The long battle of residents of Sukhdev Vihar in southeast Delhi for their right to clean air goes on, even as the green court gives them a next date each time. The residents have been fighting to move out the Okhla-based Waste to Energy plant, located at a small distance of 150 meters from the locality for the health hazards that the toxic gas emissions out of it have on these people living in the vicinity. It has been a year that the group had met Kejriwal, who had promised to get the plant shifted out of Okhla, but to no avail.
The next hearing is due on 18 November. The group is planning to meet the CM again in this regard in the coming days.
More than six RWAs including Sukhdev Vihar DDA Flats, Jasola, Haji Colony, Sarita Vihar, Okhla Vihar, Zakir Nagar and New Friends Colony have signed the petition, which was initially filed in the Delhi High Court in 2009 (when the foundation stone for the plant was laid) and was then transferred to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2013. The plant spread over 15 acres is located around three major hospitals and the Okhla Bird Sanctuary.
However, residents claimed that the long going-on case without much hope of even an enquiry into the matter, has led to many of them opting out.
Residents along with environmental groups claimed that the toxic gases pollute the air and can cause long-term health hazards such as respiratory problems and eye irritation.
"People have lost hope from both the government as well as the judiciary in this case. It is a fact that the pollutants suspended in the air make it extremely harmful for breathing. We had even protested outside the plant to shift it from here to the Tuhlaqabad landfill site, which was the original plan," said, Vimal Monga of Sukhdev Vihar DDA Flats, who has been associated with the case since the plea was filed.
This is not all. The advocacy group claimed that the plant has come up in violations of the rules set by the ministry of environment. According to norms, any such operation of turning municipal solid waste into electricity must be carried out at the landfill site. The site must be at a distance of atleast 300 meters from residential areas.
"Haji Colony is located just 70 meters from the site while Sukhdev Vihar is 150 meters away. More than 5,000 people are suffering every day because of the plant. Besides, as per Delhi Master Plan 2021, the place where the plant is located was marked as a green belt area. Moreover, the Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) had not given its clearance to the project. How can the government allow the plant to be run in such a scenario and compromise the health of its citizens?" said, Rajiv Khurana, RWA president, Sukhdev Vihar.
The plant is run by Timarpur-Okhla Waste Management Co Pvt Ltd (TOWMCL) of Jindal Urban Infrastructure Limited (JUIL).
