The Central Pollution Control Board has carried out the Technical Evaluation of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) based Waste-To-Energy (WTE) plant at Okhla, Delhi. Such plants can release toxic gases in case necessary Air Pollution Control Devices (APCDs) are not installed. The WTE Plant at Okhla is equipped with the necessary APCDs. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) monitored this plant and the parameters are found to be within the prescribed limits. This was stated by Shrimati Jayanthi Natarajan Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today. The cost of power generation from urban and industrial waste is about Rs.2.50 to Rs. 4.00 per unit of electricity depending upon the types of wastes and the technology deployed. This cost is competitive with the cost of power generated from conventional resources.
The Minister further stated that The management of municipal solid waste is a State subject and it is the responsibility of the State Governments/ Urban Local Bodies to plan, design, execute and operate the waste management schemes in urban areas of the country. The Central Government acts as facilitator in framing broad policies, programs and guidelines on municipal solid waste management. The norms for collection, segregation, processing and disposal of the waste have been laid down under the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000. The rules, inter-alia, prescribe specifications for landfill sites, standards for composting, treated leachates and incineration.
The Minister further stated that the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is implementing a program on energy recovery from urban and industrial wastes, by providing central financial assistance in fixed amounts limited to 20% of the project cost for setting up biomethanation and power generation plants. MNRE has supported about 120 waste to energy projects so far including biomethanation projects and spent Rs. 66.33 crores and Rs.12.44 crores during 11th five year plan and first year of 12th five year plan respectively, the Minister added.