Waste-to-power plant delayed, likely to start rolling in two months

It will be another two months before the Ghazipur waste-to-energy treatment plant, set up to provide a solution to the problem of garbage disposal, becomes operational.

The plant was supposed to be commissioned by June-end but has been delayed, a Delhi government official said. The plant was set up to provide a scientific solution to the problem of garbage disposal at the Ghazipur landfill site in 2012 and the National Green Tribunal in March had directed the Delhi government to complete it by June this year.

“The operator, IL&FS Environmental Infrastructure & Services Ltd (IEISL), that had built the plant, has told us that it will become operational in two months,” a government official said.

According to an East Delhi Municipal Corporation official, the delay happened because of some installation equipment was not available with the company. He said the trial run is likely to start in August.

The Ghazipur landfill site, spanning 70 acres, has already surpassed its capacity. As no alternative land is in sight, the East Delhi Municipal Corporation continues to use the site which gets over 2,500 metric tonnes of garbage every day.

Generate power

Once the plant starts functioning, it will relieve the site of 1,300 metric tonne waste per day and the mounds of garbage will be put to use to generate 12 MW electricity.
The plant will use garbage to produce refuse derived fuel, which powers a boiler that is used to generate electricity. However, concerns have been raised over disposal of the fuel.

EDMC official said the company is working on automatic control system which will control the fumes and ashes emanating from it. Meanwhile, Environment Minister Asim Ahmed Khan on Friday inspected the plant and urged immediate adoption of best international practices to manage solid waste, which will reduce the pressure for additional land for waste disposal.