Only four machines meet specifications: report

The report states that “the machinery has been compromised with regard to quality,specifications and non-installation of various accessories. This is,thereby,assessed to be the main cause of the plant’s failure to process garbage”.

Also,held to blame is the Medical Officer of Health,who did not carry out any checks on the company in charge of running the plant— J P Associates — at the time of installation of the machinery. “There were no technical checks at various stages of installation and commissioning of the plant machinery,thereby allowing the management to complete the project according to their convenience,” states the report.

Questioning the relevance of the DPR,Sharma said: “There are too many variations from the DPR. It seems that the company did not properly study the conditions of the city before operating the plant. As proper machinery was not installed,there are several problems in the plant’s functioning.”

A report prepared by UT Deputy Commissioner R K Rao also reaffirms that the installed equipment does not conform to the DPR. Moreover,the DPR has never been presented in the House. It was submitted directly to the then Municipal Commissioner on September 7,2005.

The viability of the plant was studied by a committee consisting of the municipal commissioner,joint commissioner,member secretary of the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee and joint director of the Punjab Energy Development Agency among others. No viability report was,however,prepared.

Something stinks
As strong winds blew across the city on Friday evening,the stench of garbage engulfed Sectors 17,20,22,23,38 and Dadumajra. Mayor Kamlesh,along with councillor Pardeep Chhabra,summoned the chairman of the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee,P J S Dadhwal,as well as the chairman of the sanitation committee Chander Mukhi Sharma to the spot. It was found that the stench originated as Refused Derived Fuel (RDF) was being burnt in the plant and a chimney was carrying the stench to all parts of the city. Earlier this week,the councillors had conducted a check at the plant and found several anomalies. After this,the UT Finance Secretary has deployed officials from the Pollution Control Board to monitor the plant.