Srinagar: The waste-to-energy power plant at Achan garbage dumping site, first of its kind in Jammu and Kashmir, is in the offing finally as National Green Tribunal (NGT) has set two-week deadline for the government to establish it.
“We see no reason, why this project should not be taken to its logical end particularly when the project proponent has assured the state government and technical committee to examine performance in terms of technology and protection of environment,” a bench of NGT headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar, said and passed four directions to be complied with by September 20.
“The entire process (for setting of the waste-to-energy plant) shall be completed by the state government within two weeks.” The project proponent was present with his technical advisor.
The NGT also directed that the project proponent, besides complying with the terms and condition of the tender, would ensure creation of green belt around Achan.
“It will also ensure construction of a proper wall barrier between the site and the water body (Anchar lake), and ensure that no leachet in any event pollutes the ground water or the water body, surrounding the site in question, including the agricultural fields”.
It also asked the state government to provide all protection and facilities to the project proponent to carry out the work.
“The suggestions, if any, made by the local residents of the area would be considered by the authorities concerned.”
The green panel lastly directed that the project proponent shall place on record before it, as to how it would ensure that no excessive emission of Carbon monoxide (CO) and other gaseous substances are released into the environment and what safeguard have been built into the project.
The NGT had proposed the setting of the plant to the SMC almost three years ago and its aim was to end the crisis of solid waste management in Srinagar and to create a mechanism for waste management at an affordable cost.
The NGT had made the proposal after its experts examined all the alternatives, thereby allaying apprehensions by environmentalists that the project was not environmentally and economically feasible.
The 5-Megawatt (MW) power plant was supposed to be constructed within a span of 24 months by utilising the biomass dumped at the site to generate electricity.
The NGT was hearing a petition filed by a doctor few years ago and during a hearing in January this year, the tribunal had pulled up the ruling PDP-BJP government for its failure to handle the municipal solid waste, observing that the landfill site at Achan was causing serious environmental, health, and groundwater pollution problems.
