TN accelerates plans for waste-to-energy plant in Tambaram to address mounting challenges
The initiative, announced during the 2025 State Budget, aims to process the 400 metric tonnes of municipal solid waste generated daily in the region.
To take the project forward, the State's Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department has floated a tender inviting consultants to prepare a detailed feasibility report and offer transition advisory services.
The WtE facility is expected to be developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. According to MAWS officials, the proposed site for the plant is the Vengadamangalam dumpyard, which falls under the Tambaram Corporation's jurisdiction. However, consultants will be tasked with conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the site.
'If the location is found to be unfit due to environmental or logistical constraints, the consultant must help identify alternate suitable sites,' an official said.
The consultancy assignment includes preparing a master plan for the WtE facility along with associated infrastructure. It will also involve assessing ambient air quality and conducting pollution dispersion modelling based on varied climatic conditions.
This environmental due diligence is seen as crucial in light of public opposition to similar projects elsewhere. In Kodungaiyur, for instance, residents have vocally opposed a proposed WtE plant, citing concerns over air pollution and associated health risks.
Learning from such resistance, the government is placing greater emphasis on environmental impact studies and community acceptance. The scope of the current tender also includes identifying suitable locations for integrated solid waste processing facilities in Perungudi. These are expected to comprise a bio-CNG plant, a compost facility, and an automated material recovery facility (AMRF) -- all of which are essential for efficient waste segregation and resource recovery.
The Tambaram WtE project is being developed in partnership with international funding agencies, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and Germany's KfW Development Bank, which have been supporting Tamil Nadu's urban infrastructure push amid rapid population growth and urbanisation.
With sustainability and public health at the core of the project's planning, the state hopes to set a benchmark in modern waste management through this initiative.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
7 hours ago
- Business Standard
In a first, Indian Navy inducts woman officer into its fighter pilot stream
In a historic moment for the Indian Navy, Sub-Lieutenant Astha Poonia has officially become the first woman to be inducted into the fighter stream, marking a major milestone in the Navy's journey towards greater gender inclusivity in combat roles, news agency ANI reported. Sub-Lieutenant Poonia received the prestigious "Wings of Gold" from Rear Admiral Janak Bevli, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Air), during a ceremony held on Thursday (July 3). She completed the Second Basic Hawk Conversion Course at Naval Air Station INS Dega in Visakhapatnam, alongside Lieutenant Atul Kumar Dhull, who was also conferred the same honour. Defence acquisition council clears key deals On the same day, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by the Defence Minister, approved 10 capital acquisition proposals worth approximately ₹1.05 trillion. The proposals include the procurement of indigenously developed Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missiles (QRSAMs), naval vessels, and other defence systems. The approvals cover armoured recovery vehicles, electronic warfare systems, and an integrated common inventory management system for the tri-services. Surface-to-air missiles were also part of the key items cleared. Navy gets stealth edge with Udaygiri frigate Adding to its modernisation, the Indian Navy recently received Udaygiri, the second stealth frigate of the Project 17A class, from Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL). The advanced multi-mission warship, capable of operating in blue-water environments, was designed by the Navy's Warship Design Bureau. According to MDL, Udaygiri features cutting-edge technologies for stealth, sea-keeping, and survivability, with hull shaping and signature suppression techniques making it comparable to top-class global warships. INS Arnala joins Navy's shallow-water warfare fleet Further strengthening its anti-submarine warfare capabilities, the Navy last month commissioned INS Arnala — the first of 16 indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASWSWC). Named after a coastal fort in Maharashtra, the 77-metre-long ship is part of the Eastern Naval Command and is the largest Indian Naval warship to be powered by a diesel engine-waterjet combination. The vessel is equipped with advanced underwater sensors, acoustic communication systems, and a comprehensive weapons suite, including lightweight torpedoes, rockets, decoys, and mine-laying capabilities. It also supports search and rescue operations in coastal waters.
India.com
8 hours ago
- India.com
EPFO Website Down? How To Check PF Balance Via SMS, WhatsApp Or Missed Call In Seconds; Know Withdrawal Eligibility And Rules
photoDetails english 2926945 Updated:Jul 05, 2025, 11:04 AM IST Provident Fund (PF) 1 / 9 The Provident Fund (PF) is built through monthly contributions from both the employee and the employer. Being a government-backed long-term savings scheme, it earns annual interest that compounds over time into a significant corpus. It also acts as a financial safety net during emergencies like illness or job loss. PF Balance Check: No Need for Website or App 2 / 9 You no longer need to open the EPFO website or download any app to check your PF balance. These alternate methods are simple, quick, and completely free, making them ideal during server downtime. PF Balance Check: SMS Service 3 / 9 To check your PF balance via SMS, send a message in the format 'EPFOHO UAN HIN' from your registered mobile number to 7738299899. Here, 'UAN' is your Universal Account Number, and 'HIN' indicates the language. The SMS service supports over 10 Indian languages including Hindi, English, Punjabi, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Bengali. Choose your preferred language by changing the last three letters in the SMS code. PF Balance Check: Missed Call Service 4 / 9 Dial a missed call to 9966044425 from your registered mobile number. This is the simplest way to know your PF balance instantly. Make sure your UAN is activated and linked to your phone number. PF Balance Check: Instant SMS Reply 5 / 9 After giving the missed call, your call will disconnect automatically, and within seconds, you'll receive an SMS with your current PF balance and account details—no need for internet or manual inputs. PF Balance Check: WhatsApp Service 6 / 9 You can now check your PF balance via WhatsApp. Save your regional EPFO office's WhatsApp number and send a message like 'Hi' or 'PF Balance.' You'll receive your balance details through a chatbot response. To get the correct WhatsApp number for your regional EPFO office, visit: Choose your location and save the number to start checking via WhatsApp. PF Withdrawal Eligibility 7 / 9 To access EPFO services like SMS, missed call, or WhatsApp for checking PF balance, certain prerequisites must be met. First, your Universal Account Number (UAN) must be activated. Adding further, the mobile number linked to your UAN should be active and in working condition, as all notifications and balance details are sent to this number. It's also essential to link your UAN with KYC documents such as your Aadhaar, PAN card, bank account number, and IFSC code. These steps ensure seamless access to your PF account and enable hassle-free verification across all platforms. PF Withdrawal Limits and Rules 8 / 9 Employed members are allowed to withdraw up to 90% of their PF contributions, but the exact withdrawal limit depends on the reason for withdrawal and the number of years of service completed. For instance, partial withdrawals are permitted for specific purposes such as constructing a house, covering expenses during a medical emergency, or meeting costs related to education or marriage. Each of these situations has its own eligibility criteria and service duration requirements. Important Reminder 9 / 9 Ensure your mobile number is registered with EPFO and your UAN is activated. Without this, SMS, missed call, or WhatsApp services won't work. Contact your company's HR department for help with activation or registration.
Hans India
a day ago
- Hans India
National Consumer Helpline refunds Rs 7.14 crore to consumers in 2 months
New Delhi: The government on Friday said that the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) has successfully facilitated refund of Rs 7.14 crore to consumers in the last two months. The redressal was achieved across 30 sectors, effectively addressing 15,426 consumer grievances related to refund claims, according to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. Notably, the e-commerce sector accounted for the highest volume of grievances, registering 8,919 grievances, and correspondingly, the highest refund facilitation amounting to Rs 3.69 crore. This was followed by the travel and tourism sector, which saw refunds of Rs 81 lakh. Grievances related to e-commerce refunds came from across the country, with the highest (1242) from Uttar Pradesh and even smaller regions like Sikkim and Dadra & Nagar Haveli registering complaints — reflecting NCH's effectiveness as a truly nationwide consumer redressal platform, said the ministry. 'The facilitation of Ts 7.14 crore in refunds between 25th April and 30th June 2025 reflects the efficacy and responsiveness of the helpline, driven by the expansion of convergence partners and strong stakeholder engagement,' the Department noted. This increase in the number of grievances and dockets registered at NCH also indicates the growing outreach of the platform, specially through digital modes such as calls, the web portal, WhatsApp, the NCH App, UMANG, CPGRAMS, SMS, Email and AI-enabled chatbot. This also highlights NCH's vital role in ensuring timely, hassle-free grievance redressal and reinforces its importance as a trusted, pre-litigation platform promoting consumer welfare and marketplace transparency. This helpline has emerged as a single point of access for consumers across the country to seek grievance redressal at the pre-litigation stage. Consumers can register their grievances in 17 languages through a toll-free number 1915. The Department reiterated its commitment to strengthening consumer protection framework and urges all consumers to actively utilise the helpline to safeguard their rights and seek timely redressal. The NCH plays a crucial pre-litigation role in resolving consumer grievances swiftly and amicably, reducing the burden on Consumer Commissions under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
