Tue Nov 05 19:14:01 UTC 2024: ## Chennai Residents Oppose Proposed Waste-to-Energy Plant, Citing Health and Environmental Concerns
**Chennai, November 6, 2024** – Residents of north Chennai, backed by civil society organizations, have filed a formal complaint with the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), demanding the cancellation of a proposed waste-to-energy (WTE) incinerator plant in Kodungaiyur. The plant, designed to burn 2,100 tonnes of mixed garbage daily, has sparked widespread opposition due to fears over its potential health and environmental impact.
Kodungaiyur, already home to numerous industrial facilities, including 36 large-scale factories, and the city’s largest garbage dump, is seen as particularly vulnerable to the plant’s emissions. Activists and local communities argue that the WTE plant would exacerbate existing pollution levels, leading to serious health issues like respiratory problems, cancer, and developmental concerns in children.
The proposed plant has also drawn criticism for its environmental impact. According to the complaint, the incinerator’s emissions would significantly increase the city’s carbon footprint, equivalent to the daily emissions of 8,92,000 passenger cars. The high cost of electricity produced by the plant, estimated at ₹7 per unit, would also make it one of the most expensive in the country.
Instead of the incinerator, the groups advocate for a shift in waste management policies, focusing on waste segregation, decentralised processing, and stricter enforcement of solid waste management laws. They believe these measures would be more effective and sustainable than building polluting incinerators.
First Piper 