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Hurricane Ingrid to make landfall in northeast Mexico


Hurricane Ingrid is expected to make landfall in northeastern Mexico later on Monday, Reuters reported, citing the US National Hurricane Center. Ingrid was now located about 95 miles (153km) northeast of Tampico, Mexico, packing maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour (120 km/h), according to the NHC.


 

16092013

​Typhoon prompts evacuation order for 300,000 Japanese


An evacuation warnings for over 300,000 people has been issued by the Japanese government as typhoon Man-yi hit the main island of Honshu on Monday, local media reported. Shiga, Kyoto and Hyogo prefectures are now under severe flood threat following huge rain squalls and high winds. Workers at the Fukushima nuclear power plant were put on alert to ensure that contaminated water in the storage tanks does not overflow in the heavy rain.


 

16092013

​Typhoon prompts evacuation order for 300,000 Japanese


An evacuation warnings for over 300,000 people has been issued by the Japanese government as typhoon Man-yi hit the main island of Honshu on Monday, local media reported. Shiga, Kyoto and Hyogo prefectures are now under severe flood threat following huge rain squalls and high winds. Workers at the Fukushima nuclear power plant were put on alert to ensure that contaminated water in the storage tanks does not overflow in the heavy rain.


 

Fishing Boat Ship collision offshore Vietnam

16092013

Singaporean cargo ship and a Vietnamese fishing boat collided offshore Vietnam’s southern Vung Tau province in early Monday morning, leaving at least one people killed and seven missing, local VNExpress reported.
Singaporean cargo ship Sima Saphire on its way from Vietnam’s southern Ho Chi Minh City to Malaysia, collided with the Vietnamese fishing boat with 16 people on board, at a site about 50 nautical miles south of Vung Tau province.
The collision threw all 16 fishermen to the sea, of whom 8 were rescued by the Singaporean ship while the others were missing.
The report quoted Le Van Chien, director of the Vung Tau Port Administration as saying that the accident happened around 2 a.m. on Monday (GMT 1900 on Sunday).
Vietnam’s Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center in Zone 3 organized the rescue on short notice of the incident, which involves two rescue ships SAR 413 and SAR 272, and other local fishing boats operating in the surrounding areas.
A helicopter of the Air Force Regiment 917 was also sent to help in locating the missing fishermen, according to the report.Media agencies


 

Protest at Haryana Bhavan on Wednesday September 18 at 2 pm

16092013

Community protests at Jind, followed by petitions and meetings with concerned officers and ministers, Fact finding investigation, media coverage, Mashaal rally at Jantar mantar and several other actions – the result is that even after 23 days of the rape and murder of the 20 year old Dalit girl in Jind district of Haryana – there is no headway in the investigation and the entire state apparatus is silent.
It is very clear that without outrage, justice seems to a distant dream and it is even more evident that for a violated girl from an ‘untouchable’ community, barriers to justice is manifold.
We need to sustain the struggle and keep up the resistance in all possible ways – a protest at Haryana Bhavan, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi is planned on Sept. 18 at 2 pm.
Please join in large numbers and spread the word around to all human rights activists and groups.
Jai Bhim,
Asha


 

Fan Changlong: PLA to “speed up various preparations for sea battles”

16092013

 

Beijing has warned the United States not to support China’s neighbours’ claims to disputed islands in the East and South China Seas, the government said Friday. China-Japanese ties have soured dramatically since Tokyo nationalised some of the Senkaku islands, which Beijing claims and calls the Diaoyus, in the East China Sea a year ago.
China too claims almost all of the South China Sea including waters close to its neighbours’ coasts, and tensions with the Philippines and Vietnam have intensified in recent years. Chinese marine surveillance ship is seen  alongside a Japan Coast Guard ship near the disputed islets known as the Senkaku islands in Japan and Diaoyu islands in China, in the East China Sea.
US in security alliances with Tokyo and Manila to which Wang Guanzhong, a senior officer of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), has warned visiting US counterparts that it should handle issues “appropriately” to avoid damaging “mutual strategic trust”. “These issues should not become a problem between China and the United States, and China hopes that the United States does not become a third party in these issues,” Wang told US Under Secretary of Defense James Miller, the defence ministry in Beijing said in a statement on its website. “The United States should maintain a consistent stance and policy, not send wrong signals that support or connive with relevant countries to act on their own initiative,” Wang said.
China’s military was determined to defend the country’s territory and maritime interests, although Beijing has exercised restraint while dealing with the disputes, he added. Miller told Wang the US discourages any use of force but also has “treaty obligations” with some of the countries at odds with China, he said to reporters earlier this week. “We strongly believe that any and all maritime disputes should be resolved without the threat or use of force,” he said.
“For East China Sea and South China Sea we reminded the Chinese we have treaty obligations with a number of the parties involved.
“Fan Changlong, one of China’s three most senior military officers, called on the PLA to “speed up various preparations for sea battles” and “improve maritime deterrence and combat capabilities” while inspecting navy units recently, the official Xinhua news agency reported late Thursday. Media agencies


 

Australian PM Elect Tony Abbott rolls out cabinet

16092013

 Australian Prime Minister Elect Tony Abbott rolled out his new cabinet line-up at a press conference in Parliament House of Canberra on Monday, nine days after the coalition’s election win over Labor. Abbott said the new government’s task was to “calmly” implement the commitments it made to the Australian people during the election campaign. “You’ll see there is enormous stability in this team but there has been as well some significant promotions,” he added.
His nineteen  member cabinet of the Abbott government to be sworn in on Wednesday at the House of Governor-General. Abbot briefed media about his cabinet,
Nationals leader Warren Truss will be Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development. And Deputy Nationals Leader Barnaby Joyce will be Agriculture Minister.
Abbott confirmed he supported Bronwyn Bishop to become Speaker of the House of Representatives. Deputy Liberal Leader Julie Bishop, as foreign affairs minister, is the only woman in a frontbench position in this cabinet.
His line up Ministers includes Defence Minister David Johnston, Attorney-General George Brandis, Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion, Minister for Finance Mathias Cormann, Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane, Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb, Treasurer Joe Hockey, Communication Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Health Minister Peter Dutto, Education Minister Christopher Pyner, Minister for Immigration and border protection Scott Morrison, Environment Minister Greg Hunt, Employment Minister Eric Abetz, Small Business Minister Bruce Billson and Minister for Social Services Kevin Andrews.
Comparing  the Labor government, Abbott emphasized that his ministers would have short titles, and his colleagues in the outer ministry would be simply described as “Assistant Minister”.
Posted just now by 


 

PM, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi reach out to Muzaffarnagar riot victims

16092013
PM, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi reach out to Muzaffarnagar riot victims</p><br /> <p>Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi visited Muzaffarnagar this morning, where nearly 50 people were killed in communal riots so severe that the army was called in for the first time in over a decade to restore law and order in Uttar Pradesh.</p><br /> <p>Mrs Gandhi interacted with women, choosing in particular to spend a few seconds with one who had a large bandage on her head; the Prime Minister was handed some documents by a man with his head bowed. Rahul Gandhi was seen leaning over a bamboo barricade to talk to a group of men. (photos) </p><br /> <p>The PM said the Congress leaders wanted to share the sorrow and pain of the area and vowed "the toughest punishment" for those responsible. </p><br /> <p>The Congress's top leaders were in this part of western Uttar Pradesh a day after Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav toured the area and confronted black flags, protests and anger over his government's failure to stop the riots earlier this month.</p><br /> <p>Till recently, the area had been declared off-limits for politicians; delegates from the BJP, Congress and other parties who tried to visit Muzaffarnagar were turned away. </p><br /> <p>Nearly 40,000 people are now living in makeshift refugee camps, with Hindus and Muslims  evacuating villages where they are in the minority.</p><br /> <p>The violence began late in August after two young Jats boys killed a Muslim man who was harassing their sister; within half an hour, they had been killed by a seething mob. Despite that exigency, politicians were allowed to host large public rallies where they indulged in "competitive communalism", delivering incendiary speeches.  </p><br /> <p>A massive gathering of thousands of Hindu farmers on September 7 was also allowed; on the way home, farmers were attacked with swords and knives; retaliatory killings followed for 48 hours.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi visited Muzaffarnagar this morning, where nearly 50 people were killed in communal riots so severe that the army was called in for the first time in over a decade to restore law and order in Uttar Pradesh.
Mrs Gandhi interacted with women, choosing in particular to spend a few seconds with one who had a large bandage on her head; the Prime Minister was handed some documents by a man with his head bowed. Rahul Gandhi was seen leaning over a bamboo barricade to talk to a group of men. (photos)
The PM said the Congress leaders wanted to share the sorrow and pain of the area and vowed “the toughest punishment” for those responsible.
The Congress’s top leaders were in this part of western Uttar Pradesh a day after Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav toured the area and confronted black flags, protests and anger over his government’s failure to stop the riots earlier this month.
Till recently, the area had been declared off-limits for politicians; delegates from the BJP, Congress and other parties who tried to visit Muzaffarnagar were turned away.
Nearly 40,000 people are now living in makeshift refugee camps, with Hindus and Muslims evacuating villages where they are in the minority.
The violence began late in August after two young Jats boys killed a Muslim man who was harassing their sister; within half an hour, they had been killed by a seething mob. Despite that exigency, politicians were allowed to host large public rallies where they indulged in “competitive communalism”, delivering incendiary speeches.
A massive gathering of thousands of Hindu farmers on September 7 was also allowed; on the way home, farmers were attacked with swords and knives; retaliatory killings followed for 48 hours.


 

Rahul Bose Join me in telling the CM of Maharashtra to make Mumbai safe for women.

16092013

Change.org

Join me in telling the CM of Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chavan to make Mumbai safe for women.

 
Dear Naresh -


I was grieved and outraged after the recent gang-rape of the 23 year old photojournalist at Shakti Mills, Mumbai. Even though the police action against the accused was prompt, our city needs to prevent such incidents.
This year, more than 200 rapes have already been reported in Mumbai. I believe it’s time the Maharashtra Government announced a holistic action plan to prevent rape and sexual harassment in this city.
As citizens, it is our responsibility to ensure that immediate steps are taken to prevent incidents of violence against women in this city.
That’s why I support this petition that urges Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chavan, to make a comprehensive action plan that ensures safety for women in Mumbai.
Violence against women in Mumbai has to be eradicated through an intensive all round strategy involving all departments and coming up with plans to deal with prevention, justice and reformative actions.
Mr. Chavan has the power to put in place a comprehensive action plan that makes our city a safe space for women to live in. If enough of us sign this petition, it will make a strong argument to put in place such a plan.
Naresh, Join me in urging Chief Minister, Mr Chavan, to put in place an action plan that ensures women’s safety in Mumbai.
Sign this petition and forward my mail to your friends and family asking them to join our fight to end violence against women in Mumbai.
Thanks in advance for taking action,
Rahul Bose via Change.org



 

Green Tribunal’s order in contempt of Supreme Court in Jindal’s waste incinerator case

16092013

NGT’s order is in contempt of facts as well
Tribunal being misled the way Delhi High Court was misled
September 14, 2013, New Delhi:  Disregarding the attached Supreme Court’s order dated May 15, 2007, unmindful of the adverse observations the Delhi High Court the National Green Tribunal (NGT)’s order dated September 10, 2013 is not only factually incorrect in terms of date and the directions but also in contempt of the Supreme Court’s order. Tribunal’s order also incorrect with regard to  what the fate of the submission by Additional Solicitor General, A S Chandiok in the Delhi High Court.
Contrary to what is mentioned in the Tribunal’s order, the fact is that in March 2009 that Sukhdev Vihar Residents filed the Writ Petition (Civil) which was initially dismissed on August 12, 2009 because of misrepresentation of facts about the Okhla Waste to Energy plant being one of the pilot projects recommended by the Expert Committee appointed by the Supreme Court of India. This misrepresentation was done by A S Chandiok, Additional Solicitor General (ASG).
On August 12, 2009, Delhi High Court had dismissed the petition. The order reads: “Learned Additional Solicitor General inform us that the project in question is one of the pilot projects recommended by the Expert Committee appointed by the Hon?ble Supreme Court and two similar projects at Vijayawada and Hyderabad  as recommended by the Committee have started functioning. Learned Additional Solicitor General submits that so far as the present project is concerned, all the necessary permissions have been taken from the concerned authorities and the technicalities adopted for this project is similar to the projects at Vijayawada and Hyderabad. In our view, it is not possible for this Court to entertain the present writ petition. Accordingly, the writ petition and application are dismissed.” Green Tribunal has failed to appreciate as to why was the petition was restored.  It was restored because Additional Solicitor General’s factual misrepresentation was exposed by the residents. Why is the Green Tribunal quoting the August 12, 2009 order selectively?
The fact is residents filed fresh application in the High Court submitting replies accessed under Right to Information Act which showed that the plant in question was not one of the five projects based on Biomethanation Technology cleared by the Supreme Court. The RTI reply revealing fibbing by ASG is attached. The High Court found that it was misled by ASG in this regard which had made it to dismiss the petition. On December 18, 2009, ASG sought time to file his reply as Court’s order. The Petition was restored by Justice A P Shah, the Chief Justice, Delhi High Court in an order dated January 15, 2010. The Court observed, “that the project in question” and “the location of the pilot project in Delhi was neither recommended by the Expert Committee nor approved by the Supreme Court.” The respondents, the Government was “granted one week’s more time to file reply as a last chance” by the court in its order dated February 3, 2010. The ASG’s reply was never filed.
The list of Dates of Hearing of the Case Status: [W.P.(C) 9901/2009] in Delhi Hight shows that there was no hearing on January 15, 2012 and there was no order passed on that day as mentioned in Tribunal’s order of September 10, 2013. The list is as under:
List of Dates of Hearing in Delhi High Court
 S. No. Case No Date of Order
 1.W.P.(C) 9901/2009 23/01/2013
 2.W.P.(C) 9901/200915/01/2013
 3.W.P.(C) 9901/2009 07/01/2013
 4.W.P.(C) 9901/2009 24/01/2012
 5.W.P.(C) 9901/2009 12/12/2011
 6.W.P.(C) 9901/2009 17/11/2011
 7.W.P.(C) 9901/2009 03/11/2011
 8.W.P.(C) 9901/2009 20/10/2011
 9.W.P.(C) 9901/2009 29/08/2011
 10.W.P.(C) 9901/2009 18/07/2011
 11W.P.(C) 9901/2009 23/05/2011
 12.W.P.(C) 9901/2009 06/04/2011
 13.W.P.(C) 9901/2009 12/01/2011
 14.W.P.(C) 9901/2009 15/09/2010
 15.W.P.(C) 9901/2009 22/07/2010
 16.W.P.(C) No. 9901/2009 15/04/2010
 17.W.P.(C) 9901/2009 10/02/2010
 18.W.P.(C) 9901/2009 03/02/2010
 19.Review Petition No. 448/2009 and CM No. 14214/2009 in W.P(C) 9901/2009 15/01/2010
 20.WP(C) No. 9901/2009 18/12/2009
 21.CM No.14215/2009 in WP(C) 9901/2009 11/12/2009
 22.RP 448/2009 in WP(C) 9901/2009 27/11/2009
 23.Crl. M.C. No. 2906/2009 and Crl.M.A. Nos.9844/2009, 9901/2009 04/09/2009
 24.W.P.(C) 9901/2009 and CM No. 8154/2009 12/08/2009
 25.CM No. 9901/2009 in FAO(OS) 425/2008 06/08/2009
 26.C.M. No. 9901/2009 in FAO(OS) 425/2008 24/07/2009
 27.C.M. No. 9901/2009 in FAO(OS) 425/2008 22/07/2009
 28.W.P.(C) 9901/2009 and CM No. 8154/2009 08/07/2009
Thus, Green Tribunal’s contention that “the Project in question was one of the pilot projects recommended by the Expert Committee appointed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and two similar pilot projects at Vijaywada and Hyderabad, as recommended, have started functioning’ is incorrect. It is also factually incorrect to state that “in the Order dated 15th January, 2012, the High Court noticed that it was apparent that though technology for the project was approved by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, the site of the MSW was neither approved by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and to that extent the Order of 12th August, 2009 passed by the High Court was given.”  It was and remains a case of justice delayed and justice denied because the project proponents now have created a fait accompli situation for the court.
In the Writ Petition (Civil) No. 9901 of 2009 in Delhi High Court (which was transferred to NGT on January 23, 2013), legal officials like Mr A S Chandiok Additional Solicitor General and Standing Counsel for the Delhi Government and for the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, Najmi Waziri has been misleading and misrepresenting facts about waste to energy plants in Andhra Pradesh by saying that Refuse Derived Fuel incineration technology was already in use at Hyderabad and Vijayawada. The fact is that there is no plant in Hyderabad. The plant that became functional as per legal officials stands defunct is in Shadnagar, Mahboobnagar district of Andhra Pradesh.
Green Tribunal’s contention, “As is evident that the project technology was approved by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India but not the site, this plant has already been commissioned and is under operation undisputedly from the 2012, and it deals with the entire municipal waste collected from the city of Delhi” is untrue. It is not evident from the attached order that the technology was approved by the Supreme Court. It is also untrue that the “plant has already been commissioned and is under operation undisputedly from the 2012, and it deals with the entire municipal waste collected from the city of Delhi”. The plant’s operation has disputed from the outset. The case in the Delhi Court underlines it. The petitions submitted to Ministry of Environment and Forests and the letter of Jairam Ramesh, as Union Environment Minister to Delhi Chief Minister pointing out violation of environmental regulations underlines it. The 31 page report of Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) headed Technical Experts Evaluation Committee on the Timarpur-Okhla Waste to Energy Incinerator Plant of Prithivraj Jindal‟s JITF Urban Infrastructure Limited (Jindal Ecopolis) communicated on March 22, 2012 also underlines that the unapproved Chinese technology was disputed. The Committee was constituted by the Union Environment Minister. If it was not disputed why Asian Development Bank’s Asian Pacific Carbon Fund (APCF) dropped the Timarpur-Okhla incineration based waste to energy plant out of its portfolio?
Green Tribunal’s contention that Jindal’s Okhla waste based power plant “deals with the entire municipal waste collected from the city of Delhi” is incorrect. Delhi’s waste generation per day: 22526.265 tons per day according to 2008 study of CPCB. The Jindal’s plant is meant only for 2050 tons of municipal waste.
Green Tribunal’s contention, “We must notice that this plant admittedly has been granted environmental clearance by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). There is no challenge in the Writ Petition to the grant of environmental clearance and other incidental steps taken in finalization of the same in terms of the EIA Notification 2006” is also untrue.
Green Tribunal’s observation “this plant admittedly has been granted environmental clearance” is untrue as well. The copy of the environmental clearance is attached. The environmental clearance was for Refuse Dervied Fuel (RDF) process which is a incineration technology not for the untested and unapproved Chinese incinerator technology which is being used by the Jindal’s waste based power plant. This is in complete violation all laws and environmental clearance of 2007 including its own project design document and environment impact assessment report. Chinese technology provider is from Hangzhou New Century Company Ltd of Hangzhou Boiler Group. It was revealed to the CPCB’s Experts Committee in September 2011.
Notably, Chairperson, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy wrote to the concerned Central Ministry currently headed by Farooq Abdullah on 14 June 2005 seeking review of its WTE programme. It supported a ban on economic incentives for such projects, saying: “We therefore direct that land filling of unsegregated wastes, incineration and recovery of energy from municipal waste shall henceforth not receive any Govt. sponsorship, encouragement or aid in any manner, except for completion of any projects that have already invested 30% of their capital cost on site.” It is evident that the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy I distorting waste management beyond repair. The 15 May, 2007 order of Supreme Court “permit (s) Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources (MNES) to go ahead for the time being with 5 pilot projects chosen by them” but it is noteworthy that this refers specifically to bio-methanation technology.
In the light of the Supreme Court order, MNRE must be made to withdraw or modify its letter (No.10/3/2005-UICA) dated 25.07.2005 written to Chief Secretaries of State Governments Administrators of Union Territories Heads of State Nodal Agencies Municipal Corporations/ Urban Local Bodies on the subject of “Accelerated Programme on Energy Recovery from Urban Wastes- Sanction for the Year 2005-06″ with copies to Ministry of Urban Affairs & Poverty Alleviation,Ministry of Environment & Forests, Development of Science & Technology Secretary, Planning Commission, IREDA and other Financial Institutions/Banks R&D Institutions, Consultants/Consultancy Organisations and Business/Industry Associations. This letter has been renewed at regular intervals but the violation of Court’s order continues with impunity.
The Supreme Court had, on May 6, 2005, prohibited the government to sanction any further subsidies to such plants. The order of the Supreme Court dated May 15, 2007 cited by the Green Tribunal is reproduced as verbatim. It reads: “Heard learned Solicitor General for Union of India and respective counsel for the parties. The matter relates to solid waste management by various Municipal Corporations. After hearing parties, this Court on 6th May, 2005,  observed that till the position becomes clear as regards the viability of the  projects for generation of energy from municipal waste (by the bio-methanation technology), the Government would not sanction any further subsidies to such projects. This Court also directed that the Central Government to constitute a Committee of Experts and include therein Non-Governmental Organisations as well, to inspect the functioning of the project at Lucknow and its record and file a report before this Court. Pursuant to the said order, a detailed report has been submitted by the Expert Committee on 2.1.2006. Chapter IX of the Report contains its recommendations and conclusions. The Committee is of the opinion that the choice of technology for treatment of MSW should be made on the basis of quantity and quality of waste and local conditions.  The Committee has opined that operational problems of one plant (Lucknow) should not form the basis to judge the efficacy of the particular technology and therefore, petitioner’s objection to providing support (subsidy) to waste to energy projects may not be justified.  We extract below some of the relevant conclusions of the Committee:
“             …For all the projects in future, the issues such as Project Development including characterization of wastes, sizing of projects, technology selection and project design, management model and operational issues including close co-ordination between Municipal Corporation and the promoters, financial appraisal and approval of project should be adequately addressed.”
“             In view of the problems of treatment and disposal of municipal wastes (solid and liquid) in our cities and towns, which are only likely to increase with the growth of population and urbanization, an integrated approach to waste processing and treatment will be necessary, as brought out in the MSW Rules, 2000. Therefore, instead of focusing on individual technologies, it would be desirable to take an integrated approach to the management and treatment of MSW, which would necessitate deployment of more than on technology in tandem.”
“The selection of technology for the solid waste management depends upon the quality of waste to be treated and the local conditions.  Therefore, for the segregated waste, which is dedicated in nature, the selection of technology is relatively easier and its performance and success is beyond doubt.  Therefore, it is desirable to have solid waste segregated at source, which is also required as per the MSW Rules, 2000.” The Committee has recommended that projects based on bio-methanation of MSW should be taken up only on segregated/uniform waste unless it is demonstrated that in Indian conditions, the waste segregation plant/process can separate waste suitable for bio-methanation.  It has opined that there is a need to take up pilot projects that promote integrated systems for segregation/collection/transportation and processing and treatment of waste.
In view of the report of the Committee and having regard to the relevant facts, we modify the order passed by this Court earlier and permit Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources (MNES) to go ahead for the time being with 5 pilot projects chosen by them, keeping in view the recommendations made by the Expert Committee and then take appropriate decision in the matter.”
This order of Supreme Court makes it amply clear that only biological treatment method like Biomethanation Technology should be adopted even for these 5 pilot projects. This order echoes what was stated in the ‘White Paper on Pollution in Delhi with an Action Plan’ prepared by Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. The White Paper says, “The experience of the incineration plant at Timarpur, Delhi and the briquette plant at Bombay support the fact that thermal treatment of municipal solid waste is not feasible, in situations where the waste has a low calorific value. A critical analysis of biological treatment as an option was undertaken for processing of municipal solid waste in Delhi and it has been recommended that composting will be a viable option. Considering the large quantities of waste requiring to be processed, a mechanical composting plant will be needed.” It appears that the Tribunal has been misled in the way Delhi High Court was misled on August 12, 2009.
The Court was concerned only with projects that generate energy from municipal waste by bio-methanation and not non-conventional energy use generally. Even the Committee that was et up was set un in the wake of the failure of a Biomethanation plant in Lucknow. But MNRE misinterprets the ruling stating that the order is not restricted to only bio-methanation. But MNRE held that “for technologies like incineration we can use unsegregated waste”. The Court’s order cannot and should be allowed to be misinterpreted by the MNRE.
Green Tribunal should pay heed to the sad plight at waste to energy site in Gandhamguda village in Ranga Reddy district of Andhra Pradesh (wrongly mentioned as Hyderabad project) which had the same technology. While the RDF incinerator was in operation, the village was covered by a heavy shroud of dark smoke. Originally a pelletisation plant with a furnace, After the plant came up, local doctors started detecting case of problems not found before — skin rashes, asthma, respiratory problems and some cases of stillborns. In a statement, Gandhamguda Sarpanch D. Shakuntala had said: ‘‘Everyone in Peerancheru Gram Panchayat and its adjoining regions is now contaminated with harmful pollutants and symptoms are visible in the form of brain fever, vomiting, jaundice, asthma, miscariages, infertility.’’ Similar fate awaits residents of Delhi. For misplaced carbon revenue, it would not be appropriate to turn Delhi residents as guinea pigs.
Green Tribunal should take remedial measures and take cognizance of Delhi High Court’s order that led to an inquiry by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) to conduct an inquiry into the failure of the Timarpur waste to energy plant that was based on incineration technology.
Environmental, resident and labour groups demand that all governments to start eliminating all Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). This means stopping all existing POPs sources, including dioxins. To achieve this Okhla incinerator based power plant must be closed and investment made into other, safer methods of waste disposal. The transition is necessary in the face of issues such as the high cost of incineration, health effects of pollution in neighborhoods, and adverse climate change. Children suffer asthma rates three times the national average among other devastating health impacts.
The Jindals’ power plant is based on a hazardous technology that receives fiscal incentives from MNRE. Tribunal must take cognizance of MNRE has an incorrect policy of subsidizing hazardous technologies like proposed incinerators.
But at present the Tribunal seems to be turning a blind eye Delhi government and central government’s design to mask today’s waste problems and pass the toxic burden they release on to future generations.
ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA) has been campaigning against this hazardous plant and hazardous technologies since March 2005. It was an invitee before the Supreme Court’s Committee on Waste to Energy. Its submissions were part of the Committee’s report.
For Details: Gopal Krishna, ToxicsWatch Alliance, Mb: 9818089660
E-mail: gopalkrishna1715@gmail.com Web: www.toxicswatch.org
On behalf of RWA, K K Rohtagi, Lawyer, NGT, Mb: 9810134860

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