Pollution board flags heavy metal pollution at Hyderabad’s incineration sites

Hyderabad: A Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report has revealed grave violations and alarming levels of heavy metal contamination at Hyderabad’s Waste-to-Energy (WTE) incineration plant in Jawaharnagar and Dundigal.

The findings, submitted to the National Green Tribunal, expose a severe environmental hazard threatening the health of surrounding communities.

Harmful levels of cadmium and chromium

According to the CPCB’s report, fly ash from the Jawaharnagar plant was found to have cadmium levels of 858.65 mg/kg, a staggering 1,073 times higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) permissible limit of just 0.8 mg/kg.

Chromium levels were also recorded at 230.31 mg/kg, far exceeding safe thresholds. Similarly, the Dundigal WTE plant showed cadmium levels of 956.69 mg/kg, which is over 1,195 times the WHO limit.

Open dumping of toxic ash

Despite regulations mandating that this toxic ash be used for brickmaking or disposed of in secured landfills, the report confirmed it is being openly dumped at the Jawaharnagar dumpsite.

“This is poisoning our air, water and soil, threatening lakhs of residents’ health and worsening climate change with emissions and methane leaks from bad waste handling,” said Ruchith Asha Kamal of Climate Front Hyderabad.

The CPCB’s revelations corroborate a joint fact-finding report from civil society members and affected communities released in May, which highlighted direct impacts on residents’ health and livelihoods.

Classification of pollution levels

The findings have raised the demand for reclassification of WTE incinerators from the ‘Red Category’ to the ‘Blue Category’ of industries.

The reclassification is being promoted despite WTEs having a pollution index of 97.6, the highest among all industries now in the ‘Blue Category.’ “This is not an environmental solution - it is a toxic problem disguised as one,” stated John Michael of NAPM Telangana, adding that the plant has also failed to release regular emission and pollution data as required.

Notices and independent probe

Community groups and environmental forums are now jointly demanding that the Telangana Pollution Control Board immediately suspend operations at the Hyderabad WTE plant.

They also call for substantial environmental compensation from the operators, a show-cause notice for the blatant violations, and an independent investigation into the handling of fly ash. Their ultimate demand is for a clear roadmap away from WTE incineration towards systemic waste management solutions like source segregation and decentralised practices.

Sandeep Raj of Navodaya Welfare Society, a resident welfare association, underscored the social injustice aspect. “People must remember that 95 per cent of residents here belong to socially and economically marginalised communities who cannot even afford basic medical diagnosis.”

The report also exposed a clear case of alleged fraud, as highlighted by Chythenyen Devika Kulasekaran of the Centre for Financial Accountability.

“In April 2025, the company promised Chennai government officials that the plant is a ‘zero waste’ plant and all ash is used by cement industries and brick manufacturers. This is a case of clear fraud by the company.”

This report serves as a turning point for the Telangana government to prioritise public health and ecological protection over failed incineration projects, especially with plans in the pipeline for several more WTEs across the State.

MSW - Hyderabad Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Private Limited says “Our operations are further supported by voluntary third-party analysis of bottom ash, fly ash, and stack emissions, which consistently confirm compliance with prescribed limits. In addition, continuous monitoring by the Pollution Control Board reinforces the fact that our facilities are being managed in accordance with both the letter and spirit of the regulations”.