news details |
|
|
| Waste to energy plant at Achan: Why SMC is favouring Jindals? | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Mar 16: The proposal of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) to install an incinerator-based waste to energy plant at Achan landfill site in Srinagar outskirts is being opposed by environmentalists as they apprehend it would emit poisonous gases and ash having serious health hazards.
As per reliable sources some top officials in Urban Development Department and Srinagar Municipal Corporation had a meeting with Jindal Urban Infrastructure Limited (JUIL) recently and a deal has been fixed to install a Incinerator based technology at Achan. Sources say that all this is done to favour few companies through illegal means at the cost of state exchequer. Sources say that Jindal group has already installed a similar waste to energy plant in Delhi outskirts and the residents of that particular area (Okhla) are up in the arms against Jindals for putting people to risk.
In past several rallies and protests were held in Delhi to protest against setting up of a waste-generating plant near a residential area, when the same is not allowed under environment protection laws.
According to New Delhi based environmental protection group Toxic Watch Alliance Incineration plants generate toxic gases. "It is the same chemical which was used by the US to bomb Vietnam which is why we can say that it is a war chemical. The pollution created by the toxic emissions is making the air unbreathable," said Gopal Krishna from Toxics Watch Alliance in an interview with a renowned newspaper few years back .
Environmental groups, Resident Welfare Associations and waste recycling workers have been opposing the burning of these Dioxins emitting hazardous waste in energy incinerators, set up in Sukhdev Vihar, Okhla. One more plant has been constructed in Narela-Bawana and Ghazipur areas of Delhi.
Pertinent to mention that Dioxins are a group of toxic chemicals known to increase the risk of cancer. According to a recent Singapore report, incineration of garbage generates large amounts of heavy metals and dioxins and furans, especially from ferrous metals, plastics, textiles, and paperboard, which contribute significantly to polluting the environment.
The Okhla waste-to-energy plant started its trial run on January 3, 2012 as it received partial approval from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee during late 2011. Waste is sourced from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) areas for treatment.
Experts point out that the Technical Experts Evaluation Committee set up by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), to study the impact of waste-to-energy incinerator plants clearly states that the department did not give full permission to build this plant in the middle of a residential area. Representatives of German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi had underlined during a meeting few years back with the CPCB that there was a lack of transparency in terms of the environmental and health impact on residents.
It is given to understand that during October 2015, Dr S R Maley a noted Environmentalist was approached by J&K Government and Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) regarding treatment of solid waste dumped at Achan. A meeting was held in Srinagar which was presided by former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. The dumping at Achan according to environmental experts had been totally un scientific as a Mumbai based company had been dumping garbage in complete violation of Municipal Solid Waste Rules. The waste material was being deposited without doing necessary segregation.
"During the October meeting with Chief Minister Dr Maley suggested installation of a Mechanical segregators at Achan which would cost just a few crores. The said idea seems to have been dumped under the Achan garbage by SMC authorities now. The Jindals area using obsolete technology for waste to energy generation and the proposed plant is very very expensive as well, " says a senior officer of Srinagar Municipal Corporation.
"Mechanization of waste collection and transport should be avoided at all costs and the attraction of excessive spending for them resisted. Achan is a graveyard of discarded containers / dumper bins which are allowed to rust further and lose value by holding the junk for 5 years before auction" saysAlmitra Patel,member, Supreme Court Committee for Solid Waste Management. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
