Too late to stop Okhla-Timarpur project despite lacunae: Ramesh

It is now too late to stall construction of the Okhla-Timarpur waste-to-energy plant in South Delhi despite several irregularities as about 70 per cent of the work is already complete, environment minister Jairam Ramesh said on Thursday.
 
He, however, appointed the Central Pollution Control Board as technical advisor for a month to suggest best environment practices. 

After a visit to the plant with officials from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Delhi government and interacting with irate residents who have been demanding a relocation of the plant, the minister expressed serious concern about the way environment clearance was accorded to the project without a proper pubic hearing.

One of the key concerns that emerged during the interaction with residents was that the mandatory public hearing conducted before the sanction of the project was a ''sham'', and Ramesh seemed to agree.

IL&FS, the chief promoter of the project, organised a public hearing in 2007 but advertised it only in one English and one Hindi daily.
 
The meeting was not attended by any member of the general public and the minutes were signed by a few officials of the Delhi Pollution Control Board. "The government made a mockery of the so called public hearing. Despite that environment clearance was given to the project. I will have to look into this matter. It is the project proponent's duty to ensure that a meeting is held and attended by the public," said Ramesh. 

Ramesh also wrote to chief minister Sheila Dikshit on the issue earlier this month, asking her to review the location of the plant. Dikshit reportedly told the minister that she would hold a meeting with residents.
 
However, during his visit to the site Ramesh said that he was not aware of the extent of work that had already taken place. 

"This is a difficult choice for us. I was not aware that almost 70 per cent of the work has taken place. Unfortunately we cannot turn the clock back now. We can only ensure the best possible technology is used here. CPCB will carry out an audit of the present system and act as technical consultants for the project for a month. Its findings will be released in public domain. We will also try and give the best possible technical advice to make the plant environmentally-sustainable," said the minister.