Recent investigations reveal alarming links between toxic emissions from an industrial garbage plant in Delhi and rising health issues.
### Toxins in Delhi: The Hidden Cost of 'Green' Energy

### Toxins in Delhi: The Hidden Cost of 'Green' Energy
Increased pollution from waste-to-energy plants raises health concerns among residents of New Delhi.
In the bustling streets of New Delhi, the citizens are beginning to connect the dots between their persistent health issues and the operations of a local industrial facility that converts waste into energy. The focus of this investigation revolves around trucks laden with hazardous ash, frequently observed dumping their contents in residential areas nearby, raising alarm bells for the communities affected.
Our team, led by correspondent Maria Abi-Habib and photojournalist Bryan Denton, embarked on a mission starting in 2019 to uncover the environmental impact pervasive among the city’s neighborhoods. They set up sampling equipment on rooftops to capture the toxic smoke from the plant and followed transport trucks to document the disposal of ash that permeated the local landscape.
Residents described suffering from severe respiratory illnesses, with nebulizers becoming an everyday necessity in many homes. The dire circumstances were emphasized by one local doctor who reported increased instances of miscarriages in the area, highlighting a public health crisis intertwined with the so-called ‘green’ energy initiative.
Upon conducting their investigations, the team endured the adverse effects of the pollution firsthand, experiencing debilitating migraines and eye irritation from the toxic emissions, even with protective gear. The story of how the quest for clean energy could hold devastating consequences is resonating with the inhabitants of Delhi, pushing them to demand greater scrutiny and action against the hidden environmental threats they face.