25-05-2025
North Chennai residents form human chain demanding halt to waste-to-energy plan in Kodungaiyur
Jaya, a resident of Kodungaiyur, said, 'Locals here already suffer respiratory and skin infections due to the dumpyard and muddy roads. Now, if the Chennai Corporation's incinerator project is implemented, the emissions will affect us and the future generations here drastically.'
She joined thousands of protesters in a signature campaign and human chain demonstration against the Greater Chennai Corporation's plan to build a waste-to-energy plant as part of an integrated waste management facility in Kodungaiyur's 75-acre Metrowater land near the existing dump yard in North Chennai.
This was headed by the Federation of North Chennai Residents' Welfare Associations from Sivasakthi Amman temple in Ezhil Nagar of Kodungaiyur to the signal close to Dr. Ambedkar Government Arts College in Vyasarpadi on Sunday.
Nearly 10,000 took part, including singer T.M. Krishna, members of NGO Poovulagin Nanbargal, GCC councillors R. Jayaraman and B. Vimala of Communist Party of India (Marxist), S. Jeevan and J. Dilli Babu of Indian National Congress (INC).
Ram, a shopkeeper and a resident for 10 years in Kodungaiyur, said, 'People are also partly responsible. My parents have not followed waste segregation, so, I also did not. If segregation helps in scrapping the GCC's project, then segregation can be practiced. I will encourage my neighbours too. As a parent of two girls, I fear the Corporation's project may affect future generations' standard of life in Kodungaiyur.'
T.K. Shanmugam, the president of the federation, said, 'The people are aware that the harmful gases released while burning waste would affect the lungs and cause respiratory issues. The residents near the Kodungaiyur dump yard are already facing skin problems. We firmly believe only a safe environment and water supply can help curb people's issues. Already, most of North Chennai is an industrial hub. Introducing an incinerator will further pollute air and waterbodies.'
In a release, the federation said the incinerator plan would affect areas with over 3.5 lakh residents and several schools, colleges, hospitals and other public institutions. It added that environmental clearance had not been obtained, and public consultation was not sought, hence the Tamil Nadu government must abandon the plan.
