Air force officials have argued that the foul smell and garbage at the proposed dumping site would attract birds which will hamper air operation such as emergency landing of helicopters.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has strongly protested the Municipal Corporation of Delhi's (MCD) decision to set up a landfill facility for dumping city waste at Bawana-Narela area citing bird strikes and environmental threat to its adjacent station.
As the site is located just 3.5km away from their base station, air force officials have argued that the foul smell and garbage at the proposed dumping site would attract birds which will hamper air operation such as emergency landing of helicopters.
They have registered their objections at a public hearing held recently by the deputy commissioner (Northwest) for the construction of solid waste management facility in the 100 acres area to be developed by Delhi MSW Solutions of Hyderabad-based Ramky Group.
The MCD has purchased the land at the Narela-Bawana site for the landfill facility with a capacity of 1,000 metric tonnes per day.It is proposed to be operational by 2011 for the next 20 years as identified in Master Plan for Delhi 2021.
"Yes, we have got representation from the air force as well as locals. We have send the details of the public hearing including their concerns to the environment ministry as part of the environment impact assessment for further action," Delhi Pollution Control Board (DPCC) chairman AK Ambhast said.
As per minutes of the public hearing, Wing Commander DK Singh and Sq Ldr Taranjit Singh Sethi registered their protest over the garbage site which would adversely affect air and groundwater quality posing health risk to its personnel at the base.
"The station would become inhabitable and adversely affect the flying activities due to bird strikes attracted by the garbage dump," Sethi said.
Moreover, there is a CRPF camp adjacent to the proposed site.
Noting that the dumping site would adversely affect the groundwater quality, water supply and hygiene besides causing traffic congestion, the locals including industry owners in the region have sought shifting of the site elsewhere in the NCR region or outside the capital.
However, the company asserts that the proposed site would be set up in accordance with the latest scientific and environmental norms and would be insulated from human habitation.
"Compost area will be fully covered. The vehicles will be closed. Only the segregated waste will be processed in mechanic and closed way which will detract birds and animal from entering the area. The waste will be received in covered trucks, hence there will be no litter and foul smell," company general manager Sanjiv Kumar said.
Moreover, the proposed landfill site will be developed with the use of impervious high density polyethylene liner to ensure protection of groundwater from any contamination.
With almost all its existing landfill sites -- Okhla, Bhalasva and Ghazipur -- full to their capacity, Delhi which produces 6,800 tonnes of solid waste a day, is facing acute problem for its proper disposal.
The MCD is now planning to develop three new sanitary landfill sites at Jaitpur and Bhatti mines besides Narela-Bawana.
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