PRESS INVITE Rally Against Carbon Credit Projects in Delhi
Waste pickers protest against privatization and waste-to-energy projects *Carbon Credit Projects Threaten Livelihood & Cause Pollution* Delhi, 22nd of March 2011 On the 23rd of March 2011 waste pickers will march from Kudeshiya Park (near ISBT) to Lt. Governor Office to demand the immediate stop of the waste-to-energy plants in Delhi. In complete disregard to the established public health concerns of residents of Delhi, three hazardous incinerator plants are under construction to generate power from waste at Okhla and Timarpur (16 MW) and Gazipur (10 MW). The matter came up for hearing on 14th March in the Delhi High Court. Environmental groups have been protesting against these plants since March 2005. There is massive opposition to these Waste to Energy projects that has met with protest rally from both the residents of the adjacent colonies and from the waste pickers. The first complain about the contamination that these plants will cause. The second argue that their livelihood will be severely impacted as the recyclable waste, a source of livelihood will be burnt. A bitter campaign against waste incinerators has brought the residents and waste puckers together. In South Delhi’s Okhla area residents of Batla House, Jamia Nagar, Ghaffar Manzil, Abul Fazl Enclave and Noor Nagar have joined hands. Protests have also been coming up against the incinerator from the major hospitals and health care institutions in the vicinity, the Fortis-Escort Heart Institute, Apollo Indraprastha, Cheshire Homes and the Holy Family Hospital. The Holy Family Hospital management too has joined saying: “Setting up a massive plant of his type without consulting major stakeholders like the nearby hospitals, Apollo, Holy Family and Fortis Escorts, the Jamia University and the residents is nothing short of total disregard for the health of the people of Delhi.” It is scientifically established that the plant will emit hazardous pollutants which will eventually enter the food chain. Government cannot be allowed to experiment with Delhi’s health. These incinerators are coming up in clear violation of Supreme Court rulings on such plants. “In 2007 the Supreme Court allowed five pilot plants on an experimental basis and that too based only on biological treatment rather than incineration.” The Supreme Court’s ruling is supported by the White Paper produced by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, stating, “The government claims that this plant will generate electricity, but it will only generate dioxins and other toxic emissions.” In such a backdrop, Waste pickers will march along with Residents, Citizens, Civil society groups, Human rights associations, Environmentalists, Students, Social Activists, NGOs, Trade Unions demanding stoppage of toxic waste to energy plants in Okhla, Timarpur and Gazipur. Date: 23rd of March 2011 Time: 12.00 Venue: Kudeshiya Park (near ISBT) to Lt Governor House For any enquiries call: Shashi Bhushan Pandit, Secretary, All India Kabadi Mazdoor Mahasangh (AIKMM),Mb: 9968413109, Gopal Krishna, Convener, TOXICSWATCH ALLIANCE, Mb: 9818089660, E-mail: [email protected], Asha Arora, Member, OKHLA ANTI-INCINERATOR CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, Mb: 9711408421, E-mail: [email protected], Anant Trivedi, Resident, Eshwar Nagar, Mb: 9868502292, Arif Khan, Resident, Hazi Colony, Mb: 9891519844, Web: toxicswatch.blogspot.com http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Okhla-ka-Ghosla/112310532173391 -- Gopal Krishna Convener ToxicsWatch Alliance New Delhi Mb: 09818089660 Skype id: witnesskrishna E-mail: [email protected] Blog: toxicswatch.blogspot.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB.
