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Showing posts with label waste incineration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label waste incineration. Show all posts
Villagers in Jamsher, Jalandhar Cantt Reject Waste Incineration based toxic plant
Written By mediavigil on Saturday, June 06, 2020 | 2:05 AM
Current MLA Pargat Singh & ex- MLA
Jagbir Singh Brar oppose Dioxins and Mercury Emitting Factory in Jamsher Village
Expressing his support for the agitation of villagers of Jamsher and adjoining villages and responding to concerns expressed by environmentalists, Jalandhar Cantt MLA and former Captain of Indian Hockey Team Pargat Singh says, "The solid waste management plant which was proposed in my constituency was logically, legally, technically and environmentally not right and people of my area are against it".
Vindicating the conerns regarding such toxic plants, un a significant related development, Canberra, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and National Capital and home to Australian Parliament and Federal Government has recently banned waste incineration.The ACT Greens party, led by Shane Rattenbury, was successful in having the state waste policy specifically exclude waste incineration.
In effect this is the first waste incineration ban in Australia and at a time when all other states are under extreme pressure to fast track these projects and embed waste incineration into their policies and scandalously, their circular economy policies. This ban now sets a new precedent for Australia and will likely have a positive influence in the Asia Pacific region.
Reference:https://reneweconomy.com.au/act-set-to-ban-waste-incineration-for-energy-citing-community-concerns-33706/
and https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6773715/burning-waste-off-the-cards-under-new-act-govt-energy-plan/?fbclid=IwAR0YEZYjRuiASSqNhUZgE0yga0wEgoUeGWe_P4UX7YfHily_SMFuerCLaLU
It is one small step for Australia...and one giant leap forward for zero waste, a circular economy and our toxics free future! National Toxics Network, ACT Greens, ACT state parliament and the awesome local groups who have made this possible, said Jane Bremmer of Zero Waste Australia & Campaign Coordinator and of National Toxics Network Australia
In Punjab, the agitation against toxic waste plant began in September, 2011 at a public hearing for obtaining environmental clearance for setting up of a Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) processing facility in Jamsher village by Municipal Corporation Jalandhar, it emerged that there was unanimous opposition to the project which involved waste burning for generation of electricity. The villagers feared threat to human health and environment from the toxic waste to electricity plant. The villagers from all the adjoining villages who are likely to be adversely affected expressed their bitter opposition to the proposed poisonous power plant.
The Department of Local Government, Government of Punjab has initiated to implement an “integrated MSW management facility for Jalandhar cluster comprising of Jalandhar city and 25 other Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).” This means that wastes from ULBs like Jalandhar, Adampur, Alawalpur, Banga, Begowal, Bhogpur, Bhulath, Dasuya, Dhilwan, Garshankar, Goraya, Hariana, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Kartarpur, Lohian Khas, Mahalpur, Nakodar, Nawan Shehar, Nurmahal, Phagwara, Shahkot, Sham Chaurasi, Sri Hargobindpur, Sultanpur and Umar Tanda will be transferred to the plant site in Jamsher village. The villagers made it clear that come what may they will not allow the cancer causing plant in their region.
It was noted that in the Draft Environment Impact Assessment report prepared by SENES Consultants India Pvt Ltd on behalf of Municipal Corporation Jalandhar, Punjab and Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Limited (IL&FS)’s Infrastructure Development Corporation that the ‘Municipal Solid Waste Processing Facility’, will use incineration of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) technology. This is a biomass burning technology.
The villagers got agitated after officials failed to answer their public health related questions.
As per the Draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report, “The facility will comprise of a MSW processing facility at Jamsher village in Jalandhar district for processing the MSW from Jalandhar cluster and an engineered Sanitary Land Fill (SLF) site at Hoshiarpur town in Hoshiarpur district for disposal of processing rejects and other inert wastes generated by the processing facility.” Although it is quite clear that it is an EIA for electricity generation, the public hearing did not reveal it explicitly.
At the public hearing Punjab Pollution Control Board conceded that it does not have the capacity to even test persistent organic pollutants like dioxins. The project developer could not explain how they will segregate heavy metals like lead and mercury from the mixed waste which is to be burnt as per the EIA report.
Jagbir Singh Brar, ex-MLA, Jalandhar cantt, Punjab observed that “the public hearing for “Municipal solid waste processing facility” is quite strange. This is actually a waste burning project. It is a power project based on waste. The question is why has Punjab Pollution Control Board and the project developer hidden this fact from the public. I have learnt from newspapers and research reports that such plants have failed in India, why a failed project is being proposed here. A similar plant has failed in Timarpur in Delhi and in Andhra Pradesh. Delhi High Court had scolded the Govt. for such experimental technology in the past.”
He added, “Project Developer and Punjab Pollution Control Board are trying to confuse the public by not revealing that waste burning is highly polluting. It has not told the public about the health effects and diseases caused by waste burning plants. No health and environmental loving person can allow such polluting and disease causing plant in there place of residence. I am deeply concerned about the health of the villagers from the locality and its impact on the dairy. I on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Jalandhar urge you to ensure that this Dioxins emitting technology of waste burning in the residential area is not allowed. This plant should not get environmental clearance in view of its adverse impact on public health and environment.”
Dr. Gopal Krishna of ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA) who was also present at the public hearing noted that while the project has two components comprising of “municipal solid waste processing facility” and an engineered Sanitary Land Fill, this EIA report only dealt with the former. The project has deliberately been broken into two parts to obviate combined resistance from the villagers of Jamsher and Hoshiarpur. This EIA report is misleading both the residents of Jamsher, Hoshiarpur the Jalandhar. The report states that the total area available for development of the “MSW facility is approximately 25 acres”. Why does it exclude Hoshiarpur’s 30 acre? As per the TOR given in the Draft EIA report for the MSW facility, some 20 points out of the 35 points mentioned refer to landfill but this document is silent about it.
It is claimed in the Draft EIA report that the MSW processing plant to consist of burning of RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel) plant, biomethanation plant, power plant (optional) and composting facility. The plant will be designed to process 700 Tonnes Per Day (TPD) of Municipal Solid Waste and is expected to generate around 260 TPD of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) in the form of fluff. The fluff is expected to have a Gross Calorific Value (GCV) of 2,500 Kcal/kg to 27,000 Kcal/kg. The plant will also be designed to process 50 TPD of green waste for producing biogas in a biomethanation plant and manure in a composting facility. The biogas generated is expected to be about 2,750 to 3,000 Nm3/day and manure quantity is expected to be about 6-7 TPD. The RDF plant and the biomethanation plant are expected to operate for 330 days in a year. The total cost of the integrated MSW processing facility is estimated to INR 99.21 crores. The project will be made operational in a span of 14 months, it is claimed.
It is confessed in the EIA report that waste collected from various sources in the Jalandhar cluster will have differing calorific values. It is not revealed how Indian waste, which has calorific value of 800-1000 kcal will gain the Gross Calorific Value) of 2,600+ kcal / kg after drying and separation of non-combustible and recyclable fraction and after conversion to RDF.
Dr. Krishna observed that If the project is to be implemented by companies like Jindal Urban Infrastructure Limited (JUIL), a company of M/s Jindal Saw Group Limited owned by Prithviraj Jindal, which has no previous experience in waste management, it will distort waste management beyond repair.
Given the fact that the project proponent is using RDF technology it is relevant to note that all such experiments based on this technology to treat waste has failed in the country. A similar plant proposal compelled the union Environment Minister to write to Delhi chief minister that there has been violation in basic condition stipulated in environment condition. It violates the recommendation of the environment Ministry.
In a White paper on Pollution, it has been underlined that Indian waste is suitable only for Biological Treatment Methods. It violates the recommendation of Supreme Courts committee on Waste to Energy that insisted on segregation of waste its source. Once waste is segregated, compostable waste can be composted and recycled waste can be recycled. In such a scenario, what is the need to burn the waste.
The power generated will be highly expensive. Experts suggest that it is 4-5 times costlier than the conventional electricity. The EIA report does not reveal how the project developer will deal with toxic ash which will contain heavy metals like mercury. If such ash is dumped in place like Hoshiarpur, it will adversely affects the health of the people of Hoshiarpur. In 1990’s, a similar waste Energy Plant was shut down in Delhi because the garbage had about 60% organic waste and large amount of silt. The waste of Jalandhar will not be any different.
Indian waste has some 60 % organic waste and some 25 % sand, dust and ash. Incineration of such waste is inadvisable. It promotes waste generation, what is required is waste prevention and reduction and zero waste system that guarantees returned on investments and healthy communities. There is threat to ground water from ash disposal. Incineration also creates huge amount of Air pollution. It also releases Carbon monoxide, oxides of sulphur and nitrogen, hydrocarbons and particulates in the air. Waste incineration emits Green House Gases as well. This technology has high public health cost. It causes cancers, birth defects in villagers living in the vicinity of incineration.
It is clear to the villagers of Jamsher and adjoining villages of Jalandhar Cantt that incineration is the most costly waste management option from the point of view of public health environment and natural resources. Therefore, the villagers contend that the power plant based on waste should not get approval. It is noteworthy that Union Ministry of New & Renewable Energy is damaging waste management in cities like Jalandhar by providing subsidy to such polluting projects. States must not allow themselves to be misled by this Union Ministry and should desist from approving such hazardous projects given the fact that health is a state subject under the Constitution.
Punjab government should be wary of being driven by New Delhi based officials and vested interests who have unleashed misinformation campaign to undermine public health concerns regarding such environmentally damaging myopic projects
Picture 1- Pargat Singh, Picture 2-Protesting villagers, Picture 3-Proposed project site, Jamsher Village, Jalandhar Cantt
Movement launched against waste based thermal plant
Written By mediavigil on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 | 12:34 AM
State adopted outdated waste management techniques, say experts
Environmentalists today doubted the authenticity of the 2012 State Level
Environment Impact Assessment Authority (EIAA) report approving the
setting up of incinerator-based municipal solid waste thermal power
plants across eight clusters in the state.
They also expressed concern over the harmful effects of the outdated
municipal solid waste (MSW) management techniques being adopted by the
Punjab government.
Addressing a workshop on MSW management here in Jalandhar, Delhi-based
environmentalist and public policy expert Gopal Krishna said the
incinerator technology was discarded by western and European countries
20 years ago and had failed in 24 projects set up in India after 1986.
He said opting for the outdated technology could lead to health hazards as dangerous as ‘chemical warfare’.
“The EIA report indicates the plants of dioxins emitting nature being
proposed in a residential area unmindful of the fact that pollutants are
passengers without passports that would enter the food chain and harm
many future generations,” said Krishna.
He said solid waste companies were keen to set up MSW thermal power
plants in the state as they were eying a subsidy of Rs 1.5 crore per MW
to be issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy for setting up
of a waste-to-power plant. However, they would not succeed as the
technology had been banned by the Supreme Court due to its harmful
effects.
They said the setting up of incinerator-based power plants would bear no
results as it was not suitable for the processing of waste produced in
Punjab. They said around 78 per cent waste produced in the state
constituted inert material (up to 53.9 per cent) and compostable matter
(up to 30.84 per cent) which could not produce electricity because of
its low calorific value.
“While the chemical composition of solid waste produced in Punjab is up
to 1009.90 Kcal only; the waste required to produce electricity should
be of calorific value higher than 2000 kcal,” they said.
Environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal today joined the movement,
launched by SAD MLA Pargat Singh, to transfer the site of a solid waste
management plant.
SAD MLA Pargat Singh said, “The state government should check the claims
made by environmentalists on the harmful effects of the outdated
technology and should also consider the concern of local residents.”
Another environmentalist Sudhir Sharma said a study conducted on people living around 72 incinerators showed that those living in 10 km of an incinerator, refinery and waste disposal site are most likely to have laryngeal cancer and other cancers specifically of stomach, colorectal, liver and lung.
Rachna Khaira
Tribune News Service
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/community/state-adopted-outdated-waste-mgmt-techniques-say-experts/133205.html
Questions raised on waste-to-energy plant
JALANDHAR:
Already facing opposition from villagers over setting up of solid waste
management plant at Jamsher village of the district, environmental
experts have raised more questions on the project at a seminar organized
by Jalandhar Cantonment MLA Pargat Singh of the SAD, The MLA is also
opposing the plant at the proposed site.
Gopal Krishna of Toxic Watch raised questions not only on the location of the proposed plant, but also compared it to chemical warfare stating it was a "tried, tested and failed" technology.
He pointed out that a white paper issued by the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) had already made it clear that the technology being used for setting up the plant was not suitable for generating power.
"When the technology has already been rejected by the MoEF in the Indian context then why is it being tried here?" he asked. Jalandhar municipal corporation joint commissioner Rajeev Verma was also present during the seminar.
I P Singh
Gopal Krishna of Toxic Watch raised questions not only on the location of the proposed plant, but also compared it to chemical warfare stating it was a "tried, tested and failed" technology.
He pointed out that a white paper issued by the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) had already made it clear that the technology being used for setting up the plant was not suitable for generating power.
"When the technology has already been rejected by the MoEF in the Indian context then why is it being tried here?" he asked. Jalandhar municipal corporation joint commissioner Rajeev Verma was also present during the seminar.
I P Singh
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Questions-raised-on-waste-to-energy-plant/articleshow/48968671.cms
Movement launched against waste based thermal plant
One-day workshop on the solid waste management organised by Punjabi Satth Sabha, Lambra.
‘Punjab opting for outdated technology’
He also said that if state government goes ahead with the proposed technology, it could have serious implications like that of a ‘chemical warfare’ on the health of the people in the state.
Villagers raise doubts over Environment Impact Survey
Villagers raised serious doubts over the authenticity of environment impact survey conducted by a private consultant in 2011. They said that when they asked consultant about identifying the north direction of the site, they failed to do so in the public hearing held on September 30 in 2011. Also, the consultant failed to reply on the distance of nearest residential area from the proposed site, the distance to nearest Gurudwara, distance of Nanak Pindi village and many other queries pertaining to the facts mentioned in the survey report.
Villagers raised serious doubts over the authenticity of environment impact survey conducted by a private consultant in 2011. They said that when they asked consultant about identifying the north direction of the site, they failed to do so in the public hearing held on September 30 in 2011. Also, the consultant failed to reply on the distance of nearest residential area from the proposed site, the distance to nearest Gurudwara, distance of Nanak Pindi village and many other queries pertaining to the facts mentioned in the survey report.
Sperm count reduced to half in 50 years
While revealing the harmful impact of millions of tonnes of solid waste lying untreated in the state, health expert Dr AS Azaad said untreated waste releases toxic emissions in the air that has affected the reproductive system and the physical and mental health of unborn babies in the state. “Various studies have shown that due to various environmental hazards, the sperm count in Punjab has reduced to half in the last 50 years. Also, it has affected the health of unborn children in the mother’s womb,” claimed Azaad. He also said earlier the sperm count was around 113 million that has now reduced to almost half, including dead sperms and also abnormal sperms. He said, “Presently, only 30 per cent sperm are presently effective as compared to the ones 50 years ago.”
While revealing the harmful impact of millions of tonnes of solid waste lying untreated in the state, health expert Dr AS Azaad said untreated waste releases toxic emissions in the air that has affected the reproductive system and the physical and mental health of unborn babies in the state. “Various studies have shown that due to various environmental hazards, the sperm count in Punjab has reduced to half in the last 50 years. Also, it has affected the health of unborn children in the mother’s womb,” claimed Azaad. He also said earlier the sperm count was around 113 million that has now reduced to almost half, including dead sperms and also abnormal sperms. He said, “Presently, only 30 per cent sperm are presently effective as compared to the ones 50 years ago.”
Govt should review the technology
Area MLA Pargat Singh said, “There is a dire need to review the
incinerator technology being adopted by the state government to save
hundreds of villagers from the effect of harmful gases. There is no way
villagers will allow the setting up of the thermal power plant in the
area. It is high time that the government should either change the site
or bring in latest technology approved by the national and international
environment agencies.”
Industry too bats for the cause
Apart from the environmentalists and political leaders, noted industrialists from the sports, leather, hand and tool, farmers, sarpanchs of various villages and social welfare organisations participated in the workshop.
Apart from the environmentalists and political leaders, noted industrialists from the sports, leather, hand and tool, farmers, sarpanchs of various villages and social welfare organisations participated in the workshop.
Rachna Khaira
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jalandhar/seechewal-joins-movement-against-thermal-plant/133358.html