Sparks fly at meet on waste-to-energy plant

Locals ask Jindal, the developer, to address their concerns first

Expressing concern over emissions of poisonous gases and the possibility of air pollution, local villagers have demanded that all their apprehensions be allayed before the 12-15 MW capacity waste-to-energy plant is established.

On Thursday, men and women staged protests at the stakeholders’ meeting demanding that the firm address their concerns over pollution before going ahead with the construction of the plant.

Jindal Urban Infrastructure Ltd, a firm owned by Jindal company, has signed an agreement with nine urban local bodies, including Vijayawada and Guntur, to establish the plant at Obulunaiduvaripalem.

As part of the MoU, the nine urban local bodies will have to generate a minimum of 1,200 tonnes of solid waste daily to produce the power which would be sold to the Southern Power Distribution Corporation Limited at Rs. 6.5 per unit.

Tenali, Tadepalli, Mangalagiri, Sattenapalli, Chilakaluripet, Vinukonda and Narsaraopet municipalities are the other partners in the ambitious project. “The rain-soaked waste is likely to cause air pollution and we are worried over the effect on our families,’’ said a villager.

“We have about 5,000 men and women working in our spinning mills and colleges nearby and we have our concerns over the likely pollution caused by the plant. Even at the New Delhi Timarpur-Okhla plant, some of the issues over the air pollution have not been addressed till now. What will be the fate of our people here?’’ wondered Kallam Haranatha Reddy, chairman of the Kallam Group of Companies.

Guntur West MLA Modugula Venugopala Reddy said the company had to allay the concerns of the local people and suggested that some locals be taken to the plant in New Delhi.

Guntur Municipal Commissioner S. Nagalakshmi said all environmental clearances, at both the State and national level, would be secured before construction starts.

Managing Director of Swachh Andhra Corporation D. Muralidhar Reddy said modern solid waste management like boiler technologies had revolutionised the treatment and recycling of solid waste. Guntur East MLA Md. Mustafa was among those present.