Stop the Toxic Takeover: AIFC Slams Illegal Waste Dumping in Sathangadu Wetland”

Alliance for Incinerator Free Chennai (AIFC), an alliance of communities, residents and civil society organisations, strongly condemns the Greater Chennai Corporation’s illegal dumping of waste in the Sathangadu wetland of Thiruvottiyur Taluk (Behind the Kodungaiyur dumpyard). In a recent field visit to the wetland, members of the alliance were shocked to see that municipal solid waste was being dumped in the 50 acre wetland WTE proposed site and 2/3rds of the wetland was covered with waste to about 20 ft from the ground.

The Sathangadu wetland has been identified as having a water body as per the Survey of India Map is to be noted that on March 28th, 2025, a team of naturalists conducted a bird survey of the Wetland and documented 54 species of birds. In a report submitted to the Tamil Nadu State Wetlands Authority, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the greater Chennai Corporation etc, the naturists observed that the Sathangadu wetland was a rich habitat for water birds and migratory birds, including considerable numbers of those which are threatened species like Grey Pelicans and Painted Storks. Migratory birds observed there including Wood Sandpipers, Grey-headed lapwings, Whiskered terns, and Brown headed gulls, which are protected under the Bonn Convention, travel to the Sathangadu wetland from as far as Russia and Central Asia.

Based on this petition, the Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority had issued a direction to the District Forest Office, Thirvallur to take necessary action. However, the Greater Chennai Corporation of dumping illegal waste in the forest wetland could exacerbate flood risks in North Chennai. For the North Chennai region, which is home to a large working class population from marginalized communities, such water bodies act as a buffer during floods and droughts. During an event of heavy rain, the floodwaters of the existing Captain Cotton Canal and Kodungaiyur Canal are unable to drain into the Buckingham Canal due to the flooding, resulting in flooding in residential areas of Vyasarpadi, MKB Nagar, Ezhil Nagar and Kodungaiyur, which are home to lakhs of people.

“Despite severe opposition to the Waste to Energy (WTE) incineration plant, the corporation’s decision to start the work for the WTE by filling the wetland site with dirt and plastics even before any public consultation should be treated as a criminal offense,” lamented N. Shaktivel, a North Chennai photographer. “The Kodungaiyur dumpyard has the second highest land surface temperature of Chennai at 42 degree celsius. Wetlands such as the one in Saathangaadu act as a buffer not only during times of flood but also during extreme heat. While we are trying to protect and create more such green spaces, the Chennai Corporation’s move to dump waste in a wetland is unacceptable.” said Prasanth of Chennai Climate Action Group (CCAG). “The residents of North Chennai are both socially and economically marginalized. Setting up the WTE plant in Kodungaiyur goes against the principles of social justice that this government claims to stand for.” said Mohan of Foundation for Friendly Environment and Medical Awareness (FEMA).