GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 381
TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2025
Pollution by Okhla Waste to Energy plant
381. SHRI MUKUL BALKRISHNA WASNIK:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that Okhla Waste to Energy (WTE) plant has been violating pollution norms adversely affecting the health of people living in its vicinity;
(b) if so, the details thereof and action taken by Government to ensure adherence of pollution norms by the WTE plant;
(c) whether it is also a fact that the WTE plant produced volumes of toxic furans, dioxins, hydrogen chloride and respirable pollutants;
(d) whether Government has undertaken any study to assess its impact; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and steps taken by Government to ensure quality air for people living around the plant?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (e): As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, the State Pollution Control Board or Pollution Control Committee are mandated to monitor environmental standards prescribed in the rules and adherence to conditions as specified under the Schedule I and Schedule II of the rules for waste processing and disposal sites including waste to energy plants. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) jointly with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has carried out an inspection of Waste to Energy plant in Okhla during September 2020. The results of the stack emission monitoring showed that the parameters like Dioxin & Furan, Particulate matter (PM2.5) and Hydrogen Chloride (HCl) exceeded the prescribed limit stipulated in Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. Subsequently, DPCC hadissued direction for non-compliance to the unit and Environmental Compensation of Rs 5Lakhs was imposed. The Environmental Compensation amount was deposited by the unit. Separately, direction under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, was issued on 05.04.2021 by CPCB to DPCC for ensuring compliance of the Waste to Energy (WTE) plant through regular monitoring and submit the inspection reports as well as the details of action taken for any non-compliance observed. Earlier, CPCB had issued directions to all State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committee for setting up of Material Recovery Facility (MRF) prior to WTE plant/Energy Recovery System.