Mobile incinerator operating in Thiruvananthapuram without PCB license
19 Mar, 2013The reply to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI Act has revealed that the mobile incinerator to solve the garbage issue in Thiruvananthapuram was made to start its operation even without clearance from the pollution control board (PCB).
Though the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has made it mandatory for incinerators to obtain the consent of pollution control board before starting to function, the reply to the application from the pollution control board states that no consent had been issued for mobile incinerator to operate in Thiruvananthapuram.
As per the information provided under RTI Act, the Suchitwa Mission procured the machine at a cost of Rs. 2.19 crore from a Gujarat-based company and the application for consent has been signed by Suchitwa Mission executive director. However, in the application for consent, many important columns have been either left blank or have been marked ‘NA’ (not applicable). Some of such columns include consent under Air Act, emission control and monitoring and the ambient air quality monitoring. The environmentalists view the operation of the incinerator as a grave mistake as no proper provisions for monitoring the carcinogenic emissions have been ensured.
Suchitwa Mission executive director accepted that the incinerator is not authorized by the pollution control board but added that all decisions regarding incinerator were made with the approval of cabinet.