Latest news with #Waste-to-Energy
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
After protests, Chennai corporation goes slow on waste-to-energy project
Amid growing opposition from residents, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has clarified that the proposed Waste-to-Energy (WtE) project at Kodungaiyur will be implemented only after obtaining public consent and securing mandatory environmental clearances . The assurance follows stiff resistance from the Federation of North Chennai Welfare Residents Association, which raised concerns about potential health hazards and environmental damage. In a letter issued by the Solid Waste Management (SWM) wing of the Chennai Corporation, officials stated that the emissions from the incinerator will be continuously monitored by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) and the Corporation itself. Notably, the civic body said that over 40 per cent of the project's financial allocation will be dedicated to advanced monitoring systems and operational safeguards to ensure environmental safety. The Corporation further explained that the residual ash from the incinerator will be scientifically handled and disposed of in a sanitary landfill. "The residents of Kodungaiyur need not be concerned about health or hygiene risks," the letter emphasised. Chennai Mayor R. Priya reinforced this assurance by citing global examples. "A Waste-to-Energy plant operates right in the heart of Paris, close to the Eiffel Tower, without causing any health or environmental issues. The same technology and safety protocols will be adopted here," she said. The civic body also pointed out that ten similar WtE plants are already operational in various parts of India and have been functioning without adverse effects on public health or the environment. "Only after securing community consent and necessary environmental approvals will we proceed with the Kodungaiyur project," the GCC reiterated. Despite these assurances, residents and members of the Federation remained unconvinced. Dismissing the Mayor's claims, they demanded that the project be scrapped entirely. In a show of protest, hundreds of residents formed a human chain, voicing their opposition to the plant and warning of potential long-term consequences. The WtE facility is being planned to manage Chennai's growing solid waste crisis, as the existing dump yard in Kodungaiyur has become a source of pollution and ecological concern. However, unless the concerns of the local population are addressed adequately, the project faces an uphill battle for public acceptance.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
N Chennai residents form human chain to protest WTE project
Chennai: Residents of North Chennai, joined by local councillors, formed a human chain at Kodungaiyur on Sunday, urging the govt to scrap the proposed Waste-to-Energy (WTE) project at Kodungaiyur dumping ground. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now They demanded that the reclaimed 352acres of landfill be converted into a park, playground, or college to benefit the community. Support for the campaign grew stronger with political parties such as AIADMK and Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) backing the protest. AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami said residents were already struggling with health issues such as respiratory and skin problems and announced a protest at Kodungaiyur on June 2. NTK leader Seeman called the project an "environmental disaster" aimed at working-class neighbourhoods, warning it would release toxic gases and worsen pollution levels. Hundreds participated in Sunday's protest, raising concerns over the project's impact on public health and the environment in North Chennai. The human chain stretched nearly four kilometres — from Ezhil Nagar at Kodungaiyur to Ambedkar College at Vyasarpadi. "Despite repeated objections, steps are being taken to install the incinerator. We visited the WTE plant in Hyderabad and saw firsthand how residents there are suffering from health problems. We fear a similar outcome here," said T K Shanmugam, president of the Federation of North Chennai Residents' Welfare Associations. Congress councillor J Dilli Babu (ward 37) said residents near the dumpyard have suffered for more than four decades. "The civic body claims the plant will be built with safety measures, but there's no assurance of complete safety for residents. We urge GCC to shift the WTE plant to the outskirts," he added.
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Concerns mount over waste-to-energy project at Deonar amid pollution fears
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) proposed 1800 TPD Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plant at Deonar, the site of India's largest dumping ground, has drawn strong opposition from residents, activists, and legal professionals, who fear the plant will further deteriorate the already poor air quality in the Govandi area, leading to grave public health consequences. The WtE project, awarded to Chennai MSW Pvt. Ltd., is slated for commissioning by October 2025 at an estimated cost of ₹2,648 crore. The facility, spread over 8.2 hectares, is expected to process 600 metric tonnes of waste daily, generating an estimated 17 million units of energy annually. However, apprehensions persist regarding the emission of harmful gases and its potential to exacerbate respiratory ailments in a region already plagued by tuberculosis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Zakir (30), a long-time resident of Baiganwadi near the Deonar site, expressed anxiety over the project's implications. 'Every other house here has a TB or asthma patient. Adding another pollutant-emitting project will make survival even harder,' he said. The area, comprising over 200 informal settlements, houses more than one million people, many of whom live in close proximity to the Deonar dumping ground and already report high exposure to toxic emissions. 'This technology may claim to control emissions, but the ground reality is different. I work at the dumping site; I see what happens,' another Baiganwadi resident, also employed at the landfill, said. Residents also voiced concerns that the same area is being earmarked to rehabilitate families displaced under the Dharavi Redevelopment Project. Legal interventions have also begun to take shape. Advocate Abid Abbas Sayyed has filed formal objections to multiple authorities including the BMC Commissioner, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). In his letter, he questioned the environmental clearances granted to the plant, warning that incineration will produce carcinogens, dioxins, furans, carbon monoxide, and sulphur oxides. 'What is the guarantee this plant will not worsen existing respiratory conditions?' Mr. Sayyed asked. He pointed out that the biomedical waste facility set up in 2009 at the same site operated for five years without MPCB clearance. Despite a court order over six months ago mandating its relocation, compliance remains pending. Residents of Shivaji Nagar, like Aditya (35), shared similar frustrations. 'We were told the biomedical plant was safe. But now we wake up to black soot on our vehicles and a constant foul smell,' he said. 'The average life expectancy here is reportedly just 39 years. How much more can the BMC extract from Govandi?' The Govandi New Sangam Welfare Society has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court demanding the closure of the biomedical waste facility run by civic contractor SMS Envoclean Pvt. Ltd. Meanwhile, the MPCB claims it conducted year-long studies before approving the Deonar WtE project. Officer Rakesh Dafade stated that pollution mitigation measures, such as a 50-metre-high chimney and a scrubbing system to remove toxins from exhaust gases, will be implemented. Still, critics argue that these technical provisions do not address the core issue: lack of waste segregation. 'Deonar receives a mix of biodegradable, plastic, hazardous, and biomedical waste with no source segregation,' said Mr. Aditya. 'How will the government ensure that only suitable waste is processed for energy recovery?' Citing Rule 15 of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, Mr. Sayyed's objection letter highlights the BMC's alleged failure to ensure segregation at source, scientific processing, and proper waste stream management. He noted that Mumbai's high organic waste content lowers its calorific value, making it inefficient for incineration—a fact borne out by the closure of seven out of 14 WtE plants across India. Activists and residents have called for an immediate stay on the project and demanded a fresh Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) with stakeholder consultations. They have also urged for comprehensive environmental and health impact studies in the area and the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to audit the functioning of existing WtE facilities nationwide. An RTI application has also been filed by Mr. Sayyed to seek detailed records on the plant's clearances, approval processes, and environmental assessments. As the debate continues, the people of Govandi await clarity on whether the pursuit of energy will once again come at the cost of their health.
The Star
03-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Federal government urged to speed up waste-to-energy technology implementation
KULAI: The Federal government should expedite the implementation of Waste-to-Energy (WTE) technology to reduce pollution at landfills, says state executive councillor Datuk Mohd Jafni Shukor. The Johor housing and local government committee chairman said that several countries, including Singapore, have adopted this technology, which offers a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to conventional dumping methods. "The Bukit Payung landfill project in Batu Pahat,is two years behind schedule and expected to be completed this year is among the sites set to use the WTE technology." "We hope the Federal government can expedite the project as it could reduce the waste being sent to the Batu Empat landfill in Kota Tinggi, which has been causing odour pollution." "I sympathise with the people living near the Batu Empat landfill, who have been suffering from the odour pollution," he said. He made these comments at a press conference after officiating the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and career fair at Dewan Raya Putra. Mohd Jafni said this when asked about the protest involving 50 Kampung Desa Makmur villagers, who called for the landfill to be shut down due to the odour pollution it has caused. He said that the landfill, managed by the National Solid Waste Management Department, uses the traditional method of waste disposal. "The landfill still adopts the traditional method where rubbish is dumped directly into the area, which may have caused the odour pollution." "Unlike the sanitary landfill in Seelong, Kulai, which uses a more current method where the waste is buried and covered with a canvas," he said.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rock Cut Road Transfer Station temporarily closed, OCRRA says
JAMESVILLE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — The Rock Cut Road Transfer Station will be closed to residential and commercial customers, OCRRA said. A mechanical issue has caused the temporary closure, which is predicted to last through Wednesday, April 30, while engineers work to restore normal operations. 'All customers in Onondaga County served by municipal and private haulers should expect and may experience a delay in their curbside and/or commercial pickups, due to a mechanical issue at the Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Facility, where Onondaga County's municipal solid waste is processed,' said OCRRA. Currently, OCRRA is working to make enough room to accept residential curbside waste from haulers come Wednesday. You can for waste reduction tips, including buying materials with minimal packaging, composting when possible, and understanding date labels. This may help you in the days ahead. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
