Lok Sabha Question No. 3395 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-16
Subject: Waste to Energy Plants
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Ms Iqra Choudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3395

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2024

## Waste to Energy Plants

## 3395.    MS IQRA CHOUDHARY:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of Waste to Energy Plants operational in the country along with the number of new plants that have acquired No Objection Certificates, State-wise;
- (b) whether the Government regularly tracks the pollution levels of these plants and if any plant  is  currently  emitting  pollution  higher  than  permitted  levels,  if  so,  the  details thereof, plant-wise;
- (c) the action taken by the Government against such plants, including monetary penalties and other punishments, plant-wise;
- (d) whether there are guidelines for areas for dumping ash and other effluents and whether the  Government  prohibits  such  areas  near  human-inhabited  areas,  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government has conducted any studies after the year 2020 on the pollution levels or Environmental Impact of these plants;
- (f) whether  the  Government  has  ensured  that  new  plants  fulfil  all  criteria  regarding pollution standards, such as, distance from residential areas and disposal of effluents; and
- (g) whether  awareness  is  provided  about  the  plants'  potential  harm  to  the  workers  and residents and if so, the details thereof and action taken by the Government to mitigate such harm?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a): As per the Annual Report on implementation of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, for the year 2021-22 submitted by 36 SPCBs/PCCs to Central Pollution Control Board, there are thirteen waste-to-energy plants operational in India (Andhra Pradesh - 2, Delhi-2, Goa-1, Haryana-1, Madhya Pradesh-1, Maharashtra -1, Telangana - 1, Uttar Pradesh-3, West Bengal1).

(b) & (c): As per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, the State Pollution Control Board  or  Pollution  Control  Committee  are  mandated  to  monitor  environmental  standards prescribed  in  the  rules  and  adherence  to  conditions  as  specified  under  the  Schedule  I  and Schedule II for waste processing and disposal sites including waste to energy plants. As per available information, the concerned SPCBs/PCCs, as required, have undertaken monitoring of waste to energy plants under their jurisdiction.  To check the environmental compliance of the WTE plants in Delhi, CPCB, in association with the concerned SPCB/PCC inspected three Waste-to-Energy  (WtE)  plants  namely  M/s  Timarpur  Okhla  Waste  Management  Company Limited, M/s Delhi MSW Solutions Ltd., M/s East Delhi Waste Processing Company Ltd. Due to  the  observed  violations  by  M/s  Timarpur  Okhla  Waste  Management  Company  Limited, Environmental Compensation (EC) of Rs 5 Lakhs was imposed on the proponent by DPCC for not meeting the prescribed standard as per the joint/monitoring dated 21-22 sept, 2020.

(d)  to  (g):  Schedule  II  of  the  Solid  Waste  Management  Rules,  prescribes  standards  of processing and treatment of solid waste including standards for emission from incinerators / thermal technologies in solid waste treatment  and disposal facilities. The standards include air emission standards. It has been mandated that if the concentation of toxic metals in incineration ash exceeds the limits specified in the Hazardous Waste (Management, Handling and Trans boundary  Movement)  Rules,  2008,  as  amended  from  time  to  time,  the  ash  is  sent  to  the hazardous waste treatment,  storage  and  disposal  facility.  As  per  Solid  Waste  Management Rules, the local body or an operator of facility or an agency designated by them proposing to set up waste to energy plant of more than five tones per day processing capacity shall submit an application in Form-I to the State Pollution Control Board or Pollution Control Committee, as the case may be, for authorisation.

Further, all waste processing plants including waste to energy plants are mandated to submit annual reports to the concerned local bodies with regard to their operation. Also, concerned SPCBs/PCCs are mandated to provide details of the status of operation of waste to energy plants, their power generation along with remarks of the concerned SPCBs/PCCs, as part of their annual report under Solid Waste Management Rules to CPCB.

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