Manish Sisodia visits controversial Okhla, Ghazipur waste-to-energy plants

NEW DELHI: Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia inspected the Okhla and Ghazipur waste-to-energy plants on Friday after residents of Sukhdev Vihar met chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday complaining against toxic emissions from the former unit.
Along with Central Pollution Control Board and municipal corporation officials, Sisodia checked the mixed waste for incineration and bottom ash generated after the process. The bottom ash had unburnt waste indicating that the plant is unable to incinerate it efficiently and that waste is not being segregated before incineration.

Sisodia was first given a PowerPoint presentation of the Okhla plant. He then took a tour of the plant. Sisodia was curious to know how the Okhla plant is different from the Ghazipur plant. While plant staff claimed they used a superior technology, residents later submitted that while the other two plants at Ghazipur and Narela use refuse-derived fuel, Okhla used a technology "of Chinese origin which is not approved in India".

The Okhla plant has been mired in controversy for years now. Residents have been complaining that fly ash from the plant envelopes the area and settles in their homes while toxic emissions cause severe health impacts. A CPCB inspection had revealed levels of dioxins and carcinogenic chemical compounds several times the safe standard. Residents have already filed a petition in National Green Tribunal appealing the plant be either shut down or relocated.

"There was plastic and other waste in the bottom ash. Plant staff claimed it's not harmful as it's not PVC just plastic bags. But we all know how harmful burning of plastic can be," said Anant Trivedi, a resident and a technical committee member when the plant was reviewed by the ministry of environment, forest and climate change.

He also pointed out that the ministry had granted technology approval for establishment of an integrated municipal solid waste plant with two refuse derived fuel plants, a bio-methanation plant and a power plant. However, the Okhla plant was set up with no facilities for generation of RDF or bio-methanation.

"The other important difference between Ghazipur and Okhla plants is that the Ghazipur plant is located on a landfill, at a distance from habitation. In this case, it's just slow kill for residents who are breathing this polluted air on a regular basis," said Ranjit Devraj, another resident. They also claimed that the Ghazipur plant has better technology for segregation of waste.

Residents have submitted in NGT that the plant is using "reciprocating stoker-type boilers of Chinese origin" which are reportedly being phased out even in China due to their pollution potential. Sisodia's office did not reveal any more findings.