Dairies need nod in 15 days to operate

NEW DELHI: Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials on Tuesday said that the four waste to energy (WtE) plants the civic body operates in the national capital meet all norms set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), adding that Delhi's pollution board carries out regular inspections to check emissions from these facilities.

- HT Correspondent

The development came after The New York Times on Saturday published a report, alleging that the Okhla WtE plant in south Delhi releases smoke containing lead, arsenic and other toxic substances into surrounding areas, and dumps ash with hazardous pollutants in residential neighbourhoods.

MCD did not comment on The New York Times report, adding that the matter is subjudice in the Supreme Court.

Separately, the plant operator, in a statement on its website said: "The Okhla waste to energy plant is fully compliant in terms of applicable laws. It has passed all the tests conducted by the appropriate authorities during last almost a decade."

DPCC did not comment on the matter.

To be sure, WtE plants have become Delhi's primary method of "processing" waste, accounting for 7750 tonnes of the 11,300 tonnes of waste that the city generates on a daily basis. The incineration of waste is set to further expand, with MCD planning to add to the capacity of its WtE plants, allowing them to process an additional 7,000 tonnes of waste.

S Khan, general secretary of the Pocket A Sukhdev Vihar Residents Welfare Association, said that the residents in the area surrounding WtEs suffer due to pollution and diseases.