North Chennai residents, experts to propose alternatives to waste-to-energy plant in Kodungaiyur

The Hindu

18 hours ago

As the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) advances the ₹1,268.38 crore Integrated Solid Waste Processing Facility (IWPF) in Kodungaiyur, residents of North Chennai have roped in experts to propose alternatives to the Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plant planned for the area.
Residents, under the aegis of the Federation of North Chennai Residents' Welfare Associations, have opposed the project since its proposal. T.K. Shanmugam, president of the federation, stated that during a recent meeting with Chennai Mayor R. Priya, she said the project could not be scrapped. 'She asked us to propose alternative plans and mentioned that, if a suitable and less invasive plan is developed in consultation with experts, it could be considered,' he said.
Alternative proposal
D.K. Chythenyen of the Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA) has confirmed that the CFA is preparing a proposal for an alternative.
He noted that a study is being drafted in consultation with experts who have worked with the Kerala government on decentralised waste management. The alternative model under preparation includes zero-waste strategies, such as biomethanation and enhanced public participation in waste segregation. The first draft is currently under preparation.
According to another expert involved in developing alternative proposals, cities that work in partnership with communities are implementing cost-effective methods, biomethanation, composting, recycling, and proven combinations of less-invasive approaches that function effectively upto the Panchayat level. For example, in the Philippines, 90% of waste is reportedly managed through recycling and composting, with only 10% sent to landfills. These systems employ significant manpower, thereby generating local employment. Similar decentralised models have also been documented in India, the expert added.
Gaps flagged in Delhi incinerator
Earlier, the CFA had authored a related study on WtE operations in Delhi. It had said Delhi currently operates four WtE plants, located at Okhla, Ghazipur, Bawana, and Tehkhand. These facilities incinerate a total of 7,250 ton of municipal solid waste (MSW) per day, amounting to 66% of the city's daily waste. By 2027, authorities plan to increase WtE capacity to handle 14,250 ton per day, it had stated.
According to this study, the combustion process in WtEs releases residual heat into the environment through multiple pathways, including flue gas, hot bottom ash, condensers, and storage pits. Each ton of incinerated waste produces around 5,500 cubic metres of flue gas at 200°C. Collectively, the four plants emit an estimated 3,98,75,000 cubic metres of flue gas and 12,325 ton of CO₂ daily.
The report also noted that, as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in April 2025, regular monitoring of WtEs had not occurred between 2020 and 2024, with sampling outsourced and infrequent.
Opposition continues
In a letter dated June 23, 2025, to the GCC, the Federation of Residents Welfare Associations stated that the current dump yard at Kodungaiyur is situated within an 'Institutional Use Zone', as defined in the Second Master Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area, 2026. Referring to Development Regulation No. 19, the association noted that the dumping and storage of waste in this zone is a prohibited activity and urged for the immediate removal of the dump yard.
The letter further highlighted that continued operations at the site have resulted in 'severe respiratory, cancerous and innumerable irretrievable diseases' among the local population, composed largely of wage-earners and those living below the poverty line.
'No plans to scrap project'
A senior official from the GCC's Solid Waste Management Department, meanwhile, confirmed that there were no plans to scrap the WtE project.
The GCC recently floated a tender worth ₹8.53 crore for the appointment of an independent engineer to oversee the project's implementation, including infrastructure development at the dump yard.
The IWPF project is expected to come up adjacent to the Kodungaiyur dump yard, and comprises a WtE power plant, an automated material recovery facility (MRF), a composting unit, and a bio-CNG plant. The WtE and MRF units account for ₹1,026.41 crore of the total cost, while ₹142.97 crore and ₹99 crore have been allocated for the composting and bio-CNG facilities, respectively. The capital outlay for Phase I stands at ₹853.20 crore, with Phase II projected at ₹415.18 crore. Processed waste will be treated at the site, with residual matter transported to a designated sanitary landfill.