Residents, activists and NGOs, including Arappor Iyakkam and Poovulagin Nanbargal, petitioned Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to shelve its proposed waste-to-energy incineration facility at Kodungaiyur, citing health and pollution risks.
In their plea to GCC commissioner J Kumaragurubaran on Tuesday, the group criticised the corporation for prioritising incineration of 2,100 tonnes of waste daily over other strategies such as source-segregation, recycling and waste processing.
GCC floated tenders months ago to establish the 1,263-crore plant, expected to generate 31MW of power daily. However, petitioners pointed to environmental violations at New Delhi’s Okhla incineration plant, warning that burning plastics could emit carcinogens such as dioxins and furans, posing severe health threats.
The group highlighted GCC’s underutilisation of its waste-processing plants, which operate at just 26% capacity. “Against a capacity of 2,460 tonnes a day, GCC processes only 636 tonnes. Maximising this capacity could divert 1,800 tonnes from landfills,” the petition noted.
Activists accused GCC of flouting its 2019 solid waste management by-laws mandating 100% source segregation and decentralised waste management. They also cited Tamil Nadu’s Chennai climate action plan, which opposed the incineration plant due to environmental, social, climate and livelihood impacts.
They called the project an expensive method to generate power, comparing it to solar power projects costing 5 crore per MW and thermal plants at 8 crore per MW, against the incineration plant’s 33 crore per MW.
Geo Damin, a former member of Tamil Nadu’s solid waste management committee and one of the signees, pointed out the lack of carbon capture technology in the project. “We should prioritise natural waste processing methods and send only non-recyclable waste to landfills,” he said, adding that Chennai’s 60% biodegradable waste renders the waste-to-energy model unviable.
However, Kumaragurubaran said contractors would receive work orders soon. “We are adhering to environmental approvals and safety precautions. With limited options for processing, this is necessary,” he told TOI.
This article was originally published in Times of India and can be read here.
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