Despite growing opposition from environmental groups, residents, and councillors, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has pressed ahead with its plans to establish new incinerators in the city. It has proposed the inclusion of incinerators in its Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) project, particularly at the Kodungaiyur dump which already has a 50-tonne incinerator. The new plant, with a 2,100-tonne capacity, is expected to be built on 75 acres in the vicinity of the dump.
Opposition to the plans increased following concern over the pollution and health hazards allegedly caused by the 10-tonne incinerator at Chinna Mathur in the Manali Zone. A fact-finding report revealed that the incinerator had been functioning without renewal of its consent to operate (CTO) certificate from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) since March 2020.
The report, ‘Waste Incineration-Zero Pollution or Zero Truth?’, was compiled by several organisations, including Chennai Climate Action Group (CCAG), Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), and Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA). After the report came out, the operation of the Chinna Mathur plant was halted, a senior official of the GCC confirmed. The official added that the civic body would apply for renewal of the CTO certificate and approval from the Central Pollution Control Board.
The Chinna Mathur plant, established in 2019 at an approximate cost of ₹70 lakh, was incinerating 10 tonnes of fabric waste daily to produce about 300 kg of fly ash. Contrary to the claim that the ash was being turned into paver blocks, D.K. Chythenyen of CFA alleged that the ash was dumped in nearby open sites and the result was the pollution of residential areas.
‘No protective gear’
T.K. Shanmugam, president of the Federation of North Chennai Residents’ Welfare Association, said 12 workers at the 50-tonne incinerator at Kodungaiyur were working without protective gear. He said ash particles were found on the walls of nearly 10,000 houses in the vicinity. He demanded the closure of the incinerator and said the ash is neither buried nor converted into paver blocks.
J. Prasanth of CCAG, who inspected the Kodungaiyur incinerator on April 3, along with representatives of the Federation of North Chennai Residents’ Welfare Association and ward councillors, said soil samples from the Chinna Mathur ash dump showed cadmium levels 24 times over and above the limits set by the World Health Organization. He said cadmium would cause respiratory issues.
The fact-finding report claimed that the particulate matter levels were also over and above the standard limit and fly ash, dumped in the open, caused groundwater contamination.
Councillors to petition Stalin
Councillor B. Vimala of the CPI(M) (Ward 41), who had visited the Kodungaiyur incinerator site, said there were complaints from residents about the incinerator. “The chimney needs to be raised and the carbon needs to be cleaned before emission. The surrounding areas must be protected from heat and fumes,” she said. Many councillors intend to raise the issue through a petition to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Mayor R. Priya.
In the Corporation Budget 2025-26 meeting held in March, councillors of the DMK, the MDMK, and the Communist parties voiced concern over the proposed incinerators. Councillor M. Renuka of the CPI warned that her ward residents would bear the brunt. S. Jeevan of the MDMK said incinerators at the Kodungaiyur site would pose a health risk to the entire north Chennai. He said he had earlier proposed building an engineering college on the reclaimed land at the dump, but the idea was ignored by the Corporation. Jeevan added that an international company had withdrawn investment from four Indian cities, including Ahmedabad, owing to the concern over incineration projects.
DMK councillor V. Kaviganesan of Ward 12 criticised the plan, saying incineration was akin to “lighting a fire below one’s legs”. He urged the Corporation to prioritise source segregation instead.
Environmental organisations and residents have also objected to the proposed large-scale incinerator at Chinna Mathur, which would burn 2,100 tonnes of waste a day. Mr. Prasanth of CCAG alleged that this site had previously been a waterbody supporting more than 50 bird species. As more than 34 red-category industrial units operated in north Chennai, such ecosystems were irreplaceable, he said
The fact-finding report said soil samples from the Chinna Mathur incinerator site had cadmium and lead at 24.4 and 8.8 times above World Health Organization limits. Chlorine was recorded at 4,970 mg/kg, with aluminium, iron and potassium also present in high levels. Air samples showed excess carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. The water from the nearby borewells were allegedly found to be contaminated by ash dumping and waste handling.
Mr. Chythenyen suggested that the TNPCB conduct air, water, groundwater, and soil tests to assess the situation. He also recommended that funds allocated for incinerator construction be redirected towards manpower and infrastructure to improve source segregation, which, according to the report, had not been adequately implemented by the GCC.
The report suggested that incineration could lead to an adverse health impact from emissions, groundwater contamination, and exposure to fly ash. It recommended halting current and future incinerator projects, implementing scientific landfill methods, and immediate action on waste segregation, collection, and treatment.
‘Good in theory’
A senior official of the Corporation said source segregation was good in theory, but was not fully successful in implementation. Refuting claims about the condition of the Kodungaiyur incinerator, the official said, “Granted, the incinerator in Manali was not working in proper conditions, but the one at Kodungaiyur has a proper permit and is under surveillance. The new 2,100-tonne incinerators will be functioning to international standards. Until a better solution is proposed, the plan to construct incinerators will not be scrapped,” he said.
He said a review meeting among Corporation Commissioner J. Kumaragurubaran, Mayor R. Priya, and Deputy Mayor M. Magesh Kumaar was recently held on the issue of incinerator, and another meeting would be held soon to finalise plans. Meanwhile, the Corporation was planning to restart a defunct pyrolysis plant in the area, the official added.
Published – April 13, 2025 10:30 pm IST