admittedly based on an experimental technology turning residents and birds of Okhla into guinea pigs. This came to light in a 31 page report submitted by a committee headed by Central Pollution Control Board on orders from Shri Ramesh.
The Experts Committee in September 2011 found untested and unapproved Chinese incinerator technology in complete violation all laws and environmental clearance of 2007 including its own project design document and environment impact assessment report. Chinese technology provider is from Hangzhou New Century Company Ltd of Hangzhou Boiler Group. Its findings merited attention.
The letter noted that Jayanthi Natarajan, as Union Minister of Environment & Forests informed the Parliament in the matter of “Pollution by Okhla Waste to Energy plant" on March 13, 2012. Her answer was/is incomplete and callous towards the plight of residents, environment and the livelihood of waste pickers.The change in government in Delhi happened partly because of such anti-people, anti-environment and anti-public health initiatives.
For Details: Vimal Monga, Okhla Anti-incinerator Committee, Mb: 9810499277, Okhla ka Ghosla- https://www.facebook.com/ghoslaokhla
Gopal Krishna, ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA), Mb:09818089660, 08227816731, E-mail:gopalkrishna1715@gmail.com, Web:www.toxicswatch.org
New Delhi, Jan 11, 2014: A letter addressed to Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal was submitted at the Janata Durbar informing him about the peoples’ march against the use of hazardous unapproved Chinese technology at Okhla on January 5, 2014. The letter demanded closure and removal of the plant. The attached photographs of toxic dust fall from the plant were also submitted.
The power plant in question has been set up by M/s Jindal Urban Infrastructure Limited (JUIL), a company of M/s Jindal Saw Group Limited owned by Prithviraj Jindal. This plant is facing bitter opposition from residents, environmental groups and waste pickers. It is facing a case from Sukhdev Vihar Residents Welfare Association in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) where no justice has been given by chairman Swatanter Kumar. The next date of hearing is on January 15, 2014.
The letter pointed out that Jairam Ramesh as the Union Minister of Environment & Forests had written to Sheila Dikshit, former chief minister underlining the violation of environmental regulations by the WTE plant operators but she chose to ignore the letter. The letter is attached.
The letter submitted that toxic emissions from the incinerator being operated by Jindal Ecopolis close in violation of Supreme Court orders and Municipal Waste Handling Rules are threat to thousands of residents in the Okhla area.
The plant in question does not have clearance under the Wildlife Act although the plant is situated within 1.7 km of the Okhla Bird Sanctuary, administered by Uttar Pradesh Government. If immediate steps are not taken the sanctuary might become a ghost sanctuary and Okhla may become a ghost colony.
It demanded an inquiry into the circumstances under which this plant was given clearance based on fake public hearing and misleading facts presented in the plant’s Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report. The clearance was for RDF technology but the plant is operating admittedly based on an experimental technology turning residents and birds of Okhla into guinea pigs. This came to light in a 31 page report submitted by a committee headed by Central Pollution Control Board on orders from Shri Ramesh.
The Experts Committee in September 2011 found untested and unapproved Chinese incinerator technology in complete violation all laws and environmental clearance of 2007 including its own project design document and environment impact assessment report. Chinese technology provider is from Hangzhou New Century Company Ltd of Hangzhou Boiler Group. Its findings merited attention.
The letter noted that Jayanthi Natarajan, as Union Minister of Environment & Forests informed the Parliament in the matter of “Pollution by Okhla Waste to Energy plant" on March 13, 2012. Her answer was/is incomplete and callous towards the plight of residents, environment and the livelihood of waste pickers.The change in government in Delhi happened partly because of such anti-people, anti-environment and anti-public health initiatives.
For Details: Vimal Monga, Okhla Anti-incinerator Committee, Mb: 9810499277, Okhla ka Ghosla- https://www.facebook.com/ghoslaokhla
Gopal Krishna, ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA), Mb:09818089660, 08227816731, E-mail:gopalkrishna1715@gmail.com, Web:www.toxicswatch.org
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