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Toxic plant impact: Lotus may wilt in Sukhdev ViharOT, April 13, 2012 20:51 IST Okhla Times Reporter/Sukhdev Vihar
In the neighbouring ward of Sukhdev Vihar that comes under 193 the fight is between lotus and cycle. Some residents upset over BJP’s U-turn over the hazardous municipal waste incinerators in the residential area have decided to vote against the party’s sitting councilor Sugandha Taneja. Until now Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate Meera Singh is being expected to sail through in the MCD election 2012 that is going for voting on April 15. Local resident Asha Arora said: “In my area many residents are going to vote Singh for her stand on toxic plant.” The issue of the toxic plant has taken a centre stage in the locality with residents mounting pressure on political parties to address it. However, it is too early to forecast the result but residents have decided to vote a party that take up their cause. Since the waste plant started operating in the locality residents have been up in arms, organizing candle rallies and holding fast. Recently a Haji colony resident organized a day fast at Okhla to create awareness among the residents on the issue. But, it appears that in ward numbers 205 and 206 toxic plant has failed to attract attention of candidates and residents. But in the posh Sukhdev Vihar many residents are not happy with the way the Congress led Delhi government has handled the issue. Activists complain that the functioning of toxic plant in the residential area will only expose people to diseases. But the government has brushed aside their concern saying that the plant is environment friendly. Earlier, the BJP had promised to support residents’ cause. But in the MCD election 2012 the party changed its stand. Environmentalist Gopal Krishna said: “Both the parties BJP and the Congress have betrayed residents by not taking up the issue of toxic plant seriously.” In a letter dated June 27, 2008 to the Lt. Governor of Delhi, Tejender Khanna, BJP MP Vijay Kumar Malhotra had written: “This plant would release various types of harmful gases which will certainly pose serious health threat to the lives of surrounding residents.” Krishna said: “The U-turn by BJP is an act betrayal. The toxic emissions from plants of this type have been known to cause birth deformities, caners, respiratory ailments and hormonal problems. This proposal of the BJP in collusion with the Indian National Congress will turn Delhi into a health and environment disaster zone. “Unmindful of this both Congress party led Delhi government and BJP led MCD are promoting such toxic power plants which emit chemicals like Dioxins which were used in US-Vietnam war.” Following the neglect, residents, environmental groups and waste recycling workers have appealed to the citizens of Delhi to ensure that both BJP and Congress do not get their support else they turn Delhi in to a gas chamber for the present and future generations. But the ongoing people movement has not unnerved the die-hard BJP supporters. They are confident of winning from here. Post a comment Top News
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