Deonar waste to energy plant approved despite NGT norms violations, says SP

Alleging that business houses are lobbying for environmental clearances, Shaikh said that all waste processing activities are inevitably done in the eastern suburbs.

“The Deonar dumping ground and its surroundings is the most polluted area in the city mainly due to the presence of a chemical factory and a bio-medical plant there. The average age of a resident there has dropped to 49 years. The maternal mortality rate is the highest in the city and there are a large number of tuberculosis patients. Despite all this, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) wants to set up a waste processing plant there,” said Shaikh.

He also stated that Azmi had said in the legislative assembly that the area near Shivaji Nagar and Bainganwadi has already turned into a “gas chamber” due to the high level of air pollution. Shaikh further argued that in violation of norms set by the NGT, there is no buffer zone around the proposed area for the plant.

“Toxic ash will be generated by the waste to energy plant which can severely harm the health of the large number of people who live too close to the bulldozer garage, the area where the plant is supposed to come up. Why can’t the BMC shift the project to Mulund dumping ground, which already has a buffer zone, instead of always picking the eastern suburbs?” asked Shaikh.

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He stated that despite several inquiries, the civic administration has not provided him with a copy of the report prepared by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on the feasibility of the project.

“I am confident that if the norms are followed, the TCS cannot give a positive report. However, the BMC has not signed the report and is unwilling to show its contents, which makes it seem suspicious,” he said. Shaikh said that he intends to approach the High Court once he receives a copy of the TCS report and will protest against the project in other forums.