New Delhi: The Tehkhand waste-to-energy (WTE) facility in Southeast Delhi is set for a significant capacity upgrade, with its draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) now open for public consultation, a mandatory step before the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s Expert Appraisal Committee considers clearance.
Operated by Jindal Urban Infrastructure Limited, the plant currently processes about 2,000 tonnes of municipal waste every day and produces 25 megawatts (MW) of electricity. The proposed expansion will add another 20 MW, taking total generation to 45 MW.
The project also plans to extract up to 20,000 cubic metres of biogas daily from leachate and green waste slurry, which can be refined into roughly eight tonnes of Bio-CNG. The overall investment is pegged at Rs 900 crore, with Rs 465 crore already spent on the existing unit and ₹435 crore earmarked for the new capacity. No additional land will be required, as the expansion will utilise space within the current premises.
The EIA report details integration with Delhi’s first engineered sanitary landfill at Okhla for safe disposal of ash. Fly ash and bottom ash will be used in road construction and brick manufacturing, with residual material sent to the landfill.
Baseline studies, however, reveal that PM2.5, PM10, and nitrogen dioxide levels in the surrounding area exceed national air quality standards. Advanced pollution-control measures, including high stacks, scrubbers, activated carbon injection and bag filters, are planned to reduce emissions, alongside noise barriers and efficient wastewater treatment.
Located less than five kilometres from the Asola Wildlife Sanctuary and the Okhla Bird Sanctuary, the site falls within a habitat hosting 23 protected species such as jungle cats and raptors. A Rs 10-lakh conservation plan, greenbelt development and rainwater harvesting initiatives are part of the proposal.
The expansion is expected to raise the plant’s workforce to about 470, offering new direct and indirect employment opportunities.
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