Summary:
MoEF issued the communication to MoUD based on the recommendations of the expert group.The state government has proposed waste-to-energy plant in seven locations in the state, most of which already have either a landfill or waste management plant which exempts such places from going through environmental clearance process. MoEF had recently asked the department of forests to submit a reply regarding Bandhwari waste-to-energy plant in Haryana after local villagers and green activists raised the issue of violation of norms in selection of Bandhwari as the site for the plant. which are ecologically sensitive sites and require proper environmental management. However that exemption will not apply to Peringamala and for a place marked as ecologically fragile area and noted for its rich forest reserve, getting EC will be a tough task.The project is being mooted in the district after a similar proposal led to widespread protests in Haryana. EC is exempted if the activities of composting, RDF production and waste-to-energy plant (up to a capacity of 15MW) are proposed at an existing landfill site, as it does not attract the provisions of Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006.An expert group was constituted by MoEF after a request was raised to revisit the need for prior environmental clearance for solid waste management facilities..