A proposed 30MW waste-to-energy plant in the Bawana Industrial Area, northwest Delhi, has received environmental clearance (EC) from the Union environment ministry, confirmed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, despite ongoing opposition from residents of nearby villages since last year.

The 15-acre facility, which includes six acres of green belt, will be managed by Jindal Urban Waste Management (Bawana) on land provided by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). It aims to process 3,000 tonne of municipal solid waste per day as boiler fuel. The project site lies in the DSIIDC Industrial Area, within a km of a JJ colony and within five km of villages like Naya Bans, Holambi Khurd, and Sanoth.

"The capital cost of the proposed project is Rs 660 crore and the capital cost for environmental protection measures is Rs 91.605 crore," the EC document dated June 18 stated. "The annual recurring cost towards environmental protection measures is Rs 14.155 crore," and the facility is expected to generate employment for 242 people during operations.

The plant will use approx. 6,25,000 litres/day of treated water from sewage treatment plants and 7,000 litres/day of fresh water, with no use of groundwater, according to the EC.