JOIN USBJP backs 'toxic' power plants, activists see red
The BJP’s show of support to three waste-to-energy plants in Ohkla, Bawana and Ghazipur in its MCD polls manifesto has not gone down well with residents and environmentalists.
The Okhla plant is already functioning.
The BJP said that it will support the construction of the two other plants if it is voted to power.
In 2008, the BJP had written to Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna, expressing apprehension over the location of the plants in residential areas.
“This (Okhla) plant will release harmful gases and pose a threat to nearby residents,” BJP MP Vijay Kumar Malhotra had written to the governor on June 27, 2008.
“We should boycott voting for Congress and BJP since both parties are supporting these plants,” said environment activist Gopal Krishnan.
Members of Bhartiya Kachra Intazamia Andolan and All-India Kachra Shramik Mahasangh (AIKSM), apart from expressing concern over harmful effects on health, stated that the livelihood of ragpickers will be affected.
“There are 3.5 lakh ragpickers in the Capital. These plants will take away their livelihood without giving anything in return,” said Dharmender Yadav, general secretary of AIKSM.
According to Krishnan, the plan of converting waste to electricity will not work since the waste collected in the city has no calorific value.
“The waste comprises 38 per cent vegetables and 40 per cent glass, which cannot produce electricity. The only substance with a high calorific value is plastic, which is 0.75 per cent of total waste collected. How much electricity can this much amount of plastic produce?” said Krishnan.
Residents in localities near Ohkla power plant have already started experiencing breathing problems.
“In Haji Colony near Jamia Nagar, nobody wants to marry our sons because of the constant stench coming from the plant,” said Afzal of Haji Nagar.
“In Sukhdev Vihar, reports of children being diagnosed with asthma are coming. And this is not even a far-flung area; this is right in the middle of the city, where even Jamia Millia Islamia, Escorts and Apollo Hospital are located,” added Afzal.
According to activists, emissions from the plant include suspended particulate matter, sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen chloride, and dioxins and furans.
“These are among the most toxic substances known to science,” said Krishnan.
“Such emissions have been known to cause birth deformities, cancer, respiratory ailments and hormonal problems,” added Krishnan.