Faridabad Zila Parishad passes resolution against waste-to-charcoal plant

The chances of setting up the first waste-to-charcoal plant at Mothuka village in the district seems to be getting bleak in view of the opposition against the project getting stronger.

The Zila Parishad of the district has passed a resolution for abandoning or shifting it elsewhere. This has strengthened the agitation launched by the residents of various villages, including Mothuka, who have been demanding withdrawal of the move citing pollution issues.

Protest until demand is met

The plant is being opposed in the wake of acute polluting conditions that would be generated due to dumping of waste near Mothuka village. The protest will continue till the demand is met.

Mohan Bansal, Mothuka sarpanch

Raghubir Singh Tewatia, the Congress MLA from Prithla, who took a strong exception to the proposal of setting up the plant at a village falling in his Assembly segment during the meeting of the Zila Parishad held on Friday, led to the passing of the resolution against the move.

The resolution has supported the demand of the villagers to move it out of the constituency, it is reported. Tewatia charged the authorities of negligence. He claimed while a waste dumping station had already been created at Ferozpur village of Palwal district falling in Prithla segment, officials wanted to make this rural segment a victim of waste dumping by selecting Mothuka.

"Why should Prithla bear the brunt of the waste of urban areas or cities which do not fall in its limits?’’ he reportedly asked the officials in the meeting. Satbir Maan, CEO, Zila Parishad admitted that a resolution has been passed by the Parishad against the proposed move.

Mothuka sarpanch Mohan Bansal said the plant was being opposed in wake of the acute polluting conditions to be generated due to dumping of waste near the village. He said the protest would continue till the demand was met. Rajesh Nagar, Minister of State for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and MLA from Tigaon had recently directed the civic authorities for a review of the project after a delegation of the protesting villagers met him over the matter.

An MOU was signed between NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVNL), a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC Limited, and the Municipal Corporations of Faridabad and Gurugram on July 21 for setting up the plant costing around Rs 500 crore. The MCF had identified around 20 acres of panchayat land acquired by the state government about 22 years ago for setting up a power plant near the village.