Residents of North Chennai have been vehemently opposing the Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) proposed Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plant set to come up in Kodungaiyur. Over the past few months, they have made several representations to GCC officials and Mayor Priya Rajan, and even organised a human chain protest.
During their research into the dangers of WTE plants, the group found that these facilities release pollutants including sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), hydrogen chloride (HCl), heavy metals, dioxins, and furans — contaminating the air, water, and soil. Waste incineration, in particular, contributes significantly to elevated PM2.5 chloride levels, triggering haze and fog that impact air quality in urban centres like Delhi.
In response, a coalition of residents and environmental experts has developed an alternative proposal, the ‘Green Chennai Initiative (GCI): A Path Towards India’s First People-Centric Zero-Waste City’. This proposal has also been shared with the mayor.
In this interview, we speak with the key contributors to the proposal:
- TK Shanmugam, President, Federation of North Chennai Residents’ Welfare Association
- Vishvaja Sambath, Environmental and Health Researcher
- DK Chythenyen from Centre for Financial Accountability
You can access the Green Chennai Initiative document here.
How the Green Chennai Initiative was envisioned
You have submitted a document called ‘Green Chennai Initiative (GCI), A Path Towards India’s First People-Centric Zero-Waste City’. What prompted you to come up with this document in the first place?
Shanmugam: We began by trying to understand the potential impacts of the proposed WTE plant. In doing so, we realised these impacts were not only real but also far more dangerous than previously anticipated. As we became more engaged on the ground, it became increasingly evident, supported by credible evidence, that the negative consequences were significant.
This led us to encounter two recurring questions, from both the public and government officials:
- From the public: “If we do not want landfills, then where should we dump the waste?”
- From officials, often in a pressurising manner: “If we do not burn the waste, how else should we dispose of it?”
While the public’s concerns stemmed from genuine curiosity, the questions from officials were clearly intended to corner us. Even during our meeting with Mayor Priya Rajan, she raised the same concern.
Given the legitimacy of these questions, we felt it was our responsibility to present a viable, sustainable solution. This resulted in the Green Chennai Initiative. Although the federation initiated the plan, environmental experts played a major role in shaping its structure and direction.
Importantly, this plan is not limited to North Chennai. It is designed for the entire Chennai Metropolitan Area and is structured around five key global themes:
- The proposition
- A roadmap for change
- The associated risks
- A new chapter
- Global best practices
This article was originally published in Citizen Matters, and you can read here.
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