A large number of activists have doubled down on four Waste-to-Energy projects in Gujarat, asking the World Bank to refrain from funding them as they are liable to cause environmental damage and are based on flawed impact assessments
A joint letter from several organisations, including the Centre for Financial Accountability and GAIA-Asia Pacific calls on the World Bank to reject funding for four Waste-to-Energy (WTE) incineration projects in Gujarat, India. The letter is supported by supported by 174 groups. Abellon Clean Energy Limited (ACEL) plans to develop these incineration plants in Rajkot, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, and Jamnagar, with a combined capacity of 52.20 MW.
The letter criticises the projects for their detrimental impact on local communities, highlighting concerns about air and water pollution, health issues, and undermining sustainable waste management practices.
The operational WTE plant in Jamnagar has already caused significant harm, affecting 25,000 residents with pollution and health problems.
Local community advocate Ker Jayendrasinh reports ongoing issues and a lack of effective response from authorities. Activists and local civil society organisations worry about the adverse effects of the proposed plants and accuse ACEL and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of inadequate community consultation and flawed Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA).
The projects have been deemed “red category” for environmental and social risks in India, yet the IFC has assigned them a lower risk rating of “Category B.” Concerns include deliberate circumvention of environmental regulations and inadequate due diligence by the IFC, as highlighted by Vaishnavi Varadarajan of the International Accountability Project.
Furthermore, the proposed WTE plants threaten the livelihoods of waste workers, with potential job losses for vulnerable communities. The National Hawkers Federation warns that the informal waste sector, crucial for recycling, may be undermined by these incinerators.
Financially, WTE incinerators in India have struggled despite strong policy support, with high operational costs and reliance on public subsidies. Chythenyen D Kulasekaran from the Centre for Financial Accountability criticises the economic viability of these projects.
The report concludes that WTE incinerators contribute to pollution and climate change, with proposed plants set to burn 3,750 tonns of waste daily, producing CO2 emissions equivalent to those of 1.875 million cars. Miriam Mayang Azurin of GAIA warns that these projects could become highly carbon-intensive and further disrupt recycling efforts. The call is made for the World Bank to reject these projects and cease funding unsustainable waste-to-energy initiatives, prioritising environmental protection and community well-being.