Waste-to-energy plant in Agra; SC seeks experts view

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur, and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to look into a proposal by Agra Nagar Nigam to set up a waste-to-energy plant.

Agra falls under the Taj Trapezium Zone, an area of about 10,400 sq km spread over the districts of Firozabad, Mathura, Hathras and Etah in Uttar Pradesh and the Bharatpur district of Rajasthan.

Agra Nagar Nigam, an urban local body, sought permission of the top court to set up a waste-to-energy plant at the Kuberpur landfill site.

"Before granting such permission, we think that this matter needs to be examined by experts," a bench of Justices S A Bobde and Deepak Gupta said on the proposal.

The court asked the experts bodies to look into the matter and give a joint report within six weeks.

"After considering the proposal of the Agra Pollution Control Board and jointly inspecting the site, they should suggest whether this waste-to-energy plant would help in reducing toxicity in the air and soil or would increase it or/and would also recommend whether this plant should be set up at this site or any other suitable site," the bench said.

The court also allowed environment activist and advocate M C Mehta to give his views to the expert body.