Aafrin Kidwai 
A little over three years after the previous attempt to expand operations at the Okhla waste-to-energy (WTE) plant failed due to opposition from locals, the Jindal group’s Timarpur Okhla Waste Management Company has started the process of obtaining environmental clearance for expansion.
The expansion will generate 40 MW of energy by processing an additional 1,000 TPD (tonnes per day) of waste. According to a spokesperson for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the Okhla WTE plant can currently process 1,950 TPD of waste and generate 21 MW of electricity, reports The Indian Express.
Earlier this month, the company requested permission from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to hold a public hearing and proceed with obtaining environmental clearance. The public hearing is scheduled for next month. Residents in the area oppose a WTE plant so close to their homes.
Last year, the DPCC fined the company Rs 5 lakh for air pollution after emission monitoring revealed that dioxins and furans exceeded permissible limits. According to the DPCC, power generation (18.5 to 21.5 MW) was less than the plant’s capacity of 23 MW of the project to use an additional 1,000-1,200 tonnes of waste.”
