Overview

Okhla waste-to-energy was the first large-scale plant opened in Delhi in 2012. The land for setting up this plant was strictly earmarked for setting up a composting facility for biodegradable waste. However, despite huge public resistance, the plant was set up to burn about 1,950 tons of mixed garbage everyday. The plant has caused irreparable damages to the health of the population nearby, especially women and children. For example, the people have chronic cough problems, lung disorders, eye and skin ailments, and cancer. Pregnant women are strongly advised to relocate and children are forbidden from playing outdoors. The plant operator, Jindal Urban Infra Limited was also fined rupees twenty five lakhs for releasing dioxins and furans ten times above the prescribed limits and committing various other environmental violations. The impunity with which they continue to flout the environmental norms is highly distressing. However, from doing strikes to approaching the judiciary, the story of the community’s resistance towards the Waste-To-Energy plant is hugely inspiring. Despite registering such strong protests and having all the documentation against the Waste-To-Energy plant, the government has recently given a nod for the expansion of the plant from the current 1950 TPD to 3000 TPD. The inspiring journey of their struggle for justice continues.