Delhi leads other states with four operational WTEs: CPCB to NGT

New Delhi: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has told National Green Tribunal (NGT) about the current state of waste-to-energy facilities across India. While their assessment continues, Delhi leads other states with four operational units.
The board stated in a report that it jointly inspected three plants with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) in March this year, and the results are awaited. "CPCB conducted an inspection of the waste to energy (WtE) plants located in Delhi jointly with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). Three WtE plants located at Okhla, Ghazipur and Bawana were covered in the inspection conducted during March 21-23.
The monitoring/sampling of stack emissions, ambient air quality, fly ash and bottom ash, solid waste samples (for calorific value), treated leachate, and groundwater were carried out by Ms Shriram Institute for Industrial Research (SIIR) (engaged by DPCC) in the presence of the inspecting team of CPCB and DPCC.
The analysis was carried out by the said laboratory SIIR. The fourth WtE plant located at Tehkhand could not be inspected, as it was shut down for maintenance during this period. Analysis of data received and report preparation is currently under progress at CPCB," a reply from CPCB dated April 15 said.
An earlier report dated Jan 10 by CPCB noted dangerously elevated cadmium concentrations in fly ash at Delhi's facilities. "CPCB monitored the WtE plant at Okhla (Ms Timarpur Okhla Waste Management Company Limited, Okhla, Delhi.... All the monitored parameters in stack emission were found within the prescribed limit. Bottom ash and fly ash analysis of the monitored parameters were found within the permissible limit except for the exceedance of cadmium in fly ash. The concentration of cadmium was found at 7.32 mg/l in the fly ash, exceeding the prescribed standard limit of 1 mg/l as per hazardous and other wastes (management and transboundary) rules, 2016."
This update followed the publication of an article, "Waste to Energy: Smokescreen or Solution", in the India Development Review, which detailed the adverse effects of incinerating mixed waste in these facilities. The report raised concerns about Delhi's waste management strategy as the city currently houses four waste-to-energy plants and plans for a fifth facility, which authorities consider essential to addressing waste management challenges. The NGT panel, headed by chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, initiated suo motu proceedings based on the article and demanded clarification on the issues raised.
As per the CPCB report dated April 15, there are no incineration-based Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plants in 26 states and UTs. "The remaining ten states have provided details of 21 municipal solid waste incineration-based WtE plants operational in their region, namely Andhra Pradesh (2), Delhi (4), Gujarat (2), Haryana (1), Madhya Pradesh (2), Maharashtra (2), Karnataka (1), Telangana (2), Uttarakhand (3 RDF based boilers in paper mills which utilise MSW along with auxiliary fuels), and Uttar Pradesh (2)," stated the report.