A group comprising of residents from Noida sectors 119, 120, 121 and 122 will meet Satish Mahana, Industries Development Minister of UP, on January 12 regarding Noida Authority's decision to shift a garbage dumpsite from Sector 138 A to Sector 123. Mahana will be coming to Gautam Budh Nagar tomorrow for the inauguration of the National Youth Festival in Greater Noida. The event will conclude on January 16. Incidentally Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be part of the inauguration ceremony via video conference.
Speaking to, Anupam Oberoi, a resident of Sector 122, said, "Last night we met Mahesh Sharma, Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture, and he assured us of a meeting with Mahana. We shall request Mahana to direct Noida Authority to change its decision to shift the garbage site."
Apparently, the authority has decided to develop a waste-to-energy plant in Sector 123 instead of making it a regular sanitary landfill site. Sources within Noida Authority have also said that they will be developing a dense green belt along the periphery of the landfill to prevent foul odours.
Ever since the authority announced its decision to relocate the garbage site, residents of adjoining sectors have been protesting. They also sent around 1,000 postcards, highlighting the hazardous impact of the authority's decision to the PM and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
"There are more than 30,000 families living in the neighbouring sectors. The dumpsite and the future waste-to-energy plant will only aggravate air pollution and contaminate groundwater,” Oberoi added.
According to the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, a landfill site should be situated at least 100 metres from a riverbed, and 200 metres from any water body, highway, habitation, public park and water supply well. Also, landfills are not permitted near floodplains and should be at least 20 km away from airports.
