Local residents and the Air Force have objected to development of a landfill site at Bawana-Narela in outer Delhi by the MCD on the grounds that it would affect flying of helicopters and make the area inhabitable with foul smell.
The Air Force officials, in a recent public hearing on the matter with the deputy commissioner (northwest), had expressed their reservations about the site which, according to them, would attract birds making flying of aeroplanes and helicopters from their base station, barely 3.5 km away from the site, dangerous. Also, such a site would affect the quality of underground water, the water supply and other hygiene-related issues. It was also pointed out that a camp of the Central Reserve Police Force was also adjacent to the site.
The Air force has sent its representation to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, which in turn has sent it to the environment ministry for environment impact assessment of the project.
However, a Hyderabad-based company, which has bagged the project to develop the facility spread over 1,000 acres having a capacity to process 1,000 metric tonnes of solid waste per day, has promised state-of-the-art technology which will ensure that no foul smell will spread to the adjacent areas and no birds would be attracted. The processing of solid waste will be done in covered areas and the garbage will carried in well-covered trucks, which would ensure that no birds get attracted, the company said. Also, high density polythene insulation will be used to prevent any pollutants from seeping into ground water.