RMC to shift landfill site to Sakri on June 15
| Date :03-Jun-2019 |
Staff Reporter:
RAIPUR
In compliance with the order of the High Court, Raipur Municipal Corporation (RMC) is gearing-up to shift the landfill site from Sarona to Sakri on June 15. The High Court had directed to stop the dumping of waste at Sarona from June 1. To this end, RMC had appealed the Court for granting them the time up to June 15 for the shifting, which the Court had accepted. Sarona dwellers had suddenly blocked the garbage trucks to demand the translocation of the landfill site. Swacch Bharat Mission Nodal Officer Harendra Sahu, Zone Commissioner Praveen Gehlot, Zone Executive Engineer Rakesh Gupta had lengthy discussion with the locals in the presence of MLA Vikas Upadhyay. RMC officials persuaded the locals, saying the trenching ground work at Sakri is going on war footing.
They have also submitted a request to the High Court for extension of deadline to June 15 so as they can sort out some technical issues. These issues are mainly related to the environment laws. RMC also had to take care lest the water seep inside the underground water resources in rainy season. It may be recalled that Raipur Municipal Corporation’s (RMC) proposed Landfill Site at Sakri was marred by controversy and opposition from the locals alleging the civic authorities of not having requisite no objection certificate (NOC) from Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Locals had alleged that RMC, so far, has only got NOC for the solid waste management (SWM) plant at over 68 acre land at village Sakri. RMC had signed an agreement with Delhi-based MSW Solutions Limited on February 22, 2018 for the project. Since the landfill site is just 10 kilometres from the Airport, for which RMC acquired environment clearance from the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) on August 2, 2016.
However, the clause-5 of the agreement mandates RMC acquire NOC from Civil Aviation Authority and Airport Authority. As per SWM Rules 2016 Schedule-I, Landfill site shouldn’t be within 10 kilometres radius of the Airport and if the site falls within 10 to 20 kilometres radius, NOC from DGCA will be mandatory. The proposed landfill site at Sakri is located from 9.50 to 10.50 kilometre radius according to the geographical coordinates. DGCA even mentioned in a letter dated January 16, 2017, that SWM plant site is located at 9.57 km from airport while the Survey of India has measured the distance at 10.42 km. So the actually distance is around 9.50 km to 10.50 km.
It literally means that RMC can’t use 34 acres of the proposed 68 acres land at Sakri for landfill site while they would need NOC from DGCA for the remaining half. The NOC sought on November 9, 2016, by RMC was only for SWM Plant and not for landfill site. DGCA gave in written that no NOC for landfill site was issued to RMC under SWM Rule 2016. SWM Rules also mandates that the site should be big enough to run for 20 to 25 years. So, now when half of the proposed land will be rendered useless as it falls under the 10 km radius of airport, it would be difficult complying with the rule. Even if DGCA, somehow, gives the NOC, there is another impediment, a 5-acre pond located in the middle of the proposed land. The environment clearance given by SEIAA has a clause that landfill site must be at least 650 feet from any pond, which means besides the 5 acres of pond, there must be a space with 650 feet radius left vacant around. In addition, RMC will also require to carryout plantation at the spot located at 10 to 10.50 km from airport.