The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has allowed the Okhla waste-to-energy plant to function while imposing an environmental compensation of Rs. 25 lakh on it for causing pollution.
A Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Swatanter Kumar, while passing a slew of directions in the “interest of public health and environment”, said the fine would be paid to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) in equal shares for controlling air pollution in the area.
The Bench, in its 142-page judgment, said the fine had been imposed under provisions of the NGT Act for “pollution resulting from deficient functioning of the plant and its stack emissions being in excess of the prescribed parameters up to the period of December 18, 2014”.
Plant to operate
The Tribunal, however, said the plant should not be directed to either shut down or shifted to another site as there was definite evidence before it to arrive at a finding that the project proponent was compliant and non-polluting.
“The waste-to-energy plant would be permitted to operate till further orders of the Tribunal and/or CPCB/DPCC, as the case may be. The plant shall operate to its optimum capacity and would not cause any environmental pollution,’’ it said.
Residents’ health affected
The Tribunal’s verdict came on a petition filed by the residents of Sukhdev Vihar alleging that the plant was releasing “toxic”emissions which had affected their health. The residents had submitted that the plant had obtained environmental clearanceon the condition that it would use refuse-derived fuel and biogas technology to convert waste to energy. But contrary to its promise, it has allegedly been incinerating mixed waste.
